#currently on a memorial trip and got to see actual merch stores

[raditzgarden]

this shin funko seemingly pissed to even exist lives rent free in my head

[gallickingun]

shoutodoki x todoroki shouto || gallickingun matchups

@shoutodoki​ : Hi moe!! This one will be my emoji if it’s not taken yet! 🌙 I love matchups so I hope you don’t mind me sending one in too but I would prefer a male character from Bnha 🥺👉🏼👈🏼 I love writing and drawing and I’m currently a nursing assistant, hopefully a soon to be nurse! I love helping people and brightening their days. It’s just my passion to be there for others. I dress in casual clothes, t shirt and leggings lol but I usually do like full glam makeup because why not be extra? First date would be maybe at a cafe or somewhere chill! I’m a quiet introvert so I prefer people who don’t mind relaxing and needing a break from social events! Hopefully that’s enough lol I’m not too picky haha. Love you bb take your time and also congrats on the milestone, you totally deserve it xx 🌙

Val, thank you so much my love 🧡 I hope you love what I’ve prepped for you! 

―  I think Shouto needs someone who is patient, kind, and reassuring without being overwhelmed. He’s got a lot of emotional baggage, and he sometimes needs to feel like he can unwind and decompress around a significant other who won’t judge him, but will lift him up and be there for him.  ―  Shouto is definitely an introvert, and he needs someone who will allow him to be that way, while also maybe pushing him outside his bounds sometimes. So, I think you guys would have fun together at events, but also be able to understand when the other is getting tired or weary of being extroverted. ―  To some extent, Shouto also enjoys being there for other people. He and Midoriya are close because he can pay attention to his emotions and help him when he needs to, as well as stand up for his friend whenever he feels like he’s being taken advantage of. Together, you two would make a wonderful pair who are there for your friends but also know when enough is enough. 

❁ Shouto would absolutely adore being an introvert with you - he would always take you to every hero gala and celebration, but all it would take is one quick look to you, even from across the room, and you’d know that he’s begging you to go home. He loves the way you can read his mind, how you’re so quickly in tune with his emotions and his social meter, and his with yours! He’d know that you were tired, exhausted from forced conversation, and he’d skillfully cross the floor and press his palm to your lower back, leaning down into your ear so those around you cannot hear, “Let’s go, love. I can’t wait to get you home.”  ❁ The two of you would go on lovely dates, always something new. Shouto takes you to places that are more secluded, so you don’t have to worry about others recognizing him as a famous Pro Hero and so the two of you can enjoy some alone time together. He’d take you on a picnic to the beach, a bike ride through the countryside, maybe even a hiking trip! Anything he can do to surprise and dote on you, all while making sure that you’re out of the public eye as best as possible. ❁ Todoroki loves to see you in his hero merch. Whether it’s rejected designs, stock items that haven’t hit the store yet, or exclusive merch that’s only supposed to go around to certain stores. He adores bringing it home to you for you to wear around the house, out on errands, and he especially enjoys seeing you pictured in hero magazines with you wearing his shirt designs. You’re so adorable with your big t-shirts and leggings, he loves to slip his hands underneath the hem of the shirt and run his fingertips over your back and shoulders. It’s so exciting to see you being proud of him, because he’s always yearned for that support and seeing you loving on him even in these smallest of ways makes his heart race. ❁ Your selfless, kind nature is something that Todoroki wants to emulate. He loves seeing you help others, and will often stop by the hospital just to bring you flowers or lunch, because it’s all he can do to give back to you like you give back to others. He is there to be your backbone, though, if he ever feels like you’re being taken advantage of or walked over by your friends or co-workers or even family members. He gets heated when he sees your patient soul abused by those who should be careful with you, and he’s not afraid to call someone out on this, or encourage you to stand up for yourself.  ❁ Your patience and openness allows Todoroki to truly explore and heal his tattered heart, and you’re always there to pick him back up when he falls into an emotional hole. He has moments where he is second-guessing himself and his personality - how much of himself is truly his father, his mother, and what is him? Is Todoroki Shouto a confident, snarky, intelligent, and successful man because it’s what he’s done, or because of his father? There are moments where he needs your reassurance that he’s doing something right, that he’s fighting that darkest part of himself every day. And when he feels your kiss on his cheek and your words settle on his ears, he knows that he’s doing at least one thing right.

“Shouto,” you giggle as he noses your cheek, fingers creeping over your hip bone in a tantalizing tickling motion, “you’re going to get in trouble if you skip again.”

He blows a pensive breath against your neck, squeezing your ribs and tugging you closer, “You know that I hate those things, darling, why would I go out of my way to attend them? You don’t like them either. Even better reason not to go.”

A chuckle escapes your lips and you run your fingers through his hair, tugging gently on the heterochromatic strands, intermingling red and white through your knuckles. You kiss the top of his head and slip your thigh between his legs, beckoning him closer so you can look him in the eyes, “A top ten pro hero is expected to attend all of these things, Sho’. We can’t skip all of them forever.”

“I’d rather be here, with you,” he kisses your jaw and then leans over you, loitering like a protective shadow, “eating that soba that we ordered thirty minutes ago- should I call and check?”

Your fingers slip to his shoulders, toying with the silken strands at the nape of his neck, “Hm, actually, I can think of a way to pass the time.”

Shouto’s mouth envelopes yours in a bruising kiss at the notion, hands toying with the hem of your shirt, an old tee design from his earlier sidekick days. It’s tattered and worn, but it holds memories of your time together, which makes the most sentimental side of Todoroki Shouto rise to the surface. He’s reminded of your walks through town, your simple coffee dates as you got to know one another, and then, as his fingers slip down your arm to your hand, he rolls his thumb around the diamond that’s cut into the golden band that’s taken residence on your fourth finger for a few years now, and he knows that the memories you’ve made will all pale in comparison to the memories you are destined to make in the wonderful future that the two of you have planned.

Pulling away with a gasp, your face is flushed and your lips are already swollen, and Shouto can’t help the grin that tugs on his lips. You swear you see a shine in his eyes, but you’re distracted when his attention turns to the door, a rapping knock resounding against the door.

“You sure we can’t make him wait just a few more minutes?”

“Shouto.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Matchups Original Post | Ko-Fi | Patreon | Commissions | AO3 | Writing Tag

[imbeccablee]

HAPPY BIRTH TO OUR LITTLE GREEN FERAL BOI-HC about how his birthday were when he was younger compared to now? (bonus points for Mama Inko being the only constant and for steadily more and more people being at his parties and deku having no idea how to deal with so many people who love him)

oh you KNOW I'm here for that Izuku angst!!! (sorry this is late, I didnt see this until yesterday night lmao)

before Izuku was diagnosed, he would invite katsuki and those other boys over after daycare. it would always be a little awkward bc technically those other boys are more katsuki's friends than Izuku's but their parents made them go anyway bc it was the nice thing to do

oftentimes the rest of the party would end up with the boys playing with Izuku's new toys (which made him a lil upset but his mom says he should share and not be selfish and besides, these are his friends, he wants them to like him, so its whatever. it is) and also playing Heroes (this is the one of the few times Izuku is allowed to play a hero with katsuki (bc theres no way in heck katsuki would play a villain) and Izuku LIVES for it)

usually the other boys will leave and katsuki will spend the night. this is always the best part for Izuku because, while katsuki does keep showing off, it's almost softer in a way, like the fact that it's just the two of them, alone, with the rest of the world shut out makes katsuki relax and unwind. izuku doesnt understand why katsuki isnt like this all the time. he doesnt know how to ask, either.

this of course ends with his fifth birthday. the months following his fourth, he eagerly awaits the arrival of his quirk, but it never shows. a week after his fifth birthday (which had been even more awkward and embarrassing since his quirk still hadn't manifested), he is diagnosed. and, well, nobody wanted to go to his party after that.

the kids thought he was weird and lame and the parents were afraid their own kids would hurt him somehow if they were to come over, because they all believed the quirkless to be weak and fragile. this of course also meant that none of the kids were allowed to invite him over to their parties, the only exception being katsuki's. and then katsuki fell off a log into a shallow river and izuku tried to help him up and, well.

he still invites people, oh yes. the first few years, he makes little invitation cards drawn in all might colors and an enthusiastic "you're invited!" on the front. inko, the sweetheart, helps put them in envelopes and carefully stored them in Izuku's backpack and Izuku passes them out. the first time no one shows, izuku is devastated. the second time, after yet another year of being downgraded and belittled and beaten and ignored, he is still devastated, but he is not surprised. the third time, it aches and aches and aches, and he decides he's not going to make cards anymore. it's just a waste of time and paper.

inko tried so very hard. those first few birthdays After were completely unsalvageable, but after the third (when Izuku accepted no one would come) they got better. izuku was still sad and inko was still guilty, but they always had a lovely time with katsudon and cake and all might specials. sometimes, his dad would even remember to call and wish him a happy birthday. izuku was- well, not happy, but content. he had his mother. he had his conviction, his dream. what else could he need?

(he steadfastly ignored the longing, the ache. nothing he could do would fix it so there was no point in dwelling on it. it was stupid to feel that way anyway. his birthday was just another day of the week, the month, the year. it didnt matter. he shouldnt feel so bad about it. it didnt matter)

he didn't even think about telling all might his birthday. by the time he was 14 going on 15, he didnt really care about it. it had just been a day he got a gift or two from his mother, his favorite dinner, and a night spent rewatching all might documentaries or movies or interviews. you know, like basically every night, but like, older this time. so he doesnt mention it and all might never brought it up, so his 15th birthday comes and goes like every other birthday did after his 8th.

the truth of the matter was all might figured Izuku would mention it at some point during his training, like offhandedly saying he had to get home early so he could have a celebration, or make small talk about what he'd gotten, or even ask for the day off. but Izuku never did and all might felt too awkward to ask when it was (he didnt want to seem too eager to shower young Izuku with presents like something deep inside him begged for with a vengeance, even though he very much wanted to give Izuku literally anything he asked for. it is a troubling feeling), so all might just assumed his birthday hadn't come up yet.

then all might finally gets a look at Izuku's file, since all might is now a teacher, and sees 07/15/XXXX written and probably breaks the speed of sound with how quickly he calls izuku

"why didnt you tell me about your birthday!!" "wh- I mean- it's just not that big of a deal, I didnt think it was-" "NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL???"

he takes Izuku out to a very belated and nice birthday dinner and has to force an incredibly rare piece of decommissioned all might merch from his early days into Izuku's hands. despite his embarrassment and initial reluctance, that day is ranked in the top ten of his favorite days.

izuku doesnt learn his lesson, however, and neglects to tell his newly acquired friends about his date of birth. the only reason they find out is because all might, having been passing them by at the end of the school day, wished him a happy birthday.

"IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY????" "uraraka please its not a big deal-" "I have to disagree midoriya, today should be special!" "I mean, I dont think birthdays are all that important either" "THANK YOU todoroki"

(and then Izuku thinks for 2 seconds WHY Todoroki thinks birthdays are unimportant and gets sad again but we're not focusing on that rn)

ochako DEMANDS that they celebrate bc theres no way in hell she's allowing her best friend to go without a birthday celebration with friends, but Izuku insists that they at least wait until summer vacation starts in less than a week, especially since he cant just come home with three friends without telling his mom

ochakos like >:( for a second, but concedes bc that's fair and then she launches herself at Izuku and gives him a big ole hug and says "happy birthday!!!" izuku's all sputtering and blushing, and then he feels a hand on either arm and Iida and Todoroki give him warm smiles and wish the same and it takes a good five minutes for his face to calm down and for him to come out from behind his arms once Ochako releases him.

so he tells his mom that his friends want to come over to celebrate soon and inko is just like 😭😭😭😭😭 because FINALLY her boy has GOOD FRIENDS who want to CELEBRATE HIM and Izuku freaks out cuz his mom is crying but she waves him off and tells him to tell the dekusquad that they can come over on saturday and that they can spend the night and that they'll have a wonderful time!!!

izuku relays two-thirds of that information in their group chat and they all agree and then basically Izuku is dreading the weekend bc the few birthday parties he's had with his "friends" before hadn't been all that great (besides the sleepover part with katsuki, though their current animosity kinda makes the memories bittersweet), and like, while he knows objectively Ochako, iida, and Todoroki are Much Better than those boys from his childhood, he just doesnt have a good frame of reference for how these things go.

anyway, so Saturday comes around and Izuku is just listlessly lazing around while his mother finishes cooking ("let me help you mom-" "nuh uh, this is for YOUR celebration mister, you arent doing a THING today), and then theres an enthusiastic knock on his door, and when he goes and opens it his friends greet him with yet another cheer of "happy birthday deku/midoriya!!"

izuku smiles because its sweet even if he doesnt particularly care about birthdays, and invites them in. they set their presents on the table and Izuku's like "you didnt have to!!" and Ochako's like "NONSENSE" and Iida is like "how could we show up at your birthday celebration without presents???" and todoroki's like "any chance to spend endeavour's money on things he wouldnt like is a chance I will never not take" and Izuku is just like akdjajdhajsb when his mom finally comes and greets them

and like. it's nice. it's really really REALLY freaking nice. Izuku didnt realize how much he was actually missing having people with him in his home besides his mom until they were there. there's a wonderful warmth filling his chest as they all eat his mother's homemade katsudon and talk about school and how excited they are for the upcoming summer trip. and when heroes come up, they ask him about different quirks and how they work and what he thinks of this hero and that hero and the only time he's interrupted from his tangents is when he stops himself because he's embarrassed for talking for so long. and then they smile and prompt him some more, saying they love hearing him talk about the stuff that interests him, and can anyone really blame him for bursting into tears?

his friends are alarmed but his mom just smiles, tearing up herself, and she asks if he'd like a big hug, and he nods, face burning bright, and then they all gather him in a warm, enveloping embrace, and he wonders how in the hell he survived without this for so long?

he's so warm and loved and for the first time in forever he feels happy during his birthday celebration.

his 16th birthday party is so incredibly different from the parties he held before he was diagnosed and from the birthdays he spent with only his mother. he'd forgotten that feeling of being cared for by people who didnt need to, or rather he'd never really known it. there's a slight twinge that it took so long for him to learn this feeling, but it's completely overshadowed by the pure elation he feels at finally being able to breathe and relax and let himself be loved.

his friends still look concerned and they obviously have questions, but they dont pry as they all continue with the party. he opens their presents and cries again and then they watch a ton of hero movies and he cries a little more. iida worries he'll dehydrate himself and Ochako fuckin loses it and Todoroki has such a soft look on his face and GOD how has Izuku lived without friends? without THEM?

it's late when they turn in, with futons and mountains of pillows and blankets surrounding them on the living room floor. izuku is nestled between Ochako and Todoroki, and he stares at the ceiling as his friends doze around him. he can feel his heart beating in his chest and, with amusement, he feels his eyes watering again, but he blinks the tears away and whispers thickly, "hey guys?" once he gets sleepy questioning murmurs, he breathes in deeply and says, "thank you." in response Ochako and Todoroki schooch closer until they're cuddled on either arm and Izuku can see Iida doing the same on the other end of ochako. then Ochako mumbles, "anything for you, deku" to which the other two boys agree. and Izuku tries to not get choked up and fails again, but its okay, because its safe here and his friends are surrounding him with warmth and love and Izuku falls asleep happy.

(their second year they have another party, of course, but this one is bigger, with the whole class. it's in the dorm, which is fine bc he doesnt think his mom's apartment could hold all of them. it's just as wonderful as his 16th birthday. he managed to hold his tears back during nearly the entire thing, and the only reason he broke was because katsuki came up to him with a perfectly wrapped box, because everything katsuki does is perfect, and shoved it into his hands with a growled well wishes. katsuki yells at him and the class laughs good heartedly as he weeps, but Izuku is just focused on katsuki, who looks soft and relaxed and nearly identical to the version of him that Izuku saw so, so long ago. and as Izuku thanks him for the present and katsuki berates him cuz "you dont even know what it is yet you idiot open it already", izuku feels a new happiness bubbling up in him, because he's so incredibly glad katsuki has been able to heal as well)

[180abroad]

Day 124: Glasgow

Today we took a self-guided day trip to Glasgow. It's actually a bigger city than Edinburgh--both in terms of its population and its economy--but it has a grittier reputation and is seen as more of a working-class industrial city. The Liverpool of Scotland, if you will. It does have that sort of vibe, but like Liverpool it also has a lot of charm and beauty in its own right.

In a departure from my usual planning style, we didn't have any specific itinerary going in--just a short list of objectives. We wanted to find the Glasgow bus station where we would need to go next Tuesday on our way to Islay. We wanted to walk around the central shopping district and admire the city’s distinctive “Macintosh” architecture. And we wanted to stop by the Celtic F.C. store so that Jessica could pick up some merch.

We got all that done, plus a visit to Glasgow Cathedral. But first, we started with a tour of the Tennent’s brewery.

The brewery tour was a last-minute addition that we discovered on the one-hour train ride from Edinburgh. Jessica and I had never heard of it before, but Tennent’s is actually the largest domestic brewery in Scotland. Our reasons for going were fairly shallow–it was cheap, looked fun, and included a pint and some tastings. But it turned out to be a highlight of the day.

The tour started with a 20-minute reel of beer commercials throughout the brand’s history. Some of them were clever, some were funny, and some… let’s just say that they wouldn’t fly today. Some of the more recent commercials featured Sam Heughan--better known for his current role as Jamie in Starz series Outlander--as the brewery's 19th-century founder Hugh Tennent. A young brewer passionate about beer, Tennent went on a pilgrimage to Germany and brought back the secrets of making a quality Bavarian-style lager.

A face cutout board in the lobby lets you take Sam's place as Tennent in one of their advertising posters.

After that, we donned hairnets and high-visibility vests, then headed out into the brewery complex. We saw the malting room, where the grain is malted and filtered into wort, and we saw the bottling and canning rooms, where the beer is bottled and canned.

We ended the tour with a pint and a tasting of two of the brand’s “premium” beers: Tennent’s Extra and Tennent’s Hop Scotch. To be perfectly honest, we didn’t particularly like either of them. Their standard lager and ale are quite nice, however, at least when served ice-cold. And Jessica enjoyed her Magner's cider, for which Tennent's is the UK distributor.

At the tasting table, we had a fun time chatting with the other members of our tour group. Among them was a couple from Florida and an Australian who was visiting his Scottish cousin. We talked about beer, accents, and other things that vary between cultures. The Australian somehow apparently couldn’t hear the difference between our Californian accent and the local Glaswegian accents. It was an interesting experience, to say the least.

As we left, we were able to appreciate the graffiti art along the outer walls, which are actually taken from iconic Tennent’s advertisements.

The pint and a half having gone a bit to our heads, we stumbled uphill through the cemetery to the nearby Glasgow Cathedral. At about 900 years old, it is apparently the oldest building in Glasgow and the oldest cathedral in all of mainland Scotland. Almost every other major Scottish church was torn down and rebuilt during the turbulent Presbyterian Reformation in the 1500s.

The cathedral is also known as St. Mungo's Cathedral. I'd only heard of the name St. Mungo as the namesake for the wizards' hospital in the Harry Potter franchise, so it was a bit amusing to me to come across it in real life. The son of a disgraced 6th century Celtic princess, St. Mungo brought Christianity to Glasgow and is it's patron saint. Glasgow is an ancient city, settled by the Celts long before the Romans ever set on Great Britain.

St. Mungo's isn’t the biggest cathedral we’ve visited, but the beautiful stained glass windows, vaulted wood ceiling, and time-worn stone walls give it a memorable and enchanting presence.

One point of interest we found inside the cathedral was a memorial for James Hedderwick, a 19th-century poet and journalist. The beautifully carved marble slab is engraved with one of the most enviable epitaphs I've ever seen:

Who looked on mortal foibles with a glance of tenderness; whom simple pleasures pleased; and who over heights of toil and sacrifice found his chief [reward] in thoughts of duty done.

After a bit of research, the words appear to have been taken from a poem by Hedderwick titled Whom Have I Known.

As we walked through the city, we made a point to look out for instances of Glasgow's unique Mackintosh architecture. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, when much of Europe and America was obsessed with the neoclassical-inspired Beaux-Arts style, Glasgow turned to native architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh to beautify the city with a unique Art Nouveau-inspired style.

We didn't go out of our way to see the best examples--we hadn't planned our visit that well--but even the low-key examples peppering the city give it a distinctive sense of place if you know to look for them.

At the heart of Glasgow is George Square, which holds the city Municipal Chambers (city hall) and a number of monuments, including a massive one to the fallen soldiers of World War I.

At the WWI monument, we also got an uncomfortably grim peek into the relative position between seagulls and pigeons on the food chain.

We capped off our day trip with a visit to the Celtic FC store, where Jessica got her jersey.

Took the train out of Glasgow Central Station, which straddles Argyle Street like a giant bridge. According to Rick Steves, the station was called the Highlander’s Umbrella during the Industrial Revolution because homeless job-seekers from up north would huddle under it during the rain.

We rode through a bit of drizzle on the way home, which was the closest we would get to rain until the day my dad left a week and a half later.

Back in Edinburgh, I got to enjoy some more of my favorite skyline. We had dinner at a Wetherspoon’s near the station. Perhaps surprisingly to any Brits reading this, this was actually our first somewhat disappointing experience at one. It was loud, crowded, and the food quality was less TGI Friday's and more Applebee's.

Overall, we had a great time in Glasgow, and I’d love to come back one day--with a proper itinerary so that we can really see the best it has to offer.

Next Post: Hadrian’s Wall and the Scottish Borders

Last Post: Loch Lomond and Stirling Castle

[mattyslittleworld]

Never Meant

I hear “What are we going through? You and me?” as I watch the sunlight literally tear through the black clouds that were hanging over my town. This is my favorite song by The National - Hairpin Turns. It’s so fucking brutal, and it seems like, to me, he is absolutely desperately fucking annihilated by losing whoever he lost. I’ve been there. And I thought I was going to be there again, pretty soon. I am currently pulled over in my car in a parking lot, as I was on a little drive through the neighborhood. Coffee and some beautiful, subtle music. The sun was out all day, and it’s t shirt weather. So me and Gionna’s ex boyfriends American Nightmare shirt (lol) went on a windows down stroll until suddenly the bright sky was filled with darkness. My one moment to forget about all of this madness was being pushed aside, I just wanted to pretend it was summer, shit was normal, and feel calm and collected, as if literal iced out trucks weren’t being filled with corpses outside of hospitals. We’ve all lost people, in a week, 5 deaths close to my immediate family, bringing my family itself stronger and closer together. Here I am driving into a storm, in a t shirt, just like the current state of American Society. Until.....the clouds part....and as I drive slowly down 35 north....the sunlight starts dancing in the most beautiful way. It was almost an epiphany and it made me think. It made me pull over - within the beautiful chorus of this National song...eloquently tiptoeing in the background. I felt calm. I smirked. If there was a god up top, I thank my guy. But it made me think - hey - we may be walking into a black cloud in just a t shirt, for we’ve been blindsided, but if you walk forward....maybe the sun will come and shit will be better than expected if we stand tall and be brave and love. 

“What are we going through? You and me...”

Currently writing at 2:15 am - two days later than what appears above this. 

I didn’t record any music today, unlike every single day of this quarantine we’ve all been locked into. I wake up, walk over to the mic, which is brand new - and pull up beats or pick up the guitar and hack away. Even if its horrible, its just important to me to get it out. Stack and stack and stack and stack. Ive discovered that during this quarantine - the isolation is making me look inward, and subconsciously pick away at the thing I’ve been chasing for the past few years that ive been so curious and scared about cracking open. But with no distraction of the outside world…because its literally shut down…it makes sense the little bits and pieces of this thing that’s been bleeding into my music….like I said with no distractions…POURS OUT OF ME effortlessly. Im like okay this makes hella sense. With dark city lights and the cage shit and even with the Albee shit I was like…okay this is a NEW DOOR. But do I walk through it? What do I wear? Can I walk back out or will it lock once I get in there? Is it a trap? I need more information. I need more clarity. So without me really knowing what’s in there - I feel like little bits and pieces have been bleeding into my work. And now I finally busted that fucking door down and it wasnt a room…it was the exit to the trap I was existing in my whole musical career. Now liberated. Now free. Now born. This has been so inspiring to me because what people don't really realize about this genre is that its a full on contact sport. Its competitive. Its similar to being an athlete. Which I was my whole life. Similar to basketball - you gotta stay in the gym and the more work you put in...the more shots you take...the better your jump shot is. same with this...theres a fucking skill to it. You can be really good at it. Or you can be trash. And you can utilize it in the most combative ways. It gives me something to attack and focus my need of competitiveness on. Another thing I can obsess over. The samples ive been using in my beats have not ever been used before. These ideas are brand new in this shit. The topics I am spitting about are so serious to me. I want nothing to do with the stereotypical rapper aesthetic - the gimmicks - the drugs….all that can fuck off. I want to make a difference and tackle drug abuse, depression, anxiety, anger, the violence ive seen my whole life, hardcore, my old friends, my new friends, my love life, everything ive experienced. Im using actual real names, with actual real life things that happened with 0 apology about how you feel about it. I want to utilize this to up the worth of my words and vocabulary and paint the portrait of my life. I want it to mean something. I want to make change. Even if its on a small level. Man I feel everything. Its insane how this could all be so evident with just non stop self reflection. You vs. You….who will you become? Like I said…wake up. Hit the mic or bring up beats and just cook. If that hits a wall…just study study study study podcasts and interviews for hours and hours and hours. After that ill play basketball, run a mile, work out, and take it down to Ozark lol. Im invested. I don’t do anything illegal cause im a lil bish ass pussy but I wanna do some crazy shit lolol. 

Anyway, original point, I didn’t record any music. I was feeling restless and packed my shit and drove for literally 5 hours tonight. Went up 287. Hit a few nostalgic spots that I love so much and hold close to my heart. I listened to all the music ive been making. But mainly the objective was to just take a day to free myself of this grind and quarantine and be a fan of music….in the world….and reconnect with that feeling it gives you. I listened to early Alicia Keys, first Drake album, some Russ, some old folk shit, so much beautiful music. Damn it really moved me. 5 hours I drove around just visiting places that my heart are attached to. Those milestone places. Little ones….like a diner in Clark I went to once but something important started there. Or a venue in Hackensack called School Of Rock that I met my boy Alex at…when we attend a Horse The Band show together with a few homies and I got yelled at by some girl by the Merch table cause I used to be so fat and moshed so hard and punched like 14 people in the face and it was so not cool and so out of place lmao. I was in a awkward dress shirt I looked straight out of fucking Billy Madison. Horrible. Its always so interesting to me to return to places like this…after years and years and years of it only being a distant memory…to kind of return and prove it was real. I am such a different person now. As we all are. But I really drifted into a whole other land of opportunity that exists outside of everything I grew up around. Socially too. So sometimes it really does feel like everything and everyone I loved….everything I experienced…was just a dream and didn’t exist. It’s so odd. People I knew for 20 years…have no idea about anything I do now. They just see my social media. But that line is drawn. And vice versa - everyone in my life have 0 idea of my life prior. The people, the interests, the stories I tell are foreign. They’re like hardcore? Whats that? And meanwhile that was the most important thing in my life for literally 20 years….and if you told the people in my life at that time that the people in my life in the future wouldn’t even know what hardcore was….theyd be thoroughly confused as to why I was lying to them. But life goes on…and hey…sometimes you gotta take a trip down memory lane and cry in your car tears of joy that you don’t have to fucking fight loading in your gear anymore and you get to have platinum selling artists touch your beats. Or you get to sing songs with billboard charting artists, who have the biggest billboards you ever seen ,light up Times Square right above the spot you found a 100 dollars with your first love. If you told me that when I found that shit years ago id be like eat a dick we’re going to see Ceremony at the warren American legion peaaaaace lolol. 

Side bar - im listening to the national again. 

But this time the song “Quiet Light” and I want to point out that I think its magnificently adorable that a lyric is

“Im not the spiritual type…I still go out all the time to department stores” 

I have literally no idea what that means but I think its mad cute.

Department stores are cute as fuck because “things” are cute.

Like little things to put on bigger things yanno lol?

I think this song is entirely too amazing to be released to the public, it really makes you question everything you ever made, and reality.  I mean the line “between you and me I still fall apart at the sound of your voice”…OOF. Im just sitting here at 2:46 am on this Sunday, with my eyes closing for small moments to really soak in the beauty of this master piece. Whoever he is talking to ruined him. Ive been ruined, I understand and empathize with this. Primarily making rap and pop music it really opens up my taste to this indie type shit…really falls right into that open wound in the best way. It stings because it hits home so hard, but its so eloquent at the same time. Almost addicting. I want to take a lot of these sounds recreate them, and apply that to the music im making now that exists outside of this genre. I think it’d be crazy and it’d cross two worlds that haven’t been crossed. Damn im out here giving away the tea to you useless fuckers. 

Last night I had a dream about an old friend, that I don’t think is healthy in this time of my life to be around….but damn…it was like I relapsed on the heroin of our friendship. It was the realest shit I have ever dreamt. I woke up - with the exact feeling you get when you go home after you hangout with somebody in the flesh. This whole day it was very real, and felt like I spent a whole night with them, and all my wounds were reopened, all the great times were revisited, and it was just brought to the forefront of my mental. As if we just met. Its crazy dreams can do that. Its just sad that this is such a toxic relationship, and the inevitable cannot be avoided, and a true bond that exists somewhere, deep deep deep down in it, has to be supressed because of the negativity it brings. In the dream we were older, existing without issues, exploring that bond, with issues pushed aside. It was beautiful. I woke up genuinely upset, confused, with a wish that maybe one day we could meet again In a place that’s safe and relevant to who we are. Im at a point in my life where I haven't answered the phone in month for anybody, answered text messages, my bags are packed waiting for this shit to be over with so the rest of my life can begin. Theres no time for friends, love, social activities, or anything that doesn't have to do with business. But there will be a time in the future. This has visited me in the past before. Its interesting when you have to suppress shit that’s extremely bad for you, because its the right thing for you to do…but then the universe bypasses that completely and shakes your fucking soul. During the rest of my day I started realizing that I am really not okay with this person not in my life, like deep in my soul. Its too much of a damn shame, we’ve been through too much together. Every huge milestone in my life as a kid was shared with this person…years and years of growth. Every story I share with people in my life now, was experienced with them, every amazing time, every horrible life altering time. I learned so much, and even taught. I became a young man with them, and then a man. How is it that these new people around in my life have my time…but this person doesn’t? One day we will meet again…when the time is right…..in a different time of our lives. When it’s right. For us. You were my best friend, and no matter how far we are from each other….I got you. In the  depths of my soul and heart. Id literally kill somebody and go to prison for murder for you. But if you happen to read this - you already know that. 

I am listening to “Never Meant” by American Football.

To quote Mike Kinsella 

“Lets just pretend

Everything and

Anything between you and me

Was never meant

Was never meant”

-1-

[talhaghafoor2019-blog]

The 100 Greatest American Music Venues | Consequence of Sound

Feature artwork by Cap Blackard

Where did you attend your first concert? Mine was at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles. It was Counting Crows touring their second album, and for every detail that can be recalled of the actual performance is a bit of memory on how the space felt. The Wiltern was seated back then, and from the ornate chandelier to the first glimpse at a merch stand, the lasting impression was of how big everything felt, how a venue was a place you could get lost in, where the rules of reality didn’t necessarily apply.

Of course, part of that feeling is just youth, but the great venues do have a transportive quality. Details of the box office or the bathrooms or the bar all hold their own weight, building significance both in spite of and because of the experiences held in the rooms. And some of these rooms are better than others. Sure, the most unexceptional concert venues might be near and dear to our hearts because of the shows we saw there or the people we met, but the really great venues go beyond that. There is history between their walls, features that are unlike any other concert space, and state-of-the-art lighting and sound that allow for artists to realize their vision of live presentation.

We took all of this into account when selecting the best 100 venues in the US. Both major and smaller markets are represented, while the sizes range from arenas to bars. There are venues whose history extends back 100 years, and there are others built in this century. But they all hold a certain common ground. A big one is the booking, with most still lining their schedule with the best talent. A few that don’t make their money on national touring acts are known for booking top-tier local acts. All of these venues, though, are known for quality shows regardless of who is actually up on stage.

We’ve already asked our readers to weigh in on their favorite American concert venues. And a number of artists have made their own selection. Now, it’s our turn.

–Philip Cosores Deputy Editor

Established: 2003 What You’ll See: Ian MacKaye, My Brightest Diamond, Cloud Nothings

Despite being sandwiched between two major cities, Connecticut is pretty barren when it comes to culture. Drive out to what feels like the middle of nowhere in Hamden, though, and you’ll find one of the state’s hidden gems: The Space. The all-ages venue sits in a huge, desolate parking lot, but once you step inside, it comes to life. Lights string the ceiling like silly string, a snack bar sits at the side with baked goods, and a flooded thrift store and arcade room hide upstairs.

It’s all types of cool without trying to win cool points, allowing The Space to boast the feel of a DIY Brooklyn space without all the pretension. Thanks to its tiny 150-person capacity and Connecticut’s limited venue options, concertgoers get an intimate show from bands that play far larger venues elsewhere on their tour. Then you step back outside and remember you’re in the middle of nowhere — which, ultimately, makes the venue feel all the more like an Alice in Wonderland trip.

–Nina Corcoran

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Established: 1930 What You’ll See: Animal Collective, Leon Bridges, Tyler, the Creator

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in September 2003, Cain’s Ballroom has a long history of serving various purposes, not hitting its stride as a contemporary music venue until relatively recently. It was initially constructed in 1924 as a garage for Tulsa co-founder W. Tate Brady’s vehicles. Six years later (or five years after Brady’s suicide by gunshot), Madison W. “Daddy” Cain converted the place into a dance establishment, giving it the name Cain’s Dance Academy.

From then on, it’s grown more and more synonymous with musical happenings in Tulsa, playing host to the Texas Playboys’ radio broadcast on KVVO and, after being sold to Larry Schaeffer in the 1970s, even the Sex Pistols in 1978. These days, a wide array of artists swing through for shows at 423 N. Main St. in Tulsa, including a considerable variety of hip-hop acts — A$AP Ferg, Tory Lanez, and Bones Thugs-n-Harmony are all scheduled for upcoming shows.

–Michael Madden

98. The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace

Las Vegas, Nevada

Established: 2003 What You’ll See: Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Reba McEntire, Elton John

Yes, the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace looks like pure Vegas kitsch, a concert venue built to resemble the Colosseum of Rome. And yes, the residency program (inaugurated by Celine Dion) sometimes feels like an elephant graveyard for past-their-prime musical acts. But dig deeper, and this venue inspired by an ancient wonder soon reveals itself to be a modern marvel. The stage includes 10 motorized lifts as well as North America’s largest LED screen, which stands 40 feet tall and projects elaborate, seemingly three-dimensional backgrounds.

Despite a capacity of 4,100, no seat is more than 120 feet from the proscenium. That intimacy, combined with astounding acoustics and a stage spanning 22,400 square feet, means that everyone has a front-row seat for the always dazzling spectacles. All of these perks, combined with an extended stay in an exciting city, make these residencies very attractive to aging performers. If Rod Stewart or Reba McEntire aren’t your speed, that’s fine, but you’ll be glad it exists in 2031 when Jay Z starts his residency.

–Wren Graves

Established: 2012 What You’ll See: Burgerama, Beach Goth, Morrissey, Fetty Wap, Jenny Lewis

Using the shell of the Galaxy Concert Theatre, which hosted B-level gets like Sugar Ray and Medeski Martin and Wood for its run from 1994-2008, The Observatory emerged from a massive restoration that turned a 550-cap concert theatre into a two-room concert juggernaut. The main stage hosts acts ranging from hip-hop elite to Orange County legends in a 1,000-person space, while its smaller 350-cap Constellation Room is the only place in the OC to catch an act like Mitski or Into It. Over It.

One of the best aspects of the venue is how well it’s booked, landing better rap acts than any venue in neighboring Los Angeles, while often featuring bands offering warm-up shows before their much bigger LA or festival stops. It’s even become the sight of an occasional festival, with Burgerama and Beach Goth both utilizing the dual indoor stages and the outside parking lot.

–Philip Cosores

Established: 2002 What You’ll See: Synths, sun tans, and a sanctuary from mouse ears

Orlando’s countless amusement parks, performance spaces, hotels, and mini-golf courses make the sprawling central Florida city into an east coast Las Vegas, albeit one that was hit especially hard by the mid-2000’s subprime mortgage crisis. But a few Downtown O-town local hot spots weathered this economic hurricane and thank goodness for that.

The Social is still standing! And shaking, and grooving, as it continues an energetic tradition as the city’s best place to catch rock, electronic, and weekly acid jazz sets. The midsize venue is mostly built around concerts, but has sustained itself over time by becoming an incredible dance space that keeps the club kids, the rockers, and the Salsa fanatics equally entertained.

–Dan Pfleegor

95. JJ’s Bohemia

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Established: 2007 What You’ll See: That 1 Guy, Thelma and the Sleaze, Future Islands

JJ’s Bohemia is many things, but none of them are chic. A tiny space with a big patio attached (or a big patio with a tiny space, depending on your view), it feels as if every inch of the joint is covered with a sticker, a knick-knack, a string of holiday lights, or the front of a VW van. The vibe is undeniably chaotic, which meshes perfectly with the experience of gathering there for a show — when the stage is inches from your nose and no more than a few feet above you, it’s hard to not feel like a part of rock and roll in the making. Add in the free weekly comedy open mic, bartenders with devoted followers, and a handy disc-golf basket, and you’ve got plenty of reasons to roam off the beaten path.

–Allison Shoemaker

94. Count Basie Theatre

Red Bank, New Jersey

Established: 1926 What You’ll See: Brian Wilson, Randy Newman, Kevin Smith

The ‘burbs need concert venues, too, and the Count Basie Theatre caters to the bridge-and-tunnel crowd without making them drive across a bridge or through a tunnel. To that end, there’s something special about seeing legendary, decidedly mature musicians like Brian Wilson and Boz Scaggs right in your Garden State neighborhood, especially when they’re flanked by the Basie’s gorgeously detailed proscenium and celestial blue dome. But such classiness doesn’t drive away the occasional rowdy act: Bruce Springsteen has made several surprise appearances, and fellow Jersey hero Kevin Smith — whose comics shop, Jay & Silent Bob’s Secret Stash, is a mere half-mile away — has filmed a handful of his specials there.

–Dan Caffrey

Established: 1989 What You’ll See: Palm trees and great rock and roll

Like so many promoters-turned-club owners, Tim Mays was simply looking for a place to host shows when he opened The Casbah with Bob Bennett and Peter English in 1989. Eventually the venue became a haven for rock and roll of all shapes and sizes, from local heroes (Rocket from the Crypt, Three Mile Pilot) to alternative rock megastars (Nirvana! Smashing Pumpkins! Blink 182!). Now 26 years later, San Diego’s understated rock and roll mecca continues to be everything a small club should be.

With its 200-person capacity, there’s an intimacy to the current room (Mays moved the club up the street in 1994) even when your back’s against the bar. Posters adorning the wall pay homage to the city’s proud underground rock heritage, while the fake palm trees and year-round holiday lights give it the charm of a punk rock bungalow. There’s also music six nights a week, so yeah, it’s more or less a live music maven’s dream come true.

–Ryan Bray

Established: 2007 What You’ll See: Aesop Rock, Todd Barry, Eagulls, Mutual Benefit

The Crofoot is one of downtown Pontiac’s oldest structures. Nowadays, it’s a two-story building that contains three venues: the Crofoot Ballroom, the Pike Room, and the Vernors Room. It’s gone through numerous periods of turbulence in the past two centuries, facing the prospect of demolition as recently as 2005. It was at that time that the McGowan family of local preservationists sought to restore The Crofoot, ultimately leading to its reopening as a concert venue in September 2007.

Regular attendees are pleased to report their happiness about the above-average quality of sound and the politeness of the staff. While it may not draw household-name performers like some venues in Detroit and other areas of Michigan, the modern-day Crofoot’s combination of charm, intimacy, and historical value makes it an often underrated institution.

–Michael Madden

91. Rams Head Live!

Baltimore, Maryland

Established: 2004 What You’ll See: Queens of the Stone Age, Purity Ring, Metric, The New Pornographers

A lot of the best music venues in the US are anchored by their history, but there’s something to be said about what a modern room can be. A great example of this is Rams Head Live!, a concert hall that gets an exclamation mark in its name and doesn’t waste it. What might be most interesting about the space is that it doesn’t have to work with antiquated design.

Two levels of balcony zigzag the crevices of the space, allowing for viewing not just from the front of the stage, but from the side as well. When full, this can boost the energy to feel like the stage is surrounded by fans. History can be earned in time, but for now, Rams Head Live! provides a worthy alternative than traveling to DC for a mid-level band’s club show.

–Philip Cosores

This content was originally published here.

[taesthetes]

(1/?) Travel-anon-hi! Sorry for the late reply, I've been feeling a bit under the weather D: But wow! That's so sweet of you for what you did for your mom! My family's not big on celebrating parent days, but we do go out for dinners - my mom's bday is a couple days before, so we merge the two ;u;~ Thank you! I'll probably come back with a pile of photos, and be super picky which to instagram, haha. Oh! Good idea with the perfume! I normally don't carry any, but this sounds like a good reason to.

(2/?) Aw, you had to give up your internship? I’m sorry D: but on the bright side, vacation? Would you be able to do the internship another time? In terms of expensiveness, I think HK topped it for me. The livelihood there is super high end and overpriced to me :/ And ikr! I wish it were like that here too, but North America’s just too big and spread out for that unless you lived downtown, but that’s expensive D: In December, one Japan night was 24 degrees celsius ouo;; that’s pretty much summer

(3/?) But it does depend where you’re at in Japan! That night I was in Tokyo! It’ll be colder if you’re farther north~ I don’t know if the magikarp promo is still going D: but if it is, you definitely have to try it! I actually like the “crispy sandwich caramel” haagen dazs! I can’t get it where I’m from ;u; so depriveeeed. Your convenience stores sound so much better than mine! All mine have are dollar store things and candy OTL? Usually super grungy looking too. Aw, that’s cute! Do you visit?

(4/?) For the cat, not your sister (well, I guess her too), haha. I don’t remember, did you say you’d try to get a pet in the future for yourself, maybe? Yep! Certain holidays or popular events cause tickets to be more expensive to those countries during those times~ It’s still modern art?! Why isn’t there any traditional ones D:?! I actually prefer modern art, haha; mostly the interactive type ones! I don’t particularly have a favourite artist; I appreciate based on how interesting their-

(5/?) concepts are and how well they executed it. I mean, we did drop a lot of cash on the machines (and won nothing a lot of times), so I’m pretty sure that’s why they took pity on us, haha! I hope you’re lucky enough to either win it yourself, or find someone to help you! I also wish for you to be good at those games ;D! Have you had any more ramen since I last spoke to you? You’re still making me crave for it, and I can’t have any right now ;u; Oo, barely any jet lag can be a good thing!

(6/?) I don’t jet lag much when I travel, but the bits that I do, I accounted for, and used it for long-term traveling within the country! Oo, I hope I get to try a vietnamese hot pot some time then :D! If we ever manage to meet up in another country, let’s hit up vietnamese hot pot, haha. Omg, both of those movies were so good!! Infinity war, I really hope you do get to see it soon D: There’s so many spoilers out already, and it would suck if you got completely ruined to it beforehand!

(7/?) I preordered all 4 albums when they first opened it :D;; If I was only getting 1 of them though, I’d have gotten O! What about you? Did you preorder, or are you going to hit up a store when it’s released where you are? Which is your favourite concept? And, omg, yes. Jimin’s pretty hardcore when it comes to going 0 to 100, so I tend to die fairly often, haha. How do you manage to keep up with Tae?! He’s just as bad, if not worse, than Jimin’s 0-100?! He’s too pretty and amazing as a person!

(8/8) I was going to end this at 7, but well, here’s 8, haha. I follow on yt, and when a notice pops up, I listen and fav the song if it matches my tastes :D NCT is going haaard right now, like wow, almost every other week or two OTL I’ve been into kpop for so long that I like a lot of groups, so it’s hard to recount all of them, haha. What about you? Who else do you listen to? How long have you been into kpop? How was the Tswift concert?! Did you have an amazing time?? How early did you lineup?

hello, m’love!! oh noo, i’m so sorry to hear that ): are you feeling better now? make sure to drink lots of fluids and rest up! and thank you :’) i hope you had a good dinner with your family!! and happy belated birthday to your mom 💕 oh gosh, my instagram is a mess, i just post sporadically and nothing matches. but i think i’ll start trying to make a nicer instagram page though haha. yeah, it’s pretty helpful with the perfume because you can’t bring pepper spray onto planes or anything for travel, so i just pack a small perfume bottle instead!

yeah, i’m excited for the vacation!! i won’t be able to do an internship until next summer then unfortunately. oooh, i heard kong kong is really nice! but i’ll make sure not to go there until i have money lmao. yeah, the only way walking is fine in north america is if i live in one of the big cities, like nyc. oh my god, in december??? it’s going to be even worse since i’m going in the summer D: i think overall it’s going to be very hot in japan because it’s summer when i’ll be there. 

ahhh, even if there’s no magikarp, i’m still excited to eat taiyaki!! omg ok, i’ll make sure to get that ice cream flavor when i’m there :o and that really sucks ): hopefully, you’ll get to come back to japan soon and then you can get the ice cream :D ah yeah, there’s a lot of dollar store items and travel items too and candy. i think most convenience stores are pretty grungy tbh. i visited her last year! but that was before she got a cat sadly ):

and yes!! i want to get a dog and a cat in the future! i suppose there are a few traditional art pieces on display? but i think most people here enjoy modernized art more, like even the buildings and such in the usa are much more modern compared to europe. i guess it’s because the usa hasn’t been a country for as long as european countries, so everything is newer looking. oooh nice!! interactive art is always fun! :D modern art is really beautiful too, but sometimes, i see something like the entire canvas is painted one color with only one stripe down it and i’m like ??? how is this worth 91283472319 dollars???

asdfjkads that’s going to be me. i’m going to spend all my money on the crane machines and win nothing, so let’s hope someone will help me ahah and thank you!! fingers crossed! :’)  and i haven’t had any ramen since ): ramen isn’t the healthiest, so i try not to eat it often. ajsdhfalks but you can’t have any right now? D: did you run out? oooh, and that’s smart! i really hope the jet lag won’t hit so hard because i want to explore everything, but there’s never enough time. and yes!! we’ll definitely get vietnamese hot pot, and then you’ll have to show me all your favorite food places too :D ahhh, i want to see both of them soon! i took my last midterm yesterday, but i still have papers and several projects to do ): and my weekends are packed since i have some things to go to for my friends’ birthdays and i think we might do a road trip for the upcoming memorial weekend since we get monday off.

and omg so lucky!! all four wow :o well, i didn’t preorder it, but i don’t know which album i want either. maybe R or O? because they all look good in denim, but tae had that lip ring.. and unfortunately, they don’t sell kpop merch in stores anywhere near me /: so i’ll have to order it from amazon if i do buy it! honestly all the concepts are pretty though. jimin’s stage presence vs real life is mind blowing with how he can switch so fast. askdlhfjaj i barely keep up with tae, he’s too perfect and he’s such a sweetheart pluS HIS DOGS AND CAT ARE SO CUTE I LOVE THEM SO MUCH

asdf,nasd oh my god i love nct so so so much, like nct dream is my ult boy group favorite, and i’m so sad mark is graduating from the dreamies after this year ): did you see their chain mv? who’s your bias? oh my gosh i’m so excited to hear you like nct alskdjfhalew i really, really, really love taeyeon, like she’s my ult bias, but i also love shinee and blackpink (when will they release a new song)!!! i follow up with those three and nct the most. but i also listen to red velvet, gfriend, twice, kard, day6, wanna one, monsta x, infinite, vixx, astro, and f(x) like when are they coming back ): oh and (g)i-dle!!! i pretty much listen to whatever group that currently makes a comeback, so i know the title songs of most of the kpop groups, but i don’t know each of the members’ names. and i’ve been into kpop since early 2014 :’)

ooooh my god, the taylor swift concert marks the best night of my life, likE I LOVE HER SO MUCH I’VE BEEN A FAN SINCE 2006 AND I CAN’T BELIEVE I FINALLY GOT TO GO TO HER CONCERT!!!! but i got there two hours early for the lineup, and when it started, i sang along for every single song, and when she sang a mashup with long live included, i was over the moon, plus before the concert, i was like oh hey what if she sings the best day because it’s mother’s day tomorrow anD SHE ACTUALLY DID AND I CRIED OMG I GOT SO EMO i was shaking like i tried to get good videos on my phone, but my phone also died and the video will show you how shaky i actually was and wow i just– best experience, i will definitely go to her concerts over and over again and i just loved it so much. so yeah i was pretty excited and super happy overall :’) and how is your week going? 💗

[meanwhileinoz]

20+ Adorable & Affordable Disney Products For Every Die Hard Disney Fan

Disney isn’t just our childhood.

It’s in our blood. I know I’m not the only die hard Disney fan here. And what do I do when I love something? Buy merch, of course.products you’ll love if you’re a huge Disney fan:

And if you’re just like me, here is a list of products you’ll love if you’re a huge Disney fan:

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Customer review: “Just as advertised. Very cute! It even came with some extra stickers you could put on another charger or on your phone, I presume.” 

You can buy 17 different styles just for $7.99 on Amazing.

#2 A cake pop maker, who needs expensive Disney treats when you can make your own?

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Customer review: “What a cute little machine. It makes four pops at a time, and they only take about three minutes to bake. It comes with all you need to start popping: machine, a piping bag fitted with a tip to pour the batter in, and pop sticks. The pops are kind of small, but just eat two instead of one!!! So much fun!” 

You can purchase it for $14.99 on Amazon.

#3 A Disney colouring book, you’re never too old for this stress reliever!

VIEW AT AMAZON

Customer review: “First off, it’s cheaper than it is at Walmart. Second, the pictures are absolutely gorgeous. I would buy this again in a heartbeat.” 

Buy it on Amazon for $10.57

VIEW AT AMAZON

Customer review: “Love this bag! Made a great gift bag for more Disney knickknacks!”

There are 24 styles available on Amazon, purchase one now for $6.40

VIEW AT AMAZON

Customer review: “Disney went above and beyond on this one. I have seen princess cookbooks that were very basic, and not a lot of thought put into them. This cookbook not only has recipes kids can cook, but also adults. It has the CUTEST little ideas based on your favorite princesses, and kept in theme.”

You can buy it on Amazon for $10

#6 A plaque to show off about your upcoming trip to Disney World. It comes with chalk!

etsy.com 

Customer review:  “The sign is adorable and well-made. I love it. Took a little while to get here, but well worth the wait.”

Get it from Hayleys Pretty Plaques on Etsy for $10.11 (available in four styles).

VIEW AT AMAZON

Customer review:  “These are stunningly beautiful postcards! The cards are high quality, and from an age when Disney was more simple, and, in my opinion, simply beautiful. As I looked through them, I found at least a handful that I will have a hard time sending to anyone, because I’ll want to hang onto them!” 

Buy it on Amazon for $13.83

#8 A Disney album with all of its hits.

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Customer review: “Excellent music and songs. I ordered volume two and three after listening to this CD. Worth every penny.”

Get it from Amazon: $9 for Audio CD, and $13.49 for MP3.

#9 This beautiful jewellery box that lights up and plays “Beauty and The Beast.”

VIEW AT AMAZON

Customer review: “A must have!!!! My husband bought me this one until an adult version is made — until then, this kiddie version will do. Love the little tune it plays every time you push the button or open the box. Love it so much, I got one for my son’s girlfriend, and I got one for my 8-year-old niece!!!” 

Buy it for $15.99

#10 An autograph book to save all your memories in.

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Customer review: “This is the book they sell inside the Disney parks. It’s simple and small enough to hold while waiting in long lines.”

You can purchase it on Amazon for $11.18

#11 This amazing T-Shirt to show off which Greek organization you belong to.

VIEW AT AMAZON

Customer review: “I’ve lost track of how many compliments I got on the T-shirt. The subtle Pixar/Disney nod makes everybody fall in love with the shirt.”

Get it from Amazon for $8.09+ (sizes child 7/8- adult 3X).

#12 Think you’re the ultimate Disney fan? Not until you prove it with this Picture Trivia Game.

VIEW AT AMAZON

Customer review: “My kids LOVE playing games. We try to have family game nights often, and currently own about 40 different games This one takes the cake! It’s great for ALL ages, and anyone who is a Disney fan. The instructions are clear, the game pieces are fun and bright, and I find my kids begging to play this game, which I don’t mind because I enjoy playing it too!” 

Get it from Amazon for $14.88

VIEW AT AMAZON

Customer review:  “This is a great product. It’s not only one of the lowest-cost warmers, it looks great and performs far better than it should. It gets hot — not the wimpy results from other brands.” 

Available in two styles, buy them on Amazon for $8.99+

Amazon.com

VIEW AT AMAZON

Customer review: “I LOVE this waffle maker! Best impulse buy I’ve ever made! Makes big and fluffy waffles in seconds!”

Buy it for $24.95+ on Amazing.

disneystore.com

Customer review: “I purchased the silver Epcot bangle on my last trip to the parks, and it’s a lovely representation of the park. I especially like the 3D aspect of the charm.”

Purchase it from the Disney Store for $39.95

#16 This 36-pack mouse ear nail decals for the cutest manicures.

Etsy.com

Customer review:  “Great customer service, and perfect nail decals for my summer Disney trip.”  

Get these AM nails for $2.99 on Etsy.

#17 Little Mermaid and Minnie Mouse themed ears.

Etsy.com

Customer review:  “Loved this for my recent Disney trip! I didn’t see anyone else with the same ears, and got several compliments. I usually have issues wearing headbands all day, but this was comfortable and I had no headaches. So happy with these!!”

Purchase them from OctostacheCrafts for $16.99.

#18 A phone case with Disney’s main characters on it!

Etsy.com 

Get it from TrenderPrint on Etsy for $12.99 (available for iPhone 4-7+, Samsung S5-S7 Edge, and Samsung Note 4).

Redbubble.com

Customer review: “Bought this for my daughter for Christmas. She’s absolutely thrilled. Great art, and solid construction.” 

Get it from Designs by Sandi on RedBubble for $30 (available in three frame colors, and four hand colors).

#20 A ridiculously affordable decal for your magic bands.

Etsy.com

Customer review: “Great product! I got them quickly, and actually went back and purchased more for my mom and sister.”

Get the DesignsByBrandiCo product on Etsy for $2.

#21 This Castle and Mouse ears merged sticker.

Etsy.com

Get it from Stickers For Y’all on Etsy for $2.20+ (available in 16 colors, and six sizes).

Etsy.com

Get it from PixieDustedStitches on Etsy for $1.15

#23 This beautiful Cinderella bag

disneystore.com

Customer review: “I knew I had to have this purse the second I first saw it. Cinderella is my absolute favourite, and has such a special place in my heart. It was very simple to buy, and I couldn’t believe how quickly it was shipped out to me. It got here in a matter of days. I’m in love.”

Get it from The Disney Store for $69.95.

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