Eric Collins

Agree with you - Co-signing your bookend and add a gentle next-touch to soften the close: “I’ve got two minutes while I get this ice cream inside, I’ll wave tomorrow.” Make your body do the work too: keep walking, angle your shoulders toward the door, hand on the knob as you deliver the closer. Consistency trains expectations fast - use the same phrase every time and skip extra explanations so it feels normal, not apologetic.

Oh man, starting painting is so exciting, especially when you're aiming for those watercolor vibes with acrylics, way easier to control so yeah for beginners like you with a $that model budget, look for sets that have at least 12-that model colors, high pigment quality so they thin out nicely with water for blending, and maybe some basic brushes included to keep things simple and space-saving... Avoid the super cheap ones; they clump up, like what happened to you. Brushes-wise, pick soft synthetic ones, rounds for details and fans for fun textures, that way you can experiment without buying extras. Clean them with soap and water right away. Works great. Storage is key in a small place, I use a shoebox for everything, keeps lids sealed tight so paints stay fresh, and it's easy to tuck away. You'll be creating cool effects in no time, just practice diluting the paint a lot for that watery look.