Monday. Sigh.

Sigh sigh. I have to write a paper. Like, right now. It's due tomorrow at midnight, you see.

But all I want to do is draw! And maybe embroider and look at pinterest a little. We spent three or four hours yesterday evening madly cleaning out the kitchen cupboards after seeing a moth so it definitely feels like I deserve some drawing and relaxation time in exchange for my sunday evening!

It's a pretty interesting paper though, at least I hope it will be, about diversity in children's television. I'm using the swedish childrens channel as a positive example. Swedish speakers, watch Min familj on svt play! It's a children's show, of course, but I get really excited about it, it makes me feel hopeful for the future. Really smart, articulate, happy kids showing off their families. Your heart will get all warm and fuzzy!

Okay back to writing. I have to get this done so I can do all the other things I have to do... and maybe eventually somehow scrape aside a little drawing and crafting time!

polish trick

My grandmother used to tell me that when she was a girl, in the 1940s, it was the style to leave your "half-moons", or the area by the cuticle, unpolished when doing your nails. I always thought that sounded very difficult, verging on impossible, so I didn't try it. But a few days ago I read that it was also the style in those days to remove a tiny hairsbreadth of polish from the ends of your nails by running the edge of your thumb along it. Taken together these two tricks were supposed to make your manicure last longer since the polish is prevented from peeling at the cuticle and chipping when you touch things with your nails.  I never bother painting my nails lately since I hate how quickly it looks chipped, so I had to try it. And it totally works!

This picture was taken days after I painted my nails, the manicure lasted through daily showers (always a culprit in my nail chipping), dish doing, tub scrubbing, lots and lots of typing and who knows what else, with only one touch up. After a week I took it off for another colour. I'm so impressed how this works! The chips are barely existent and way less noticeable and I think my nails look longer too.

It's not at all hard to leave the half-moon unpainted, just paint three strokes, one in the middle, then one on each side that starts a little further down. It's easier to get the shape smooth on
the second coat, and it takes a little practise to get them all even.