Shark teeth have a pointy top and a thin body. Most teeth along the beach or shoreline are 1/8" to 3/4" but you can often locate larger teeth further out in the ocean. Some teeth look like a triangle without a top, some are more Y-shaped. Identification can sometimes be difficult because the tooth characteristics can change depending on the location of the tooth in the jaw, and the age or sex of the shark. Many fossilized shark teeth are black. These are what you are most likely to find along the beach. Other less common colors of shark teeth are gray or brown. Modern shark teeth are usually white in color on the tooth and the root, they are seldom found along the shoreline.  Remember everything you find that is triangular isn't a shark tooth, they could be rocks or stones so be sure that you know the looks of a tooth. Look for any souvenir shops near the beach. They may have some shark teeth for sale so you can see an example of what you are searching for. Shark teeth can often be found in easily on top of the loose sediment. It might be hard to spot among the shells and pebbles. If you just look on top of the sand you might not have a lot of luck. If you do not spot any teeth on the surface, you will need to start digging. Bring some tools. You might want a shovel, trowel, or bucket. You will probably want something to sift sand with, like a colander or strainer. Dig in a place where sand is unusually elevated. Teeth won't always be on the surface. Sand constantly covers up old sand with new sand. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty. If you aren't having much luck on the beach, try moving out into the shallows. Bring your strainer and reach down below the surface and scoop up some sediment. Sift through the sediment to see what you find. While shark teeth are the big catch, keep an eye out for other cool items like stingray, porpoise, or crocodile teeth. You might find some cool shells, too. You can search more terrain off the shoreline when you go diving and you might find some larger, older shark teeth by searching a little further from the beach. Don't just glance at an area of sand and move on. Finding sharks teeth usually takes a bit of time and persistence. Waves may bring in new teeth, so it is a good idea to check areas multiple times. A single shark can produce up to 25,000 teeth over a lifetime, so there are plenty of them out there to be found.

Summary: Learn what shark teeth look like. Look for the color black. Scan along the shore and in the shallow waters. Scoop up some sand near the water's edge. Search in the water. Consider renting some scuba diving equipment. Be patient.


You can visit the IRS website to learn about issues related to taxes and prepare and file your taxes easily (http://www.irs.gov/). If your AGI is $66,000 or less, then you are eligible for this program.  An alternative free filing system for those with an AGI below $66,000 is https://www.myfreetaxes.com/. A website that provides free tax filing, regardless of your AGI, is https://www.creditkarma.com/. If you do not qualify for free filing, then visit the more popular online filing systems that charge a fee. There are many websites that offer online tax filing, which differ according to price.  eSmart tax (https://www.esmarttax.com/) offers tax filing packages depending on complexity. They offer tiers of service from free filings for simple 1040s up to $69.95 for more complicated returns (such as business filings). TurboTax (https://turbotax.intuit.com/) is the largest internet tax filing service and incredibly reliable. It offers easy-to-follow instructions as well as information importing, allowing you to import your tax information directly to their site. The most basic package allows for free filings of the 1040. The Premier service costs $79.99. The TurboTax service offers live review with a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or EA (Enrolled Agent) H&R Block (https://www.hrblock.com/) is the second largest internet tax filing system after TurboTax and is equally helpful. They offer a basic package for free. If you are a wage-earner whose employer withholds taxes, then you should look at Basic packages.  Those who freelance and receive 1099 forms should pursue the Deluxe, or other mid-tier, packages. Filers with real estate investments and capital gains or losses should use the Premier, or higher-tier, packages. Most online filing systems will also file your state taxes, but a separate fee may apply.  If you use a basic edition of TurboTax, you can file your state taxes for free. With the H&R Block free package, a state filing will cost an additional $29.99.

Summary: Visit websites that allow you to file for free. Choose a low-fee filing service. Determine the package you need. Remember to also file state taxes.


To make sure you don’t wash away the colors with a wet method, you should test a small part of your silk plant. Spray a mix of alcohol and water on one leaf. Blot the leaf dry and see if any of the dye or paint comes off the plant. If the plant loses color, you should go with a dry cleaning method, such as vacuuming, instead of a wet cleaning method. Use a mix of isopropyl alcohol and water, in a one to one ratio. Fill the mixture in a spray bottle. Spray your plants with the solution to remove any dust or grime. The alcohol will help the plants air dry quickly. Fill the sink with cold water. Then, add a squirt of dishwashing liquid. Wash each petal and flower individually. Swish each one in the cold water and then place on a rack to dry. If there is a lot of grime, you should avoid rubbing too vigorously, since it could damage the plant. After using any wet cleaning method, you should use a clean, soft cloth to blot the petals and flowers dry. Avoid a rubbing motion, which could damage the plant. When you have finished drying the petals and flowers, you can put them back on the plant.

Summary: Do a colorfast test. Mix equal parts isopropyl alcohol and water to make a cleaner. Clean your silk flowers and stems in the sink. Blot your plant dry.


Since grilling is traditionally done outside, this is a great option for your garden party. You can grill burgers, lobster, steak, or skewers for your party. Set up your grill before the party and make sure you have enough propane and any food you are grilling. You can have summer themed dishes at your garden party. Have potato salad, watermelon, fruit salad, or cucumber salad. Consider having finger food. It is nice for guests to have easily portable food so they can wander around and mingle while they eat. Good finger food options are cheese plates, mini empanadas, and cucumber stacks. Have dessert ready for your guests. You can make something yourself or buy something store made to save time. Macaroons, fruit tarts, cupcakes, and key lime pie are great dessert options for a garden party. Get the dessert ready ahead of time and set it up on a dessert stand. Have a variety of drinks for your guests. Iced tea is a classic garden party drink. You can make a large tub of it for not that much. Flavored lemonade (such as raspberry, blackberry, or strawberry) is another great garden party drink. Serve mojitos or margaritas if you want to serve cold alcoholic drinks.
Summary: Get ready to grill. Prepare side dishes. Get dessert. Prepare cold drinks.