Red stretch marks are fresh, and they can be minimized or reduced with certain products. White stretch marks are older and most creams will not change their appearance. However, good moisturizing routines will help your skin heal over time, and even white stretch marks should look less obvious. Work your inner and outer thighs using walking, pilates, yoga, barre, running, lunges and squats. Seek the help of a personal trainer to develop a leg routine that will firm the muscles underneath your stretch marks. If you have gained weight, aerobic exercise may help you shed a few pounds and take the pressure off your skin. Although firm muscles will not get rid of stretch marks, they can reduce the appearance of cellulite, which often appears in the same areas that stretch marks appear. Minimal weight loss may cause some fresh stretch marks to heal and nearly disappear. Significant weight loss may lead to excess skin on some areas of the legs. Visit your dermatologist and ask about Retin-A cream. This is used to treat red stretch marks. The active ingredient is vitamin A, which has been proven effective in reducing scarring. Your dermatologist may also prescribe topical steroids to be used with Retin-A. Healthy, moisturized skin shows blemishes less obviously than dry, irritated skin. This will also make other creams and makeups less harsh on your legs. Apply a moisturizer, such as cocoa butter, daily. If you have faint stretch marks, this might even make them virtually invisible by itself.

Summary: Note whether your stretch marks are red or white in color. Tone your legs. Get a prescription for creams or makeup. Take good care of your skin.

Once you've slipped into the dress, make sure the straps are in the front of the dress. Cross the straps before pulling each end up to your shoulders. Pull the straps down your back and then bring them back around your waist. You can tie the straps in the back or on the side. You can also twist the straps several times before wrapping them around your waist. Slip into the dress and twist the straps in the front right below your neckline. Put them on your shoulders and create a cross in the back by twisting them similar to how you twisted the straps in the front the first twist shouldn't have a keyhole while the second twist will resemble an "X." Bring the straps around to your front and then to the back as you wrap them around your waist. Tie the straps in a bow or knot in the back. Step into the dress and pull each strap up to your shoulders. Twist each strap until it becomes narrow and tight. Bring the straps over your shoulder and back under your armpits before crossing them in the front. Bring the straps to your back and tie them in a knot or a bow. After ensuring that the straps are in front of you while wearing the dress, tie a knot in each strap just below your shoulders. Bring the straps over your shoulders so that they're on your back, and then wrap them around your waist. You can tie them in the front or the back.

Summary: Use the straps to make a halter dress. Create a halter with a twist front for a thinner strap. Form a backless dress by twisting the straps. Tie knots to create a dress with thin straps.

Every child is different, but most babies can be weaned from night feedings when they are at least four to six months old. Also note that your baby should at least be 14 lbs (6.45 kg) before you drop a night feeding. Night feedings generally won't harm your baby, so if you don't see a need to drop them, you can wait until your child naturally initiates the process by sleeping through the night. Your child should eventually grow out of the night feeding phase even if you don't assist him or her, but the process will take longer. If you don't know whether or not your baby is ready to stop night feeding, talk to your child's physician. Even though babies will eventually grow out of the need by themselves, it might be necessary to drop night feedings if your own well-being depends on it. For instance, if you've returned to work and your baby's night feedings are making it impossible for you to get enough sleep, you might need to rearrange feedings so that they only occur during waking hours. No matter what, though, you need to make sure that your baby is physically ready to stop night feedings. Do not drop this part of your baby's eating routine if he or she still needs it for the sake of development. Even babies who don't need to eat in the middle of the night may still wake up during that time. Moreover, they may still expect to be fed, even if they don't actually need it. For this reason, dropping a night feed is mainly a matter of breaking the routine your baby has already grown accustomed to. Keep in mind that breastfed babies typically feed more often than bottle-fed babies. With the former, the weaning process may take longer since the baby will naturally wake up more often. Your baby might be waking up in the middle of the night to eat, but there's also a chance that he or she could be waking up for a different reason. In that case, dropping night feeds can become both difficult and impractical. Periods of external and internal transition can cause your baby to wake up in the middle of the night. For instance, if you've just recently returned to work, moved to a new home, or arrived home after an extended family vacation, the shift in attention and activity could make your baby too anxious to sleep. Major milestones can make it difficult for babies to sleep, too. Babies who have recently learned how to sit up may find it more difficult to settle back down. Babies who are teething may experience pain that keeps them awake.

Summary: Consider your baby's age. Factor in other circumstances. Understand the habit. Learn about other potential causes of night waking.

Start rolling by folding up the bottom end of the blinds. Then, continue rolling them layer by layer, applying even tension across the width of the blinds. Stop once you reach the halfway point or when you think you have a good enough start. Although you can skip this step if your blinds are short, rolling them partially up by hand will help the blinds roll up evenly. The cord is usually located on the right side of the blinds near the top. At this point, it's important that you don't let the blinds go, as they aren't secure. If you don't hold onto them, they'll unroll again. Your blinds may have a fabric or plastic cord that's used to open and close them. Both types work in the same manner. If you partially rolled your blinds by hand, you'll need to lift the cords that hold the blinds in place, which will still be down where your blinds started. Don't let go of the rolled blinds until these cords reach the bottom of the roll. Once they do, you can take your hand off of the roll and let the cords pick up from there. Some cords consist of 2 pieces, with one controlling each side. If yours is made like this, make sure the cords on both sides are equally tight before you move on. If they aren't, pull the cord that controls the loose side until it's just as tight as the tight side. Apply a light to medium tension as you pull the string so that the blinds don't come up too fast. This will help keep them neat and even as they roll up. Some blinds have an internal mechanism that holds the cord in one spot until you pull on it again. If your blinds have this feature, the cord will stay put automatically when you let go of it, so you don't need to tie off the cord. This is a built-in feature that some blinds have. It works the same way as the cord on mini blinds. Some blinds need to be tied on a hook to keep them from unrolling. If your blinds are like this, make several loops around the hook to keep it secure. If you can, tie the cord in a figure 8 pattern for added security. This hook is sometimes called a "cleat."
Summary: Pick up the bottom of your blinds and roll them halfway up by hand. Hold the blinds with one hand as you grab the cord. Lift the bottom loops that cradle the blinds by pulling on the cord. Continue pulling the cord until your blinds reach your desired height. Hold your string straight down and let go if your cord locks in place. Tie off the cord on a hook, if you have one.