You can use any kind of bok choy you like for this recipe, including baby, mature, or Shanghai bok choy. To prepare the bok choy: Cut off the very end of the stem that's keeping the leaves together. Separate the bok choy, but leave the center leaf bulb intact. Wash the leaves and stems by running them under cold water. Make sure you rub the bottom of the stem well to remove dirt from around where the roots were. Pat dry with a clean towel. If you aren't using baby bok choy, cut the leaves off the stems, keeping the two pieces separate. Cut the leaves and stems into one-inch (2.5-cm) chunks. Baby bok choy is already bite-sized and has more tender stems, so it doesn't have to be cut up. You can season the bok choy with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, to taste. Toss the bok choy to coat it with the seasoning, then transfer it to a large serving platter. This recipe makes enough to serve about four people.

Summary: Prepare the bok choy. Season and serve.

Staying naturally hydrated with water will help you feel more alert. The act of drinking water interrupts other work, which gives you a "mini break," and hydration helps your body function smoothly, which helps you feel awake. Foods that are high in protein and healthy fats provide sustained energy that releases slowly into your body. These foods do not lead to a blood sugar or energy "crash" like sugary or caffeinated food and drink. These foods also help make you feel full longer, which may help you avoid snacking on sugary foods. Sugar, like caffeine, often leads to highs and lows in energy. Consuming sugar can lead to a "sugar buzz" with temporarily increased energy followed by a crash, where the sugar has worn off and you are left feeling exhausted. While this may not help an immediate need for energy, if you have a chronic problem with feeling tired, a healthy breakfast every morning will help you feel more energetic. It gets your metabolism functioning smoothly and kickstarts your energy for the day. Choose healthy foods which give long-lasting energy, such as yogurt, eggs, protein smoothies, a bowl of high-fiber cereal, fruit salad, oatmeal, and so on. Avoid high-sugar foods, such as sugary cereals and pastries. These will give you a crash later. Be careful of insubstantial meals. There is nothing wrong with eating a slice of melon or a breakfast smoothie. However, if you find at 10:30 you are overwhelmed by fatigue, that is a signal that either you need a more hearty breakfast, or a healthy snack at this time.

Summary: Drink water. Increase your protein and healthy fat consumption. Avoid sugar. Eat breakfast.

Clip the corners so that they will not be bulky, and press the batting down onto the glued edges. Allow the glue to dry.

Summary: Evenly coat the inside of the front cover of the album, including the edges and the spine, with a thin layer of white glue. Lay the piece of batting flat and position the glued front cover of the album on it, with the edges just inside the edges of the batting. Repeat step 1 for the outside back cover of the album. Bring the batting over the spine, keeping it taut and smooth, and press it down over the glued back cover. Trim the batting (if necessary) so that it will just wrap around the edges of the cover.

You do not have to limit yourself to a certain type of fabric to make a great tie, but heavier fabrics do tend to wear better. For one tie, you'll need at least 112 yards (1.4m) of fabric for the front of the tie and about 5 x 6 inches of fabric for the back liner. Silk is a popular choice for tie liners. For a casual tie, go for patterned cotton, linen or denim. Ties are made with a material called interfacing, which is sewn or ironed into the inside of the tie as a liner. It allows fabrics to keep a firm shape. You will need 112 yards (1.4m) of interfacing in a color that matches the tie fabric. For fusible interfacing, you will put the glazed side face down on the tie fabric to permanently adhere it to the tie. Be sure to buy sewable, fusible interfacing because you will be sewing the tie later on. Interfacing that is sewn-in does not have a glaze on it. It is sewn to the inside of the seam line so there won't be visible stitching on the outside of the tie. In addition to the fabric and interfacing, you will need to buy the following supplies: Fine thread that matches the tie fabric A good pair of fabric scissors Either a needle (if you're sewing the tie by hand) or a sewing machine Straight pins Measuring tape Iron There are many tie patterns available for you to choose from. Once you find a style you like, you can print the outline for it online for free. The alternative to printing a tie outline would be to use a ruler to trace another tie out yourself. When tie outlines print, they will continue onto more than one page because the length of the tie will be longer than a standard sheet of printing paper. Simply tape the paper together when you trace them onto the fabric. You will need about 3/8in of additional space outside of your trace line that you will later use for the inseam.
Summary: Purchase your favorite fabric from your local craft store. Buy interfacing for the inside of the tie. Purchase the other supplies needed. Pick out a pattern.