Use a small amount of sandboard wax on the bottom of the board. Rub the wax across the board from the back to the top and a small amount of the edges of the board. Take a handful of dry sand and rub it over the wax to help smooth it out. Apply sand to the board until it no longer sticks on the wax. Slide the board back and forth in the sand, bottom down, so the board glides easily in the sand. Do not use wet sand on the board, as this can cause your board to stick to the sand as you ride. Make sure you are facing in the direction you are heading down the dune. Keep your arms and legs tucked into the center of the board. You will need to use a sandboard with no bindings to be able to lie down on your belly comfortably. Sit down and strap your feet into the bindings. Make sure your dominant foot is in front of the board, pointing in the direction you are heading down the dune. You should be able to rock back on your heels when you are strapped into the bindings. Look for a dune with dry sand that has a 4 to 5m (13 to 16ft) slope. Make sure there are no shrubs, sticks, shells, or obstructions around the dune or at the bottom of the dune. If you are standing on the board, keep your weight centered and your knees slightly bent. Shift your weight forward and keep your hips and shoulders stacked on top of each other. Turn your head in the direction you are heading and keep your arms relaxed at your sides. If you are lying on your belly, keep your body in the center of the board, with your legs tucked in and your chin up. If you are standing, tip your weight slightly forward and slide the board until it moves down the dune. If you are lying on your belly, use your hands to push yourself off the dune. If you are standing, allow the board to pick up speed as you ride down the dune, keeping your back leg strong and your weight in the center of the board. If you are lying on your belly, keep your arms and legs tucked in and your chin up as you slide down the dune. Avoid leaning forward or shifting your weight too far forward as you ride. Stretch your hands out to help you balance as you ride. You should slow down as you reach the bottom of the dune and come to a gradual stop. There are usually no lifts to carry you back up to the dunes so you will have to run back up the dune on your own. Do another run on the same hill to get the hang of sandboarding. Then, challenge yourself to do a bigger dune or a dune with a bigger slope. You may need to wax your board again between runs to keep it smooth and help it to slide on the sand.

Summary: Wax the bottom of the sandboard. Lie down on your belly for a less strenuous run. Stand with your feet in the bindings for a more challenging run. Start on a small dune with a flat starting point. Place your board downhill. Push off the dune to gain speed. Keep your weight centered as you ride down the dune. Run back up the dune with your board to do a second run.

Try one of the following recipes to provide food enrichment that will provide mental stimulation -- and fun! -- for your bird. Punch a hole through a rice cake and hang from a string. Parrot breeds especially enjoy pecking and foraging their way through this treat. Fill a paper lunch sack with nuts, pellets, dried pasta, and/or dried fruit. Tie the sack with a piece of ribbon or string and hang in your bird's cage. Especially eager foragers might enjoy the challenge of a double-bagged sack. Combine chopped walnuts, sunflower seeds, diced pears and apples, and granola and add enough honey and peanut butter to create a sticky mixture. Slather a clean pine cone with the mixture, then roll in millet seeds. Hang in your bird's cage. This enrichment treat is especially popular with parakeets. Just as humans have preferences, your bird will gravitate toward particular flavors and textures. While the list of treat recipes is almost endless, considering categories is helpful. Use your observations to craft homemade bird treats that will delight your pet. If your bird refuses to eat raw vegetables, try feeding it cooked versions. Offer nutritious foods in different shapes. Many birds enjoy peeling their own fruits and vegetables, so offer peas in the pod, oranges with rind, or apples with skin. Quinoa-based treats provide a wonderful source of avian nutrition. Many pet lovers have developed recipes for "birdie bread"; a quick Web search will reveal a wide variety of options. Blend fruit mixtures with ice or fruit juice. Human baby food is also a handy ingredient. Try mixing 1/2 cup sunflower seeds, 1 cup mixed walnuts and peanuts, 1/2 dried fruit, and 1 T. dry, hard corn kernels. Store in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dry place.

Summary: Use food for mental enrichment. Watch which foods attract your bird. Trick picky eaters by altering the shape or temperature of their food. Make grain-based treats for birds who are grain enthusiasts. Prepare smoothies and other fruit-based treats for birds who love sweet flavors. Assemble nut, seed, and dried-fruit treats to suit a variety of birds' needs.

All lawns have an ideal grass height that promotes healthy growth. Depending on climate and geography, your ideal grass height is between 1/4 inch (0.635 cm) and 3 inches (7.62 cm). Talk to a landscaping expert or a professional at your local home and garden retailer to get an understanding of the type of grass you have and how high it should grow. Keep grass a little bit longer when in doubt. This will provide shade to your lawn, depriving potential weeds of sunlight. This will eliminate weed heads before they are allowed to mature or germinate in your lawn. Use a weed whacker or a trimmer on the weeds that grow at the edge of your lawn every time you mow. The cover will keep the ground cool and deprived of sunlight, discouraging the growth of new weeds.
Summary: Determine the ideal height of your grass. Mow your lawn as regularly as necessary to keep grass at its ideal height. Spread stones or mulch around your flower beds to prevent weeds from growing.