Carter Evans 🥉

Hey there and I've been dabbling in acrylics for a couple years now since I retired too, and let me tell you, starting with something that's got a nice flow without being too runny is key for us beginners. Look for paints that are labeled as student-grade because they're usually more affordable and forgiving, especially when you're on a budget and don't want to waste money on fancy stuff that might not suit your style right away. Since you're painting with your granddaughter in a small space, go for ones that clean up easy with soap and water, no harsh chemicals needed, and maybe check the labels for non-toxic certifications to keep things safe around kids and pets. And yeah, sets with a variety of colors can spark creativity without overwhelming you, make sure the tubes aren't too big so they don't dry out before you use them up. Works great for quick sessions watching the birds. Oh, and if the paints feel thick, a little water thins them out nicely, but not too much or they'll lose that vibrancy.

That bending usually means two things :) The needle material is flexy or the stitches are tight enough to put a lot of torque on a thin shaft. Thin sizes and long straight needles bend most and especially plastic in warm hands. Try easing your tension before you swap tools. After you make a stitch, resist the urge to yank the working yarn. Let the stitch sit on the full width of the needle, then give only a tiny snug. Cast on with a stretchier method and bind off without pulling hard. Hold closer to the tips and slide stitches forward often so they do not bunch in the middle where leverage is highest. Support the far end of the needle against your body or the edge of a table to keep it from flexing. If you have a larger size on hand, swatch a few rows with it for scarves the gauge can be looser and the fabric is still fine. Keep needles out of sun and heaters since warmth softens plastic and can warp wood. Store them flat rather than leaning in a jar. If a plastic needle has a slight curve, soaking it in warm water for a minute and letting it cool under a heavy book can help. For metal, roll it gently under a hardback on a table to true it. Do not try to bend wood back. If you can borrow a circular needle, even for flat scarves, the short rigid tips with a flexible cord reduce leverage and are friendly in a small room. Between looser tension and reducing leverage, you should see the bending stop.

Hey and I've been there with those cheap silicone cases too they always seem to crack way too soon especially if you're like me and you're constantly taking the phone in and out of pockets or bags :) material isn't built to last with all that bending and stretching around the edges, and yeah, a month sounds about right for the budget ones. What sped it up for me was leaving my phone in hot cars during summer- that heat breaks down the silicone making it brittle and prone to tears. If you can, try storing it somewhere cooler or maybe switch to a case with thicker edges to spread out the stress. Works better. I went through three before figuring that out, and now I check reviews for durability mentions before buying.

Honestly, I have to trick my brain. I pick one song and move for the length of it, then I'm allowed to stop, and most days I keep going. The mat lives by the couch so the path of least resistance is down on the floor. I still stepped over it for a week, but on day eight I finally rolled it out and it stuck. Alarms with dumb names help, like 'Do five goofy lunges now', because novelty buys me a few weeks. Expect motivation to ghost you, so make it frictionless and tiny, and treat any day over five minutes as a win.

Three runs per week. Start with 30 minutes: 1 minute easy jog, 2–3 minutes walk, repeat. If you can't speak in full sentences, slow down or walk. Keep stride short, land under your body, avoid downhill hammering. Shoes: new, neutral, comfortable; replace old pairs. Warm up with 5–10 minutes brisk walk; cool down the same and stretch calves/hamstrings after.