How to Shave Your Pubic Hair – A Woman’s Guide
If you are reading this article, I will assume that you are a first-timer and have never taken scissors, a razor, an electric shaver or anything else to the fuzz growing between your legs. It may be in a state of complete chaos and you’re wondering how things ever got so out of control…but the important thing is that you’ve taken that first step and decided to shave.
Before you get started, you may want to take some time to consider the various hair styles and designs you can select when it comes to taking this hair removal plunge. There is so much to cover, we’ve made a completely separate article about it. In the past, it has been common to just trim or pluck the bikini area, go with a basic landing strip pattern or simply shave it all off. But in the 21st century, people are taking a much more creative approach to pubic hair grooming; shaving or waxing intricate patterns into their hair and even coloring it.
You’ll should gather everything you’ll need in the bathroom (generally the best place to do this task) so you don’t need to stop in the middle of the process to fetch something. I will be focusing on shaving with a personal razor (non-electric) and shaving cream for the majority of this article. I personally use the Gillette Venus Vibrance and find it leaves a very smooth shave. If you want to save a few bucks on razor blades, you don’t need to buy their special Vibrance blades because they are no different than the original Venus ones aside from coloring – but don’t tell Gillette I told you that!
Now it’s time to get down to business. One of the first things you will want to do is trim down your pubic hair with a pair of clean scissors or an electric razor. (If you’ve shaved before and your pubic hair isn’t very long, you can skip this first step and just start with the main event.) You want your scissors or razor to be clean so you don’t cause yourself any unnecessary risks of infection. When you shave, it is likely that tiny nicks will develop (some of them so tiny you won’t even see them) and if you’re using scissors you were just using to prune flowers in your garden or an electric razor you used on your dog, your chances of a bacterial infection are certainly going to be elevated.
“Trim down” means what it sounds like. The goal is not to remove all your pubic hair in this step but to thin the trees back so you can get an effective shave with your razor later on. Otherwise you will end up cleaning your razor many, many times to keep the blade exposed and may end up snagging hairs which is never pleasant. You may want to do the trimming over the toilet bowl or in your shower, but you will certainly want to collect the hair you trim off somehow. If you are planning to be waxed instead of shaving, your pubic hair should be around one quarter of an inch long but no shorter than one eighth of an inch.
If you haven’t done so already, why not check out your hair situation now in the mirror and see how things are going? You may find that after a trim, you have reached a pubic hair length which you are comfortable with. It’s your hair and if you’re not ready to go completely bare yet, there’s no pressure. But if you are ready to go on, so am I.
It’s now time to get wet and lather up. I prefer to shave in the shower after I’ve washed my hair because it gives the skin a bit of time to warm up and lets the steam of the warm shower soften the skin. You could also take a bath first but should shave at the end when you are ready to drain the water. I also usually put one leg up on the side of the bathtub or on a stool or step in the shower so I have better access to everything.
Cover your pubic hair with shaving oil, jelly or lather to form a layer of lubrication between your skin and the razor. I like to use shaving oil and jelly because I can feel the razor sliding over the skin smoothly, without leaving cuts and nicks. If you are desperate, hair conditioner can also be used but for best results I’d only use it in a real emergency.
You may also want to give some consideration to the type of shaving matter you use and what skin types it is recommended for. My favorite products are Venereous Shaving Oil and Venereous Shaving Jelly from Newf Brand. You can use them together, the jelly layered over the oil, or you can use each of them separately. Using them together just gives you an extra layer of shaving protection against nicks and leaves the skin extra moisturized. Plus neither of these products foam so you can actually see what you’re shaving which is very useful.
Some gels have mint and other ingredients in them which may not be suitable for the sensitive skin in your nether regions. I have not had any adverse reactions using men’s shaving gel versus women’s but I generally select a product for sensitive skin. Some women’s shaving gels state on the label that they are recommended to be used in the bikini zone and generally have a more feminine scent to them.
I usually cover the entire area I am going to shave at the beginning so I don’t need to set the razor down constantly and fiddle with the container of shaving gel. You can always go back and add more shaving oil later, but be careful with some gels and creams because if you leave leave them on too long, you may start to notice a burning sensation on your skin. If that occurs, wash the lather off immediately and give your skin a few moments to recuperate. If you have another shaving lather, you may want to use it for the rest of the process and I would recommend not using the shaving lather which burns you again in the future for this sensitive area.
Now you’re ready to put the blade to your skin. Don’t be scared. If you’ve shaved your legs before, you know that it can take a little time before you are fully comfortable with all the contours of your body. Shaving your mound is no different and each one varies so you may find that these steps don’t work perfectly for you or that a different order is a bit better. I’m just speaking from my personal shaving experience over the last 8 years.
Start with the top of your mound, use one hand to gently pull back the skin so it is tight and, with the razor in the other hand, shave down with the hair growth. I like to start on the sides near the crease of my legs and then work towards the center. After I’ve shaved most of my mound against the hair growth, I then shave against the growth and sometimes from side to side.
In some areas of the body, such as the armpits, hair grows in multiple directions and to get a very close shave, you need to shave in each direction of growth to get every hair at its base. But when first starting out this can increase your chances of razor burn in the end so be sure that you have plenty of lather covering your mound while doing this. Run your fingers over your mound and if it’s smooth, you’re ready to go on.
The lips can be a bit trickier although the outer labia should be similar to shaving your mound. Shaving against the hair growth usually gets most of the hairs although you may have to retrace your stroke one or twice to catch any strays. Try not to go over the skin too many times, though, as this also might cause irritation later on. If you feel the need to shave with the hair growth, be careful because you may end up nicking yourself which is quite uncomfortable.
To shave inside your labia, use your free hand to gently roll the lips open and carefully pull the razor up along the edge of your lip and around the upper ridge to get those little hairs which will really agitate your partner during oral sex if they are missed.
At this stage, you are more or less finished. You may want to reach back and give your anus a quick once over just to be thorough. This is where a second set of hands would come in very handy. In fact, you may want someone to assist you during this entire process but try not to get too carried away or you may end up with a lot more cuts than you expected.
Once you get out of the shower or the tub, you may want to use a moisturizer such as Venereous Mountain Mist to help prevent irritated skin and razor burn. Try to avoid excessively touching the area for a few hours as that may also cause irritated skin.
If you decide you love the feeling of your smoothly shaved mound, maintaining this style is simple. You will probably only want to shave every few days at first until your skin gets used to this constant new attention. If you do decide to start shaving daily right from the start, your skin may be more sensitive and irritated for the first few days that you continue this process. But as it adjusts, any discomfort and elevated levels of irritation usually subside.
Although shaving can be a bit tricky and it does take a bit of getting used to, most women love the results – and so do their partners! If you’re doing this just for someone else, don’t forget to let them know that you did go to some trouble and would really appreciate if they went out of their way to clear the forest too (if they aren’t already)!
Cures for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a disorder that occurs when muscles in the intestines contract faster or slower than normal and create pain, cramping, excessive gas, sudden bouts of diarrhea, or prolonged periods of constipation.
While there currently is no cure for IBS, there are many strategies you can use to better manage your symptoms. Experts claim the most important thing you can do to cure IBS is to avoid all products containing wheat, dairy and sugar.
Studies show that most people with IBS also have a wheat allergy. This intolerance to gluten severely impairs digestion and makes your IBS symptoms worse. Dairy is known to form mucus in your bowels and frequently leads to gastrointestinal distress. Many individuals with IBS are lactose intolerant and unable to digest the protein molecules present in dairy products.
Sugars are normally broken down by specific enzymes in the intestines and then absorbed. Many people with IBS do not produce some of these enzymes, so the sugars don’t get broken down properly. If these sugars wind up in the large intestine; intestinal bacteria will absorb them, which results in large amounts of gas being produced.
L-glutamine is a natural amino that can help to reduce sugar cravings. Whenever you have a sugar craving; place a capsule of L-glutamate under your tongue for five minutes, than swallow it. L-glutamine feeds your brain and overrides the sugar craving.
Most people have heard of Aloe Vera and associate it with skin care and beauty products. However, aloe vera juice is becoming an increasingly popular treatment of IBS and other associated digestive problems. Aloe vera juice helps to break down impacted stools and eliminate toxins from the digestive system. While it’s not a cure for IBS, many sufferers claim aloe vera juice is a life-saver.
Apple cider vinegar has long been touted as a cure-all for many ailments. Apple cider vinegar aids in digestion because it helps the body to assimilate and eliminate food. Apple cider vinegar is an antiseptic to the intestines and entire digestive tract. Due to its healing properties, apple cider vinegar can help to control diarrhea in a very short time. The apple cider vinegar cure for IBS involves consuming one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water before and between each meal.
Acidophilus is the “friendly bacteria” that resides in your colon. There are over 400 different types of bacteria residing in your digestive tract. Some are beneficial, while others are responsible for producing gas, bloating, constipation and even diarrhea. Acidophilus is thought to help control and correct bacterial imbalances in the digestive tract and colon. Acidophilus is available in capsules, packets and even straws, which are perfect for children or individuals who have difficulty swallowing capsules.
Coconut oil shows promise as a cure for IBS [http://www.my-irritable-bowel-syndrome.com]. Coconut oil is edible oil that has been consumed in the tropics for thousands of years. Coconut oil is considered a miracle drug by many; as it has shown effective in reducing cholesterol, supporting thyroid function, assisting in the stabilization diabetes, rejuvenating skin, and boosting energy. Coconut oil is available in solid form for cooking and in capsule form. Coconut oil should be stored at room temperature.
Magnesium is a mineral needed by every cell of the body. Experts suggest that nearly 40 percent of Americans are deficient in this crucial mineral. IBS patients who suffer with constipation find that adding magnesium to their diet helps with the elimination process. Dietary sources of magnesium include green vegetables such as spinach, as well as nuts, seeds, and some whole grains. Magnesium supplements can be taken as oral tablets, liquid, or intramuscular injections. IBS patients should avoid taking Magnesium oxide supplements, as they are the most poorly absorbed. Look for Magnesium chloride, citrate, gluconate or sulfate forms.
Many people with IBS find their symptoms improve when they add fiber to their diet. Fiber tends to be most effective with people who suffer from constipation; however, it may also help those who suffer from diarrhea. The best fiber to add to your diet is the insoluble type found in bran, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. An easy way to increase your fiber intake is with crushed psyllium seed. This natural laxative can be found in most pharmacies, supermarkets, and health food stores.
Forget What You Heard in School, Chewing Gum Activates Your Brain
Chewing Gum And Learning Are Linked
Teachers have a ‘thing’ about chewing gun in class – it freaks them out. They never think ahead – that when the dam bursts – the gum can be used to occlude the cracks and save us all. Just kidding. Chewing gum is a learning-tool – as real as a big, red,
juicy apple.
If you want to seriously improve your memory up to 28%, improve your IQ about 15 points, and concentrate like Al Einstein…
Did you know that Al was a lifelong ‘dyslexic’, and was
totally frustrated by reading because his brain reversed words and spelling?
Dyslexia taught Einstein to rely on his ‘imagination’ – the right-brain.
To access your memory and concentration – become a master-learner …Chew Gum. What happens is that the act of chewing speeds up your heartbeat and blood pressure just enough to wake up both left-and right hemispheres to get “in-sync”,
to work together.
Does it have to be Gum that you chew?
Nyet, an apple, a turkey-bone or a slice of bread works – but in class or the library
chewing on gum – (sugar-free) is more unobtrusive – right?
Who Says So?
The original research began in 2001 and made it to the major-leagues in the following year at the University of Northumbria in Great Britain. The lead-
researcher is professor Andrew Scholey who used control-groups for his
experiments. Later research using fMRIs (brain scans), reinforced his conclusions.
How Does it Work?
It turns out that the chewing-action creates a bodily (mouth and jaw) rhythm which the brain copies – so that mind-and-body get into ‘entrainment’ – (in-sync).
What happens next is that “insulin” starts flowing because mind-and-body are fooled into expecting real-food coming to the stomach – not just the saliva produced by the chewing-action.
The first discovery was that there are ‘insulin’ receptors (catch-basins), on both the left and the right hemispheres (cerebral cortex). When the insulin pops into the
grooves of the left-and-right brains – they excite the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex into cognitive-activity. In plain English – not neuroscience – our attention (concentration), memory, and comprehension (Broca’s and Wernicke’s Areas), kick into gear and boost our learning-skills.
The Test Itself?
Dr. Scholey’s team uses a group who chewed-gum, a second that did not move their
lips and jaws, and a third that had no gum, but pretended to chew by moving their
jaws up-and-down – they chewed “air”.
The results were revealing – the gum chewers doubled the scores of those who did
nothing but keep their jaws shut. The ‘pretend’ group improved – but less than 25% of the ‘gun-chewers’, but significantly compared to the ‘normal’ (non-chewers), people.
What is Going on in The Mind-And-Body?
We conducted our own experiments over a twelve-month period and reproduced Dr. Scholey’s results – he made believers of us.
What happens is that the insulin-connection helps switch the Central Nervous System from Sympathetic to the Parasympathetic System; from fight-or-flight
to-relaxation-mode.
The hormones, enzymes and neurotransmitters activate ‘acetylcholine’ instead of epinephrine (adrenalin). When we go to Parasympathetic
and ‘inhibit’ fight-or-flight (cortisol), we learn and think with fluidity and speed.
You probably know that your three-pound coconut uses 22% of all the body’s oxygen and glucose (body-fuel). When you study and learn you require an additional 10% oxygen to run the brain in high-gear.
The parasympathetic system leads to an increased amount of oxygen and glucose – and it disposed of larger amounts of Carbon dioxide, than the Sympathetic Nervous System. It’s the insulin that triggers it all to happen.
Endwords
Don’t remember when we chew gum our heartbeat increases about three (3) extra beats per minute. Just stick into your long-term memory that “insulin’ is
produced by the chewing-action. Everything good happens from the physiological changed – more oxygen, more glucose (body-and-mind fuel), and disposal of more
CO2 – (the debris and toxins that harm our blood vessels and immune system).
Chewing-gum during a test, study-session, giving a presentation or listening to one,
is a Speedlearning 100 strategy because it works. You have ‘will’ (volition), and
can exercise ‘effort’ (persistence and determination), to improve the language areas
of your brain – (left-hemisphere), and ‘pattern-recognition’ area of your right-hemisphere. Getting both to work ‘in-sync’ permits you to access your personal-best
talents and gifts – to ace your objectives.
But – it requires a personal decision – Professor Jeffrey M. Schwartz, UCLA School of Medicine calls it DWE – Directed Willful Effort. You must activate: your Intention – your Attention – and finally your Volition.
It is your job to first, ‘pay-attention’ (concentrate), second, ‘intend’ – to reach the goal of your ‘burning-desire,’ and third, make a decision, (choose).
Volition’ is using your will-and-effort, and requires making a new choice each time.
Tell me – Don’t you require a ‘hoop’ to shoot at – to know if you scored?
The score is a result of you making a decision to be persistent-and-determined to obtain your goal.
That’s DWE – Directed Willful Effort.
Please never forget – you – are the boss of – you – so decide whether you really want to win by exerting the effort necessary. You are hardwired with Freedom-of-Choice,
and can choose the correct behavior or veto working at your desired goal.
Volition is using your will to choose.
Oh yeah – reading while chewing gum increase your reading-speed up to 80%.
See ya,
copyright ©
H. Bernard Wechsler
www.speedlearning.org
hbw@speedlearning.org
Can Sugar Cause Acid Reflux?
One of the main causes of acid reflux is sugar as well as spicy foods, vitamins and tomato based products just to name a few. If you have too much of sugar consumption in your diet and have bad eating habits this will only cause your body to make an unnecessary amount of acid in the body.
Sugar acid reflux is also caused when the body is not able to use up the all the sugar that you took in. When this happens it is converted into cholesterol so that the level of sugar in the blood gets reduced to a proper amount. One of the many foods that cause acid reflux is chocolate as well as any foods that have high content of fat. One way to control it is to eliminate high fat content foods as well as high caloric foods such as chocolates. This will help your body in eliminating the symptoms of acid reflux.
Sugar acid reflux can be a very painful condition. Drinking soft drinks or these new energy drinks that are out there can only increase your chances for contracting it. By drinking sodas like Coke, Pepsi or a high sugar energy drink would compound the problem as the carbonation will irritate the stomach. The body than tries to cure the irritation by adding antacid from the blood that in turn will lead to low calcium which is then taken from the bones in your body.
All these things can cause acid reflux and it gets gloomier when you take into account the high amount of sugar contained in these soft drinks. This sugar enters into the bloodstream in unnecessary amounts and it causes the pancreas to work overtime. When this happens it pumps out insulin thus lowering the testosterone in the bloodstream. This is a pretty bad picture that should be enough of a warning to let you know how bad sugar acid reflux can get.
Can Artificial Sweeteners Replace Sugar to stop Acid Reflux?
Even though sugar is very bad for acid reflux and you should not want to compound the mistake of replacing the consumption of regular sugar with artificial sweeteners. These artificial sweeteners can be much worse and end up destroying both your kidneys and liver. These artificial sweeteners will also cause disruption of the body’s normal metabolism that will get in the way your body from receiving the proper nutrition from the food you eat.
In conclusion, a good way of avoiding sugar acid reflux is to stop eating chocolates and soda as well as tea, coffee and energy drinks. You should also try and cut down on the amount of artificial sweeteners because they can also contribute to it.
Colloidal Silver Side Effects
Colloidal Silver – though considered a powerful germicide – when taken in excess amounts can be a potential toxin to living tissues. As silver has no known biological function in the human body, it will be excreted within 24 hours. But, only a small quantity – approximately 50 mcg per day – can be excreted. The remaining silver particles are deposited under the skin and tissues as silver sulfide. This probably leads to many health issues.
Argyria is one of the serious side effects caused by the prolonged ingestion of colloidal silver. It is a dermatological condition, characterized by grayish-blue pigmentation of the whole body. No effective treatment is available for argyria. However, no known cases of argyria have been reported from pure and protein-free colloidal silver.
Excess colloidal silver consumption can even cause arteriosclerosis or the hardening of arteries. If left unchecked, arteriosclerosis often ends up in a heart attack. Deposition of colloid silver on the tissues results in organ damage and it also affects the normal immune processes. Intake of large doses can also cause neurological problems like seizures. Other possible side effects include stomach distress, headaches, skin irritations, and fatigue.
Sometimes, colloidal silver reacts with certain drugs like thyroxine, penacillamine, quinolones, and tetracyclines. So, great care must be taken while using these products, especially during pregnancy. Individuals with kidney trouble and liver disease should also limit the intake of colloidal silver, as they are more susceptible to silver toxicity.
In the light of the above facts, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has refused to approve the use of colloidal silver supplements for medicinal purposes. No colloidal silver ingredients or products are considered safe or effective. Moreover, the FDA has taken serious action against many companies for making unsubstantiated drug-claims for their over-the-counter colloidal silver products. Only those products approved under the FDA?s drug application procedure can be sold as drugs.
Blindness in Cats – Five Common Causes of Feline Blindness
Cats naturally have superior vision. However, there are various conditions that can cause blindness in cats. Some of these conditions include hypertension, glaucoma, and cancer. Let’s take a look at some of these causes of feline blindness.
Hypertension
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is one of the leading causes of blindness in cats. If left untreated, the pressure can cause the retina to rupture. This can occur in just a matter of days. Cats that have kidney disease, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism have the highest risk of developing hypertension.
An early sign that your cat is suffering from high blood pressure is the presence of dilated pupils. The pupils won’t respond to a change in light, and there also may be blood in your cat’s eye. Hypertension is dealt with by treating the underlying cause. Your cat may also need to start eating foods low in sodium.
Glaucoma
One of the next common causes of feline blindness is glaucoma. Glaucoma is a condition in which there is too much pressure within the eye. It is also a common problem for humans. If your cat is diagnosed in the early stages, the pressure may be reduced via medications. If it has already progressed, your cat may need surgery to correct the problem.
Cancer
Another cause of blindness in cats is cancer. Tumors can grow in or around the eye. In most cases, the eye will need to be surgically removed. However, it is usually replaced with a prosthetic eye to give a more natural look.
Atrophy
Progressive retinal atrophy is an untreatable condition that leads to feline blindness. Most cats suffer from this condition because they inherited it. The disease progresses slowly over time, but will lead to total blindness.
Kidney Disease
One of the final common causes is kidney disease. It is common for older cats to suffer problems like chronic renal failure as they age. Unfortunately, chronic renal failure leads to hypertension. As stated earlier, hypertension can easily cause sudden blindness in cats if the retina ruptures.
Get Rid Of Garlic Breath – 5 Surefire Ways To Get Rid Of Garlic Or Onion Breath
Having a garlic breath is never much fun. It can cause you a lot more embarrassment than you can imagine. Just imagine what will happen when you attend a social gathering with a garlic breath! Also, it is not that you should be concerned about your garlic breath only when you attend a party or social gathering. Bad breath can even destroy your love life! In this article, I will give five tips on how to effectively get rid of garlic and onion breath easily.
First of all, you need to know what actually causes bad breath. Usually, when you eat foods containing a considerable amount of onion and garlic, those foods produce gases inside your body and this causes bad breath. Another cause of bad breath is the food particles that get stuck in your mouth while you are eating. Now, there are a lot of medicines out there that claim to cure bad breath but in reality, these medicines are a waste of money. Also, if you think that mint-flavored chewing gums can help you get rid of garlic breath, you are wrong! For one, chewing gums give you only temporary relief. For another, long term use of chewing gums can actually make your breath worse than what you started with! However, you don’t need to lose hope as I will give you some quick tips to help you get rid of garlic breath forever.
1. First, modify your diet. You should include foods such as lemons, lemonades, and one glass of milk in your diet. Also eat mixed vegetables mixed into a mashed potato like mush, things like mushrooms, carrots and other veggies.
2. Do you have as sweet tooth? Congratulations, you have just won half the battle against garlic breath! Studies have proved that eating one teaspoonful of sugar everyday can make your breath fresh. Eating lots of chocolates will also help you, although I don’t recommend it because while chocolates can actually help you get rid of onion or garlic breath, eating too much of them can actually harm your gums.
3. I previously said that mint-flavored chewing gums won’t help you in getting rid of garlic breath. However, if you can chew at least two or three fresh mint leaves everyday, you will be able to get rid of garlic breath fast!
4. Eat one cup of tea immediately after eating onion/garlic
5. When you cook food, try to use fresh garlic or onions instead of onion or garlic powder.
I sincerely hope this article will help you get rid of garlic or onion breath to a large extent. However, there are many other quick and effective ways to get rid of garlic and onion breath.
Interior Wall Painting Techniques – Project Prep to How to and Do it Yourself
PROFESSIONAL NOTE: To achieve the best results from your interior paint project, apply the primer and base coat with good quality paint, brushes, rollers and application tools. You will be surprised how your interior paint project will be effortless in helping you to apply a thicker, more uniform coat of paint for a better-looking, longer-lasting paint job.
Gather Materials and Supplies:
Ladder
Plastic water bucket
Gloves
Rags
TSP (optional for cleaning oil and Grime)
liquid soap
Screwdriver
Drop cloths (plastic and cloth) or sheets
Blue painter’s tape (with and without paper attached)
Old paintbrushes or china bristle brushes for dusting
Spackling compound
5-in-1 tool or wide blade
Latex caulk
220-grit sandpaper
Latex primer
Latex paint, eggshell or satin sheen
Plastic 2 gallon Paint Bucket
Paint tray, paint roller and 3/8″ roller cover
2″ – 3″ Quality nylon/polyester brush
Paint Basics
Acrylic Paint?
Latex paints are not all the same. Now the term “latex” includes all water-based paints. High-performance interior paints are 100% acrylic; they have better color retention, better adhesion and, in the case of faux finishing the better choice for an undercoat than vinyl-acrylics.
Not to mention, manufacturers consider 100% acrylics to be their best products.
Which Paint for this room? How will the room be used?
In functional, high traffic rooms such as kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms, you want durability and easy maintenance first. In more decorative and romantic rooms, such as living rooms, master bedrooms and dining rooms, appearance is often the key factor. In a child’s room, safety is critical.”
Here is Final advice on paint quality.
When you buy paint, go for the reputable brands. Suit your choices to the project, but at the same time, “don’t waste your time” or your money on low-quality paint. There are significant differences between cheap and quality paints, particularly in characteristics such as hiding and wash ability. Obviously, one-coat hiding is a major labor saver and well worth paying a premium to get the results.
Be sure not to forget to check the warrantee on the label–this gives you a fair measure of the differences between quality levels of various paints. Last but not least, you are also likely to find a wider variety in color choices with your quality paint lines.
Estimating PAINT COVERAGE
How do you determine the amount of paint you will need for a particular room?
The first step is to add the width of all walls in the room together. Multiply this sum by the height of one wall from floor to ceiling (or, the circumference of the room times the ceiling height). If you have a number of windows and doors, subtract the square footage of those openings. This final number will give you the exact area of wall space you will paint.
A flat surface usually requires one gallon for every 400 square feet (the product label will show the coverage). Take into account the number of coats you will need to do the job right and this depends on the color and the quality of the paint. Remember, it’s always a good idea to have a little leftover paint for future touch-ups.
Once you’ve properly prepped your walls, the actual painting is easy.
Follow these steps in order, and don’t skip any of them. Wait until the first coat dries before deciding
whether you need a second one.
Steps To professionally Painted Walls:
CLEAR THE ROOM
STEP ONE: When transforming the walls in your home, start by removing any furniture or obstructions from the room. Cover the floors and any remaining furnishings in the middle of the room, cover with drop cloths or plastic sheets. Next remove outlet covers, nails, and screws. Tape the screws to the outlet cover and store in separately marked plastic bags, for easy re-installation. Then tape over the outlets and light switches to prevent paint from getting on electric outlets and switches.
FIX THE WALL IMPERFECTIONS
STEP TWO: Scrape off flaking paint, repair holes and cracks with spackle with a wide blade or five-in-one tool. Feather back rough paint edges by sanding. Always fill the imperfection flush with the surface even if it means having to refill 2-3 times due to shrinkage. It is much easier to refill than to sand back too much spackling. After the spackle dries, finish by lightly sanding with a medium (220 grit sandpaper), dust off surface and then prime each repaired area with small roller. Re-caulk any spaces you find where countertops, baseboards and moldings meet the wall.
NOTE: Use protective face mask while sanding.
NOTE: If you are repainting a glossy surface, be sure to sand it so that the new paint will adhere better.
CLEAN THE ROOM
STEP THREE: Use an old paintbrush or china bristle brush to dust baseboards, trim and crown molding before taping them off (use painter’s tape to protect the baseboards and moldings). Remove all dust from surfaces using a soft cloth or use a soft bristle broom to brush down new plasterboard. Paint doesn’t stick to dirty walls so clean them with soap and water (or TSP and water), then rinse with clean water, changing water regularly.
NOTE: Wear rubber gloves, protective clothing and protective eye-wear.
TAPING
STEP FOUR: Use low adhesive blue painters to tape trim around ceiling, baseboards, windows and door frames. (If you do not have ceiling trim or crown molding, you must use safe release tape on bare ceiling). Tape over phone jacks, thermostats, and moldings. Remove tape immediately after painting, before the wall dries, so you don’t peel off any paint with it.
PRIMING THE WALLS
STEP FIVE: If your walls are bare sheetrock or previously wallpapered surface, then you should use the recommended primer for that type of surface. Existing semi-gloss or gloss paints should be lightly sanded to a duller finish, and then proper primer for that surface. If the walls have not been painted in five years or longer a primer sealer should also be applied.
NOTE: Always work in areas from the top to bottom. Paint Ceiling first, then walls, then the trim or moldings. Always brush the edges (cutting in) first prior to rolling. When cutting in make sure you feather out the edges.
NOTE: When you begin start from a corner left to right, or right to left, according to the most comfortable starting point for you. With a pole attached to the end of the Roller, start from the center of the surface and roll the paint from the center towards the top and bottom of the wall. Roll the wall much like you would vacuum carpet, this will give you the smoothest wall. To avoid a patchy wall finish, make sure you finish the complete coat before walking away to avoid a patchy finish.
BASE COAT THE WALLS
CUTTING IN TECHNIQUE
STEP SIX: Thoroughly stir your paint with a stir stick. Then, pour the paint into a larger 2-gallon bucket for easier handling. Make sure you pour no higher than 1/3 full in your new paint container. With a 2″ wide (or angle) brush, load by dipping 1/3 of the bristle length into the paint. You can remove excess paint from the brush by tapping the bristles against the inside of the bucket. Starting from the top corner of the wall, cut in approximately 3 inches around the top of the wall where the wall meets the ceiling and cut in the bottom of the wall where the wall meets the baseboard. Cut in the corners of the wall and around all window and door trim while always working from the non- paint area to the previously painted areas, smooth out the cut in by lightly brushing the tip of the bristles (tipping off) over the newly painted area, creating a feathered edge. Repeat steps until the perimeter of the walls are complete.
ROLLING THE WALL:
STEP SEVEN: You have the choice of pouring the paint into a paint tray or a 5-gallon bucket. Place an appropriate nap roller onto a roller frame. Attach an extension pole onto the roller frame. Dip roller cover completely into paint covering the entire nap area. When using a 5-gallon bucket, pour no higher than 1/3 full and use a bucket grid to offload the excess paint and to evenly distribute the paint onto the roller. When using a paint tray, offload the excess paint by rolling onto the ribbed section of the paint tray Starting at the top corner of the wall, place the evenly loaded roller approximately 3-4″ away from the cut in area. Working in a 3′ x 3′ area, roll a “W” onto the wall.
Continue rolling from the top edge of the wall to the bottom cut in area. Back roll through the completed area prior to reloading the roller, creating a smooth uniform finish. Reload the roller as necessary. Continue applying the paint, each time starting with the “W” technique 3-4″ away from the last section completed. Working from the top section of the wall and working down the wall. Always, back roll the width of the roller being used into the last section completed. Continue until your wall is completely covered.
NOTE: Paint the trim last. When the walls are completely dry, paint or touch up the moldings, the door and window frames with a two-inch angled brush.
FINISHED DEAR? CLEAN UP AFTER PAINTING
1. Carefully remove all tape from hinges, doorknobs, light switches, and trim.
2. Remove drop cloth coverings from floors, furniture and light fixtures.
NOTE: It is best to score taped areas where the tape meets the painted surface with a utility knife, to help prevent peeling when the tape is removed.
NOTE: Cloth Drop cloths should be taken outside to remove dust and debris, then folded and stored for future use. Place all disposable coverings and loose debris into the appropriate trash can.
3. Re-attach all switch plates, and outlet covers.
4. Vacuum, mop or clean the floor where coverings were removed.
5. Re-hang items to the wall such as pictures and mirrors.
6. Move furniture and rug back to its original position.
7. Replace all valuables that were removed from tabletops and cabinets.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PAINT SHEEN
The difference between paint sheens. What’s in a name?
Once you choose color for your paint project, you have one more decision to make: the paint sheen! The names are: flat, eggshell, pearl, satin, semi-gloss and gloss. What does this all mean? The paint sheen refers to the gloss level or the degree of light reflected from the surface once the paint has dried. Each company has slight variations.
It is obvious to tell the difference between a flat and a high-gloss, but it’s the levels in between, when and how we use each sheen that can get confusing to all of us. So, here we have listed the key factors in choosing a paint finish.
The glossier a finish, the more durable and washable it tends to be. Flat paint is great at hiding irregularities and surface imperfections. Pearl and eggshell paints are a compromise; they partially hide imperfections and are more washable than flat paints.
For painting interiors, the best choices are often flat paint for ceilings, eggshell and satin for walls and semi-gloss or gloss on doors and trim. The most popular paint sheen is satin, a good choice because it’s not too shiny but cleans easier than flat and a perfect base for popular faux finishing techniques.
FLAT
Durability of Flat Paint: If you have children or pets, this paint sheen isn’t the best choice for walls as it tends to show dirt and scuff marks easily. This sheen is not an easy paint to keep clean.
Where to Use Flat Paint: are great choice for areas with dents, dings and rough surface texture. This sheen is perfect for surfaces that do not have a lot of contact with human hands, such as ceilings.
Comments on Flat Paint: Although this sheen hides surface imperfections, stain removal is difficult. Use this sheen for a uniform, non-reflecting appearance.
EGGSHELL
Durability of Eggshell Paint: More durable and washable than most flat paints, but not as durable as Satin or Semi-gloss.
Where to Use Eggshell Paint: are great choice for wall surfaces in foyers, hallways, and Dining rooms. You can clean this paint sheen. Eggshell paints reflect more light than flat, but only slightly. The best way to describe paint is the reflective qualities of this sheen are similar to that of a real eggshell.
Comments on Eggshell Paint: This sheen resists stains better than flat paint and gives a more lustrous appearance offering a soft glow that warms up any room
SATIN
Durability of Satin Paint: are durable enough to stand up to most dirt, cleaning and are great for high traffic or food preparation areas.
Where to Use Satin Paint: are typically used for kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, kids’ rooms and even some woodwork and trim.
Comments on Satin Paint: are not truly “shiny,” but more like actual satin, in having subtle reflective qualities. This sheen adds just enough light to the walls to be called a slight “glow”. Satin or semi-gloss finishes are easy to clean and are good for highlighting architectural details.
SEMI – GLOSS
Durability Of Semi-Gloss Paint: tend to be much more durable as they can be easily cleaned with most cleaning products and resist dirt and stains.
Where to Use Semi-Gloss Paint: are typically used for doors, cabinets, woodwork and trim. Many people find Semi-Gloss to be too shiny for walls though it works quite well on surfaces that are prone to get a lot of handprints
Comments on Semi-Gloss Paint: A semi-gloss reflects between 35 to 50 percent of the light that hits it. Which means it will have a much shinier appearance.
HIGH – GLOSS
Durability of High-Gloss Paint: While the high sheen allows for an easy surface to clean, any dents or dings in the paint will be very visible.
Where to Use High Gloss Paint: take extra precautions in choosing where you use this sheen. High Gloss should be limited to areas such as kitchen cabinets, banisters and railings, trim, furniture, door jambs, window sills and specialty uses. You wouldn’t typically paint a wall with high-gloss paint because the reflective qualities create too much glare.
Comments on High Gloss Paint: High-Gloss reflects approximately 75%-80% of the light that hits it.
What is Silver Service?
Silver service is the name given to a specific way of plating and serving meals, which is traditionally used in some more formal settings. Used in restaurants, anywhere with silver service will bypass the usual plating of food in the kitchen, and instead bring out the dishes of meat, vegetables, and all of the other components, on separate plates, to then serve up to the diners in the quantities they desire.
The rule with this way of serving is to always serve to the left. So the server, or host, will always serve the guest to their left first and then work around the table until everyone has their food. Many households have adapted serving to the left from this, and you will often find at family meals that any plates where guests help themselves will always go round the table clockwise.
The name of this method comes from the fact that, traditionally, the entire cutlery, plates and serving equipment was made of silver. However, this is not always the case anymore as it can be fairly expensive, especially in large restaurants where a great number of plates and cutlery will need to be acquired.
Proper servers are often employed to make sure that the guests are catered for well and that the correct protocol is undertaken. A fork and spoon combination will be used to transfer the items of food to the guests plates in turn, with guests often being asked whether they would prefer more, so ensure that needs are met in the individual.
Plates and glasses will be cleared away from the right hand side, starting with the person on the right of the host first. Once the plates and dishes are cleared then the next lot of serving plates for the next course will be brought out, unless already included in the way the places are arranged on the table.
The arrangement of components is an important part of silver service and is notably well done, so the table looks high quality and formal. For example, glasses in silver service are arranged at a diagonal angle for each guest and include several wine glasses, as well as a water glass at the forefront.
Silver service styles can easily be adapted to the home, with the host taking the place of the server. This is not as fancy in style, but equally good and a nice way of doing things differently. Each guest in turn, starting from the left and working clockwise as previously mentioned, would pass their plate up to the host at the head of the table. They would then place the main food dish (for example roast chicken) on the plate, and hand it back to the guest. Trays of vegetables may be sat on the table for guests to help themselves to. The meat would generally be pre-cut, or cut at the table before anyone is served, to save time with the actual plating process.
This method of dining is not used so often now, but used to be highly popular, and is nice to encounter or include in dinner party arrangements as a change sometimes and to raise the tone of the evening.
Wedding Reception Protocol – Who Says What and When?
A wedding reception can be formal or informal, but you must make sure you do it right — in other words you should follow the normal wedding reception protocol as that is what people will expect. Note however that the protocol is not as rigid as you might think, and can be regarded more as a set of guidelines. But what is the traditional wedding reception protocol?
A formal wedding reception is normally held in the restaurant of a hotel where facilities and staff are on-hand for a full sit-down meal — sometimes still referred to as the “wedding breakfast”. An informal reception with a buffet menu can be a less expensive option.
When the guests arrive at the reception, they should be greeting by a receiving line. This is normally the bride’s mother and father, the bridegroom’s mother and father, the bride, and finally the groom — in that order. If there is a large number of guests you might want to simply have the bride and groom welcoming the guests.
Guests are then normally presented with a drink, and when everyone has arrived they can start to look for their name cards in the dining area. The bride and groom should have sorted all this out well in advance, and the only point of protocol here is that at a formal wedding reception there is normally a top table for the principal members of the wedding party.
At some point the cake is normally cut — this is either at the end or part-way through. The bride holds the knife in her right hand, with the groom’s right hand on hers, and then the bride’s left hand on top of that. This is a big photo opportunity and the couple will have to stand in that position with a smile on their faces for several minutes! The cake is then whisked away by the restaurant staff to be cut up ready to be given out at the end of the reception as people are leaving. You may want to rescue the top tier to save for the christening of the first-born.
After the cake-cutting comes the highlight of the reception: the speeches.
The first to speak is the bride’s father. He will normally say a few words and then propose the main toast: “Health and happiness to the bride and bridegroom” (or something similar).
The bridegroom then responds, thanking the bride’s parents and the guests, and he ends by proposing a toast to the health of the bridesmaids.
The best man then speaks, replying for the bridesmaids, reading out the congratulatory cards and telegrams. The best man will also relate some stories about the groom (and bride, if they are friends too).
That is it as far as tradition is concerned but, if they wish, the bride, bride’s mother, and the maid of honor (chief bridesmaid) can all make speeches — but it is best to check with the bride and groom first.
Any and all of the speeches can be serious or humorous, but giving a speech is a high-stress activity for many people. You may want to consider using a pre-written speech. This is worth considering, and there are several web sites offering such material, and you can edit what they give you to make it completely suitable and applicable to your wedding reception. Getting someone else to do the work is not only a great time-saver, but relieves you of the large amount of stress — and you can have confidence that what they give you will work. Such pre-written speech templates can be bought for next to nothing — and trust me: paying for them is worth it as they have been created and honed by professionals.
If there is to be dancing, the bride and groom are first on the floor. they are followed by the maid of honor and the best man, and then members of both families.
At some point the bride and groom will slip away to change into “normal” clothes and will then return to say good-bye before heading off on their honeymoon. Just before they leave, the bride throws her bouquet into the air — and tradition has it that the female to catch it is next in line for marriage. Sometimes the groom will toss the bride’s garter to the men, and the one who catches it is then expected to place it on the leg of the girl who caught the bouquet.
The bride and groom then get into a car that has been decorated by other guests and drive off into the sunset for their honeymoon and the rest of their lives together.
Finally, remember that the whole point of the wedding is for the benefit of the bride and groom, and that wedding reception protocol is, after all, just a set of guidelines. It’s what the guests will be expecting, so if you plan to deviate from tradition it’s probably best to let everyone know in advance so as to avoid disappointment.
Plan it carefully, then relax and enjoy yourselves!