Hannah Wood

I’d also skip Aureolin PY40 and genuine Rose Madder NR9 which are famously fugitive. For a simple, lightfast starter palette, try PY154 Hansa Yellow Medium, PB29 Ultramarine, PV19 Quinacridone Rose, plus PBr7 Burnt Sienna and PB15:3 Phthalo Blue (green shade). Aim for ASTM I or II and single-pigment paints, and do a quick home lightfast test by half-covering swatches and leaving them in a sunny spot for a few weeks.

Solid advice. One small add: the Paperwhite’s adjustable warm light is great if you read at night while the 2022 base Kindle doesn’t have it, which helps explain the price gap. The Kids bundle is a sneaky win for value since it’s ad‑free, includes a case and a 2‑year warranty, and is often under your budget. For outdoor battery and clarity, keep the front light at or near 0, bump the font bold one notch, turn off Page Refresh, and leave wireless off when you’re reading.

If it’s more gel/aloe-based it won’t cut it in winter; look for a thicker cream-in-a-tub with ceramides glycerin, and a bit of dimethicone so it feels silky rather than greasy. Apply it within a minute of cleansing while skin is still damp, then tap a tiny bit of squalane or petrolatum on the flaky spots at night. Keep showers lukewarm and start urea low (around 5%) if you’re sensitive.

Focus on paints that are affordable and easy to work with and when you're just getting into that model painting. Student-grade options are perfect because they're not too pricey, and they give you decent coverage without being too thick or runny. Look for sets that have a good mix of colors so you can experiment without buying extras right away. Consider the consistency too, something that blends smoothly and doesn't dry super fast, giving you time to play around. And don't forget about the opacity, opaque paints are great for beginners to cover mistakes easily. Starting simple like this helped me a ton when I began, and I could build from there.

Yes this can work in a tight car if you manage the recline — Go with the deeper angle for a newborn then more upright as soon as head control is steady and you will buy back front passenger space. I lock the belt, press down where little feet will go while tightening, then check for under an inch of movement at the belt path and see how much slide the front seat keeps. No drama.