#best place to buy gems online

[gemshub-com]

CZ Canary Yellow AAA - Online Shop for Best Gems and Jewelries - Gemshub

Radiate like sunshine with Grade CZ Canary Yellow AAA. Its bright hue and brilliance make it an ideal choice for vibrant jewellery. The most popular diamond stimulant under cubic zircona used as replica for diamonds at a cheaper and affordable price for beautiful gold, silver and fashion jewellery pieces. Shop now, Enjoy your special occasion.

[kotori-mochi]

Can't afford art school?

After seeing post like this 👇

And this gem 👇

As well as countless of others from the AI generator community. Just talking about how "inaccessible art" is, I decided why not show how wrong these guys are while also helping anyone who actually wants to learn.

Here is the first one ART TEACHERS! There are plenty online and in places like youtube.

📺Here is my list:

Proko (Free, mostly teaches anatomy and how to draw people. But does have art talks and teaches the basics.)

Marc Brunet (Free but he does have other classes for a cheap price. Use to work for Blizzard and teaches you everything)

Aaron Rutten (free, tips about art, talks about art programs and the best products for digital art)

BoroCG (free, teaches a verity of art mediums from 3D modeling to digital painting. As well as some tips that can be used across styles)

Jesse J. Jones (free, talks about animating)

Jesus Conde (free, teaches digital painting and has classes in Spanish)

Mohammed Agbadi (free, he gives some advice in some videos and talks about art)

Ross Draws (free, he does have other classes for a good price. Mostly teaching character designs and simple backgrounds.)

SamDoesArts (free, gives good advice and critiques)

Drawfee Show (free, they do give some good advice and great inspiration)

The Art of Aaron Blaise ( useful tips for digital art and animation. Was an animator for Disney. Mostly nature art)

Bobby Chiu ( useful tips and interviews with artist who are in the industry or making a living as artist)

Sinix Design (has some tips on drawing people)

Winged canvas (art school for free on a verity of mediums)

Bob Ross (just a good time, learn how to paint, as well as how too relax when doing art. "there are no mistakes only happy accidents", this channel also provides tips from another artist)

Scott Christian Sava (Inspiration and provides tips and advice)

Pikat (art advice and critiques)

Drawbox (a suggested cheap online art school, made of a community of artist)

Skillshare (A cheap learning site that has art classes ranging from traditional to digital. As well as Animation and tutorials on art programs. All under one price, in the USA it's around $34 a month)

Human anatomy for artist (not a video or teacher but the site is full of awesome refs to practice and get better at anatomy)

Second part BOOKS, I have collected some books that have helped me and might help others.

📚Here is my list:

The "how to draw manga" series produced by Graphic-sha. These are for manga artist but they give great advice and information.

"Creating characters with personality" by Tom Bancroft. A great book that can help not just people who draw cartoons but also realistic ones. As it helps you with facial ques and how to make a character interesting.

"Albinus on anatomy" by Robert Beverly Hale and Terence Coyle. Great book to help someone learn basic anatomy.

"Artistic Anatomy" by Dr. Paul Richer and Robert Beverly Hale. A good book if you want to go further in-depth with anatomy.

"Directing the story" by Francis Glebas. A good book if you want to Story board or make comics.

"Animal Anatomy for Artists" by Eliot Goldfinger. A good book for if you want to draw animals or creatures.

"Constructive Anatomy: with almost 500 illustrations" by George B. Bridgman. A great book to help you block out shadows in your figures and see them in a more 3 diamantine way.

"Dynamic Anatomy: Revised and expand" by Burne Hogarth. A book that shows how to block out shapes and easily understand what you are looking out. When it comes to human subjects.

"An Atlas of animal anatomy for artist" by W. Ellenberger and H. Dittrich and H. Baum. This is another good one for people who want to draw animals or creatures.

Etherington Brothers, they make books and have a free blog with art tips.

📝As for Supplies, I recommend starting out cheap, buying Pencils and art paper at dollar tree or 5 below. If you want to go fancy Michaels is always a good place for traditional supplies. They also get in some good sales and discounts. For digital art, I recommend not starting with a screen art drawing tablet as they are usually more expensive.

For the Best art Tablet I recommend either Xp-pen, Bamboo or Huion. Some can range from about 40$ to the thousands.

💻As for art programs here is a list of Free to pay.

Clip Studio paint ( you can choose to pay once or sub and get updates. Galaxy, Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Android, or Chromebook device. )

Procreate ( pay once for $9.99 usd, IPAD & IPHONE ONLY)

Blender (for 3D modules/sculpting, animation and more. Free)

PaintTool SAI (pay but has a 31 day free trail)

Krita (Free)

mypaint (free)

FireAlpaca (free)

Aseprite ($19.99 usd but has a free trail, for pixel art Windows & macOS)

Drawpile (free and for if you want to draw with others)

IbisPaint (free, phone app ONLY)

Medibang (free, IPAD, Android and PC)

NOTE: Some of these can work on almost any computer like Clip and Sai but others will require a bit stronger computer like Blender. Please check their sites for if your computer is compatible.

So do with this information as you will but as you can tell there are ways to learn how to become an artist, without breaking the bank. The only thing that might be stopping YOU from using any of these things, is YOU.

I have made time to learn to draw and many artist have too. Either in-between working two jobs or taking care of your family and a job or regular school and chores. YOU just have to take the time or use some time management, it really doesn't take long to practice for like an hour or less. YOU also don't have to do it every day, just once or three times a week is fine.

Hope this was helpful and have a great day.

"also apologies for any spelling or grammar errors, I have Dyslexia and it makes my brain go XP when it comes to speech or writing"

[dbrgems]

DBR Gems is best place to buy gemstones online for its customers. As a reliable gemstone supplier, we stock a wide range of semi-precious gemstones and precious gems. A large part of our online gemstone shop involves loose gemstones, which means that you can get something specific that you need. It is possible to buy genuine certified gemstones over the internet at DBR Gems, and the quality of the stones that you order is guaranteed. Be it stunning semi precious gemstones or the fine precious stones, DBR Gems is still the best place to buy loose gemstones and satisfy ever gemstone cravings.

[lifehacksthatwork]

Just a bunch of Useful websites - Updated for 2023

Removed/checked all links to make sure everything is working (03/03/23). Hope they help!

Sejda - Free online PDF editor.

Supercook - Have ingredients but no idea what to make? Put them in here and it'll give you recipe ideas.

Still Tasty - Trying the above but unsure about whether that sauce in the fridge is still edible? Check here first.

Archive.ph - Paywall bypass. Like 12ft below but appears to work far better and across more sites in my testing. I'd recommend trying this one first as I had more success with it.

12ft – Hate paywalls? Try this site out.

Where Is This - Want to know where a picture was taken, this site can help.

TOS/DR - Terms of service, didn't read. Gives you a summary of terms of service plus gives each site a privacy rating.

OneLook - Reverse dictionary for when you know the description of the word but can't for the life of you remember the actual word.

My Abandonware - Brilliant site for free, legal games. Has games from 1978 up to present day across pc and console. You'll be surprised by some of the games on there, some absolute gems.

Project Gutenberg – Always ends up on these type of lists and for very good reason. All works that are copyright free in one place.

Ninite – New PC? Install all of your programs in one go with no bloat or unnecessary crap.

PatchMyPC - Alternative to ninite with over 300 app options to keep upto date. Free for home users.

Unchecky – Tired of software trying to install additional unwanted programs? This will stop it completely by unchecking the necessary boxes when you install.

Sci-Hub – Research papers galore! Check here before shelling out money. And if it’s not here, try the next link in our list.

LibGen – Lots of free PDFs relate primarily to the sciences.

Zotero – A free and easy to use program to collect, organize, cite and share research.

Car Complaints – Buying a used car? Check out what other owners of the same model have to say about it first.

CamelCamelCamel – Check the historical prices of items on Amazon and set alerts for when prices drop.

Have I Been Pawned – Still the king when it comes to checking if your online accounts have been released in a data breach. Also able to sign up for email alerts if you’ve ever a victim of a breach.

I Have No TV - A collection of documentaries for you to while away the time. Completely free.

Radio Garden – Think Google Earth but wherever you zoom, you get the radio station of that place.

Just The Recipe – Paste in the url and get just the recipe as a result. No life story or adverts.

Tineye – An Amazing reverse image search tool.

My 90s TV – Simulates 90’s TV using YouTube videos. Also has My80sTV, My70sTV, My60sTV and for the younger ones out there, My00sTV. Lose yourself in nostalgia.

Foto Forensics – Free image analysis tools.

Old Games Download – A repository of games from the 90’s and early 2000’s. Get your fix of nostalgia here.

Online OCR – Convert pictures of text into actual text and output it in the format you need.

Remove Background – An amazingly quick and accurate way to remove backgrounds from your pictures.

Twoseven – Allows you to sync videos from providers such as Netflix, Youtube, Disney+ etc and watch them with your friends. Ad free and also has the ability to do real time video and text chat.

Terms of Service, Didn’t Read – Get a quick summary of Terms of service plus a privacy rating.

Coolors – Struggling to get a good combination of colors? This site will generate color palettes for you.

This To That – Need to glue two things together? This’ll help.

Photopea – A free online alternative to Adobe Photoshop. Does everything in your browser.

BitWarden – Free open source password manager.

Just Beam It - Peer to peer file transfer. Drop the file in on one end, click create link and send to whoever. Leave your pc on that page while they download. Because of how it works there are no file limits. It's genuinely amazing. Best file transfer system I have ever used.

Atlas Obscura – Travelling to a new place? Find out the hidden treasures you should go to with Atlas Obscura.

ID Ransomware – Ever get ransomware on your computer? Use this to see if the virus infecting your pc has been cracked yet or not. Potentially saving you money. You can also sign up for email notifications if your particular problem hasn’t been cracked yet.

Way Back Machine – The Internet Archive is a non-profit library of millions of free books, movies, software, music, websites and loads more.

Rome2Rio – Directions from anywhere to anywhere by bus, train, plane, car and ferry.

Splitter – Seperate different audio tracks audio. Allowing you to split out music from the words for example.

myNoise – Gives you beautiful noises to match your mood. Increase your productivity, calm down and need help sleeping? All here for you.

DeepL – Best language translation tool on the web.

Forvo – Alternatively, if you need to hear a local speaking a word, this is the site for you.

For even more useful sites, there is an expanded list that can be found here.

[ja3hwa]

♡ 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟖: 𝐓𝐨𝐲𝐬/𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐱 - 𝐊.𝐇𝐉 ♡

【sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs】 : Hongjoong couldn't decide what gift to buy you while he was travelling. So he bought them all and now wants you to try them out. Every. Single. One.

『ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ』 : 1.11k

-> ɢᴇɴʀᴇ: Pure Smut

ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: Idol!Hongjoong x F.Reader

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢs] : Edging. Fingering. Dirty talk. Use of a dildo. Making out. Pet names. Swearing. Neck kisses.

Thank you, my darling, @nateezfics, for requesting Hongjoong for this day. I hope you enjoy, baby. ♡♡♡

Masterlist | Navigation | Kinktober List

You don’t know how you ended up in such a predicament. But here you were, sitting on several blankets on the floor with your back against the end of your bed frame with pillows supporting you. Hongjoong had gone on a shopping spree while he was in Paris, and at first, you thought he simply bought you a nice outfit or even some French snacks. But no, this was Hongjoong you were thinking about. The man who secretly has a dark spot. A dirty side and of course he had bought you an array of toys. Especially.. but plugs.

“I didn’t know which one would suit you, so I bought them all.” that was his excuse for the ten or so plugs lying hiding in a giant bag… among other things. He told you that about an hour ago now. Having set up a little spot for you to lay while he worked on you. He first took some attentiveness in stretching you. Lube was all over the blankets by the time he was done and you were shaking like a leaf at this point. His fingers switching between your pussy to your ass was making your head spin in the best way and the more he worked on you the more nervous you got with the idea of the new toys. He wouldn’t tell you what else was in the bag other than ‘it’s a surprise’ making your nerves even more on edge.

He sat behind you, letting you lay on your lower back, holding yourself with your elbows. He sat you in front of your large full-length mirror, letting you see exactly what the gems looked like when they were pushed into your puckered hole. First, it was a red gem, ruby, it was cute, simple and he always said red was your colour. But he kept going, pulling the toy out he pushed another one in. One after the other and at this point you didn’t care what the gem colour was, all that mattered was the feeling of it going in and out over and over again. He was edging you without even realizing and it made you all hot and bothered.

“J-Joong.” at this point he needed him to fuck you before you explode but he just chuckled putting the new on, a purple gem deep inside your ass. He twisted it slowly, pretending to make remarks such as ‘Such a pretty colour’, ‘You should wear purple more often’, ‘It’s got a bright shine than the other gems’ as if he was talking about clothing or some accessory, rather then a butt plug. He pulled it out still satisfied with it. No, there was a perfect one in here, he just needed to find it. Your hazy eyes looked around the room while he dug in the bag, you saw all the plugs lying randomly on the floor, lube dripping off all of them, some most likely smeared with your own juices, given you were practically leaking for Hongjoong to touch you.

“Ahh!” You suddenly look back at yourself in the mirror, seeing he placed a much thicker plug inside this time, but instead of a gem, it was a tail…. a bright red fox tail with a snow-white tip. It sat so beautifully on the floor making you shiver. His fingers rubbed against the fur, patting it while he groaned. This was the perfect piece. A tail that made you look like what he thought of you as…. Just a sweet little fox in a big bad wolfs trap.

“My pretty little fox…” He whispered in your ear making you whimper at his words. He picked up another object from the bag letting you see he got a tentacle dildo. A deep purple one. The one you saw online the other night. You thought you were alone while browsing for sex toys but Hongjoong must have noticed the cheeky shit. He held the toy in front of you giving you a good view of it. You bucked your hips, wiggling in anticipation while he spilled some lube on the object. “You want to be fucked by a tentacle baby? Dirty girl.”

“P-please Joongie.” You cried, feeling him rub the dildo up and down lightly pushing the tip of the tentacle against your clit and it started vibrating. “ffffuuucckk!!” You screamed out, trying to back away from the vibration but Hongjoong’s body caged you, his thighs either side of you. He played with the tail with his free hand, stroking the fur while lightly tugging on it. Everything was so sensitive and you felt like you were going to explode. He slipt the dildo inside your puffy cunt, fucking you harshly with it. Your eyes were glued to the mirror, watching the toy go in and out. In and out…

“Fuck, look at you. You’re enjoying this my little fox. Being fucked stupid on some toys.” His voice rang in your ears. Your head was spinning and your body was jerking in rhythm of his thrusts. You could feel you were close to your high but it felt different. Felt… faster, more intense.

“Hongjoong I-” Before you could say another word your body shook like crazy. Legs locking, hands gripping tight on Hongjoong���s thighs. You squirted all over the blankets, some of it managed to splatter across the mirror, making your lover chuckle in amusement. Once you slowly came down from your high, Joong switched off the toy before discarding it somewhere on the floor. His hand snaked along your wet body, squeezing your tit before gripping your chin, pulling your face upwards so his lips could capture yours.

“Hmm my baby.” he kissed you again “My pretty baby.” he kissed the corner of your mouth, "You enjoying yourself darling?” he licked your neck, sucking your skin. You just humped in response, feeling tired from the orgasm you had just felt. But Hongjoong didn’t give you time to relax in your bliss as he softly pushed you forward, making you fall onto your tummy, keeping your legs bent and ass in the air. Your face was smooshed against the mirror making you keep eye contact with yourself. But Hongjoong had the perfect view. Your ass wiggling in his face with a perfect tail swaying with it.

“You ready for around two…” He tugged harshly on your tail making your eyebrows knit tight together. “I have so many other toys to try on you.”

[mirandyficlists]

Fic Searches sometimes take Time.

Hey there my Mirandy Dandies hope you're all well.

After a number of particularly noxious Anonymous messages from someone, or possibly several someones, kvetching about oh so many shortcomings with my Tumblr site and my other actions in the fandom as a whole, I felt I needed to make this post to clarify a few things about:

What I do,

What I'm able to do.

What I'm willing to do

The way this platform works...something, bear in mind, that I can't change.

I am a diehard Mirandy Dandy and one of the things I love to do is to SHARE the goodness and to chat about fics whenever I can. Having been a victim of the loss of Angelfire and Geocities when so much amazing fic was lost to us in the Xenaverse and other of my earlier fandoms, when I became a Mirandy Dandy I was not going to see myself in the same limbo and made a point of fully harvesting all fics as they were posted and keeping external copies of my treasures, updated monthly whenever possible. I did this, by the way, from the beginning on LJ to the present and let me tell you, keeping track of and harvesting fics from LJ was not easy and took a hell of a lot of time copying and pasting but I did it to the best of my ability.

The Mirandyverse is now 18 years old (we should all buy us a drink…well in the UK anyway, lol.) and we have people finding the Dark Side every week. Now these newbies and youngsters have often never set foot on LJ, if they’ve even heard of it, some have never set foot on FFnet even not to mention places like Passion & Perfection and the Pink Rabbit Consortium, and therefor have missed out on some great gems and giants of the days when new fics came out thick and fast. Thus the difference between the 3732 fics recorded for DWP on AO3 and the 5422 fics I have listed on my spreadsheet. Added to this the number of fics that have since been deleted or lost in other ways and you end up with the Newbies truly missing out.  And so I try to spread the goodness as best I can and share my harvested treasures when asked, as well as letting the masses know about that on several different platforms.

Because I love the fandom as I do, a significant amount of my time is invested in it, but as with everyone, I have a real 3D life that demands my presence and attention regularly and sometimes exclusively when, well, when shit happens as they say. Add to this my personal disabilities and I sometimes struggle being able to do things and thus have to let some things, like fandoms, slide in order to cope with the day to day. But when I’m better I always come back. And my disabilities can bear good fruit too, in this case my fic Spreadsheets, necessitated for my enjoyment because of my medically induced memory problems but that have been used and enjoyed by the fandom as a whole. Silver linings and all that.

I am always willing to share the Mirandy goodness in anyway I can manage. I LOVE being able to send deleted fics to people who either haven’t read them or aren’t able to access their old favourites because they were deleted. Hence my spreadsheet which keeps track of the existence and whereabouts of about 97% of all Mirandy fics online. And also my Themed Rec lists, now numbering 157 different groupings. All of which assist me in helping out with fic searches which I always try to source whenever they are presented, and that sourcing includes seeking help of other Dandies on different platforms.  Now, just to clarify, none of these things are complete or exhaustive, but I do keep them up to date within the limitations stated above AND try to make sure to share them online at least every couple of years. I don’t mind doing it, it gives me pleasure, but to my nasty Nonnies from earlier and any other Trolls who might be lurking…I AM UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO DO ANY OF THE THINGS I DO FOR THE FANDOM. I do it out of love of the Mirandyverse and the vast, VAST majority of truly wonderful Mirandy Dandies.

Tumblr is, as we who tumble know, both glorious and hideous as far as social networking platforms go, and has always been meddled with by admin for the sake of selling it off and trying to monetize it into oblivion and not to actually improve the functionality for the users in anyway. And that is the arena in which I operate this Tumblr and adapt how I do so in order to accommodate my needs.

So just for your collective FYI specifically regarding Anonymous asked fic searches…

If you have sent an anonymous fic search and have not seen an answer posted for a very long while:        

I am NOT ignoring you.

                                I am NOT ‘being lazy.’   

                                I have NOT deleted your request.            

                                And believe it or not I have NOT forgotten about you.

I check my in box weekly to remind myself of the searches I am still tracking down, so

not getting a response to an Anonymous ask only means I have not yet found your fic, but I am still looking for the fic, when time permits me.

Because you sent an Anonymous ask, if I try to answer it and let you know that I’m still looking for the fic, the ask is removed from my in box and I no longer have it in an easily accessible place to remind myself to continue the search.   So instead, I keep the asks in my in box until I find the fic requested, which lets be honest my Dandies, given some of the descriptions or key points you sometimes give could be one of several thousand fics and it takes some time to sift through, lolol.  If you want to be kept updated on the search progress, then it is much better if you PM me directly so that I can communicate with you.

To finish off I do want to say, ANY Mirandy Dandy is ALWAYS welcome to contact me with asks and questions in what ever way best suits their needs all I ask is that you appreciate any limitations attached to your preferred method and behave accordingly.

The Mirandyverse is generally a stress-free and positive place to be and always has been, and it is my dearest hope that it continues to be a space free from the toxicity that often invades other fandoms.  To that end I will always continue to offer my services to fellow Dandies in a spirit of helpfulness and sheer Joie de Vive.

Long live the Mirandyverse!

[bekkathyst]

Munich Mineral Show Sale - October 25th 2024 Rules & Procedures

Hello friends! Everyone planning to participate in the sale today, please read. This is how everything will work. I’m posting some items I picked at the Munich gem show. I will invoice tonight and after the second day of posting. All orders placed during this multi-day sale will be combined if you buy things on different days and orders will ship next week. And please note that I will be considering all these orders open box orders unless you specify you want me to add shipping! :)

I will start posting items for sale directly here on Tumblr. To claim an item and place your order, do the following:

Reply to the post (those who are unable to reply for whatever reason can reblog) saying “sold” or “mine" with the quantity you’d like to claim. It’s important you do this so we can see who claimed something first in case something sells out.

Keep a list of everything you claim (with the item number for each item). Once you’re done claiming, please message me over the instant messenger.

Include the following information in your message:

Your email address for the invoice, the country you live in (for shipping purposes - we are shipping from Austria), and the list of what you claimed (with the item numbers). Also please let me know if you want your order to be *open box* or *ready to ship*. “Open box” simply means you want us to hang onto your items after you pay so that you can continue to add things from future sales so everything can be shipped together for convenience 😊

Shipping to Europe is $12

Shipping elsewhere is $15

For extra-large packages, shipping is $20

Be sure to send your info at the end of the sale or whenever you’re sure you’re done claiming.

Invoicing will be done through my online shop “Bekkathyst” - the invoice gets sent to your email and you get the option to pay with a PayPal account or with a credit or debit card. You don’t need to have a PayPal account to pay.

Please pay as soon as possible so we can continue to shop for new inventory at the show :)

Unfortunately due to problems we have encountered before - if you claim items and then at the end of the sale and either don’t respond to your invoice or never message, you will be blocked.

If you decide you’re backing out of a claim before the sale is over, message me so that I can delete your comment. Please try to avoid doing this. Thank you!

We now offer an “open box” option in which you can continue to keep your order open (aka have us not ship it yet) for future sales so everything can be shipped together once you’re ready. When you send your info please don’t forget to let me know if you’d like your order to be *open box* or *ready to ship*. Thank you!! 🙏

For all items that are marked random selection, you may make a request for a specific piece and we will do our best to honor your request, but it is not always possible. Please keep that in mind :)

Any questions? Feel free to ask! I hope you’ll join us and have lots of fun!

[hockpock]

Glasses Review - Firmoo

Hello vision impaired friends, I bring you the gospel of Ordering Your Damn Glasses Online

I have previously ordered from EyeBuyDirect (luxotica/lenscrafters'/America's Best in disguise, sorry.) and Zenni Optical ( most well known online provider, A+ would recommend) and have seen lots of ads for free pairs from a competitor, Firmoo. I have too much prescription for the free pair offers to ever work out from ANY provider, but their fun designs put them on my list.

When my current glasses broke, I was dinking around and saw their current promotion is Buy One Get One Free PLUS 20% off lenses and as lenses are the real $$$ I jumped on that like tigger on crack. I am VERY nearsighted with astigmatism and the average pair of glasses from lenscrafters used to cost me $300 minimum.

After much deliberation with a million tabs open and a poll I ignored the results of for Reasons, I ordered a pair of clear frames and a pair of purple steampunk-y wireframes . Two pairs of HIGH PRESCRIPTION glasses for $87 shipped. I could cry, y'all.

Note: I have an up to date prescription and a nifty app that measures Pupillary Distance or 'PD'. you will need both these things accurate to have the best experience buying your glasses online.

I ordered them 9/22, they shipped 9/25, I received them 9/29 with regular shipping. They came well packed - each pair was in a bag made of cleaning cloth material inside a sturdy plastic case and they come in a foil bubble mailer.

Both pairs feel well made, with lots of attention to detail-

however I did not pay attention to detail or pay extra money for the Re-he-heaaallly thin lenses. So the clear ones are slightly too big and I hate the way the nose pieces sit, while the purple ones are a wee bit small across the temple and heavy to boot. I haven't had dents in my nose like this since I was 12.

the website lists their exchange policy as 30 days, the pamphlet that came with the glasses says 60. Either way it was pretty painless to go into my order history and select "exchange". The form I filled out with my reasons for dissatisfaction promised me I would be contacted within 24 hours.

My 'personal Firmoo consultant', 'Karen', emailed me with a code for the full price before discount of both pairs + standard shipping, as well as the usual customer service canned answers about checking the sizing information and did I know I could upgrade the lenses?

Also I could keep the failed pairs 'FOR NOW', here are some places that accept glasses as donations. (mixed messages, Karen, but sweet!)

New friends are April006, round anodized wireframes with a cute dingly gem thing, and Sandy020 , literal tortoiseshell cat eye frames.

This time I used the site's search terms to cut the temple width and earpiece length options down and double checked the weight of the base frames. (14g vs 24g for the round wireframes before my coke-bottle lenses. RIP my nose. )

New order was placed 10/5 and they arrived 10/17 . (last time I checked the tracking estimated arrival had creeped from the 19th up to the 23rd so grain of salt. This may be a tactic to make the order feel like it got here faster or legit delays. In my case there was a federal holiday involved.)

Complete disclosure I'm gonna grab a pair of pliers and take the little dangly off the wireframes. It makes a noise when I move my head and if I don't fold the frames in the right order when I take them off it'll scratch up the lenses. I ain't gonna remember to avoid that, so off it goes.

The Good:

Large selection, Good Quality, Good Communication. Lots of Off the Beaten Path options for internet weirdos. Firmoo p much always has a promotion going.

My wallet is so happy. SO HAPPY. Frames run $20-30ish to start. lenses will vary with your prescription and options.

If y'all want 50% off your first frames and to give me a $10 credit they have a referral program and my code is T4Z8I2. BOGO20 is a better value but it expires 11/01/23.

The Bad:

Not flexible about lens options- you go down one track and pick your options within that. If there was a way to put tinting on a pair of glasses other than blue light blocking I couldn't find it. (in contrast I believe Zenni lets you choose a range of colors and tint depth on any pair, designed as sunnies or not)

You Will Get Emails. Firmoo REALLY wants you to buy more glasses and post about it and tell your friends and HERE THIS CODE IS ONLY GOOD FOR 3 DAYS, GO BUY NEW GLASSES. They are marketing themselves to fashionable young influencers who change styles every month. Unsubscribe with impunity.

like Zenni, this is a company with the majority of it's functionality based overseas. It's cheaper because you're ordering directly from a factory and not paying Luxotica's markups to itself. Customer service is mostly English as Second Language speakers and there may be delays.

Not For Emergencies. I was able to coast on a pair of glasses from a prescription or 2 ago but it's gonna take time for your order to be made and shipped.

Overall I'm very happy with them and will probably order again.

Next time I have spare money I'm aiming at Wherelight because y'all. they are next down on the list of reputable to shady AF but they have the most amazing WTF designs.

[niphredil-14]

Yandere Tim Drake Headcanons

Tim would be the type of yandere to stalk his darling long before he made a move. He would learn everything and anything there was to know about them. He would begin to control them from afar. Changing their schedule, their route to work, how much attention they received and how often, who they talked to. He would make everything about them as convenient to him as possible. He would slowly begin to cut them off from the world, so that finally, when they were aching with loneliness, he would make his entrance. 

He was their saving grace, pulling them out of a dark place and into his awaiting arms. Every move he makes, every word he speaks, every gesture and expression is planned. While he is with them, he makes them feel like the most important person in the world, and in his absence, he would let their insecurities and loneliness eat away at them, forcing them to build an emotional dependency on him. 

His next step would be to force them to be physically and financially dependent on him as well. Completely out of the blue, their boss fired them, without explanation, just before rent was due. Of course, Tim would let them stay with him, he loves them after all! And he will always be there for them! And when they couldn’t get hired anywhere else, it was no problem! Tim has more money than he could use in ten lifetimes! They’re more than welcome to have his! 

At that point in the relationship, they were still allowed to leave the house at their will, because Tim would never dream of taking away their autonomy! But oh, what a shame it was that one night while they were walking back from grocery shopping, they were attacked by some goon! Thankfully, though, Red Robin was there to save them and escort them home. And what a surprise it was for Red Robin to unmask himself once inside the penthouse with them, only to reveal their loving boyfriend! He was so worried when he saw them get attacked, and he just couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to them! Maybe it would be for the best if for the next few days they only leave their home when he was with them to make sure that nothing went wrong. And oh? As soon as they started going out without him again, some other asshole had the audacity to try to hurt them again? Oh well, maybe they ought to just stay home if he wasn’t around. 

The final step of getting them to never leave would be to have a very close call while out on a nightly stroll. If he got so badly hurt that they would be so filled with anxiety every time they left the house, even when they were with him, then they would never have to leave. It’s more dangerous for him to be protecting them, because then he can’t really focus on the fight since he would be too worried about their safety! 

Once they stopped leaving the house all together, he would make it so that everyone they had connection with online would disappear. Anyone who had ever been even remotely close to them would be gone. Left completely alone, unable to leave the house, they would only have him. And he would stay with them all the time, except for patrol and his Wayne Enterprises duties, but the time those took up would significantly decline. 

He would make them feel like they were in complete control, and would bend to almost every one of their whims. He would buy them whatever they wanted, he would spoils them rotten with diamonds, gems, clothes, money, and love. They were his darling, after all. 

[nest-being]

i agree that buying temu/shein is generally scummy and people shouldn't do it, plus slowly building a wardrobe is the best way to go; but the brands you listed *are* unaffordable for people. taking into account some people can't save due to their financial situation and there's currencies where a USD$15 game is genuinely super expensive.

imo taobao/aliexpress is a good option (aliexpress is full of good quality taobao resellers in my experience so it's still better than going somewhere like shein. somehow i've bought stuff there that's better quality than the branded stuff i have) as well as buying second-hand. i wish i could find a guide for buying jfashion second-hand since i haven't had any luck. do you know any good second-hand and cheaper shops i could look into?

Hii, long post incoming!!!! i totally get what you're saying and understand your point of view 💞 i just want to clarify, because i feel like maybe my wording was a bit confusing, but the point of that post was not really the affordability or cost of the clothing, rather the availability. i had been talking to someone who claimed plus sized people buy j-fashion pieces from temu and shein not because of the price but because nothing else is available in plus sizes, which is absolutely not true. i tried to avoid saying that those options are cheap or affordable for that reason. rather i used the words well priced and reasonable because i think the quality is worth what you pay. like, if you can afford to do a huge shein haul of 10 items or something just for the aesthetic, i feel like that money is better spent getting 2 or 3 items (or more if you thrift!!) that are better made and have a far longer life span than the shein equivalent. unfortunately, i do realise that can still be quite difficult to afford for some people and i genuinely don't want to come across as begrudging anyone for shopping fast fashion when they have no other options. i myself am a broke sw, and i'm not american but i can confidently say i cannot afford a USD$15 game so i definitely understand being in a situation where you cannot save any money 🥲 i was being a bit dramatic saying no excuses in my original post, of course there are exceptions if you are truly too broke and thrifting/upcycling is not an option.

in saying that, if you have the time and ability to save a little bit of money to put towards clothing, there are some great places to shop second hand out there! i will emphasise- it takes time to find things that will fit, both aesthetically and size wise, as most of my recs do not exclusively sell plus sized fashion. personally, i find the search rewarding and since i'm on a budget, i have to really think about whether or not something will fit my wardrobe before buying. for some of these stores, i would personally recommend saving up and making bigger orders of multiple items if you can to save on shipping, as it can get expensive. also, i'm focusing mainly on second hand in this post because to be completely honest, there aren't really options for new j-fashion clothing that are going to be as cheap as shein/temu and isn't just more ultra fast fashion. i have plenty of plus sized clothing recs that i am so happy to pass on, but yeah, not really cheap 😅 anyway, here are my second hand recs-

mercari

mercari has some real gems if you are willing to dig. i usually search for j-fashion brands that i like and know make plus sized clothing and sort by price lowest to see what's available within my budget. obviously this can come up dry a lot of the time but i have found so many great pieces and accessories! usually if you search for a brand it will come up with a lot of similar clothing from other brands too so sometimes you can find some surprising stuff!! not everything is cheap, but like any online marketplace, if you're willing to dig you can find a bargain! you do have to use a shopping service but there can be some benefits for this. generally if you buy something, they will hold it in their warehouse for up to 30 days (or longer for a small fee) so you can combine the shipping if you buy multiple pieces over a longer period of time. i personally use buyee but there are probably better options out there!

closetchild

this one is a consignment store with a huge selection of stuff. at least 50% of my lolita wardrobe is from closetchild, and i don't think i've bought a single piece from there for over ¥12000 (approx USD$80) which would be my absolute upper limit for a brand dress. most stuff i've bought from there has been way cheaper. they also have a lot of other j-fashion pieces that are usually very well priced. the sizing is listed in flat measurements, but if it's lolita, i always cross reference on lolibrary to see if it will fit (forever wishing there was an equivalent for other j-fashions 😭)

wunderwelt

wunderwelt is a consignment store AND brand retailer all in one. i haven't personally bought anything from here yet but they have lots of well priced j-fashion items, including specific sale sections with items for ¥999, ¥1999 and ¥3999 🤩 their brand retailer has a plus sized section too, which is nice! the measurements are also flat but i find them more accurate compared to the lolibrary measurements than closetchild.

kei plus: plus size j-fashion discussion and sales (facebook group)

i love this group! super welcoming and there's always a lot of great stuff for sale that fit lots of different styles. also lots of advice and reference posts which are super helpful! you do buy direct from the seller though so make sure you check their feedback on whatever site they're selling through.

plus size lolita sales (english only)(facebook group)

another nice little group, this one specifically for lolita. it gets pretty regular listings so it's fun to check back every so often to see if there are any bargains. like above, make sure to check feedback before buying.

lace market

lolita specific second hand market. absolutely huge selection of stuff and you can search using brand and region. you can add measurements too if you're searching within specific categories. sadly there are heaps of scalpers but there are also lots of genuine sellers and if you look around you can absolutely find bargains!

kei market

the j-fashion sister marketplace of lace market. same as above- huge selection of stuff, maybe a bit harder to cross reference the sizing but people are usually happy to check measurements if you ask.

aside from these, i have a few other recommendations for thrifting that aren't specifically online stores. if you are able, look for j-fashion/lolita communities in your area and see if they have sales groups or swap meets! i've generally been able to find facebook groups catering to j-fashion and lolita for all the areas i've lived, although this will be easier if you're in a city. if you find a group and they don't have any events like that- suggest one! it's a great way to meet people and keep clothing circulating throughout communities 🥰 also, being in a group of like-minded people in your area has its benefits, as you can do group orders on sites to save on shipping!

thrifting in person and upcycling can also be super fun! obviously you're not going to randomly find a lolita jsk (unless you are ridiculously lucky- looking at YOU american lolitas) but if you wear other j-fashions or are looking for staple/more casual pieces, thrifting in person can be great, especially if you're able to do a bit of hand sewing. adding a bit of lace, charms, ruffles or appliques can 100% transform a regular piece into something special. there are tons of cute lace and trim options on aliexpress, and you can always check for sales in physical stores as well. the best part is you end up with something personalised and unique. i'm gonna add as well, thrift stores these days do have a lot of shein/fast fashion clothing. personally, although i don't recommend buying directly from those brands, i think it's fine to buy them second hand if they fit you and your style. even knowing they don't have the longevity of higher quality clothing, you're still saving it from landfill. i've found some cute shein second hand that i would never buy new but has a place in my wardrobe. the only downside is that you pretty much have to constantly repair and upkeep these items to keep them looking nice.

lastly, not second hand, but i wanna add that taobao and aliexpress can absolutely be great options! i haven't bought from taobao in many years but if you're not up for going through a shopping service or buying direct, 42lolita seems to be the most recommended reseller i see thrown around. i think the best aspect of their store is that if you find an item you like on taobao, they will list it on their store for you to buy, which i really like. aliexpress is a bit more hit and miss to me when it comes to quality, price and sizing. i've had less luck finding genuinely plus size items and there are a lot of design replicas which look great in the listing pics but if you check the reviewer pics, they're always shoddily made and ill fitting. there are also a lot of stores selling extremely marked up taobao clothing, so if you find something you like, maybe check around and see if you can find it cheaper elsewhere. in saying that, there are some genuine storefronts if you look around. i recently bought a pair of bloomers from mikumn store and ooooomg they're so comfy!!! definitely would love to hear your aliexpress recs, since you seem to have a lot of luck with it 😊 for anyone new to aliexpress, it is imperative that you check the reviews and don't buy anything that doesn't have customer photos. that's the best advice i can give to avoid being scammed. also, if you're unsure of the quality of something in the photos, don't be afraid to ask others in the community for their input! it can be really hard to determine what's good quality and what's not when your only experience is with fast fashion. groups like big sisters of lolita or various j-fashion subreddits are always happy to help 💕

anyway, i've maybe gone a bit overboard but i hope this info can be helpful! these are just the ones i'm most familiar with so there are probably more out there too. if you would like some brand recs to be on the lookout for, let me know what styles you're into and i'll share the ones i know 🥰 also if you're ever at a loss for more specific resources, i'm pretty good at digging up guides! i'm sure it already exists but i might even put together a bit of a list of plus sized j-fashion stores if anyone would be interested in something like that 💖

[fountainpenguin]

"And the women, they all pity me... because I'm married, but not in love! Frozen at the center...?" (x)

---

New Dog's Life chapter today! ~ 3rd Life series fan-season

Chapter 20 - “Sizzle (Grian, Scar)”

❤️ Read on AO3

💛 Start from Chapter 1

💚 More Pixels Imperfect fics

---

Grian makes plans to set SnifferMyFeet up on a date, then buys some very special bread. Scar comes home to a wrecked apartment and confronts the gingerbread-loving demon in his closet. Just your average Traffic SMP fanfic- nothing to see here.

(First 1,000 words under the cut)

---

Grian

Status: Dear, bewildered, and awkward

💙  🧡  💚

Grian leaves a very special cloak hanging in the closet of Lounge 3LF specifically for full moon nights. It's black and heavy. Not at all as flamboyant as he'd like, and decorations would certainly make it more fun. The biggest thing that mars the inky blackness is the giant red symbol on the back: a circle with a slash down the center. More red marks, spaced a few centimeters apart, wrap the hems of his sleeves. He's got one on each shoulder too, and it's really not flattering…

… but the stifling, peculiar nature of it is really the whole point. It's a full moon tonight, you know.

Grian wraps it around his shoulders and clicks the silver clasp at the front. The thick cloak is padded (on the off chance anyone nips him with teeth or claws). It's not armor, but he can't use his wings like this. It'd be a massive liability in a fight, but it dulls the color and rustle of his feathers, and it's excellent at diverting the eye of anyone who's out tonight seeking visual or auditory courting cues.

TwoMuchGrian's still fussing with his feathers, scowling in the mirror. Pearl and Jimmy don their black and red cloaks in turn. Martyn, for the first time Grian can remember, struts from the lobby without one. Grian tries not to notice anybody else. He flips up the hood, smothering his hair. He pauses for Two so they can leave together. While waiting, he catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror and almost snorts.

Nah, certainly not flattering… but totally effective. I wouldn't flirt with me either tonight.

The lanterns and copper bulbs that glow inside the multiplayer hub stay fluorescently bright all night long. Defining "night" is difficult in the underground, especially with time zones from around the world all dumped in one small perimeter. The Between dimension keeps chugging along anyway.

As Grian leaves the multiplayer zone, stepping out into the bedrock streets, the clock tower chimes to signal 12k ticks. Out there, above ground, the world's officially bathed in pink and orange sunset lighting. So they say, anyway. Hmm… Grian tips back his head, gripping the hood in both hands. He pulls the fabric downward so it digs against his pores.

He breathes.

New Star Station's bustling tonight. The city population ebbs and flows with account activity at the best (and worst) of times, but for now, chattering voices ripple through the air. Happy, friendly people bounce along wherever they want to go.

Pearl brushes past him then, sending one last I'm sorry grimace with her mouth and eyes. Grian nods back to indicate All good. Each moon phase stretches out for four days in Between, and tonight's the second one in the batch. The pull against his fluffing scarlet feathers is much, much stronger now than it was on Monday. It prickles over every shaft and barb.

Since neither he nor Pearl care for random hook-ups, they usually go out for food together or catch a movie on nights like tonight. It depends what's going on with Hermitcraft. Really, Grian doesn't make a habit of jumping online for projects immediately after an exhausting Life series recording session like this one. He usually gets Pearl's second full moon night- Gem and Impulse hang out with her on the third.

But tonight, Pearl has a refugee at her place… and not exactly someone he's thrilled to go looking for. His last encounter with EthoCam (Sorry… Rhetoric) left a less than pleasant aftertaste behind. At that thought, Grian stares down the dimly lit street, letting his eyes fall halfway shut.

I need to warn SnifferMyFeet not to go near him…

Maybe another time. Maybe when it isn't the full moon. Vex posture and flaunt themselves like mad this time of the month. Sniff might bite, and that's really not something he's in the mood for. There's still server clean-up to do on Hermitcraft. He's been meaning to add a nicer bridge design to the dolphin path. Maybe he'll send Scar a whisper in a bit.

He rocks forward, setting a brisk pace down the street. Blaze powder and slime balls are already mixing into magma cream on the bedrock. Two drifts after him without touching the ground. As much faith as Grian likes to put in the 'Not on the market tonight' cloak designs, it's an extra blanket of reassurance (like a knock to the head) knowing his twin's there to watch his back. Two might split off for some flirting later on, but it's nice of him to walk him home.

His comm buzzes, rattling up his arm like a shockwave. Grian looks down.

TwoMuchGrian: are we going to bigb's?

"… No, not tonight. Just back to our place."

Cheery people flit around on feet and wings. Some dress in 'No' cloaks and chat anyway, just excited to catch up while they have the chance. Some hook their arms around those of friends or acquaintances they've got their eye on for the evening. Strangers, maybe (some of them). No love hearts flicker in the cracks and crevices, but the warm eyes and friendly laughs say just as much.

It's an early courting night. It's posture. It's a show. Expect a few fights to break out tomorrow morning as people settle in and get more cherry-choosey, fussing over the partners they want to keep for the next 100 days. The block turns next Wednesday or Thursday. Scar won't even hunt until a couple nights into the full moon. He says souls taste better when they're satisfied on their post-loving time high, and they put up less of a fight.

Loving time. Sure.

So… What's everybody doing if these were never real hook-ups to begin with? No kisses. No nothing. His digital, programmed peers have no need nor desire to reproduce. All these empty courtship tugs they feel beneath the full moon just lead to… nothing.

[Full chapter on AO3 - Link at top]

[popcorn-plots]

Hey there! We are a family of 5 (4 youths, one 55 year old) planning a 10-day trip to England and Scotland in month of June 2024.

We are planning to spend 4 days in London, one day trip from London to either Oxford or Wales. 1-2 days in Edinburgh, around 2 days in Inverness. Any other recommendations?

Can you guys help me with some pro tips? Some things we are interested in are

hidden gems/off beat attractions

local activities

best/cheap travel options - car rental for Scotland? Trains are expensive - are they worth it?

What's the best way to reduce too much walking for the 55 yr old family member? Maybe like scooter rental options? - Lime e-scooters?

vegan food options

Recommended stay options - recommended serviced apartment under 250 GBP a night?

Money saving tips - visitor oyster cards, London pass, Explorer pass. I've read britrail pass isn't worth it? What are things I can book in advance apart from accommodation and train tickets?

Best way to spend - contactless forex card

Things to buy

Things not to do

What to carry - a raincoat, water resistant shoes, layers for clothing

Any month specific attraction? - Mayfield Lavender fields

Is there anyway I can catch a play/show that stars celebrities during this time? (no points for guessing I'm interested in anything with Benedict/Martin)

Sherlock related attractions - shooting locations, souvenir shops, found this awesome BBC Sherlock Guidebook

Anything else you recommend?

Thanks a lot!!

Okay, I'm finally getting around to answering things-- (sorry it's taken so long)

Anyways, I'm not completely sure what your budget it, so I'll just go from my experience. As for the trip itself, I hope you guys have so much fun! London is amazing and I wish I could come with you.

Now prepare yourself for an academic essay (not really) of a post with pictures included (below the cut) because I am a nerd.

For the day trip to Oxford or Wales, I loved both places (Wales in a really fun cultural experience), but if you're concerned for time, Oxford is closer (1 hour drive) while Wales is a 4 hour train ride. My group did a tour of Oxford college while we spent a good two or three days in Wales. I was in Oxfordshire at the same time Benedict Cumberbatch was, but he was 23 miles away and I was so sad

As for Inverness, Inverness Castle is a really cool stop and Loch Ness was so much fun to see. I would definitely bring an umbrella though. My entire group forgot their umbrellas and we got absolutely drenched. Also, if you have a little time on your hands, the Hogwarts Express bridge from Harry Potter is just an hours drive from Inverness and it has a great hiking spot and a fun little gift store. It's at Glenfinnan Viaduct and it was fun to see. There's also a Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station (I know there's been a lot of stuff with JK Rowling, but liking Harry Potter and liking JK Rowling are two very different things and it's perfectly fine to like Harry Potter and hate JKR.)

One of my favorite things to do as a tourist is to... be a tourist (which sounds weird) so I absolutely love to go to all the major attractions. However, I've found some really fun places. Gelato shops, for one, are very nice (and tasty!). Speedy's Cafe from Sherlock is an actual place, as well as 221B Baker Street. Speedy's Cafe is on 187 N Gower St, Euston Rd., London NW1 2NJ, United Kingdom, and it can range from 1-10 pounds a person for food. That same street with Speedy's is the filming location for the outside of 221B Baker Street. The real Baker Street is a little ways away, but there is a Sherlock Holmes museum. With a student ID, tickets are around 8 dollars a person (otherwise, it's 16). The wait time is a bit much, but it's worth it. There's a lot of Sherlock Holmes tours that are really exciting, but if you don't want to go on a guided tour, they filmed in a lot of easily recognizable parts of London such as Trafalgar Square. There's also a lot of tourist sites online that have said locations, and it helps that London is an easily walkable city (and the public transport is a literal godsend compared to Utah). Bletchley Park is also a must-see, but only really for people who are interested in the behind-the-scenes of WWII, in a way, and Alan Turing. And yes, it looks exactly like it did in The Imitation Game. However, tickets are a bit pricey and the hour train ride to Bletchley is also quite pricey.

Arthur Conan Doyle was actually born in Edinbrough so there's some things to do there, if they put the statue back. Edunbrough Castle is a great visit and it is supposedly the inspiration for Hogwarts. There's also a grave with the name Tom Riddle in what is supposedly one of the most haunted cemeteries in the UK if that's interesting for you. Also, in Endinbrough, there are bagpipes everywhere. There is, quite literally, a bagpipe player on every street corner. It's amazing.

When I did the study abroad, my group rented two coaches for Scotland (we had 29 people -- 22 students, two directors, and then the five of the directors families) so I don't have a lot of experience with the trains. My advice, however, is to create a spreadsheet somewhere and make a list of what you want to do, how much it would cost, and how much you're willing to spend and go from there. Find train and car rental websites and find one that works with what you plan to do. Also, if those sights have any reviews, look at them. Find what other people are saying about the particular service -- everyone has different opinions, but if one site has more positive reviews from more people, than that could be a good starting place for what you want.

London has really great public transportation, and Oyster Cards are very useful for getting around. Most of the tube stations I went on have both stairs and elevators, and the busses are enjoyable for tourists. Other than that, I'd find some tourist websites that talk about accessibility in London.

Again, I'm not completely sure about stay options as my group had our accommodations provided by the college (but ooooh boy that is a long story--), so I would recommend the spreadsheet and travel websites. AirBnB's are also a good option.

On money saving, Oyster Cards are incredible. I don't know how much they cost, but I used mine at least two times a day, sometimes even four during the entire 3 week stay. Definitely get an oyster card. I'm not completely sure about the other passes, however (SPREADSHEET). Other things to book might be some activities -- London has a lot of fun tourist areas that may be enjoyable. For example, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, etc. Also, in terms of souvenirs -- it's really exciting to get things on site, and sometimes that's the only place you can get stuff, but a good rule of thumb is that you can generally get the same thing for a lot cheaper somewhere else. An example would be that I wanted a SIX sweatshirt when I went and saw it life. Sweatshirts were around $60 dollars while Amazon had them for around $20. You don't have to get everything from Amazon, but if you're worried about it, there are cheaper options elsewhere.

Some advice about European Culture if you didn't know them already: take-out is called take-away, and you usually have to flag the waiter down at restaurants (or simply raise your hand). Also just be polite, and Americans are generally really loud compared to Europeans so, assuming you're American, just be aware of your surroundings. In other parts of Europe, like Greece, pick-pocketing is a big deal, so we had to keep a closer eye on our belonging (I would hold my phone or put it in a front pocket). I'm not sure if this is a big thing in London, but still -- be aware of your belongings. General safety also applies in trusting your gut, using buddy system, and not being out alone at night.

One of the best tips about London is Tesco. If not for the joy of having a row with the local pin machines, than for the 4 pound meal deals -- a main, a side, and a drink. My family lived on these lunch deals. They are pretty good, they have a decent selection, and are in literally every single Tesco you go to. Tesco also has pretty decent prices and, if you're smart about it, you can feel a family of 5 for a week on one trip.

For things to carry: umbrella (in the summer the rain isn't so bad, but it's there), good walking shoes, definitely layer up. London can go from 90 degrees to 50 in an hour, and can go from not a cloud in sight to torrential downpour. My SH tour was caught in the second one -- that was an experience to say the least. Don't forget things like an oyster card and maybe some extra cash if you feel you may need it.

I have no idea about celebrity shows, but West End is literally the Broadway of London (but a whole lot cheaper). My family saw 10 shows on West End during our 3 three week stay. It was amazing, and if you fancy a night out, China Town is literally just around the corner.

That's pretty much all I have right now! It's pretty long, but I hope it's what your looking for! If you have other questions, feel free to ask. (spreadsheets will be your best friend if you know how to use them)

[manishaasinfratecho]

Breathe New Life into Your Space: Budget-Friendly Design with MITS Work

Do you dream of a stunningly designed interior but worry about the cost? You're not alone! Creating a beautiful and functional space doesn't have to break the bank. At MITS Work, a leading interior design company in Noida and a trusted partner for homeowners across India, we believe everyone deserves a space that reflects their style and personality.

This article is packed with practical tips and design inspiration to help you transform your space without exceeding your budget. Whether you're searching for an interior decorator near you in Delhi, Patna, or any other city in India, MITS Work's expertise can guide you through the process. We'll show you how to achieve a high-end look using creative strategies and readily available resources.

Finding Inspiration on a Budget:

Embrace DIY Projects: Unleash your inner creativity! Upcycle old furniture with a fresh coat of paint or reupholster tired pieces with colorful fabrics. Explore online tutorials or attend local workshops to learn basic carpentry or craft skills.

Think Outside the Box: Explore thrift stores, flea markets, and vintage shops for unique treasures. You might find hidden gems like antique accent pieces, decorative mirrors, or even artwork at a fraction of the retail cost.

Harness the Power of Social Media: Platforms like Pinterest and Instagram are goldmines for design inspiration. Follow best interior designers in Delhi and other design professionals for trending ideas and budget-friendly hacks.

Maximizing Space with Smart Design:

Rearrange and Repurpose: Before buying new furniture, consider rearranging your existing pieces. A fresh layout can create a completely different feel. Repurpose furniture for multiple functions, like using an ottoman as a coffee table or a console table as a desk.

Embrace Multifunctional Furniture: Opt for furniture that serves multiple purposes. Foldable chairs, ottomans with storage compartments, and nesting tables can maximize space and functionality in smaller areas.

Let There Be Light: Natural light is a powerful design tool. Open curtains and blinds to brighten your space and create a more open feel. Consider strategically placing mirrors to reflect light and make the room feel more spacious.

Creating Impact with Affordable Decor:

The Power of Paint: A fresh coat of paint can dramatically transform a space. Choose bold colors for an accent wall or calming neutrals for a serene atmosphere. Explore affordable paint brands that offer high-quality options.

Accessorize with Intention: A few well-chosen accessories can add personality and style. Visit thrift stores or discount home decor stores for throw pillows, artwork, plants, or decorative vases.

Bring Nature Indoors: Houseplants not only add a touch of life to your space but also improve air quality. Opt for low-maintenance varieties like succulents or snake plants that require minimal care.

Why Choose MITS Work as Your Budget-Friendly Design Partner?

At MITS Work, we understand that budget-friendly design doesn't mean sacrificing quality or style. Our experienced interior design company in Delhi offers a range of services tailored to your needs and budget. We can help you:

Develop a budget plan and stick to it.

Find creative and affordable solutions for your design goals.

Guide you through the design process, ensuring a cohesive and stylish outcome.

Conclusion:

Creating a beautiful and functional interior doesn't require a hefty price tag. With a little creativity, resourcefulness, and the expert guidance of MITS Work, you can transform your space into a haven you love without breaking the bank.

Ready to get started? Contact MITS Work today for a free consultation and discover how we can help you achieve your dream space.

[boringkate]

I just got my first wand today and holy shit, how did i live post transition without it. But now i’m thinking of some butt plugs i bought ages ago but never had the inclination to try them, what’s the best way you think to ease myself into butt stuff?

I already boof progesterone, so i’m not necessarily afraid of going back there, I just don’t know what to expect.

I don't have any specific brand or toy recommendations, but a small butt plug is probably a good way to get started with anal. Just go on amazon (or ebay or aliexpress if you're down to trade a longer delivery time for a way better price on a similar or identical toy) and browse around for what looks nice.

I'm a big fan of steel and glass toys. Glass might be a little conceptually scary, but I've never had a glass toy crack or anything. I personally appreciate the firmness and it's nice that they have like a natural slickness to them (although you'll still wanna use lube (I recommend crisco (just not when condoms are involved bc it'll degrade em))). There are really just a ton of really mass produced stainless steel toys all over the place (like those classic plugs with the gem on the end) (those curved steel dildos that have a sorta ball on each end are really good for hitting your prostate while still being really slim if you're worried about things being too thick for you). Plus steel and glass is nice if you're like worried about what weird possibly toxic materials things are made of (this is where I cut off anyone that was appalled by me saying to buy dildos and plugs on aliexpress by pointing out that western made toys are also mega unregulated too and furthermore most western online sellers are literally just reselling you chinese made toys with a markup).

Otherwise try to get something made of silicone. Pounding your hole with some pvc or whatever once every now and then won't be the absolute end of the world tho. This might not matter to you yet, but it's a lot easier to find large toys in soft materials than it is with steel and glass. You'll also be able to take larger toys when they're made of soft materials because they'll compress.

Make a note of the width or diameter of whatever toy or toys you're getting! And once you know you can take em try to find something that's only slightly too big for you! Rinse and repeat! The stretch is the fun part!

[wizard-irl]

Buying Crystals - Lab-Grown Crystals

Part 3 of a 7 part guide on buying crystals. Read the rest here!

Lab-grown (synthetic) crystals get a bad rep within metaphysical circles for no good reason. Why should you give them a chance?

What Makes a Crystal Lab-Grown?

Synthetic crystals are crystals made in a controlled artificial environment that simulates their natural growing conditions. This is done in two ways: high pressure/high temperature, where a seed crystal is placed in carbon and exposed to the high pressure and temperature similar to what it would experience in the ground; and chemical vapour deposition, where the seed crystal is heated in a chamber filled with gas that allows the seed to grow layers of crystal.¹

You can actually watch how crystals are made on YouTube!

Opal

Quartz

Ruby in a microwave, arc welder rubies

Corundum, flame vs flux

Emeralds

Diamonds

Differences and Similarities Between Synthetics and Natural Crystals

Ways in which they’re similar:¹ ⁸

Chemical composition. Any synthetic crystal you get is going to be identical in chemical properties to any natural crystal. Which also means they are also the same in...

Crystal structure, or lack thereof. Opals are trickier to get right because they’re not real crystals; their atomic structure isn’t repeated in a specific pattern. That amorphous quality is why they have their fire! However, most crystals are real crystals, and thus, their crystal structure is easy to replicate in the lab.

Colour

Hardness. 

Refractive index. 

Ways in which they’re different:¹⁻²

More uniform appearance. Uncut synthetics look incredibly edible, like Jolly Ranchers. Natural crystals often have varying colours.

Odd overall appearance. synthetics, when uncut, look like chunks of glass, blocks, or otherwise unnatural shapes. Natural crystals vary wildly in shape, but have that crystal appearance with cracks and points and geometric shapes that you instantly recognise as a crystal.

Clarity. Due to their highly controlled environment, synthetics have superior colour clarity and colour intensity than natural counterparts. synthetics, when cut, can resemble the most perfect of natural crystals.

These differences is why you will often see synthetics not sold as raw crystals, but as faceted gems, though you can find raw synthetics online.

Benefits of Buying Synthetics Over Natural Crystals 

If you are concerned about ethics and price, synthetics are your best friend. Because they are easily made, they’re often much cheaper than real crystals, and because they are made in labs, they’re not subject to the human rights abuses and environmental harm that mines often cause.¹⁻³

The Metaphysical Argument Against Synthetics

Part one of this series about the ethics around crystals is recommended reading here because I will retread the same ground.

The main metaphysical argument I see is that crystals take on the energy of the environment they’re grown in, and their healing power comes from being in the Earth.⁴ ⁷ ⁸ Lab-grown crystals may have the same healing properties, but they are less powerful due to their artificial origin.⁵ They may also take on the energies of the lab and the people who made them, affecting their ability to do their job.⁴ I found one that claims they are “devoid” of the energy used to make them effective for healing⁶, and another claiming they are “energetically dead.” ⁷

If you believe this, there’s not much I can do to change you from that. There’s no central text of crystal authority like there is for Christianity. But, if you will humour me, let me talk though some common stances on how crystals are able to heal in reference to synthetics.

Suppose synthetics can take on the energies of the lab. Why can’t your natural crystals take on the massive energetic outpouring of human suffering in these mines? Does the Earth’s energy override the grief, anger, sadness, anxiety, and death surrounding the crystal as it is mined? If the human suffering that may be attached to your crystal is not enough (for reasons I can’t fathom), think about the energies of the Earth being violently disturbed and permanently altered by the process of mining. Do you think a crystal will have the same energies if mined in a way that furthers the destruction of the environment as one that is mined more consciously?

Suppose you believe that the healing properties come from the physical and chemical structure of the crystal. In that case, there’s no reason to be concerned about synthetics. As I’ve shown above, they are identical to natural crystals. Their crystalline structure is the same, their chemical composition is the same: they are the same thing!

Suppose you believe that crystals have no inherent power, but the intent behind their use is what drives their effects. In that case, there’s no metaphysical reason to prefer natural crystals over synthetics. It wouldn’t matter if you were using a natural crystal, synthetic crystal, a plastic crystal, an ice cube (which is scientifically a crystal), slag, or anything else because the power doesn’t come from the crystal itself, it comes from you.

I can’t stop you from believing that synthetics are lesser than natural, but think about the reasons and logical conclusions of said belief. Why would synthetics hold the energy of those who created them if naturals don’t have the energy of those who mined them? Why would a crystal with identical physical properties outside of how it was made be metaphysically different from the real one?

I get it. Natural crystals are pretty and I don’t like how obviously artificial synthetics look. It feels better spiritually to own something made in the Earth than something grown in a lab because it makes you feel connected to the Earth. But again, is that worth human suffering? Is that worth environmental destruction? And failing those (again, for reasons I can’t fathom), is it worth your wallet?

Speaking of your wallet, in the next part I’ll be covering trademarked crystals. If that sounds fucked up to you, you’re absolutely right.

Sources

"Natural vs. Lab-Created Gemstones: What’s the Difference?”, Noe’s Jewelry.

“What You Need to Know about Lab-Created Gemstones“, Jewelry Wise.

“5 Reasons to Choose Laboratory-Grown Diamonds and Colored Stones“, Halstead Bead.

“Lab-Grown Crystals Are Eco-Friendly, But Are They Legit?“, Refinery29.

“Real Crystals Versus Synthetic“, Healing Crystals.

“The Energy of Fake Crystals“, Happy Soul Crystals.

“Lab-Created vs. Natural Crystals”, Hibiscus Moon.

“Do Man-made Crystals Have Healing Power?“, Crystal Vaults.

“Imitation Gemstones”, GemstoneGuru.

[geminixdreamer]

-- Let’s Talk 2022 // Restrospect Talk

Let’s be honest; this year was mixed. It was a hella of a ride for some people or just eh. There was no in-between, but to be fair, at least it wasn’t 2021, which, by far, was the worst year since 2020. As for me, this year I felt like I discovered a bunch of myself that I didn’t realize and it was mostly thanks to the people that came and went from my life this year and those that stayed ( and some experiences that I would chalk up to as pure... what the hell or fate. There is again, no in between. )

I think some of my best experiences were being able to discover Genshin Impact and Final Fantasy 14 as well as leaving Red Dead Online behind except for the few small occasions and the introduction of a new generation of Pokemon on top of that ( although to be honest... the games are a lackluster 5 out of 10 with how badly they perform. The rest is open for opinion. ) Also getting the chance to reconnect with some people and tackle some new problems head-on... yeah, it’s been I don’t think i’ll soon forget.

But let’s get to the meat and potatoes; I want to talk about the people.

First off, I want to talk about my family. My IRL one. So it hasn’t been the best ride in the beginning... but towards the latter half? Things have been better. It’s been stable, and that’s all I can say on that. Although some people are a bit worse than others... 

Second off, let’s talk about some specific people, with coming in first, I gotta give to the guy who’s stuck with me through it all ( it feels like ) and is stubborn enough to pull me to my senses; @dimensionhoppinghybrids ... you’re basically the brother i’ve never had. We may live worlds apart but you are my brother. I’m happy that I got to meet you and that you took a chance on me ( and my characters ) even if i’m a bitchy mess tbh. Thank you for sticking with me and I really hope we get to have many more fun years talking together and one day I swear I will visit your homeland and bug you to take me out for archery and show me all the cool places! ( get it, cool, caus you live in somewhere below zero, ha... no? ok. )

Second, I want to throw out a shoutout to @missninetails and @night-gladion-and-their-ghosts​ . I got to reconnect with you guys and i’m happy I did. I’m proud of you sis in particular for achieving one of your many dreams and hope you get to achieve even more in the following year. Wolf, i’m glad we got to talk and write together and I hope that you get an even better year then the last.

Third, i’d like to throw out a shout to those that i’ve known for a little while who put up with my writing and things I send them even if we don’t talk that much ( which I need to change orz ); @aotoreiki​ @xxyumeno​ @thebloomingrosefamily​ @ammako​ @yugenronin​ @multiverseofmischief​ @kurisu-uzune​ @starikune . You guys are gems and I look forward to talking and or writing with you guys more in the future. Thanks for sticking around and my infrequent replies or not talking to you guys as much as others. /swt

Fourth; It’s time for those new great people that I met this year but are already absolute gems for putting up with me; @aevisong​ @pokemon-experiments​ @electric-ecclectic​ @moonlitsorceress​ . Y’all are awesome and I hope we can plot and write more together in the following year! I’m excited to get to know y’all more as well.

And a special shoutout to @moonlit-maiden​ for being that one person who has been pushing me in the right direction with tips and everything else on my weight loss journey. I hope you get to publish your book soon and when it is you bet your ass i’m buying me a copy!

This has been long and obnoxious I am sorry but I had a lot to say and I just... I just really love you guys okay? Anyway, have a good one and try not to overdo it on New Years ( but also drink one for me yeah? )