#candid kit (penny);;

[rohankama]

@minifrenchfry-kabbit from xXx

-

Benji wraps her up in a hug, and Penny tenses up, a statue made of metal, her arms iron bars crossed over her chest. Then her hand spasms against her arm hard enough to scratch herself.

Benji, between her and a knife.

She trembles in Benji's arms.

Waking up, vision swimming, head pounding, to see his arm reaching out to her in a puddle of his own blood.

He hasn't been able to hug her like this since before everything, and she can't even get herself to move and hug back.

His words are heard through a dull pound in her head. Pain blooms in her throat, wells in her eyes, and pulses with that damn drum in her head as he pulls away and makes her meet his gaze.

She sniffs when he thanks her, blinks back tears that are trying their damnedest to fall- and then scowls in utter confusion.

One eye squints, the other widens, and she throws up her hands wildly, fingers grasping at the air as if she could somehow grasp the handle of her sanity, as she has clearly fallen off of it!

"Neither of us eat birds. What the fuck does that mean?!"

[crystalelemental]

Sync Pair Retrospective - New Years 2023

Last year, the New Years alts were leaked somehow, and I was personally really excited by the decisions made. It feels like New Years always lands on at least one really good inclusion. That year, it was two. But, now that it's been a year, how are they doing overall?

New Years Lisia Lisia is a candidate for the most unfortunate character in this game. Her base form sucks so badly that she's the only pair who is made weaker by the presence of zone. Her New Years alt aimed to fix this, making her an excellent damage dealer for Fairy type, and a rare physical one to boot! Giga Impact Fairy Shift is the Hyper Beam equivalent, and those are always in style. So great, she's gonna be amazing, right?

Well she should be, but no Zone support. Wally wasn't a good match. That's fine, we'll wait for the next. Oh, SS Hau has it, but is entirely specially inclined? Well okay, eventually they'll...oh, we're getting a third already, and SS Mina is also specially inclined? Well hey, that's fine, field effects are old hat anyway, now we're all about rebuffs which...also went to a specially focused support. At least eggmon Sylveon is there?

Lisia cannot catch a break. Every other Fairy type around her has received buff after buff after buff, and Lisia has stagnated completely in time. Her situation is downright depressing. To make her life worse, her designation as one of the only Physical Fairy type options was severely challenged by the inclusion of an F2P pair, BP Valerie, who can actually sync nuke comparably while on-type. So unlike, say, Raihan, who has merit due to Steel-weak Glacia, Lisia is not in a comparable boat.

Lisia's life sucks. She's maintaining as a good overall pair because high BP moves like this will literally always be in style. But it's hard to consider her exceptional, so much as flatly alright. At the very least, few pairs are as difficult to work with, given the unreasonable amount of Fairy support that all skewed special. I hate it.

New Years Dawn Dawn, on the other hand, is hilarious. Initially, everyone dunked on her because the kit seemed bad, but then we got to learn about what Extra Special Ghost Damage does, and that tune changed quick. Dawn has good damage potential, and a stellar sync, backed by some nice tanking potential. Evade tanking is risky, but her rapid debuffing of Atk and ability to hit other stats is divine. Her doubling of stat boosts is an ongoing blessing, as supports with a +4/+2 focus like Penny actually work for her, and Spectrier's TM becomes wildly powerful.

Dawn's trouble is that, despite her abilities, she remains heavily reliant on support. She can't get away with cheaper options, she needs heavy support. Her debuffs are also random, which limits her overall effectiveness with others despite how useful many of her traits are. Evade tanking is inconsistent, as is her MPR on trainer move, and her confuse status.

It's weird, because I do really like this pair, but I honestly never use her. I feel like something just always holds her back. I could not tell you what. Maybe it's a gauge thing? Maybe I just need to use her offensively more often. Whatever the case, Dawn's kit has merit that I just don't see a ton of use for.

Final Thoughts Like many New Years pairs, I think Lisia and Dawn are middling. They're not strictly bad, in the same way that NY Lance still has really good Flying damage if supported, or NY Sabrina can still Endure tank. But New Years never really excels, and that trend seems to be continuing. Oh well. At least the alts look good.

[sdv-mostly-shane]

Hello! January is birthday month for my children, and now that we got the last one down, time to get right back in ~ In the spirit of parenthood, here’s some Stardew Parent Headcannons of all the marriage candidates -

Stardew Valley Imagines : Parent Headcannons

Bachelors

Alex

The kind of dad to be at every appointment/interview/inspection and cry at every point of progress “we’re one step closer to our beautiful baby”

Will absolutely cry once he holds that baby, and will have a hard time letting them go to his partner

Baby wearing extraordinaire- has multiple options for different occasions

Matching track suits to hide the fact that they were both a hot mess that morning trying to get out the door, but they did it, so time to celebrate

Would ironically have a brainiac child that he is absolutely enamoured with and admires - he sits at their little table, spilling out of the tiny chair, but refuses to budge because his baby is telling him about the water cycle of the Earth, and he doesn’t want to miss a thing

Elliot

A very ‘hands off’ parent - will observe them at play and not pressure them in any particular way

Probably a Waldorf dad

Sits his babies in his lap every night to read- they are the first ones he tests out a new limerick on, and respects their criticisms as much as their praise

Lots of evening walks down the sea shore and the forest edge.

Out of the bachelors, I think would be the most sensitive/attune to them, and would be great at breaking down their complex emotions and thoughts, and would especially be so with any neurodivergent children.

Harvey

The type to plop down a stack of parenting and pediatric books on the dining room table as soon as you two have decided to welcome children into your lives

Is the one to show the farmer how to change a diaper

In fact, just count Harvey as the one to be the party planning, baby book filling, milestone documenting professional. He’s got it covered.

Loves the newborn stage, is terrified of toddlerhood, but then back in control once they’re like 6. And then terrified again once they are teenagers (his kids actually consider him a friend as well as a father and actually enjoy hanging out with him (sometimes))

100% a helicopter parent, but more so the ‘I love you so much I don’t want you to ever experience any pain’ type of way

Sam

Probably has an accidental love child at one point

You can find him in bed with the baby, singing songs together, while he spikes the baby’s hair nice and tall

Do you honestly think this young man would not use every dad joke ever known? Because he would- and he would find them all absolutely hilarious

The fun dad that will also actively try to embarrass his kids in front of their friends

Keeps his kids home for “sick days” to sit on the couch together, no pants, no homework, and all laughter.

Sebastian

Would be stressed when they are newborns, but relax as they get older. By the time they’re teens, he would have cultivated a very trust and respect-based relationship with them where his kids are comfortable telling him anything

You’ll find him quietly at every event, game, recital, competition, imaginable. Supporting his children with his presence and then taking them out that evening to do something fun, crazy, or maybe even a little dangerous

His most fond parenting moments are when the baby is in their bouncer right besides him, happily babbling away and smiling at him, while he does his work at the computer. Quality time is his baby love language.

The type of dad to patiently and honestly answer his children’s millions of questions about anything and everything.

Will absolutely take them out to splash in the puddles when it rains (but then will also send them straight to the bath)

Shane

Is already pretty experienced in the parenting realm, but is thrown into a whole new adventure with the newborn phase. Finds himself to truly LOVE babies and toddlers

“Hm, can’t sleep? Let’s go get a snack.” “But dad, it’s 1AM” “I do this all the time, don’t worry. Just don’t tell [parent]”

Would let his kids roam free, but only if he is supervising, and is actually kinda strict/short. Absolutely fears losing his children and will do anything and everything to make sure they grow up safe and cared for.

A very stressed daddy but only because he loves his children so much that he would die if anything happened to them

The best cuddler out of all the bachelor parents. Wanna soft spot to curl up on the couch? He’s already passed out with his head back, snoring. His nice pudgy ‘dad’ belly makes the perfect pillow to rest baby heads on while he reads a book.

Bachelorettes

Abigail

The fun parent.

The kind that wakes up early on a Saturday with their kids, just as excited as they are, to eat sugar cereal and watch a show together.

Is always down to play (especially play fight). Will (endearingly) spook their partner a bit when they rough house because Abby has that wild feral look in her eye too often

The competitive parent that gets just a liiiitle too involved in whatever sport/organization/fair/et.al that the child is partaking in-all in good fun, of course.

I can picture her taking her child out to the forest, late at night, to lay on the soft moss. She’d tell them about monsters, lore, crystals, and everything supernatural and mystic. Whispering in the dark as they point up to the stars and laugh and laugh and laugh

Emily

Hippy granola mom to a T - have you seen her “organic quinoa and fresh goat milk” quote? She’d do anything to provide the best that nature has to offer her children

While her disposition toward her children is incredibly loving and free-spirited, she would probably be very resposible and stressed about doing right for her children

Would absolutely take her children by the hand, in various states of dress (jammies? Okay. Just a diaper? Alright. Ballgown? Let’s go), out to the forest with handmade woven baskets to collect all the gifts from the Earth that they can find

Absolutely the Craft Mom - she’d be all about enrichment, sensory play, and fostering a creative spirit

Tells the best stories. After bedtime routine, will sit with her children in thrir bed, and will tell stories of magic, of love, and of adventure. Her kids, eyes bright, won’t want the night to end, because mom is showing us how much wonder and mystery is in the world

Haley

So gentle and so sweet with her kids, but can send them running with just a ‘look’

Would be a nervous wreck the first go round, but an absolute master by the time the second comes around

Helicopter parent that obsesses over every milestone, growth, and accomplishment of their child. SO proud of them and can’t wait to praise them and brag about them.

The wonder parent that can do it all while looking absolutely breathtaking. She makes it look easy once she gets the hang of it

Can’t you just picture her and her baby girl in matching flowy Daisy sundresses dresses with pink ribbons in their beautiful blonde curls, chasing after each other barefoot in the fields, while the golden grass dances in the wind- gah I love this pretty pretty princess so much.

Leah

Cool Wine mom that drives a Subaru

Would absolutely read her child to bed every night, until they fell asleep.

Her transition into motherhood was flawless. She’s a natural parent who just loves in abundance

Soooo many nature walks, hikes, and camping trips. Always accompanied with a picnic basket, quiet peacefulness, and heart to hearts about whatever is going on in their life.

The definition of free-range parenting, encouraging self discovery and independence. Yeah, she’ll always step in when needed with some kind encouragement or advice, but would much rather watch her children learn about the world on their own terms

Maru

The do-it-all parent. Signs up for activities, projects, school boards, committees, and teams. Is actually on time, prepared, and succeeds in all of these.

The most prepared and responsible out of any of the parents. Always has snacks in her diaper bag and a first aid kit

Did someone say routine/chore chart

Would show love for her children through learning and new experiences-the best part about being a parent for her is watching her child’s brain turning and working as they think about the environment in front of them. At her best, her kids think she is incredibly fun and they have a blast doing anything and everything with her

Not exactly tender/overly affectionate with her kids, but absolutely concerned about being the best mom she can be by having balance of learning, play, discipline, and love.

Penny

Literally just Miss Honey from Matilda

Pinterest mom. All the crafts, DIYs, bento boxes with cute little caterpillar grapes-you name it, she’s already done it AND packed your backpack and laid your clothes out for you.

Can be heard saying “well the pediatrician said...” “hm well that’s not what dr alberts book said to do” among other “first time mom”things

Can be incredibly anxious worrying about their child’s development and well being. She’s been around kids her entire life, but this is HER child? This one doesn’t go home at the end of the day? Everything has to be absolutely perfect

The most sentimental-would absolutely weep going through the baby box to pull out the teeny tiny booties and smelling the baby blanket - “they were just SO TINY- we need another one NOW.”

[red-vampire]

Non-Marriage candidates headcannons P2

🏕Linus: He and Leo along with Gus eat a hot dinner on winter nights/ He sews blankets for other people, no fee, he just wants everyone happy/ Everyone in the town made little garden pots for Linus now he grows plants for food in them.

🐮Marnie: She talks to her animals about how's she's feeling/ Marnie has a small garden in her secret back yard, but she's not very good at the whole gardening part/ She kits and sews all her clothes from the wood of her sheep, she sometimes sews with Emily.

🍺Pam: She is not the best mother surprisingly, but when the bus gets back up she starts to get sober/ She tries her best to have a better relationship with Penny but she has a short temper and has trouble communicating her feelings, once Penny gets wind of this she tries push her mom slightly to express her feelings in a safe and heathy way.

🏪Pierre: Him and Caroline go on walks to the beach on summer nights/ commits tax fraud/ used to be in a band but gave it up to be with Caroline and Abigail/ Writes little short stories, not very good ones but points for trying/ Is learning to cook and bake better from Caroline and Evelyn.

🪓Robin: Her and Sebastian have movie nights, sometimes with Maru and Demetrius/ She hates dying her hair and loves her normal hair color/ In high school is where she met Sebastian's father, she was in the dancing club when he joined/ Her favorite food is anything with cinnamon in it.

👗Sandy: When ever she visits the valley she always picks up some flowers/ She can't grow much in the desert so she grows what she can and sells them such as exotic plants/ She loves wearing dresses and only has three pairs of pants and shorts/ She also loves to dress brightly and has almost no black in her wardrobe/ She has a crush on Emily but refuses to tell her.

🎣Willy: He basically acts like the farmer's cool dad/uncle once you get close to him/ Ask him about fish and he'll name everyone in the book/ He and his Pops were close and treats all the children in town as his own and helps them with homework and such/It may not look like it but he is very tall, taller then Elliot.

[kuroopaisen]

awe. (kageyama tobio)

➵ a photographer in his spare time, kageyama can’t quite find the passion he once had for the art. until he meets you at a wedding, that is. 

wc: 3.3k

warnings: f!reader

a/n: REMY I DEDICATE THIS TO U ILYSM,,, also i know like. three things abt photography & i’ve never been to a wedding but i hope this worked out h  

The blare of his alarm dragged him out of his slumber with a grunt.

Six thirty A.M. Great.

Kageyama sat up, cursing himself for going so hard at practice last night. He knew today would be booked, but he’d let himself get carried away. He’d blame Ushijima for it. But that was a concern for later.

Another wedding.

It's not that he hated them. It's just that they were so… time-consuming. And this couple had ordered the whole damn package -- he was supposed to be there right from preparations until the whole thing shut down.

Sure, it was his fault for even offering it. But weddings always made a goof profit. And a good profit meant better equipment, which meant he had a better chance at telling the stories he wanted to through his art.

Well, if he could even find something he wanted to take photos of.

He sighed, picking up his phone. The bride's place was about an hour's drive, and the make-up artist was billed to arrive at about eight. That was more than enough time to arrive, set up, and snap a few candids before everyone got more frantic. It was just enough time to get into the groove before the actual hubbub of the wedding began.

Frankly, he probably shouldn’t have been doing this. He only did weddings because they made a pretty penny. And, now he was officially signed with the Adlers, he wasn’t exactly scraping by when it came to his finances. But, this couple had booked far in advance, and they’d been so excited when he’d agreed to do it. Big fans, they’d said. And Kageyama wasn’t heartless.

But it’d been a while since he’d worked at one. And it’d been far too long since he’d taken a photo he was actually proud of.

If anyone who knew Kageyama found out he had a passion for photography, they’d likely be surprised. But, it was something he spent quite a lot of time on. It’d kept him financially stable enough through college, with photo shoots and weddings and everything in-between. And best of it, it helped him express himself.

It was a quiet little love, a language he spoke fluently.

He’d never believed in the concept of a ‘muse.’ He thought it was just an excuse not to do your best work. But if he had one, it had fled a fair few months ago. No matter what, he was horrendously uninspired. There was nothing that he actually wanted to capture.

He’d blamed it on exhaustion. Training for his debut had left him little time for anything else. But that felt like a cheap reason.

He knew, really, that it was because he’d lost some of that passion. Scenery used to be the most inspiring thing; back in Miyagi, he’d pack his camera into a bag whenever he went for a morning run. Nothing was quite as evocative as a sunrise in the mountains.

But, since moving around for volleyball… the scenery of those morning runs had grown more bland. Urbanity just didn’t do it for him.

So, he was just taking photos for pay these days. And he was pissed about it. Pissed that he was susceptible to something so fickle as a muse. Pissed that he hadn’t been able to rise above that.

But enough of that. He had a long drive ahead of him.

-----

"Thank you for coming so early." The bride's mother greeted him with a sheepish smile, hair up in curlers.

"It's not a problem, ma'am," Kageyama nodded, promptly removing his shoes and stepping inside the house.

"Would you like a tea or anything?" The mother was pottering in the kitchen -- typical nerves.

"I'm fine, thank you," Kageyama said, crouched on the ground as he began to unpack his kit. Seems he'd managed to pack everything while half-asleep last night. Thank God. 

He and the mother said nothing more to one another as he began to assemble his tripod. That’s how he tended to like it. Mothers were often jittery – even more so than brides. He supposed he understood, to some extent; everything changed after marriage, didn’t it? And not just for the couple.

Not that he’d given much thought to his own private life. He’d been far too busy for that.

Bustling from down the hall.

Kageyama took a deep breath. This was always the worst part; the bride's house always seemed to have the most introductions, being the place that he seemed to be the most seen. He didn't have a thrum of enthusiasm and guests to hide in, and the bride was usually polite enough to think that he'd like to make small talk. 

He didn't. But he wouldn't begrudge them for that.

The bride's entourage spilled into the living room.

Oh. Oh.

He'd just found the thing that would reignite his love for his art. Or rather, the who.

You were stood there, yawning as one of your friends looped their arm through yours. You were dressed in the same sky blue pyjamas as the rest of the bridesmaids, but somehow, it was all the more stunning on you. And you just looked so, so… quaint, with your flushed cheeks and hair a little tousled from sleep.

And then you smiled. Your friend was saying something to you -- Kageyama didn't quite catch it -- but you were simply smiling back at them, your gaze so fond and gentle. That was what he wanted to capture. That energy. That spirit.

Terror struck him. Shit, you weren't the bride, were you?

"Morning, sweetheart!" The mother's face was glowing as she threw her arms around one of the girls. That girl wasn't you.

Had his heart been beating this fast the entire time? He was still crouched on the floor, tripod half-assembled.

"The photographer got here a little early."

The words make him snap his head around. The bride and her mother were standing near him, offering him those awkward little smiles that usually came with him being in a distinctly feminine place this early in the morning.

He shot to his feet, arms stiff by his side. "Yes, sorry about that." He gave a curt bow, clenching his fists a little. Was he really this out of his groove?

"It's no problem," the bride smiled, waving a hand at him. "Should we, uh… should we get started?"

Kageyama nodded. He had to keep it together. How, he wasn’t quite sure.

-----

You'd barely noticed him staring at you at first, blue eyes all wide and full of wonder.

But then you'd kept catching his eye. And he kept looking away hastily, the faintest of blushes warming his cheeks.

At first, you'd been a bit worried. It’s so early in the morning, and you’d never even seen this guy before. But there was something so innocent in the look he was giving you; like he was seeing the moon for the first time.

Didn't hurt that he was pretty cute.

"He keeps staring at you," Asami murmured.

"Hm?" You rubbed your eye, trying to will away the sleep as best you could. It had been a long night. You'd expected your friends to wrap it up a bit earlier, seeing as there was going to be a wedding the next day, but you'd all been having too much fun.

"The photographer," she murmured, nudging you.

"Huh."

You were sat on the couch, cup of tea in your hands while the bridal entourage whirled on around you. You'd finished the "cute candids" that you'd always seen in wedding albums -- the ones where the bridesmaids would chat and laugh and hug and all that --and the photographer had moved on to the scenery.

"Think he's a creep?" Asami asked.

You pursed your lips at her. "Don't be rude."

"I'm just saying," she shrugged. "He seems kind of… intense."

"He just seems shy to me," you shrugged, taking a sip of your tea.

"Are you giving him the benefit of the doubt because he's hot?"

You choked.

"I'm just saying," she hummed, holding her hands up.

"So, you agree then?" You choked out between coughs.

"Hm?"

"That he's hot?"

Asami glared at you. "I mean, yeah… I'm not blind…"

You laughed. “You said it first.”

You didn’t quite know how to tell her that it was the awe in his eyes that made you look twice.

-----

Kageyama threw himself into the front seat, letting out a long, heavy sigh.

That had been a trial.

Those little bridal parties usually ran on too long, generally uneventful affairs that had very little for him to distract himself with.

But every time he wasn't taking a photo, his eyes drifted over to you. And every damn time, you caught him. And without fail, he'd cracked under the pressure and looked away.

God, and when the hair-and-makeup artist had done their thing? Fuck.

And when you’d put on that pale pink bridesmaid dress? He thought he was going to die on the spot.

He wanted to introduce himself. He knew your name -- your friends had said it more than enough times – but that just made it worse. He couldn’t very well go up to you and admit that before leading into a proper conversation.

But he couldn’t even work up the courage to introduce himself.

He groaned, clapping his hands over his face.

God, why was he so awkward?

This was going to be a long wedding.

-----

Kageyama was nothing if not a diligent wedding photographer. If he was going to do something, he was going to apply himself to it.

And this time, he really, really needed a distraction.

The bride and groom had opted for a somewhat sizeable wedding, and Kageyama couldn't help but wonder how many of these people actually knew them well. He didn't have much of an imagination for it; he'd never wondered much about the personal lives of the guests at any of the wedding's he'd photographed, and he wasn't about to start.

Except, of course, for you.

What were you like, as a person? What inspired you? What were you passionate about?

It was difficult not to look at you, being a bridesmaid and all. You were always on the periphery of the centre. And you'd managed to end up being in about a third of the photos.

Editing these was going to be hell.

But thankfully, there'd been a lull in the proceedings. He was finally able to take a breath.

The first dance was over and done with, and he'd done his due diligence and snapped a fair few pictures on the dance floor. These always seemed to crop up in people's favourites; carefree candids, where everyone was painted with such genuine grins. To Kageyama, they were just another photo.

But, he supposed he was glad people liked them.

"Hey."

He flinched.

It was you. Oh.

You were at his side, smiling up at him with your hair a little more frazzled than it was this morning and the inner rim of your lipstick gone. But God, you were stunning.  

He could tell his cheeks were probably blindingly red. His face just felt so hot.

You held a hand out to him, a little awkward from the side. "I'm--"

"I know." Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Why had he said that? Why the fuck? Why--

You blinked up at him. He blinked down at you. Say something, say something, say something--

"And you are…"

"Kageyama," he cleared his throat, mind snapping back into place. "Tobio Kageyama."

You chuckled a little. Against all odds, his blush managed to deepen.

This is your chance, he thought. This is your chance, this is your chance, this is--

I'm not letting go of this chance, you thought.

"How'd you get into photography?" It was the first question that came to your mind. You hoped it was enough.

Kageyama looked down at you with raised brows.

"Well, I assume that it's… some kind of passion for you, seeing as…" You trailed off, not quite sure what you were trying to say.

"Right," he cleared his throat and nodded. "Yeah, uh… I… I've always done it."

You nodded.

Did I do it wrong? He wondered. He just knows he wants to keep this conversation going, awkward as it is. "It's… evocative?"

"Hm?" You were tilting your head at him. Fuck, you were so cute.

"It… helps me express myself," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "It helps me say things I don't have the words for."

You smiled at that. He's already picturing what it'd look like with the sunlight illuminating your face and flowers laced into your hair. What's happening to him? 

"I think it's very impressive," you nodded, clasping your hands together. "I went through a bit of a phase myself, a few years back. I wasn't very good at capturing the emotion of things, though."

"What was your subject?" Perfect, an in. And a topic he actually knew something about. Maybe he had a chance yet.

"My friends, mostly," you shrugged. "But I didn't really have a talent for… flattering portraits. I also took a ton of photos of my pets, but I don't know if anyone else'd think those were very artistic."

A small smile touched Kageyama's lips. It took a bit of the tension out of his face. Somehow, that made him even more handsome.  

"And…" you cleared your throat. "What about you? Are weddings like… something you're passionate about, or…"

Kageyama chuckled. "No. But they're good profit."

You bit the inside of your cheek. "I hope this hasn't been too painful for you."

Shit. "No, I didn't mean it like that--"

You giggled. "No, I get you. Especially since they can get a bit long."

He blushed. "Yeah…" He cleared his throat, feeling the red rise to his cheeks gain. "This one's been nice, though."

You smiled, nodding vigorously. "They've done a wonderful job."

He wanted to say that it's nice because you're here. But that might be a bit strange. And far too forward.

You're just looking at him. It's taken you the entire wedding to work up the courage to talk to him. You'd noticed he was cute during the morning preparations, but it was like he got hotter the longer you looked at him. He's handsome -- and tall. And quite muscular. And he looked so… so focused when he was doing his job.

You didn't know why he'd been staring at you, but you'd be damned if you didn't shoot your shot.

"Hey, uh… would you like to dance?"

His eyes went wide, looking down at you as his mouth formed a little 'o'. You fought the urge to laugh. It was only a simple question, but he looked a bit like a school boy who'd just been confessed to.

He seemed so intense, but he's really just awkward, isn't he?

"Uh--" He doesn't know what to say. He wants to -- he really, really wants to, much to his surprise -- but he doesn't quite know how to say yes. And he certainly can't dance.

"It's just that… I imagine you don't get to, most of the time," you can feel the blush rising in your own cheeks, but you're not backing down now. Unless he says no, of course. "So…"

"Sure." The word's all choked, but there's such a determined intensity in his eyes. "I… I can't dance, though."

You giggled, your chest feeling more light and fuzzy than it had any right to. "It's okay. I've been training just for this day, so you're in good hands."

And you took his, leading him gently to the dance floor.

Kageyama was certain that this is where he was going to die. Hand in hand with you, on the outskirts of the dance floor. The paramedics would chalk it down to cardiac arrest.

And he doesn't quite know how he got there, but your arms were around his neck and his hands placed stiffly on your hips. His camera was still hung from his neck, creating quite the awkward little block between your bodies. He can't tell if he's grateful for that or not.

But the two of you are moving, and he hopes that it looks at least something like dancing. He can't tell, personally. He's too captivated by you.

The look on your face. The way the light bounces off your hair. The way your eyes are all wide and shy, even though you're brave enough to maintain eye contact with him. Braver than he is, anyway.

He's not quite sure what possessed him. But he leant down, placing his lips closer to your ear than was maybe appropriate. "Can I take a picture?" He murmured.

Your heart is thrumming like he's just said something intimate. Part of you wishes he had.  

But you nodded. And you're not quite sure what you're doing, or what he's taking photos of, but you look up at the roof. Nobody had ever asked to take your picture before. It was even more flattering coming from an actual photographer.

Did he usually do this? There was no way. Not with the personality you'd just seen. A personality which, to even your own surprise, you found endearing.

Really? You'd only just met this guy and you were already whipped for him. Asami was going to absolutely roast you for this one.

But, he very much felt the same way.

-----

And then, it was over.

You're stood outside, shawl pulled over your dress, as you waved goodbye to some of your friends. You're exhausted. You want to do little more than go home and just collapse. You could do that now, right? A few of the bridesmaids had already left, so it wouldn't be rude--

"Hey."

You jumped, turning around.

"Hey," you smiled.

It was just Kageyama, case in hand. You realised, not without a pang of sadness, that he must be heading off.

"So soon?" You giggled.

"I've got practice in the morning," he swallowed.

"Practice?"

"I, uh… I play volleyball."

Huh. Figures, with a body like that.

"For university, or…"

"No, uh… For the V-League."

"Wait what?" You'd been trying to hit on a V-League player this entire time? Wasn't that, like, professional?

"Yeah," he chuckled. It was a pleasant sound, all deep and warm. "The, uh, the Schweiden Adlers."

"No idea who that is," you shook your head, cursing yourself for not being interested in volleyball of all things.

You stared at him. He stared at you.

No-one made a move.

He wanted to say, I can tell you all about them over coffee, if you'd like. But he can't find the words. Can't find the courage.

You're considering giving him your number. But hadn't you been too forceful this evening? Striking up conversations, dragging him onto the dancefloor… what if he wasn't interested? Was he so awkward because maybe, just maybe, he was into you, too? Or was it because he was distinctly not into you, and he was just too polite to turn you down? Or--

"Here."

You blinked. He was holding out a scrap of paper to you. Somewhere in the midst of your overthinking, he'd apparently whipped out a notebook and had scribbled down a number.

You took it from him, surprised at how stiff his fingers were. "It's a… phone number?"

He nodded, cheeks flushed. "Y-Yeah… feel free to… text me, or whatever."

How was he so cute? He had to be well over six foot, and he was a goddamn professional volleyball player. And yet here he was, standing in front of you with red cheeks and a stutter.

This was only the beginning, but you already knew that nobody else'd be able to make your heart stutter quite like this.

You smile up at him. "I will."

[lettersfromthecatcave]

Before you marry someone

... see him angry, know how he is sad. May quote na ganyan akong nabasa dati but more than anything, I suggest you travel together. Not the type where you do staycations or join travel tours ha? Like, really travel and plan it end-to-end. You'll learn a lot about a person when you travel. You'll know:

1. How they prioritize things. Do they put most budget for food or is it lodging? Do they want to visit the most famous restaurants or are they in it for the experience and culture?

2. How they plan. Are they detail oriented or do they have space for spontaneity? Are they strict with regards to time up to the minute or do they plan out where to go depending on the mood?

3. How they deal with changes or mishaps. Do they panic? Do they get irritable? Do they handle it with a laugh?

4. How they treat strangers and service crew. Are they the type to max out every possible penny out of the service fee? Do they get impatient when someone gets their orders wrong? Do they entertain the taxi or tricycle drivers' story?

5. How they make decisions. Do they consider you before deciding on something or do they make it for you?

Even before J & I became official, we used to take photo walks and mini travels as friends. The day we became official, we travelled from Manila to Zambales and had LOTS of mishaps - it was busy hour at Cubao, there was a long line of loud men, we had different work hours, we don't know who would do what. But, for some weird reason, I was kept calm because he would always assure me that everything is fine. He brings out the candidness in me, without putting us in trouble. The same happened when we travelled to Baguio as we ran out of bus tickets to go home, but still we breezed through it together. Then, we had the 5-day Tuguegarao - Buscalan - Sagada birthday trip where we travelled by plane and by land (bus, jeep, topload) yet, time and time again, we were able to sort everything together.

Now, we are travelling again and we have started packing even though its on Friday. We already have a routine of who's who - he takes care of the camera equipment and heavy items (towels, sleeping bags) while I make sure we have the essentials (first aid kit, toiletries). To add, we even have Fofo's stuff to figure out now (litter box, food).

Maybe it's because we are different in our smallest quirks but we think the same in terms of the important things - food doesn't need to be expensive, as we prefer tasting the "culture" thus market place and turo-turo; lodging needs to be comfortable but never extravagant; there's a general plan but if things don't go according to it, we wing it and make the best fun out of anything.

This post is not very organized but I guess you get my point. Travelling allows you to see how your partner prioritizes things, plans ahead and decides. You see how they are uncomfortable, sweaty, tired and you get to know if you are all okay with that.

[astra-obligant]

OLIVER but also poppet and ill also throw in ender why not

I should have known you’d say ender, ily

Oliver

Sexuality: This may come as a surprise, but he is Not Straight,

otp: Oliv

brotp: Penny + Oliver, of course, but Oliver/Jeremy/Cahal is a close second

notp: I’m trying to think of the worst possible relationship.... Let’s go with Oliver/Keara, oh man they’re another brotp candidate 

first fact that pops into my head: oliver loves muggle football tbh he probably is as into it as he is quidditch

one way in which i relate to this character: I have two 1 - we both say dumb shit 2- we would both die for penny thomas

thing that gives me secondhand embarrassment: ugh the whole thing with him and his muggle bf? painful. oliver you fuckin idiot.

cinnamon roll or problematic fave: I dont think i know what cinnamon roll means but oliver is at least 70% problematic fave

Poppet

sexuality: unclear, but she definitely likes boys and may have a crush on her best friend(s)

otp: dont tell kit but alastair/poppet.... im rootin for those kids..... but also when i first made her, the plan was for her to be obsessed with Ros, so 

brotp: poppet/elliot, am i allowed to say my own character, is that legal? they’re bros

notp: poppet/freya, what a bad thought

first fact that pops into my head: Poppet loves to dance, and first learned ballet when she stole her older sister’s ballet flats and went to her class instead. (she got kicked out, but also got to take classes after)

one way in which I relate to this character: well, i literally based her off my love for space, so 

thing that gives me second hand embarrassment about this character: she’s weird and while that is so valid and i love weird people, the thought of people seeing me as weird is Stresscinnamon roll or problematic fave: poppet is very unproblematic and is also fave

Ender

sexuality: yes.

otp: clemender :’)

brotp: ender/stefania (stefania is someone they met who hardcore hit on clem)

notp: ender/stefania (see above,)

first fact that pops into my head: one time ender found an enchanted ring and our dm told me, ren, what it did - it was a protection thing - so ender was like “here, clem, i want you to have this” and she was like UMMM WHAT because i forgot to mention the uh, protection aspect,

one way in which I relate to this character: absolute buffoonery, hopeless romantic

thing that gives me second hand embarrassment about this character: god. his everything. i dont know where to start. probably his hopeless piningcinnamon roll or problematic fave: absolute problematic fave

[sunlesstanningbusiness]

Starting a Sunless Tanning Business

Whether you're planning to open a sunless business for yourself or others, you will need a good amount of capital to get started. To be successful in this business, you'll need to understand the market demand and what your target customers want. This way, you can determine the right marketing strategy for your business and gain a competitive advantage. You'll also need to make sure you have all of the necessary kits. These are essential to provide your customers with the products and services that they require.

Before you start offering any sunless services, you should create a business plan. As with any startup, you'll need to know your target audience, what products you'll sell, and what equipment you'll need to set up your business. A good plan will also include research into the industry so you can determine the best ways to serve your customers. You can be able to provide the best spray tan solution to more clients as required and in time.

One of the most important things to remember when starting a sunless tanning business is to have a passion for what you're doing. You'll want to be able to make other people look and feel better about themselves, and this passion can help you stand out from the crowd. In addition, you'll want to make sure that your business is reliable and that your customers will continue coming back to you.

You'll also need a license to operate your sunless tanning business. Starting a sunless tanning business is an excellent way to earn income, and it's a great alternative to tanning beds. The only drawback is that you'll need to invest some money to get started. Luckily, there are so many resources available that starting a sunless tanning business doesn't have to be a struggle.

Even though starting a sunless tanning business requires a lot of capital, it's important to consider the potential clientele before investing a penny. As a result, a solid budget is essential. Once you have an idea of the cost of the products and equipment, you can start thinking about where to locate your new sunless tanning business. While you can start with a retail location, you'll be more successful if you rent space in a location that your target market frequents. Check out this post to get the best spray tan kit for yourself.

When starting a sunless tanning business, it's important to keep prices low to remain competitive. However, if you decide to increase the price in the future, you'll need to inform clients of it in advance. The process of setting prices is often the most difficult part of starting a service-based business. Many different factors go into determining prices, and it's important to consider all of them.

If you have an interest in the beauty industry, starting a spray tanning business is a lucrative business option. It can help you earn a decent income and be your boss. Many people enjoy tanning, especially during the winter. If you love the beauty industry and have worked as an esthetician, hairdresser, or makeup artist, you may be a good candidate for this type of business. You can get more enlightened on the topic by reading here: https://www.encyclopedia.com/fashion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/sunless-tanning-lotion.

[mippinguides-blog]

Review & Buying Guide of Best Camping Generator in 2020

If you look online for a camping generator, then you will find so many products, and choosing the best is very difficult.

To help you find the best product, we have compiled a list of generators that are top of the line. So here are the reviews of the best camping generator in 2020.

Reviews of Best Camping Generator

WEN 56225i Super Quiet 2250-Watt Portable Inverter Generator

Our first pick for the best camping generator is WEN 56225i portable inverter generator. Most of the camping places are wildlife sanctuaries or national parks, which requires absolute silence.

This generator produces around 53 decibels of noise, and at this noise level, you will not know that you are even running a generator. That’s not all, if you run this generator below-

50% then it will be even quieter.

You will be blown away by its compact size and this whole generator measure about 19 x 11.5 x 18.2 inches so you can guess how small it is.

WEN 56225i provides 2250 surge watts and 1800 running watts, which is enough to run most of your devices when you go camping.

2. Champion 3400-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Inverter Generator

If you have ever bought any generator in the past, then you must have heard about this great brand. Champion is a very well-known brand, and their products are very reliable and affordable at the same time.

The Champion 100263 is designed for those campers who like to have a dual fuel system because it has many advantages. Using the dual-fuel capability, you can increase the overall runtime of your generator, and propane decreases the overall fuel cost, so I would say it’s worth every penny.

If you need the convenience of a dual-fuel system with inverter capability, then trust me, you will not find a great generator than Champion 100263.

The highest runtime of this generator is around 7.5 hours at 25% load when you use gasoline, and you can increase it up to 14.5 (25% load) when you use the 20-pound propane tank.

Champion is offering three years of solid warranty on this product to make sure it lasts longer.

3. Rainier R2200i Super Quiet Portable Generator

Rainier R2200i is another great camping generator we have reviewed, and it has received many positive reviews from customers. The Rainier R2200i also uses the inverter technology, which makes it an ideal candidate for camping generator.

With 1800 running watts and 2200 peak watts, this generator can suffice most of your power needs. Some of you may not like its 1.3 gallons of a small fuel tank, but please note that the inverter generators are designed to be portable and lightweight from the start, so it is something you need to work with.

To help you cut the fuel costs, Rainier R2200i is incorporated with Eco-mode. Moreover, the noise production of this generator is also noise. The noise level tops out at max 52 decibels, which is very low and important for camping.

The generator is fitted with many important features such as low oil sensor, overload alarm, and output indicator to help you operate the generator easily.

4. Pulsar PG2000iSN 2000W Portable Inverter Generator

Pulsar PG2000iSN is another great camping generator that has won the hearts of many campers and outdoor enthusiasts. Thanks to its compact and lightweight design, you can easily carry it as well as fit it in small spaces.

Moving to its power output, it can deliver 2000 surge watts and 1600 continuous watts, which is not that bad. Moreover, it can run for up to 8 hours when its 1.18 gallons of fuel tank is full, and the load on the generator is 50%.

During your camping trips, you will enjoy the quiet operation of this generator, which is around 59 decibels.

If you like to run many electrical devices simultaneously, then you will be happy to know that this generator comes with four output ports, including two 120V AC outlets, one 1V DC outlet, and one 5V DC USB port.

5. Westinghouse iGen1200 Portable Inverter Generator

The Westinghouse iGen1200 is one of the most lightweight & best camping generators we have ever seen. It weighs about only 35 pounds, which is a huge advantage and not to mention its suitcase-type design, which allows you to store it in confined places.

If you are wondering about the power output then, it can deliver 1000 continuous watts and 1200 surge watts at less than 3% THD (third harmonics distortion). It comes with a total of 4 outlets, including two 120V outlets and two USB output ports.

Moving on, the Westinghouse iGen1200 is very quiet (52 decibels), and using this generator; you can safely run sensitive electronic devices such as computers, television, and smartphones. Last but not least, you will get three years of warranty on this product.

6. A-iPower SUA2000iV Super Quiet 2000-Watt Portable Inverter Generator

The A-iPower SUA2000iV is our last choice for the best camping generator. A-iPower is a new brand in the generator industry, but their products are reliable and long-lasting.

A-iPower SUA2000iV also comes with parallel capability so you can increase the power output whenever needed.

You will be surprised to know that this generator does not require any additional parallel kit. But instead, you can achieve the successful parallel operation by using only parallel cables.

The weight of this unit is 50 pounds, and it measures 22 x 13 x 20 inches so you will be able to store it in small places easily. Moreover, you will get two years of warranty on this product which is quite amusing.

What should you look for when buying a camping generator?

1. Generator type

Basically, there are two types of generators available on the market, namely inverter generator and conventional generator. And then, there are subcategories of these generators, which are as follows; portable generator, dual-fuel generator, and propane generator.

2. Clean power output.

Now the inverter generators come in two versions, such as dual-fuel inverter generator and gasoline inverter generator. The dual-fuel inverter generator is expensive, but you need the advantage of the dual-fuel system, then you should choose it; otherwise, you can go for gasoline only inverter generator.

3. Power output

After the generator type, it is the second most important factor you need to look in a camping generator. It is true that you don’t need high power in the middle of the jungle unless you want to use this generator in your RV.

4. Noise level

You don’t have to worry about the noise level anymore because the inverter generator produces less noise compared to any other generator on the market. So to be on the safe side, it is always better to check the noise output of the generator carefully and see if it meets your demands or not.

5. Portability

Inverter generators are ideal for camping and other outdoor activities, and I also said that MOST inverter generators are compact and portable; however, not all the IGs are portable. The generators with low power output are more compact and portable, and as the power output increases, their size also increases. So you need to decide whether you need a good portable generator or high power output, so it all depends on personal choices.

6. Price

There are some high-end generators available on the market, such as Honda Generators, which come with mind-boggling features, but they are very expensive. So if you don’t want to invest a whole lot of money on high-end generators, then choose a generator with minimal features.

7. Warranty

If your generator is backed by a decent warranty, then it will give you peace of mind and not to mention the free services from the manufacturer. So we advise you to choose the generator with at least three years of warranty.

Conclusion

In our opinion, WEN 56225i is the best camping generator because of its affordable price range and amazing features. Many campers have different needs, and that is why we have included some additional generators with various features, too, so it will accommodate the need of every user.

[rohankama]

Penny drabbles

Sex ed was a fucking nightmare.

Every single child of the Gene was stupidly singled out in each class. The messenger, long nosed and poised with an air of authority that the teachers could never seem to pull off, called out their names one by one, hardly glancing away from his clipboard when they approached. He simply handed them a red card, detailing the time and classroom in which they were to attend a ‘special class’ just for ‘monsters like you and me’.

It was such targeted bullshit.

The worst thing, besides the many eyes staring and the pointed snide whispers, was that by the time she was supposed to start learning she was born a freak of monsterkind, she already fucking knew it.

---

“The Family is having a little get-together this evening, my love.”

Her mother sweeps into her room, all smiles and perfectly crafted face. Penny watches from the bed as the shade of her mother darts to the closet, shifting through it without so much as a glance her way.

“We would have told you as soon as you got home from school, but your Fathers meeting went on so much longer than we’d anticipated!”

Penny stares at her mothers back, now covered in a glittering silver sheath of a dress. Clearly seeing in her minds eye the marks her father’s nails had left while she sat on his lap, moaning to an audience of salivating men. 

Yeah, right. Sure was quite the meeting.

A breathless twitter of a laugh as her mother shoves all the normal clothes ruthlessly to the side, revealing the gems she sought, glittering swathes of fabric normally shoved as far to the side of the closet as possible. Penny grimaces, and looks away.

Dull eyes turn down to her lap, long brown locks falling to either side, concealing her from mother as she continues to patter on and on. The pencil and notebook in hand blur in her vision, and she closes her eyes tight. 

She’s just so tired. Tired of trying to keep up with school. Tired of keeping half an eye on her door while she worked. Half afraid some frenzied friend of her parents’ would burst in. More afraid her drunk father would call her out to play maid in the aftermath. She really, really didn’t want to dress-up and play the perfect little darling of a budding lady when she felt like anything but.

“Why do we still bother going anyway?” She mutters, throat tight. “They all know we’re pretending, so, why do we still have to bother?”

A hard hand digs into her shoulder, and she flinches back, head snapping up. Meeting her mothers eyes, still tinged with magenta light, as she shoves a dress into her hands.

“It isn’t pretend, Penelope. We are Blooks, one of the oldest, most influential families in the underground.” Her mother smiles at her, and delicately tucks one of her long locks behind her pointed ear. “We deserve a place at the table.”

Mothers hand lifts from her shoulder as she flits away, prattling on about something or another; Penny isn’t listening. It doesn’t matter. If mother actually needed her, she’d call her fucking name or something.

She carefully slots her pencil and notebook into her inventory before getting up and standing before her little-used vanity, holding the dress up before her. Yellow, with three layers of frills. She snarls at her reflection before she gets to changing.

‘We are Blooks’, what a joke. As soon as Dad’s business finally dies, they’ll kick us to the wayside, and the only fucking reason you married dad will go out the window. 

Whatever. At least I’ll get dinner.

---

She gets her dinner alright.

To bad she immediately wants to vomit it all up.

As soon as they get home, she’s in her room, only taking a moment to lock the fucking door and shove a chair under the knob before ripping that fucking dress off. Someone shouts at her, but the roar in her ears drowns it out. It didn’t matter. Buttons pop off, ribbons flutter haphazardly to the ground along with strands of hair. It didn’t matter. It didn’t fucking matter.

Stripped down to her underwear, she rips the longest coat she owns out of her closet and throws it on, shaking hands fumbling with the zipper. The voices outside her door are ignored as she lurches for her window, the zipper finally catching, pulled up to her chin.

She climbs her bed, shoves the window open, and hurls herself onto the fire escape.

The air outside is cold, and she gasps. But she doesn’t stop, scrambling up the side of the old metal walkway, dangling high above the streets below. She pulls herself up, and up, and up, and up, until finally she reaches the roof. Gravel digs into her feet, and then her ass, as she collapses, panting and shaking in the chill of the night.

Artificial stars glitter high above, the hollow dome of the mountain switched to nightmode. Faint red light from the elevators slowly rising and falling is the only thing that moves up there. She stares at the slowly moving light and lets her breathing calm. Then, slowly, she lays back against the gravel, the hard concrete, and unzips her coat.

Her shell was built to insulate her, but the cold still bites. The underwear and stockings don’t do much at all; she shivers, feeling every inch of exposed ‘skin’ with more clarity than she’s ever done before.

Curling on her side, she flicks her tiny tail. Rubs her legs together. Reaches up and traces the outline of pointed ears. The jut of her chin and her stupid little nose. Eyelashes flutter against her palms before she presses against her eyes.

Everything’s all up and settled with the crafter- oh, I don’t understand how all this metalwork mumbo jumbo works, but isn’t this blueprint simply stunning? We’ll make you into quite the lovely young lady, dearie, just you wait and see: Grandma never disappoints.

She wants to scream, to shout and cry and rage, but all of it is lodged in the back of her throat. 

Her throat for now. Until her gene kicks in.

“I don’t want this stupid gene, I don’t want a new shell, why was I even born if all they fucking want is a GODDAMN DOLL!!”

There’s her scream, finally, ripping her throat open on the way out. Fists slam against the roof as she glares up at the fake stars glittering away high, high above. She screams and grabs a fistful of grit and throws it up at those stupid pretty lights, and only manages to get dirt in her eyes.

She flinches at the pain and rubs furiously at her eyes with the sleeve of her filthy coat. There are no tears. She will not cry.

Stupid, stupid stupid... why did everything have to be so fucking stupid...

[jeramymobley]

How to Monetize Your Skills with an Offer That Sells

From where you’re sitting, everyone else has made it online. Are you really the only one who hasn’t figured it out? You know you want to build an online business, but you have no idea what to actually sell. You tout a long list of digital accomplishments. You can do it all – social media, content creation, email marketing … the whole kit n’ caboodle. But, it’s not just about knowing what you’re good at. It’s what you do with that knowledge.

Cue the road block. I bet you regularly ask yourself these 2 questions.

“How can I make a difference online (without working for pennies)?”

“Once I know what I want to do, where do I start?”

Believe it or not, monetizing your skills is (a) possible and (b) profitable. And, you can do it without forcing yourself to dredge up that list of “Things I Can Do, but Don’t Really Want to“.

Sell your obsession (and nothing else).

Between you and me, I can barely stand social media marketing. Somewhere in the last 5 years, I lost my passion for posting. I’m “just not that into” the Instagram worthy photos, cheesy captions, etc. I can do social media and do it well. I just don’t want to.

But, teaching SEO for bloggers? I live for it. I love using systems and storytelling to make ranking seem achievable for everyone online. So, SEO is my thing.

Take it from me, when you monetize your skills, that offer becomes what you’re known for. It’s the one thing you can chat about for hours on end.

It’s what builds the foundation that will become your brand.

This isn’t the time or place to offer the bare minimum. Don’t even think about being a jack of all trades. Zoom in on a one of a kind specialty. Something that won’t just act as an original hook – but also guarantee customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Once you’ve narrowed in on your obsession, peel back every single layer. Search for opportunities to improve. Don’t focus on perfection. Just build enough confidence in your offer to sell without hesitation.

First rule of thumb? Don’t be afraid of feedback.

If you already have an engaged online community, take the market temperature. You’re probably good at many things – maybe even hundreds. But you don’t have to turn all those skills into an enticing offer.

For example, let’s say you’re a writer. You churn out blog posts, sales pages, and fan fiction. Showcase your best work. Let your community pick what they’re drawn to. And, if there’s equal interest in all 3, then by all means; you’ve found yourself 3 different offers. But, no matter what, focus on creating one at a time.

Bottom line. Don’t ever be afraid to ask the question: “How can I improve?”

Know your people better than they know themselves.

Your audience should shape your offer creation. For example, maybe your online course would fit nicely into a 12 part video series. But, if audio content really resonates with your community, then audio it is.

When you know who you’re selling to, you won’t miss these important preferences. And, if your audience still doesn’t latch onto your offer, it means one of two things.

You need to continue molding the product.

You need to reconsider who your target audience should be.

Bottom line. Your community can offer invaluable insight.

Use this insight to improve and further develop your product (and more importantly) your craft. Always keep yourself open to constructive feedback.

Finally, test until the results become predictable.

So, you’ve put together several offers, but want to pick the one with the most potential. How do you know which one to choose? Test, test, and test some more.

Split testing helps you tap into the perspective of the people you’re trying to reach. And since they’re the ones making a purchasing decision, their opinions matter. Release each offer to a small list of users (at a discounted rate), and collect candid and detailed feedback.

Even though your core offer is ready to go, remember, the fine-tuning never ends. The market is always changing, and your consumers will evolve. Don’t let yourself get stagnant; keep your ear to the ground and look for ways to improve.

The post How to Monetize Your Skills with an Offer That Sells appeared first on Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career.

[savetopnow]

2018-03-21 03 SPORTS now

SPORTS

Barstool Sports

Girl Scouts Change Their Rules And Make It Okay To Sell Girl Scout Cookies In Front Of Weed Dispensaries

College Baseball Announcer Becomes Befuddled While Reading A Pitcher’s Bio Filled With Always Sunny Quotes

Rory McIlroy Announces Tiger Woods Is The Undisputed Greatest Player Of All Time

Is It Acceptable For Some Strange Lady To Take A Selfie With My Dogs Without Permission?

Michael Rapaport gives an inspirational Slam Dunk contest speech and his NBA mid-season awards

Deadspin

Please Enjoy Vince Carter's Rude Blake Griffin Impression

An Overwatch Pro Is Turning The Game's Zen Monk Into A Vicious Killer

Pro Cyclist Booted From Race For Using His Bike As A Weapon

Confederate Army No Longer The Only Thing Ole Miss Glorifies After Coach Vows To Respect American Flag And National Anthem

How Not To Write About Movies

ESPN

Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum dish on Blazers, refs and LeBron over dinner

Who should win the Norris Trophy?

Ryan Getzlaf on chasing another Cup, how parenthood complicates hockey

NBA hits Rockets' Green with $25K shoving fine

Penny on Memphis: 'Losing is not an option'

FiveThirtyEight Sports

It’s Never Too Early For Gregg Popovich To Call A Timeout

Beside The Points For Monday, March 19, 2018

This Year’s Sweet 16 Is Downright Odd

How UMBC Did The Unthinkable — And The Inevitable

Can Anyone Knock UConn Out This Year?

Reddit Sports

Frank Martin talks about parents coaching from the stands

Ex-Dolphin Ricky Williams launches marijuana brand

Vince Carter mocks Blake Griffin after he complained about not getting a foul call (x-post /r/NBA)

Creativity points...and a yellow card for Kyle Lafferty.

‘We admire you’: Putin gives state honors to Paralympic medalists in Kremlin

SB Nation

21 elite football recruits from Florida you should know about

Bears land fantasy speedster Taylor Gabriel

The U.S. embassy in Yemen accidentally tweeted about a basketball phone game

The best remaining NFL free agents

Where the top 100 NFL free agents are signing

Sports Illustrated

How Giancarlo Stanton Negotiated His Way to the Yankees to Create Baseball's Scariest Lineup

FA Set to Implement Landmark Rule in Bid to Increase BAME Presence Among Clubs' Coaching Staff

Mohamed Salah Hopes His Success Blazes Trail for Future Egyptian Stars

PHOTO: Man Utd's Beautiful Blue and Gold 3rd Kit for 2018/19 Season Leaks Online

Jaguars Tight End Marcedes Lewis Released After 12 Years With Team

The Ringer

Changing the NFL Catch Rule Won’t End Controversial Calls

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[jobsearchtips02]

At $8,990, Is This 1989 Ford Bronco II Too Great To Be Real?

Nice Rate Or Crack Pipe Is this secondhand automobile a good deal? You decide!

There’s a brand-new Bronco dropping tonight, but in this day and age who has the money– or the disposition– to purchase a first-year new design? Our2000Honda S 2000 we took a look at had a wide-fendered body set and large wheels to fill the extended arches. A number of other doubtful mods– set rail seats, a non-airbag wheel amongst them– brought into question the overall worth of the car in its non-stock state. A$12,500 asking cost seemed to acknowledge these difficulties– numerous stock s2Kis go for a great bit more– but that apparently wasn’t enough off the top for many of you. In the end, the automobile fell in a definitive75 percent Crack Pipeline loss which I would say was a quite unsightly outcome.

G/O Media might get a commission

So, Ford is debuting a brand-new Bronco tonight. The business will be introducing an entire herd of Broncos in an online event later this afternoon. Oops, spoiler alert! Based upon the teasers the business has actually been running for the past week or two, the models will include both two-door and four-door Broncos with removable roofing system sections, and a Bronco Sport which is more crossover than an off-roader.

With the impending intro, I have been flooded with emails and Twitter twatter asking “you’re going to do a Bronco for NPOCP on Monday, right?” I have thought of these entreaties accompanied by an aggressive nod and a pair of thumbs-up gestures on the part of the enjoiner.

Sigh.

Here’s the important things: prices on the OG Broncos long back hopped aboard the insane train. The second-gen trucks, while more affordable, are likewise quite nuts unless you’re fine with something that’ll give you lockjaw the first time you deal with it. Meh to those guys. You’ll never get the understanding of OJ’s tears out of them.

That’s why I decided to focus not on the Bronco’s forefather, however that of the Bronco Sport. Yes, that might possibly be the Ford Escape, however we’re going to overlook that existed for the minute and return to an even older truck line. While we’re at it, let’s look at a Bronco throw-back that appears to have a lot going for it.

That candidate is this 1989 Ford Bronco II XLT. It concerns us from the Huge Easy and with just 81,000 miles on the clock. Not just that but with the 2.9-litre Perfume V6, five-speed stick, and 4WD, it’s also kitted in probably the very best way possible.

The Bronco II was based upon the Ranger pickup platform and showed up on the market at the exact same time as Ford’s little hauler. The little SUV had a reasonably short life expectancy, nevertheless, not even lasting an entire years as safety issues and the impending release of the all-conquering Explorer spelled its doom.

In in between however, it worked as a solid, if tippy suggestion of Ford’s commitment to the domestic truck market.

This one is stated to have had just two owners, neither of which have ever let the truck delight in the mud. The advertisement claims the Cabernet colored truck to be in “EXCELLENT CONDITION” and completely rust-free. It has both trailer mirrors and a receiver for a drawback so it could be used for light-duty towing. That fuel-injected V6 just handles 140 horse power and 170 lb-ft of torque so don’t intend on any tow-offs with Tesla or anything.

The ad keeps in mind a number of brand-new parts however does not information exactly what those may be. The A/C is stated to work well and does show what seems new pipes on the compressor.

The interior appears to be in fantastic shape and is awash in wonderful ruby red mouse fur upholstery and complementing plastic trim. The five-speed gets a ziggurat boot with the transfer case lever beside it getting a more uninteresting snood. Manual windows and locks ensure a less fiddly ownership experience and no doubt some much-appreciated upper-body exercise.

The title is clean, showing this is most likely not a Katrina car, and the seller states that there’s no rush to the sale.

That lackadaisical mindset might just reach the cost. The asking is $8,990 and while that’s nowhere near what a brand-new Bronco Sport will set you back, it’s still a pretty penny for a 30- plus-year-old Bronco with a II at the end of its name.

That’s not to state it’s not a bargain. There’s a lot to like here. Plus this is, after all, a “Bronco” so you get to play that game for a news cycle. What occurs once the furor over the new Bronco has faded? Will this II show a strong daily motorist or at a minimum an engaging weekender? If either of those holds true, could you see paying $8,990 for the chance?

You choose!

New Orleans, LA Craigslist, or go here if the advertisement vanishes.

H/T to Matthew Derieg for the hookup!

Assist me out with NPOCP. Hit me up at rob@jalopnik.com and send me a fixed-price suggestion. Remember to include your Kinja deal with.

Learn More

from Job Search Tips https://jobsearchtips.net/at-8990-is-this-1989-ford-bronco-ii-too-great-to-be-real/

[glenmenlow]

How to Monetize Your Skills with an Offer That Sells

From where you’re sitting, everyone else has made it online. Are you really the only one who hasn’t figured it out? You know you want to build an online business, but you have no idea what to actually sell. You tout a long list of digital accomplishments. You can do it all – social media, content creation, email marketing … the whole kit n’ caboodle. But, it’s not just about knowing what you’re good at. It’s what you do with that knowledge.

Cue the road block. I bet you regularly ask yourself these 2 questions.

“How can I make a difference online (without working for pennies)?”

“Once I know what I want to do, where do I start?”

Believe it or not, monetizing your skills is (a) possible and (b) profitable. And, you can do it without forcing yourself to dredge up that list of “Things I Can Do, but Don’t Really Want to“.

Sell your obsession (and nothing else).

Between you and me, I can barely stand social media marketing. Somewhere in the last 5 years, I lost my passion for posting. I’m “just not that into” the Instagram worthy photos, cheesy captions, etc. I can do social media and do it well. I just don’t want to.

But, teaching SEO for bloggers? I live for it. I love using systems and storytelling to make ranking seem achievable for everyone online. So, SEO is my thing.

Take it from me, when you monetize your skills, that offer becomes what you’re known for. It’s the one thing you can chat about for hours on end.

It’s what builds the foundation that will become your brand.

This isn’t the time or place to offer the bare minimum. Don’t even think about being a jack of all trades. Zoom in on a one of a kind specialty. Something that won’t just act as an original hook – but also guarantee customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Once you’ve narrowed in on your obsession, peel back every single layer. Search for opportunities to improve. Don’t focus on perfection. Just build enough confidence in your offer to sell without hesitation.

First rule of thumb? Don’t be afraid of feedback.

If you already have an engaged online community, take the market temperature. You’re probably good at many things – maybe even hundreds. But you don’t have to turn all those skills into an enticing offer.

For example, let’s say you’re a writer. You churn out blog posts, sales pages, and fan fiction. Showcase your best work. Let your community pick what they’re drawn to. And, if there’s equal interest in all 3, then by all means; you’ve found yourself 3 different offers. But, no matter what, focus on creating one at a time.

Bottom line. Don’t ever be afraid to ask the question: “How can I improve?”

Know your people better than they know themselves.

Your audience should shape your offer creation. For example, maybe your online course would fit nicely into a 12 part video series. But, if audio content really resonates with your community, then audio it is.

When you know who you’re selling to, you won’t miss these important preferences. And, if your audience still doesn’t latch onto your offer, it means one of two things.

You need to continue molding the product.

You need to reconsider who your target audience should be.

Bottom line. Your community can offer invaluable insight.

Use this insight to improve and further develop your product (and more importantly) your craft. Always keep yourself open to constructive feedback.

Finally, test until the results become predictable.

So, you’ve put together several offers, but want to pick the one with the most potential. How do you know which one to choose? Test, test, and test some more.

Split testing helps you tap into the perspective of the people you’re trying to reach. And since they’re the ones making a purchasing decision, their opinions matter. Release each offer to a small list of users (at a discounted rate), and collect candid and detailed feedback.

Even though your core offer is ready to go, remember, the fine-tuning never ends. The market is always changing, and your consumers will evolve. Don’t let yourself get stagnant; keep your ear to the ground and look for ways to improve.

The post How to Monetize Your Skills with an Offer That Sells appeared first on Personal Branding Blog – Stand Out In Your Career.

from WordPress https://glenmenlow.wordpress.com/2019/07/09/how-to-monetize-your-skills-with-an-offer-that-sells/ via IFTTT

[joejstrickl]

How to Monetize Your Skills with an Offer That Sells

From where you’re sitting, everyone else has made it online. Are you really the only one who hasn’t figured it out? You know you want to build an online business, but you have no idea what to actually sell. You tout a long list of digital accomplishments. You can do it all – social media, content creation, email marketing … the whole kit n’ caboodle. But, it’s not just about knowing what you’re good at. It’s what you do with that knowledge.

Cue the road block. I bet you regularly ask yourself these 2 questions.

“How can I make a difference online (without working for pennies)?”

“Once I know what I want to do, where do I start?”

Believe it or not, monetizing your skills is (a) possible and (b) profitable. And, you can do it without forcing yourself to dredge up that list of “Things I Can Do, but Don’t Really Want to“.

Sell your obsession (and nothing else).

Between you and me, I can barely stand social media marketing. Somewhere in the last 5 years, I lost my passion for posting. I’m “just not that into” the Instagram worthy photos, cheesy captions, etc. I can do social media and do it well. I just don’t want to.

But, teaching SEO for bloggers? I live for it. I love using systems and storytelling to make ranking seem achievable for everyone online. So, SEO is my thing.

Take it from me, when you monetize your skills, that offer becomes what you’re known for. It’s the one thing you can chat about for hours on end.

It’s what builds the foundation that will become your brand.

This isn’t the time or place to offer the bare minimum. Don’t even think about being a jack of all trades. Zoom in on a one of a kind specialty. Something that won’t just act as an original hook – but also guarantee customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Once you’ve narrowed in on your obsession, peel back every single layer. Search for opportunities to improve. Don’t focus on perfection. Just build enough confidence in your offer to sell without hesitation.

First rule of thumb? Don’t be afraid of feedback.

If you already have an engaged online community, take the market temperature. You’re probably good at many things – maybe even hundreds. But you don’t have to turn all those skills into an enticing offer.

For example, let’s say you’re a writer. You churn out blog posts, sales pages, and fan fiction. Showcase your best work. Let your community pick what they’re drawn to. And, if there’s equal interest in all 3, then by all means; you’ve found yourself 3 different offers. But, no matter what, focus on creating one at a time.

Bottom line. Don’t ever be afraid to ask the question: “How can I improve?”

Know your people better than they know themselves.

Your audience should shape your offer creation. For example, maybe your online course would fit nicely into a 12 part video series. But, if audio content really resonates with your community, then audio it is.

When you know who you’re selling to, you won’t miss these important preferences. And, if your audience still doesn’t latch onto your offer, it means one of two things.

You need to continue molding the product.

You need to reconsider who your target audience should be.

Bottom line. Your community can offer invaluable insight.

Use this insight to improve and further develop your product (and more importantly) your craft. Always keep yourself open to constructive feedback.

Finally, test until the results become predictable.

So, you’ve put together several offers, but want to pick the one with the most potential. How do you know which one to choose? Test, test, and test some more.

Split testing helps you tap into the perspective of the people you’re trying to reach. And since they’re the ones making a purchasing decision, their opinions matter. Release each offer to a small list of users (at a discounted rate), and collect candid and detailed feedback.

Even though your core offer is ready to go, remember, the fine-tuning never ends. The market is always changing, and your consumers will evolve. Don’t let yourself get stagnant; keep your ear to the ground and look for ways to improve.

The post How to Monetize Your Skills with an Offer That Sells appeared first on Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career.

[servaxo]

HR insider’s guide to choosing useful promotional items

Human resources departments make use of promotional products in a variety of creative ways, from recruiting new hires to celebrating milestones to encouraging healthy habits. And when your company is the nation’s largest promotional products distributor, expectations are high.

So we asked Lia, human resources manager at 4imprint, for a few top uses for logoed water bottles, backpacks, totes, sport flyers and other fun, useful promo products. Here’s what she said:

  Recruiting efforts and welcome packages

In-house job fairs are a common event at 4imprint, thanks to the company’s continued growth. At each job fair, potential candidates receive small giveaways, like pens and notebooks. Lia and other HR staff also set up at large, multi-business job fairs, where the competition for top talent can be fierce. “We try to outdo the booth next to us,” Lia said. That’s easy when you have thousands of fun, practical items at your disposal. After the interview, candidates receive a survey that includes a spot for their name and address. As thanks for filling out the survey, we send each respondent a small gift.

New hires receive a backpack with several imprinted goodies, including a pen, coffee cup, a tech item (like a PopSockets® Phone Stand), and a nice notebook with our 4imprint Compass printed on the front.

  Milestone gifts and wellness incentives

4imprint staffers love their jobs, and many stick around for a long time! Over the years, the company has given logoed jackets, car organizers, drinkware, leather padfolios and other items for employment anniversaries. By choosing practical gifts that will get used, associates feel even more appreciated.

Each time the team reaches a new order record, everyone gets a printed travel mug. It’s become a tradition associates look forward to. There’s even speculation about which mug it will be. And the order record and date are printed right on the mug to serve as a lasting reminder of the milestone.

4imprint has also used a variety of promotional items over the years to encourage staff wellness. The current program—called the +1 Fill-Your-Jar Program—focuses on physical, mental, emotional and financial wellness. Every time an associate does something that contributes to their overall wellness (doctor visits, exercise classes, financial planning or even reading a book), they collect a printed wooden nickel. The company provides plastic Mason jar mugs to collect these +1 “coins.” Staffers can turn in a full jar to HR in exchange for a certificate. Every quarter, HR sets up tables in the break room so that employees can redeem their certificates for logoed prizes, from apparel and drinkware to upscale backpacks. The program’s been a big hit so far, Lia said.

  Fun committee and customer-service week giveaways

When you sell this much fun stuff, it’s only natural to have a committee in charge of keeping things fun at work. This group plans a variety of fun activities, like holiday cube decorating, penny wars, pie-eating contests and more, with winners receiving all kinds of fun prizes. The fun committee has even helped raise money for employee perks, like a popcorn machine! (Every Wednesday at 4imprint is Popcorn Day.)

During Customer Service Week, HR picks a theme (in the past we’ve done camping, 80s throwback, super heroes, sports and others) and each employee receives promotional gifts related to the theme. For the camping theme, gifts included promotional water bottles and backpacks and an unimprinted s’mores kit. The office was decorated with camping-related items, and employees could dress up as campers to earn raffle tickets for larger prizes, such as coolers, tents, and even a weekend getaway.

  Community and customer outreach

Being in the promotional products business, we use promo items in many ways. For example, when you walk into 4imprint’s main office, you will see a basket of imprinted freebies on the counter by the receptionists. Anyone can poke through the basket and help themselves to hand sanitizer, small tool kits, pens, notepads and several other handy promos.

In summer, local businesses sponsor a Live at Lunch concert series at a downtown park, featuring a local band and lunch from a sponsoring restaurant. 4imprint is a co-sponsor on certain days and sets up a table featuring outdoor-related promos, like sunglasses, sunscreen and sport flyers.

Our customers regularly receive the infamous 4imprint Blue Box®—each (literally blue!) box contains a variety of free samples and information for promotional product success. Create your own program and tuck an imprinted pen, notebook or keyring flashlight in with your customers’ orders as a “little extra” that will keep your contact information nearby whenever they need your services.

  The post HR insider’s guide to choosing useful promotional items appeared first on 4imprint Learning Center.

HR insider’s guide to choosing useful promotional items published first on https://getyourlogos.tumblr.com/