Quickly identify something you can schedule during the party or event in question, and ruefully claim you've already scheduled something else. If you are not known for being quick on your feet, pause for a moment and say you're thinking about whether or not you are free, or rifle through your phone or calendar while you try to come up with something. You can say something such as "I have a doctor's appointment that day, I'm so sorry!" This is key to successfully pulling off this ruse. Actually scheduling something at the same time will make keeping up the pretense of your story extremely easy. If you claim a social or work appointment, you can even take a photo or recording of your presence at said appointment to upload to Instagram or Facebook. Actually go once you've scheduled an appointment! This is a great way to complete a task you've pushed aside or avoided, as you have no way to back out of it. If someone later asks how your appointment went, you won't have to fumble for an explanation: you'll be able to honestly describe how your day or evening went. Choose an appointment that is not readily rescheduled. A hair appointment, for instance, can likely be pushed to another time, but a doctor's appointment is harder to reschedule. Once the event has passed, if you see the host or person who invited you, ask about the event, how it went, who was there, etc. Be gracious in hearing about what transpired. After you discuss the party, once again express your regret that you had something else scheduled, and finish your conversation with something such as, "I'm sorry I wasn't able to come--it sounds like a great party." Be sincere. If you cannot think of something nice to say, you can just apologize and leave it at that.
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One-sentence summary -- Be quick on your feet. Schedule something at the same time. Go to your appointment, date, etc. Express interest in hearing about the event. Express your regrets at having had plans.

Q: Use extra ripe mangoes for easier slicing. Try to get Champagne mangoes (also called Ataulfo, yellow, or baby mangoes) or Manila/Philippine or Mexican mangoes. These are oblong-shaped golden yellow mangoes with very thin skin. They are sweet and not fibrous. You may need to venture to an Asian of Latin market during the summer months to find them. If you have trouble finding the right mangoes, you can still use any mangoes you can find as long as they are nice and ripe! Make sure you peel your mangoes first. Mango skin is bitter, and you don't want this ingredient in your cake. Place small slices of mango into a blender with 12 cup (120mL) of water. Blend until smooth. In a chilled bowl, use an electric mixer to whip the cream into soft peaks (about 3 minutes). Add the condensed milk. Continue to mix the cream and slowly pour the condensed milk into the bowl. Whip to firm peaks. Add the vanilla extract and mango puree. Add a small amount of honey if your mangoes are a little tart, or if you prefer a sweeter overall cake. Use a baking pan with a removable bottom for ease in serving. Line the parchment paper along the bottom and the sides of the pan to allow for easy cake removal. Line the baking pan with a layer of graham crackers. Cut the crackers to fit the pan. Pour 1/3 of your sweetened whipped cream mixture onto your graham cracker lined pan. Use a rubber spatula to evenly distribute the cream. Spread them evenly and use about 1/3 of your mango and almond slices. Repeat this twice to create 2 more layers. On the third layer, add the maraschino cherries for garnish. Add all the mango and almond slices you have left. You can add as many mango slices as you have available. Place a layer of plastic wrap over the top of the pan and put it in the fridge for at least 4 hours. Let the cake chill overnight for the best results. Chilling your cake allows for the cream to soften the graham crackers, creating a sponge-cake like texture. The whipped cream will firm up a bit and turn into a rich, luscious frosting. You can also freeze your mango float for more of an ice cream cake like texture. Freezing your cake will soften the graham cracker but also allow the cream to freeze. Gently grab the edges of the parchment paper and lift the mango float out of the pan. Slice and serve.
A: Slice mangoes. Puree 1 cup (100 g) of mango. Mix the heavy whipping cream. Line a 9-inch (22.86-cm) square baking pan with parchment paper. Add cream to your pan. Arrange mango slices and sliced almonds onto the cream. Cover and chill. Enjoy!

Article: The focal point of a room is not always the wall you see when you first walk in. Go with the wall that you want to draw attention to because it's interesting or unique in some way. For example, in a room with a fireplace, accent the fireplace wall. If you have built-in bookshelves, an interesting nook, wainscoting, or something else architecturally distinctive, highlight those elements. In a bedroom, the wall behind your headboard is a good choice for an accent wall. If you have a unique sofa, dramatic artwork, or another bold piece in the room, accent the wall behind it. Think about how you plan to decorate the space and what furniture you have to work with. That way, you can use those elements and the accent wall to create a focal point in the room. If you're working with a brand new and unfurnished space, the accent wall will determine the color scheme for the rest of the room, so keep that in mind. For example, if you have a collection of framed family photos you want to hang, showcase them against the backdrop of the accent wall. Gorgeous indoor plants can also serve as focal points. If you have a special plant or had your eye on something at the nursery, spotlight it with an accent wall. Accent walls look best against solid walls that have no openings, such as windows and doors. If you have large, open windows with a view of beautiful scenery, that wall isn't necessarily a good wall to accent. The accent color may distract more than accentuate it. Natural light from large windows can also alter how the paint color looks on the wall, and you may not like the results. This isn't a hard and fast rule, so if you have your heart set on accenting the wall with windows or a door, do it. If you're working with a long, skinny room, avoid accenting either of the long walls. The accent color will make them feel even longer, throwing the room off balance. Accenting the farthest short wall will make that wall appear closer to you and balance the oblong shape of the room. Overall, this creates a more proportionate vibe in your space. If you aren't interested in proportions or if you want to emphasize the length of a room, ignore this advice. These are just basic rules of thumb. You have total artistic freedom, so feel free to break any "rule" you want.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Find the natural focal point in the room. Create a focal point if the room doesn't have one. Go with a solid wall without windows or doors. Select the farthest short wall in an oblong room.