To sweeten a drink without leaving sugar granules to sink in the glass, bartenders dissolve the sugar in water to make a simple syrup. You'll want to start with granulated sugar (or superfine/caster sugar, which will dissolve faster), but choosing the variety depends on your cocktail:  White sugar creates a clear syrup, which won't discolor white spirits such as vodka and gin. Raw sugar has a rich, molasses flavor, excellent in many drinks based on whiskey, rum, or other dark spirits. Turbinado and demerara are two similar sugars commonly used in cocktails. If you're following mixing instructions that call for simple syrup, the author probably means 1 part sugar to 1 part water. Many bartenders prefer a "rich simple syrup" of 1.5 or 2 parts sugar to 1 part water. This lets you sweeten a cocktail with less syrup per drink, reducing the amount of water in the cocktail. A rich simple syrup also lasts longer in the fridge, up to several months. "Simple syrup" may refer to the 2:1 recipe in the UK. For more accuracy, weigh the ingredients on a kitchen scale to get the ratio you chose. If you don't have a kitchen scale, you can use measuring cups instead. Most cocktails use ⅛ cup (30 mL) simple syrup or less. Most home mixers can safely start with 1 cup (240 mL) water, unless they have party plans. Turn the stove to medium heat. Stir constantly until the sugar has completely dissolved, with no granules visible. This usually only takes a few minutes, but a larger or more sugar-saturated batch may take longer. Don't let the mixture boil, as this will evaporate water and throw off your careful measurements. As soon as all the sugar has dissolved, remove the syrup from the heat. Let cool to room temperature before using. Simple syrup works wonders in practically any cocktail that calls for a sweetener. Here are a few examples:  Long Island iced tea Any mojito recipe Daiquiri Holy Poli

Summary: Start with white or raw granulated sugar. Decide on a sugar:water ratio. Combine sugar and water in a saucepan. Heat slowly while stirring. Let cool. Use the syrup in cocktail recipes.


Pick a vase that will rise up to cover at least half the height of the tulips you've brought home. They'll be able to lean against the vase without bending over. If you use a shorter vase, the flowers will eventually bend forward. This is an effect some people like, but it may cause the flowers to die more quickly. Make sure it doesn't have sediment leftover from your last bouquet. Use soap and warm water to wash it thoroughly, then dry it completely with a towel. This way your fresh tulips won't pick up bacteria that could case them to start rotting more quickly. Cold water will keep the stems fresh and crisp, while warm or hot water would cause them to become weak and soggy. around the vase. Arrange the tulips so that they each have a little space in the vase, rather than leaning them all on top of one another. Giving them each a little room will prevent them from crushing one another, which will lead to premature petal drop-page and shorten the lifespan of your flowers. Tulips drink up a lot of water. Make sure it never completely runs out, or they'll begin to wilt very quickly. The addition of flower food, or flower preservative, which is available at flower shops, will greatly lengthen your flowers' lifespan. Read the directions and sprinkle in some food when you add water. It'll keep your tulips standing tall and looking perky for as long as possible. You can try putting lemon juice, pennies, and other such materials in the vase with the flowers. Some say these tricks work, but research shows that flower food is much more effective. Daffodils and other flowers in this family exude a substance that causes flowers to fade faster. Tulips work best in a vase all by themselves. Place it in an area that doesn't get too hot and sunny. Otherwise, the tulips will wilt in the heat.

Summary: Choose a suitable vase. Wash the vase. Fill the vase with cold water.  Position the stems Keep the vase filled with fresh water. Add some flower food. Don't style tulips with flowers in the Narcissus family. Keep the vase out of the sun.


Time yourself running for 60 seconds. As you run, count how many times your feet strike the ground. Calculating how many steps you take per minute will give you an idea of what your cadence currently is and how much you need to improve. Most runners have a cadence of 150-170 steps per minute, while elite runners will often have a cadence of over 180. A stride is two steps—one by each foot. Divide your steps per minute by two to find your stride per minute. Most running analyses use steps per minute, but you may find strides per minute more convenient for your training. You only need a few minutes of film. Find a track or a treadmill where you can run at your optimal speed. It is best to ask a friend or a coach to hold the camera for you. You can also try using a tripod, although it may not catch the full length of your run. You may need to watch the footage several times. Upload the video onto a computer or TV so that you can see your form in large detail. When reviewing the footage, pay special attention to your knee, head, and shoulder placement. You may compare your running form to professional and elite runners. You will need to correct any mistakes in form or style before you can start to improve your stride. Ask yourself:   How high do you drive your knees? What is your posture like? How fast are you running? Do you land on your forefoot, midfoot, or heel? While there is some debate on what is the best foot strike, it is generally agreed that you should avoid landing on your heel. You may need to reform your foot strike to a more consistent style.   A forefoot strike will cause the least amount of shock on your body. You land on the balls of your feet before rotating back on your midfoot or heel. Your foot will rotate forward again to propel your next stride. A midfoot strike spreads the impact throughout your foot. It will look like you are landing flat on your feet or that you are landing on both the ball and heel of your feet. A good midfoot strike will land on the outside of the foot.  A heel strike can cause stress and injury. Your foot will land on the heel and rock forward to propel your body on the ball of your foot. If you do not have not a good form, you may not be reaching your full running potential. Each time you watch your video, look at a different part of your body, and see if you need to correct any mistakes.   Your head should be looking straight ahead, not down at your feet or at the track. Your shoulders should be down and relaxed, not tight and scrunched up by your neck. Your arms should be relaxed, and they should be moving backwards and forwards, not sideways. Keep your arms positioned between your chest and lower waist. Your back should be straight. You should be leaning slightly forward, centered over your hips. You should not be leaning back. Different styles of running will require different techniques. Training is a highly individual process, and what works for some may not work for others. Understand what your needs are so that you can improve your stride using the techniques best for you.   Sprinters will want to increase their stride length. High knee lifts and hip exercises will be most beneficial. Mid-distance runners may want to improve both stride length and rate. They will need to focus on glute, hamstring, hip, and core exercises. Endurance runners may want a shorter stride length and a faster stride rate. They will want to work on core, glutes, and hamstrings. If you’ve had an injury, you may want to avoid widening your stride length, focusing instead on proper form and stride speed.
Summary: Count your steps per minute. Film yourself running. Review the film of your running. Watch your foot strike. Examine your form. Determine your running style.