INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you want to keep your celebration quiet and simple, plan an evening out at your girlfriend’s favorite restaurant. To make the occasion special, though, don’t choose a place that you go to often. Opt for a fancier restaurant that the two of your don’t get to go to as often as you’d like.  Depending on the restaurant, you may need reservations, so it’s important to plan the celebration with enough advance notice. When you call for reservations, you might arrange to have the table set up in certain way. For example, you might have flowers sent over so they can be waiting for your girlfriend when you arrive. If your girlfriend wants a celebration that’s a little bigger but still low-key, arrange to meet some of her friends at a local bar or club. You can choose a locale that has special activities, such as karaoke or trivia contests, that she enjoys, or go with a spot where she can dance the night away if that’s what she prefers. Make the evening more special by planning a “pub crawl.” Pick three or four of your girlfriend’s favorite bars, and map a plan to hit all of them in one night with your friends. Give a copy to everyone in case someone gets lost along the way. ” If your girlfriend enjoys competitive games, celebrate her birthday by taking her out to play. Plan an evening at a bowling alley, or laser tag or paintball facility. You can leave it just the two of you, but it may be more fun to organize some friends and family to come along and play.  If there’s a particular sport that your girlfriend enjoys, such as softball or volleyball, arrange a birthday “tournament” at a local field with friends and family. Keep things simple by taking a trip to the local batting cage or putting green. A special event is an ideal way to celebrate your girlfriend’s birthday. Buy tickets to a concert for a musician that she’s been dying to see, or take her to see the play or musical that she’s been interested in. If she is a sports fan, get tickets to her favorite team’s game.  It’s usually more fun to keep the event that you’re going to a surprise until the night that you’re celebrating. At some venues, such as a sporting event, you may be able to get a message on the video board wishing your girlfriend a happy birthday to make the night even more special. Check the stadium’s website to learn how to request a message. If your girlfriend is someone who loves the outdoors, plan a day where she gets to spend plenty of time out in nature. Plan a hike along a trail that offers spectacular views, or take her to the beach so you can enjoy the sand and surf. If you both enjoy cycling, map out a long bike ride that allows you to see some spots that you don’t visit often. Depending on the season, you might go apple picking or spend the day skiing. Even a picnic in the park can be fun.  You don’t just have to stick to an outdoor celebration during the day. Take her out in the evening for some star gazing. Make a weekend out of it by planning a camping trip to her favorite local spot.

SUMMARY: Take her to dinner at her favorite restaurant. Meet friends at a bar or club. Go out to “play. Take her to a sporting event, concert, or play. Visit the outdoors.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Oatmeal is great at soothing irritated skin and absorbing excess oil. Mix 5 tablespoons (25 grams) of finely-ground oatmeal with enough water or milk to make a paste. Spread the mixture over your face and wait 20 minutes. Wash the mask off using lukewarm water, then pat it dry with a soft, clean towel. For a more scrub-like effect, massage the mask against your skin using circular motions. Yogurt is very moisturizing. The lactic acid in it also makes it mildly exfoliating, which can help brighten dull or sallow skin. Mix 2 tablespoons (30 grams) of full-fat Greek yogurt with 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey. Apply the mask over your face and wait 20 minutes. Wash it off using lukewarm water, then gently pat your face dry with a soft, clean towel. Consider adding a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten your skin or reduce acne. Honey is hydrating, moisturizing, antibacterial, and antimicrobial. It is great for all skin types. All you have to do is spread some honey over your face and wait 15 minutes. Wash the honey off using lukewarm water, then gently pat your face dry with a soft, clean towel. Start with equal parts of sugar and oil. Mix everything together in a bowl, then massage it over your lips, face, or arms and legs. Use brown sugar for a gentler scrub and white sugar for a regular scrub. You can use any type of oil you want, but coconut oil or olive oil would work best.  Need something stronger? Try salt! Need something softer? Use ½ part sugar and 1 part oil instead.  Add some fragrance with essential oil or vanilla extract. Add some honey for extra moisture. Fill your tub with warm water and add ½ to 1 cup (120 to 240 milliliters) of whole milk or coconut milk. Regular milk is mildly exfoliating, and coconut milk is ultra-moisturizing. Mix it up with your hand, then step into the tub and soak for up to 20 minutes. For a fancier milk bath, try:  Combine 2 cups (250 grams) of powdered whole milk, ½ cup (65 grams) of cornstarch, ½ cup (90 grams) of baking soda, and about 10 drops of essential oil (optional). Let the mixture sit for 24 hours to allow the ingredients to infuse. Pour 1 to 2 cups (125 to 250 grams) of the mixture into your bath under running, hot water. Stir it up with your hand, then step in and soak for up to 20 minutes. Some of the best are vitamin E oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, and shea butter. Olive oil is great for some skin types, but it can cause some flaking for others. Simply spread the oil over your skin after a bath or shower, just like you would with regular lotion or body butter. Always read the label to make sure that the oil you're getting is pure and not mixed in with other oils. Most spas will let you use some of their facilities without getting a pricey treatment (for instance, they will charge a separate entrance fee), so if you want to occasionally try a hot tub or steam room, or even go Eastern European style with a cold plunge and then a sauna to invigorate your skin, sweat out toxins, and improve circulation, it's totally doable and you might like it!

SUMMARY:
Use an oatmeal face mask if you have acne, sensitive, or oily skin. Try a yogurt mask if you have dull, dry skin. Put some honey on your face. Make a simple sugar scrub. Take a milk bath, especially if you have dry skin. Use natural oils to moisturize your skin. Try a spa day.