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Knitting is great for expressing your creativity because it’s fun and easy to get the hang of. However, it can be just as easy to fall into a rut and feel like you’re not making any progress. Bored of knitting squares? Are the patterns too confusing? Luckily, with a nudge in the right direction, you can tackle all manner of projects and impress not only your family and friends, but yourself. 1. Choose the right level of difficulty What makes a knitting project difficult? To newer knitters, more types of stitches and bigger items might seem harder--think cable sweaters. However, this is far from true. Size only correlates to your patience. If you don’t like long projects, forcing yourself to tackle a full-size blanket might be counterproductive. More types of stitches is a more accurate representation of difficulty, but it’s not the only factor. If you’re making something to wear, there’s a huge learning curve in making it fit. Smaller yarn can be more difficult to knit with as well. Or...

Household pets provide children with psychological, social, and even healthful benefits. While the majority of U.S households own a pet, there are parents that are unable to bring one into the equation. Many parents cannot afford the extra time out of their 9-to-5 job to care for a high-maintenance pet. The most popular household pets come with veterinary, grooming, training, and food costs that make them too costly for certain households. These drawbacks keep the most in-demand pets out of reach for many parents that have no other qualms about getting their child a pet. While many popular pets may be out of the equation, there is still hope for those who lack the time and extra money. There are still a few options that are inexpensive and low-maintenance enough for a child to care for them with little assistance. Egg Eating Snakes - Unique and constant in continuity, an egg-eating snake is a great pet for children. Most kids find them so appealing because they are exotic and are stil...

Television wall mounts are a great way to add a pleasant redesign to your living room entertainment system. Mounts are affordable, easy to purchase online, and offer many viewing opportunities other than putting the tv on a stand. But before you click on that "Buy" button, make sure you have the right tools for the job, as being prepared will save you a lot of trouble from having to touch up your damaged walls. Remember, go over your project list twice so you only have to buy once! 1. Screwdriver and Electric Screwdriver/Drill Having both a manual screwdriver (an eight-in-one set) and an electric one is great to have in your toolset. While many opt for only the electric screwdriver, using the old hand turn screwdriver is good for making sure you do not strip a screw and ensure the screw goes evenly into the TV mounting bracket or wall. Once the screw is started, an electric screwdriver can finish the job with ease, and multi-use power tools can be used for drilling holes when...

Lately, your dog has been licking a spot on his leg. You try to look closer, and you notice a cut with dried blood around it. Being a devoted owner, you take him to the veterinarian immediately. To keep your dog from licking his wound, there are several methods: Tegaderm/Transparent Dressings (which is more of an arm bandage that goes around body parts), liquid bandages that last up to 7 days; spray-on liquid bandages that last up to 3 days; and finally, strip adhesive liquid bandage which can be used on most areas of the body and dries very quickly. However, if the cut is wet and bleeding profusely, make sure to clean it with saline and apply the strip adhesive liquid bandage. While you're at the vet, tell them of your predicament and ask if there is a product that will help your dog from licking his wound. If your dog just began licking recently, then chances are that he's trying to get rid of an itch or irritant that may have irritated him before the cut happened. It could b...

Adequate security measures can protect both tenants and landlords from unexpected dangers, inconveniences and expenses. If you own an apartment house, this checklist may help you take the right precautions. Renters can use it to evaluate buildings before they move. - Confirm that outdoor light fixtures work correctly and contain bulbs that still function. Exterior doors ought to benefit from sufficient lighting throughout the night. Many criminals avoid highly visible entrances. - Install deadbolt locks in all of the units. It's best if every outer door has two separate locks. This makes it more difficult and time-consuming to break into an apartment, increasing the likelihood that police will apprehend a thief. - Quickly repair any damaged doors or windows. They should shut tightly and have no missing panes of glass. Burglars may target a building if they see windows covered with cardboard or plastic. All locks ought to work properly as well. - Remember to trim plants near doors a...

It's certainly vital to adequately illuminate a parking lot. This reduces pedestrian injuries and vehicle accidents while enhancing security. It also makes the area look more inviting to potential visitors. However, excessive or poorly designed exterior lighting can become harmful, and it often wastes energy and creates light pollution. Negative Impacts Unnecessary outdoor light is detrimental in numerous ways. It interferes with nearby residents' ability to sleep, obscures the nighttime sky, and harms wildlife. Although brighter illumination should improve visibility, the resulting glare can actually reduce it. Wasteful power consumption boosts electric bills and contributes to air pollution. Effective Solutions The good news is that parking lot owners have successfully used various methods to mitigate these problems. They can create sufficient rather than excessive lighting by choosing appropriate light sizes, brightness levels, aiming, and placement. It's crucial to targ...

Your business could use custom engraved wall signs for a wide variety of purposes. They can label rooms, provide warnings, give directions, or inform people about company policies. The text might range from "Waiting area" to "Turn ringers off, please." Either way, this eye-catching signage offers an assortment of valuable benefits. Many Options You can choose one of multiple materials, such as wood, metal, or plastic. Reflective metal surfaces and various solid colors are available. Depending on your organization's specific needs and the desired location, it's possible to customize a sign for greater visibility, affordability, ruggedness, or water resistance. Appearance The attractive look and permanence of engraved wall signage impresses potential customers and employees. It makes your business appear much more professional and helps assure people of the firm's legitimacy. Generic mass-produced signs, hand-written placards, and printed posters often hav...

Heat pumps have always provided an efficient way to warm and cool buildings, but they've come a long way in recent decades. Today's equipment is more versatile, works well in a wider range of locations, and costs substantially less to operate. Efficiency The U.S. government began requiring heat pumps to have a seasonal energy efficiency rating of at least 10 in 1992. It increased this number to 13 in 2006 and 14 in 2015. Consequently, modern systems must produce much more warmth for every watt of power they consume. Climate At one time, it was only possible to use costly ground-source heat pumps in northern locations. They require excavation and a fairly large lot. Air-source equipment has evolved and now works well at lower temperatures. This makes today's heat pump technology more affordable in cold climates. Components In recent times, manufacturers have introduced fan motors that can run at more than one speed. This improvement helps the equipment last longer while cons...

You can find built-in refrigerators in some of the more luxurious home kitchens. Although they cost far more than basic appliances and often require professional installation, certain models have become less expensive in recent years. Built-in units provide homeowners with four major benefits: 1. This type of appliance features a sleek, well-integrated appearance. It has the same depth as the cabinets, so it doesn't protrude into the kitchen. Some owners install panels that match their cabinet surfaces, giving the room an even more seamless look. 2. Built-ins have wider, taller, and shallower dimensions. This makes more of the food visible because it isn't hidden behind other items. Consequently, you can access ingredients quickly and easily. You might remember leftovers more often and not let them spoil. 3. Most built-in refrigerators are manufactured to especially high standards of quality by trusted, well-established appliance makers. You can rely on them to function predict...

Teaching is a profession in which you are expected to give 110% of yourself all of the time. If you go to take a day off, you're reminded that "even the best sub is no substitute for you." It doesn't matter that you have diphtheria, your ox died, or your wagon axle broke. Your students need YOU. All the time. Every day. Being a parent is another full-time job that expects all of you, all of the time. Society loves to remind parents that those babies are always watching, always learning, and "don't blink, mama, one day you're going to miss this." How then are teacher-parents to meet the expectations of both of these demanding yet fulfilling roles? Set Reasonable Expectations You're not going to get everything done in a day. You're just not. We have this idea that teachers (and parents) are these super-human beings who can get 72 hours' worth of work crammed into a 24 hour day. It's false. At the beginning of your day, look at your to-d...