INPUT ARTICLE: Article: To cover the bottom of the cage, you can use either cage carpet, sand, small rocks, or powdered walnut shell. Cage carpet is generally recommended, however, as lizards might consume alternative floor types, which can lead to digestive issues. Cage carpet can be a bit trickier to clean. Make sure to give yourself some time every month to dedicate to keeping your lizard's cage carpet in good condition. Cage carpet can be purchased online at PetSmart or Amazon. Call your local pet store to see if they sell cage carpet. Plants will make your lizard feel more at home in its terrarium, and also give the lizard something to climb in. Put as many plants, vines, branches, and sticks that you can in the cage so that your lizard will have ample climbing material. While it's okay to put live plants, vines, and branches into your lizard's home, be sure they don't carry too much moisture. The Texas spiny lizard prefers a drier environment. It's best to put a mixture of live and fake climbing surfaces into the cage. If you find plants outside, make sure they are free of bugs and are not poisonous. One of the Texas spiny lizard's hobbies is digging into decayed logs. Put a piece of an old log into the cage once every few weeks to give the lizard a nice activity. Lizards like to have a place to hide themselves every so often. Add a log that can accommodate the length of your lizard to the cooler side of the cage. Remember that Texas spiny lizards grow to about 12". It's best to get a hollowed out log so that your lizard can hide completely. You can buy a hollowed out log at most pet stores. If you're handy, make one yourself! You'll also want to have a part of the cage left open for the lizard to play in. Try to put this on the opposite side of the cage from the hiding spot. Texas spiny lizards are diurnal and like to bask in the sun, so will need full spectrum UVB cage lighting to stay healthy and happy. You'll want the cage to be between 80-88 degrees during the day, 7080 degrees at night, and 100-108 in the lizard's basking spot. Make a basking platform around 12 inches from the basking light. The UVB rays aren't strong enough to be placed any farther away from the lizard. Only put lighting on one side of the cage since your lizard needs a cool place as well. Ask about how to properly set up cage lighting at a local pet store to ensure your lizard's health and safety.

SUMMARY: Cover the bottom with cage carpet. Add plants to the terrarium. Provide a hiding place. Give your lizard ample light.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: It's an especially good idea to reduce your intake of caffeine. A short rundown of acceptable foods include: All fruits and vegetables All legumes Whole grains Nuts and seeds Tofu Herbs and spices. Keep in mind that no artificial or processed foods nor any chemicals are allowed in the Daniel Fast. All meats and animal products All dairy products All deep fried foods All solid fats. Foods often contain hidden ingredients. Make sure the foods you buy are compliant with the Daniel Fast.

SUMMARY: Make your meals somewhat lighter for a few days leading up to your fast. In the first Book of Daniel, the Prophet ate only vegetables and fruit, and drank only water for 10 days. Conversely, there is also an agreed upon list of foods to avoid. Carefully read food labels.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: When you begin having the conversation, phrasing is very important. It's easy to accidentally come off like you're blaming or judging the other person. Proper phrasing can help the conversation go smoother. Avoid statements that start with "you" as this comes off as you forcing external judgment on the situation. Instead, phrase everything in terms of "I" and tie it back in to how your feelings affect your ability to function in the relationship. For example, instead of saying "You don't let me spend weekends just with my friends," say something like, "I like to sometimes just go out with friends Friday nights, and if I was able to do that more often I'd be happier when I came home to you." Avoid harsh language in general. Words like "clingy" or "needy" can come off as judgmental. If you feel your boyfriend wants too much of your time, instead say something like, "I feel like it's hard to meet all your needs all the time, and I don't have energy for myself when we spend all our time together." Be transparent. Talk about what you discovered while reflecting on the relationship and yourself during your talk. Saying you need space can potentially make your boyfriend feel very insecure, so focus on how the issue is about you and your needs and has nothing to do with how you feel about him. A relationship is a two way street. If your boyfriend has different ideas of what constitutes healthy space than you, the two of you need to address this together. You should listen to how he responds to what you're saying. Your boyfriend's needs and desires are as valuable as your own, so treat them as such. Remember this as you have the conversation. This is not an issue of one party being right and the other being wrong. It's an issue of differing personal boundaries. If you don't understand, ask for clarification. Something like, "Why do you feel that way?" can really help you better understand your partner's needs. At the end of the talk, reinforce your enthusiasm for the relationship so things do not end on a bad note. Say something like, "Even though I need alone time on occasion, I really do love spending time with you and want to be with you." It's a good idea to, throughout the talk, throw in positive statements and sentiments. Like, if you discuss spending more nights at your own place, follow up with something like, "Even though I really do love waking up next to you in the morning." This can help the conversation sting less for your boyfriend.

SUMMARY:
Use your language carefully. Listen to your boyfriend's needs as well. Reinforce the positive.