You can use a grater with small, medium or large sized holes. Whichever size grater you choose, grated pieces of soap and wax will melt more quickly and evenly than bars.  You can use scented or unscented bar soap in any color. Beeswax or paraffin wax will help seal your leather, making it more resistant to water. In a large pot you no longer use for cooking, bring the water to boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium once it begins boiling. Stir the grated soap into the water until it is melted. Once the soap has melted in the water, add your grated beeswax or paraffin and stir again until it has melted with the rest of the mixture. Take the pot off your stove and place it onto a heat-safe surface. Stir in the 0.25 cups (59 mL) of neatsfoot oil. Keep mixing until the oil has combined with the rest of the mixture. An animal-based oil like neatsfoot oil will soak into your leather and soften it. Stir your soap mixture continually, mixing in any soap buildup along the sides of your pot. When the soap mix begins to cool after a few minutes, it will start thickening. As soon as it starts thickening but remains easy to pour, it is ready to store. A wide mouth glass jar or container works for easy pouring and storage. Make sure it has cooled for an hour or two before sealing it with a lid or adding labels. Your saddle soap is set and ready to use when it is hard to the touch.  Store your saddle soap in a cool, dry place to make it last longer. This saddle soap can be applied with a damp cloth to the leather surface, then buffed dry with a clean cloth.  Saddle soap can clean leather boots along with leather tack when used properly.

Summary: Grate 0.75 cups (96 g) of bar soap and 0.75 cups (64 g) of wax. Bring 3.5 cups (830 mL) of water to a boil over high heat. Melt the 0.75 cups (96 g) of soap and 0.75 cups (64 g) of wax in water. Remove the pot from heat and add 0.25 cups (59 mL) of neatsfoot oil. Stir the mixture until it begins to thicken. Pour the saddle soap mix into a jar or sealable container.


Although total quiet works best for some people while sleeping, vivid dreamers often report having the best dreams while listening to music. The music should be ambient. That way, your higher order brain functions won't be so distracted by what's happening in the music. There are certain musical works that are specifically intended for sleep and lucid dreaming. Robert Rich's six hour Somnium is a good piece of ambient music for dreaming. Max Richter's eight hour-long Sleep is another piece that may improve the vividness of the dreams you have while listening to it. Dreaming takes place during the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage of sleep. Most sleep cycles are similar, and you may be able to predict at what point you'll be at this stage. Try setting your alarm clock to go off 4.5, 6, or 7.5 hours after you go to sleep. This will rouse you awake at a point where the dream is either happening or still fresh in your mind.  Some people find the annoying sound of an alarm distracts them from remembering. If you aren't having luck with an alarm, try waking up without an alarm.  If you'll be sleeping around someone who will be awake during one of your REM stages (such as a roommate), you could ask that they wake you up instead of an alarm. Light-based alarms will wake you up with light rather than sound. This is generally a gentler way to wake up, and may make it easier to recall your dreams. Dreams become far more vivid when you allow yourself to focus in on details in the dream. Without reining in on details, the memory of the dream becomes clouded, and large chunks of information are lost. If you're in a room with a clock for example, try to look in on the clock and check the time. Many people actually report specific times on a clock being jumbled and unclear. Even if this doesn't give you a clear bit of info, the experience of seeing something off-beat like this will help you to become more lucid. Even if you aren't able to actively recall this step while you're dreaming, thinking about doing it a lot while you're awake should increase your chances of making it happen while you dream. The hunt for dream signs (repeatable signs that indicate you're dreaming) involves recording after you wake up as much as a keen eye during the dream. Although you won't identify these signs easily at first, the more you get into a habit of actively dreaming, the more often you'll be able to experience these dreams. Dream signs include contorted mirror, and the experience of one's teeth falling out. Lucidity happens when the dreamer realizes he is dreaming. This happens because the dreamer has consciously reminded himself that he's in a dream. This can be a scary or pleasant realization depending on what you're feeling. If you're having a lucid dream, it's more likely that you'll remember the dream in greater detail. This will result in a more vivid memory of the dream. Reminding yourself you're dreaming won't be easy unless you have experience and knowledge of your dream signs already.

Summary: Listen to music while sleeping. Set your alarm to wake you up during REM. Pay attention to details. Identify your personal dream signs. Remind yourself you're dreaming.


Every person has their own perspectives and opinions that are formed based on their experiences. Acknowledging that other people have perspectives that differ from yours will help you to more holistically consider your own views and begin changing them.  You cannot begin to change your own perspectives without considering and acknowledging that your truth is not the only or right view. For example, if you believe that women can’t be heads of state or CEOs, understand that there are many people in this world who don’t share your view. Otherwise, countries like Norway or Great Britain or companies such as Yahoo wouldn’t have had women at their helms. A good exercise to help you understand different perspectives is to choose a cultural trait that you do not possess. Try to imagine how that cultural belief might impact your perspective on a number of issues. If you know someone who has different perspectives than you, ask him if you can have a friendly conversation and exchange views. This kind of conversation can help you to understand other viewpoints and may provide you context or information that may change your own perspective.  Ask your conversation mate lots of questions about his perspectives and what informs them. Ask if he’s ever had a change in his views or even how he develops his perspectives over time. Always be respectful of other perspectives and don’t debate or fight with a person about his views. Being respectful and not debating will give you the chance to consider his views and see how they fit with yours. You may find that even if don’t see eye to eye, that he has good ideas that can help you change your perspectives. Remember that you can learn from any conversation, even if it’s to support your own views. Arguing is counterproductive and may keep you from developing.

Summary: Acknowledge that other people have different perspectives. Talk to someone else about his perspectives and what informs them. Be respectful and don’t debate.


Roses require about 1" of rain each week, so make sure that you supplement their water needs if the rain isn't falling. Water them at the base of the plant near the soil. While you can't control where the rainfall lands, if you add water to your plants make sure that you're avoiding buds and leaves. Otherwise, your plant may suffer diseases and rot, which can result from water. Instead, focus your watering on the roots. To make sure that your soil is moist but not soggy, check it 2-3 times a week. If it feels dry, add water. Allowing the roots to get too wet can harm your plant, so if your soil has been soggy, give it time to dry before adding more water. Place a 2-4-inch (5-10 cm) layer of mulch around your rose plants. The mulch will help keep your plants moist, and as a bonus it will also help protect against weed growth. During the winter, mulch can also help keep your roses from freezing.
Summary: Make sure that the roses get enough water. Avoid watering the leaves and blooms. Check the soil 2-3 times a week. Add mulch to your soil.