| How to Read Expiration Dates Posted: 04 Aug 2019 01:00 AM PDT Lots of food items, beauty products, and medications get thrown away every year because of misunderstood expiration dates. Learn the difference between an open-date code, which gives you a recommendation on how long a certain item will be good for, versus a closed code, which tells you when an item was actually manufactured. By learning to read these different codes, you'll better understand how long your food will stay fresh, how long the medicine in your cabinet will be potent, and how long your beauty products will be most effective. This will help you be a better consumer, and it'll ultimately save you money since things won't be going to waste! [Edit]Reading "Open Date" Codes - Look for a date accompanied with "use by," "sell by," or "best by." Check the bottom of the product, the sides of the container, the lid, and the necks of bottles. The numbers are stamped on and can sometimes be hard to read or find depending on where they were placed.[1]
- Many beauty products don't come with expiration dates, but some do. Keep in mind that most products have a 30-month shelf life. After they have been opened, it's recommended to use them within 1 year, though if they don't smell bad or change consistency, you can use your best judgment as to whether or not you want to keep using them.
- These types of dates that come with a label are "open dates", meaning that the food or manufacturing company chose that date and it's meant for the consumer or for the stockers at the store. There are also "closed codes," but those are meant for manufacturers, rather than consumers.
- Use a "best by" date to determine the peak window of freshness or potency. The best-by date is meant for the consumer. However, it definitely doesn't indicate that the food item, medication, or beauty product will start going bad after the date given. Rather, it just means that the item will be at its freshest or most effective before that date.[2]
- If a food item smells bad or if you can see mold or discoloration, throw it out. If it smells good, looks good, and has been properly stored, it should still be safe to eat.
- If a beauty product smells strange or has changed in consistency, it most likely isn't good anymore. For example, a lotion might become lumpy or a liquid foundation might become tacky.
- It's hard to tell if medicine is no longer potent. Most over-the-counter medications are effective for as long as 10 years past the expiration date. The best recommendation is to ask yourself if you need the medication to work at the full 100%. If so, you may want to replace it if it's past the expiration date.
- Remove products from shelves after the "sell by" date if you're a retailer. You can consume food items safely for at least 7-10 days past the sell-by date, but most retailers will be ready to move the stock off of their shelves to make way for new shipments. Medicines and beauty products generally don't have sell-by dates, unless they contain fresh ingredients.[3]
- If you're shopping and notice that a food product is past its sell-by date, you can still buy it. Just keep in mind that it'll need to be used within a week or so.
- Read a "use by" date as a tip for when an item might start to go bad. This date doesn't mean that a food item, beauty product, or medicine is no longer safe or that it is bad already. For food items, it means to be on higher alert when you open the product, as it could have started to decay or go stale. For other types of items, it means that the product may not be as effective as it was before the given date.[4]
- The use-by date has more to do with the item's quality rather than its safety. Remember, these dates are chosen by the manufacturers, not by the FDA or USDA.
- Some food products also have a "freeze by" date listed, so that consumers can know when to move their goods from the fridge to the freezer so that they don't have to throw anything out.
- Pay attention to odd smells or changed consistencies in food items and beauty products. These indicate that the item may not be good to use or consume anymore.
- You can safely assume that medicine is still effective if it was bought in the last few years, but go ahead and replace the bottle if you're concerned about it not working at its full potency, like for pain relievers or allergy pills.
[Edit]Interpreting "Closed Coding" Dates - Read a closed code as a "made/manufactured on" date. On many beauty products and canned goods, you can locate a code that is made of either numbers and letters combined or just numbers. If the code isn't accompanied by words like "use by," "sell by," or "best by," that means it refers to the date the product was manufactured. There are a few different forms that the closed code may take:[5]
- Read letters as though they were assigned to months. If the code you're reading includes a letter, use the letters A through L to figure out if the month is January (A), February, (B), March (C), and so on. Read the numbers after the letter as the date of the month and the year in which the item was produced.[6]
- For example, if a code reads "D1519," that means April 15, 2019.
- Many products might have a closed code as well as an open-date code. If the number you're reading isn't accompanied by any words, like "use by" or "best by," it's a closed code and doesn't refer to the food's quality.
- Match an all-numerical code with a "month, day, year" sequence. If the code you're reading is comprised of 6 digits, it most likely is a month-day-year code. Read these codes as MMDDYY, where "MM" refers to the month, "DD" refers to the date, and "YY" refers to the year. This is one of the more common codes that you'll see on food items.[7]
- For example, "121518" would be read as December 15, 2018.
- Certain brands use a year-month-day sequence, where December 15, 2018, would be written as "181215".
- Interpret a 3-digit code as the date in a year that a product was made. This is called the Julian calendar code. It's commonly used on eggs, but also appears on canned goods. Each day of the 365-day year is assigned a numerical value, where "001" is read as January 1 and "365" is read as December 31.[8]
- For example, if a can of olives shows a 3-digit code of 213, that means it was manufactured on August 1.
- Infant formula is the only product regulated by the FDA with literal "use by" dates. If the date on the formula has passed, toss it out.[9]
[Edit]Warnings - Even if an item should still technically be good according to its expiration date, always use your senses to check an item. If something smells or looks bad, it's safer to discard of it rather than to use it.
[Edit]References |
| How to Keep People from Pushing Your Buttons Posted: 03 Aug 2019 05:00 PM PDT Whether it's your brother-in-law ranting about politics again or a coworker making a rude comment about your outfit, other people can really get under your skin from time to time. While you can't really control how others behave, you can choose how you react when they push your buttons. If someone says or does something to set you off, take a moment to breathe and try to get a handle on your feelings. Once you've calmed down, try setting some boundaries with the person. It can also help in the long run to identify your buttons and reflect on where your feelings are coming from. [Edit]Managing Your Reactions in the Moment - Take a few deep breaths when you start to get upset. If someone has just said or done something inconsiderate and you feel like you're about to blow up, stop and take a few deep, slow breaths through your nose.[1] Breathing deeply into your belly can help calm you and get your anger under control.[2]
- You may find it helpful to silently count to 5 as you breathe in and again as you breathe out.
- Try a quick grounding exercise if you feel overwhelmed. When your emotions are out of control, grounding yourself can help bring your focus back to the present moment. To ground yourself, simply choose something in your environment to focus on, preferably with as many of your senses as possible.[3]
- For example, you might reach into your pocket and feel your keys in your hand. Move them a little so you can hear them jingle.
- You could also pay attention to the feeling of the floor beneath your feet, listen to the sounds around you, or look at an interesting object in front of you.
- Step out of the room for a minute to help yourself calm down. Sometimes the best way to break the tension of an angry moment is to step away for a bit. If you feel like you're too upset to handle the situation appropriately, try leaving the room or even going for a brief walk.[4]
- You might say something like, "Excuse me, I just need a moment."
- Ask yourself why you feel the way you do. Before you react to the other person, stop and assess your feelings. Think about not only what you feel, but why you are feeling that way. Putting a name to what you're feeling and identifying the cause of your reaction can help you feel more in control of your emotions.[5]
- For example, instead of just thinking "Mom is so aggravating," you might think to yourself, "I'm feeling really frustrated because Mom keeps asking when Ted and I are going to get married, even though I've told her I'm not ready to even think about marriage."
- This way, instead of just feeling generally mad at your mom, you can now focus on what specifically is bothering you—that she is crossing your boundaries by bringing up a topic you've already said you don't want to discuss. Identifying the problem makes it easier to focus on solutions.
- Think about what to say before you respond. If someone's pushing your buttons, you may be tempted to lash out and say the first hurtful thing that pops into your head. Giving in to those urges will probably only escalate the situation and make you feel worse, however. Instead, stop and consider what you really want to say.[6]
- Ask yourself, "Is what I want to say true? Is it necessary or appropriate to say this? Does it clearly express what I really think and feel?"
[Edit]Setting Appropriate Boundaries - Let the other person know how their actions affect you. If someone has said or done something to upset you, it's possible that they aren't even aware of it. Explain to them, as clearly and specifically as you can, what you are upset about and how you are feeling.[7]
- For example, you might say, "Fred, I feel really uncomfortable when you make comments about my weight like that."
- Avoid using language that sounds accusatory or attacks the other person (e.g., "You're such a jerk!"). Instead, focus on their behavior and your own reactions to it (e.g., "It bothers me when you act like that.").
- Explain what behaviors you aren't willing to tolerate. When you're setting boundaries with others, it's important to be clear (with both other people and yourself) about what those boundaries are. Be specific and direct with the other person about what kind of behavior you expect from them.[8]
- For example, you might say, "My personal space is really important to me. Please don't touch me without asking first."
- Set clear consequences if they violate your boundaries. In addition to defining your boundaries, it's important to be clear about what will happen if the other person doesn't respect those boundaries. Define your consequences and be sure to follow through on them if you need to.[9]
- For instance, say something like, "If you continue to be late every time we get together, I won't be able to meet up with you anymore."
- Minimize contact with the person if it's a recurring problem. If someone continues to push your buttons and violate your boundaries, it may be a good idea to avoid spending time with them. This is especially true if it seems like they're intentionally trying to get under your skin. Minimize your time with the other person as much as possible, or cut off contact altogether if you have to.[10]
- If you have to be around the other person—e.g., if they're a co-worker or a close relative—try to have someone else with you as much as possible. Be civil to the person, but don't engage with them any more than you need to.
[Edit]Being Aware of Your Buttons - Make a list of things that set you off. If you feel like your buttons are easily pushed, take some time to think about what tends to upset you the most. Once you start identifying some triggers, it may be easier for you to prepare for the next time you encounter one of them.[11]
- For example, maybe you're especially bothered by comments about your physical appearance, or you get really annoyed when your significant other looks at their phone while you're talking to them.
- Try to identify the reasons why certain things upset you. Understanding why you are bothered by certain things can make it easier to control your reactions to those things. When you recognize that your feelings stem from somewhere inside you, you won't feel so much like you're at the mercy of the person pushing your buttons. Next time you feel like your buttons have been pushed, stop and think afterwards about where exactly those negative feelings are coming from.[12]
- For example, maybe you become really annoyed when your friend gets excited and talks over you. Thinking back, you might find that their interruptions remind you of how your big brother would never let you get a word in edgeways, so that you regularly felt unheard.
- Once you identify the root causes of your feelings, try to recognize in the moment that you may be reacting to more than just the situation at hand. This can help you respond more appropriately to what's actually happening.
- Familiarize yourself with how you feel when your buttons are pushed. Another way to feel more in control is to recognize the warning signs that you're about to blow your stack. Next time someone pushes your buttons, try to tune in to exactly what you're feeling. Once you learn to recognize those feelings, you can work on getting them under control before they get out of hand.[13]
- For example, you might notice that when you are getting really upset, you breathe rapidly and your shoulders get tense. Once you recognize those sensations, you can combat them by making a conscious effort to breathe deeply and relax your body.
- Practice meditation to help control stress. Meditating regularly can help you feel calmer overall, and can also help you become more self-aware. If you're having a lot of trouble controlling your reactions when people push your buttons, meditation may help.[14]
- Try doing a simple mindful meditation exercise. Sit someplace quiet and comfortable and simply focus on your breathing for a while. Then, turn your attention to how you're feeling, physically and emotionally. Don't judge or analyze your feelings—just notice them.
- You can also look for guided meditations online. Try to find one that specifically addresses coping with anger or frustration.
[Edit]References |
| How to Cut Memory Foam Posted: 03 Aug 2019 09:00 AM PDT Memory foam is a common material used for mattresses and pillows since it's comfortable and it conforms to your body. If you have a piece of memory foam that's too large, you can easily cut it at home with an electric carving knife. Be sure to double check your measurements before you make your cut so you don't make a mistake. When you're finished, you'll have a piece of memory foam that's the perfect size! [Edit]Measuring and Marking the Foam - Remove the slipcover if you're cutting a memory foam mattress. Many new memory foam mattresses have a slipcover on top for an additional layer of protection. Look for a zipper around the edge of the mattress and unzip it as far as you can. Once the zipper is undone, pull the edges of the slipcover off of the mattress and remove it. Since you're cutting mattress, you can either throw away the slipcover or use the material to make a new slipcover.[1]
- If there isn't a zipper around the edge of the slipcover, then you may need to cut it off with a knife or pair of scissors.
- Check the dimensions you need and add to them. Use a tape measure to double check the height, width, and depth for the foam you need for your project. For example, you may measure a mattress if you're cutting a memory foam topper, or you may find the dimensions of a pillowcase if you're making a pillow. Add to each measurement you take since cutting the foam could remove some of the material.[2]
- Mark the memory foam with a permanent marker and a tape measure. Hold the end of your tape measure at the edge of your piece of memory foam and pull it out until you reach the correct length. Draw a dot on the memory foam with a permanent marker at the end of your measurement. Move your tape measure along the edge of the mattress by and make another dot so it's in line with the first one. Continue marking the memory foam until you reach the other side. Repeat the process for any other dimensions you plan on cutting.[3]
- Double check your measurements to make sure they're accurate, or else you may make a crooked cut.
- Draw your cut lines on the foam with a marker. Set a straightedge on top of the memory foam so it crosses the marks you made for your measurements. Use a permanent marker to draw your lines between the measurements so you know where to make your cuts. Make the lines thin so your cuts and measurements are precise.[4]
- If you're drawing a curved line, use a round object as a stencil, such as a coffee can or a bowl.
[Edit]Making Your Cuts - Set the foam on a table so the side you're cutting hangs over the edge. Find a flat, sturdy table to set your memory foam on. Position the memory foam on the table so your cut lines overhang the edge of the table. That way, you won't damage the tabletop when you cut through the foam.[5]
- Set a heavy object on a piece of memory foam to help hold it in place if it tips over the edge. Make sure the object is at least from your cut line so the foam doesn't compress.
- Hold an electric carving knife perpendicular to the memory foam. Plug in your electric carving knife and hold it with your dominant hand. Position the knife so the blade is at a 90-degree angle to the edge you're cutting to make a smooth, straight cut. Make sure the serrated edge is touching the memory foam and lines up with the line you drew.[6]
- You can buy an electric carving knife from any kitchen supply store or online.
- An electric knife will give you the smoothest cut, but you can also use a serrated bread knife if you don't have an electric one.
- Guide the knife along the line you drew on the foam. Turn on your electric carving knife and slowly follow along the marker line. Keep your knife perpendicular to the foam so your cut isn't crooked. Avoid pushing down on the foam while you're cutting since it could deform and make your cut inaccurate. Continue pushing the blade through the foam along the line until you cut through its entire length. When you need to pull the knife blade out of the foam, turn it off before removing it.[7]
- Keep your fingers and the knife cord away from the blade while it's running so you don't hurt yourself.
- If you're using a serrated bread knife, saw back and forth to make your cuts.
- Cut along the line again if the blade didn't go through the foam. If you're cutting through a thick piece of memory foam, your knife blade may not cut through it completely. Put the carving knife blade at the end of the cut again and follow along the line again. Work slowly so your cut stays straight and accurate. Continue doing multiple passes over the cut until the blade goes completely through the foam. Repeat the process for any other dimensions you need to cut from the memory foam. [8]
- You can also flip the piece of foam over to the other side and take your measurements again. Cut through the memory foam so your 2 cuts meet in the middle.
- You can use a razor knife or serrated bread knife if you want, but it won't make as clean of a cut.[9]
[Edit]Warnings - Keep your fingers and the knife cord away from the blade while it's turned on.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Tape measure
- Marker
- Straightedge
- Table
- Electric carving knife
[Edit]References |
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