How to Make a Peppermint Mocha

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A favorite hot holiday drink from Starbucks, you can make this sweet beverage with a minty kick anytime with a few simple ingredients. This recipe serves one.

EditIngredients

• 3 tablespoons powdered baking cocoa - examples tried included Ghirardelli sweet ground chocolate and cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons warm water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons peppermint syrup (do not use extract- you can buy a very large bottle of syrup at Starbucks for $7) or crème de menthe
• 4 ounces espresso
• 12 ounces steamed milk
• Whipped cream
• Red sugar crystals

EditSteps

1. Mix the water and the cocoa powder together to make a syrup-like mixture. Pour this into your mug.
   
2. Pour in the espresso shots. If you do not know how to make espresso, you can read on the wikiHow article, How to Make an Espresso (Espresso Coffee).
   
3. Carefully drop in the peppermint syrup. You don't want the taste to override the drink.
   
4. Get your milk steamed. Add the milk to your drink.
   
5. Top your drink with the whipped cream and sprinkle some sugar crystals around it.
   

EditVideo

EditTips

• Treat yourself by inserting a candy cane to make the drink more unique.
• Try this recipe as a cold drink by substituting steamed milk for cold milk, and drop a few ice cubes in there.
• If desired, add finely-chopped peppermint candies and sprinkle on top of the mocha. You can also infuse the cream with peppermint candies and/or syrup.
• Be sure that the espresso times between 18 and 23 seconds and the temperature of the milk should be under 150, 155 at the hottest. Anything over that will scorch a person's mouth. Any temperature under 140 is in the danger zone for milk causing illnesses.

EditThings You'll Need

• Espresso machine
• Steamer
• Mug

EditRelated wikiHows

• Make a Vanilla Frappuccino
• Make a Cappuccino with a French Press
• Make Peppermint Hot Chocolate

EditSources and Citations

• Source of Information

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How to Cope with Your Ex Dating Someone New

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Breakups are always hard, but they're worse when your ex moves on before you. When you find out your ex has a new partner, it's important to use healthy ways to process the news. Then, you can deal with your feelings by acknowledging how you feel, talking to friends, and journaling. If you haven't already, set strong boundaries between yourself and your ex. Finally, focus on your own happiness to help yourself move on.

EditSteps

EditProcessing the News

1. Avoid comparing yourself to their new partner. Don't try to learn more about their new partner or question what they have that you don't. Resist the urge to ask mutual friends for details! You will only make yourself feel worse.^[1]
   
   • When you compare yourself to others, you're never fair to yourself. That's because it's easy to see what others have that we don't, but it's hard to recognize what's great about you.
2. Remind yourself why you're not together. No matter how sad you might be feeling, there's a reason you broke up. Remember all their bad habits and inconsiderate behaviors? Now their new partner has to deal with them!^[2]
   
   • Write down all of the bad things that happened while you were together.^[3]
   • Think about all the ways they let you down.
3. Distract yourself with fun activities. Don't give yourself time to dwell on your ex's new relationship. Go out with your friends, do something creative, try a new hobby, challenge yourself physically, or go on an adventure. Fill your life with awesome activities, and you won't have time to worry about your ex.^[4]
   
   • Try something you've always wanted to try.
   • Do the things you used to enjoy before your relationship with your ex, such as girls night, hot yoga, or taking an evening art class.
4. Don't trash talk your ex to make yourself feel better. This works temporarily, but it'll hurt you in the long run. It keeps you stuck in your breakup rut. Your ex's relationship with someone else won't stop you from living the life you want. Only you can do that!^[5]
   
   • It's okay to vent on occasion, but don't let all of your conversations turn into rants about your ex.
   • If someone changes the subject, don't try to change it back to your ex.

EditDealing with Your Feelings

1. Name the emotions you're feeling instead of fighting them. It's normal to feel a range of emotions when you find out your ex is dating someone new. Don't try to force yourself to stop feeling them. Instead, acknowledge what you're feeling and let it pass.^[6]
   
   • It's okay if you need to cry sometimes.
2. Talk to your friends about your feelings. Meet them in person for coffee, or text them whenever you need to talk. Let them know if you need to vent or would like advice.^[7]
   
   • Choose the people you trust the most.
   • Try to avoid talking to mutual friends, as they might inadvertently mention details about your ex.
3. Journal about your thoughts and feelings. Keeping a journal allows you to work through your feelings on your own. You could write in it every day or when you're feeling upset.^[8]
   
   • You could keep a paper journal or a digital journal, depending on which you prefer.
4. Forgive them if they hurt you. Don't hold onto your hurt feelings. It may feel like forgiveness is for the other person, but it's really for you. Forgiveness will give you the freedom to move on. Look for their good qualities in addition to the bad, and realize that they likely weren't trying to hurt you.^[9]
   
   • Let go of your anger and resentment toward your ex. Holding onto anger only punishes you.
   • Remember the good parts of your relationship, as well as the lessons you've learned. Although they hurt you, some good likely came from the relationship.
   • Talk to someone about your feelings, such as a friend or therapist. Writing in your journal can also help you work through these feelings.
   • You might even write a long letter to your ex about how they hurt you. Burn it or throw it away instead of sending it.
   • You don't need to let the person back into your life. With forgiveness, you can actually let go of them forever, if that's what you want.
   • Don't let one bad experience prevent you from finding happiness with someone else.

EditSetting Boundaries

1. Cut off all contact, if you haven't already. It's hard not talking to someone you care about, but it's the best thing for you! Resist the urge to reach out via phone, text, or email. When you feel tempted, contact a friend instead.^[10]
   
   • If they keep texting you or you feel tempted to text them, block their number.
   • If you must stay in contact with them because you share children, keep your communications focused on your children.
2. Don't try to be friends with them right now. It's possible you could eventually be friends with your ex, but first you need to get over the breakup. Give yourself the time and space away from them you need to heal.^[11]
   
   • If they ask you to be friends, tell them you need space. Say, "I'll think about it, but right now I need to do my own thing. I need my space."
3. Unfollow them on all social media. It's hard to sever the ties after a breakup. It might feel scary to lose contact with someone who was once special to you. Plus, it's likely a tiny part of you wants to spy on them to see if they're doing better than you. However, this will just make you feel crappy and make it hard to move on.^[12]
   
   • It's okay to taper off your social media contact with them, if it's too hard to hit unfollow. However, you need to eventually break those ties.
   • Additionally, resist the urge to ask mutual friends about what they're doing. You might even unfollow some of your mutual friends who often post about your ex until you're over the breakup.
4. Avoid the places they frequent. You likely know many of your ex's habits, so use that knowledge to your advantage. Stay away from their favorite restaurants, coffee houses, and other haunts. Don't visit their workplace, if you can help it. Until you're over the breakup, do your best to keep your distance.^[13]
   
   • Seeing them out on a date would hurt, so don't risk it.
   • Visit places you used to enjoy before you dated them.
   • Set a goal to try out all the cool new places you've never tried before.

EditFocusing on Your Own Happiness

1. Forgive yourself for your past relationship mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes! Don't beat yourself up for the issues in your relationships. Think about the lessons you've learned instead.^[14]
   
   • Write down how each relationship has improved you.
   • Recognize the work you put into the relationship.
2. Embrace self love. Instead of trying to find love, give love to yourself. List the things you love about yourself, including your personality, body, and talents. Use positive self talk to create a good outlook about yourself.^[15]
   
   • To use positive self talk, notice when you're telling yourself negative things. Replace those thoughts with honest, positive statements. You can also use positive affirmations.
   • Date yourself! Go to the movies, go out for coffee, eat dinner in a nice restaurant, go for a nice walk in the park, and get tickets to a concert you've always wanted to see.
3. Tell yourself you deserve someone who wants the same things you do. You and your ex broke up for a reason. Even if you didn't want to break up, it's important to remember your ex had their reasons. They may not have wanted the same things you did, and they clearly didn't love you as much as you deserve. Look for the person who will.^[16]
   
   • Make a list of everything you want in a relationship and how your ex didn't fulfill those needs.
   • If you broke off the relationship, remember why you wanted to part ways.
4. Take a step toward a goal you have. This will help you direct your energies toward personal fulfillment, not your ex. Even a tiny step toward your goal can help you feel better. Do something easy, then keep up the momentum!^[17]
   
   • Break your goal into small, manageable steps. For example, if your goal is to run a marathon, you might start by training for a 5K.
5. Do one nice thing for yourself each day. You deserve a treat! This will help you feel better about your life and yourself. Here are some ideas:^[18]
   
   • Go out for lunch.
   • Spend time on a hobby.
   • Buy yourself a coffee.
   • Pick up a dessert to-go.
   • Buy yourself something you've been eyeing.
6. Focus on the positive things in your life. Instead of looking at what you don't have, meaning your ex, take note of what's going well in your life. Think about your career, friendships, hobbies, goals, etc. Here are some things to consider:^[19]
   
   • Look at your life the way you're looking at your ex. Turn your own highlight reel into a story about how well your life is going.
   • If you're having trouble finding things to celebrate, ask those closest to you to help point out the good things in your life. Chances are they'll be able to list off several awesome things you're overlooking!
7. Work out your feelings through exercise. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. Choose an exercise that lets you blow off some steam, like kickboxing, dancing, or running.^[20]
   
   • You might try high-intensity training or interval training. The high intensity portions of the workout will allow you to release built up emotions. The recovery periods will give you time to catch your breath.
8. Tend to your self care. When you're going through a tough time, it's normal to neglect your self care. However, it's extremely important that you take care of yourself. Give yourself the care you need, such as the following:^[21]
   
   • Maintain your sleep schedule.
   • Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
   • Soak in the bathtub.
   • Engage in relaxing activities.
9. Begin dating again only when you're ready. Don't rush into a new relationship or go out looking for a one night stand. While there's nothing wrong with exploring the dating scene, wait until you're fully ready. Not giving yourself enough time to recover will only make you feel worse.^[22]
   

EditTips

• Remind yourself that the pain is temporary. You will feel better!
• When you're feeling bad, talk to someone who cares about you, like a friend or relative. You can even reach out to online forums.

EditWarnings

• Don't try to make yourself feel better by rushing into a relationship with someone else. You'll only hurt yourself in the long run.

EditSources and Citations

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How to Prevent Clothes from Shrinking

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It can be hard to find clothes that you are comfortable in, make you look good, and fit just right. So when you do, you want to be sure you keep them fitting the same way they did when you first bought them. By following proper washing and drying techniques, and knowing what to do in the case of accidental shrinkage, you can keep your wardrobe looking new and fitting great.

EditSteps

EditWashing Your Clothes Properly

1. Wash your clothes in cold water to prevent shrinkage. Simply set the temperature on your washing machine to "cold." With many detergents being specially-made for cold-water washing, using cold water still works to get your clothes clean.^[1]
   
   • As a bonus, washing your laundry in cold water requires less energy, and can save you money on your utility bill.^[2]
2. Use the preset "delicate" cycle to help clothes keep their original size and shape. This setting uses low agitation (so less moving and shaking) and a slower, shorter spin cycle to drain the water, which makes it more likely that your clothes will remain the size and shape they were meant to be.^[3]
   
   • Sometimes these cycles will automatically default to a warm wash. Use the controls on your machine to override the setting to change it to a cold wash.^[4]
3. Hand-wash cotton, linen, and silk garments to avoid shrinkage. All you need is a little laundry detergent and some water. It takes a little more time and effort, but hand washing your clothes is one of the safest bets to prevent shrinkage and maintain shape.
   
4. Take wool and cashmere garments to a dry cleaner. The labels on your clothes will tell you what type of material they are. If your item contains any cashmere or wool at all, it should be taken to the dry cleaner for proper cleaning.
   
   • Any sort of agitation can cause these animal-based fabrics to shrink, so for these items, it's best to spend a few dollars to have them professionally cleaned.^[5]

EditDrying Your Clothes Carefully

1. Use the lowest heat setting on your dryer. The less heat, the less shrinkage. If you forget to change this setting, and leave the temperature on medium or high, there is a chance you may shrink your clothes.
   
   • Some dryers even have the option to air dry. This setting doesn't use heat at all, and instead works to dry clothes by tumbling only. This can take a long time, so be sure to only use this option with small loads.
2. Remove clothes from the dryer while they are still damp. Drying your clothes in the machine for 15-20 minutes can help speed up the drying process, but removing them while they are still damp will help avoid over-drying and can help prevent shrinkage.^[6]
   
   • Hang these items on a drying rack or lay them on a flat surface to finish drying.
3. Air-dry your clothes. After washing, hang your items inside on a rod or drying rack, or outside on a clothesline, for an energy-efficient and shrink-proof way to dry your clothes.
   
   • This is a good option if you are washing multiple delicate items at a time and/or have limited space for laying items flat.
   • If you are drying your clothes outside, be sure to avoid hanging wool in the direct sunlight to avoid shrinkage, and all clothes in high winds or storms to avoid stretching or damage.^[7]

EditFollowing Good Laundry Practices

1. Follow the directions on the tags of your garments. These washing and drying instructions are material-specific, and are included to help you care for your clothing properly.^[8]
   
2. Sort clothing by fabric type prior to washing. If you are using a washing machine, after sorting your clothes by color, group your cotton, linen, and silk garments to wash in a separate load. This will cut down on time, and will be a lot easier than sorting through a large load of wet clothes to find the items you want to avoid shrinking.
   
   • A good trick is to have a separate hamper for the clothes you'll need to pay special attention to. This way, they will already be sorted come laundry day.
3. Remove laundry from the dryer immediately after drying. This will reduce wrinkling upfront, so you don't have to iron or permanent press your clothes in the dryer later--which could contribute to additional heat shrinkage.
   
   • Sometimes you won't be able to remove your clothes as soon as the cycle is finished. If this happens, try throwing a damp rag into the dryer and running it for 5-10 minutes. The dampness will create a bit of steam and work to get the wrinkles out quickly.^[9]

EditTips

• If you don't feel like you have the time or energy to read labels and wash accordingly, try filling your wardrobe with items that are mostly made of synthetic material. For instance, nylon, spandex, and polyester fabrics won't shrink and are typically easier to care for.^[10]

EditSources and Citations

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How to Do Card Tricks

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Pick a card, any card! Choosing a random card from a deck might be one of the most popular tricks in the book, but there are a few others that will wow an audience. And you don't have to be a master magician to ace them, either. Try selecting cards that add up to certain number without looking, or pulling a card out of thin air for an extra impressive trick.

EditSteps

EditPicking a Card with the Color Trick

1. Sort a deck of cards by color and put the black half on top of the red half. It doesn't matter what order the suits or numbers are in. Stack the cards neatly in 1 pile, so that all of the black cards are at the top of the deck and all of the red cards are at the bottom.^[1]
   
   • You can also put the red half on top of the black half. Whichever way you choose, make sure you remember which color is on top.
   • Set this up before your audience is there. Otherwise, they'll know how the trick is done!
2. Fan out the cards face down and ask your audience to pick a card. When you hold the cards out, remember which side of the deck is your red cards and which is black. Tell your audience that they can choose any card in the deck.^[2]
   
   • If you fan the cards to the right, then the black cards will be the right half of the deck if they were originally the cards you put on top.
3. Observe which half of the deck your audience pulls a card from. This is key to making the trick work. You want to know what color the audience's card is so you can find it later.^[3]
   
   • For example, if the red cards are on the left half of your fanned-out deck, then you know your audience chose a red card if they pull from the left side.
   • If you notice that your audience member is reaching for the middle, subtly shift your hand so they take 1 from the left or right instead. If they pick a card from the center, you might not be able to tell what color it is.
4. Ask the audience to look at the card while keeping it hidden from you. Showing you the card defeats the purpose of the whole trick. You can even close your eyes or look away to ensure you don't see it.^[4]
   
   • If they accidentally do reveal the card, start the trick over.
5. Split the deck and have them set the card in the half that's the other color. If your audience member chose a red card, pull the deck apart in the black section and ask them to place the card there. This ensures you'll be able to locate the card in the deck.^[5]
   
   • Don't put the card back in the deck yourself. Otherwise, your audience might accuse you of rigging the trick.
   • Keep all of the cards face down the entire time.
6. Look at the cards to find theirs, which will be the 1 opposite-colored card. For example, if they picked a red card, their card should now be the only red card in the black half. If they selected a black card, it will be the black card among all the red cards.^[6]
   
   • If you don't see an opposite-colored card in the deck, you've messed up the trick somewhere along the line. Ask your audience if you can try again.
   • You can say something like, "Hmm it looks like you have your own magical powers, and the card has completely disappeared! Try picking another one, but only touch it with 2 fingers so your magic doesn't rub off on it again."
   • Hold the cards so only you can see them while you look for the card. You don't want the audience to see that you've split the deck by color.
7. Reveal the card to your audience. To finish the trick, hold up the audience's chosen card or lay it down on the table so they can see it. Ask them to confirm that the trick worked, by saying something like, "Is this your card?"^[7]
   
   • You can even add a "ta-da!" for extra flourish.
   • To repeat the trick, reorganize the cards so they're separated by color again.

EditTrying the Binary Card Trick

1. Put an ace, 2, 4, and 8 card on the top of the deck. Keep them in that order. The ace will represent 1 for this trick and will be the very top card on your pile. The cards can be any suit or color.^[8]
   
   • Do this before your audience arrives.
   • The rest of the deck can be in any order. Avoid shuffling after you put the cards on top, though, so you don't mess them up.
2. Slide the deck of cards into your pocket. Be careful not to jumble the cards as you put them in your pocket. You want the ace, 2, 4, and 8 to stay on top. Remember which side of the deck is the top when you hide the cards.^[9]
   
   • If you don't have a pocket, hold the cards under a table or anywhere hidden where the audience can't see them.
3. Ask your audience to pick a number between 1 and 15. They can choose 15, but it can't be any number larger than that. Have them tell you their number out loud. ^[10]
   
   • You can have them write down the number on a piece of paper, too, if you need a visual.
4. Calculate in your head how to get their number using 1, 2, 4, and 8. Every number between 1 and 15 can be formed by adding up some or all of the 4 top cards in your pocket. The collection of numbers that sum up to the number your audience gave you is known as its binary decomposition.^[11]
   
   • Instead of trying to add different numbers using trial and error, start by subtracting the largest of your 4 cards from the audience's number. Then subtract the next largest number and so on, until you reach 0.
   • Don't use a calculator or paper to do your calculation. You have to do it mentally for the trick to be impressive.
5. Pull out the cards that add up to that number without looking. You should know where each card is because you set them on the deck in the order of 1 (ace), 2, 4, and 8. Carefully remove the correct cards.^[12]
   
   • For example, if the number is 10, you'll need the 8 and 2. The 2 is the 2nd card in your deck and the 8 is the 4th.
   • If you accidentally pull out the wrong cards, you'll ruin the trick.
6. Show the cards to your audience. Once you pull out the cards, arrange them in your hand so that the numbers are visible. Then flip them around so your audience can see them. Explain that the numbers add up to their chosen number.^[13]
   
   • You can also lay the cards out on a table or simply hand the cards to your audience.
   • If you want to repeat the trick, make sure you put the cards back into your pocket in the correct order.

EditPulling a Card out of Thin Air

1. Hold 1 in the palm of your hand. Make sure you can't see any edges or corners of the card when you flip your hand over. Place 1 corner of the card against the top of your pinky finger and the opposite corner on your thumb pad.^[14]
   
   • You may need to slightly curve the card into your hand to rest in your palm.
   • The card can be either face down or face up in your hand.
   • Don't grip too tightly or curl your hand inward too much. Keep it as outstretched as possible.
2. Bow the card out by pressing down with your pinky finger. This will cause the card to arch out away from your hand. Flex your palm slightly outward while you push down with your little finger so the card curves out instead of in.^[15]
   
   • Press gently with your pinky. If you use too much pressure, the card will snap out of your hand.
3. Place your thumb behind the card and rest your index finger on 1 corner. This sets you up to be able to catch the card. Move your thumb so it's sitting just behind the arch of the card. Curve the top of your index finger down slightly until it touches the top corner of the card.^[16]
   
   • The more you practice this position, the faster your muscles will commit it to memory.
   • Only your pinky finger, thumb pad, index finger, and thumb should be touching the card in this position.
4. Flick the card upward, catching it between your thumb and forefinger. Push up against the back of the card with your thumb. As the card flips upwards, pinch your thumb and index finger together quickly to snatch the corner.^[17]
   
   • Open up the rest of your fingers after you flick up the card to enhance the illusion that you pulled it out of thin air.
   • This will take a lot of practice, so be patient!
   • As you get more comfortable with the movements, work on speeding it up so it looks more realistic.

EditTips

• Practice your card tricks before you perform them for other people.
• Break in a new deck of cards before you do your tricks. New cards tend to stick together which can mess you up.
• Always remove the jokers first.
• Never tell your audience how you did the trick. Keep it a secret!
• Make sure the cards are not bent or have a scratch in any way which might be suspicious to the audience.
• Make sure the cards are not bent or scratched in any way, so as not to raise the audience's suspicions.

EditRelated wikiHows

• Do a 21 Card Card Trick
• Perform a Card Trick Using Math

EditSources and Citations

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