INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Holding hands, putting your arm around your partner while walking, or even just sitting beside one another are all ways to show affection without being overly physical. Affection doesn't necessarily have to be sexual in nature. Simple displays of affection and making sure to touch one another often are great ways to bring you closer. Try watching a movie together while cuddling on the couch. Even simply cuddling and being physically close to each other can make you feel closer on an emotional level. If you're parents, or work often, you might find that your time and energy for intimacy are often limited. It's not a bad thing to set aside time to be physically intimate with one another. However, it's still important to be spontaneous and passionate now and then just to keep things interesting! If you don't want to "schedule" your intimacy, just focus on making it a priority that you both can keep. While physical intimacy is important, it's important to talk things out with your partner and respect their needs and desires. For example, before you push more frequent physical intimacy on them, have a discussion about it. Ask them if they think you both could benefit from being physically closer. Ask them how they think you should go about being more affectionate with one another, and what they'd be comfortable with. Not only will you be respecting them and their boundaries, you'll also be having meaningful discussions about your relationship. It's important to respect your partner's feelings, as well. If they happen to be dealing with something in their lives and are having a hard time, for example, it might not be the best time to bring up physical intimacy. Reassure them that you are there for them, regardless of your physical relationship. If you are having trouble with physical intimacy that you can't seem to get past on your own, it might be a good idea to talk to a therapist who specializes in helping couples overcome these kinds of struggles. Problems with sexual intimacy often stem from emotional issues you're facing in your relationshipsuch as feeling too distant from one another. A sex therapist would be able to help you address these issues and work them out. Things won't heal or strengthen themselves overnight. Even if you start working on your relationship and taking the steps towards growing closer, it will still take time and effort to really see the result you want. Taking it slow in relationships, no matter how long you've been together, can help strengthen them in the long run. Don't push or force the issue, especially when it comes to physical intimacy. Be patient and be prepared to put in the time and effort until both of you are comfortable.

SUMMARY: Be affectionate. Make time for intimacy. Respect your partner. Seek the help of a sex therapist. Give it time.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: To successfully sun dry fruit, you'll need at least 2 days of hot, dry weather and a clear sky (at least 90 F/32C with low humidity). Ideally, you should allow for a full 7 days of drying, especially if the temperature is below 100F/38C. All you need is a rectangular wooden frame with a food-safe mesh stretched across it. Stainless steel or plastic are the best options for meshes. Do NOT use aluminum, hardware cloth, or fiberglass meshes (unless the fiberglass mesh is clearly labeled food-grade). Since you're using a much lower temperature than other methods, you may wish to slice them extra thin. Peel the bananas and slice them into 1/8 inch rounds (0.3 cm), or at least no larger than 1/4 inch (0.6 cm). If you want to prevent browning, dip the pieces in lemon juice. Powdered cinnamon adds a strong flavor for sweet snacking. Keep them in a single layer with no overlaps. It's fine if their edges touch; they should shrink a little as they dry. This will help keep dust off your food as well. Elevate it at least a few inches off the ground (for instance by placing it atop stacked cinder blocks). Your roof is a great high-sun option that keeps it removed from most environmental pollution. A concrete driveway will reflect the heat from the ground, drying the bananas faster. Even if the nights are still relatively warm, dew will add additional moisture to the bananas. Put it outside again during the day. The timing doesn't need to be precise; anytime on the second day of drying is fine. Check daily to see if they're ready to eat. If you're not sure, just cut one open or bite into it to check for moisture. If completely dried, they should stay good for months.

SUMMARY: Check your area's weather forecast. Make or purchase an outdoor drying screen. Prepare the bananas. Add additional flavor if desired. Place the chips on the mesh of the drying frame. Cover the chips with an insect-proof netting or cheesecloth. Place the drying frame in direct sunlight away from sources of car exhaust and out of reach of animals. Bring the drying frame indoors at night. Flip the bananas over once about halfway through the drying process. Continue to dry for up to 7 days. Store the bananas in an airtight container. Finished.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: When selling a used mattress, you are likely to net a much lower price than the original retail valueeven if the mattress is in new or like-new condition. People looking to buy a used mattress are hoping to get a good deal, so they will not be willing to shell out retail prices. However, determining the original retail value can provide a good starting point for figuring out the market value of your mattress. If your mattress is in new or nearly new condition, try selling it for roughly 70-80% of the original retail price. If you are unable to sell it for that much, you may need to reduce the price even further. Do some research on websites like Craigslist and eBay to get an idea of the typical price range for used mattresses like yours. Look at mattresses of roughly the same size, age, brand, and condition. This will give you a realistic idea of what you can expect to get for your mattress. Age and wear will have a significant impact on the value of your mattress. If your mattress is more than a couple years old or has any obvious stains or damage, you will likely not be able to get very much for it. A mattress that has been slept on every night may also sell for less than a barely-used mattress from a guest bedroom. Used furniture calculators can help you get a ballpark idea of how much your mattress may be worth on the resale market. These calculators take into account factors such as the condition, brand, age, and original price of your item. While you ultimately may not be able to sell your mattress for the price suggested by the calculator, these calculations can provide a helpful starting point for setting a reasonable price. Try a calculator like Bluebookfurniture.com or the Aptdeco.com furniture calculator. Once you have an idea of the average resale price range for mattresses like yours, decide on the minimum you are willing to accept. For example, if mattresses similar to yours sell for between $250 and $400 on eBay, set your minimum price at $250. If you are unable to sell your mattress for the price range you settled on, you may need to reassess your minimum and go lower.

SUMMARY:
Look at the original retail value of your mattress. Compare your mattress to similar used mattresses for sale online. Take your mattress's age and condition into account. Use an online furniture value calculator to get a ballpark figure. Decide on a minimum price.