#How to Buy Avon

[avonmom]

AVON ONLINE BROCHURE 2025

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Avon Online Brochures 2025 Are you tired of looking for an Avon representative so you can order your favorite Avon products? Has it been years since the last time you seen an Avon brochure? Are you looking for an easy, convenient shopping experience for your must have products? I have the answer… You can shop the famous brochure anytime, anywhere! Every two weeks enjoy new sales, products &…

[celuere]

How are you Alba? I hope your routine hasn't been too tiring recently and that you're doing well and having time to rest, you deserve it!!

Taking a break from the freak requests, (which I hope you had received, because if you didn't it's going to make this paragraph start weird👎👎👎) I came here to earnestly ask for a fluff and wholesome fic about Arlecchino and reader putting together a nusery for their child... I know it's a bit '????' but listen:

Creating a newborn's nusery is very complicated, it is the place where parents will spend most of their time in the first few months after the baby is born, not to mention that the decoration will probably remain the same for a good three years, only changing the toys that will be scattered on the floor. Between trying to guess a possible taste that your child might have and combining a normally super childish aesthetic with the rest of the house, as well as predict what would be a good investment in the future or not, from the best cribs to toys, not even mentioning the discussions that arise between expecting parents due to the different views that each one has to the room, It's a challenge.

Although I believe that Arlecchino would have a good knowledge about it, after all she is a director of an orphanage, she certainly knows what is useless to put in and what is indispensable. Even if any doubt arises about what itens to brought, she would research madly for an answer or even ask for help from the children in the House of Hearth for a more concrete opinion. If I were to guess, both Reader and Arlecchino would quickly come to a consensus on the theme and decorations (Peruere is completely in love, she would only let her wife choose everything, including a little stuffed bunny that strangely looks like her...), while the heavier work of assembling furniture and painting walls are left to a more specialized workforce or to the Knave itself when she wants to show herself to her beloved wife.

As I don't want to take away too much of your creative freedom, I'll end the request here. Feel free to modify any of the ideas. The choice is entirely yours, after all, I don't want that this request become boring for you.

(Just gonna add if here: they have a cat, because for sure Arle's a cat person; spiders and cats look alike)

Thank you in advance for reading this message, you are a sweetheart Alba,

With care, 🍰 anon.

i swear ANYTHING related to papacchino gives me heavy babyfever i can't do this anymore💔 i hope i caught the right vibe, i‘m really tired writing this so i‘m sorry for any grammar mistakes or misplaced words😞

divider by @/anitalenia

„wouldn't a purple theme be more prettier?"

„....purple? my love, you insisted on an orange theme two weeks ago."

scratching your cheek with your index finger, you recalled the memory of you a bunch of days ago where you stood before the nursery, color palettes in hand.

„my... i almost forgot about that... can we still change it?”

it was moments like these where arlecchino grew a bit older. but with a short glance down to your hand resting on top of your baby belly, wedding ring glistening in the candlelight, where she quickly shook those thoughts off.

„i'll see what i can do since the painters are already scheduled for tomorrow morning...", but whatever her wife wishes, she shall receive.

choosing a color theme for your babies bedroom turned out to be the easier task.

„where should we put the crib...? or the changing table? we also need a little corner for her to play in- and a nursing chair too and-”

„ma amour, ne nous précipitons pas. nous avons encore beaucoup de temps avant qu'elle soit là."

„my love, let's not rush. we still have plenty of time until she is here.", a gentle hand came up to squeeze your shoulder.

deciding on furniture was torture. everything was too adorable to not buy. the both of you wanted her to not miss out on anything but maybe you don't need a dozen plushies for a newborn. if it were not for that one stuffed rabbit that had an uncanny resemblance to a certain someone...

„you are right, i just... i want this to be perfect for her. even if she probably won't remember her nursery, i want her to feel special... wanted...", your eyes were laced with a love that had yet to bloom. you rubbed almost instinctively the downside of your belly. you still had five more months to go but celestia knows how fast these will fly by too.

you were too focused to notice your husband's breath stilling at your words.

special...

wanted...

„yes... special...", the word rung in her ears for longer than expected before she saw it. a clear vision of what the knave may have in mind for the nursery.

„why don't we grab some paints from a nearby workshop during our daily walk later?", you felt her fingertips brushing over your skin as she shoves some loose hair strands behind your ear. she is keeping her usually sharp nails neatly trimmed ever since the news of your pregnancy first came out.

„father... are you sure...? isn't this supposed to be something... unique?"

„that is exactly why i am bestowing you with this task. now go on, let your creativity roam free.”

the knave watched her children exchange almost ecstatic glances before they rushed to the paintbrushes sitting atop a table laid out with old newspapers. with only the most high-quality paints already getting fought over.

it was a beautiful day. the mild sun spending just enough warmth to not start sweating with a gentle breeze ghosting through the trees of the estate.

and arlecchino watched her kids turning the changing table and the crib into a beautiful, joyous canvas.

fingerprints, messy brush strokes and explosions of all kinds of bright color, yet the fatui harbinger never looked more at ease as the laughter of her children filled the estate of the hearth.

you were neatly tucked away in your bedroom, not feeling well enough to leave the comfort of your sheets.

all the more reason for your husband to be looking forward to the results- and your reaction.

a nursery for your baby without the influence of her siblings... unimaginable. not even worth considering.

but the joy was short-lived until they started painting each other. that's when arle started to regret her choices. their pretty clothes.... and yet kids will be kids. she turned a blind eye to their silliness this one time.

arlecchino just hoped the colors would come off of their faces....

[post-nuclear-sweetheart]

Makeout!

Sole bears her soul (haha) to Hancock in a dingy subway, and he’s more than willing to receive her in every form she comes in.

(Preview! 1967 words)

“Hey, Hancock?”

“Hm?”

“I’m not a bad person, am I?”

He must have misheard her. Between the sizzling tip of a toxic post-war cigarette, the swirling sensual songs of a bygone era crackling over a jury-rigged gramophone (oh what little can’t be done with duct tape), and the echoing moans and groans wafting in from the belly of the beast and into the entry lounge of the swinger’s club.

“Just the worst,” his teasing earns him a sardonic laugh. Thick grey smoke seeps from his mummified lips to join the rest of the heavy cloud forming over the fellow loungers in the stagnant air. He dares a quick glance over at her: the usual cheery, if not a bit vacant, resting expression replaced with one Farenheit would claim she's seen from him hundreds of times.

“Now,” Hancock taps the recessed end of his cigarette against the communal ashtray on the coffee table, “what’s got you all spun up in your head?”

“Maybe it’s… the ambience,” stressing the word ‘ambience’ garners a chuckle from Hancock. The haunting sounds of sex from down a long metallic corridor didn’t exactly set the mood, he had to admit, but hey - he wasn’t one to judge. Afterall, there was more than once when the sobering catastrophe that is world-shattering anxiety ruined the mood, and the damn fine high he spent all evening cultivating, “but I can’t stop thinking of Nate. Actually- Actually- Not Nate, but how I…”

A limp arm in azure spandex raised. Vaultie indulged only once before in his presence, and to Hancock such an indulgence was a gift to watch. He passed the cigarette into her chipped manicured grasp. Hancock never thought he’d be envious of burnt paper and discount leaf, but the way her lips wrapped around that cigarette like it was the only thing keeping her on the planet- Yeah, Hancock felt a little envious.

Her smoky exhale joined his in the cloud of pollution in the poorly renovated subway terminal.

“I think I’m over Nate.”

His cataritic eyes widened.

“Ov- Over? Your husband?” Hancock grips the edge of the couch as he leans over to get a better view of Sole in the muted pink lighting of the swinger’s club, “Like… Sorry- You’re over your husband?”

Her solemn nod shakes off some ash from the crumbling, burnt out tip of the cigarette. He watches carefully for any signs at all, but not so much of a twitch of a frown could be found on her face, somehow frightening Hancock more than anguish ever could. Right hand occupied with drawing the cigarette back she lifts her left hand, showing it off in the rosie light, “I haven’t worn my ring in weeks.”

That’s right, Hancock recalls. One very late night or very early morning a while ago, Hancock did make mental note of its absence. During long nights the ghoulish mayor couldn’t sleep, too busy plagued by the what-ifs of his avoidance-style life, a certain scent would pull him back from the cold of space and ground him back to where it mattered: the permanent aura of ozone from two centuries in a vault, but stronger than that was a fresh, sweet scent.

‘Lilac and sweet almond,’ she explained to him once, ‘My neighbour - Mrs. Fields - she made a killing selling perfume, cologne and lotion from this catalogue. I was getting a little stir crazy, pregnant and alone without Nate, so I just happened to end up at all of her Avon parties and uh, aha ha, haa… I may have spent way too much on lotion in that scent- but in my defense! It’s the only strong smell the baby didn’t hate, so I basically had to buy that much.’

Hancock wondered just how much was too much, but it must have been a lifetime supply, because even after two hundred years and months in the Wasteland, her pores remained overflowing with the alluring scent.

Her scent wasn’t the only thing to soothe him in the dead of night. Sole slept dead to the world, and in her temporary death Hancock couldn’t stop himself from diving headlong into her supple flesh. A relic of the past, Sole was the softest human he had ever laid hands on. It would start with tracing the veins of a stray hand that snaked its way to his chest as she unconsciously curled up against him, then in the autumn heat his textured fingertips would trail up to her shoulder, then eventually clavicle; he couldn’t will himself further. As a deterrent to his growing erection that seemed to follow not far behind his feather light touches, he would play with Sole’s golden wedding band.

“I thought,” he gulped, wetting his throat, “maybe you lost it.”

Sole shook her head again before returning the cigarette, “No. No, I-”

“AUGHH, YES!! HARDER HARDER HARDER–!!”

They might have held it back, but meeting each other’s eyes, Sole and Hancock busted out in laughter loud enough to rival the ecstasy down the hall.

Sole rubbed away the tears from her eyes, “Oh my god, why?” her laughter devolves into a giggle, much to Hancock’s slight disappointment. Anytime she laughed, genuinely laughed, it was like he was floating, “Just our luck we get out of the rain into a… what- what is this- a sex club?”

“Swinger’s club, actually,” rumbles Hancock, “I figured you didn’t wanna head downstairs where the magic happens. The lobby is… well,” and allows the lobby to speak for itself.

Couches and chaises line the walls of the ordinarily sterile white subway now bathed in abdomen tingling pink. Several vending machines towards the stairs below are filled with every drug and drink of choice to fuel the ferocious foreplay in its visitors, and judging by the stains in the furniture, even the waiting room has seen its fair share of action. Even the walls were lined with some stimulating stuff that would’ve made Sole burn red months prior. Despite the club sounding particularly happening downstairs, Sole and Hancock were alone, save for the receptionist who knew better to focus on their own work than the lurid conversations of patrons.

Sole can’t help but jest, “Been here lots, have you?”

“Oh, once or twice,” he caps it off with a nonchalant drag of his cigarette, unexpectedly drawing the final puff from the poor stubby thing. He snuffs it out on the underside of his boot, unaware of the way Sole’s eyes follow his hand to the butt of the ground, “Y’know how it is. There’s just some itches that can’t be scratched with good ol’ vigilante justice.”

Sole’s blush blended seamlessly into the rose lighting as the very act flashes in her mind. Hancock would never know how she sat flushed, but there was always a sensitive, burning feeling she associated with him in the back of her mind. His raspy voice, his roguish grin, the way his dexterous fingers idly played with his knife; more than once did she imagine his fingers put to better use elsewhere.

“Ladies man,” she bumped him with her shoulder and poked her tongue out at him. “Sexy King of the Zombies, was it, Hancock?”

He sheepishly laughed, “Geez, did I say that?” His laughter tapered off, and after a beat of silence, Hancock sighed something not quite wistful, but not quite dejected, “I don’t mean to circle back to it, but doll, your husband. You alright with that?”

Sole’s eyes fluttered to the ground. Truthfully? There was and will always be an aching loss in her chest, no matter how great or little it grows, but before the bombs - before his death - there was a lingering inevitability in their relationship she could never deny.

“Soldiers,” she started carefully, “aren’t home often. I met Nate when I was nineteen, we married when I was twenty four, and we- I had Shaun when I was twenty eight. Nate wasn’t there for the pregnancy, and he wasn’t there for the birth, but more than that, Nate just… when he could be, he wasn’t there.”

She lifts her gaze from the ground, willing to only meet Hancock’s stare in her peripheral, terrified by the pitiful look she knew he was giving her, “I think I was over Nate two hundred years ago.”

Shame flooded Hancock like never before. He was joyous - downright happy - to hear his beloved friend’s marriage was in shambles long before they had met, and yet he couldn’t deny himself that little bit of relief. He shifted closer to Sole on the velvet couch, his weight causing her to lean closer to him as he carefully toed the imaginary line with a graze of his pinky.

“Hey, being honest with yourself doesn’t make you a bad person,” he offers, “it makes you… honest.”

Painfully honest - a trait of Sole’s, he’s noticed time and time again, he can’t help but admire. Countless times in the dawn of Hancock’s fallible immortality he found himself unable to face hard truths; one way or another. It was all just a disguise to hide beneath, too afraid to face the cold reality of who he really is. Meanwhile, the two century old relic came crashing down his door to set him on a path even Hancock never thought he’d walk again.

Pausing, Hancock finally continues, fear hanging on his words as he admits, “It makes you a hell of a lot stronger than every person I know. Makes you hard to look at - terrifying to face,” he steals a look at the solemn widow from beneath the edge of his worn-out tricorn hat, “a real force to be reckoned with, and someone I can’t help but think the world of.”

Her pinky wraps around his in kind. Her finger shifts, lightly rubbing the rough, sinewy texture of what was left of his skin.

“You know-” she coughs away the crack in her voice until all she’s able to do is flush and giggle lightly about it, “-that’s rich, coming from someone whose first impression is to stab. Like love at first sight.”

“Like?”

Her head snapped towards the floor, skin thoroughly beet red from the slip, not that Hancock could tell. As far as he was concerned, Sole was deliciously pink all over.

She heaved a half-sigh half-giggle, “Well… be a little too much to come out and say it, wouldn’t it?”

“What happened to being honest?”

[melishatweedy]

Hi, What is your opinion of Melisha Tweedy’s new outfit and makeover from Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget (2023)?

I just love the obvious difference between both her looks!

In the first film we have the slick back bun, the muddy boots. You can see the constant tired look on her face, she’s burnt out and run down from the farm. She’s got no time for appearance as she’s too busy running a failing farm with her husband, no extra help or staff. Her outfit itself is very fitting for the time era (50s) in England, post war where most working class people are in poverty just trying to live. I love the colour too.

((Where she got the money for the pie machine beats me. Probably like a buy now pay later scheme through a catalogue as that’s how most items were bought back then. (1950s Klarna.. yer chicken sells avon) ))

Then we have the second film. She’s away from the farm, married to a rich man with lots of wealth. She’s got her hair done,makeup etc. the clothing again is very fitting for the time era (now we’re in the 60s). She’s got time for personal care and money for her clothing. She’s a successful business woman, you can clearly tell by her looks. She’s managed to let go of past ties (until ginger comes back) which is why she’s more smiley (and goofy) but still got her morals about her. The slight tone difference of her dress for me indicates that she’s still the same Mrs Tweedy.. but also different and I love that.

[askgildaseniors]

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Nely Galán, an Emmy Award-winning producer and media mogul, as she shares her journey of business success and financial literacy. Nely discusses her experience as an immigrant and how her determination and strategic decision-making skills led her to become a self-made businesswoman. Learn about her time working with industry giants like HBO, Avon, CBS, ESPN, Sony, NBC, FOX, and figures such as Joan Rivers, Rupert Murdoch, Norman Lear, and Gene Simmons. This video is packed with valuable insights on entrepreneurship, business leadership, and overcoming obstacles. Nely Galán offers practical tips on how to start your own business, manage risk, and develop entrepreneurial skills. Whether you're looking to enhance your career development, improve your business strategy, or find inspiration from success stories, this video has it all. Nely Galán has achieved substantial success in real estate by focusing on strategic property investments. Her philosophy, encapsulated in the phrase "Don't buy shoes, buy buildings," emphasizes the importance of purchasing affordable properties, especially in emerging markets. Nely also emphasizes the importance of networking, calculated risk-taking, and financial literacy in achieving business success. Discover her unique "Nelyism" approach and gain knowledge from one of the most inspiring women in leadership today. Perfect for anyone interested in business, entrepreneurship, and Latina empowerment.

DISCLAIMER: The following program contains material, situations, and/or themes that may disturb some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.

A National CORE Production supporting the Hope Through Housing Foundation. Join us to uncover the art of turning dreams into reality.

CHAPTERS: 00:00: How Latino Entrepreneurs Overcome Financial Obstacles 02:42: The Road to Financial Freedom 04:30: How I Became a Young Journalist 07:30: Defying Expectations 12:32: The Hidden Value of Education 15:40: How to Prioritize What Matters 18:49: Failure Isn't the End 22:11: Find Your Voice 24:56: Overcoming Self-Doubt and Limiting Beliefs 27:29: How I Rebooted My Life and Found True Success 34:21: A Message of Empowerment and Inspiration

[greencheekconure27]

I'm not very far into this show yet and this might be wrong but: I like the idea that a part of why Roj Blake likes having Avon around is precisely because he's the one crew member to consistently challenge his decisions.

Because Blake is a) by no means stupid b) probably very aware of how good he is at getting people to follow him c) also aware that he failed horrifically before.

He knows that Avon is both smart and not easily blinded by a cause/ideals. He's probably also not buying Avon's claims of not caring about the crew at all.And he knows Avon is likely to ruthlessly point out all the flaws in his plans.

I think Blake fears leading people to their deaths again-and that Avon is his failsafe.

[spookykryptonitecollection]

i wanna be with you ~ joey jordison pt.2

long chapter! ( tw: bullying, swearing, blood ( maybe i think), revenge on bully,)

not proofread!

" why am i so madly in love with you..?" and why are bullies assholes?

september 27th 1998, day after finding out you got tickets.

" JENNA COME DOWN HERE!!!" your mom says loud yelling from downstairs, you get out of bed putting on your housecoat while walking down, " jesus mom what now..?"

" did you pick out your outfit yet?" your mom says asking with half lidded eyes probably from just waking, " yes mom." you say not intrested.

" show me later ok..i just wanna see if its appropriate"

" yeah ok, but it's not like im going to the concert with my ass out.." you say shrugging. " Bad news..." your mom says in a monotone voice simply as she never cared.

your heart drops waiting for what she says, a this point it could be anything, maybe you cant go, maybe she got scammed while trying to buy tickets..

" I can't go with you so you gotta go alone, but youll have your phone with you and the place is guarded, youll be fine kid." your mom says looking over with a little empathy in her eyes.

" you seriously can't?... can i ask why?" you say a little disapointed an mostly happy though, masking the happiness with fake sadness.

" sorry kid, i gotta work to pay for some stuff your lucky you know. as a kid i never got this stuff, you should be grateful... just saying." your mom says fully concentrated on you,

" yeah i know mom, i truly am grateful, just sad you cant come you know..?" you say with honest words now, trying to make her cheer up.

" i know kiddo, again.. im sorry"

~ 2 hours later at school.~

you walk in, dad dropping you off in the old truck, meeting up with micheala.

" hey jen! " she comes over hugging you with a big smile plastered on her face.

" hey mic.." you say with a tiny smile.

~ why does she always have a smile on her face, i dont mean to be rude but is everything perfect in her life, is she faking it the way i have to?~

" you good?, we got art next and mr.deluca said we can paint whatever we want as long as he knows what it is!.

i smile knowing i can paint joey, something to calm you down from what happened yesterday and this morning. " oh jen, i heard you're going to see a band... slipknot is it?" mic says with a serious but kind face,

" yes i am! in 3 days, also.... how did you know?" i say with a curious smile, wondering how the hell she got that info.

" sarah found out somehow and told everyone,,, sorry to tell you" she says sad. Sarah, my bully found out, how the hell..?

" oh really..? i wonder h-" you stopped abrubtly as the bell rung, signalling its art class, you shrug off that people know, so what? they know now you're going to see the hottest member of slipknot and not them.

atleast you thought they would be like that.

you and micheala walk to art class, walking in to see a substitute, a retired one i think, she looks familiar, red smudgy lipstick, a tatch of eyeliner and cardigan with the famous scent of avon perfum,

" Jennifer?.. my goodness i havent seen you in a while~" the woman says with a full smile.

you realize who she is, the libarian at the libary you go to on late saturdays, " oh hi miss ducton how have you been?"

" best as i can be! Please, take a seat. " she says with the same smile.

you sit with mic and get the canvas as she passes them around, also with a cheap pallet of paint, that looks like those similar kid watercolor paints your brother gets every year for christmas.

you pick up your brush delicately painting the head and body, you decide to do the black strands of hair then red, it looks real, like he was there and you drew him, micheala complements your painting making you proud. the substitute excuses herself to go to the labatory, just for a moment.

" hey piggy..!" sarah says laughing with her friends as you turn around, she gets the cup of paint water and throws it all over you, drenching you in something carrie like. you dont even think and your reaction was just closing your eyes.

as you open your eyes you just look at her in shock as everyone starts laughing at you, mic starts wiping you down but you get up running out the hallway, through the crowds people laugh and look at you, but some look empathetic, known to sarah's hate for you.

you run to the bathroom cleaning it off the best you can, but old itchy paper towels and soap from just water suds dont work much well, out of rage you kick the garbage can and start crying, sarah and them come in and laugh at you,

" awe look piggy cant get it off, bet all the boys who apparently like you dont now huh, heard your going to that concert, and you like the drummer too? he dont want you, nobody does, what kind of girl like you thinks you would be able to get with him? " she says as her friends bust out laughing, she starts laughing too.

out of rage, you cant take it anymore, the bullying, taking you down making you emotionally exausted, you need revenge, but quickly you look at the sink seeing a bottle of pinesol, you look back at her,,,

Should you..?

[hazel-of-sodor]

Something Holy This Way Comes

Ch.2 Secrets

Other Stories

Other Chapters

Progress on the restoration of the Glain route was progressing quickly with the extra engines. They had reached a small farming village named Tawel, high on the cliff overlooking the sea. Seagulls lined the cliff edge, crying angrily at Screech's presence. One started hopping towards her. Screech opened an eye to stare at the bird. The gull stopped for a moment, but then hopped forward again while looking the giant in the eye.

Thwack

The seagull's flock turned to watch it sail away towards the ocean.

"Screech!" Mali said admonishingly from the station platform

Screech closed her eye.

 "The skyrat should have known better." She said lazily.

The seagull returned and landed on Screech's snowplow, squawking in indignation.

Screech eyed the bird in irritation.

Mali giggled.

 Screech slowly scooped up a pile of snow with her tendrils. The seagull failed to notice the tendrils moving until it was too late.

ploof

 The seagull's head popped up from the snow angrily. 

Screech rumbled in satisfaction. Miss Morgan exited the old station, stopping to take in the sight.

"I see you're getting along with the locals." She said amused.

Screech flicked a tendril at the seagull who hopped over it with a squawk.

Screech glared.

"Any progress with getting a new engine?" Mali asked, hoping to distract Screech before she gave into the whisper's urging to unmake the bird.

Miss Morgan nodded, "Yes, finally. We're negotiating for an engine from the Western Region. They're supposed to arrive middle of next year."

"So long?" Screech asked without looking away from the gull.

"The engine is being sent for overhaul at Swindon," Morgan explained. "They will come here once overhauled and we'll have a chance to buy them if we're satisfied."

"You know they will try something to sabotage the trial."

Miss Morgan locked eyes with the eldritch giant, "which is why you will be watching over our new engine when they arrive."

A smirk slowly dawned on Mali's face, "They don't know about Screech."

The whisper cackled.

Miss Morgan's grin was predatory, "No they don't. I suspect the only reason they are sending the new engine is to find out what's changed on our railway. Before her arrival, we were struggling to keep the trains running."

"And when they find out about me?"

"That's the best part," Morgan smirked, "they'll never believe it. It doesn't matter if their spy sees you, according to their records you were scrapped."

"Because I was." 

Freda spoke up from the cab, "Normally that would mean you were dead. Not on a distant railway with reality-breaking abilities."

"Technically I am dead."

Gwyn snorted, "You're awfully solid for a ghost." He said, rapping his knuckles on the side of her tender.

Screech looked back, unimpressed. "I was cut into pieces by burning axes before those pieces were melted back into raw metal. The fact death failed to drag me beyond does not mean I am alive."

"I would think that's exactly what it means."

Screech locked gazes with Mali, "Little Thief, every second I must hold back my true form or risk reducing your mind and body to ash in an instant. I am no longer of this world, I am of the beyond. Your very being is unable to withstand the true weight of my presence. If I were to ever slip, you would not die, you would be unmade."

Mali swallowed nervously, "So no startling you then."

"It would be unwise."

The seagull squawked in apparent agreement.

Mali went to speak then hesitated.

"What is it, Little Thief?" Screech rumbled.

"You say you confine yourself to your physical shape..."

"Do you not believe me little one?"

Mali shuddered as her bones rattled from Screech's attention. "If that shape is confined...how large are you actually."

Screech rumbled a laugh, the sound's echoes triggering an avalanche on the nearest mountain. Her eyes burned blue as she ever so slightly relaxed her grip on her form.

"Avon is taking on water while Enid complains about her snowplow fitting awkwardly."

Miss Morgan blinked, nonplussed, "Avon should be at Din by now."

"She is."

The humans were silent for a long moment as they understood what she was saying.

Miss Morgan finally shook her head ruefully, "I suppose that keeping anything from you is a lost cause."

"Only if I know to look." Screech admitted as she shifted slightly, "It's why I didn't recognize Tyto's approach. I can only focus on so much at once, although saying my name will normally get my attention.”

Mali jumped, "Wait does that mean you know..."

"Yes," Screech said bluntly

"Oh." Mali sounded very small.

Screech rolled her eyes, "I am hardly in the habit of spilling others' secrets."

"...Thank you," Mali said quietly.

Miss Morgan raised an eyebrow but didn't comment.

Gwyn looked at Screech thoughtfully, "How far can you reach if you try? say..."

"You had better not be asking one of my engines to spy on my meetings with the Other Railway." Miss Morgan said flatly.

"I don't trust them," Gwyn said seriously. "You know they want us gone. Removing you would accomplish that."

"They're not murderers Gwyn." Morgan frowned at him. 

"Screech existence says otherwise," Freda said quietly. There was an awkward silence.

"She has been in no danger." Screech finally said.

"...you were already watching." Miss Morgan sighed in resignation.

"I was."

"...thank you." 

It was quiet for a moment then Mali tentatively asked, "Any progress on the Argol line?"

"We hope to begin work on restoring the Argol Line in the spring. " Miss Morgan said, stretching, "By then Seren will be able to assist, and the first trains could be running by Autumn. They'll only go as far as the first station, but the sooner the lines open, the sooner it can help pay for its renovation.

"Will we have the engines to serve the line by then?" Freda asked.

Miss Morgan nodded, "I spoke with the North Western Region and the Chester and Holyhead board last night. The North Western is sending us another engine to help restore the old lines to Glain. Once the line is reconnected, the CH&R has promised to help run the trains until we're on our feet.

"Do they know about Screech?" Gwyn asked.

"No." Miss Morgan shook her head, "Tyto and Ceri promised to only tell Eagle. Screech will remain our ace in the hole for as long as we can manage."

[goatsludge]

Longtime lurker, hoping you can help me out.

I'd like to purchase a gas mask that is available for say...under $200-300...and compatible with aiming a rifle?

Can you suggest a couple of models that are affordable and easily obtainable?

I'm also (seperately) looking for a low cost self-contained (battery driven supllied air) full-face respirator for painting or spaying pesticides but the cost of the 3M system has kept me from taking the plunge. I find half masks or disposables really uncomfortable to breath through. Any suggestions?

That depends on a lot of things - let's start with the most important one, are you wanting to buy new or are you experienced enough to know what to look out for with surplus items?

Assuming you live in the U.S., imo the best option for most tactically-inclined individuals are ex-police Avon C50's; They sit smack dab in the middle of the pricepoint you described (going for $250+ on average) and they meet 80% of the criteria for what I personally believe a modern "tactical" mask (not just military) should encompass:

Panoramic eyelens with a wide ecosystem of lens outserts

Optical insert capability

Comms and/or Voice Amplifier-Capable

Mesh skullcap-type head harness with low-profile buckles for helmet integration

Butyl rubber and glass-filled nylon construction

Common, standardized drinking adapter

Threaded for Rd40x1/7" NATO Canisters for greater flexibility of protection (i.e.; using canisters intended for specific threats instead of just general purpose CBRN)

Left and right-hand capable side ports

Interchangeable inner nosecups for custom sizing based on individual facial ergonomics The only thing it really lags behind in is having poor passive voice communication (no voice diaphragm, just the outlet valve), as well as poor moisture drainage (you will have to lean forward to drain any sweat, spit, etc out the outlet valve rather than it draining naturally)

All gas masks are generally going to put you at a disadvantage as far as aiming a rifle, and even masks designed for improved rifle ergonomics like the Avon FM53/54 still give a massive amount of stand-off when attempting to look down your sights, so I'd definitely hop on the bandwagon of tall optic risers if gas mask usage is a legitimate consideration.

Other excellent surplus options include the older Avon FM12, Scott/Kemira M/95 (or more realistically, the Scott M110 if you can find them; the M/95's drinking system is hard to get adapters for), or even MSA Millennium or surplus M40A1 Protective Masks are all viable options with a fair amount of aftermarket support. As far as buying newly-manufactured masks, you're going to be cutting above the $300 mark - Avon sells their C50 (and FM50, which is the same but with proprietary cartridges) at an MSRP of $500

Mira Safety is a brand you've likely heard of, who are mostly known as a redistributor of gas masks manufactured for them by Czech firm Gumarny Zubri. Mira as a company is incredibly underhanded and shady - they make a lot of false claims about who they sell to and the capability of their products, and not to mention their ad campaigns are the most blatantly mudslinging/misinformed.

Objectively the only thing that Mira/GuZu masks really shine at is having slightly higher quality rubber and superior passive voice comms and downward moisture drainage over Avon designs. They fail at basically every other aspect. However, they do work and they are cheaper if buying brand-new masks is a requirement for you.

I sadly don't have many suggestions as far as commercial/industrial PAPR units - I know a lot of those are surplussed by the pharmaceutical/medical industry, so I'd browse options, get to know them and spend time obsessively browsing ebay for various models and knowing how to tell when they're complete and serviceable.

Oh and one last thing -

P3-rated Particulate Filters are your best friend if all you realistically expect to face off against is tear gas and nuisance dusts. Particulate filters don't really expire since there's basically no chemicals that break down and can be stored almost indefinitely provided there's no moisture to foul the filter element.

40mm threaded P3 cartridges made by 3M, Racal, MSA etc are super common on the industrial surplus market and can be had in bulk for reasonably cheap, especially as "expired" lots.

[alsjeblieft-zeg]

162 of 2024

Do you have any Christmas-scented candles, air fresheners, or hand soaps in your home? If so - what are they called?

I have a set of gingerbread scented hand soap, shower gel and mist spray from Avon.

What is one of your favorite Christmas memories that occurred over the years?

Walking in the snow with our family cat when I was a child.

Do you/your family have any special places that you go and visit around Christmastime every year?

Sometimes we visit our hometown.

Do you ever go walking or driving around the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights?

Nah we drive further.

Do you have any poinsettias in your home around Christmas time?

No, we never had. Especially having a cat in the house.

Do you typically see cardinals where you live during the wintertime?

I'm not even sure if they exist in Europe.

Talk about a Christmas memory that ended in Christmas catastrophe.

Can't recall any.

Do you typically make or buy your own wreaths for Christmas? Do you make or buy wreaths for any other holiday season, or just this one in particular?

I don't. I'm not even sure what they are.

What is your favorite flavor of hot chocolate? Do you add anything to your hot chocolate, like whipped cream, a peppermint stick, etc? Do you have a favorite holiday mug that you drink out of?

I love vanilla-flavoured hot chocolate. I don't add anything to it, besides vanilla.

Are you a perfectionist/any good at wrapping holiday gifts, or do you wrap like crap?

I have partially paralysed left hand, so here's the answer.

Do you have any Christmas-themed puzzles or coloring books that you work on throughout the month of December?

No, I don't.

Do you have any Christmas-themed board or card games that you and your family/friends play over the holidays?

No, we never did.

If you were a parent and were unable to successfully afford Christmas, how would you still make it special for your children?

I would probably cook or bake something special or take my kids to the sea.

Have you ever been stranded at an airport or somewhere similar on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day? How did you make the most of it?

Never been on an airport, so no.

Who or what do you miss the most around Christmastime, and why?

My older cat. She passed away in December.

Have you ever brought someone home to meet your family for the first time over the Christmas holidays? How did that go?

No, never.

What would you say is the most stressful part around Christmas/the holiday season? Or does it differ from year to year?

All the preparation. Still, some enjoyment.

Do you refer to Santa Claus as anything else, such as St. Nick, Father Christmas, etc?

De Kerstman. Yeah picked it up from my dad.

Have you ever written a holiday poem or short story that was not a school-related assignment? How was it received?

No, I haven't.

Do you and your family always wear matching Christmas pajamas during the holiday season?

Nope, we never practiced it here.

(made by: tickle-my-pickle)

[avonmom]

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[die-rosastrasse]

Hello, I hope you are having a lovely day! I have just returned from an antique show where I purchased a lovely antique crystal perfume bottle and it made me think about you. Partially inspired by you and how you talk about romanticizing your life, I have been wanting to start wearing perfumes and I have been slowly acquiring personal items that bring me joy (such as the perfume bottle and a hand mirror I got at my last antique show). But now I have a bottle and no perfume and also undetermined contact dermatitis allergies.

I remember you once mentioning you quite like some but your mom really likes perfumes and I was wondering if you or your mom have advice on figuring out what scents one enjoys, how to navigate local/independent shops, and maybe ingredients that might cause allergic reactions I could avoid.

Also I have wanting to let you know that I purchased an assortment of stickers from you a few years back and I think about our exchange often. You are a delightful person and it was a very pleasant shopping experience. I hope to find excuses to buy from you again.

Hi! Thank you so much for your kindest message, your support and for thinking about me when you go antiquing 🤍 I'm so delighted to hear that you are starting a collection of things that are specially dear to your heart, unique, carrying a history behind them. I love that so much, and I'm impatiently awaiting the antique fair in my city this month 💖 Perfume bottles are also something I'm looking out for this year, especially old pastel Avon bottles for my collection. Mine still smells a little of the scents from the past, does yours too?

As for the perfumes themselves - I'm really not that much of an expert, but I have one rule for looking for fragrances: use them as you would normally, and if you can constantly feel them on yourself for the rest of the day, this is not it. They're supposed to blend with your body, dissapear for you but nobody else. My mom is very much into rare, niche perfumes, and that's how I know that "niche" often just means a fancy label or an ingredient, which is rare and hard to extract, but not particularly pleasant. But my mom also works writing descriptions of fragrances and they can be very peculiar and almost poetic. What to choose if you want to smell like a Greek goddess? A 1920's flapper in a jazz club? Like Alice in Wonderland? For me, my favorite scent lately called Cinnabar, smells exactly like the mystical beauty of Gustav Klimt's paintings, so gold and opulent. There are pages like fragrantica where you can read descriptions, see a whole list of ingredients (for allergies too), filter your searches with the notes or vibe. There are even blogs of people finding that aesthetical comparison and recommending scents based on their vibe. I think you could visit a few blogs, a few shops, learn what you like in each bottle - is it flowers, spices, fruits? And start looking from there. I think when you'll finally smell "the one", you'll know! Wishing you luck in your search! 🌹❤️

[dollsonmain]

Ok time to put everything away. That Guy gets home anywhere between 2:30 and 4.

While I decide whether I want to use this or not (I’m leaning no with a preference for foam board shelves wrapped in different pastel papers, this modular unit would make more sense in a more modern setting) and because if I wait until I’ve made a decision I will never complete the project

I’ve added a pink panel to the back of the bed covering the former shower. I already like the way that looks better, and I think I will do the majority of the book case/curio cabinet/hutch thing I’m building in pink with the counter top part (which will include that shower-shelf, each faux cabinet door (which will be the most boring rectangles ever), and if I add foam board shelves then each of those being a different pastel color of the matching paper.

That paper was something I got from the Amazon Warehouse to get “free” shipping.

Look at it, though. That’s just printer paper and I glued it to foam board. It did get a little wrinkly in a place or two because I didn’t wait long enough for the Tombow Mono Multi to set, but look how smooth that is. It would never be that smooth with white glue or a glue stick.

I’m almost out of that bottle of TMM, but I have another unopened one, so I’m not worried. It lasts a very long time.

I might go around only the outside edge of that curio thing with this wood-look contact paper so that when the bed is down (which will be never, but just in case) the platform frame will look like wood.

I’ll see how I feel about/ how it looks with the whole thing being pink first. Wood grain might look really weird with how low detail most of the rest of the house is, though the stickers are a little more detailed.

Either way, the rest of that is basically simple rectangles. As long as I don’t screw up my measurements too much, it shouldn’t be too headache inducing to complete.

Still thinking about making the battery port cover look like a fuse box, or maybe just sticking a little picture  in a frame on it or something. It’ll look bad regardless. All that matters is that I can get to the screw, really. It’s not like I’ll ever put batteries in it, but someone might some day.

I think I would like to make that weirdly shaped crib storage spot (thank you @dollsahoy​ for figuring that out for me) into, like... Maybe put some little cleaning supplies in there? like a bucket and some cleaning cloths and maybe a tiny broom or mop, or maybe pet supplies since there are sticker animals EVERYWHERE on this thing. There are like 3 dogs and 7 cats (that is an exaggeration but only slightly).

I stopped buying non-toy Mini Brands so I don’t have any of the kitty litter boxes or anything convenient like that.

I could also just whip up a “door” and cover over the space completely with yet another faux cabinet.

AND I was looking at the MGA MiniVerse balls I have. The smaller one is pretty much exactly the right size AND shape for the fountain cutout on the back of this door.

It would stick out a lot, though, so I might make something else to put there like a rack for garden tools or a narrow planter box or something, just to keep the profile of the house smaller which makes it easier to store.

That could also be a place to put a pet stuff station to hang leashes on or something like that.

-

I don’t intend to buy furniture for the house I don’t think. I do have a bunch of My Scene furniture sitting around though it’s not colors that would work with this space, and if I buy one of the Gloria sets (or the coveted Avon set....) they come with kitchen chairs and a table and I think I’ll most likely have this set to kitchen most of the time, if not fireplace.

Modern Barbie furniture isn’t the right colors or style.

-

So decisions I [still] need to make:

how to decorate the fireplace room wall, mantle, and the fireplace itself

what colors to apply to basically everything in the kitchen, especially the appliances, little bits of wall above the cabinets, and the backsplash

whether or not to do detail painting in the kitchen like adding color to the stovetop, faucet, and drawer pulls

which dishes to get and whether to buy dishes that are already done, get some cheap ones and paint them, try making my own again, or something else

whether to use the Mini Brands shelving brackets as modular shelving or make my own foam board shelves

-

..... The only thing I did today was make a pink rectangle. Ugh.

[softgaycontent]

Please share everything you know about MLMs I love learning things

Thank you for asking! I’ll start with a TL:DR for everyone: Never join an MLM. Over 99% of participants LOSE money (and time! And friends!). 

A Multi-Level Marketing Company (MLM), also sometimes called Direct Selling, is essentially a barely-legal pyramid scheme. Sales reps can either make money by selling a product or by recruitment of new sales reps.

MLMs make money off of people joining the MLM, even if those sales reps never sell anything, because the sales reps have to buy the product from the company before they can re-sell it. Therefore, they focus a LOT on recruitment (pyramid scheme). 

Some famous MLMs you may have heard of:  Amway, Mary Kay, Herbalife, Avon

We can prove the 99% Lose Money number pretty easily. If you are to only learn one fact to teach others, then look up Amway (the biggest MLM)’s Income Disclosure statement, which they publish themselves, on their own website. Screencap below:

This is PRE-business expenses that sales reps pay out of pocket, and still the average annual GROSS income made by the TOP 10% of the company is LESS than minimum wage. After expenses, you can see yourself how almost everybody loses money. (The money people lose goes to the ppl at the VERY top of the company; it’s not like when a normal small business fails.)

Below the cut is a lot more info, although not close to all I have collected.

Screencap summary of Amway's Income Disclosure:

Half of the TOP 1% made less than 55K pre-expense; studies show even they generally LOST money, or made very very little after expense (the top 0.5% actually makes any money, and the 0.05% make a LOT of money)

The TOP 10% earns, on average, LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE ($15K), with less than half of the TOP 10% making over $4.6K PRE-EXPENSES

Less than half of the TOP 50% makes more than $631 A YEAR. PRE-EXPENSE.

(Also, they cut the bottom 1/3 out entirely, so the 50% referenced is 50% OF the top 2/3. I’m actually OK with this, as long as it’s acknowledged, for better reporting. The bottom 1/3 were “inactive” and possibly not trying to participate in sales. The top 2/3 still sucks.)

I made a very sloppy visual to restate the data, in case it helps anyone:

-

Another example is the Mary Kay public income disclosure [for Canada] (another very popular MLM). 

Again, pre-expense, though also pre-retail sales (more in paragraph below)

The top 0.05%(!) makes average commissions of $124K

The level below that, Independent Sales Director, only 1.7% of the company, makes less than Canadian Minimum wage in commissions

98% of the company, very clearly, makes anywhere from $0 per year, to at most an average of $206 DOLLARS A YEAR (pre-expense, pre-sale)

Mary Kay works a little differently than Amway, where once you purchase a product, MK truly does not know or care what happens to it at all. If all of these people actually sold all the products they bought, it’s possible they made supplemental income, but data shows that most LOSE money on actual sales.

Let’s focus on Mary Kay for a moment, because their structure means the ONLY money the company ever receives was given to them BY their sales reps. So they’re easy to follow.

-

Why do sales reps lose money on sales?

The market is oversaturated. They have 3.5 MILLION reps trying to sell the same product* - meaning they either can’t sell, or they have to greatly discount the product

Many MLM products are more expensive than the same product elsewhere

They constantly refresh their line of products, so the inventory reps already have is now worth less and harder to sell

Sales reps must buy a minimum amount of new product each month to keep certain perks, even if they haven’t yet sold their old product (min $225, with much higher amounts sometimes necessary to keep status)

*What makes MLMs legal (thanks to lobbying, mostly) is that they HAVE a product, which sales reps buy from the company. I’m careful not to call these people employees, as they are technically independent consultants, and thus don’t receive employee benefits... like a guaranteed income, or healthcare, or anything. If you google “Mary Kay employees”, you will find data on their ACTUAL employees, who do actually make money. This is clearly not the case for their sales reps (table above). Mary Kay has about 5K ACTUAL employees, and 3.5 MILLION sales reps. 

-

So how do sales reps make ANY commissions?

If you convince people to join Mary Kay, MK will give you a cut (commission) of what they spend at the company on product

Since this is the main way to make money, reps are incentivized to recruit as much as possible

They are also incentivized to LIE about how much money they’re making, so people will stay with the company. I’ve read stories of reps renting a fancy car from time to time to convince the people below them that they’re making money

Clearly, thanks to the income disclosure, we can see that they aren't making much money on commissions, either

-

How are sales reps buying more product if they lose money being in an MLM?

Reps are encouraged to dip into their savings, with the promise of a greater payout later. If they don’t have any, they can open Mary Kay CHASE VISA card, and charge all the products they will never re-sell to it

Many people end up in heavy debt

Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t track what they’re spending vs earning until it’s far too late

-

What else do reps lose?

Time: Selling is actually a very small part of the business. A lot of time is spent FINDING people to sell to, organizing classes, restocking inventory, recruiting new members, traveling, going to conferences, and more. 

Mary Kay’s motto is, “God First, Family Second, Job Third”, to imply that this is something you can pick up part-time, but that’s simply not true

Relationships: Most people try to sell to and/or recruit their friends and family first, which can put a strain on relationships. Additionally, due to debt and/or need to borrow money to buy more products, many have damaged relationships with those close to them, including their spouses, who share the debt.

-

How else does Mary Kay make money?Don’t worry, it’s not all from sales reps buying their products! (Sarcasm. Please worry.)

Website + ability to process credit cards: This is essentially an annual membership fee - to access the MK website to buy their products (to re-sell), or to take credit cards as payment, you pay an annual amount to Mary Kay

Business Cards: More petty costs

Conferences: Sales reps are greatly encouraged to pay to attend sales conferences to learn more about how to be a great salesperson. (BONUS: you will encounter many cult-like tactics here, to keep you IN the MLM)

Jackets: Congrats! You’ve been promoted and you are now permitted to wear the Red Jacket! It costs $100. If you get promoted to NSD(?), you get to wear a fancy suit that changes every year and costs $1,000 each year!

-

How else does Amway make money? Bonus because they are egregious

Sales Reps replacing everything they own: Amway sells a LOT of different things. How can you sell anything if you haven’t tried it? If you really want to succeed at Amway, get rid of EVERYTHING you own that Amway also sells. Make sure everything you own is sold by Amway (people do actually follow these instructions! Cult-like tactics are used)

Training Materials: They make a lot of money off of selling training materials to their sales reps. Aren’t making money? It’s because you don’t WANT to succeed, clearly, if you aren’t buying all the training materials you can get your hands on

Haha maybe more than you've bargained for. I wrote this all at once late at night, but I'll look it over later to check for any potential errors and link more sources.

[softlysuited]

The Sunless Skies Log

I started up a new playthrough of Sunless Skies, which I've played for about an hour previously and know nothing about except it seems Extremely My Shit. And, given my april new years resolution, I thought it would be fun to start a little log of my adventures!

Here follows the tale of Comrade O'Conner, a former revolutionary and asylum inmate dreaming of immense wealth who has taken the helm of a ramshackle old locomotive named The Orphean, just returned from a disastrous voyage in the Blue Kingdom (I'm excited to find out what all this means!) --

Session 1

15 March 1905 - 28 April 1905

Upon arriving in New Winchester, we took on a few new supplies and learned of a quest: Verdant Seeds for a Florid Landscapist in Titania! Not knowing where Titania might be or how to acquire Verdant Seeds, we nevertheless took on the quest.

Heading north-northeast, we sighted Titania before too long. But without any Verdant Seeds to give, we had to depart. Not without some new companions, however: the Rat Brigade, rodent mercenaries who signed on as our Chief Engineer. Fuel ran dangerously low on the journey back to New Winchester, but we survived. Unfortunately, buying some new fuel left us nearly empty of coin.

Next, we found the pretty greens of Port Avon, and Verdant Seeds! Our necessary refueling meant we could only purchase one sack, and the Florid Landscapist required five. But this is what beginnings are made of! We established a healthy little trade route between Port Avon and Titania, earning just enough to stay ahead of our supply and repair costs.

The Orphean in Titania

During these interminable runs, we joined the Tacketies in attacking one of the Queen's locomotives like any respectable revolutionary, and aided Titania against an attack by a swarm of Chorister Bees!

Alas, as we closed in on Port Avon for the third or thousandth time, we found there we no more Seeds to be sold! We would need a new source. We had hoped there would be a little surplus left over for another Jerusalem cannon or perhaps some more crew, but it seems we were to come up empty yet again.

Oh well. Surviving is better than the alternative.

Current Crew: Captain: Comrade O'Conner Chief Engineer: Rat Brigade