"Snail mail" can take a while to be processed, delivered, read, and replied to. A time before that and people may write it off thinking, "I don't know what I'm doing for breakfast, much less next month!" Too soon and people already have plans. Around 2 weeks out is your best bet. An outdated or misspelled address could leave one of your best friends out of your party! If you're not sure of someone's address, contact them and confirm it. A mailed invitation is a great opportunity to impress a guest, but don't over-complicate an invitation to a simple party - this may intimidate guests. You're just inviting them for a good time! Have something on the envelope that clearly indicates your invitation is something to be intrigued by. Yours isn't just another piece of junk mail!

Summary: Make sure to send out written invitations at least two or three weeks before the event. Make sure you have the current and correct addresses of your guests. Decorate your card appropriately.

Most people learning a language do not commit each word's form table to memory, but in Latin this is necessary in order to fully understand and use the language. The easiest way to memorize word forms is to write out the tables for each word you're studying. Then keep writing out each form until you have memorized it. Unfortunately there is no easier method to memorize something than to practice it over and over until you've committed it to memory. Start with noun declensions and continue writing out each declension until you can instantly recall it. Then move on to adjectives. Then regular verbs in the indicative active, passive, and subjunctive forms. If you do this, you will eventually commit each word form to memory, and with continued practice you will never lose this knowledge. Try repeating the declension or conjugation you're studying that day during your spare moments. It can help speed up the time it takes to learn these word forms by memory. A cognate is the most closely-related word(s) related to a given word or phrase. Identifying English cognates of a Latin word/phrase can help you get a better sense of how the word functions and what it means. Cognates rarely ever mean the exact same thing as the original term. Often the cognate will have a similar meaning but a different part of speech. For example, the Latin word "fidelis" is an adjective, but its English cognate is fidelity (which is a noun). The best way to put your Latin skills to use is by learning to read a piece of text completely in Latin. This may seem like a daunting task, but it is the most efficient way to master the Latin language. Some scholars and educators recommend Lingua Latina (available online and in some campus bookstores) as a good introductory Latin text. It introduces grammatical concepts at a manageable pace and builds to tell a complex story completely in Latin, giving you all the skills you need to fluently read Latin along the way. Read slowly. It's important that you resist the urge to rush through the text, as you may miss the grammatical functions of words if you do not take your time. Take note of each noun's case and each verb's tense and mood. Try to get through an entire passage without looking up any words or forms the first time through. This is where intelligent guessing - the practice of using a word's context to understand that word - will be helpful. Then go back through the passage a second time and underline any words you absolutely cannot form a guess about. Look up those words, make flash cards of them, and practice them at length. Then go back and re-read the passage a third time until you can understand the entire passage. Latin may be an archaic language, but that doesn't mean it can't be fun. Many Latin scholars have found ways to incorporate learning/studying Latin into contemporary popular culture. This may help reinforce what you've learned by applying your Latin studies to everyday pursuits. If you have a study partner, you can play a Latin version of Scrabble online to help reinforce your understanding of Latin grammar and spelling. Read contemporary books in Latin. Harry Potter has been translated into Latin, and you can purchase the book at an online retailer or read excerpts for free online. You can also read The Hobbit in Latin, or opt for some complex wordplay by reading The Cat in the Hat in Latin. Watch films in Latin. You can find a partial list of films with Latin dialogue on the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) by searching for "Movies in Latin language."

Summary: Memorize word forms. Look for cognates. Read in Latin. Use pop culture to learn Latin.

For example, if you have a leaky pipe, make sure you get that fixed. Or, if you find a pest problem, deal with it as soon as possible. Call in a professional if there is still an odor, but you can't identify the source. Dehumidifiers can be bought at home improvement stores and at some supermarkets. A dehumidifier will prevent excess moisture in your basement. A dry environment in your basement will keep mold and mildew from forming. A ceiling fan can also keep your basement from retaining too much moisture. If possible, install a ceiling fan into your basement. If the basement is very large, install a couple of ceiling fans. Run the ceiling fans for a few hours a day and while you are in the basement. A few odor absorbers to choose from are baking soda, cat litter, and charcoal briquettes. Choose a bucket or large container and fill about half of it with the absorber of your choice. You can use multiple buckets if you wish. Leave the bucket in your basement, and replace it once a month to reduce mildew problems. If your basement is not connected to your air conditioning system, it would be a good idea to do so. Adding a ventilation system will keep the humidity out of your basement. Keep in mind, however, that adding your basement to the ventilation system will likely be costly.

Summary: Make sure you fix the initial cause of the smell. Get a dehumidifier. Install a ceiling fan. Set out odor absorbers. Connect the basement to your home ventilation system.

Before buffing, apply a cutting compound to the buffing tool. The cutting compound protects the metal and gives it a nice shine. Read the instructions on the package to determine which compound to use for your project. In general, you can start with a firm wheel and a brown compound to do your initial polishing, then choose a softer wheel and a rouge (red) compound to get a high shine and smooth finish.
Summary: Apply a cutting compound to your buffing tool.