I’ve been on a journey to making the best coffee I can at home. I recently discovered the french press, and I’ve been using it consistently since. It took me a while to figure out how to get the perfect hot coffee. And by the time I was able to find my ideal combination, the weather in Texas started to get hotter and hotter slowly. So I began to experiment with how to make the best at-home cold brew. And I believe that I now have it down packed. I use my french press for both making hot coffee and cold brew. And it has yet to disappoint. Okay, Okay enough rambling…. let’s move on to how I make my coffee.
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Nespresso Espresso & Coffee Machine Review
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WHAT TO USE
French Press
The french press does all the straining for you. No more cheese cloths or separate strainers. It’s super convenient. You can purchase a 3 cup(12oz), 4 cup (17oz), 8 cup (34oz), and 12 cup(51oz) french press. It all depends on your coffee consumption, but I feel like the 34oz french press is a perfect size.
Course ground coffee
They say the best way to make coffee is to ground your coffee fresh before using it. That seems like too much work for me. I decided to try different types of cold brew coffee that’s already ground. And I landed on the Stone Street Cold Brew Coffee. It is strong without an acidic, bitter taste. The result is a smooth drink that’s perfect for adding milk or creamer. However, I wouldn’t use this for hot coffee. It has an entirely different taste when it’s not cold brew.
HOW TO MAKE THE COLD BREW
I’ve found that I prefer the 8oz (1 cup) of coffee to 5 cups of water ratio. This ratio makes really strong coffee that can withstand adding milk or creamer. If you don’t prefer strong coffee, do an 8oz (1 cup) of coffee to 8 cups of water ratio. Also, take into account your coffee becoming diluted with ice cubes.
Strong Coffee
8 oz (1 cup) of Stone Street Course Ground Cold Brew
5 cups of filtered water
Milder Coffee
8 oz (1 cup) of Stone Street Course Ground Cold Brew
8 cups of filtered water
- Pour the coffee ground into the bottom of the french press
- Pour some of the water over the grounds making sure to wet all the grounds. Give it a slight mix if you miss some of the grounds.
- Pour the rest of the water over the coffee grounds into the french press.
- Place the lid on without pressing the handle down
- Brew in the refrigerator for 20 hours. Or on the counter for 14 to 18 hours

If I can do it myself and save some money, I’m all for it. That’s why I started doing my nails at home. It took me a few tries to finally perfect it and get it to last a full two weeks without it chipping. Now I can use the extra $30 every two weeks to buy unplanned things at Target! Here are some of the tips and tricks that I’ve learned through trial and error and some research on how to get the perfect DIY gel manicure.
Tips For A Perfect DIY Gel Manicure
Sunscreen
Applying sunscreen is my number one tip for whether you do your nails or get them done at a salon. Wearing sunscreen will protect your hands from the UV light used to cure the gel nail polish. Before I start, I slather my hands in broad-spectrum sunscreen and leave it on until my manicure is complete.
Do Not Wash Your Hands.
Washing your hands can leave oils from the soap on the surface of your nail. The water and the oils can cause the gel not to adhere to your nails and cause lifting. Dry manicures are the way to go!
Focus On Your Prep
The prep is more important than applying the gel polish. If your prep is not correct, it will cause chipping or the gel polish completely pilling off. Do not smooth your nails. The shine on your nails needs to be buffed off with something course. The gel polish needs something to adhere to. But make sure you do it lightly not to compromise the integrity of your nails. Make sure to push back your cuticles and clean all the dead skin off your nail plate. Again, that can cause lifting. Here is my favorite Youtube video that demonstrates the proper way to prep the nail.
Sanitize
Before you start applying anything to your nails, make sure to sanitize your nails. I spray some alcohol and let it dry before continuing.
Primer and Dehydrator
I always apply a dehydrator first to remove any surface oils. I then use a protein primer. This Protein Bond primer completely changed how long my gel manicure lasts. It helps the gel polish adhere to the natural nail. It’s amazing.
Base Coat, Polish, Top Coat
In that order. And make sure you apply thin, even coats! It prevents the polish from running to the cuticle or over the side of the nails. It also ensures that the polish is cured all the way through.
Cuticle Oil
Make sure to use a cuticle oil without petroleum or mineral oil. Those type of oils can cause lifting. Use a natural oil instead. I prefer jojoba oil.
Lastly,
Don’t forget to cap the tips and edges. Again this prevents chipping!
Hopefully, this helps you get the perfect at-home gel manicure and start putting that money towards more important things, like target shopping sprees.
What are some of your tips and tricks for doing your nails at home?
Also, check out:
Best products to use for a gel manicure
* I am not a nail tech. I’m just someone that loves doing my nails at home. Do your own research before trying any of my tips.