| How to Make an Earbud Holder Posted: 19 Feb 2020 12:00 AM PST Earbuds can easily get tangled if you leave the wires loose. If you want to keep your cords organized and easy to use, there are many different ways to make a DIY earbud wrap or container. If you want to create something simple, try using a credit card, clothespins, or a piece of fabric to make an easy wrap. For something a little sturdier, try an empty mint container as an earphone cord holder. Once you finish making your holder, your earbuds will stay organized and tangle-free! [Edit]Cutting a Credit Card Earbud Holder - Punch a hole in from the short side of a credit card. Use a credit card or gift card that's expired or invalid for your project. Place a hole punch in the middle of the credit card's short side so it's about in from the edge. Squeeze the handles of the hole punch together to make the hole.[1]
- The single hole will hold the jack side of the earbud cord.
- You can buy a hole punch from a craft or office supply store.
- Make 2 more holes on the opposite short side of the credit card. Turn the card so you're working on the other short side directly across from the hole you just punched. Punch the holes so they're in from the short side and from the long sides. That way, you have space to put each of the earbuds in the holes.[2]
- Cut straight lines from the short edges of the card to the centers of each hole. Line up the scissor's blades so they're perpendicular to the short side of the credit card and so it crosses through the middle of one of the nearest hole. Make a straight cut from the short edge to the hole so there's a small slit in the card. Repeat the process with the rest of the holes so they each have a slit.[3]
- The slits allow you to easily bend the credit card so you can slide the wires into the holes.
- If you aren't able to cut through the card easily with scissors, make the slits with a utility knife instead.
- Use your scissors to cut curved notches into the long sides of the credit card. Start your cut with a pair of scissors from the corner along the long side of the card. Carefully cut a concave curve that goes in from the long edge. End your cut so it stops from the opposite corner of the credit card. Make the same cuts on the other long side so the credit card has an hourglass shape.[4]
- The curved edges will prevent the cord from sliding around so it doesn't fall off of the holder.
- If there are sharp corners after you make your cuts, smooth them out with 120-grit sandpaper so you don't get hurt or damage your earbuds.
- Feed the earbuds through the 2 holes on one of the short edges. Slightly push the section of the credit card between the punched holes forward so the slits open up. Feed the wire at the base of an earbud into the slit on one of the holes. Put the other earbud into the second hole on the same side of the card as the first one.[5]
- Wind the cord around the notches before putting the jack in the empty hole. Straighten out the cord for the earbuds so there aren't any snags or tangles. Loosely coil the cord around the narrowest section of the cards long sides so they don't slide around on the credit card. Once you've wrapped the entire cord, push the headphone jack through the slit of the last hole.[6]
- Don't pull the cord too tightly, or else you could damage the internal wires.
[Edit]Creating a Simple Clothespin Wrap - Paint or draw on 2 clothespins if you want your holder to have a design. If you want to add simple designs, lightly sketch on the clothespins with a pencil to see what it looks like. Fill in your design with colored markers or pencils to complete it. If you want to change the colors of the clothespins, pick an acrylic paint and brush a light coat onto them. Let the paint dry completely before moving on.[7]
- Wooden clothespins work best for making earbud holders.
- You don't have to paint or draw designs on the clothespins if you don't want to.
- Stack and hot-glue the clothespins so the openings face opposite directions. Set one of the clothespins on top of the other so one points to the left and one points to the right. Apply a line of hot glue along the length of the top piece on one of the clothespins. Press the bottom of the second clothespin against the line of glue and hold it in place for 30 seconds so the glue can set.[8]
- Hot glue dries within about 1 minute, so be sure to work quickly so the glue doesn't dry.
- Clamp the earbuds in the top clothespin. Straighten out the cord for your earbuds to make sure it isn't twisted or tangled together. Squeeze the left side of the clothespin holder together to open the right side. Put the bottoms of the earbuds in the open right side and let go of the clothespins to snap them shut. The earbuds will stay tightly inside the pin so they don't pull out.[9]
- Lightly tug on the cord to make sure the earbuds don't slip out from the clothespins. If they do, make sure the clothespin only clamps around the wires at the base of each earbud.
- Wrap the cord around the clothespins lengthwise to secure it. Start with the wires attached to the earbuds and pull them toward the left side of the holder. Position the wires so they go in the opening you squeeze together to open the clothespins. Continue coiling the earbud cord around the large openings on the ends of the holder so it doesn't fall off. When you reach the headphone jack, clamp it in the bottom clothespin.[10]
- Don't pull the cord too tightly or else you could break the internal wires and need to buy new earbuds.
[Edit]Making a Fabric Cord Wrap - Make a H-shaped template with paper. Cut a piece of paper with a pair of scissors to make a square. Fold the piece of paper in half and crease it along the edge. Cut off a rectangle from the corners on the folded edge. Unfold the piece of paper so it looks like the letter H.[11]
- The notches at the top and bottom of the paper will help your earbuds stay in place without them slipping around.
- Trace and cut the shape from a piece of stiffened felt. Stiffened felt is slightly thicker than standard felt, so it holds its shape better. Place the paper template on top of the felt and outline around it with a pencil or marker. Use your scissors to cut the shape out from the felt to use for your DIY earphone cord holder.[12]
- You can buy stiffened felt from a fabric or craft store.
- If you have trouble making clean cuts with a regular pair of scissors, use a pair that's specifically made for fabric.
- Place a self-adhesive Velcro dot in the center of each long edge. Lay the piece of felt flat on your work surface so the long edges are on the left and right sides. Remove the backing paper from one of the Velcro dots and press it in the middle of the long edge on the left side of the felt. Place the second Velcro dot on the right side so it lines up with the first one when you fold the felt in half.[13]
- You can buy Velcro dots online or from craft stores.
- If you can't find self-adhesive Velcro dots, attach them to the felt with dots of hot glue instead.
- Wrap the earbud cord around the notches in the felt. Straighten out the cord and place it on the piece of felt so the earbuds are just above the top notch. Guide the other end of the cord underneath the piece of felt and loop it around the notches on the top and bottom. Continue wrapping the cord until you reach the headphone jack.[14]
- Don't pull the cord too tight, or else you could break the wires inside and damage the earbuds.
- Fold the felt in half vertically to secure the Velcro dots together. Grab the left side of the felt and make a vertical fold so it lines up with the right edge. Push the Velcro dots together so they stay attached and hold the cord inside the holder. Put the holder in your pocket or a bag to transport them without getting tangled.[15]
- Tie a ribbon or piece of twine around the outside of the felt if you're worried about the Velcro coming undone.
[Edit]Repurposing a Mint Container - Peel the labels off of a circular plastic mint container. Look for a circular mint container that's made of plastic and has a hinged opening in the middle. Pick the label off with your fingernail and remove as much as you can by hand. Completely remove the top and bottom labels so there isn't any sticky residue left on the container.[16]
- If the label or adhesive doesn't easily come off, spray an adhesive remover on the label and try wiping it off with a paper towel.
- Drill 2 holes on the side of the container underneath the lid opening. Attach a bit that's thick to your drill to make your holes. Position the first hole on the side of the mint container so it's below where the lid opens. Keep your nondominant hand on top of the mint tin and slowly push the bit through the plastic. Place the second hole so it's to the left or right from the first one.[17]
- You don't need to drill holes in the side of the mint container if you don't want to add a key ring. The ring allows you to clip the container to a keychain or backpack so you don't lose it.
- Feed a key ring through the drilled holes. Pull apart the key ring with your fingers so you can slide it onto the mint container. Feed the end of the ring through one of the holes you drilled and push the ring through it. Rotate the ring so the end exits through the second hole. Continue rotating the ring until it snaps closed to secure it to the mint container.[18]
- The key ring allows you to clip the container to a backpack, bag, or keychain so you don't misplace it.
- Attach fabric to the top of the container with Mod Podge to customize it. Trace the top of the container onto a piece of fabric you want to use for your design. Cut the piece of fabric out with your scissors and line it up with the top of the mint container to ensure it fits. Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the top of the container and set the fabric on top of it. Press down on the fabric to secure it to the container.[19]
- You don't have to put fabric on the container if you don't want to.
- Wrap your earbuds by hand into a circular coil. Straighten out the cord to make sure it doesn't have any tangles or snags. Grab the jack end of the cord with your nondominant hand and slowly wrap the cord around your fingers. Continue wrapping the cord so it has a circular shape and fits easily inside the mint container.[20]
- Place the earbuds in the mint container and close the lid. Pop open the lid of the container and set your earbuds inside. Make sure the entire cord fits inside the container and doesn't stick out from the edge. Close the lid to keep your earbuds safe and tangle-free. Clip the key ring onto a keychain or a bag strap so you don't lose your earbuds.[21]
- The mint container can easily also fit into a pocket or bag so you can transport your earbuds.
- If you want to make your earphones hold better in your ear, knead together a 2-part molding putty until they're thoroughly combined. Shape the putty around the earphones before putting them in your ears. Shape the putty with your fingers to match the shape of your ear and let them set for 10–15 minutes. You can buy molding putty at hardware or electronics stores.[22]
[Edit]Warnings - If you're using a credit card, make sure that it's expired or invalid first.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Cutting a Credit Card Earbud Holder - Credit card of gift card
- Hole punch
- Scissors
[Edit]Creating a Simple Clothespin Wrap - Hot glue gun
- 2 clothespins
- Paint or markers (optional)
[Edit]Making a Fabric Cord Wrap - Paper
- Scissors
- Stiffened felt
- Self-adhesive Velcro dots
- Hot glue gun
[Edit]Repurposing a Mint Container - Adhesive remover
- Drill with bit
- Key ring
- Fabric (optional)
- Mod Podge (optional)
[Edit]References |
| How to Grill Crab Legs Posted: 18 Feb 2020 04:00 PM PST Steaming crab legs is a classic way to prepare them, but grilling the legs gives them a great smoky flavor. Instead of preparing a large steam pot, toss crab legs on a hot grill. Since they're already cooked, you simply need to cook the legs until they're hot throughout. If you'd like to add a garlic butter flavor, baste the legs with a simple sauce and heat them in a smoker. Serve the grilled or smoked legs with lemon and plenty of butter. [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Grilled Crab Legs - of thawed crab legs
- Lemon wedges, for serving
- Clarified butter, for serving
Makes of crab legs [Edit]Cocktail Dipping Sauce[1] - 1 cup (225 g) of ketchup
- 1/8 cup (30 g) of prepared horseradish
- hot sauce
- of lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) of freshly ground pepper
Makes of sauce [Edit]Clarified Butter Garlic Sauce[2] - 1 cup (226 g) of salted butter
- 2 garlic cloves
Makes of sauce [Edit]Avocado Wasabi Dipping Sauce[3] - ½ of an avocado
- ½ teaspoon (1.5 g) of wasabi
- 1 pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoons (30 g) of mayonnaise
Makes of sauce [Edit]Ponzu Dipping Sauce[4] - of soy sauce
- 1⁄4 cup (3 g) of bonito flakes
- of fresh lemon juice
- of mirin
- of rice vinegar
- of fresh lime juice
- 2 in (5 cm) piece of kombu
Makes of sauce [Edit]Smoked Crab Legs with Garlic Butter - of thawed crab legs
- 1 cup (226 g) of melted butter
- of lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon (8 g) of cajun or Old Bay seasoning
- 2 cloves of minced garlic
Makes of crab legs [Edit]Grilling Crab Legs - Thaw the crab for 2 hours or overnight. If you know you'll be grilling the next day, transfer of frozen crab legs to the refrigerator to thaw. For a faster thawing method, put the crab legs in a sealed bag in the sink and cover the bag with cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes until the crab legs have thawed.[5]
- It may take 1 to 2 hours before the crab legs defrost in the cold water.
- Avoid thawing the crab legs in hot water, as this could cause bacteria to grow.
- Heat a gas or charcoal grill to high heat. Turn the burner to high if you're using a gas grill. If you're using a charcoal grill, fill a chimney full of briquettes and light them. Once the briquettes are hot and ashy, dump them in the center of the grill grate.[6]
- To determine if the grill is hot enough, hold the palm of your hand over the grate. The grill is ready if you can't hold your hand over the coals for more than 3 seconds.
- Arrange the crab legs on the hot grill. Place the thawed crab legs directly over the hot coals. If you're using a gas grill, simply place them on the preheated grill. Ensure that the crab legs are in a single layer. It's fine if the legs are touching or slightly overlapping.[7]
- If you want to grill more than of crab legs, you may need to grill them in batches.
- Grill the crab legs for 4 to 8 minutes. Put the lid on the grill and leave the crab to cook. Use long-handled tongs to turn the legs every 2 minutes so they heat evenly. Individual legs will finish cooking after about 4 minutes. If you're cooking legs that are still attached to the bodies, they'll need closer to 8 minutes.[8]
- The shells should become charred once they've finished grilling.
- Keep in mind that the crab legs have already been cooked so you're just warming them up. Avoid overcooking them or they'll dry out.
- Remove the crab and serve it immediately. Because the crab will keep cooking even once you take it off of the grill, avoid cooking it for more than 8 minutes. Place the grilled crab legs on a serving platter and set it out with lemon wedges and clarified butter.[9]
- To store leftover grilled crab, wrap the legs in foil or put them in an airtight container. Refrigerate them for up to 3 to 5 days.
[Edit]Creating Dipping Sauces - Stir together ingredients for a classic cocktail sauce. Put the ketchup, horseradish, hot sauce, lemon juice, and ground pepper into a bowl. Stir the sauce until the mixture is combined. Then cover and refrigerate the cocktail sauce for 1 hour before you serve it with the crab.
- Consider using sriracha, tobasco, or cholula hot sauce.
- Heat a garlic butter dipping sauce. Place the butter and garlic cloves in a small saucepan. Turn the burner to medium-low and heat the butter for 3 to 5 minutes so the butter solids sink to the bottom of the pan. Strain the garlic out of the sauce and serve the clarified butter immediately.
- Keep an eye on the butter as it heats so the solids don't begin to burn.
- Blend an avocado wasabi dipping sauce. Scoop half of a ripe avocado into a blender and add the wasabi, a pinch of salt, and the mayonnaise. Put the lid on the blender and pulse the ingredients until they're creamy and smooth. Serve the sauce with the crab.
- If you don't have a blender, you can use a food processor.
- Mix a quick Ponzu sauce. For an Asian inspired dipping sauce, put the soy sauce, bonito flakes, lemon juice, lime juice, mirin, rice vinegar, and piece of kombu into a saucepan. Turn the burner to high so the ingredients come to a boil. Turn off the burner and leave the sauce for 30 minutes. Pour the sauce through a fine mesh strainer and finish cooling the sauce before you serve it with the crab.
- Discard the kombu from the strainer.
[Edit]Smoking Crab Legs with Garlic Butter - Heat the smoker to . If you're using a gas or electric smoker, turn it on and place a handful of wood chips to the smoker box in the smoker. If you're using a charcoal grill, scatter hot briquettes and wood chips along the sides of the grill. Then place a disposable aluminum pan full of water in the center.[10]
- The water will create steam as the grill heats.
- Arrange the crab legs in a roasting pan. Get out a disposable aluminum pan and place the thawed crab legs in it. If the crab legs are longer than the pan, use a heavy knife to cut the legs at the joints.[11]
- To thaw crab legs that are frozen, put them in the refrigerator the night before you plan to grill or put them in a bag and cover them with cold water for a few hours.
- You can also try twisting the joints to make the legs shorter.
- Pour butter, lemon, seasoning, and garlic over the legs. Mix 1 cup (226 g) of melted butter, of lemon juice, (8 g) of cajun or Old Bay seasoning, and 2 cloves of minced garlic in a small bowl. Pour the mixture over the legs in the roasting pan.[12]
- Turn the legs over once so both sides are covered with the mixture.
- Put the crab legs in the smoker and heat them for 20 to 30 minutes. Place the pan of crab legs directly into the hot smoker. Close the smoker and leave the crab legs to heat up. Open the smoker 1 to 2 times as the crab legs smoke and baste the legs with the butter mixture.[13]
- To test the crab, remove 1 leg and crack it open. The meat should be completely hot throughout.
- Serve the smoked crab legs. Carefully lift the roasting pan full of crab legs out of the smoker. Let your guests help themselves to the crab legs or lift the legs out of the roasting pan and transfer them to a serving platter. Spoon the sauce into a serving bowl and set it alongside the crab legs.[14]
- Refrigerate leftover crab legs in an airtight container for up to 3 to 5 days. Keep in mind that the garlic butter flavor will intensify as the crab legs are stored.
- If you're using live crabs, submerge them in hot water for about 1 minute to stun them. Then tear off the top shell and remove the gills, lungs, and innards. Then you can toss the crabs on the grill. Add 2 minutes to the grilling time so the crab meat cooks completely.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Grilled Crab Legs with Garlic Butter - Sealable bag
- Gas or charcoal grill
- Long-handled tongs
- Serving plate
[Edit]Cocktail Dipping Sauce - Measuring cups and spoons
- Bowl
- Spoon
[Edit]Clarified Butter Garlic Sauce - Saucepan
- Fine mesh strainer
[Edit]Avocado Wasabi Dipping Sauce - Measuring spoons
- Blender or food processor
[Edit]Ponzu Sauce - Measuring cups and spoons
- Fine mesh strainer
- Saucepan
- Spoon
[Edit]Smoked Crab Legs - Measuring cups and spoons
- Smoker or charcoal grill
- Long-handled tongs
- Serving plate
- Wood chips
- Bowl
- Spoon
- Barbecue basting brush
- Large disposable aluminum pan
[Edit]References |
| How to Stop a Cold when You Feel It Coming On Posted: 18 Feb 2020 08:00 AM PST Prevention is the best defense against a cold, but sometimes, despite your best efforts, you still get sick. That is because the cold virus can live up to 18 hours on unwashed surfaces while it looks for a host. The cold enters through your mouth, nose, or eyes and is thus commonly spread through talking, coughing, and sneezing. While you might not be able to completely cure your cold, there are some things you can do to alleviate your symptoms and speed up your recovery, including washing your hands as frequently as possible. [Edit]Taking Immediate Action - Gargle with salt water if you have a sore throat. Gargling with salt water can help reduce inflammation in your throat and flush out mucus. To gargle salt water, stir of salt into a glass of warm water and gargle some of it for 30 seconds. Then, spit it out, making an effort to swallow as little as possible.
- Repeat this throughout the day whenever your throat is hurting.[1]
- Take a hot shower to help with nasal congestion. Feeling stuffy and congested can make a cold feel a lot worse. To get rid of that stuffy feeling, hop in the shower and stay in there for longer than usual so some steam has time to build up. The steam from the shower should help temporarily alleviate your congestion.
- Use a saline nasal spray if you're still feeling stuffy. Saline nasal sprays are saltwater sprays that you flush your nose with to decongest it. Use the saline nasal spray to prevent mucus from building up and clogging your nose. It will also provide an instant feeling of relief.[2]
- Keep using the nasal spray every day until you feel better.
- Turn on a humidifier to keep the air around you moist. Moisture in the air can help loosen the mucus in your nose and throat so you don't feel as congested. Put a humidifier in your bedroom so the air is moist while you sleep, and keep one in other rooms you'll be spending a lot of time in.[3]
- Be sure to change the humidifier filter frequently, as unclean filters can lead to additional breathing and lung problems. Look at your specific humidifier's instruction manual to get an idea of how often the filter should be changed.
[Edit]Helping Your Body Recover Quickly - Drink 8 glasses of water every day to stay hydrated. Dehydration can make a cold even worse, so it's important that you drink 8 glasses of water every day. Drinking more fluids will also help loosen mucus in your nose and throat so you feel less congested.[4]
- Don't drink alcohol, coffee, or caffeinated soda or you could become more dehydrated.
- Eat 4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day to help your immune system. If you're not getting the nutrients your body needs to be healthy, you'll have a harder time fighting off a cold. Eating more fruits and vegetables is an easy way to get the nutrients your immune system needs to function.[5]
- Try eating a salad with a couple servings of fruit every day.
- Some studies suggest that garlic and citrus fruits can shorten the length of a cold and make it less severe.[6]
- Get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. Your body is hard at work fighting off infection when you're asleep, so it's important that you rest as much as possible so it can fight your cold. Try to go to sleep earlier than usual and take a nap during the day if you can. The more rest you get, the better your chances will be of a speedy recovery.[7]
- Take off school or work if possible. Getting lots of rest and drinking plenty of fluids can be tough if you're at school or work all day. If you're able to, stay home so you can focus on recovering so your cold doesn't get worse.[8]
- If you decide to take the day off from work, reach out to your boss over the phone or by email as soon as possible. Let them know you're too sick to come in and apologize for the inconvenience.
- If your boss seems hesitant about letting you take the day off, ask if you can work from home for the day instead.
[Edit]Taking Medicine and Supplements - Take acetaminophen or an NSAID if you have a sore throat, headache, or fever. Acetaminophen and NSAIDs are both pain relievers that can help relieve the symptoms of your cold. Follow the dosage instructions on the packaging and don't take more than the 24 hour dosage limit.[9]
- While acetaminophen and NSAIDs won't stop your cold, they can make it more manageable while you focus on recovering.
- Common NSAIDs you can take are ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen.
- Both DayQuil and NyQuil contain acetaminophen.
- Try an antihistamine or decongestant to help with coughing and congestion. Over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants can help clear up your throat and nose and alleviate your coughing. Always read the packaging for usage instructions and avoid mixing multiple medications or you could overdose.[10]
- Never give antihistamines or decongestants to children under 5.
- Exercise caution before taking over-the-counter cold medicine if you have high blood pressure, glaucoma, or kidney issues. Always read the labels first, and consult your doctor before starting any new medicine.
- Give vitamin C or echinacea supplements a try to shorten your cold. While the evidence is unclear, some studies suggest that vitamin C and echinacea can help lessen the severity of a cold. Since these supplements aren't harmful, you may want to give them a try and see if they help stop or shorten your cold.[11]
- Powdered vitamin C supplements like Emergen-C may also help shorten the duration of your cold.
- Read about potential interactions and side effects as printed on the label of the supplement before you start taking it. If you have any pre-exisiting medical conditions, talk to your doctor before starting a new vitamin or herbal treatment.
- Adults usually get a cold 2-3 times a year, while children will generally get colds 7-10 times a year.
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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