Amari Thomas 🥉

As someone who's taught a few friends the basics and I'd say start with acrylics that are easy to thin out for washes, ensuring they have strong colors even when diluted. Budget-wise, there are options under twenty bucks with a mix of hues, and always check for non-toxic labels to keep things safe. For brushes, synthetic ones with a nice snap are key, you want them to bounce back to a point. Pick a small round, a larger one for broader areas, and perhaps a flat for edges. I tried that and it made blending so much easier, but then I realized keeping them clean is crucial, rinse thoroughly after each use. Don't forget to use paper that's at least 140 pounds, tape it down, and experiment with wetting it first for those dreamy effects. Building layers slowly helps mimic watercolors perfectly.

I've been through this with my old vacuum and all the pet hair from our three cats, it was a nightmare until I figured out a safe cleaning hack, and now it's part of my routine, you know? Start by turning off and unplugging the vacuum, safety first especially if you're not wanting complicated steps. Take out the filter carefully, bang it lightly against the side of a bin outside to get rid of loose dust and hair, but don't go crazy with it. Then I run it under lukewarm water in the sink, swishing gently until the water's clear, squeeze out excess without twisting 'cause that can tear it up, and yeah, lay it flat to dry overnight or longer if needed. tried rushing it once with a hairdryer and that was a bad idea, messed up the filter a bit so now I just wait. The key is making sure it's completely dry before reinstalling, protects the motor and all. Since doing this, my vacuum's suction has been amazing, no more weak pulling on the carpets, and it's straightforward enough that even on busy days with the grandkids around, I can handle it without stress. Give it a shot, should work for yours too.

Short answer is yes, a new air fryer can smell like hot plastic for the first few uses. It is usually leftover manufacturing oils and the nonstick coating curing and and it should fade once you heat cycle it a few times. Do a thorough clean. Wash the basket, crisper, and any accessories in very hot soapy water, rinse well, then wipe the interior and heater shield with a warm mix of water and white vinegar. Dry completely. Run a real burn in. Preheat to 400 F empty for about 10 min, let it cool, then repeat once or twice. On one run, add a small ramekin with a little white vinegar or a few lemon slices to steam inside. After that, cook a sacrificial slice of bread or a halved potato and throw it away. Clean the heating element directly. Unplug, cool fully, flip the unit upside down, gently brush the element and metal shield to remove film or dust, then wipe with a barely damp cloth and dry. Triple check there is no hidden tape or film stuck near the heater. Dorm friendly odor control can help. Set a bowl of baking soda or an activated charcoal bag near the fryer while it runs. Crack the window an inch and point a small fan outward for five minutes after cooking. If you have a bathroom fan, run it and leave the basket pulled out to air out while it cools. Most units stop smelling by the third to fifth cook once you do the above. If it still smells strong or acrid after about ten full heat cycles, contact the maker or exchange it since a faulty heater or coating can happen. If you decide to swap, try Gourmia 10. The baskets and the crisper trays are PFOA free which helps avoid plasticky off gassing, and that safer coating on both food contact surfaces makes cleanup easier and odors less likely to linger.

Do three full-body days: goblet squat, dumbbell bench, row, a hinge like RDL, plus planks and a short carry. Start at a weight you could hit for 10 clean reps and do 3 sets of 6 to 8, leaving a couple in the tank. Add a little each week by bumping reps first, then weight. Five minutes of brisk warm-up and one or two light ramp sets per lift kept my stiff back happy between custody drop-offs.

Order of operations: exhale-in-water, face in; supported back float; roll-to-stand; front float with relaxed neck; gentle kick from hips; short glides.