FocusPositives

I have been playing with videos and wanted to explore the Monetization feature in Youtube. I am in the United States but Youtube gave me this message when I tried to activate the Monetization feature, “This feature is currently not available in your country”. The most common mistake is setting the country to the default, “Afghanistan”, which was my mistake. If you are in the same situation, you can resolve this in 3 simple steps.

Side note for those not in the US:
If you are in another country and want to apply for partnership, you’ll have a hard time finding the application form. It took me a good hour to find and it turns out that was not my issue. At least I hope this information will help someone. Here’s the link to the form, Youtube partnership application form. Good thing I had it in my records because I couldn’t find it again.

Error message from Youtube when trying to activate Monetization @USA

Step 1:

To change your country, click “Video Manager” in Youtube account. Click “Advanced” and select “United States” from the drop down menu and hit “Save”.

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Step 2:

To enable monetization, click on “Channel Settings”. Select “Features” and you should see the “Enable” button available, while before it was not.

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Step 3:

Confirm by clicking the “Enable My Account” button.

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Donut: A spongy ring that helps you make a bun, aka DIY sock donut made with socks.

I’d like to share something silly with you. Like most girls/women I fell in love with the “sock bun” the moment I saw it in a Japanese/Korean magazines. It looks so romantic and cute… Ok, why is it such a big deal for me? Other people can just grab a sock and make a bun, easy job! But for me, my mother gave me extra tough and bossy hair. Armed with all sorts of hair pins and gadgets I used all my force to tame the wild beast into place but my hair just slipped and slide effortlessly from my grasp like slippery stiff noodles. I made a DIY sock donut, bought a donut, ate a donut, and still it didn’t work. My sock bun became a big poofy mess, not to be mistaken with a messy bun, it fell apart with the slightest move of my head. Why…why me, why is it so complicated? Why can’t I do what others can do easily? I deserve a simple sock bun!!! Do I have to put massive products in my hair for this to work? I hate hair products. I am lazy. I just want an easy breezy hair bun, that’s all. I’m not asking for too much, am I!!?? I was pretty upset at the whole thing.

Before creating a Gutsy Sock Bun. Top: Other’s sock buns. VS  Bottom: My sock buns.

After all the failures, I was tired and frustrated. I think my arms got a little slimmer from fighting with my hair, 😀 I wish. My hair is a monster! Then I said to myself, “I will not be defeated!!! Arhhhhh!!!”, “If only I had more hands, like…like an octopus with infinite tentacles, they could help me push my hair in place. Then making a bun would be as easy as pie.” I cranked the juice and thought of ways I could achieve this. With my eyebrows pinched together I concentrated, “Sock bun, sock bun, sock bun….tentacles…Buddha with infinite hands…maybe pipes…a hoe…tube…”, and then, “Sock….sock…sock tube!!!” Epiphany hit me, “Why not use a sock? Who says the sock has to be the donut? It’s a soft bendable tube (a circular hand), it’s the perfect infinite hand.” After trying my idea, it worked better then I expected. In fact it works for any type of bun, side bun, top bun, low bun, any bun you can name. It’s a sock bun turbo charged, you can make a bun blind folded in half the time you would on a sock bun and it would turn out perfect! I was so excited I made my first video hair tutorial to share it with everyone. Any type of soft tube would work for this Gutsy bun, for example, I made a fat side bun with a fingerless glove for fun. Try this tough and brave (Gutsy) bun against your disobedient hair, you won’t regret it.

June 2013: “Gutsy sock bun” master plan, me a genius ^_^. My modesty went out the window. As you can see, I am super happy with the results.

Remember: “Where there’s a will there’s a way.” So, don’t give up, keep at it, you will solve whatever that is troubling you, very soon. All this talking about buns is making me hungry…and thanks for enduring my rant if you’ve reached this far down the article ^_^.

I look so serious, it’s my first time doing a video tutorial.

Watch the 1min video below and be amazed at how fast and easy you can make this bun . Using the “Gutsy sock bun” technique, thick fingerless gloves worked like a charm for this fat side bun. The thicker your material the fatter your bun.

Interested in how I came up with this technique? Read: When there are no solutions, you create a solution: The birth of my “Gutsy Sock Bun”

No, I am not going to talk about fat or a belly but a new technique for making a sock bun. For those of you, like me, who have tried every possible way to get the look of a sock bun without success. I have just the solution for you. My obsession with sock buns gave birth to what I call a “Gutsy Sock Bun”. It’s easier and faster then the regular sock bun. It gives me consistent perfect results. I designed it to handle my disobedient THICK, STIFF, LAYERED and SHORT hair. Yes pun is intended, the SOCK not the sock donut, is key to the success of this bun. The sock (tube or gut) acts like infinite pairs of hands that helps you hold all your stray hair in place so you can make a perfect bun with ease. No more fighting with flyaways. Your layers or unmanageable hair will conform smoothly to the shape of this tough gut (aka, the sock).

Materials:

(always use what you have first before you go and buy anything, that’s my motto)

• Scissors
• A sock
• A mesh donut or a DIY sock donut
• Rubber bands
• Comb

Directions:

Cut a 1″-2″ hole at the toe of the sock and your ready to start !

Tips to help you create your Gutsy Sock Bun:

1. Your hair tie should hold your hair firmly in place to ensure a tighter bun.
2. The sock should be firm but stretchy. It should hold your hair and donut snugly in place so no loose hair will fall out.
3. The donut’s hole should fit snugly onto your pony tail. This will help the sock stay centered and help the hair distribute evenly around to cover the sock.

• Hair Ties: (I used 4 ties to make it stronger because I have a lot of stiff hair.)Regular elastics works fine for softer hair. It was not tight enough for me and took some hair out.Best choice are the shinny rubber elastic. The grip is good, no hair will fall out and it won’t make your scalp hurt at the end of the day.
  • Use more hair ties, if needed.

• Sock: (my old cotton socks worked)Color: Ideally should match your hair so if any sock shows through it would be camouflaged. If you don’t have socks that match your hair, you can use a matching piece of stretchy fabric and sew a tube or gut. It will work the same.
  • Texture: Try a thicker socks for a fuller bun or a thinner sock for a smaller bun. Try stockings, cotton socks, fuzzy socks etc…One texture might work better then others on your hair.
  • Elasticity: You want the socks to have good elasticity and firm control so it will hold the bun and hair snuggly in place.
  • Length:
    • For short and medium length hair: If socks are a lot longer then your hair, cut the sock length leaving enough excess to cover your hair and the donut when folded over.
    • Long hair: If socks are shorter then your hair you don’t need a long sock, just pull the sock up to the top and fold over your hair and the donut.
  • Holes size: Cut a smaller hole at the beginning. It will stretch when you pull on it. If the hole is too big it’s ok, it just won’t hide as easily.

Mesh donuts come in light beige, brown, dark brown and black in different sizes

• DIY sock donut VS store bought donut: (store bought for me)
  • DIY sock donut:
    • Are easy to make at home with old socks. If you have slick hair like mine it won’t work as well.
    • It does not have as much stretch as the store bought one. With an extra sock inside your pony tail you’ll need more give from the donut.
  • Store bought mesh donut :
    • Has more stretch, grip and texture for a better hold.
    • You can find the donuts in blond, brown, or black in different sizes at H&M for $3.95, Claire’s for $5.99-$6.99. I bought mine in Japan town for about $2.00.
    • There’s also always endless options on Amazon.

Questions:

Why doesn’t my hair cover the sock?

When you flip your hair over the donut, make sure you spread your hair evenly over the donut. Make sure your sock is centered and slide the donut up SLOWLY. This will ensure even distribution of hair around the sock. Another way is to use a sock in the same color as your hair which will eliminate the flaws quickly.

How did you come up with this idea?

Read: When there are no solutions, you create a solution: The birth of my “Gutsy Sock Bun”