INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You have probably been in a taxing conversation in which it felt like you were pulling teeth (or were having your teeth pulled) just to get answers. Generally, if you make use of open-ended questions and answers, you can keep a conversation going longer and gain more insight about the other person.  For example, it might not be a good idea to ask, "How was work?" There's a chance the other person could respond with "fine" and the conversation falls flat. If you ask, "What happened at work that was exciting this week?" there's much more room to expand the conversation. The same goes when providing answers. If someone asks you a closed-ended question, challenge yourself to at least offer back a full sentence. For instance, if you are asked "How was work?," respond with "Work was pretty stressful this week." That way the other person has something (i.e. the fact that you were stressed) to keep the conversation alive. You can also ask about the person’s interests, favorite ways to spend free time, and good restaurants that they know about. If you’re worried about not having anything to say to people, practice a few basic conversation openers ahead of time. Good topics to chat about include the weather, food, work, or school.  For instance, you could open a conversation by saying, “This weather is so beautiful! It doesn’t feel like November at all,” or, “Have you tried the new burger restaurant down the block? I’ve heard such good things about it.” Avoid talking about touchy subjects like religion, politics, or personal issues until you know someone well. Almost everyone loves to talk about themselves. Being interested in others is a simple, pressure-free way to keep a conversation going.  Good topics to ask people about include their work, school, and kids. You might say, "Well, hello, Bill. It's been awhile. How are Nancy and the kids? They must be teenagers now!" Don’t ask questions that are too personal unless you know somebody well. Making eye contact indicates that you’re paying attention to the person you’re talking to. It also gives others the impression that you’re open and trustworthy. Try to match the level of eye contact the other person is giving you. The amount of eye contact you should make depends on your culture. In North America and most of Europe, making eye contact is considered polite. However, in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East, eye contact can be seen as aggressive, flirtatious, or impolite. Being asked to repeat yourself can be awkward, so work on maintaining a good volume level when you talk to people. If you’re not sure whether you tend to speak too quietly, ask a friend or family member what they think. If more than one person has told you to speak up more, you probably need to work on being louder.

SUMMARY: Stick to open-ended questions and answers. Think up a few  conversation starters ahead of time. Ask people about themselves. Make eye contact. Avoid speaking too softly.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Fill a saucepan with about 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) of water. Place a glass, heat-safe measuring cup into it. Bring the water to a simmer. You will need 4 tablespoons (60 grams) of shea butter, 2 tablespoons (30 grams) coconut oil, 1 tablespoon (15 grams) cocoa butter, and 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) of avocado oil. Stir the ingredients together as they melt. This will help them melt more evenly. Once everything turns liquid and no streaks remain, use a potholder to lift the measuring cup out of the pot and set it down onto a heat-safe surface. This will take several hours. Once it turns solid again, you are ready for the next step. You can speed the process up by placing the cup into the fridge. You will need 1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil (about 12 capsules), ¼ teaspoon of tea tree essential oil, and ¼ teaspoon of peppermint essential oil. If you can't find vitamin E oil in a bottle, use vitamin E oil capsules instead. Prick them with a pin first, then squeeze the oil out. You will need about 12 capsules. For more fragrance, and 1 to 2 teaspoons of peppermint extract. The lotion will turn light and fluffy, sort of like buttercream frosting. If you don't have a hand mixer, you can use a stand mixer or a food processor fitted with whisks instead. Use a rubber spatula to scoop the whipped cream into a glass jar. You can leave the top fluffy and whipped, or you can smooth it down. Store the jar in the fridge so that the cream does not melt. Use a glass jar that can hold about 4 to 6 ounces (120 to 180 milliliters). If the jar is too big, it will become inconvenient to use.

SUMMARY: Set up a double-boiler. Add some shea butter, coconut oil, cocoa butter, and avocado oil. Allow the ingredients to melt, then remove them from heat. Allow the mixture to cool and harden. Add in some vitamin E oil and essential oil. Whip everything together using a hand mixer. Transfer the cream to a glass jar, then store it in a cool place.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Unfortunately you can’t play the game if you don’t have the deck of cards. Phase 10 is made and distributed by Mattel Games, the maker of Uno. You can find the card game online at their website . If you don’t want to order online try checking your local game store. You need between two and six people to play Phase 10. It isn’t a single player game so you will need some friends who want to play with you to join in. You will want a big table with seats for everyone. The game can get pretty spread out and you are dealing a whole deck so make sure everyone has enough room. If you don’t have a suitable table you can always play on the floor.

SUMMARY:
Get your hands on a Phase 10 deck. Find people who want to play Phase 10. Find a suitable playing location.