STARS: Learning How to Paint Miniatures On A Budget

Hands down my newest stress relieving hobby has been painting miniatures. I have actually gotten good although I haven't painted (or obviously) blogged much this month. I will get it together again. I am due for a good panting session. 

I can see the draw and appeal as many do sip and paint and other random artistic activities. It is so relieving and freeing. 

I simply bought myself the proper acrylic paints, brushes, palettes and minis. I had a budget of around $100 and in 9 months and around 50 painted minis, I've only had to replenish paint, brushes and minis. I hit the middle ground well. 

I then tried to simply get my color schemes and mixing down. I am in a miniatures group chat, I have a mentor and I plug in to groups and YouTube videos to improve.

I practice, most of all. I was up to 3 times/week and never less than once/week. I would keep about 10 figures primed for painting and paint them to their schemes and patterns. 

I have come a long way as I have improved my brush control, paint portion, mixing and cleanliness. I was doing it for stress relief only. Now I want to improve and add more and more to my paint palette and knowledge one. I may spend a lot of money on the right figure to paint but I currently go off the collection I have. I simply have fun doing it! It's like being a kid again.

STARS: Making a milkshake without a machine or blender

I saw yet another situation where a person wanted a milkshake but they thought they needed a machine or a blender to make one. Being the year we're in, I can understand why certain people wouldn't know how to make an old-timey hand made milkshake. This person kind of threw me though. 

I take a tall cup or glass, get my ice cream. I sometimes melt the ice cream some in the microwave. I use about three scoops, fill the glass about 3/4s full of milk. I then use Hershey's chocolate syrup and whatever other toppings I need and then mix it all together. A spoon normally does the job for me but I have used a fork and even a knife in the past. This blends all of the ice cream, milk and other flavors together to make a top notch milkshake at around $3 less on average than a shop or restaurant. 

I learned how to do this at an early age and still do it occasionally, especially when I don't feel like going out.