crialpaca's recent activity
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Comment on Timasomo 2026: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
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Comment on Timasomo 2026: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
crialpaca Link ParentThat's an incredible fill line! I can tell it's well-loved!! Can I ask what color it is? I have OPI Kiss My Aries which looks like a similar formula, and I'm very curious what kind of pigment...That's an incredible fill line! I can tell it's well-loved!! Can I ask what color it is? I have OPI Kiss My Aries which looks like a similar formula, and I'm very curious what kind of pigment they're putting in there lol.
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Comment on Timasomo 2026: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
crialpaca LinkI made nail polish! I have two official ones from this process, which have gone through formulation, swatch tests, and wear/staining tests! The first one is a black to red multichrome with...I made nail polish!
I have two official ones from this process, which have gone through formulation, swatch tests, and wear/staining tests!
The first one is a black to red multichrome with shifting red shimmer and black, red, and gold reflective glitter. Unfortunately we're now out of the season when this would probably do its best work (sun time), BUT it also works as a moody, vampy fall polish with a twinkle!
The second one is a medium purple with shimmer that shifts from pink to blue to violet. Here's an image where the shimmer is a little more prominent. Shimmers can be magical in the shade, but I hope to have pictures of it in other lighting eventually.
A third one is still on my hands and hasn't had its stain test revealed yet. I've been wearing it since at least Saturday. For stain tests, the goal is to have the polish set fully (12-24 hours) on bare nail, and see if it leaves any color behind in the nail plate when removed.
I actually have about 7 to 9 more that I've made that haven't been tested for application and staining yet. There was definitely a day when I was off work when I think I blacked out and just creative flowed lol. I'm planning to sell my polish eventually at markets, so making a lot of prototypes and having options to make in full batches later - so I have good selection - is something I'm working toward.
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Comment on 2026 United States midterm elections megathread in ~society
crialpaca Link ParentWashington has 3 state measures that absolutely suck. One is repealing the high earner tax(...no), one is not letting girls compete in sports without being confirmed via a genital check that they...- Exemplary
Washington has 3 state measures that absolutely suck. One is repealing the high earner tax(...no), one is not letting girls compete in sports without being confirmed via a genital check that they are "biologically female" (this is winning right now and I'm absolutely ill over it - girls who have experienced SA or some kind of trauma will be majorly affected by this, many more than the approximately 10 trans girls they're targeting, who ARE JUST KIDS and have already been allowed to play for 20 years), and one has to do with "parents rights," including required reporting if a student comes out as anything other than cis to a teacher, for example.
Kids' lives are in the balance with these. As a person who experienced SA-type trauma from ages eight to ten years old, I say anyone who voted yes on requiring a genital check for girls sports can go eat a brick.
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Comment on Timasomo 2026: Final Updates in ~creative.timasomo
crialpaca LinkI made a nail polish! (Spoiler alert, I made many more than that - like 9 so far.) I'll share pictures in the showcase. I had one raging success (currently wearing on my left hand). All my polish...I made a nail polish! (Spoiler alert, I made many more than that - like 9 so far.) I'll share pictures in the showcase.
I had one raging success (currently wearing on my left hand). All my polish friends are stunned. I am stunned. I wrote the theoretical recipe down for it a month ago, and then when I was finally ready (and only low-key sick instead of mostly sick), I slowly put the pieces together over 5ml of base. I worked one step at a time to figure it out. I somehow knocked it out of the park on the first try. From there, I swatched it on plastic, then on a finger, then on multiple fingers with no base coat to find out if it would stain my nails (it did not!!), and finally I've swatched it on my full hand over my regular base coat and with my regular top coat. Now I've made a full size bottle to let sit to see if it displays any weird behavior over time. I'm so pleased. It's so sparkly! It's so vampy! I've gotten multiple "would buy" comments about it, which is gratifying. The best part about this one is that it was inspired by my friend, and when it's time for me to sell it, a portion of the proceeds will go to an animal shelter and wildlife rehab we picked together.
I have had some less than successful things. One polish was going to be a dupe of another discontinued polish for a friend, but I actually wasn't able to make it work. However, now I have this base color recipe living in my head, so I'm gonna have to do sooomething with it. What that might be, I don't know. I also have another couple of polishes that are planned ideas (rather than being improvised) that I'm still workshopping.
This process is so satisfying, and I think my favorite part is discovering middle steps that I can return to later on. Also, maybe unexpectedly... Hand slips are great. Added too much blue to your green? Now you have a fabulous turquoise. Added nine drops of holo flakes instead of four? Let's see what rainbowy goodness will result. This has activated a part of my brain that has largely gone unexercised, since I'm such a committed planner.
Anyway, I'm very excited and I hope I have more time to sink into it soon.
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Comment on How have you improved your living spaces? in ~life.home_improvement
crialpaca LinkThe most important thing for me has been getting furniture that is practical for my body shape (petite) and disabilities (migraine, recurrent elbow conditions). I think we managed to pick...The most important thing for me has been getting furniture that is practical for my body shape (petite) and disabilities (migraine, recurrent elbow conditions). I think we managed to pick furniture that's comfortable for everyone. We have a loveseat and small couches that don't have headrests because they push my head forward and cause migraines. None of our chairs have armrests, which can cause posture issues and are often more harmful than helpful.
We also don't have a TV in our main living spaces and sleeping areas. All of our watching happens in a dedicated entertainment space. I think it's important to compartmentalize the TV away from spaces where you might want genuine connections and discussion or sleep to occur. Instead, we have a lot of art, and all of our furniture pieces in the main living area face toward the center of the room (instead of facing whatever wall the TV might be on) to facilitate connection. This has worked really well when we have company over.
We also changed almost all the lighting when we moved in to flush-mounted disc-like LEDs and stylistic drop fixtures. The original lighting was all a variation on the classic developer "boob light." Mr. Alpaca is actively working on switching some of our lighting to Philips Hue because the system we were using before was starting to misbehave. I'm looking forward to my lights having more fun colors and being able to change them to more comfortable tones depending on the time of day.
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Comment on Timasomo 2026: Week 3 Updates in ~creative.timasomo
crialpaca Link ParentThank you! She's in a kind of ambiguous spot but fingers crossed we'll be heading in the right direction soon.Thank you! She's in a kind of ambiguous spot but fingers crossed we'll be heading in the right direction soon.
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Comment on Timasomo 2026: Week 3 Updates in ~creative.timasomo
crialpaca LinkWell went on vacation... I was still sick... Returned to a dog with acute pancreatitis. So I've done nothing lol.Well went on vacation... I was still sick... Returned to a dog with acute pancreatitis. So I've done nothing lol.
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Comment on Timasomo 2026: Week 2 Updates in ~creative.timasomo
crialpaca LinkNail polish mixing: I made some time to mix. I've been focusing on one color requested by a friend, but I think I've come to the conclusion that it's not possible to proto it at the size I'm...Nail polish mixing: I made some time to mix. I've been focusing on one color requested by a friend, but I think I've come to the conclusion that it's not possible to proto it at the size I'm working with (5ml) due to the tiny amounts of colorants having basically zero wiggle room in such a small quantity. The next practical size to proto is 15ml. I'm interested in trying it at that size, but also this is not going to be a permanent color, so I'm trying to figure out how close I want to try to get to the vision before I pivot.
I have decided I'm going to probably take a break from that particular color and start working on some new ones when I get back from vacation hopefully. Today is actually my one year anniversary of being into nail polish (painting, not mixing) as a whole! I want to make some creative progress and take a break from bogging down on this one idea that isn't mine. Once I get that one right, it's going to get twisted a different direction back into the creative process so I'm satisfied with it for sale, so spending a huge chunk of energy perfecting it right now is something I need to let myself let go of. It can wait. It can percolate. I need this to still be fun when I'm done!
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Comment on Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew | Official trailer in ~movies
crialpaca Link ParentI have the same feeling. I think it's because the books I read were illustrated and very clearly showed birch trees with ponds between them. The Magician's Nephew is the Narnia book that I have...I have the same feeling. I think it's because the books I read were illustrated and very clearly showed birch trees with ponds between them. The Magician's Nephew is the Narnia book that I have the clearest mental image of. This looks like a great job was probably done, but there are going to be places where it doesn't match my mental image, and that might be hard for me to deal with (but not the movie's fault! Except it is. Because there was source material to work with in the form of illustrations lol.).
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Comment on Timasomo 2026: Week 1 Updates in ~creative.timasomo
crialpaca LinkI didn't do anything this week! (I earned it, with two migraines, double vaccination, me getting sick, and my cats being sick...) I would like to get to a place where I can sit back down in the...I didn't do anything this week! (I earned it, with two migraines, double vaccination, me getting sick, and my cats being sick...) I would like to get to a place where I can sit back down in the newly created craft room and actually craft, but at this point that's looking like a "maybe this weekend" situation.
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Comment on Timasomo 2026: Roll Call in ~creative.timasomo
crialpaca LinkI'm here for roll call! I said this in the other thread but! I'm going to be making nail polish. (Last year I was painting my nails lol, this escalated rather quickly!)I'm here for roll call! I said this in the other thread but! I'm going to be making nail polish. (Last year I was painting my nails lol, this escalated rather quickly!)
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Comment on Announcing the eighth annual Tildes' Make Something Month (Timasomo)! in ~tildes
crialpaca Link ParentI made my first prototype on Saturday and can't wait to experiment more! It's very crafty, adding pigments and glitter etc to various bases based on the type of suspension you need.I made my first prototype on Saturday and can't wait to experiment more! It's very crafty, adding pigments and glitter etc to various bases based on the type of suspension you need.
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Comment on Announcing the eighth annual Tildes' Make Something Month (Timasomo)! in ~tildes
crialpaca LinkLast year I painted my nails... This year I'm making nail polish! (The last year has been such an escalation omg.)Last year I painted my nails... This year I'm making nail polish! (The last year has been such an escalation omg.)
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Comment on I'm starting a small business: any advice? in ~finance
crialpaca LinkAn additional and separate note about registered agents: there are many, many companies out there that offer a registered agent service. It's important to know that the registered agent is the...An additional and separate note about registered agents: there are many, many companies out there that offer a registered agent service. It's important to know that the registered agent is the party that may receive things like renewal notices and service of process. This means that if you get sued, the registered agent will be served. It is important that if you are going to use a service for this role, they be a responsive company that will alert you as soon as possible, and also that they're generally proactive. If they're going to file your annual report as well, for example, you want them to do that before it's due, not a month late... Pick someone with a good reputation, not the cheapest option.
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Comment on I'm starting a small business: any advice? in ~finance
crialpaca LinkI'm in the process of starting a small business! I'm planning to do set up in January. I used to work for an attorney who did business formation, so I'm somewhat familiar with the process. Here's...- Exemplary
I'm in the process of starting a small business! I'm planning to do set up in January. I used to work for an attorney who did business formation, so I'm somewhat familiar with the process. Here's my list of stuff to do:
- Line up any vendors I need so I can spend money on them after LLC formation. Includes CPA, graphic designer, manufacturers, web stuff. Set up email address to receive confirmations for everything below. My pre-formation work includes doing small time testing of some stuff that I'm just going to eat as a personal cost. This includes formulating per-product costs to determine financial and time feasibility. It's not worth pulling the trigger if the per-product cost is too high for a customer to contemplate paying. (I know how much I'd be willing to pay and I'm going to need to keep it under that.)
- LLC formation. My advice here is that it's crucial to have an operating agreement, as that will be an important document that outlines what needs to happen in various situations.
- Business licenses for my state and city.
- Business bank account(s).
- Business insurance. For me this will include specific stuff related to making my products and liability for them (cosmetics).
- EIN - will discuss with my CPA if I need one. It varies depending on your business structure.
- Figure out when I need to file taxes/estimated taxes.
- Buy all the supplies I need. Keep receipts obviously. Talk with CPA about start up costs and how those factor into taxes BEFORE filing your LLC.
- Set up website and whatever. Social media etc.
- Put products together.
- Scream and hit the launch button.
The good news is that most of these are renewable yearly or you only need to do them once, so you can hopefully focus on making your stuff and getting it out the door! I suggest learning about shipping well in advance.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club - Have you started How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying? in ~books
crialpaca LinkOpe, I think I own this. I'm currently trying to read two or three other books by the end of June, so I'll try to participate, but it might be later.Ope, I think I own this. I'm currently trying to read two or three other books by the end of June, so I'll try to participate, but it might be later.
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Comment on Tildes Survey #6: Vote for the next four surveys we do! (Results) in ~talk
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Comment on Google Search as you know it is over in ~tech
crialpaca Link ParentOnce upon a time, there was a button that expanded stuff from direct links instead of AI. I still feel like I'm getting tricked into it every time expanding the AI gets me. I'm probably a "monthly...Once upon a time, there was a button that expanded stuff from direct links instead of AI. I still feel like I'm getting tricked into it every time expanding the AI gets me. I'm probably a "monthly user," but not on purpose.
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Comment on Public backlash after Utah county approves 62 sq miles of development sites for data center in ~tech
crialpaca Link62 square miles?! I feel like it's maybe not quite hyperbole to be concerned that this is the kind of stuff that is going to cause ecosystem collapse.62 square miles?! I feel like it's maybe not quite hyperbole to be concerned that this is the kind of stuff that is going to cause ecosystem collapse.
That looks like a violet jelly with some kind of large particle shimmer or microflake... I have this. I wonder if it could make a blue version and if it has some kind of purple sibling out there! Go to Grape Lengths looks like it builds up pretty well in two coats, which is really nice.
I'll let you know if I give this a shot! Also I encourage you to give it a try! If you're in the US, getting base from either TKB or Glitter Unique is pretty accessible. Glitter Unique sometimes even has mixing kits on their site if you want to give it a try at small scale first! I didn't go full send until my sister in law and I were left alone with a mixing kit for two hours hehehe.