INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Instead of washing your hair the same day you want to curl it, try to wait a day or two before curling your hair. The natural oils in your hair will give it some texture and help the curls stay in place instead of slipping right out. When your curls have cooled and you've taken them down, use your fingers to style your hair. Avoid using a comb or brush, since this could cause your curls to come undone. Use a medium or strong-hold hairspray to hold your style in place for the rest of the day.

SUMMARY: Start with day-old hair. Finger-comb your curls. Finish with hairspray.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Choose your favorite movies or television show. Find a free weekend and get your friends together for a spot of binge watching. In between viewings you can discuss what you love about the entertainment and they're your favorite. Make sure you have lots of food on hand. Snacks make a binge watching weekend more fun. Make sure to take breaks now and then to stretch or take a walk outside. Amuse yourselves watching a bad movie, especially a cult classic. You can also do this with a poorly written book. Take turns reading it out loud and see how far each person gets before they are laughing too hard to keep reading. You can even turn it into a game (a drinking game for those over the legal drinking age, or using chocolate/candy as prizes otherwise). Everyone will thank you. This is especially fun if you've been friends for a long time. Talk about things you did together a long time ago. Often your friends will remember things that you don't so you can exchange stories about things you did together. Try to find things from that time. Look for old notes you passed back and forth or a journal you wrote together. Maybe you made dolls, or played football together. The objects will help you recall more of the times you spent together. Invite your friends to come over to give each other manicures, facials, and try out new hairstyles and makeup looks. Mimic spa fare by serving your guests hot tea, fresh fruit, and water with cucumber slices and lemon. Play quiet, relaxing new age music in the background and light a few scented candles to create a relaxing atmosphere for your friends.

SUMMARY: Have a movie marathon. Reminisce about old times. Host a spa day.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Having a purpose in life can help you find happiness, as well as stay positive and optimistic. If you're working toward your purpose, your successes have more meaning and your hardships won't seem as difficult. Journaling can help you find your purpose. Write your responses to questions like these: What do I want in life? What's most important to me? Where do I see myself in 5 years? 10 years? What am I really good at? Consider how you enjoyed spending your time when you were growing up. This may connect to your purpose. Think about your personal beliefs. How could they give you purpose? It's normal to be dissatisfied with parts of your life. For example, you might not like your job, or you might be having a fight with a sibling. Confront one issue at a time to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Make a list of what you want to change, then prioritize it. Start with what's most important for you. Much of what weighs on your mind comes from the past or the future. You can let go of these worries by living in the present. Focus on just this moment right now, allowing yourself to fully experience it. Use your 5 senses to ground yourself in the moment. For example, smell the scents in the air, observe small details in the scene around you, and listen for the sounds you can pick out. Let go of distractions, such as your phone or earbuds. It's normal to want to control every aspect of your life, but that's an impossible goal. Trying to control everything actually makes you more stressed and less happy. Instead of trying to control every aspect of your life, focus on controlling the only thing you can -- your own reaction. Let other people take care of themselves. Don't be afraid to delegate tasks. Remind yourself that you can't eliminate difficult moments from your life, but you can approach them differently. This may sound defeatist, but it's actually the first step to improving your outlook. Don't hold off on living because you're waiting for the right circumstances. Your life is happening now! It's okay to try to change your circumstances, as long as you focus on yourself and not others. You can change you, but not anyone else. You will encounter setbacks, as they happen to everyone. It's easy to get tripped up by them, but don't let them trap you in a mindset of defeat. Instead, view them as stepping stones on your path to success. Tell yourself, "I have to fail to learn the lessons I need to be successful."

SUMMARY: Find your purpose. Focus on changing one thing at a time. Live in the moment using mindfulness. Let go of your need for control. Accept your circumstances for what they are. Remind yourself that setbacks are temporary.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Pour the sugar and water into a small saucepan and stir the two together. The two won't combine properly until the sugar dissolves in the water, which will happen when you add heat. To increase your simple syrup yield, increase the amount of sugar and water you use, sticking with the one-to-one ratio. To turn your sugar and water mixture into syrup, heat the mixture over medium-high heat to dissolve the sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil. When the syrup starts to boil, reduce the heat to medium and simmer it for three minutes. While the sugar will eventually dissolve in cold water, this can take hours or days to occur. Moreover, if you don't add heat to the mixture, none of the water will boil off, so the syrup won't be as thick. After simmering for three minutes, remove the syrup from the heat. Set it aside to cool for 30 minutes to an hour. Your homemade syrup is now ready. Transfer the syrup into a sterilized storage jar with a lid and refrigerate it. Simple syrup will keep in the fridge for at least a month. Good storage containers for simple syrup include: Plastic squeeze bottles Wine bottles with screw lids Clean vinegar or oil jugs Maple syrup bottles

SUMMARY:
Combine the sugar and water. Heat the mixture. Cool and bottle the syrup.