INPUT ARTICLE: Article: It will be easier to find lighter and darker values if you make the copies black and white.

SUMMARY: Make two copies of the photograph or drawing of your choice.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: One way to plan a trip is to decide on the end location first. This could be a country (like Mexico), or a city (like Paris), or even a specific destination (like the Grand Canyon). Try to find a place that you both want to visit, even if you have to compromise a little. If you have a country in mind, you'll have a lot of options that you can choose from as you research your trip. It will be more romantic if you both are interested in the destination. If you get a place in mind, try to drop some hints about it so you can see how they feel about it. You may have a certain type of location in mind, but you don't know about specific options yet. For example, you may decide you want to travel to a ski lodge, and you can compare different options. Or if you just want a warm beach somewhere, you can decide how far away you will need to travel. With this option, you'll give yourself a much broader range of destinations. You could go skiing in Minnesota, Switzerland, or China. If you have limited time, you can pick based on where you can travel to quickly. Once you have a budget in mind, you can use it to narrow down which places are your best options. You can see what type of accommodations are available in the areas you find. If you don't live in the city you met in, you could go back there and relive some of your favorite memories. You could go to a favorite place that you've both visited separately and make new memories together. If you already have some specific connection to the place you go for your getaway, you'll have some romance that already exists in that place. Maybe your partner moved away from their home when they were young and you could surprise them by planning a trip there. The fact that you care about where they came from will add a romantic aspect to the trip. For a successful romantic getaway, you need to go somewhere that your partner will like. If they don't like nature very much, a cabin in the woods is probably not a good option. If big cities stress them out, their uneasiness will kill the romance. If you don't have much experience traveling together, you can casually ask some questions to gauge what places they would enjoy. You can mention somewhere you'd enjoy traveling and see how they respond. Try to remember places they have mentioned during your relationship. Most people have said, "I would love to travel to [insert place here]," at some point, so rely on that. They will be surprised that you remembered and it will be romantic because it gives them something they have wanted. Your partner may not be a big fan of surprises, so you need to take this into account as well. Maybe you can plan the majority of the trip but tell them a little bit for the departure date so they don't feel caught off guard. You don't have to go anywhere far away for it to be a romantic surprise. If you go to a local bed and breakfast or ritzy hotel, it can still be romantic. A low-key getaway would most likely involve less planning and therefore less secrecy. Sometimes the only thing you need to create romance is a change of place. Getting out of your home and daily routine can be a fun way to mix things up. Local doesn't have to mean 10 minutes away. If you live in the country, you could head into a larger city somewhere nearby. If you live in the city, you may be able to travel an hour or so away to get to a quieter countryside setting.

SUMMARY: Pick a specific destination you have always wanted to visit. Choose a type of destination. Go somewhere that is special to you. Use what you know about your partner. Stay somewhere local.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: When you smile, your brain activates neural messages that actually make you feel more positive. Even if you're feeling kind of "blah," make your face do the work of brightening up your day. It works. An added bonus? When you smile, you'll spread positivity around to other people, putting other people in good moods as well. It's good for everyone. If you're not in a great mood, complaining about it won't make it any better. Practice forcing yourself to smile, and it'll become second nature. It's easy to say things that can accidentally bring you down. Using positive words, as opposed to negative words, has a proven effect on your mood and your attitude. Don't identify yourself with your feelings. Don't say, "I am sad" or "I am frustrated." Instead, put the negativity elsewhere. Say, "That movie made me feel sad" or "This task is difficult and frustrating." Not having a great day? That doesn't mean you have to act like it. Choose to spread positivity around, and the smiles you get in return will do a lot to make you think more positively. Here a few little ideas for things you can do to brighten someone else's day: Clean up the house before your partner or roommate gets home Pick up coffee or donuts for your office Mow your neighbor's yard, or shovel their driveway in winter Just say hello and compliment a stranger If you want to think positively, surround yourself with other positive thinkers, and with people who bring out the best in you. Hang out with people who are supportive, friendly, and like you for who you are. If you don't like hanging out with someone because they put you in a bad mood, stop hanging out with them. One great way to keep your outlook bright is to keep little quotes or sayings that you like in your pocket, on your phone, or otherwise in your mind as you go about your day. Subscribe to positive affirmation feeds on Pinterest, Twitter, or Facebook to keep your social networking more positive an influence in your life. If you sometimes end the day on a sour note, train yourself to turn that around. Instead, pour yourself a cup of tea, or another beverage of your choice, and sit down with a journal and write it out. Just sit down and start writing about your day. What happened? What went right? What went wrong? Put it all down. Write down three things that went well and explain why they went well. Write down three things that didn't go well, and explain why they didn't go well. Be as specific as possible in describing the events. Read back over what you wrote. Sometimes, what seems super-dramatic in your mind will suddenly seem much more minor when you actually read it out. Was it really worth all that negativity?

SUMMARY:
Start smiling more. Make little changes in the words you use. Do nice things for others, even if you don't feel like it. Be with people you enjoy. Find positive quotes or mantras to keep with you. Keep a journal and record each day.