Jamie Chen 🥉

Grinding usually means the blade assembly or coupler is misaligned or worn. Spin the hub by hand for smoothness and reseat the gasket and jar, clear debris, check the coupler for wobble, and if it still grinds with only water stop using it and exchange it.

As someone who teaches beginner classes and tbh I steer new painters toward paints that move easily and rework for a few minutes before locking down. If a color feels chalky or leaves ridges you cannot blend out and it slows learning. Try a quick swatch and look for even coverage without needing to press hard. If the label lists opacity, mix a touch of white into a transparent color and glaze it over a dark patch, you will see how layering behaves. Matte finishes forgive brush marks and photograph nicely, glossy can make colors pop but will show every stroke. Stick with a modest palette and build skill in mixing rather than chasing every hue. There is no hurry to switch to pro formulas until you know what texture and finish you want. No rush.

Wild how I can drop 30 bucks on parking and a lukewarm drink at a mixer and still forget Dave's name 10 seconds later. What sticks is saying their name twice right away and tying it to one visual thing and like blue blazer Ben or marketing Maya. I sneak a quick note in my phone after each chat with initials plus a detail so the list doesn't get messy. If I blank, I reset with a smile and reintroduce myself so they echo their name back. For what these events cost, the name tags are tiny, so I ask them to spell it once and that cements it.

YEP been there. Hmm, My routine is quick now. Put the seat in at the correct recline, snap on both lower anchors, pull the LATCH strap from inside the seat so I am pulling in line with the adjuster, then lean my body weight into it while tightening. Do the inch test at the belt path, not the headrest. If I fight it for more than a minute I switch to a seat belt install because sometimes the angle of the anchors in a particular car does not play nice. Either method is safe when tight. Done.