INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Use a floor vacuum and get all of the dust and dirt from off the surface of your floor. Then, use a damp mop or rag to wipe down the floor that you plan on laying the tile over. Let the floor dry before moving on to the next step. Measure from the corner of the wall to the center of a wall and mark it. Draw a line with chalk down the center of your floor to the other side of the room. Repeat the process on the adjacent wall so that you draw two lines that intersect in the exact center of the room. For irregularly sized floors, break the floor up into separate pieces before drawing the center lines. This will help you know where you should start laying the tiles. Use a straightedge to help you draw the lines straight. Position each of the tiles so that the sides of the tile line up with the chalk cross that you drew. Do not use adhesive--just make sure that the tiles fit properly. Position the next tiles right against the edge of the four tiles you have in the center and work your way out to the edges of the room. Work on filling in each quadrant before moving onto the next one. Make sure to place the tiles so that each side fits snugly against the side of the tiles next to it. Continue to lay down the carpet tile until you reach the edges of the room.

SUMMARY: Vacuum and wipe down the floor. Draw two lines intersecting in the center of the room. Lay down four tiles in each quadrant of the cross. Lay down tiles from the center out.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If an area rug doesn't reduce the echo enough, putting carpet across the entire room may get rid of the echo more fully. Buy carpet online or in a home supply store. Ask the store you're shopping in for their recommendations for carpets that absorb sound particularly well. When purchasing your carpet, ask about professional installation packages. Installing carpet can be difficult and time-consuming, and it requires some specialized tools you may not have at home. Sound-dampening underlays are installed as a layer beneath the floor, and they help the floor to absorb sound more effectively. This can be expensive or labor-intensive, but it will enable you to dampen your room's echo without having to cover your floor in carpet or rugs. In most cases, you will want to hire a professional for this process. Businesses that sell underlays usually will install it for a fee. To successfully install a new floor with underlays, you need to remove the old flooring, add the underlay, and then place a new floor on top. Cork tends to absorb sound better than more traditional wood materials like oak or pine. Most people will want to hire a professional to install the new floor, as it can be a difficult job. To install a new floor correctly, you need to cut the boards precisely, fit them together properly, and nail them to the subfloor. Mass loaded vinyl is a material that is very effective in absorbing sounds. It is more difficult to install than curtains or foam, but it can also be completely covered by drywall, so it won't affect the room's appearance. To install mass loaded vinyl, you will need to fix it to your current walls, and then apply a new layer of drywall for best results. Most businesses that sell mass loaded vinyl also offer professional installation services. This is usually the best option, as it can be a difficult job. Like mass loaded vinyl, insulation is installed underneath drywall, so it doesn't affect the room's appearance. It also gives you the added benefit of helping you to keep your house warm in the winter, which can increase your personal comfort and reduce energy bills. Insulation comes in a variety of materials, but foam insulation is particularly effective at reducing echoes. To install insulation, you need to remove any existing drywall, use a sprayer to apply the foam correctly, and then apply a new layer of drywall. In most cases, hire a professional to ensure that the job is done properly.

SUMMARY: Install carpet throughout the room for complete coverage. Install a new floor with sound-dampening underlays. Install a new floor that's made of cork. Install mass loaded vinyl if you want to cover all walls completely. Add insulation to help with temperature at the same time.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: at home regularly. A big part of the Slow Food Movement is cooking your own meals at home on a daily basis. Make an effort to cook most, if not all, of your meals at home. Create a meal plan and buy ingredients at the beginning of the week so you have them on hand. Prepare healthy meals at home with fresh ingredients so you know exactly what is going into your food. If you tend to eat out most of the week, take small steps by trying to cook one to two nights a week. Over time, you can transition to cooking most nights of the week and saving one night for eating out. at home. Another key aspect of the Slow Food Movement is getting actively involved in where your food comes from and how it is grown. Try growing your own vegetables at home in a backyard garden or a greenhouse. Start with a small vegetable patch in your yard or a few herbs in pots. Over time, you can expand your garden to include more vegetables that you can pick and eat fresh. Build a home hydroponics system to make growing vegetables easier. Avoid eating the same things day in and day out. Instead, challenge yourself to have a variety of foods in all your meals. Try different vegetables or fruits. Prepare different grains like quinoa, barley, and couscous. Add different herbs and spices to your foods. Make sure your meal plan includes a variety of different sources of protein, dairy, and grains. Having variety will ensure you treat eating as a fun experience, where you expand your palette. The Slow Food Movement was created as a healthy alternative to fast food and prepackaged food high in additives, preservatives, and fat. Stay away from fast food restaurants and prepacked foods at the grocery store. Go for fresh, local options instead. A good rule of thumb when you go grocery shopping is to stay on the perimeter of the store, as this is usually where the fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy items are stocked. If you do decide to eat out, go to restaurants that focus on local, clean food. Some restaurants will note that they participate in the Slow Food Movement. You can also ask if the restaurant uses locally grown produce and focuses on no waste or very little waste in its kitchen. Restaurants and eateries that follow a "tip to tail" policy when they prepare meat are usually considered part of the Slow Food Movement. This means they use the entire animal when they prepare meat and do their best not to waste any of the animal.

SUMMARY:
Cook Grow your own vegetables Include a variety of foods in your meals. Avoid fast food and prepackaged food. Eat at restaurants that promote Slow Food.