Hey Mom, How Do I?

Ah yes, the bane of every lacquer lover's existence: your favorite nail polish went gummy, maybe even dried out completely. Maybe a manicure was interrupted and you forgot to put the lid on, or even that the threads of the bottle were gunked up and didn't seal properly. It happens to everyone and every bottle of nail polish, and it's been usually seen as a permanent issue, and to chuck the bottle of nail polish away.

Thankfully, that's not the case anymore.

There is two things you will need to fix this: nail polish thinner and a mini manicure set with a long spoon utensil. Nail polish thinner is not the same as acetone, or nail polish remover: acetone will break down and corrupt the base of your nail polish over time, destroying it completely. Thinner does not contain the same chemicals, instead it has gentler solvents in it to re-hydrate the polish.

As for the spoon utensil, this is merely to help break up chunks and stir.

Now, take your bottle of nail polish, and uncap it. Clean off the threads to your best ability (the threads of a bottle being the ridged top). If the bottle still dries out after this, invest in some gripper seal tape, and wrap it around the threads. This will prevent further drying out.

Take the nail polish thinner, and put maybe half a teaspoon of thinner into the nail polish. Some thinners will come with an eyedropper, others with a top that has a spray nozzle. For the eyedropper, put one whole dropper's worth of thinner in the bottle. With the nozzle bottle, you're going to have to eyeball it. If you get too much into it, or the polish becomes too thin, leave the cap off and let it evaporate overnight.

Personally, I like to recap the polish at this point in the process and shake it until the thinner is incorporated. If the nail polish is completely dry, especially onto the side of the bottle, lay it on the side the polish is on for a few hours, and go in with the stirring spoon to break it up into the thinner. If the polish is nearly dried out, but gunky, definitely stir it.

After an hour of letting the polish sit with the cap off, check it to see if it needs more thinner. Add if needed.

And there! Your nail polish is fixed!

Dental hygiene is very important: its linked to our heart health, as well as how clean our teeth are impacts the way that society treats us. Yet, many people live their entire lives not know how to take care of them! Although schools did teach SOME dental hygiene through The Swish Program, other students were not taught the rest of it, and were either encouraged to over-brush their teeth or not brush at all. For this post, I will outline all of the things that you have to do in order to have good teeth and gum health.

1.) Pick out a good toothbrush and toothpaste.

Toothbrushes have a wide variety: whether you want something soft or firm, manual or electronic, there are many to select from. Many grocery stores have a wall of toothbrushes to choose from, and although it should be straight forward, with all of the types, it can be difficult.

When it comes to if you want a soft or hard brush, most professionals recommend a soft bristle brush, as harder bristle brushes tend to wear down the enamel.

Next is whether you want a manual or electric: manual means that you will be doing all of the movements, and such might be more gentle, however electric toothbrushes have come a long way, and often have different intensities as well as timers. These are good for people who are new to dental hygiene, and want a good guide.

And then there's toothpaste: back in the day, the only non peppermint flavors were often cinnamon (like gum), however with recent years, there has been a distaste for the lack of variety, and so companies had to get creative. Today, you can get a variety of flavors: from apple to watermelon, the possibilities are endless.

There are, for the sake of things, toothpastes that brag to have certain properties from them: some will brag about having charcoal or even baking soda in them! For the sake of even starting dental care, just ignore them and choose whichever toothpaste you like the most.

2.) The timing of a brushing session

I was never taught this when I was younger, and a lot of people miss out on this part of the lesson: you need to brush your teeth for 2 minutes straight. This allows for your brush to do an appropriate job at removing gunk from your teeth, and remove discoloration. If timing yourself is hard, invest in either a timer or an hourglass to make sure that you're brushing for long enough.

3.) Hit all the right spots

When brushing, make sure to start with your front teeth and then work your way to your molars. Get the back of your teeth too! If you start to gag, stop and take a few breaths, and then maybe go a little gentler. Brushing your tongue is optional: not a lot of people do it due to how much it makes people gag.

4.) Floss

Flossing, contrary to popular belief, is very important: it keeps your gums healthy. Once again, flosses are a dime a dozen, so just choose something simple. If it helps, there are flossing sticks you can use, which have toothpicks on the end. They are bought in bulk.

What you're going to want to do is gently press the floss in between your teeth and then pull the other end of the floss through. If you have flossing wands/sticks, you're going to want to rub it gently in between maybe twice and then pull it back upwards. Do this for all of your teeth if you're able: you might need to practice before you're able to successfully floss your back teeth.

5.) What about mouthwash?

The jury is out as to whether mouth washing is important or not: it definitely can help with the prevention of cavities, however it is not as important as brushing/flossing, and shouldn't be relied on for the long run as a replacement for either. But, if you're depressed, and you feel like you can't brush your teeth, or if you are struggling with nausea one morning, mouth wash can be used in order to at least do something.

5.) Frequency

Teeth need to be cleaned twice a day: brushed twice, maybe flossed once a day. This ensures good dental health, and fortifies your teeth against infections and other problems!

I hope you're doing well today,

On Wednesday, November 6th, America elected Donald Trump, a person who has vowed to deport millions of Americans, repeal the ADA and privatize SSI, repeal gay marriage, and criminalize gender affirming care as president. Many people woke up to the world being much, much darker than it was the day before, with a fear for their futures, as well as their freedom. So many families will be changed forever, and people will suffer greatly due to this.

Mom is disappointed in America, and she wants you to know that she cares, and that she will always be there for you.

I understand this struggle: I am related to immigrants, I'm queer, and I work with disabled folks in my job outside of tumblr. I am scared for my loved ones, while trying not to be scared for myself. I am here for you, and I want you to know that I am a safe person. If I can help, I will. If you just need to talk, I am here for you. We will survive this, no matter what. I promise you.

Where Can I Get A Prom Dress?

Prom dresses are everywhere it seems: from bridal shops, to second hand clothing stores. If you are looking to wear a dress to prom, you have a few options: you can thrift a dress, buy one new, rent a dress, or even make one yourself!

If you're looking to buy one new, oftentimes you can find them at bridal salons. Go with some friends or a trusted adult and try on some gowns! The prices for these dresses might be a bit high, and if you're paying for it yourself, you might want to see if the store has the option to use a payment plan. This will allow you to pay off your dress in increments.

Some stores also allow for renting prom dresses, which is a lot cheaper. Maybe look around and see which stores allow for renting. This means you are allowed to take the dress, but you have to return it by a certain date, kind of like a library book!

If you're looking to make your own dress, head on down to your local sewing/craft shop, like JoAnns or Michaels, and see what patterns they have. My local JoAnns has a large filing cabinet filled with both old and new Simplicity patterns, so you never know what you'll find. Pick out a nice fabric (or two) and the supplies you will need to bring your creation together. I'd also suggest getting a sewing dummy, to make things easier.

With dresses, there are many different silhouettes to choose from, all of which look very different on different body types. Here's a good chart to get a feel for what kind of dress you might want to look for depending on your body type. I found this on my Pinterest ages ago, and I keep it saved for sewing projects. However, feel free to wear whatever you feel you look good in!

Makeup

Now, there are two avenues which can be used to do prom makeup: either you can get it done professionally, or do it yourself. If you choose the professional route, you're going to want to call months in advance to see if they can squeeze you in. If you're out of luck, you'll want to learn how to do it yourself.

There are so many makeup tutorials on Youtube that can help you with this dilemma, so feel free to check those out. I will be updating this post when I am finally able to do my own makeup tutorial. But for now, I can give some simple pointers: use a good primer on your face before you do anything, make sure that your concealer and foundation match your skintone (your concealer should be 1-2 shades lighter), make sure the eyeshadow you use is either a nude (skin) tone, or the color of your suit/dress, and a little makeup goes a long way!

Here's a few good tutorials for prom makeup (thank you to all these creators and artists for making videos):

Hair

Prom hair is one of those things where it keeps waxing and waning on whether it should be elaborate or not. Current trends seem to be waning towards a more simple look trend, while back in the 90's and mid 2010s, prom hair was extravagant, wild, and down right intricate. Thankfully, we're not in that era at all anymore, and a lot of looks can be done at home.

However, if you want a professional to do your hair, book an appointment the day of prom with a stylist! Make sure you do so in advance, though. Some hair dressers might allow last minute appointments, but make sure they are able to see you the day of prom.

Nails

For a number of people, pre-prom prep comes with a mani-pedi, in which they get their nails done. In order to get this straightened out, you can either book an appointment with a nail salon, or do them yourself! Here is a lovely article from ELLE Magazine as to what to expect from a nail appointment.

If you don't want to go to the nail salon, or they are booked right now, go to your local beauty store/Walmart/Dollar Store and find a polish the color of your ensemble. If you ensemble has multiple colors, pick one of the complimentary ones included in your dress/tux and go from there. When applying nail polish, only apply 3 swipes of the brush. Anything less might be too sheer, anything beyond that will look gummy or too thick. Set with a nail protective coat and voila! Add some nail gems or a glitter top coat if you're looking to dazzle!

Pre-Prom Activities (Dinner, Limo, etc).

A number of people who go to prom with a group tend to go out to eat beforehand, and/or ride in a limo to prom. If this is your plan, check your local restaurants to see if you can book a reservation for the night of prom, specifically 1-2 hours beforehand depending how far it is from the venue. This will allow for proper travel time after dinner to make it to the party on time!

Limos are a different deal altogether: I'd suggest asking a parent for permission and then going from there. After your wish is okay'd by a guardian, check out where your nearest limo rental company is and give them a ring. The dealership will be able to help from there on out.

If you have a date, you might be expected to buy them a corsage (if you're AMAB) or a boutonniere (if you're AFAB). A corsage is a wristlet that has flowers on it. A boutonniere is a little bundle of flowers that is pinned to the lapel of a suit. You can pre-order these at a local florist, or buy artificial ones at craft stores. If you want to make your own, here's a tutorial on how to do that. Here's a resource on boutonnieres.

So, if you've ever used conditioner in the shower, or shed any hair ever, you've probably had to deal with a clogged drain. Clogged drains can be so aggravating: causing you to stand in ankle-deep cold water as you wash your hair, or leaving you counting the cracks in the ceiling waiting for your bath to drain. Many companies boast the perfect drain unclogging solution, yet the best ways to do this is actually found in your pantry.

You will need:

Solution 1: Dish soap and hot water.

Squeeze some of your dish detergent into the drain of your bathtub/shower. I use Dawn specifically for this, mainly due to what I usually have on hand. Take boiling water and pour it down the clogged drain. This should do the trick!

Solution 2: Baking soda and vinegar.

Take about a tablespoon of baking soda and dump that into the drain. It's okay if some of it doesn't go down: it will when we flush it out. Take a cup of white vinegar and dump that down the drain as well. Wait a few minutes, and then run some water down the drain as well. My neighbors, when I lived in a very strict apartment complex, swore by this method!

If your drain is still clogged after all of these methods, call a plumber. They will have enough experience to guide you either towards a repair or what chemicals to use to fix the issue.

Love,

Shaving one's legs is seen by society as a coming of age ritual: puberty brings all sorts of "nice" perks, such as hair on your legs and armpits, and other places depending on certain factors. However, in the last twenty years, shaving one's legs for the first time was seen as pretty controversial: even shows like "As Told By Ginger" spoke about the polar reactions one can get to the notion of shaving. Hell, my parents refused to let me shave my legs at all, and I had to sneak a razor and do it myself when I was seventeen. So, before we get into the tutorial, let's talk about some misconceptions when it comes to shaving one's legs.

Myth 1: if you wait long enough, your leg hair will just "go away."

This was a myth my mom told me when I was fifteen, and although she worked at a hospital at the time, she believed it fully. Body hair does not disappear if you ignore it long enough: it will always be there, and it is up to you how to treat it. Shaving it will not ensure that it always grows back, just as ignoring it will not ensure that it falls out. You are, unfortunately in some circumstances, stuck with your new hair.

Myth 2: if you shave your legs, the hair will grow back thicker and darker!

This is not entirely true: for some, this can happen, but it is caused by genetics. When I was younger, I had the thickest, darkest leg hair that I'd ever seen on a girl, and when I shaved it off at seventeen, it grew back blonde. It's a case-by-case situation, that might happen to you, or not.

Myth 3: shaving your legs isn't feminist!

Now, this is a sentiment I heard back in the early 2010s that I no longer hear as much. Feminism is the belief that women are equal to men and should have the autonomy to make choices concerning their lives. This means that feminism grants us the autonomy to choose what to do with our body hair. It isn't anti-feminist to shave, but it is anti-feminist to shame other women for their life choices (so long as they aren't hurting anyone, including themselves).

Now, onto the tutorial.

Razors and shaving cream can be found in the toiletries aisle of your local grocery store, oftentimes placed near the toothpaste and other skincare. There are many different types of razors, all of which are varied in price, what they do, and how long they last. As a first timer, you're going to want to buy the cheaper ones that come in bulk, as well as a cheap shaving cream. These will be good for practice, and when you feel more confident in your skills, feel free to upgrade!

When you're ready to shave, go into the bathroom and run some hot water in either the tub or the sink: just enough to swirl the shaving wand in. I'd suggest wearing shorts for this, so that you won't get shaving cream on your pants.

Take the shaving cream and squirt about a quarter sized blob into your hands. You can rub it in between your palms and then apply it to the skin, or apply it directly: whichever you feel more comfortable doing. Lather your lower leg with the cream, until the leg is covered.

Now, take the razor, and from the bottom of the leg, slowly but gently drag the blade across the surface of your skin. A little pressure might be needed, but you're going to want to do this in short, sweeping movements.

When the razor seems to not be picking up as much hair, or there is a build up of the cream on the razor, swirl it around in the water to get rid of the build up. You might need to use more that one razor, especially if this is your first time shaving, as you leg hair is probably going to be rather thick. This is normal, especially with cheap razors (and why I recommended them). Keep doing this around the circumference of your leg until there is no hair left. Repeat on the other leg until both are smooth! Wipe off excess shaving cream with a towel.

Nicks and cuts are to be expected, as this is your first time shaving. Put some pressure on the cut until it stops bleeding and bandage it. Areas that are more likely to nick are raised bumps on the skin, the ankles, and the shin. Be extra careful when shaving those places!

One care tip I'd recommend is applying a moisturizer after shaving, or if your local store has it, a feminine aftershave. This will help protect your skin against post-shaving irritation and razor burn.

And voila! You've shaved your legs! I am so proud of you!

Appointments are hard, and scheduling them can be much harder than actually attending them. A lot goes into making your appointments: from times, to dates, to reasoning, all can be really overwhelming when it comes to those moments on the phone with a total stranger.

So, how can you make your appointments appropriately?

First off, I know that phone calls can be hard: they are uncomfortable, and hearing someone's voice alone can mean that a conversation loses a lot of context. But, even though you're frightened, do it: I once saw a post online that talked about a little girl being afraid to jump in a pool. An older woman yelled to the girl "Be afraid and do it anyway!" This will be the best mantra for these sorts of things- and really, the rest of your life.

I would suggest having the calendar app open on your computer or phone, or if you have Google Calendar, keeping that open during the call. Make sure that you're on the right day when they ask about possible dates. Make sure that the date you choose does not conflict with your schedule in anyway: if you don't tolerate getting up early in the mornings, schedule it for later (or for a day where the availability is later). Choosing dates is really just order of elimination played under short notice.

If your provider has it, sign up for their patient portal as soon as you're able to. This will allow you to schedule appointments over an app rather than on the phone. I'd also suggest signing up for text updates/phone call updates so you know when the appointment is coming up! Some places even have email updates! But if you have phone anxiety, a patient portal will do wonders for you.

Once you have the appointment scheduled, feel free to scream into a pillow, vent to a friend, or have a very exasperated cup of your favorite beverage. I am so proud of you!

A lot of people have suffered the same experience: as a small child, sat in their parents' lap, having their hair brushed, they felt tugging pain on their scalp. Back in the day, it was the hallmark of a sensitive child: "hair brushing doesn't hurt!" a lot of adults would say, "You're just being a baby!"

But hair brushing did hurt!

Come to find out, a lot of people have been brushing their hair wrong: at least two generations. Here's how to brush your hair correctly.

Start with the brush of your choice: a lot of professionals suggest a paddle brush, but personally I use a mixed bristle round brush. Start at the ends of your hair: brush through the ends thoroughly in a downward motion before moving up to the middle of the hair. Keep doing this until there are no snarls, and you're at the crown. Don't forget to brush the back!

By brushing your hair from the bottom up, you are addressing snarls and tangles where they are: by brushing from the crown down, it pushes the snarls down with it, often making them bigger. This technique is much less painful and produces less of a hassle!

A few tips: split your hair into two sections before brushing. This will make things easier, especially when first starting this method! Also, if your hair is prone to matting or snarling easily, invest in a good de-tangler. Spray leave in conditioners can sometimes do the job, and don't be afraid to purchase children's de-tangler for your hair! It does the job no matter your age.

When I was a child, I was not given much of an education on how to take care of myself: I myself am autistic, and my mother's family had suffered a learning gap when it came to superficial hygiene things and other self-care routines. My grandmother's mother had died when my grandmother was very, very young, and so she was unable to pass on the knowledge of these things to her daughters, who couldn't pass them along to me whether they had the info or not. This left me as the butt of a lot of my classmates jokes: I didn't shower right, my hair was frizzy, and I dressed weird.