After removing wax residue, gently apply a cooling aloe vera gel. This will soothe the irritated skin and lessen inflammation. The area will be a bit red and sore for a few hours, which is totally normal. If your bikini area is looking pretty inflamed, dab a small amount of over-the-counter cortisone cream on the area. A formula with 1% cortisone is usually best. If you have a beach or pool day planned, it's best to wax your bikini line the day before and give your skin a few hours to calm down first. The sun will worsen irritation of just-waxed skin, and salt water and chlorine will sting quite a bit. Exfoliating right after waxing isn't usually recommended, since the skin is very sensitive and a bit irritated. Once tenderness subsides (within a day or 2), use a gentle exfoliating scrub on the area while you're in the shower. Rub gently in circular motions and rinse the area thoroughly. Try to come up with a routine waxing schedule and stick to it. If you go longer than 3 or 4 weeks, your hair will be too long and waxing will be more painful. Staying on a strict waxing cycle also helps your skin build tolerance to the pain. Don't wax before your period. This is when you are the most sensitive to pain.

Summary: Apply an aloe vera gel to soothe just-waxed skin. Treat redness and swelling with a cortisone cream. Avoid direct sunlight on the area for 24 hours. Exfoliate the area gently to keep ingrown hairs at bay. Wax the area every 3 to 4 weeks, as needed.


On ceramic disc faucets, the screw cover is near the bottom of the handle. Lift the handle up and you will see it. Slip the end of a knife behind it and gently pry it off. Stick the Allen wrench into the hole under the screw cover. Turn the screw counterclockwise to loosen and remove the handle. Underneath the handle, you will find a metal cap. Wrap the pliers around the top end and twist the cap counterclockwise to remove it. Next, you will see the disc cartridge plastic cover. Look for 3 holes around the outside edge. Use a Phillips screwdriver to turn the screws counterclockwise and remove them. Lift the disc cartridge out of the faucet afterwards. Flip over the cartridge to find the rubber seals. They may look worn or broken. Bring the rings into a home improvement or hardware store to find replacements, then insert them into the holes under the cartridge.  If the rubber seals are dirty but not broken, try scrubbing them with a microfiber cloth or soaking them in vinegar to clean them. Ceramic disc faucets are designed to last a long time, so they usually come with a long warranty. Check your owner’s manual, if you have it, and you may be able to get the faucet repaired at no cost. The last part in the faucet is a plastic ring. Use a screwdriver to lift it and find the rings underneath it. Replace the rings if they look damaged by fitting new ones into the disc’s holes. Check the holes in the faucet’s base for any signs of mineral buildup. Dampen a microfiber cloth with vinegar, then scrub the holes to clean them. This shouldn’t be too difficult if you remember the correct order for the pieces. Replace the plastic disc first, followed by the cartridge, the cap, and then the handle. Remember to screw the cartridge and handle in place. If the faucet still leaks, the cartridge may be cracked. Take it to the hardware store to order a replacement. Remember to check your warranty to avoid paying for this expensive part.

Summary: Remove the screw cover with knife. Use an Allen wrench to remove the handle. Twist off the metal cap with pliers. Use a screwdriver to remove the disc cartridge. Replace the rubber seals in the cartridge. Replace the o-rings on the plastic disc. Clean the holes in the faucet with vinegar. Reassemble the faucet.


To start making this easy booklet, grab an ordinary piece of 8 1/2 x 11" paper (the size used in most printers) and a pair of scissors. Fold the paper in half with a "hamburger" fold — in other words, your fold should make the paper shorter and fatter, not longer and skinnier.

Summary: Fold an 8 1/2 x 11" piece of paper in half hamburger-style.


If you’re using only one pancake per plate in order to make Santa’s head, set your pancake closer to one edge. Leave yourself plenty of room up top to create a large hat to fill your plate. If using two pancakes for a head and body respectively, do the same and place Santa’s feet as close to one edge as possible. For each pancake, set two chocolate chips where his eyes would be. Or, to make them stand out even more (and to add more flavor and vitamins to your meal), slice up a banana. Lay out a slice for each eye first, then top each with a chip. If you trimmed a second pancake down to make Santa’s body, you could also cut two circles out of that and set the chips on top of those instead of bananas. Use your favorite red fruit to add some color to his face. Trim a strawberry into a nose shape and set in between his eyes. Center a fresh raspberry or cherry in his face. Or, instead of fresh fruit, scoop out whole chunks from pie filling and use those. Again, if you have excess left from cutting an outline of Santa’s body, you could also use these to shape a nose if fruit isn’t your thing. Use more banana slices or scrap pieces of pancake to shape ears on either side of his head. Load a liquid dropper with compote or red food coloring and give each cheek a drop of red to give Santa a blush from the wintry cold. Melt some extra chocolate chips and then draw a mouth, eyebrows, wrinkles, dimples, and/or laugh-lines with a toothpick. If you created a body, too, use a food brush to paint his boots, belt, and/or gloves with the chocolate while it’s still melted.
Summary: Arrange your pancakes on a plate. Give Santa some eyes. Add a nose. Go the extra mile with detail.