Set it to the highest heat setting. If it has a steam setting, turn this off. Dry heat is best for removing the melted plastic or wax. An alternative for the brown paper bag is wax paper. Be careful not to use thin paper, as it can overheat the plastic or wax and cause a worse mess. Avoid paper with any writing on it, because the heat can cause the ink to transfer onto the fabric or carpet. Don't push down too hard or stay on one section too long, because you do not want the substance to melt farther into the carpet or fabric. The goal is to get the plastic or wax to stick to the bag. This should be done while the paper is still warm from the iron. The plastic or wax should stick to the paper, leaving the surface clean. If there are still bits stuck to the carpet afterward, try gently scrubbing the area with a carpet cleaner, fabric cleaner, or rubbing alcohol. The remaining pieces may budge with a little bit of friction. If the plastic or wax still doesn't come off, try freezing it with an ice pack and breaking it apart once it's frozen. Vacuum the pieces when you're finished.

Summary: Grab your iron and plug it into an outlet near the stain. Cover the stain with a paper bag. Gently iron over the paper. Gently peel the paper bag off the fabric or carpet. Repeat as necessary.

As the MC, you're the main attraction. You have to own the stage and get people excited about the show. The DJ's got to keep the beat moving and the hype-man is there to back you up, so the pressure's on. Banter with the audience to get them invested. Cue the DJ to drop the beat and let people sing along once you've coached them on the chorus. If you want people to be into the music, you've got to be into it to. Move around, feel the beat, and look like you're excited to be on stage. If you stand stock-still at the mic stand and look like you're bored, people will look the same way in the crowd. If you're well prepared, you should feel confident in your abilities and in your music, so you can throw yourself into putting on the best possible show you can for the people. It's time to shine. Give them a performance they'll never forget. Make sure you've got all your lyrics memorized and have practiced using the mic so you can be confident that all the technical aspects of the performance are going to go off without a hitch. It's hard to perform with confidence if you're trying to remember all the words. It's always important to do a mic check before performing. Part of the work of performance is being there before the show to make sure everything is set up and working as planned. Don't be a fake rock star and blow off the pre-show responsibilities. Be a professional. Always go on stage sober and well-rested. Save the partying for after the show. It'll be hard to get into your music if you're mush mouthed, too quiet, or muddy in the mix. Rap shouldn't sound like one of the adults from old Peanuts cartoons. Put your vocals up front and make sure it's loud enough to be heard from all corners of the room. If you have trouble keeping your voice up while you perform, practice reading magazines and books out loud to get your voice naturally into a louder register. It might annoy your roommates, but it'll be worth it to amp up your performance to where it needs to be. Both at your shows and online, be active about interacting with your growing fanbase. The MC will be the face of the crew, so you need to take the publicity side of the rap game seriously. Stay out after your gigs to meet people and sell any merch that you have, being friendly and available. Encourage people to come out to the gigs on social media and respond to people personally on Twitter and Facebook. Rappers, maybe more so than any other group of musicians, are known for taking control of their social media and working it to its fullest potential. You're just as likely to get signed to a record deal from a popular YouTube video as a successful mixtape.

Summary: Get people pumped up and moving. Be confident on stage. Be clear, articulate, and loud. Keep in contact with your fans.

The thought of going up to your crush to say hello might be making you nervous. To help yourself find the courage to go up to them, remind yourself that your crush is a person just like you are, and talking to them shouldn't be any different than talking to anyone else. Put on a smile, take a deep breath, and focus on showing confidence. Count to three if you notice yourself hesitating to talk to your crush. Once you get to three, go right up to them! If you see your crush while you're walking somewhere and don't have time for a real conversation, say hello and then their name so they know you're talking to them. Smile as you say hello and try to make eye contact, showing that you're friendly and would like to talk some other time. For example, if you see your crush as you're walking to your seat, say, "Hey, Adam!" with a smile and keep walking. Speak loudly and clear enough so that your crush hears you. Not only does making eye contact make you look more confident, but it also helps spark a connection between the two of you. Going up to your crush to say hello can be nerve-racking, but if you see a moment when they're waiting outside of class or chatting with 1 or 2 people, go up to them! There's no need to overthink the timing, and being proactive about it will make you feel more confident and in control. Avoid going up to them if they're talking on the phone. If you don't mind talking to them when they're with their friends, great! Otherwise, wait for them to be alone, like when they're at their locker or waiting for a class to start. This puts less pressure on you and makes the conversation flow more naturally. If you just want to say a quick, "Hi, how are you?" instead of a longer conversation, it's okay to talk to them when they're around others. You might say something like, "Hi Jack, I wanted to ask you how your soccer game went last weekend! Did you guys win?" If the conversation goes well or you just want to continue talking to them, ask for their phone number if you don't already have it. You could also add them on social media like Instagram or Snapchat to talk to them there too. After talking about interesting books, you might say, "What's your phone number? I'll text you the names of a few other books I think you might like."

Summary: Gather the courage to talk to your crush by giving yourself a pep talk. Give a quick hello when you pass them in the hallways. Go up to your crush when they're free to talk to avoid interrupting them. Wait until they're alone to talk to them in more depth. Ask them for their social media handle or phone number.

Run the Brussels sprouts under cold water and remove any yellowed leaves. Then, cut them in half from the top to the stem, and make a 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) incision in the stem. This will help the heat penetrate the Brussels sprouts. Make sure the saucepan is large enough to hold the sliced Brussels sprouts. Season the sprouts with salt and pepper to taste. Cook them one side for about 5 minutes until they're golden brown, and then turn them over to the other side. The water should coat the bottom of the entire pan. Cook the Brussels sprouts until the liquid has evaporated and they're cooked through. Then, toss them with the lemon juice and serve them while they're hot.
Summary: Wash and cut the Brussels sprouts. Heat 1/4 cup of olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Place the Brussels sprouts in the pan sliced-side down and season them. Saute the Brussels sprouts. Pour 1/3 cup of water into the saucepan and finish cooking the sprouts.