Q: It's tempting to ask someone out through text or social media. However, it's better to do it face to face so that everything is interpreted the way you want it to be. She will see your facial expression, hear the tone of your voice, and understand clearly what your intentions are. If you send her a casual text asking if she wants to hang out that night, the implication will be that you're just friends. This ends up keeping you in the Friend Zone, which is precisely where you don't want to be. Have the conversation somewhere you both feel comfortable, like one of your usual hang out spots or during a lunch break. Try not to be nervous when you talk to her. If you are at ease, it will make her feel that way, too. These situations can get awkward very quickly try to avoid that by continuing the easygoing vibe you already share as friends. Keep everything positive and speak to her in a warm, genuine way. She will take her cues from you, so remember to stay calm and keep it positive. You don't have to make a big production out of it, but it's important that she knows that you want to go out with her, not hang out with her. Being completely passive when you have feelings for someone is one of the major reasons why people end up permanently in the Friend Zone. Say something like, "I really love hanging out with you and I'm starting to have feelings for you as more than a friend. I'm hoping that maybe you're starting to feel that way, too. I think it would be awesome to take you out on a proper date." By keeping your feelings to yourself, you might miss your chance with her completely. Don't be ambiguous. Instead of saying, "So, would you like to go out some time?" ask her out for a specific day and activity. Your first date doesn't have to be anything super formal. Even something as simple as, "Would you like to see the new exhibit at the Contemporary Art Museum with me this Saturday?" will work. Try to pick something that you two have never done together before, so that it has a completely different vibe from one of your regular hang out sessions. If you choose an activity that you already regularly do together, she might not completely realize your intentions.
A: Ask her out in person. Stay calm and smile. Be direct. Have a date activity already in mind.

Q: As soon as the wisteria is done flowering, it is time to get out your tools again. This includes your hand pruners, ladder, and gloves. If you are doing hard pruning on an old wisteria, get out the loppers or pruning saw. This will help tame the vine, and encourage it to produce more blooms the following year. Try to leave 5 to 6 leaves on each shoot. This way, you will have enough leaves left behind for a visually-appealing appearance, but not so many leaves that the vine wastes energy on them. Wisteria is a vine, which means that it grows on a pergola or wire support. Some of the shoots help keep the vine attached to the pergola or wire support. Other shoots stick out randomly and lead to an unruly appearance. It is these shoots that you should cut away. It would be a good idea to cut back any root suckers as well, especially for grafted vines. Root suckers are thin vines or branches without any flowers or leaves on them. This will help maintain a tidy appearance and encourage more blooms. How far you trim depends on how long and unruly the shoots get. About 1 to 2 leaf joints would be ideal, however. Some people like the way the seedpods look, while others prefer to cut them away. If you decide to leave the seedpods on, be aware that they will burst once temperatures rise.
A: Get out your tools and prepare to prune again in late summer. Cut the shoots down to 6 inches (15cm) each. Trim away shoots that aren't necessary for the vine's support. Trim the new growth back every 2 weeks until summer is over. Decide whether or not you want to leave the seedpods on.

Q: Rather than look out for criticisms, enjoy the compliments you get. Pay attention to the content of other peoples' compliments and remember them. Write them down so that you can remind yourself of them later, especially during darker moments. Instead of dismissing other peoples' compliments or convincing yourself that they're just being polite, take them at their word and trust that they are not just humoring you. Consider that others are giving you their honest assessments. Accept their positive words graciously. Every time you notice yourself thinking negatively about your body or an aspect of it, remind yourself of something about your body that you like. Make a list of at least ten positive things about yourself, omitting anything appearance-related. Add to the list frequently. This will help you begin to understand and appreciate all the wonderful aspects of yourself. You'll realize that your body is just one part of your total package. If you spend too much time in front of the mirror, make a rule that you can't say or think anything negative about yourself when you look in it. Instead, use your mirror to identify the positive things you see. If you're still struggling with the mirror, take it away for a while. Studies have shown that you may be more likely to focus on your career or relationship, rather than your looks. Verbalize positive affirmations in front of the mirror: Say to yourself "You're beautiful!", "You're amazing," etc. when standing in front of the mirror. This may feel forced, and you may not initially believe what you're telling yourself, but experts tell us that this processwhat they call cognitive behavior therapyreally does work over time.
A:
Pay attention to the compliments you receive. Consistently identify what you like about yourself. Reinvent your relationship with your mirror.