Your child will appreciate it if you put time and effort into your care package. Try to dress up the package with a theme. If it's a cold-care kit, include some Red Cross symbols and a few band aids; if it's a movie night care package, draw movie reels on the box or include some old theater tickets in the package. You can also include sticky notes on the items explaining why you included them. For example, you might write, “chicken soup for your cold,” or “thought you could use a movie night after your big exam.” If you're sending food or liquids it's especially important to make sure you seal them up in their own containers inside the larger care package.  If you're sending cough medicine or other liquids, place the bottle in a ziplock bag. If you're sending baked goods, wrap them in several layers of tinfoil and place them in a Tupperware for even more protection. Dorm addresses can be confusing. Make sure you have your child's building and room number right before you mail the package.  Let your child know a package is coming. That way, they can be on the lookout for it in case the post office doesn't notify them. If you want the package to be a surprise, call your child's dorm and ask if they can give provide you with the room number.

Summary: Get creative. Seal it up. Double-check the address.


The first thing to do if you are trying to keep your private life private at work is to determine where exactly you want to draw the line. This will vary from person to person and according to the particular culture at your workplace, as well as what kind of balance between work and home life you are looking for. Whatever the norm is in your office, you can still draw up your own boundaries. Start by making a list of the things you don't want to discuss with your colleagues.  This might include things such as your love life, any medical conditions, religion and political views.  Think about what things you are not comfortable with or just not interested in discussing with your colleagues. Don't publicise your list, but keep it as a mental reminder to yourself so you can excuse yourself from conversations you would rather avoid. There are a number of questions that, by law, your employers cannot ask you about. These are questions about your background and life which could lead to discrimination. For example, your employer cannot ask you how old you are, whether you have any disabilities, or whether you are married or not.  If someone does ask you these questions at work, it is your right not to answer them. Other questions you don't have to answer are:  Are you a US citizen? Do you take drugs, smoke or drink? What is your religion? Are you pregnant? What is your race? If you are trying to keep your work and private life separate then you need to avoid bringing your private life into the office with you. This means cutting downs on private calls and emails from the office. Occasional calls to make an appointment with the hairdresser or dentist are fine, but if you are frequently heard on the phone talking about your private life, not only will your colleagues most likely overhear you, but they may ask you about the conversation.  Excessive personal calls may also displease your boss and colleagues who think you are not working hard enough. If you don't want to receive work calls at home, don't get into the habit of making personal calls at work. It can be easier said than done, but you should try to leave your home life at home and switch to the strictly professional version of you at work. You might find that getting a routine or daily habit to mark the transition between work and home life will help you to do this. For example, a short walk before and after work could have you mentally separate these two spheres of your life.  Your commute could be a time in which you try to switch your thoughts from home life to work. Just like limiting personal calls at work, if you walk in each morning with a clear mind not thinking or talking about your personal life you will not invite questions from colleagues. If you look stressed or upset, or you walk into the office while on the phone to your partner, don't be surprised if your colleagues ask you about it. Think of this as actively managing your relationship between work life and home life.

Summary: Decide what not to talk about. Know what employers cannot ask you. Cut out personal calls at work. Leave domestic affairs at home.


You'll need to decide between sanded and unsanded grout. Which you choose will depend on the size of the gaps between your tiles. Use sanded grout for gaps bigger than 3mm and unsanded grout for smaller gaps. Mix the grout according to the packaging directions. You might want to mix in additives to make it more water resistant or add color that matches better with your tile. Only mix as much as you can apply in about 20 minutes, since you don't want it drying out. Using a grout float, spread the grout over the area to be grouted (working in a small area at a time, again). Hold the float at a 45 degree angle and spread across the gaps at an angle as well. Spreading parallel to the grout lines can gouge out the grout. Remove as much of the excess from the tile faces using the grout float as you can at this time. Let the grout cure for 20 minutes. Using a damp sponge, gently wipe down the tiles and grout lines to remove the excess. Clean just a small area, rinse, wring, and start again. You want to keep the sponge as clean and dry as possible. Leave the grout to cure for 3 hours before starting the next section. Keep repeating this process until the entire surface is done. You might want to clean off any remaining residue once the grout has cured using an old sock or dry rag. Seal the grout and then reseal the grout every six months. Each sealant is different but generally they are a wax-like substance which you apply to a rag or sponge and then rub into the grout in a circular motion.

Summary: Choose a grout. Mix the grout. Spread the grout. Let the grout sit for 20 minutes. Clean the grout. Let the grout cure. Repeat until the surface is grouted. Seal the grout.


Add 1 teaspoon (4.5 g) of coconut oil, ¼ teaspoon (1.75 g) of honey, and 2 teaspoons (8 g) of sugar to a small bowl. Stir the ingredients together until they form a thick, grainy paste.  Organic virgin coconut oil works best for the scrub. It’s often easier to mix the sugar in with the coconut oil and honey if you use a fork instead of a spoon. Once the coconut oil mixture is fully blended, mix in 3 to 4 drops of peppermint essential oil. Stir well with the fork to ensure that the peppermint oil is mixed throughout the scrub. If you don’t have peppermint essential oil, you can substitute peppermint extract. When the scrub is completely mixed, spoon it into a container that holds at least 1 ounce (28 g). To use the scrub, massage a small amount over your lips in a circular motion for approximately 30 seconds and lick it off when you’re done. To maximize the benefits of the scrub, follow up with a moisturizing lip balm.
Summary: Mix the coconut oil, honey, and sugar. Add the peppermint oil. Transfer the scrub to a small container.