Q: High heels, or shoes that simply have a higher lifting heel, are the obvious choice. If you feel uncomfortable in heels, go for sandals or nude-colored shoes that blend into your feet and legs. Knee-high boots can also work to stretch out your frame. When choosing heels, opt for nude-colored ones, or match them to your tights. This will help stretch your legs out even more. If you're wearing a jacket, cardigan, or something similar with an outfit, keep it shorter. Shorter tops help your torso look shorter and your legs look longer, creating the illusion of height. Go for jackets and cardigans that fall above your bottom. For example, if you wear a suit to the office, look for one with a shorter jacket that comes down just to your hips. If you wear socks that are clearly visible, make sure the socks don't contrast too sharply from your pants. A more monochromatic look will stretch out your body, making you look taller overall. For example, black pants can be paired with black socks. Drawing attention upward, towards your face, can make you look taller by balancing out your top and bottom half. Try wearing a hat or wrapping a scarf around your neck. Also, pick clothing that compliments your facial features like eye color. This will direct attention upward. For example, if you have big, brown eyes, opt for a brown scarf or hat. Belts can be great to cinch pants, skirts, or dresses at the waist, making your legs look longer and more defined. For the best results, wear a skinnier belt. Anything big or bulky will make your frame look smaller and shorter in comparison. For example, if you have a dress that's a little looser around the middle, cinch it at the waist with a slim-fitted belt. Regardless of the accessories you choose, keep them in the same color family as your outfit. Wearing different colors divides a person's body into separate segments. Wearing the same color, or tones that are within the same range, creates one solid line for an observer's eye to pick up. For example, if you're wearing a black sweater with black dress pants, pair it with a skinny black belt and scarf. Wear a pocket square or bright tie to add detail to a suit, or look at casual shirts with epaulets and upper pockets. When you wear details higher up, it encourages an observing eye to move up from your feet toward your head, causing the eye to take in more height.
A: Wear shoes that stretch out your frame. Pick short jackets or cardigans. Match your socks and pants. Wear hats or scarves. Try a slim belt. Match all your tones or go for a monochromatic look. Wear accessories higher up.

Q: Illness is the golden standard of getting out of something, because people can't question how you feel. Beware that some people might be suspicious if the sickness was unknown until just before the activity. Use an illness that is easy to recover from and doesn't bring on too many questions. Things like a 24 hour stomach virus or a migraine work well because real recovery is quick. That way you can show up the next day as if nothing happened. Sickness may still be the best way to get out of school or work, because you are allotted sick days. However, you may use up a valuable sick day that you later need when you are truly unable to get out of bed. This a very common reason for avoiding plans. Even if you do not have work, you can tell the person that you are swamped with paperwork or tests to study for. Most people will not probe you too much. Additionally, telling people that work or school is the problem will shift the blame from you to your boss or teacher. If the plan was to meet a friend or coworker, call them up and say, "I'm sorry, I've got too much work to do. Can we raincheck?" You might be trying to get out of something with your parents. Try saying, "Dad, I just feel like I need to study more for the math test. I really want to get a good grade." It helps if you actually have a test or paper coming up. Even if you don't end up studying, at least you won't get caught in a lie if your parents happen to check with your teachers. This excuse works well if you are invited to dinner, a show, or a weekend trip. Even if the activity requires only transportation, you might still claim that you need to cut back on train or gas expenses. Note that the person may offer to buy the ticket for you or pay for your drinks. If this is the case, say, "I wouldn't feel comfortable with that. I need to be frugal and stay home a little more." Your spouse, child or parent needs a nurse for the night. You may need to fill your spouse in on the lie so that they can cover for you in the future. This only works if you received a written invitation. If that is the case, wait for the reminder to break the news. Let the organizer know that you did not get the first invitation and made other plans. Be careful with email invites. Some people use applications that allow them to see if a receiver has opened an email. If you do something poorly, or show disinterest, people might stop asking you to do it. This may be at work, school, or in social environments. If your boss gives you task you don't like, find clever ways to avoid doing it. Spend more time on something you like doing, wait until the last minute to do it, or turn it in late. Avoid showing enthusiasm when you complete your assignment. Consistent social invitations may be harder to get out of. Show up late to the events and leave early. Spend most of the time on your cell phone so you don't have to talk to anyone. The host may stop inviting you if you are boring enough. We use many machines in the 21st century. Sometimes things break. Use the technology around you to get out of something. Point to transportation problems. Try saying that your car won't start or that there's been a train accident. This can either buy you some extra time or completely prevent you from doing something. Blame your phone or computer. Phones and computers have difficulties often enough that you can use this excuse at least once. Say that your computer broke down or your phone won't turn on. Get out of something by leaving, not showing up, or not doing whatever you had to do. Don't say anything, just act like everything is fine. This, of course, may have negative consequences.
A: Say that you are sick. Say that you have too much work. Say that you're broke. Say that you need to take care of someone else who is sick. Wait until you receive the reminder from the organizer to cancel. Slack off. Say you're having technical difficulties. Avoid the situation completely.

Q: Follow the directions of your favorite sugar cookie recipe to make sugar cookie dough.
A:
Make the dough. Cut it into desired shapes and lay them on a cookie sheet.