INPUT ARTICLE: Article: One of the aspects of layering that most people find daunting is avoiding outfits that look too bulky. The easiest way to do this is to keep bulky garments on the outside and thin, lightweight ones closer to your skin. If you are working with middle layers, try to include them in this thickness gradient. When your clothes are all the same length, they are prone to looking too puffy. A jacket, sweater, and shirt that are all different lengths will help to avoid this and create a much slimmer style. This is less important if you are layering very thin material or would like to add bulk to a thinner frame. Traditional or conservative style rules assert that you should layer with your shortest hem on the inside to your longest hem on the outside. For example, an outfit layered this way would be mid-length sweater overtop of a shorter shirt with a longer jacket on top. Other fashion experts eschew this advice. Instead, they suggest that you simply aim for contrast between items instead of sticking to a set length gradient. One example of this type of layering would be a long untucked shirt underneath a shorter sweater topped off with an even longer coat. Another would be a short jacket overtop a maxi dress. Using different volumes is another way you can avoid a bulky outfit, even while wearing some thick or loose items. A billowing blouse will look great over skinny jeans, while a tight top will complement a ruffled skirt. Likewise, a tight jacket can look good overtop a flowy dress, while a large bulky coat will pop over a short skinny one.

SUMMARY: Wear inner and base layers that hug the skin. Pick items that are varying lengths. Balance loose and baggy cuts.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Japan offers plenty of budget food choices in restaurants, so you don't need to avoid eating out altogether. Decor is often a good indicator of price, so be alert. Tipping is not expected in Japan, so you can save even more by not doing so. It's a really good idea to have a menu-reading list on your smartphone or in your guidebook so that you know what you're eating and the value. And it pays to ask for meibutsu if you're a food loverthis is the word for "speciality" and will ensure that you get the most locally true cuisine possible. Noodle bars and night street stalls specializing in noodles (ramen) are often a great way to get very full at an affordable choice. You'll know a ramen restaurant when you see customers seated at a long counter eating from steaming bowls. Udon and soba dishes are another cheap way to eat in Japan provided you choose a cheap restaurant. Izakaya is the Japanese version of a pub-eatery, and you can get a selection of typical Japanese foods as well as Western foods as such places. It's casual food, and therefore usually fairly inexpensive. Yakitori is a skewer of vegetables and charcoal-grilled chicken. It's usually served with beer or sake after work and it might be enough for a meal in some places. There are yakitori restaurants (yakitori-ya), often found near train stations. Just be aware that prices are usually for one yakitori, so add up the costs if you want more. Although sushi is considered to be a snack, it is possible to fill up on sushi as a meal. Look for automatic sushi places, known as kaiten-sushi, that serve sushi on an automatic conveyor belt. The color code on the plates you choose are the price indicators and they should match with a price chart on the wall. Choose carefully and you might be able to fill up for very little cost. Look for places where the locals eat, although you'll need a grasp of basic Japanese as such places rarely have menus and if they do, rarely anything in English. Look for nomiya and aka-chochin Japanese restaurants or chuka-ryori-ya cheap Chinese restaurants. Grocery stores sell plenty of prepared foods just like convenience stores but for a lot less money. These are almost everywhere in Japan and you can get a range of food and drink from them, including snacks, green tea, coffee, beer, etc. McDonald's and other fast food chains are everywhere. Try Mosburger, a Japanese hamburger chain. These are great budget places to eat, with lots of variety available. Along with grocery stores, these can be a great place for vegetarians, as there will be plenty of fruit, rice snacks and vegetables for sale. Bakeries are another option, although most food sold in bakeries is fairly sweet and isn't going to be quite what you're used to. You might have heard that things in Japan are really expensive, however if you avoid alcohol and clothing you will find that everything else is quite reasonably priced. You should, of course, try sake while you are in Japan. Just don't plan on going out to bars every night. Convenience stores have great tasting, inexpensive pre-made meals. They have everything from prepared ramen to beef bowls. Some convenience stores even have fresh bakeries. Most will have microwaves and chopsticks and/or disposable utensils available. Many have counters where you can eat in the store, if you wish. They're cheaper and more personal than souvenirs or expensive artisan items, and they're the best way to jog your memory years later.

SUMMARY: Stick to budget restaurants and bars when eating out. Get food from grocery stores. Check out the food vending machines. Visit the usual chain food stores. Eat at food halls and food markets. Avoid buying alcohol and clothing. Get pre-made meals at a convenience store. Take plenty of digital photographs as your souvenirs.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Most range hoods will come with a manufacturer's template. Use a laser level or water level to help you mark the exact middle of the wall. Then line your template up with the middle of the wall and tape it off. You're ready to start drilling for your cutout. Of course, the cutout in the wall needs to match the knockout in the range hood perfectly. If you need to, drill for the electrical wiring as well. If you're not familiar with electrical work, call an electrician to spec the job for you. If, while cutting out the opening for the exhaust vent, you come across piping, you'll have to call an audible. Open up a larger rectangle of the wall so you can work freely. Then, you'll have to do three main things: Reroute and re-solder the pipe so that it leaves your opening entirely free. If you are not familiar with this type of job, it's best to call a professional plumber or general contractor to help you. Drill 1 x 3 cleats to the top and bottom of the wall to support the new wall patch. This will give the new wallboard that covers up the opening structural support. Drill, tape, and mud the new wall patch to cover up the hole entirely. Then, when it's dry, remove the original cutout for the exhaust again with your template. Follow the same procedure as before. so that it leads safely outside of your home. Remember that the venting cannot terminate inside the wall or attic the exhaust must travel through duct outside of the home.

SUMMARY: Use the template (or instructions) that came with your hood to mark the spot in your wall or cabinet for the vent cutout. Work around any obstacles you find in your cutout. Install any necessary ductwork

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you only have a few gourds to dry, tie a string to the stalk and hang them from tree branches to dry. You can also hang gourds in well ventilated buildings, or along fences. Hanging them on fences can give your yard a festive fall look as well. This is an optional way to dry gourds by hanging them. Run a string through the holes and hang the gourds upside down. Be aware that puncturing the gourds may lead to mold growth inside of the gourds. If you don't mind having holes in your dried gourd, this may speed up the drying process.

SUMMARY:
Hang gourds from the stalk. Use a nail to puncture two to three small holes in the end of the gourd. Put a drip pan or newspapers under hanging gourds to catch the dripping fluid.