#dream beyonce was very nice and bubbly! | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

malcolmhclland · 11 months ago

Text

holiday prompt → lyrica holland.

001. under the mistletoe—

well, she certainly takes advantage of the mistletoe hanging at traxs as she very much makes out with jimi underneath it whenever given the chance— but isn't the rules of the mistletoe? as for other kisses, i mean, she's very much free love so i'm sure she's kissed much of rosewood due to mistletoe.

002. in front of the fireplace, cuddled up under a blanket with a hot drink.

i don't think she was snuggling up to any one person specifically this year. i think the holiday's came and she was out having fun. bar crawls with her fellow traxs employees, taking pictures with drunk santas during santa con, watching the sun come up from her roof top with her friends. if she woke up besides anyone this holiday season, it was surely in a cuddle puddle after a long night out.

003. snowed in from a heavy snow storm.

five people she'd like to be snowed in goes as following— 1. Cliff, Benny and Teddy: C'mon, that's like Rosewood musical royalty. She needs to hear all about their escapades back in the days whilst also recording literal masterpieces. 2. January's Dream: Once again, I don't think she needs to explain the contributions these women had to music. 3. Natalia Maston: If you've ever had anything her bestie has ever made, you'd understand why she's definitely needed in a lock down situation. 4. Her dad: If you're facing god knows how many hours without entertainment, why wouldn't you want Malcolm by your side? Her dad down. Plus, for the edibles he surely has on his person. 5. Maybe Jimi: That's if he's not on her shit list at the moment and time. But if he's not, most definitely him.

004. at a busy dinner table, food piled on the center and family chaos ensuing around the house.

I know that the holidays most definitely go down at Cassandra and Dove's place for the Empire Records gang— and that's just a good ol' time over there. The Empire Record cast is fully just good vibes all around, so I'm just picturing really good music and a whole lot of laughter. But simply don't ask Lyrica or Malcolm to cook, their talents surely lie elsewhere when it comes to dinners. Like getting everyone high for them.

005. standing in front of the christmas tree, decorating it with an assortment of baubles, lights and tinsel.

Lyrica, for certain and I imagine the Holland family tree to be quite whimsical. Like, they are surely the people to have bought the upside down tree and it's a sight to behold.

006. setting out snacks for santa and his reindeers. don't forget the milk and cookies for christmas hardest workers!

You know, I don't think Lyrica ever had too long a believing in Santa Clause phase, solely because I truly believe Malcolm would have spilled those beans accidentally when she was way too young. But I also believe that Lyrica was too sweet to break anyones bubble, so I believe that Mal and her were both the cookie eaters in their house.

007. at the mall, waiting in line to sit on santa's lap and spill your christmas gift wishes. will you be deemed naughty or nice?

She's a nice list girl all the way. Sure, she can be vindictive at times, but she doesn't revel in being mean. In fact, she tries to make up for it almost immediately after the act is done. She's a nice girl.

008. exchanging and open gifts, anticipating what gift they may get. is it something cool or just another pair of socks?

I want to say that the best present Lyrica has ever received was surely a vinyl of Renaissance by Beyonce. I like to think that album very much inspired baby Lyrica in many ways, but more specifically, it's production and it definitely inspired her dj sets.

009. auditions are now open for the town christmas extravaganza !!!

Lyrica definitely loves a stage moment, I believe she would have surely been a part of a Rosewood holiday production or maybe five. Never a Rudolph, but most definitely a Dasher or Vixen. I don't think she's much of a performer now a days, her talents lying more behind a CDJ.

010. in the trenches of snow forts, amidst a war of a snow fight! who will win?

C'mon now, Lyrica is definitely joining in on a snow ball fight and I know she took them seriously. The enemy had to be covered in snow before she accepted any defeat as I know the children of the Empire Records cast know all too well.

#chwprompt

5 notes · View notes

extraluminarydiary · 4 years ago

Text

Entry #2

I just wrote Entry #2 then just stared at the TV screen thinking about what should I type here. Should it be about how I am absolutely failing my SO by constantly failing to save up money? Or should it be about how incredibly stupid some of my coworkers are for REFUSING to be properly informed?

It can be fucking both. My anon blog, my damn rules.

Ok, first of all... let’s rant about saving money. I buy shit because it makes me feel good about myself. Most of the self-centered groceries I buy are fancy fabric conditioners and detergent, some meats and veg, maybe baking stuff, the good quality toilet paper, and some bubble bath soap. Maybe a couple of candy and chocolate bags here and a bag of chips there. Honestly, typing them down makes it look like a normal person’s grocery list. Anyways, whenever I would do the shopping, I should also expect a rant from my SO.

“How much did you spend this time? How much savings do you have?”

“You bought milk? Do you even need milk? Etoiles, we’re supposed to buy a house next year. If we don’t save now, starting with the little expenses, how will we save anything?”

Believe me when I tell you, I am washed out with both shame and anger. 1. Because I totally understand his point of view. 2. He was able to save up to $15,000 in a year while working as a hotel front desk (so he was earning about just a little lower I am earning right now.), I really have no excuse and 3... THESE:

I am angry because aside from the groceries, I am also the one paying the rent ($1100), and the electricity bill ($130). I do this with my $16 per hour salary. I have calculated how much I should spend monthly and at the bare minimum of it all, I should be able to save $200 every month. But that leaves almost nothing for spending money on myself. I grew up in a lower middle-class family where all the money was dedicated to food, bills, and school. I had worked while I was in college so while paying for my college tuition, I also helped with the bills at home. Never had the chance to actually buy anything WITHOUT feeling guilty or like I was cheating. Now that I am where I am now, it just pains me that even here, I still have to live with that lifestyle.

I know that if I do save up enough, I should have the carefree lifestyle I want. But the thing is, all I am buying is normal people shit! I’m not splurging on brand name clothes, I don’t buy anime merch even though I want to... In short, I am not spending my money on shit that don’t belong in basic necessities.

But my SO thinks I should be more frugal. INSISTS that the freshly cooked meals I make him, even though he was “grateful,” was not a necessity and that he could live on instant noodles and canned food if it meant saving up money. INSISTS in buying the detergent that makes the clothes smell like burnt plastic. Keeps reminding me about his $15,000 savings even though this happened when he was still living with his mother and basically only spent on car and his phone bill. He was barely spending any money when he managed do save up that much and he’s comparing to what I am doing now while I am paying the apartment rent. He did suggest we move back to his mom’s place. My mom-in-law is a very nice lady but she’s a very soft-hearted person with PTSD, depression, and anxiety (because personal issues that I don’t think I should share). Us moving back with her and her partner should help us with my savings and help her because we’re family and we give support. My only issue with that is I will always be on my guard there and put on my mask reserved for family 24/7 - which is exhausting. Being the eldest of 6, I couldn’t say no to my elders. So if one of them is telling me to binge watch this series with them or cook or clean or whatever homely thing they might ask me to do, I can’t say no. Even if I am not feeling up to it, even if I want to be isolated underneath a blanket. No, I would have to put on my “I am the eldest” and be the responsible model sibling type.

Here in our apartment, I can listen to Beyonce at max volume. I can dance around like a crazy person, take a bubble bath, then take a nap in the couch. I am my own person in this apartment.

What hurts the most is that compared to my salary, my SO’s salary now (since he changed jobs) is considerably HIGHER and I mean he’s getting that bread sort of salary. I get that his share of bills is almost as high as what I am paying for... since his Evo X is a very expensive car to own (its his dream car, I let him keep it), and he’s paying for the internet and phone bills too. Our salary margin is so wide that it just makes me angry that he compares his achievements to mine. I only earn about a dollar higher than minimum wage. He gets about $4000 a month. That’s almost twice my monthly salary.

I already told him ALL of this but he said I should still be able to save something. And I understand where he’s coming from but I wished he understood my side too.

I typed too much and now I am sleepy. I’ll rant about my workmates next time.

Etoiles x

1 note · View note

domesticangel · 5 years ago

Note

2 4 8 13 14 18 22 29 33/34 36 37 40 41 44 48 55 69 76 80 82 94 95 98? Sorry if that's a lot sfhsghsh there were so many to choose from!! U can skip some if u want

SDFHSJKDL NAH DUDE UR SO FINE I APPRECIATE U GIVIN ME SO MANY TO ANSWER !!! 🤠🤙🏻 I’m gonna throw this under a cut just bc. I Talk A Lot

2. is your room messy or clean?

HHHHH i’d say its more on the messy side lmao like its not too awful bad but i am rly bad about having The Chair™ that i pile all my worldly possessions on

4. do you like your name? why?

ive honestly never rly liked it lmao emily was apparently like one of the most popular baby names for girls in ‘97 so from grade school through college ive always been one of like at least 2 or 3 emily’s in each class kjhkjhfkj thats why i mostly prefer to go by emmy

8. what kind of car do you drive? color?

i drive a 2002 ford taurus named tori and she’s my silver babby. she’s a very good car and i plaster her in as many bumper stickers as i can get my hands on

13. any siblings?

ye! one older brother. he’s like a cartoonishly stereotypical stoner but he’s chill so we get along

14. if you can live anywhere in the world where would it be? why?

HMMM ive always thought colorado would be nice? i love mountains and i love cold weather and i feel like theres enough cities that id have an ok chance of getting a job in my field. somewhere in scandinavia might also be nice bc once again i like the cold and also ive heard their healthcare slaps

18. favorite tv show?

OOF idk if i could pick one fav but some I’m rly into and find myself rewatching a lot are scrubs, bojack horseman, its always sunny, archer, and dexter

22. do you go to the gym?

i do when I’m on campus just bc my school has a rly nice gym with a good running track but if I’m back home like over breaks and stuff ill just run outside. i sometimes go to the yoga/pilates classes my mom teachers at her local gym but thats about it

29. whats the worst thing you have ever done?

HHHHH well. the main thing that came to mind was 3 years ago when i was driving and took a turn too fast and accidentally crashed into the front of a lady’s car….obv i didn’t mean to do it but i definitely was being reckless thinking i could make the turn. i totaled her car (i was driving a mustang at the time and those mfers are built like tanks so only our fender got dented but her entire front end was crushed) but luckily everyone was physically ok. i def learned my lesson about being a dumbass and also don’t fuck w rwd cars anymore lmao…even to this day thinking about how badly i couldve hurt her makes me shudder and i haven’t been in a wreck since

33. favorite actor?

idk if i can pick a fav but dfhjshgkjsdf i rly like samuel l. jackson, jason bateman, and paul rudd

34. favorite actress?

HHHHHHH i love so many actresses it’d probably be impossible to narrow it down but ive been rewatching ahs coven recently and it reminded me how much i love angela bassett and jessica lange 😩❤️

36. favorite movie?

kjghdsgjsk IM SRY IM PHYSICALLY INCAPABLE OF NARROWING ANYTHING DOWN TO ONE BUT,,, some of my consistent all times favs are the kill bill movies and the kingsman movies

37. do you read a lot? whats your favorite book?

i dont tbh i did when i was a kid but i always abandon books halfway through whenever i try nowadays,, i think the last book i read was the kite runner and its definitely one of my favs. i also like p much all of toni morrison’s books but beloved was my fav of hers

40. how many times have you been to the hospital?

i think only twice??? once when i was RLY young for something i don’t even remember and again when i was still p young to get my tonsils out lmao

41. top 10 favorite songs

OOF ok favorites are so hard for me but some songs ive loved for a rly long time and always come back to are nightdrive with you (fear of tigers remix) by anoraak, countdown by beyonce, song of the sea by cake bake betty, surrender by cheap trick, bubbly by colbie caillat, ferrari by coyote kisses, that green gentleman by panic! at the disco, nightswimming by R.E.M., if it makes you happy by sheryl crow, and punk rock girl by the dead milkmen

44. what is your biggest fear?

JHDFKJLSHKJSGFK ok this is kinda morbid but like i have this specific fear of someone close to me dying and it depressing me so much that i like, am not able to finish school and pursue my career and i get like totally trapped as a result of grief that sustains itself by constantly reminding me that said dead person would be disappointed in me for quitting. Sweats Loudly

48. who is your role model?

prob my mom tbh which i know is. Cheesy but like. she’s been through so much shit and still came out the other end of it as this unconditionally compassionate and capable person and i just. thats what i wanna be

55. what is your dream job?

honestly this might sound sad but like? literally anything that doesn’t make me wanna die and pays well enough that i can pay my bills and have a little fun on the side?????? obv some kinda art career but as for what specifically I’m rly not picky tbh jfghjhf all i know is that id wanna work for a company as opposed to freelancing

69. do you play an instrument?

nope dkljhfsdjk im not musically talented in any way shape or form

76. what color looks best on you?

black or tie dye, no in between

80. what is your biggest pet peeve?

probably just like? super negative people. like people that go out of their way to find negativity and complain about other things or people and have no desire to look on the bright side or enjoy the little things. like chill dude. we’re all just here to have a good time

82. favorite ice cream flavor?

HMMM i rly love pecan praline ice cream !!!

94. favorite lyrics right now

i honestly rly like the chorus from help yourself by sad brad smith,, “I know you’ll help us when you’re feeling better, and we realize that it might not be for a long, long time, but we’re willing to wait on you, we believe in everything that you can do, if you could only lay down your mind”

it just. makes me Soft. it reminds me of the ppl in my life that believe in me unconditionally and are patient with me and how grateful i am to have them and all the people that i love and believe in too and. Yeah 😩❤️

95. summer or winter?

winter 100% i HATE heat and sweating plus like 90% of my wardrobe is cold weather clothes fdljhksjkdh

98. favorite month?

HMMM probably november? its usually like the transition from fall to winter so you get that really nice crisp fall weather that flows into the super cold hot cocoa weather that i loooooveee

#txt #abt

2 notes · View notes

kingsborodelilah · 4 years ago

Text

Look! It’s [ DELILAH THATCHER ]. They have been living in [ NORTH ] Kingsboro for [ ONE DAY ]. They say the [ 25 ] year old can be [ RECKLESS ] but also [ HARD WORKING ], but I just think [ SHE/HER ] looks a lot like [ HAILEE STEINFELD ]. ( Sarah, 24, she/her, est )

She was born and raised in a rather small town in Pennsylvania. Delilah has an older adopted brother, Finn. Her parents were foster parents who decided that they wanted to try for a child of their own and thus, she came to be.

From the get go, she was always a bright and bubbly child. Always so full of life and personality. So much energy and her parents thought it might as well be put to good use.

As early as she could, she was signed up for dance classes and beauty pageants. Little Delilah adored both activities very much. Being in the spotlight? Came natural to her. She had the looks and the charm to win the hearts of all the judges. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for her to win first place for competitions in both of those things.

If you were to have asked a younger Delilah which she preferred more (pageants or dancing), she’s always say dancing. Pageants were fun and all and oh boy did she love the pretty dresses and makeup that came with it. But, her heart and passion was more for dancing. That was something she saw herself doing when she was older. So, she would do pageants until she was ten years, choosing to end her career there and focus entirely on dancing.

If she wasn’t at school, with family or her friends, she was at the dance studio. It had always been her second home ever since she first began taking lessons at the tender age of four years old.

Her dancing coaches, from the very beginning, could tell that dancing was in her blood. Not only that, she was always willing to push herself to the next level and be the best she could be. Because of this, she was normally always given solo’s and was put in the center of group performances. Were they playing favorites? Perhaps, but they knew who their best dancer was and she was always their winner.

She likes really any style of dancing, but her favorites are lyrical, contemporary, and ballet.

She competed in competitions throughout the country, racking up plenty of first place trophies and ribbons. Delilah Thatcher was always seen as the ‘threat of the midwest’ within the dancing world.

Once she graduated from high school, She decided to take a leap of faith and move to California to pursue her dancing even more. It was a long way from home but she knew her dreams wouldn’t come true if she stayed in her small town forever.

Things were tough in Los Angeles and Delilah had to work from the ground up to make her name there, but she was of course determined.

It was a bit of a culture shock to her, there were so many new places and people and wow! But, she loved it. She’d make friends and become a bit of a wild child....this was nothing like her little town she knew all too well.

Started with very minor roles within music videos and movies, eventually she caught the attention of directors, choreographers and other people and she would go on a full US tour as one of Beyonce’s back up dancers. Beyonce, it was a big deal.

When she was 21, she was offered the spot on a TV show called “Rich Kids”. She was becoming pretty well off financially and she saw this as another way to get her name out and experience new things so she took the offer.

The show was....an interesting experience to say the least. She would end up making a lot of new friends and even find love. Delilah began to date one of her fellow contestants, Aaron, while on the show. They fell hard for one another and their relationship was everything she could have asked for. It was her first pretty legitimate relationship but sadly, it would end because he cheated on her and thus, breaking her heart.

The show ended and so did her relationship and for a bit, she didn’t feel herself. She was in a weird spot in her life and she took some time to put herself back together after everything that happened.

It took awhile but when she was ready, she went back to building and working on her career. The next four years would consist of her opening up her own dancing studio within LA, where she would try out being a choreography for young girls. Not only that, she would go on more tours and star in lots of music videos and or movies.

Delilah eventually was growing a little tired of California and was honestly missing being closer to home. So, she decided to move back to New York City and find a nice place in Kingsboro. She sold her dance studio to a good friends of her’s, stepping down to being a co-owner.

She is brand new to the neighborhood and is looking to get closer to her older brother once more and pursue the world of modeling and see what opportunities might land for her with dancing in the big apple. But with coming here also means running into her ex which only is gonna make things.....interesting.

Overall, she is my rather famous, extroverted, wildchild, hardworking muse! Very opposite of Aurora but I am excited for her.

#kingsboro.intro #( about )

0 notes

surveysonfleek · 7 years ago

Text

350.

5000 Question Survey Pt. 3 201. Put these creatures in order from what you would least like to be reincarnated as (1), to what you would most like to be reincarnated as (10) assuming reincarnation ended up existing AND you were given a choice. caterpillar, house dog, wild dog, vulture, male human, female human, oak tree, rock, manta ray, dolphin rock, caterpillar, oak tree, vulture, wild dog, house dog, manta ray, dolphin, male human, female human. 202. What do you feel unworthy of? success. 203. Would you rather be remembered for having done something for humanity or being a really nice person? can’t i do both? 204. Which do you value more: science or intuition? intuition. 205. Your best friend and your significant other are in the hospital at the same time with the same ailment. Who do you visit first? it’s the same person.

206. Does the universe revolve around human beings? we definitely think so. 207. If you are no longer a virgin, do you wish you still were? nope. 208. Who is your favorite poet of those who are alive right now? i don’t know any poets that are alive :( 209. What is your favorite song from the 90's? ugh there’s so many. 210. If you were in alphabet soup what letter would you be? d. 211. Do you believe in fairies, ghosts, aliens, angels, dwarves, elves, etc.? haha i have no idea. 212. What makes you want to be someone’s friend? if i find some goodness in them. 213. Do you troll around the Internet harassing people anonymously for fun? hell no. i’m not 12. 214. Have you ever seen the movie A Man Who Fell to Earth? nope. 215. What is your favorite line from a movie? - 216. What's your favorite video game? the sims. 217. Have you ever taken something that wasn't yours? yeah, but nothing of sentiment or whatever. 218. What is one phrase people say that irritates you? yolo. 219. You allow strangers to read your diary, but would you let your parents read it? i don’t have a diary. 220. Hot steamy bubble bath or quick in and out shower? depends. there’s a time for both. 221. Are you allergic to anything? pollen. 222. What is your favorite Terminator movie? i don’t remember any of them. 223. What is your favorite fast food? burger king. 224. What would someone have to do to get you to never speak to him or her again? do something bad to me, my friends or family. 225. Would (or have) you ever whip someone or be whipped by someone in bed? haha no thanks. 226. Have you ever said 'I hate everyone' and really meant it literally? yes. well, people in general. 227. Why do some people want to get more money than they could ever spend? idk. greed. 228. Have you ever won a carnival fish? nope. 229. Did it live more than a week? - 230. What's the best sounding accent a person can have? spanish. 231. What's the most boring thing you've ever read? text books from uni. 232. Do you prefer buttons or touch screens? touch screens. 233. Do you think there is a lot of similarity between the Harry Potter books and the Lord of the Rings series? i didn’t follow the lord of the rings series. 234. Would you consider yourself to be naive? sometimes. 235. Which of your friends is most likely to go to jail? at this rate, phi. 236. What is the smallest amount of money that could be in a public toilet that would make you reach in and grab it? $10 lol. so gross i know, but money’s money. 237. Would you ever wear real fur? probably not. 238. Arachnophobia or Eight Legged Freaks? first one. 239. What are your feelings about police officers? i’m sure there’s good cops out there. 240. what is your favorite line from a song? idk. 241. Is fifty dollars a lot of money? yes, it can be. it can buy food for a week. 242. Do you like the band Front 242 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front_242)? idk them. 243. Would you rather have fame, money, or self-satisfaction? self satisfaction. 244. What's your middle name? haha i’d rather not say. 245. What is the absolute limit, the craziest thing you would do for a million dollars? shave my head? idk. 246. Are you good, evil or neutral? i’d like to say good. 247. Should ebonics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebonics) be considered a language? hmm. idk about this one. 248. What color is your bedroom? What color would you like it to be? it’s grey and turquoise. i like it. 249. When are you planning to move to a new home? no idea, maybe when i get my life together. 250. If you added up the cost of everything in the room with you, approximately what would it come out to be? omg i have no idea. 15k? it could honestly be more or less, i’m just guessing. 251. Do you blow your nose in public? if i have to, yes. i’ll try do it subtly though. 252. Do you want to follow in your parent's footsteps? somewhat yes. i want their drive and motivation. 253. What is the coolest web site you know of? idk lol. 254. Which cartoon would you most like to see turned into a movie? none that i can think of. 255. Of the following, which word best describes you: enthusiastic, fair minded, generous, helpful fair minded. 256. Can you eat with chopsticks? yeah i prefer not to. 257. Could you tell real money from counterfeit? yeah, we’ve been taught how to at work. 258. What do you think about school uniforms? it’s good in a way, everyone’s seen as equal. 259. What ancient civilization would you most like to visit? medieval times. 260. What would make a great new Crayola color? i’m sure it’s already been made. 261. If an art project is created with the intent of getting rich and famous, does that cast doubt over its significance as a work of art? yeah it does, but it’s still art. 262. If you became president, whom would you invite to sing at your inauguration? beyonce. 263. Who is the greatest philosopher of your country? idk haha. 264. If all the nations in the world are in debt, where did all the money go? idk. 265. Is it as easy to make you happy now as it was when you were a child? no, i was easy to please as a kid. 266. Who knows more...you, or your parents? more about what? if life, definitely my parents. 267. What instrument would you like to be famous for playing? guitar. 268. Children fill its lungs completely with air. Adults breathe in a more shallow way, not filling their lungs completely. Why the change? i have no idea. 269. Would you have sex with a stranger for one million dollars? with protection yeah. 270. Are you completely in control of your body? Are you completely in control of your mind? yes and yes. 271. Which is more romantic: an expensive, glittering bouquet OR flowers that were hand picked as they grew beside the parkway? definitely the hand picked ones haha. 272. Do you know yourself well enough to understand why you feel the way you do? ye[. 273. Which do you do more often: let movies, songs and books put your feelings into words for you or put your feelings into words by yourself? put feelings into words myself. 274. Do you believe celebrities when they are endorsing a product? haha noooo. especially these damn instagram models and youtubers. 275. What kind of movies do you wish were made more often? idk. 276. Does fashion matter to you? yes and no. 277. Should politicians be held to the same legal standards as everyone else? of course. 278. What do you get in trouble for the most? being lazy. 279. Should parents spank their kids? i wasn’t spanked as a kid and turned out fine tbh. 280. What is your worst daily habit? smoking. 281. If you had your choice which one TV show would you have canceled? big bang theory. 282. Do you like the taste of sweet or salt? salt. 283. Are you very precise about what words you use to describe your feelings and thoughts? yeah i’d say so. 284. What do you feel the most guilty about? idk, letting myself do nothing productive for the last year. 285. Do you meditate? no. 286. Can dreams be visions, or do you feel they are always random images? random images in the subconscious. 287. Do you try to write/say what you are feeling in a true and simple way? yes. 288. The thief _______ that everyone steals. What verb would you fill in the blank with? snatches? idk. 289. What's the most incredible experience you ever had? traveling. 290. Are you ever afraid to write/say/think how you feel? not really. 291. Do you write/say/think it anyway or become intimidated and try to avoid it? idk. 292. What is one thing you can't do? a cartwheel. 293. Do you like movies starring Charleton Heston (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleton_Heston)? idk him. 294. Are you gentle? not really. 295. When do you feel the most raw and vulnerable? when i’m naked. 296. Are you trying to find yourself? yes, definitely. 297. Where are you looking? my future i guess. 298. Are you sometimes afraid of being honest because you are afraid of hurting people's feelings? yes but there’s better ways to go about in sharing it. 299. What would make you a stronger person? having more discipline. 300. What book would you like to read sometime soon? anything. it’s been awhile.

#survey #surveys #quiz #bored #questions

1 note · View note

buckner-in-australia · 7 years ago

Text

Day 13: June 8, 2017

So guys... Today is the day! I am snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef!

Now let me run y’all back through my day because this right chea, yea not “here” but “chea”, was an experience of a lifetime.

This morning, of course, started super early. We woke up at 6:45 to be at the coach at 7:55 to depart to the marina. Looking at the schedule, I was thinking, “There is absolutely no way that we’re gonna be out here from 9-4:30. Absolutely no way.” But little did I know, time is merely a word when indulging yourself in the wonders of our seas.

As we parted for the marina, all I could think was “I can’t believe that I am about to do this, I can’t believe that I am about to do this.” It wasn’t from a place of fear, it was from a place of excitement, curiosity, and wonder. You always here of how immaculate the GBR is, but how many people truly get to experience it outside of Finding Nemo? Before even reaching the reef, I was struck by the beauty of the marina. Calm, peaceful and relaxing. Full of shops and several restaurants, the marina seems like a nice place to spend the day before a day out on the sea.

Everything felt so surreal. From arriving to the marina, checking in, and walking onto our boat “Bubbles”. It was like it was all a dream. Once we got onto the boat we had to give them our shoes. Of course I was perplexed because why would someone want my old black flip flops? But later I realized it was to keep the boat floor from getting all gunky with sand and soil. After taking off my shoes, it was then time to receive my flippers. They said to get a size smaller, so being an 8.5, I thought that an 7-8 would be great, but the guy handed me a 4-5. Once again, Nia is confused because never in my life have my feet been that small. I tried one on and then asked for my real size, and guess what? The 4-5s were perfect and the 7-8 were huge. I know that they say to go a size smaller but if I would’ve never guessed that small. Once my fins were fitted, I received a mask and a snorkel. Proceeding into the boat, I was shocked once again. It was nice! There were booths and tables. Up a few stairs was a deck and then there was a deck higher up with more seats. Before you know it we were heading toward the reef.

Now, Mr. Rumney said that it was be rough getting there and boy was he right!! I’m surprised that nobody went overboard! The boat was rocking and swaying, waves crashing, spraying seawater everywhere! Y’all know I’m not the brave type when it comes to water so I happily sat myself down with my Turkish towel behind the glass to avoid getting wet. It took us about 90 minutes to reach the reefs. And on this excursion, we were visiting 3 reefs each for a hour.

Out of the 3 reefs, I really can’t pinpoint which one was my favorite because they were all beautiful. Little did I know, that from a bird’s eye view, when you see the water coloration, its not that the water is deeper, its the coral that is changing the water. The lighter patches are where there is less coral and the white sand is shown and the darker is where the coral is and super duper shallow.

Now, when I say God knew exactly what he was doing when He created the reefs!!! Just beautiful! I don’t even have enough fancy words in my vocabulary to explain!! Who would’ve ever thought that this magical little world could be existing right below the surface? Many times I had to surface the water because from the top it was like it wasn’t even there but as soon as you put your face in the water, you entered an entire different realm.

After the second spot we had lunch on the boat and all I could do was think about how crazy it was that someone can literally be smack dad in the middle of the ocean and feel so small. And then imagining how to must’ve felt for my ancestors who were in boats for months and the immigrants on boats for months not knowing where they were or if they would ever be able to grace land again. So many thoughts from such a little person (yes, I’m referring to myself lol.)

My biggest worry was the waves and the water. They said that the waves would be difficult today, but they weren’t bad at all, especially at the last location. Maybe because I have a big imagination, I was envisioning waves 2 feet tall crashing into us relentlessly but that wasn’t the case at all. I also feared drowning which also didn't happen. At one point in time, I didn’t even have my noodle and was perfectly fine. I just kept one on me for safety precautions because you never know.

Today was absolutely the best day ever! Everything felt so natural and I felt so free. I am definitely my mother’s child because she loves the water, and today I fell in love with it that much more. Who would’ve thought that I would be swimming 200 m from a boat in the GBR??! I am so grateful that I was able to partake in this life changing experience! (:

After snorkeling, that night we walked around downtown to find dinner. Port Douglas is such a cute area and would definitely be a perfect backdrop for a Nicholas Sparks novel. While waiting to place our order at the counter, Ashley accidentally read the word “Quay” wrong and we were corrected by several very attractive Australians. (It is pronounced as ‘key’). After eating dinner, we linked up with some other people in our group and had a few drinks. We ended up finding a karaoke bar and we were super excited! We had been wanting to karaoke since Melbourne so this was our time to shine. Kayla and I chose to sing Beyonce’s Irreplaceable and we killed it! Morgan and the Morgettes (Delilah and Ashley) performed You Belong with Me by Tswift. We showed out!

All in all, today was awesome! And tomorrow we leave for Cairns!

Things I have learned

I am a much better swimmer than I think

You still feel like you’re on the sea hours after you are on land

I really love the Port Douglas area, it is beautiful

snorkeling is amazing

I’m definitely going snorkeling again, no matter where I am (tropical of course)

Good friends ensure your well-being in all things, and they will allow you to take your time if you're not comfortable

Turkish towels, pullovers, sunglasses, and baseball caps are necessary boating attire

I am having the time of my life!

2 notes · View notes

unifiedsocialblog · 7 years ago

Text

Hootsuite’s Very Prestigious (and Totally Arbitrary) Instagram “Awards” for 2018

We hope you’re not done with award season just yet.

Hootsuite (that’s us) has some very prestigious (or ridiculous) awards to hand out for Instagram excellence. Without further ado, here’s a list of some of our favorite Instagram content from the past year and what you can learn from the brand behind the account.

And the winners are…

Best use of video: @califiafarms

Disclaimer: I am very pro dairy. Cheese, yogurt, ice cream—I’ll take it all. But the winner in this category makes dairy-free milk and cream products, and I’m not even mad about it. Why? Because Califia Farms has mastered the art of showcasing their products in creative ways. Instead of just posting videos of nut milk being poured in a glass over and over again, they demonstrate how to repurpose their bottles, how to heat up their cold brew (go figure), and step-by-step recipes.

Yes, you can heat up our cold brew + make it *warm* brew.

A post shared by Califia Farms (@califiafarms) on Jan 25, 2018 at 7:53am PST

Key takeaway: Video is a wildly engaging content format on any platform—but it doesn’t make up for boring content. If you’re going to use videos on Instagram, put some effort into it. Check out our 10-step guide to creating great social videos for guidance.

Best pregnancy announcement: @Beyonce

Kylie Jenner may have almost broken Instagram recently with a post announcing her baby’s name (17 million likes and counting) but when it comes to pregnancy announcements, no one touches Beyonce. This post became iconic instantly, inspiring copycat announcements and Halloween costumes around the world. Call me hyperbolic, but it’s basically our generation’s Mona Lisa.

We would like to share our love and happiness. We have been blessed two times over. We are incredibly grateful that our family will be growing by two, and we thank you for your well wishes. – The Carters

A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) on Feb 1, 2017 at 10:39am PST

Key takeaway: All hail Queen Bey.

Best use of the grid: @reynoldskitchens

Reynolds Consumer Products is an American household goods company that produces kitchen essentials like Reynolds Wrap foil and Hefty garbage bags. On first glance, you might think their Instagram account is simply a nice collection of delicious food photos shot from above with perfect flat lay technique. But look closer, and you’ll notice that each shot creeps into the one beside it. When looking at their profile in gridview, it looks like one long continuous table that I desperately want an invitation to dine at.

Key takeaway: Focusing on the details of your individual posts is obviously important, but don’t forget about the whole. There are plenty of ways to get creative with the overall look of your Instagram grid. You can make it appear to be one continuous shot like Reynolds Kitchens, or focus on three pictures at a time so that each row of your grid has a common look or theme.

Sneakiest product placement: @aspenthemountainpup

I’ll be honest, I was forced by my co-workers to include this post, but I don’t know why. They obviously don’t know what “product placement” means, because all I see here is a beautiful, inspiring picture of a dog relishing his accomplishment in the great outdoors with his favorite drink. Makes perfect sense. I’ll take three cases, please.

You simply can't beat these views at 11,000 feet. We're keeping hydrated with @drinkbai by our side. Justin Timberlake does it, and we think he's pretty cool, so maybe you should too? #FlavorLife #sponsored

A post shared by Aspen the Mountain Pup (@aspenthemountainpup) on Oct 24, 2017 at 7:44am PDT

Key takeaway: I am very susceptible to subliminal advertising.

Most hypnotic content: @ifyouhigh

Take it from me, you don’t need to be high to enjoy the videos on this Instagram account—but you might end up feeling that way after watching them. For example: a wave in slow motion! Skating on crystal clear ice! A soap bubble freezing in real time! Whatever this is! Not only does this account command my full attention every time I see it appear on my feed, I’m often so hypnotized I watch the same video two or three times in a row.

Endless sunrise 🌅 by @avg.surfer follow @ifyouhigh

A post shared by ifyouhigh (@ifyouhigh) on Feb 21, 2018 at 6:37am PST

Key takeaway: Be interesting. You’re competing with some incredibly eye-catching content on Instagram. Make sure everything you post is worth admiring, watching, and liking.

Best use of Drake lyrics: @drakeoncake

Who knew the Venn diagram of people who like Drake and people who like cake would overlap so much? Joy Wilson (who has her own equally impressive Instagram account), has struck gold putting the emotionally rich poetry of this hip hop mogul onto beautiful, intricate cakes. My only question is: what happens to these cakes after the photoshoot? Asking for a friend.

A post shared by @drakeoncake on Nov 9, 2015 at 12:21pm PST

Key takeaway: If you want to create content that’s sure to be a hit on Instagram, find creative ways of using what’s already popular on the platform. Gorgeous photos of food have always worked, but this unexpected twist makes them that much more appealing.

Coolest user-generated content: @Sharpie

The makers of this iconic permanent marker understand there’s no better way to cultivate a strong community on Instagram than by reposting user-generated content (UGC). They regularly share beautiful photos and videos created by artists around the world using Sharpie products, which is a win for everyone involved. The creators get their work exposed to Sharpie’s 200k+ followers, and Sharpie gets to show the incredible potential of their products.

We believe in writing permanent love notes. #SayIt #MarkoftheMonth 📷: @cynlopink

A post shared by @ sharpie on Feb 13, 2018 at 2:25pm PST

Key takeaway: It ain’t all about you. Instagram revolves around sharing content, finding new audiences, sparking conversations, and building a true community. So take cues from your audience, and make them the star of the show.

Best dog rating system: @weratedogs

You may think winning the Westminster Dog Show is the pinnacle of dog achievement, but we would disagree. Being featured on WeRateDogs is undoubtedly the most distinguished accolade for a pupper in this day and age. Not only does each post come with a beautifully crafted caption highlighting each dog’s unique talents and personalities, they haven’t managed to find a dog yet worthy of anything less than a 12 out of 10. That’s quality, people.

Meet Piper. She really likes bananas. Fairly adamant about that. 13/10 impeccable puptassium levels

A post shared by WeRateDogs (@weratedogs) on Jan 23, 2018 at 10:33am PST

Key takeaway: We don’t deserve dogs.

Best behind-the-scenes: @tsa

Not every brand has interesting behind-the-scenes content to share, but the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) sure does: ridiculous items that people try to take on airplanes. Exhibit A: this paint roller wrapped in sandpaper and wire, with nails sticking out of it.

This looks like something out of a Mad Max movie. It’s as if Mad Max wanted to paint the Thunderdome with the blood of his enemies. It’s a paint roller wrapped in sandpaper and wire with nails protruding. This was discovered earlier in 2017 in a carry-on bag at Chicago O’Hare (ORD), but I just acquired a picture of it today.

A post shared by TSA (@tsa) on Jan 9, 2018 at 2:16pm PST

Along with these absurdities, the TSA also answers questions (fun fact: you can bring a cheese grater on an airplane) and shares other snapshots of their day-to-day experiences—like adorable and talented bomb-sniffing dogs.

Key takeaway: Use social to add some personality to an otherwise no-nonsense brand. The TSA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security—not the most quirky brand on the surface. But they use Instagram to show another side of the organization, one that is personable, witty, and entertaining.

Best influencer under the age of 6: @zooeyinthecity

Zooey Miyoshi is better dressed, cooler, and more popular than I’ll ever be in my life and she wasn’t even alive when Instagram was invented.

When your parents tell you there’s a football game during the @justintimberlake concert today and you’re wondering if he’ll perform anything from the Trolls soundtrack. Overalls: @pepperkids.us Hat: @janessaleone Tee: @babyteith Boots: @drmartensofficial Sunnies: @wearesonsanddaughters

A post shared by Zooey Miyoshi (@zooeyinthecity) on Feb 4, 2018 at 3:53pm PST

Key takeaway: Micro-influencers are the future of influencer marketing (and they don’t necessarily have to be toddlers).

Best #TBT: @tarajiphenson

Thursday is arguably the best day on Instagram, particularly if you’re a fiend for nostalgia. Throwback Thursday (#TBT) unearths awkward family photos, forgotten moments, questionable trends of decades past, and a glimpse into history. Although there are many amazing examples of brands using #TBT to tell stories about their company history, I still think about this #TBT post from actress Taraji P. Henson on a regular basis and therefore believe she truly deserves this honorable designation.

#TBT #SeniorPix You couldn't tell her ISH!!! She knew she belonged in #Hollywood right here, she just didn't know how she was getting there but she DREAMED BIG AF!!! #DidntknowIn91betchaknowmeNOW *Diddy voice* 😘💋💋💋

A post shared by taraji p henson (@tarajiphenson) on May 25, 2017 at 8:42am PDT

Key takeaway: We can’t all be as fierce and determined as young Taraji, but we can use #TBT as a way to pre-plan Instagram content for the week and make our lives a bit easier. There are plenty of other Instagram hashtags you can use to attract new followers, gain more likes, and increase engagement. Check out our complete guide to Instagram hashtags here.

Best captions: @nasa

Instagram may be all about the photos and videos, but words matter too. A caption that makes your followers think, feel, or learn something is more likely to inspire engagement than one you barely put any thought into. NASA nails this. Space is pretty beautiful on its own, but the captions they include give valuable and awe-inspiring context to each photo.

Chock-full of star formation, this spiral galaxy contains the mass of around ten billion suns – while this may sound like a lot, it is over 20 times less massive than our own Milky Way. Roughly 50 million light-years away, this galaxy seen by our Hubble Space Telescope (@NASAHubble) is receding from us at a speed of about 808 miles per second (1,300 kilometers per second). Although it appears in the sky near one of our closest galaxy neighbors, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), this is just a trick of perspective. In reality, this galaxy is physically nowhere near the LMC in space — in fact, it truly is a loner, lacking the company of any nearby galaxies or membership of any galaxy cluster. Despite its lack of cosmic companions, when this lonely galaxy has a telescope pointed in its direction, it puts on quite a show. It has hosted a variety of spectacular exploding stars called supernovae, four of which we have observed. This galaxy may be alone in space, but we are watching and admiring from far away. Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA #nasa #space #hubble #spothubble #telescope #galaxy #milkyway #spiral #universe #solarsystem #astronomy #stars #formation #science #supernovae #lightyears

A post shared by NASA (@nasa) on Feb 10, 2018 at 8:37am PST

Key takeaway: Create captions that add context, show off your brand’s personality, entertain your audience, or prompt them to take action. Here are 11 tips for creating better Instagram captions.

Best fake celebrity: @kirbyjenner

Kirby Jenner is the fake twin brother Kendall Jenner never knew she had (or wanted). Through impeccable Photoshop skills, Kirby has inserted himself into all of Kendall’s most treasured moments and memories. The charade is preserved with perfect journalistic integrity in an interview with Teen Vogue, and he’s even made an “appearance” on Keeping Up with the Kardashians:

Other animals I’ve ridden: 1) house cat 2) camel from the zoo 3) giant shrimp in a dream #NeverStopRiding

A post shared by Kirby Jenner (@kirbyjenner) on Jan 4, 2018 at 2:32pm PST

Key takeaway: We’re only one Photoshop session away from living our best lives.

Best giving the people what they want: @dilfs_of_disneyland

It’s a collection of hot dads at Disneyland. Need we say more?

The new definition of dad bod, stroller pushing arms 😍😍😍 #dilfsofdisneyland #dadsofdisneyland #dilf #strollermeat #dadsababe #disneylanddadbod

A post shared by DILFS Of Disneyland (@dilfs_of_disneyland) on Dec 8, 2017 at 10:50am PST

Key takeaway: I’m never taking my husband to Disneyland.

Best giving the people what they never asked for: @sparklygoo

I didn’t know that my ideal form of therapy was watching people poke, prod, and pull homemade slime on Instagram—but here we are. The trend began in Thailand, and quickly spread (slimed?) across to North America. This account, run by a 22-year-old from Vancouver, is particularly satisfying.

I don't know how I feel about this pigment, it turned out a bit more copper than I'd expected. I thought the color shift's still pretty cool. – – – #colormixingslime #colorshift #galaxyshift #slime #clearslime #sparklygoo

A post shared by @ sparklygoo on Aug 2, 2017 at 7:53am PDT

Key takeaway: Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is the internet gift that keeps on giving.

Most consistent brand: @airbnb

In their Instagram profile, Airbnb promises to “open the door to interesting homes and experiences, even if it’s just for a night.” And that’s exactly what they do, post after post. Not only is every photo gorgeous to look at, they each tell a story—from remote jungle villas to surreal glacier views, hearing stories of old East London or kayaking past volcanos. It’s a simple brand promise, but one they consistently live up to.

Just 35 minutes away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Durban, Kerri's retreat offers a peaceful escape to the tropics. Surrounded by birds nested in this lush valley, step into a world of mindfulness, in tune with the nature and the environment. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Check the link in our bio to book your adventure. #NotYetTrending ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Photo: @Glashier

A post shared by Airbnb (@airbnb) on Feb 20, 2018 at 9:36am PST

Key takeaway: Does your Instagram account have a purpose? It should. And that purpose needs to be more than just: “Promote our business on Instagram.” What will people get from following you? Will they learn something new? See things from a different perspective? Laugh or cry? Define your purpose and craft content that supports it.

Have your own award-worthy Instagram content ready to go? With Hootsuite, you can schedule and publish photos directly to Instagram while engaging your audience, measuring your performance, and managing your other social profiles—all from a single dashboard.

Learn More

The post Hootsuite’s Very Prestigious (and Totally Arbitrary) Instagram “Awards” for 2018 appeared first on Hootsuite Social Media Management.

Hootsuite’s Very Prestigious (and Totally Arbitrary) Instagram “Awards” for 2018 published first on https://getfblike.tumblr.com/

0 notes

highlighthunnie-blog · 7 years ago

Photo

Before we get started, let me put a disclaimer here: I didn’t get paid for this review but the products were sent to me free of charge. Regardless, this review is authentic and all opinions expressed are 100% my own. I would never endorse a product I didn’t completely agree in and I would never promote something I didn’t like and encourage people to waste money on it for free products or compensation.

ALSO, I’m hosting a giveaway for some of the products featured here on my TWITTER. Click anywhere in this sentence to be directed to the tweet. The only requirement is that you are following both me and LipKrazy on twitter!

I recently received my gratis package from LipKrazy in the mail and I’m super excited to share my opinions on the package with you. First of all, It was shipped in a first class mailer with a super adorable pink bubble mailer inside (that I didn’t think to take a photo of). The shipping was quick and everything was in perfect condition when I opened the package, which was great. I was expecting the heat to have melted something, but it hadn’t.

I took to my twitter and went live on periscope to unbox the products and demo them for my first impressions. The products I received were the Overnight Renewal Therapy Balm, the What You Drankin’? Lip Scrub, the Berry Bubbly Love Lip Butter, and the Nia Lip Shine (a product that is still in development, named after the amazing @niatortilla). Overall: I was very impressed with the product. LipKrazy was only developed around eight months ago, so the brand is fairly new. They definitely have a lot of room to grow. However, for a new company, they’re doing great, and they’ve come so far so very soon.

I’m going to start off with the Nia Lip Shine. Above is a swatch of the product on my wrist with my iPhone ring light in use - and below that is how it looked on my lips in the same lighting. On my very pale skin, you can see the pigment is a sheer baby pink with a bit of glimmer in it. It had a subtle, clean scent that I enjoyed. Since it is a lip shine and not a lipstick, lip stain, or lip tint, I wasn’t expecting it to have any pigment, so the pink was a nice surprise. I don’t think it shows up well on the lips at all, and maybe it isn’t supposed to. That said - I liked the formula. I enjoy having a bit of gloss or shine to the lips but I don’t enjoy glosses that are sticky or tacky. The Lip Shine wasn’t like that at all. It felt smooth but comfortable on the lips, and I’m looking forward to testing out more of them in the future.

Moving on to the other products (which I didn’t swatch because they have no pigment) - I received the Berry Bubbly lip butter. I remember requesting this scent/flavor when LipKrazy and I were discussing what products this package would contain. Berry Bubbly is a strawberry champagne flavor, which I liked the sound of better than the other flavors because my family describes me as “champagne taste on a beer budget” and with these lip butters only costing three dollars, I thought it was pretty accurate. The other flavors currently available are Blow (black cherry), Coco-Lime (the lime and the coconut), Gimme Some Suga (a warm, rich vanilla), and Sweet Love (strawberry cheesecake).

These butters, according to the website, are made with “mango butter, oils, flavors, and candelilla wax.” I’m glad I read that, because I considered giving this product to one of my sisters, but she has an awful mango allergy - so if you are allergic to mango (or highly susceptible to poison ivy, which contains some of the same allergens as mangos) please test a swatch of this somewhere that isn’t as sensitive as your lips before you try it there. It’s better safe than sorry.

Moving on, I really enjoyed how this felt on my lips as well. I was expecting it to have a Chapstick type of consistency but it was almost like.. a solid oil, if that makes sense. Like coconut oil, but a little less greasy. It glided on like a dream and left my lips feeling hydrated. I didn’t like the flavor as much as I thought I would (much more champagne than strawberry) - but it gets the job done, and I can always try something else next time.

Another product I got in my package to review was the LipKrazy lip scrub. I requested the flavor Is That Velvet? (red velvet) but -- and I say this extremely wistfully, it was unavailable. I’m a big fan of red velvet, so I was a little disappointed, but I enjoyed the one I received quite a bit! I got What You Drankin’? a watermelon/lemonade hybrid that I speculate is referencing Drunk in Love by Beyonce.. and this song has been stuck in my head since I started writing this review.

I have quite a bit of lip scrubs but the formula of this one is my favorite of all. It contains a little bit more moisture than my other scrubs, which makes application a lot easier. Also the granules seemed to be a bit more fine than other scrubs. I have sensitive skin and my lips only really get chapped in the winter or when I wear a lot of matte lips - so I don’t need large, coarse grains. This one suited me really well. This wasn’t my favorite product of the bunch (that one’s next) but it was easily my second favorite.

Finally, my favorite product, which was the Overnight Renewal Therapy balm. I liked this one so much I left a review of it on the LipKrazy website (and I normally only leave reviews over bad things) but y’all.. this is something special. It contains vitamin e oil and agave nectar, and this gives it a nice scent, a gentle tingling sensation on the lips, and a supple feeling on the lips that remains hours after application. Since receiving my package about a week ago, I have worn this to bed almost every night and I can tell a difference in my lips already. I also use it as a primer before I put on any liquid lipstick.

I almost never use any treatments on my lips, so to say that I found this useful is.. a big deal. This was definitely an outstanding product, and it’s LipKrazy’s newest addition to their line, so I recommend you pick some up (psst... use my code! it takes the price down from an entire dollar!) Or check out the review I linked above!

#lipkrazy #lip balm #lip scrubs #lip butter #lip shine #review posts #mine #swatches #** free product sent to me for review #reviews #text

0 notes

theworstbob · 7 years ago

Text

the thing journal, 6.25-7.1

capsule reviews of the things i attempted to take in last week. in this post: super! pop psychology! oxymoron! crush! beyonce! fake sugar! ctrl! 45 jokes about my dead dad! southsiders! the retrieval! before sunset!

1) Super, dir. James Gunn: A film I think about a lot is Observe & Report. That is an insane film that people were actually given money to make, and it's insane because it plunges deep, deep inside the mind of this psychotic man who thinks he's the one standing between order and chaos, and it's great for that reason, because it doesn't shy away from the ludicrous darkness of that crazy, crazy person. The only way this film is worth watching is if this film takes an Observe & Report-deep look at the motivations of its protagonist, and it doesn't come anywhere close to being that audacious. But this film is dealing with a deeply crazy person, a man who dresses in spandex and beats people with a pipe wrench, and it needed to treat that person like a crazy person, not like a hero. When Ellen Page (the absolute highlight of this film) starts taking it too far, Rainn Wilson can't suddenly pull back, the film either needs to show how he encouraged that wanton violence or have him standing to the side, beaming at the great work his protege is doing. Like, the Crimson Bolt is aware on some level that what he's doing is wrong, and the film doesn't work precisely because the character has that awareness. Not the worst film I've seen all year (I was lurking in a Twitch stream (this one, it’s dope) last night where people in the chat were defending Sausage Party and I swear to Christ I was ten deep breaths away from getting myself banned for yelling at them for their bad opinion), but definitely a bummer.

2) Pop Psychology, by Neon Trees: this was a good album. you know the thing about listening to a three-year-old pop album, though? regular soda pop has an expiration date of three months. but it's not like pop really goes bad, it just kinda falls flat, so if you were to ever drink a three-year-old soda pop, it'd still have that same coke taste, it just wouldn't have the bubbles, wouldn't have that texture. and it's not this album's fault i let it expire, we've been over this, i wasn't doing my part in the mid-tens, if i got this fresh out the fridge i'd have much fonder memories (insofar as anyone remembers a specific soda, and not the general memory of drinking soda pop on summer nights). but this wasn't really designed to be consumed three years after production, and that's too bad, neon trees always made really solid pop music, and i'm sure they could've made something truly dope if they put their minds to it. pop ain't bad, though.

3) Oxymoron, by ScHoolboy Q: Gang life is a nightmare and this is an album that puts those nightmarish aspects at the fore. Like, one of my favorite albums of last year, The Game's 1992, didn't necessarily shy away from the horrors of the life, but it also coated over them with the '90s nostalgia, The Game occasionally getting lost remembering listening to 2Pac and Dre and thinking about the OJ trial, whereas this album says "No, this sucks," with these loud and jarring beats and Q's constant growling painting a portrait of the violence and the constant anger one experiences being caught in that life. It's a notably unique vision, but more importantly, it's honestly a joy to listen to, it's an exceedingly dark album but it never feels like a burden, Q is still making music that is meant to be enjoyed and not just pondered over. It's awesome. All of you who've already listened to it should strongly consider giving it another spin.

4) Crush, by 2NE1: I said I wanted to explore the music of 2014. I said I needed to get caught up on the music that wasn't made by white dudes with guitars. I wanted to travel the world. This showed up on the list of notable 2014 releases. So: here we are! Though like let's be real the only difference between this and any other pop music is the language, and even then, I'm sure 2NE1 is saying nice things about love or mean things about a former lover. I thought this three-year-old K-pop album was very nice, and I do not regret listening to it! Than you, K-pop! We'll catch up again when I get to 2011 and the attendant Girls' Generation release

5) Beyonce: the album everyone said was very good that whirlwind night in 2014 was abso-goddamn-lutely right. like, i'm not gonna go too in-depth because you could read any number of thinkpieces and the album is, in a word, flawless, but it's kind of a bummer for me that the consensus is that Lemonade is better than this. I think Lemonade's more ambitious and deals with more personal issues, but, and I will say this a billion times before I eventually abandon this series where I try to talk about anything, heartbreak and sadness are not inherently deeper emotions than love and happiness. Like, "Daddy Lessons" is the best song on either album bar none (and even that's a jubilant sort of fuck you), but there's at least five songs on here that are better than the second-best song on Lemonade. Don't try and tell me "XO" ain't better than "Hold Up." Things that are about nice things are good, y'know? That's just how I feel.

6) Fake Sugar, by Beth Ditto: I can't believe I nearly forgot to include this album. Like, I had the other ten bitlets written, I was ready to copy+paste into the tumblr text field, and I said, "Didn't I listen to something really cool while trapped on the bus on Wednesday?" and I looked in my recents and THERE WAS THIS. THIS GODDAMNED TOWER OF SYNTHPOP MASTERY. I was intrigued by this album because the AV Club's preview said it had a Nashvilley sound to it, and I'm like, hey, I'm down for something vaguely country, and like. This isn't? country? But it's just like insanely good, like I was just blown away, I hadn't expected it to be epic soaring synthpop but epic soaring synthpop is my jam and I was there for it. (It should be noted that I hadn't actually heard of Gossip before like two weeks ago, and now I'm really stoked to sink into their back catalogue once I get out of 2014.)

7) Ctrl, by SZA: "this album is so good in ways i'll never be able to properly articulate," bob said for the hundreth time, relaxing after another bitlet well wroted flew from his hands into the eyes of ones Like, just the way it gets slowly more surreal as the album proceeds, SZA, like, I dunno, gliding in and out of this dream state while still keeping just in touch with reality enough that she never goes too far out of grasp? Look I'm not smart, I'm not gonna pretend I know what I'm talking about after just a couple listens, I just know it's heckin' great and well worth your time. It's so dope, and I feel like I'm failing this album by not coming up with anything substantive to say about it. We got, what, six deep into this post before I apologized to some entity or another for not being able to properly express my love? New PB. We'll get that perfect post one day.

8) 45 Jokes About My Dead Dad, by Laurie Kilmartin: it says a lot about my sensibility that i knew i'd be into this album the second i saw this album title, like hell yeah, i am in here for all these jokes about your dead dad, HIT ME. i am a fan of jokes about dead parents. it's an incredible album, like, there's a joke where her son asks her why everyone at the funeral is sad and she says it's because they're at a funeral and her son asks "are you sad because i'm not playing Minecraft?" while reaching for her phone and that joke sent me soaring above the tallest remaining rainforest where i mingled with the clouds and the other blessed creatures, and it maybe cracks the top ten. it's so good! like, i legit listened to it twice in a row, that was something where i knew i missed so much from laughing too hard. good work and sorry about your dad.

9) Southsiders, by Atmosphere: Whenever I feel disconnected from Minneapolis, I remember that I live in the same city as the Rhymesayers offices and reroot myself. I will cop to not being that deep in the Rhymesayers catalogue, but knowing my local music scene makes vital and lasting records means a lot to me, and the main thing that keeps me from moving to another city, apart from the fact I don't drive, is that I'll never feel as close to whatever music that city makes as I do to Atmosphere. This isn't really a review insofar as it's me writing a love letter to Atmosphere.

10) The Retrieval, dir. Chris Eska: Dear MUBI, either I'm blind or there were no subtitles available for this film, and if there WERE no subtitles, I am hella available to offer transcription services for you. (I am not a professional transcriptor and have not transcribed anything before, don't hire me.) 'Cuz hoo boy, these were some mumbly, mumbly people. You can figure out what's going on because the plot isn't terribly complex (it's vaguely reminiscent of the single-greatest achievement in filmmaking history, Brother Bear) and all involved are giving wonderful performances, you don't necessarily need to hear Scruffy tell Band of Outsiders "He's a good kid." It communicates its story visually, and that's a dumb thing to say about a movie, but I'm dumb at movies so heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

11) Before Sunset, dir. Richard Linklater: I'm going to be referring to this as my favorite fantasy film of all time. NUTS TO YOU, PRISONER OF AZKABAN. (I don’t watch much fantasy.) The first film does have some plausibility, and it probably even actually happened, you spend one magical night with someone and spend the rest of your life thinking about them. I remain convinced that my soulmate was this girl I hung out with at a Cub Foods family picnic the summer before seventh grade. (An Atmosphere reference and a Cub Foods shout-out. This is a Minnesota-ass journal this week.) But there's no chance that you'd ever actually see that person again, so this film, about two people who have spent nearly a decade thinking about each other and letting that inform their lives, letting the love from that night sort of ruin the way they looked at love, seeing each other again is roughly as implausible as an orc. And it's that layer of fantasy that makes this a much more fulfilling movie than the first one. It's not just two twenty-somethings in love, it's two thirty-somethings who've lived and loved and hurt and now have an hour and change to express everything they've been thinking about the source of that life and love and pain for the last decade. And it's beautiful, like, I wanna have the scene where they talk about desire and goals and process playing on an infinite loop on some screen in my house. ("Isn't not wanting anything a symptom of depression?") I'm way more psyched to get to Before Midnight after this than I was for this after Before Sunrise.

0 notes