INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Sometimes we can get so caught up in our daily routine and in the busyness of life that we forget to stop and smell the roses. Take advantage of life's little moments and don't let them pass you by. If your friends invite you to go dancing after work, go! Get lost sometimes and explore new areas of where you live so you can find even more opportunities to be spontaneous. Though you likely have very many responsibilities to attend to, make time for yourself everyday to recenter and find peace. Just like you schedule out time for your classes or for work, you should make time for yourself as well. Take a nice hot bath at the end of the day. Watch a show that you enjoy. Go for a walk or read a book. Don't get so caught up in your routine that you forget to try things that you have never experienced. New experiences can enhance your life in ways that you may not have considered. Indulge in your hobbies and develop new ones. Try out a new kind of food or take dancing classes if you've always wanted to learn. . Food is far more entrenched into our mental and emotional wellbeing than perhaps we would like to admit. Instead of binging out on unhealthy foods, fill your body with fruits, vegetables, and protein to give it the energy it needs to do all the things you have to do in a day. Remember that you can indulge in your favorite foods occasionally, just don't overdo it. Life is all the more sweeter and enjoyable when you are laughing and laughing regularly. Find ways to incorporate humor more into your life so that you laugh often. Watch comedies, spend time with your funny friends, but also learn how to laugh at yourself. The less seriously you take yourself, the easier it will be to rid yourself of negative thinking.

SUMMARY: Live in the moment. Schedule time everyday to relax. Try new things. Eat healthy Use humor.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Use your smoothing shampoo and conditioner to prep your hair for best results. Shampoo gently. After you apply the conditioner, comb through your hair with a paddle brush to evenly and thoroughly distribute it before rinsing it out. If you have long hair and want to avoid washing your hair daily, use dry shampoo in between washings to keep your locks fresh. Pat your hair gently with a towel, working downward. Rough towel drying can encourage hair to curl up, especially if you already have a natural wave to it. Allow your hair to air dry until it's about 80% dry before blow drying it. Blow drying wet hair is extremely damaging and it can also cause your hair to become frizzy. Make sure you apply the product starting at the roots and working it down to the ends. This is the same direction as the hair cuticle, so applying it that way will ensure that you get the sleekest results. This will smooth your hair cuticle and also keep your hair from tangling. Make sure you are using the nozzle attachment on the hair dryer and your paddle brush with the mix of nylon and boar hair bristles as you dry it. Once your hair is dry, use the cool setting on the hair dryer to blast it with cool air for about 60 seconds for an additional shine boost. Separate your hair into small sections (1-2 inches) and use the flat iron to straighten your hair by sections. If you have thick or long hair, it may be easier for you to tie most of it up and bring it down a section at a time to straighten it. Work slowly and steadily and don't iron over the same section of hair more than 2-3 times. Make sure your hair is completely dry before you begin if you hear a sizzle, stop and use your blow dryer for a few more minutes before resuming. Adjust the heat setting on your flat iron to suit your hair type. If you have fine or damaged hair, set the temperature at 300 to 350 degrees. Normal hair can use the 350 to 400 degree setting and if you have coarse hair, use the 400 degree setting. Sparingly use a tiny amount of serum to smooth down any fly-aways or roughness. Don't neglect the ends of your hair, which tend to dry out the most when subjected to heating tools. Then allow your hair to cool down completely before applying a light might of hairspray or finishing spray all over your hairstyle to set it. If you don't wait for your hair to cool down before applying hairspray, you may hear some sizzling, which means you're damaging your hair. Instead of misting, try spraying your mixed nylon and boar bristle brush with the hairspray and then running it through your hair to avoid stiffness or stickiness.

SUMMARY: Shampoo and condition your hair. Lightly towel dry your hair and allow it to air dry. Apply smoothing serum to your damp hair. Blow dry your hair in a downward motion. Spritz on the thermal protectant product and flat iron your hair. Reapply a small amount of serum and set your hair with hairspray.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Most often you will find galvanized metal, which has a steel coating over it to protect it from rust. This process is ideal for props or furniture, where you want to create an artistic antique finish. Use a sanding pad or sander for larger pieces of metal. Sanding will remove the shine on a finish. Rub the metal object until the surface loses the shine and slickness. Wipe away any dust left behind from the sanding. Wipe down the metal with mineral spirits or vinegar to clean the surface. Having a clean surface will assure the paint can stick to the surface and last longer. Dip your sponge brush in water to soften the bristles. Be sure to paint only in a well-ventilated area. Begin with the cracks and crevices of the object, and then continue all around it. Black should cover the piece, but have some variation to mimic the aging process. You will need to allow the paint to dry completely before applying the next layer. Find an out of the way area to store your metal overnight. Wash your brush while the paint is still wet to remove it more easily. If you want a galvanized look, buy a matte gunmetal grey and burnt umber paint color. If you want a bronzed look, buy matte acrylic burnt and raw umber paints. Don't feel like you have to layer your paints. You can try sponging some gunmetal grey to create and aged galvanized metal look. Then decide how much, if any, umber to add. If you want a bronzed look, you will mix your raw and burnt umbers to create a warm bronze color. Pour your selected paint color onto your palette. Your paint color will vary depending upon the finish you want to achieve. You want to create the look of an uneven patina. For instance, you could make it grayer or bronze around the edges or divots. If you are aiming for a galvanized look, you can an additional light layer of umber paint. Leave the metal in a well-ventilated, out of the way location for the next 24 hours. Take a look at your aged metal and decide if it needs a few finishing touches. If you want to create further aging or variations, go over the desire areas with the sandpaper one last time. Wipe the dust away and your aged metal piece is ready to display.

SUMMARY:
Find a piece of new shiny metal. Sand the metal object with 80-grit sandpaper. Pour some matte, black acrylic paint onto a palette. Start dabbing or brushing in very small strokes on your metal object. Let the coat of black acrylic dry overnight. Choose your accent colors. Wet your brush. Dab the paint unevenly around the metal object. Wait for the coat of paint to dry. Sand the edges.