#emily's mags obsession

[heavensbeehall]

"The Hunger Games", Chapter 12

Buy the book here.

Part 2: The Games

Chapter 12. Katniss pretends to know what is going on (this is a theme of the entire books). Peeta makes a human kill and Katniss makes a rabbit kill. Exciting details about dehydration. Katniss finds water, and then fire.

My Thoughts

In this chapter we see how Katniss's constant suspicion about people's motivations pay off, kind of. She understands WHY Haymitch isn't sending her water even though she needs it, because she always questions why someone would give her something and what it might mean she owed later. It becomes her and Haymitch's special bond, that isn't shared with Peeta. I think the point of this chapter is to establish that understanding they have, because otherwise the plot is not advanced much more and this pond she finds never comes back.

So I guess this is a Haymitch and Katniss chapter, even though he's not physically present. Though I can imagine him watching the feed and muttering irritably.

And that led me to my question, do you think the mentors are on screen during the Hunger Games? We never see Haymitch be in the movies (just BTS negotiating with sponsors), but in TBOSAS, the mentors are made available for comment. It seems like he should at least be brought on to talk to Claudius Templesmith from time to time. Though I suspect they have a live feed of him, just because that would be the most tortuous for the mentors--and they can show the mentors (like parents in the stand at their kid's Olympic debut) when their tributes get killed.

Does it make me awful to want to see what the Capitol saw during these games? I want to know what Finnick, Joanna, Chaff and all my other loves said about Katniss and Peeta on live TV. (Obviously Mags didn't comment because she had her stroke and what if she only pretended to have a stroke so she could avoid commenting on stuff? That'd be hilarious.)

Quotes:

Maybe he’s sending you a message, it says. A message. Saying what? Then I know. There’s only one good reason Haymitch could be withholding water from me. Because he knows I’ve almost found it.

[magpizza]

Mag's Sapphic Book Recs

Hey! @fairymascot sent a few of you my way who are looking for some sapphic book recs! I have compiled a list of 50 or so books, both Adult and YA, across the genres I read. These are just my personal favorites, and I encourage you to look further into any book that piques your interest!

For where I go for books, I go to my local library a lot and can't sing the praises of the Libby app enough for borrowing ebooks and audiobooks. I also always encourage those who can to get their books from independent bookstores or sites like bookshop.org.

ADULT

I wanna feel sad or stressed out! -Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily R. Austin - Gilda is anxious, depressed, and jobless, so she accepts a receptionist job at a catholic church and becomes obsessed with what happened to the woman who had the job before her. A book I felt really deeply as an anxious person myself. -All The Little Moments by G. Benson - Anna's career-focused world is turned upside down when her brother and sister-in-law pass away and she is left to take care of their two young children. This one is a real tearjerker and the romance with the woman Anna meets is very very sweet. I've read almost all of G. Benson's books and found them all to be absolute winners (Purposefully Accidental is excellent, also deals with grief though is more lighthearted and has some of the best dialogue I've ever read). -Landing by Emma Donohue - This is such a lovely, meaty book that explores the complexities of people, as well as the challenges a burgeoning relationship can go through. The MCs face distance, age difference, culture differences, different life goals, etc. The characters around them were also surprisingly deep and interesting. It had me on the edge of my seat as to how it would resolve. -I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself by Marisa Crane - this one is a bit sci fi, but I felt the sad outweighed the sci fi classification. A future world where you are marked by your crimes by being given an extra shadow, a woman has to navigate single motherhood with her daughter having been given an extra shadow from birth. It was somber, it was lovely, I felt so much weight in my heart. -Whisper of Solace by Milena McKay - If you like terrible women doing terrible things to each other in the name of their careers but also obsession and love, this one is for you! One of the most unique Ice Queen POVs I have read!

Okay, I'm sad enough, now I want a happy romance! -Wherever Is Your Heart by Anita Kelly - Even as a lover of romance myself, few books have made me swoon like this one. Two older butch women finding love much later in life and being realistic about their issues and problems, I just absolutely adored the grounded conversations they had. Also a very quick read! -Breaking Character by Lee Winter - This is one of the most enjoyable, fun, heartfelt romances. It's Hollywood, it's fake dating, it's age gap. Both characters go on such a lovely journey together. This is one I would highly encourage you to listen to the audiobook as Angela Dawe is amazing at doing all the character voices and accents. Additionally, there is not a single Lee Winter book I haven't liked, so highly recommend any of hers (The Awkward Truth is my second fave of hers, with a unique and younger ice queen). -The Carlisle Series by Roslyn Sinclair - You honestly can't have a sapphic romance list without this series. It's adapted and updated from Roslyn's Devil Wears Prada fanfic, but this is a story all its own and had me tearing up at the ending. I did the exercise of reading both the books and the fanfic which was very fun to compare! -Something's Different by Quinn Ivins - This is one of the sweetest books, I smiled all the way reading it. A woman has to step in to cover for her twin sister at her job while her sister goes off with her boyfriend, and she ends up falling for her sister's boss. It was a lovely book that also touched on mental health. I also love an academic setting, and it made statistics fun to learn about! -Bright Falls Series by Ashley Herring Blake - This 3 book series is so fun, just true romcom goodness. The characters are fun and interesting, they have complex relationships with each other, and I love how the author sets up these little ways the characters think is truth or reality, only to find how differently they perceived things.

Give me some scary ones! -The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling - cave spelunking in a tricked up space suit, being chased by ghosts, and not sure if you can trust the woman on the radio who's guiding you through it. Has just such a satisfying ending too. -The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean - a vampire-adjacent book, it's a world where these beings eat books, but then sometimes one amongst them instead eats minds. A woman, book eater herself, runs away from her family to protect her son who is a mind eater. I felt this one was gutwrenching at times, with characters making tough and sometimes bad decisions, and it kept a grip on me the whole way. -Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant - this one is more of an ensemble cast as it jumps around to several POVs, but the sapphic romance pair in it is great. It follows a crew aboard a ship to figure out what happened to a previous ship where everyone just disappeared. Every character has a rich internal life of why they're there, what are their goals, etc. -Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield - a woman's wife went on a deep sea expedition and returns not quite the same. The book jumps between the two women, what happened on that expedition and what her wife is having to deal with after she returns. I also enjoyed Julia's book of short stories, Salt Slow.

Wow, that was pretty scary. What about some fun science-y adventures? -The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson - a sci fi, multiverse traveling book. In the future, society can send people to alternate verses, mostly to steal resources, but you can only be sent if the other version of you is already dead in that world. The writing is fast-paced, really fun, and had some great quotes I even wrote down. It had so many little and big twists along the way, I gasped a lot. -The Founders Trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett - kinda fantasy, kinda sci fi, kinda steam-punky, but a whole lotta fun! Fast-paced, it has one of the most interesting magic systems I've ever read. It's low on romance but the sapphic relationship that develops had my heart clenching by the last book. I read this series this year and already want to re-read it. -This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone - this book is a short but challenging read. It may not be for everyone. Treat it less like a novel and more like a riddle. It's feeding you bits and pieces as it goes and all will be revealed by the end. One of the most romantic books I've read.

Sure sure, but how about some escapism into fantasy now? -The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir - this one could've also gone in the horror or sci fi lists, what with the lesbian necromancers in space tagline. You've probably heard of it, it's dense, complicated at times, and will throw you for a loop when it quotes Linkin Park lyrics at you. Each book has such a different flavor too. A fun series to not only read but also reread! It requires a lot of attention, and I'm not too proud to admit I had to look up several word meanings as I read. The only series I have multiple versions of because I couldn't resist the special editions. -The Burning Kingdoms series by Tasha Suri - love me some fantasy set in a world inspired by the history and epics of India, some morally gray characters, complicated motivations, some betrayal of the ones you love most. This series is so lovely and such a fun and heartwrenching ride and I can't wait for the next book. -Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree - It's cozy, it's sweet, it just made me smile all the way through. The sequel I found just as lovely as well.

Enough with the other worlds! Got anything historical? -The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave - this one could also go on the sad list. It's poetic, lovely. A town of only women since their men all were lost in a storm and how the women manage to move on, deal with their grief, and face a dude who comes in later to try to "set their society right" or whatever. Throw that dude into the sea too. -Fingersmith by Sarah Waters - an absolute rollercoaster of a book. It's a long, great read with deception upon deception upon twists. I also highly recommend the BBC miniseries it was adapted into! -The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite - this one really surprised me. It's honestly really sweet. Two women come together to translate a French astronomy text and fall in love in the process.

Got anything with pictures? -Luisa Now and Then by Carole Maurel - drama, a woman in her 30s encounters her much younger self and they have to come to terms with who they thought they were and what they thought their life would be like. -A Guest in the House by Emily Carroll - heavy on the horror, not really a romance, but it is gorgeous, atmospheric, and didn't go where I thought it was going. -How Do We Relationship by Tamifull - drama, slice of life, one of my favorite series, it goes through some really complex character relationships and interactions. The main couple starts dating pretty quickly, and it only gets more complicated from there. -She Loves to Cook, She Loves to Eat by Sakaomi Yuzaki - slice of life. This one starts out simply enough, with two women who connect over food. Their relationship blooms slowly from there, and the latest volume introduced some additional characters that expand the discussion on how different our relationship to food and eating can be.

YOUNG ADULT

That was a lot. I'm ready to be sad again. -We Are Okay by Nina LaCour - a girl leaves everyone behind to go to college, and won't talk to them about why or what happened that changed her in those few weeks before she left. Her best friend comes to visit her and what follows is a slow, anguishing tale of grief, regret, and love. Honestly, for a sad time, you can always depend on Nina LaCour. -Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick - this one might not work for everyone if you don't like an amnesia story. It had so much longing, loss, confusion, and a romance strong enough to attempt to get through it. -6 Times We Almost Kissed (and One Time We Did) by Tess Sharpe - Don't let the meme-rific title fool you, this book wrung out my heart. The characters are rich, deep, conflicted, and complicated. Deals with grief, with lost opportunities, with complicated friendships and complicated love. -If Tomorrow Doesn't Come by Jen St. Jude - what happens if you were already suicidal, but then the world is going to end soon anyway? This book deals heavily with depression and the end of the world, in many different meanings. -Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo - this one broke my heart a few times. Two girls who don't know they are related lose their father in a plane crash, and it only gets sadder and more complicated from there as both their words begin to connect.

Wow, all this sadness has made me angry! -Harley Quinn: Reckoning by Rachael Allen - gotta love a female rage revenge book. This book is a really engrossing read, it weaves a lovely mystery, and has one of my all time favorite twists and love interest characters of any book.

I've angered myself out, can we have some happy romance? -She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick - a lovely lovely contemporary romance story. Nothing surprising, just all the good stuff. Also writen by a wife team! -How to Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow - a very sweet holiday romance that starts when one of the MCs almost runs over her love interest. -Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes - with the topics this one deals with, it could've very easily made the sad list as well. The overall uplifting ending is what kept it more in the happy list for me.

Okay, okay, I'm ready to be scared again! -These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall - this one has it all, creepy house, family trauma, falling for the weird girl in the woods. It all built up to a really great twist too. I recommend the audiobook, it had great production and acting, and even legit scared me and I couldn't listen to it at night.

I like horror, but got anything a little more sci fi? -The Meadows by Stephanie Oaks - along the same lines of A Handmaid's Tale, a dystopian future where the government has a lot to say about what your role is in society and what you are supposed to do/be. At times a little slow, but at all times really heartwrenching.

Anything related to history? -A Million to One by Adiba Jaigirdar - four girls band together to execute a jewel heist on the titanic! Which sounds very exciting and it is! I also bawled at the end. Honestly I will read any and all Adiba Jaigirda books too.

Okay let's get into that fantastical escapism! -Fractured Fables series by Alix E. Harrow - based on fairytales, these two novelas are very quick reads, very engaging and I especially loved the romance that developed in the second one! -We Set the Dark on Fire series by Tehlor Kay Mejia - Handmaids Tale adjacent as well and the backdrop is Latiné inspired. A really great read, both books had be gripped by the chest. Good twists too! -The Winter Duke by Claire Eliza Bartlett - inspired by sleeping beauty, the prince set to inherit the throne falls asleep and his younger sister has to figure out how the hell she keeps it all together until he (hopefully) wakes up. -Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron - a society built after the very real Cinderella story, where all ladies of age go to the ball to be selected as brides, and then the story of a girl trying to fight against all that. -Forgotten Gods series by Marie Rutkoski - A girl who lives on the poor side of town meets a rich girl who seems ready to take her on adventures. I really enjoyed the main character's journey and how she changed oh so very drastically throughout the story. -Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst - I've recced this to friends who did not like it as much as I did but I'm still putting it on this list. Maybe it's just this book has all the things I like and that's fine. A princess betrothed to a prince is hiding her magical abilities and ends up falling for her fiance's sister, oops. -Sofi and the Bone Song by Adrienne Tooley - what drew me to this story was the quiet mystery it weaves. Sofi wants to take her father's place as a Musik (the few musicians in the country allowed to compose music) but then an unexpected, untrained lute player shows up and just absolutely outplays her. Sofi is determined to prove this new girl cheated with magic. Adrienne Tooley overall is an author I always enjoy. -Nampeshiweisit series by Moniquill Blackgoose - only the first book is out so far (To Shape a Dragon's Breath) but boy am I invested! A young girl finds the first dragon egg to appear in her remote island in 15 years, but the colonists of her land have strong opinions of who is allowed to have a dragon, how they need to be trained, and what they should do with dragons.

Phew that was a lot of words. Got anything with pictures again? -Thieves by Lucie Bryon - a really sweet and surprisingly deep story about two girls who steal shit. -Belle of the Ball by Mari Costa - a high school love triangle that worked in all the right ways. I loved the art, and as someone with vision deterioration, one of the easiest reads I've had recently! -Twelfth Grade Night by Molly Horton Booth - the original Shakespeare play Twelfth Night was formative for my lesbian realization, and this cute adaptation was so well done and modernized the story in a really fun and fantastical way. -The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz - continues the running theme of girl pretending to be a boy falls for girl, oops. Has a historical and modern twist to it all, very fun and loved the expressions. Do Not skip the author's notes at the end where she talks about what inspired the story, it was a highlight as well! -Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall - Mean Girls meets werewolves -Cosmoknights series by Hannah Templer - princesses, space travel, giant robot fights, this has got it all and some very lovely art to boot! -Honor Girl: A Graphic Memoir by Maggie Thrash - one of those comics that perfectly captures what it feels like to be a young girl falling in love with another girl for the first time. It's a little bit emotionally devastating at times in how expertly it expresses and pinpoints those specific feelings.

[majaloveschris]

I have a question. Does anyone know if the Portuguese media is obsessed with this relationship?

Because I know in my country, if a home grown relatively unknown television actress (I’m not saying that as a jab it just is what it is) married a huge international attractive star our media/tabloids would be absolutely obsessed with it. I don’t think they would write about anything else. Especially in the early stages and if they were here on and off.

It just seems that outside of People mag in the US, truely no one seems to care which surprises me. I know that hypothetically if he had married another star on his level, like a Scarlett, Emily Blunt, Margot Robbie… (obviously all massively hypothetically) the media circus would be absolutely ridiculous and non stop. But I still expected there to be more interest than what there is.

I don't know. I'd assume there were Portuguese articles about them being together and married, but obsessed? I don't know; maybe someone from Portugal can help us out here.

I guess we can say something similar happened to Barbara Palvin; however, not to be biased, I think she is more well-known in the US than her, based on her popularity, and she's had a lot of work there too. I remember seeing Hungarian articles about their relationship, and to be honest, when they were married, they were all over the internet and on every social media site in Hungary. So yeah, I think we can say it was a big deal here, but again, I think she is more well-known in the US, and I think she is more well-known in Hungary than Alba in Portugal.

I think him getting married would've been a bigger thing if there weren't so many weird things about this whole relationship, and for a long time, a lot of people thought it was PR. This whole wedding thing obviously changed a lot of things, but I guess if fans were more happy for him and more supportive, it would've made a bigger buzz. I think her and her friends' past and behavior ruined a lot of things. In the world of celebrity news and gossip, there is always something new; only someone's fans care enough about it to talk and post about it for days and weeks. Just as Taylor said, "The world moves on; another day, another drama." Most of those people who would've spread the word and made this whole wedding thing a big deal are gone. That one year of guessing what's going on, then the other year of guessing whether it's real or not, and those things came out about her too... All of these things ruined the fandom, or at least a big part of it, and I think these are the reasons why it wasn't that big of a deal. Or why it's not that big of a deal anymore.

For most people, it doesn't matter whether it's PR or real at this point. He is being associated with them, and that's it. It's too messy, and most people don't want to deal with it anymore.

[abfabsweetiedarlings]

Ab Fab ended after five series in 2003 and while fans are still praying for a reboot, they’ll soon be able to enjoy the next best thing: Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out, a documentary spilling the beans about how the show was made. Featuring Saunders, Lumley, Julia Sawalha (Saffy) and a slew of clips, it’s a glorious reminder of how groundbreaking the show really was.

Eddie, Patsy and Saffy were its stars, but so too were the clothes. Six years before Sex and the City catapulted Fendi Baguette bags and Manolos into the mainstream, Ab Fab made designer labels a talking point in a more irreverent way. Rather than existing to gild their wearers, clothes were often the butt of the joke, with Edina’s “It’s Lacroix, sweetie” sending up her obsession with labels in a way that viewers found relatable.

For the costume designer Rebecca Hale it was a dream job. “Jennifer [as the show’s creator] gave you freedom and creative licence. Nowadays you’re more constrained — there are so many points of view.” Although the job wasn’t without its stressesos famously worked close to the wire, frequently editing lines at the 11th hour. “I would often be on a motorcycle coming back from Selfridges when they changed the script, and I’d be running around Selfridges trying to find more shoes. You’d sometimes get the script on Thursday and be shooting Friday. I’d be sitting outside Harvey Nichols waiting for it to open, laughing and thinking, ‘Wow, I can’t believe she’s written that.’ ”

Not only did the script go close to the wire but also sometimes close to the bone. “But satire is what makes comedy so fantastic,” Hale says. “If you compare Ab Fab to something like Emily in Paris, [Emily] is more like a runway show than an observation on society. It’s very two-dimensional. It doesn’t take the piss out of itself.”

At the time gossip mags were the equivalent of Instagram, and Hale remembers looking through Hello! with Saunders for inspiration. “We’d see Katie Price getting out of a car in a Juicy Couture tracksuit and a G-string. What I loved about Jennifer is that we’d be telling stories and [showing] the complexities and insecurities of being a woman. We’d always make everything tight. Trousers would be extra small so there’d be a camel toe. You’d relate to the vulnerability, and show [the audience] that vulnerability is OK. Everything now is so pure and clean. Nobody wants to offend, but there’s got to be a bit of offence in order to observe.”

By the time Hale joined the show in the early Noughties (the earliest series were wardrobed by Sarah Burns), it was firmly established and most designers were keen to lend. “Gaultier and Dolce & Gabbana were always generous. The rest we’d buy at Harvey Nichols and Alexander McQueen. Betty Jackson made all of Patsy’s things, so we paid for it at cost. She was also generous and had a very big say in the way that Patsy looked. It was such a great contradiction to Eddie — very pure in its line and not so messy visually. Patsy was much more messy physically because Joanna’s such a great comedic actress.”

Decades after the final series of Ab Fab aired, Patsy is still a popular fancy-dress costume. What, for Hale, is her most iconic look? “There’s a white Betty Jackson coat that she wears with a black tight-fitting dress underneath — I think it was vintage Yves Saint Laurent. The tones were important — she’d wear cream, white or black, and occasionally red, whereas Edina would wear anything.” Indeed, the latter would be slavishly latching on to the hottest names and trends of the day. “One of my favourite Edina outfits is the Burberry look she wore in the early 2000s. She’s got the check bucket hat, jacket and three-quarter-length trousers.”

If Edina’s looks were outrageous, so too were those of her secretary, Bubble (Jane Horrocks). One of her more memorable outfits is a padded dress printed with Teletubbies, inspired by the popular children’s TV show of the time. “I was a single parent and had just come out of that period when you’re watching Pingu and Teletubbies. My brain was frazzled but I loved the imagery of it.”

By contrast, Saffy’s wardrobe was deliberately wholesome and drab, as befitted a girl who was chastised by Patsy for “dressing like a Christian”. Hale says: “We’d go to a shop and pick the cosiest jumper or the ugliest item of clothing. Anything that looked like it was a walking contraceptive pill, I’d put on her.”

Such was the show’s popularity that famous faces lined up to have cameos, meaning that Hale also had the fun of dressing its numerous celebrity guest stars. “We had a whole room of supermodels once. Elton John turned up in his own fabulous outfit. I remember dressing Anita Pallenberg and Marianne Faithfull. Anita turned up with these amazing lilac silk flowers, one for her and one for Jennifer. I put Marianne in a tailored white trouser suit by Bella Freud.” Hale also worked on Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016), which featured a cameo by Kate Moss. “Kate was delightful. We were going through some ideas and she pulled out this dress that Johnny Depp had given her — black sequins, made by a very famous costume maker in Hollywood. Because the scene required her to come out of the River Thames, I copied that dress, remaking it in green sequins so that she emerged looking like a mermaid.”

Hale says that if Saunders ever did decide to do a reboot, she would look at influencers for inspiration, and dress them in labels such as SS Daley, Balenciaga and JW Anderson, adding in vintage pieces by Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney. “Fashion is so eclectic now. I’d have to find something that was extreme. Edina would have to wear a Kim Kardashian bodysuit like she did on Saturday Night Live.”

Hale is interested in the power Kardashian wields. “She’s a fashion icon. Although you haven’t got those fantastic people who really used to cultivate their own looks. Nobody takes risks any more. They’re all too concerned about how they’re perceived. In the Nineties you’d have these very famous fashion people — Anna Wintour, André Leon Talley, Suzy Menkes — each with their own image, and they’d stick to it. Now people just go to a designer and get plonked in it rather than curating their own style. Money kills creativity. You get paid to wear a brand and it takes away your identity. I think that’s sad.”

It’s the antithesis of Hale’s approach to fashion. She got involved with Ab Fab after initially working with Saunders on the comedy series The Comic Strip Presents … in the late 1980s and early 1990s, followed by the sketch show French and Saunders in the early 2000s. “We’d banter with each other about what was going on in our personal lives, and I’d often regale them with stories about my mother,” she says. “She was exuberant, to say the least — a great beauty, a great intellect and something of a fashion icon. On holiday in Greece she’d rise in the morning wearing some kaftan and a turban and ceremoniously walk on to the beach, waving at the Greek fishermen before swimming off in the nude.”

If she sounds uncannily like Edina Monsoon, that’s because she is. “Part of Edina is based on my mother. Her name was Crystal Hale and she was an inspiration to many. She’d take me to school dressed in a cape decorated with great big lions’ heads and a huge fur hat. She was extremely loving but very alternative. Her various stories and antics would be relayed back to Jennifer and Dawn, and they would give each other a sideways glance. So, yes, she was part of the inspiration for Edina.”

Ever since Ab Fab aired, fans have been guessing who Edina was based on, with the most popular theory being Lynne Franks, a well-known fashion PR who shared some of her traits. The name Crystal Hale has never been mentioned. She was the daughter of the novelist and MP AP Herbert, and indeed, some of her parenting sounds like it would put Edina’s to shame. “On one particular day, when I was terrified of [doing] my GCSE, she gave me a type of amphetamine called a purple heart to calm me down. It did the opposite.”

Never mind Edina being based on her mother: was Saffy based on Hale? “She might have been in the way I relayed my stories, but I was equally outrageous in my twenties,” she says, laughing. “My mother encouraged me to be expressive. At school I was into punk fashion and she’d allow me to wear a Vivienne Westwood cobweb-knit angora mohair sweater with no bra underneath, a miniskirt and rubber stockings.”

Hale has just finished working on Kaos, the Netflix black comedy starring Jeff Goldblum and Billie Piper. “I’ve rarely felt as happy reading a script as I did reading [the writer] Charlie Covell’s — it’s the closest to Absolutely Fabulous in terms of being laugh out loud.”

And she’s not surprised by the lasting impact Ab Fab has had. “The relationship between a mother and daughter is a theme that’s never going to die. It’s light-hearted, hilarious and there’s nothing else like it. I think it needs to be reintroduced.” We’d drink (the Bolly) to that.

[melanielocke]

Book recommendations - Morally complicated/unhinged protagonists

I usually tend to gravitate towards characters who are good. Most of my own written characters will fall firmly on the good side of an alignment chart even if they are complicated, have trauma etc. But every once in a while I do enjoy some characters who are kind of unhinged or morally complicated. Here are some of my favorites.

I'm going to start with the book I just finished reading and am currently obsessed with: Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

In this book, earth has been destroyed, and Kyr has trained all her life to avenge earth. She was raised on an isolated space station with what she believes are the last humans, taught to hate the Majoda, the aliens who destroyed earth. Kyr has never questioned anything she's taught and worked hard to be a model soldier, but then her brother is assigned to a suicide mission while Kyr herself is relegated to the Nursery to bear children.

Kyr decides to take her fate into her own hands and rescue her brother from what she believes is pointless and leaves the space station together with her brother's brilliant but kind of unhinged friend Avi and a lonely Majo captive Yiso. But when Kyr enters the wider universe she must confront that not everything she's been taught is true and that the universe is a lot more complicated than she believes.

Essentially, this is a story of someone indoctrinated by a cult slowly breaking free. Kyr starts out not very likeable. She wants nothing more than to be the perfect soldier, is mean to everyone and is pretty clueless. But slowly she learns through the book and I loved watching her journey.

My favorite in this book has to be Avi though. He's unhinged. He's a genius, way too smart for his own good. He's gay and has a very complicated relationship with Kyr's twin brother Mags. I can't say too much without spoiling the book.

Mind the content warnings for this one, and keep in mind that Kyr is heavily indoctrinated by what is pretty much a fascist cult and as such she shows some queerphobic views (such as refusing to use they/them pronouns for a genderless Majo at first), though it also seems relatively watered down compared to how bad it probably was in the cult. It's also pretty obvious to a reader that Kyr is wrong about most things at this point.

The copy pictured is my Illumicrate edition, which has the UK cover (and very pretty edges)

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao is up next

Iron Widow is a YA sci fi with characters inspired by people from Chinese history. The main character, Zetian, is inspired by the only female emperor in Chinese history Wu Zetian.

Huaxia is under attack by hunduns, a type of mechanic aliens, and to combat them they fight in chrysalises, machines taking the shape of creatures of Chinese mythology piloted by a boy/girl pair using spirit presence. Unfortunately, the girls often die due to the mental strain.

Zetian's sister was murdered by one of the pilots outside of battle, and she enlists as a concubine pilot to kill the man responsible. She gets her wish in an unexpected way, when said pilot takes her with him to battle, she kills him through the mental link.

Labeled an Iron Widow, Zetian is paired with the most powerful male pilot, a convicted murderer who is only kept alive because of his exceptional spirit presence. But Zetian has had her taste of revenge and is not going to go down quietly.

I love how unhinged Zetian is in this book, and the author is very good at making us root for her. They could probably have Zetian blow up an orphanage and still have us cheer for her. Zetian's anger is understandable, she's a girl fed up with the patriarchy and girls dying as pilots. This book also has a poly main couple, with all three being bi and into each other.

The book is the first in a duology and book 2 will be out April 2024 (it was delayed)

The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir is already pretty well known but it fit this category well and I only started it recently

There's three books out, but book 3 only comes out in paperback this September which is why I don't have it yet (nor have I read it)

The first two books focus on Gideon and Harrow, who are both from the ninth house. Harrow is a necromancer and heir to the ninth house, whereas Gideon is a warrior who would much rather leave the ninth house altogether. But when Gideon tries to escape, again, Harrow makes her an offer, become her cavalier when she answers the summons of the emperor, who called the heirs of all nine houses and their cavaliers to become lyctors.

The first two books are already very different in tone. Gideon in book 1 is funny, the language is very modern and Gideon is often not paying attention because she's describing all the attractive female characters in full detail, but otherwise she's relatively reliable as a narrator. Then comes Harrow the Ninth, which is one of the most confusing books I have ever read. It pays off in the end, everything will make sense (mostly).

What I found very funny in book 1 was just how childish and petty Gideon and Harrow could be towards each other. They hate each other but in a very childish way. Harrow calls Gideon "Griddle". Gideon considers that Harrow would never leave her alone in their rooms on purpose because then Gideon would mess up the buttons of Harrow's clothes.

Book 2 in comparison has a much more serious tone, which much written in 2nd perspective as well as some flashbacks to previous events that do not add up to what we saw in book 1. I have yet to read book 3 but I've heard it's amazing. After Nona there will be one more book which comes out 2024.

Last up is Black Sun and Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse

This book is not so much unhinged, but very morally complicated. The world is based on pre Columbian americas and it shows a complicated conflict between different cultural group through the POV's of a couple different characters. The main character Xiala is a Teek who was banished from her own home. The Teek are very recluse and not super involved with the main conflict.

She is given the task of sailing Serapio to city of Tova, where much of the conflict takes place. Serapio's mother made him to be the reincarnation of their god, the Carrion Crow, and avenge their people.

We also follow Naranpa, who is the Sun Priest in Tova but grew up in a poor section with a group of culture who were excluded from the clans that make up the city.

And then there's Okoa, the brother of the leader of the Carrion Crow clan within the city, who only wants to protect his clan but doesn't really know what is the best way to do this, meaning he often changes his mind and alliances.

The first book builds towards the Black Sun, a rare solar eclipse that will change the world.

There are currently two books out and the third and last is scheduled for 2024.

@alastaircarstairsdefenselawyer @life-through-the-eyes-of @astriefer @justanormaldemon @ipromiseiwillwrite @a-dream-dirty-and-bruised @amchara @all-for-the-fanfiction @imsoftforthomastair @ddepressedbookworm @queenlilith43 @wagner-fell @cant-think-of-anything @laylax13s @tessherongraystairs @boredfangirl16 @artist-in-soul @aliandtommy @ikissedsmithparker

[pedrasacorn]

thank you mags and jany for the tags!!

last song: My kind of woman—Mac Demarco

favorite color: the color of leaves between sun rays

last book: Book lovers—Emily Henry

last movie: Kung fu panda 4

last tv show: The punisher

sweet/spicy/savoury: savoury!

relationship status: never even held hands before :(

last thing i googled: punisher

current obsession: wanted to pick something interesting but it’s always Jason Todd <3

looking forward to: calling my sister

Tags no pressure! : @soapysudz

Ten people I’d like to get to know better ᯓᡣ𐭩

Ty for the tag @thebiggerbear 💙💙

last song: Black Moon by Creeper

fav color: Blue

last book: Lovely War by Julie Berry

last movie: The Nightmare Before Christmas

last tv show: The Mandalorian

sweet/spicy/savory: Sweet!

relationship status: Single

last thing I googled: List of Horror Movie Monsters

current obsession: Jason Todd (as always) and Tea

looking forward to: Rewatching Over the Garden Wall

no pressure tags 🥰: @batchilla @sunnie-angel @jjenthusee @chaibarbie

[thetigarchives]

THE TIG ARCHIVES│FOOD│LA BOîTE

“Pondering the best job in the world? Have you considered being a spice sommelier? If not, the I highly suggest you add it to your list. Lior Lev Sercarz reigns supreme in this category, traveling the world, and carefully curating spice blends for Michelin star chefs, such as Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin. Bon Appétite name him a “Tastemaker of the Year” in 2012, and Vogue, Saveur, and Food & Wine mag are all privy to the artistry of this Israeli born, now NY based locavore. Having studied at Institut Paul Bocuse, and working under the mastery of Olivier Roellinger, Sercarz then worked as sous chef under Daniel Boulud at his NY institution Daniel. He now owns and operates La Boîte, an inviting jewel sized spice shop (and art gallery) in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen, that I had the goody-goody-gumdrops pleasure of exploring this past week.

The space holds a plethora of carefully blended spices, each reflecting a place, moment, or feeling as experienced through the mind (and incredible travels) or Lior. Take, for example, “Breeze No.5,” a blend of tea, anise, and lemon, which would be divine on a beautiful filet of arctic char. Or perhaps you’re roasting a leg of lamb and need it to have that je ne sais quoi quality, so you opt to imbue it with flavor & dimension using “Tangier No. 23,” a rose petal, cumin, and cardamom creation. Let’s just take a beat, as my friend, Tuke, and I did, to take in how perfect all of these culinary cult finds are for hostess gift. I mean...Martha Stewart would be proud. As would Emily Post. But I digress. 

Within his shop you will find signature biscuits (Lior has gone 8 years without repeating any flavors), including my personal favorite, Kerala (a bespoke blend of pan masala & turmeric flecked crisps sandwiching a rich layer of dark chocolate). This guy is on to something.

Case in point, the above [refer to pictures] are the freshly made biscuits ready to be hand picked into specialty tins, which, by the way, feature the designs of artists whose collections he puts on display on a monthly basis. To the right are pamphlets including “Figs: Ten Ways to Prepare Them” - small booklets that Lior originally published in French, and have been recently transcribed in English. Each one is hand stitched, and includes beautiful notes on the art and preparation of simple ingredients. I am certifiably obsessed with these...as with the incredible olive oil from his father’s olive grove in Israel.

All of his incredible bites can be found at www.laboiteny.com and specialized retailers in NY, such as Eataly. In addition, you can purchase Lior’s revelatory book, The Art of Blending, for your personal collections, or as a very special gift.”

- Meghan Markle, May 2014

[midwestcannibal]

Hi Emilie! So I'm almost done with s3 of tma (im on mag 109) and im losing my mind. Like wow i love all of these characters so much but i know no one is gonna be okay. And it makes me want to cry. Also I love how everyone hates being recorded and is constantly turning off the recorders. But Martin is just like, okay lets record every conversation so that my bf jon can not miss a single important moment. God i love this man. 💖

Okay sorry for the double ask, but Also!!! Martin being worried that Jon was going to be upset about him recording statements. And then Jon just being concerned for his wellbeing and telling him to make sure the others help bc he doesn’t want Martin to be as messed up by them as he is. 😭 and then Martin being genuinely surprised about Jon being concerned for him rather than upset! God these boys are gonna ruin my life arent they?? 💖 

i’m so glad u like it sm!! they rlly are amazing, and dumb as hell. they truly r life ruining as HELL i love them sm smh. and martin is the only man i kno, i love him sm and he’s so good and oh my GOD i’ll cry if i think abt him too much lmaooo. and i LOVE thinking abt what jonny is gonna do to them in s5, i kno nobody likes to talk abt it bc they like, care for the characters well beings or something like that (smh), but i am Obsessed w theorizing abt what he’s gonna do. i kno it’s. upsetting but i like to see if i’m right and knowing he has no remorse just makes me all the more excited askdfodhfryo

[cooldididesign]

30 best blogs for design inspiration

30 best interior and architecture design blogs to follow in 2020we've compiled a selection of 30 inspiring interior design blogs for all who are planning renovations or just interested in design. check it out if you search for details, dream interiors and private examples that can be useful to practicing designers. top 5 architecture and design blogs for design inspirationthere are days when we feel a strong need for new ideas. we start searching color combinations, textures, styles. antique and designer furniture, decor, textiles. hopefully, the following list of interior design and architecture blogs will help you create something new and exciting. let's find your muse! 1. the design story - designs, designers, and products the design story has a web architecture and interior design blog dedicated to the latest news and developments in architecture and design and a curated design store. the design story tells you about interior solutions that are beyond the look or the aesthetics. for instance, the blog supports and publishes stories about architecture projects for social justice, a product or a brand that stands by local empowerment, or wood colors made out of scrap mushroom. the field of coverage is endless: architecture, products, branding, typography, fmcg packaging. the mental image that the design story best aligns with is tropical and asia vernacular designs and “design with a story”. main focus: innovation, sustainability, impacts. 2. decor8blog - breaking boundaries decor8blog is one of the first blogs for interior design inspiration created in 2006. founder and editor holly becker and her team offer helpful design tips, decorating and floral ideas, and even starting a business in the design industry! the most interesting thing about this blog is “live” articles of the features of interiors of different countries. why are they “live”? because bloggers often travel and write about what they saw themselves. all this is accompanied by high quality and stylish photos! main focus: handmade, color inspiration, room tours, related books, vintage, floristry, decor tips, etc. 3. design and form - scandinavian minimalism finally, for those tired of the flow of professional news, the swedish blog offers relaxation and delight for the eyes and soul. it is led by interior designer emma, ​​who is fond of sewing, knitting, various handmade, and in every possible way cultivates a love of scandinavian minimalism. on the site, you can find step-by-step instructions for creating a box for small household items, a selection of beautiful instagram pictures and a guide to arranging a small apartment. main focus: creation, interior design, illustrations. 4. desire to inspire - beauty fever the editors of this site - kim, a web programmer from canada, and joe, an interior designer from australia - haven’t ever met in non-virtual life. they met on flickr, where they began to share photos of objects and interiors they loved. in 2006, they jointly created desire to inspire turning into a great source of design inspiration. main focus: pointing out ideas for designers, decorators, architects, stylists, photographers. 5. designlovefest - where type & images totally make out this is a case when the author's obsession grows first into a readable publication, and then a business project. the dlf blog is read by over forty thousand people a day. in addition to interiors, stylish gizmos and diy tips, you can find travel, food, entertainment and other elements of lifestyle here, which, in principle, is this blog with an emphasis on design. countless brands turn to the author and part-time owner of a design studio to develop concept campaigns. it was founded by emily bree. the blog attracts visitors with its exquisitely designed photos, distinguished by bright colors, style, and interesting graphics. if you want to create something beautiful, but don't know how, you can choose any training on the blog, from floristry to decor. by the way, there are both online workshops and live meetings with designers. convenient, isn't it? main focus: alluring and recognizable aesthetic ideas for interior design. interior design on a budget blogsif you want to decor your apartment simply and quickly, you can discover amazing concepts in the following resources: 6. flodeau - interior architecture and design studio a sophisticated blog from french designer florence do, filled with stylish interiors and details with a 1950s vibe, collecting designs from the blog owner and what she pays attention to on her many travels. main focus: custom interiors, architecture art design projects. 7. cereal - news on design, architecture, art. a beautiful magazine, reminiscent of kinfolk in spirit, and an equally beautiful site, tell not only about low-key hipster interiors, but also stylish reality. it is difficult to imagine such in everyday life, but you can look at truly beautiful photographs built on complex shades for inspiration. main focus: exciting interviews and stories of original design and fashion ideas. 8. the cool hunter - design ideas from around the globe a site with a self-explanatory name: there is always something really cool and at the same time quite simple for design inspiration. the website is full of extraordinary items that you can buy if you like to. main focus: architecture, art, lifestiles. 9. designspiration -exploring colors, ideas and inspiration designspiration was created in 2010 by designer and entrepreneur shelby white. everything about this blog is ingenious and simple - it contains only pictures and photographs, sorted by sections: interior design, architecture, art, posters, vintage design, illustrations, graphics, etc. the popularity of the resource is based on its uniqueness, diversity, the quality of those very pictures and photos. designspiration is a hub for collecting and sharing creativity. here, you can quickly find creative frameworks and share it with another person. main focus: concepts and colors 10. design milk - online store/magazine focused on modern design the creators of one of the most famous american websites for the insiders promise their readers a daily dose of vitamin d (design) - and of course they do it. "skim milk" is served every thursday - articles and reviews about minimalism. if you are looking for references to houses with laconic features of minimalist interiors - here you are. “friday five”, where designers, artists and entrepreneurs talk about 5 favorite things, will help you survive fridays and get ready for weekends. main focus: exchange, support and development of global creativity in the fields of design, art, architecture, technology and more. modern architecture blogsmodern architecture is one of the things that can truly surprise you with its forms, patterns, styles and trends. to keep up with the latest news in the field of architecture, consider the resources below. 11. travel with frank gehry this is so much more than just an architecture art design blog. its author, frank gehry, invites you to travel around the world through architecture. this modern architecture blog contains the most fashionable designer hotels, shops, restaurants in the world. by following this resource, you can actually enjoy the trip through modern architecture together with frank. 12. surface & panel another nice blog for daily life of an architect, designer, or artists. it contains a repository of ideas for work and creativity: innovative materials, technologies and only the newest projects from light and furniture designers. 13. afasia afasia is one of the most private architectural publications among the modern architecture blogs. it only publishes architecture, either realized or as concepts. if you want to read a very short note over your morning coffee about a new herzog & de meuron project, this is the site for you. 14. busyboo.com another blog dedicated to simple and minimalist design posts architectural projects, discreet interiors and industrial designs. the common sense of this project is complemented by a nice layout. here, you can feel a professional approach to everything: to the description of interiors, to interviews, to advice and life hacks, to stories about the implementation of their own projects. 15. landezine it is a stylish catalog of successful cases from the field of landscape architecture, which was invented by the slovenian designer zas brezar, which makes it stand out among other modern architecture blogs. landezine always publishes fresh and creative ideas. 16. archaic-mag archaic magazine is a blog of enthusiastic architects from berlin sharing inspiring projects. a nice feature of this site is convenient navigation through the chronology of creation, styles, materials and typology of buildings. 17. architizer this portal has set an important mission for itself - to create a large information network for architects and designers from all over the world, so that a single professional context helps to create high quality projects. that is why smart projects from different countries, not necessarily belonging to star architects, are all published in this modern architecture blog. architizer is basically a large-scale database, which contains projects of 40 thousand architectural firms and studios. there is a separate section at the mercy of manufacturers who may have the opportunity to present their products and look for potential customers. 18. archello this is a project aggregator, where content is supplied by users themselves - manufacturers, architects and designers. this is a blog where designers sort through the entire process of working on the interior, share personal mistakes, and give advice on decorating a home space. 19. archeyes this young zine about design and architecture was founded in 2016 and has already become a prominent resource. both old and new projects are published here - from louis kahn to rem koolhaas. however, young bureaus from different countries often become main objects of attention. for those who crave for intellectual entertainment, the site has a fun random tab. home interior design blogsif you are planning to decorate or redesign your home, you probably need to refer to some of the best interior design blogs to see how their authors responded to different design problems or just receive your dose of inspiration. 20. a beautiful mess kind, gentle, girlish site for the creative organization of home space. sisters elsie larson and emma chapman, founders of the blog, believe that life is great when it's a little messy. this is their life credo and the main idea of ​​this publication one of the best interior design blogs. the site has 5 sections. in each of them, you will find unusual advice that you definitely have not heard anywhere else! for example, how to make rainbow-colored toasts, a vintage car christmas tree, and wallpaper from your favorite photos. all in all, this blog is a great source of inspiration, that's for sure! 21. design sponge this interior design blog was created in 2004 by brooklyn writer grace bonney who works freelance for a number of interior magazines, both as editor and journalist. among countless pictures of design, architecture and a lot of diy tips, she publishes readers' letters with photographs of apartments "before" and "after" renovation. there is a lot of life and freedom on the blog materials. if you need more design inspiration in the middle of the renovation, visit designsponge and there you go! ideas for the kitchen, living room, nursery, vigor - all can be found here! this is an awesome blog showcasing housing inspiration ideas. 22. homestolove here, you will find practical and useful tips for creating a comfortable and stylish interior in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living room and even in the garden. you might find this one of the best interior design blogs if you are looking for ideas on how to create unusual decor and furniture items with your own hands. 23. dailyicon this is a great architecture and design site with a special focus on furniture and home accessories. the portal is equally fond of objects of modernism, furniture of the 60s and modern projects. each day of the week has its own heading: for example, monday is the day of architectural icons, thursday is reserved for interior design blog posts, and photography is offered as a sunday rest. 24. trendir this is a french interior design blog, where you can find a lot of interesting things. here, you can find examples of well thought out apartments along with collections in the spirit of blue kitchens and pastel bedrooms, which can be useful as analogues for communicating with the customer. 25. apartment therapy an american blog that covers anything and everything to do with interior design - the online bible for interior designers - is the largest interior design blog covering ideas with a practical bias. as apartment therapy themselves quite rightly say, they help their readers to make their home healthier, more beautiful and happy. 26. designhunter the author's blog of an englishwoman named catherine powell, dedicated to minimalist design in all its forms. beautiful and high-quality design products convey the beliefs of an interior critic that equals luxury and simplicity. if you agree with such a view, this is the best interior design blog to follow. best architecture magazineslet’s take a look at several important magazines that will help you better navigate the latest trends and news from the world of architecture. 27. the architectural review the most accurate , concentrated selection of projects from around the world which allows us to feel trends and discover new names. the architectural review is one of the world's best architecture magazines - and also the oldest one. it began publishing in london back in 1896. since then, its articles have been appreciated by experts for the relevance and wide coverage of problems, including landscape and architectural design, interior design, issues of urban planning and urban studies, theoretical works and research. an online version of the paper-based british magazine features amazingly beautiful photography of rare architecture and design podcasts. 28. archdaily there is a saying: if a project is not on archdaily, then it is hopelessly bad or does not exist at all. one of the best architecture magazines, archdaily is considered to be the most influential source of architectural storytelling in the world. since its foundation in 2008, archdaily regularly writes about architecture and related projects globally. to keep up with the latest innovations, archdaily has recently launched experiments using vr for better impressions and visualizations of modern design solutions. 29. dezeen dezeen is one of the world's most respected design magazines. millions of users visit it every month in search of news, ideas, and projects. this is a magazine that measures the steepness of architectural and design objects in person. here, everything is so stylish and well thought out that even advertising is "in its place". it was founded in 2006 and almost immediately entered the top of specialized publications. it has a strict editorial filter collecting the best examples of architecture, product design and interior design from around the world. in 2013, according to the times, it was included in the list of 50 sites "without which it is impossible to live", being on a par with such giants as google, facebook, wikipedia. about 3 million people visit dezeen every month. 30. dwell dwell is a unique paper-based and online magazine created in 2000 by lara hedberg deam and karrie jacobs. their key goal is to provide valuable information about architecture, design and technology for both professionals and enthusiasts in the field. the blog is now quite popular not only among architects but in the american culture. at the end of 2016, the magazine launched modern by dwell magazine - a selection of up to 200 creations for target. composed by dwell's creative director of products design chris deam and nick dine, the selection combines furniture and decoration items. final word for inspirationthere are so many design blogs and each guarantees a dose of aesthetic satisfaction! each has its own theme, design, ideas. but they have one key thing in common - a course for inspiration. hope you are now filled with awesome ideas and ready to create! cover photo credits: ricardo bassetti https://bit.ly/39Tbb7h

[alongcameacyborg]

tagged by @txruiism (i think i did ths but w/e)

Name: aja jade

Nickname(s): starry calls me mom. alyx calls me sweet bean. 

Gender: woman with some non committal grunts 

Star Sign: taurus

Height: 4′11″

Sexual Orientation: lesbian

Hogwarts House: ravenpuff

Favorite Color: purple, green, earthtones 

Favorite Animal: cows, pitbulls, cuttlefish, owls, sphynx cats, goats 

Avg. Hours of Sleep: 6

Cats or Dogs?: yes 

Favorite Fictional Characters: im gonna try to list ones i don’t usually list. darth maul(stor wor), jack skellington(nightmare b4 xmas), emily the corpse bride, peridot(su), sciezcka(fma), grim (the grim adventures of billy and mandy), tak (invader zim), captain elizabeth swann-turner (pirates), blind mag (repo!), lore-keeper zinnia (pkmn oras)

Favorite Singer/Band: pink floyd, the jimi hendrix experience, the birthday massacre, joy division, the cure, the wombats, janelle monae, ludo, the kills, the killers, voltaire, daveed diggs, alice smith, muse... there’s like way more but y’know

Dream Trip: *spins wheel* stonehenge

Dream Job: actor and vocalist 

When was this blog made?: technically last may or june, but my original sideblog was made last april. 

Follower Count: 126 :’D

What made you make this blog?: i didn’t really like anyone’s villain genos (until i found vilesporadic’s but that was much later) so i made this blog on a whim and made a villain genos who... really isn’t all that different from the other villain genoses out there. i just didn’t like that obsessive aspect about them.i feel like he’s often like this killer to get the attention of saitama etc, but tbh i just like the idea of genos being a cold-blooded killer after being so distanced from his own humanity like just, sitting there dissecting bodies, finding them to be so alien. ‘wow i used to have that in my body?’ and sometimes he has fun manipulating his victims before he actually kills them, but at the end of the day he just really loves to watch people die. that tied into the extreme hypocrisy of it, and how he lost his very self etc etc. he’s part Nny, part Sweeney Todd in that regard.so in other words, the shit i liked when i was 12 is the shit i like in my 20s. go figure. 

[didilysims]

Cordelia: So, uh, I know it’s none of my business, but blame the reporter for being nosy: Why did you decide to get a divorce? 

Bernie: Well, I’m surprised you missed the local gossip about it, but a divorce was actually my ex-wife’s idea. She found out about the “other woman.” 

Cordelia: The Chronicle is not some gossipy rag mag. But now that you mention it, that does sound familiar. Mind if I pry some more? What made you pursue this “other woman”? 

Bernie: This is all strictly off the record, right? 

Cordelia: Naturally. Like I said, my paper is not about gossip. I’m just curious for...personal reasons. 

Bernie: Ah, trouble with the lawyer friend, is it? I get it. To be perfectly honest, if Allegra hadn’t found out, I would have left her anyway. She was obsessed with her work. Never had any time for me anyway. I tried to be there for her, tried to do nice things to get her attention, but it was never enough. And then Emily swooped in, and I knew--with one simple kiss--that this was what I wanted, no: what I needed in a relationship. Someone who was there for me, someone who actually cared about me, you know?  

Cordelia: Yeah...I guess I do. 

Bernie: Once I realized that, I felt trapped in my marriage--shackled, if you will. So I’m glad it’s over. It was messy, but it never should have happened in the first place. Now I’m starting over, and I know that what Emily and I have, that’s the real deal. 

Cordelia: Any regrets? 

Bernie: Well, my daughter now hates me, but I’m sure she’ll come around...eventually. 

Cordelia: Kids certainly complicate things. Oh look at that--I win! 

[harryandmeghan0-blog]

A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding Is the Worst of All 42 Holiday Movies I've Watched This Year - Oprah Mag

New Post has been published on https://harryandmeghan.xyz/a-christmas-prince-the-royal-wedding-is-the-worst-of-all-42-holiday-movies-ive-watched-this-year-oprah-mag/

A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding Is the Worst of All 42 Holiday Movies I've Watched This Year - Oprah Mag

I have un-ironically watched—and mostly adored—every overtly cheesy Hallmark (and, okay, even Lifetime) holiday movie to date. Yes, even a A Shoe Addict’s Christmas.

So when I say that Netflix’s A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding offended every tinsel-filled fiber of my Santa-obsessed soul, I’m coming from the place of a girl who has an excessively high tolerance for holiday schmaltz and who ranks the original Christmas Prince high on her list of favorites.

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Netflix’s 2017 breakout hit was so popular, in fact, that 53 people watched the first A Christmas Prince when it was released every single day…for 18 days. And I understood their compulsion.

To the 53 people who’ve watched A Christmas Prince every day for the past 18 days: Who hurt you?

— Netflix US (@netflix) December 11, 2017

The film centered on Amber, (Rose McIver) an undercover journalist who flew to the magical land of Aldovia (it’s not a real country) to report on purported playboy Prince Richard (Ben Lamb) who was considering abdicating the throne after his father’s death. Amber pretends to be the tutor of his grumbly wheelchair-bound kid sister, Emily, to get the inside scoop. She ultimately wins over Emily (the unsung hero of the films), and then Richard follows. He becomes king. They get engaged. Happily ever after, of course.

Netflix

Well, the ever after comes in the sequel, The Royal Wedding. Here’s the gist for those who don’t have 93 minutes to spare and enjoy spoilers: After splitting time between countries, Amber returns to Aldovia with her dad (more on him later) to commence quickly planning (and executing) her wedding. Aldovia is mysteriously hemorrhaging money, leaving most of the townspeople all bah humbug because their wages have been diminished.

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Apparently, there’s no accountant in the entire country, so King Richard is on the case. Which, obviously, leaves him too distracted to spend time with his betrothed. He can’t even pick out a Christmas tree with Amber—the thing she’s “most excited for in the entire world”! Luckily, with a little computer hacking, whip-smart Emily discovers that the town’s embezzler is one of their own, and Christmas—as well as the royal wedding happening on Christmas—is saved.

Believe it or not, the ridiculous plot—which is to be expected of my beloved genre—is not even the problem. Here’s all the reasons why I was disappointed by A Royal Wedding.

Let’s start with the stereotypical portrayal of Rudy, Amber’s Brooklyn stooge of a dad.

When we first meet Rudy, the affable widowed diner owner who we assume put Amber through school one greasy burger at a time, he’s gruff, yet fatherly. In the sequel, however, Rudy was not only recast, but also given a lot more screen time. The new Rudy, portrayed by John Guerrasio, is a caricature of what someone who’s never been to the U.S. probably assumes all New Yorkers are like.

To be fair, as a New Yorker I can say that some of us are like Rudy (hey, Uncle Frankie!), but that doesn’t mean he needs to carry on like a “cafone,” as my Italian family would call his daffy, fish-out-of-water antics. Though, fine, it was pretty sweet when he brought the similarly stereotypical chef of questionable Eastern European descent a bouquet of flowers.

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But even more offensive was that Sahil guy.

Netflix

As an avid viewer of similar holiday films who recognizes that the lead actresses usually look like prettier versions of myself (read: non-minorities), my biggest gripe is never the unbelievable plotlines, but the lack of inclusion. So the fact that Royal Wedding‘s only attempt at diversity was Sahil, a clichéd gay Indian wedding designer who is just plain rude to our heroine, was definitely an issue. Come on, Netflix: we can do better.

And, Amber: Did it ever occur to you that maybe you should follow royal protocol?

I mean, do you think Meghan Markle ever complained when she had to shut down her personal blog, the Tig? Or, when she quit acting to play the biggest role of her career? Well, maybe. But still, I assume—despite rumors the media would have us believe—that Markle wasn’t whiny about giving up elements of her past life to become a duchess. Of course no woman, including fictitious Amber, should sacrifice her identity for marriage. Buuuuut, we are talking about marrying a King here, so maybe have some perspective?

Netflix

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Amber is hellbent on using her random dot com to break news about Aldovian suffering. When you’re a queen-to-be, perhaps you shouldn’t be investigative reporting at the local Aldovian watering hole. Sure, do as Princess Diana did and be “of” the people, but no need to be all Carrie Bradshaw about it.

Plus, are you really turning down the crown jewels?

Amber wanted to pay homage to her late mother by wearing her necklace on her wedding day. Nothing but respect for that, but isn’t there a compromise between shirking the royal tradition of wearing priceless baubles and keeping her mom’s photo close? Surely there’s an emerald locket lying around. And what’s a royal wedding without a tiara? Was that prop not in the production budget?

On that note, it’s your wedding. Maybe get a manicure?

We endured an entire mani-pedi party scene with Amber’s two besties who flew in for the affair, and yet Amber’s not even wearing polish down the aisle. Or was the entire point of that scene to show Amber painting her gay pal’s toes pink because the writers fancied themselves “woke” by showcasing a one-dimensional homosexual character?

Plus, the film missed an opportunity to make another parallel between Amber and Meghan Markle. Amber could have worn Essie’s Ballet Slippers—the Queen’s favorite shade that the duchess donned on her special day—which would have delighted royal family stans because we are here and we are paying attention.

I digress. A bride’s choice to shellac her nails is her prerogative. But to me, the lack of polish coupled with the underwhelming updo represented either a low production value or a lack of the same kind of attention to detail the first film had in spades.

The fatal flaw: We don’t see “His Royal Hotness” nearly enough.

Netflix

What’s the point of watching a rom-com if the two romantic leads are seldom featured together? Sure, it worked for Sleepless in Seattle, but Sleepless in Seattle this is not. Maybe there were scheduling issues, or perhaps it comes back down to the script being rubbish, but I signed up to watch these two beauties rekindle their Part One chemistry. Even the Prince’s sweet soliloquy in which he tries to win Amber back after her “I want to blog!” temper tantrum isn’t enough to redeem this movie. Because in the end, he can tell us all the reasons he loves Amber, but we need to see it in abundant hand-holding, snow fighting, and tree decorating.

Pardon all of this negativity. Netflix sets the bar high, and now I feel like I was let down by a trusted friend. Alas. At least we’ll always have The Princess Switch.

Source: https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/tv-movies/a25380646/a-christmas-prince-royal-wedding-review/

[omnivore-bibliosaur]

Image via Audio Publishers Association

  On May 31st, the Audio Publishers Association revealed its selection of award-winning audiobook productions from the past year at its annual celebration. The 2018 Audie Award Winners span numerous categories, including Audiobook of the Year, individual and group performances, marketing, production, and various genres. 

Click HERE for a full list of finalists in each category.

    AUDIOBOOK OF THE YEAR Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders Narrated by Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, George Saunders, and a full cast Random House Audio

AUDIO DRAMA Brother Francis: The Barefoot Saint of Assisi by Paul McCusker Read by Joseph Timms, Owen Teale, and Geoffrey Palmer, et al. Augustine Institute

AUTOBIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen Narrated by Bruce Springsteen Simon & Schuster Audio

BEST FEMALE NARRATOR The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Narrated by Bahni Turpin HarperAudio

BEST MALE NARRATOR Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah Narrated by Trevor Noah Audible Studios

BUSINESS/PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Peak Performance by Brad Stullberg and Steve Magness Narrated by Christopher Lane Brilliance Publishing

EROTICA Claim & Protect by Rhenna Morgan Narrated by John Lane Harlequin Audio

EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN In Death Limited Collector’s Edition by J.D. Robb Design by Carissa Dreese Brilliance Publishing

EXCELLENCE IN MARKETING Transform Your Commute Campaign Penguin Random House Audio

EXCELLENCE IN PRODUCTION Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle and Stephen Fry Narrated by Stephen Fry Audible Studios

FANTASY The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss Narrated by Kate Reading Simon & Schuster Audio

FICTION Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman Narrated by Cathleen McCarron Penguin Audio

HISTORY/BIOGRAPHY Loving Vs. Virginia by Patricia Hruby Powell Narrated by Adenrele Ojo and MacLeod Andrews Dreamscape Media

HUMOR Carpet Diem: Or…How to Save the World by Accident by Justin Lee Anderson Narrated by by Matthew Lloyd Davies, published by Tantor Audio, a division of Recorded Books

INSPIRATIONAL/FAITH-BASED FICTION Catching the Wind by Melanie Dobson Narrated by Nancy Peterson Two Words Publishing

INSPIRATIONAL/FAITH-BASED NON-FICTION Fire Road: The Napalm Girl’s Journey Through the Horrors of War to Faith, Forgiveness, and Peace by Kim Phuc Phan Thi Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller HighBridge Audio, a division of Recorded Books

LITERARY FICTION & CLASSICS House of Names by Colm Toibin Narrated by Juliet Stevenson, et al. Simon & Schuster Audio

MIDDLE GRADE See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng Narrated by Kivlighan de Montebello, Brittany Pressley, Michael Crouch, et al. Listening Library

MULTI-VOICED PERFORMANCE Restart by Gordon Korman Narrated by Jonathan Todd Ross, Laura Knight Keating, Ramon de Ocampo, et al. Recorded Books

MYSTERY The Girl Who Takes An Eye for An Eye by David Lagercrantz Narrated by Simon Vance Random House Audio

NARRATION BY THE AUTHOR OR AUTHORS Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman Narrated by Neil Gaiman HarperAudio

NON-FICTION American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West by Nate Blakeslee Narrated by Mark Bramhall Random House Audio

ORIGINAL WORK Romeo and Juliet: A Novel by David Hewson Narrated by by Richard Armitage Audible Studios

PARANORMAL Curse on the Land: SoulWood, Book 2 by Faith Hunter Narrated by Khristine Hvam Audible Studios

ROMANCE The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare Narrated by by Mary Jane Wells HarperAudio

SCIENCE FICTION Provenance by Ann Leckie Narrated by Adjoa Andoh Hachette Audio

SHORT STORIES/COLLECTIONS The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo Narrated by by Lauren Fortgang Audible Studios

THRILLER/SUSPENSE The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Barker Narrated by Edoardo Ballerini and Graham Winton Recorded Books

YOUNG ADULT The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Narrated by by Bahni Turpin HarperAudio

YOUNG LISTENERS (UP TO AGE 8) Trombone Shorty by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews Narrated by Dion Graham Live Oak Media

2018 Audie Award Winners On May 31st, the Audio Publishers Association revealed its selection of award-winning audiobook productions from the past year at its…

[reviewkidoodle]

7 Ways to Make Life Work with Kids

I’ve had so many people say to me “how are you do it all?!?” and so today I thought I’d share with you my top seven tips. If you are new to the blog we have two biological children, ages 7 and 5, and 17 month old twins that we are in the process of adopting. Our goal is for us to lead a full life but not a hectic or crazy one (although sometimes it’s both hectic and crazy!). These tips will reduce chaos in your home and in your mind plus will give you and your children some semblance of calmness and order. And please know that many times our home feels like it’s lacking calmness simply because there are children with an abundance of energy running around… this isn’t a fool proof guide to leading a simple life but when AJ and I follow these guidelines it’s amazing how much easier our life seems to go.

Prioritize what is most important at that moment.

Without a doubt that has had to be the number one operating principle. I can’t do it all. I can’t get out the door with four kids and have them be on time to things and leave a perfectly clean house each morning. So I choose to have everyone look decent and be on time for school (often the babies are still in PJs while I do this) and know I can deal with the house when I get back from school drop off and errands. As Emily Ley says “I will hold myself to a standard of grace not perfection”.

Another example, dinner prep time isn’t always the easiest time of day. Sometimes I just throw the towel in and say “I’m not going to have a pulled together house when AJ gets home… but I’m going to have happy kids” and I’ll let the babies throw everything out of the cabinets. I pick my battles.

Early morning is key.

We have done our errands bright and early since Drew was little. If I am at stores when they open or shortly after everyone is in better shape because of it. There are less people at the store which means it’s just an easier shopping trip to start off with and I’m getting everything over with right before naps. I always find the traffic to be a lot less when I go first thing as well so just getting there starts me off on the right foot. Sometimes just the 15 minute power nap that the babies take in the car is enough to push them through to the later napping time I like (earlier naps = hellish dinner prep hour).

Have a “uniform”.

This spring my uniform has been a pair of skinny jeans (I rotate between two pairs, but mostly these affordable white skinnies that I buy in petite because I’m 5’3) and a cute top with leather flip flops or wedges. All summer long I wear dresses or bathing suits every day. I don’t even own a pair of shorts (other than running shorts). The simple choice of choosing a dress keeps me looking pulled together and takes about half a second to decide what to wear (even faster than choosing which workout clothes to put on!!!). I do the majority of my shopping at Marshalls or J. Crew Factory (I regularly get their emails announcing sales and wait to purchase items for when they are having additional percentages off).

The kids clothes are from an amazing kids consignment shop, Marshalls or J. Crew Factory. I feel like I’m purchasing clothes constantly but I have the same general principles with them to making picking out clothes simple. Elle has a closet full of dresses and Drew has a few pairs of shorts / jeans that he will pair with cute t-shirts from J. Crew Factory or polo shirts.

We’ve taught our kids ownership

Every morning Drew and Elle need to make their bed in a 5 star way (5 star differs for each age) and then I like to have them spend at least 10 minutes every day neatening up their room. This is flexible… some days it’s 10 minutes, some days it’s zero and some days it’s 30 minutes.

They will help sort laundry and always put their own clothes away (I will do all the hang up stuff). I never fold their clothes. I let them just put it directly into the drawer and if it needs to be ironed I’ll do that for them in the morning. I can’t even begin to tell you how much stress it saves from not folding everyone’s things.

I cannot stress enough how important it’s been to give them jobs from a young age because now, even though they will sometimes moan and groan about their jobs, they generally know what’s expected of them (and yes, I still usually have to encourage them to do their jobs… they aren’t that good yet ;)).

This Melissa & Doug job chart is a pretty good one if you want a reusable one!

TV Time

We hide our TV behind the painting!

This is a hotly debated topic but I have zero problem with letting them watch some TV if it helps me get stuff done. They can watch a show in the morning if it’s before 6:30am while I get breakfast and lunches together and then watch another show while I make dinner if their rooms are clean, homework is done and the downstairs is picked up. The TV is right in the kitchen area so I always know what they are watching.

We don’t have cable to save money, we instead subscribe to Netflix and Amazon Prime (which has some great kids TV shows and movies!).

Timers

Timers are one of my go-to tricks for all areas of my life. Often I will set the timer for five minutes and give the kids that amount of time to run upstairs and get their clothes on. Then three minutes to brush their teeth. Five minutes to make the bed… you catch my drift. It’s never a race of the kids going against each other (because I always find that results in fighting) but it’s a race against themselves.

I do the same thing for myself and I’ve started memorizing how long it takes me to actually do things. I know emptying and putting away everything from the dishwasher takes between 5-6 minutes. Cleaning my kitchen floor takes 10 minutes. Scrubbing a toilet takes about one minute. Breaking down jobs into little bite sized pieces changes the way cleaning looks. So at the end of the night, when everyone is finally in bed, all I want to do is sit on the couch but I know I need to clean the kitchen and vacuum the floor (ps: this is my favorite vacuum ever ,it’s super affordable and even works for cleaning the car!). Knowing that I can have the kitchen looking pretty spotless in 20 minutes seems manageable most nights. But some nights I’ll just set the timer for 10 minutes and tell myself that’s all I have to do… it’s a mind game. I hustle for 10 minutes and then I’m on such a roll most times I end up spending an additional 10 minutes polishing the space off.

Plan Plan Plan… and don’t be afraid to say no

I would be totally lost without my planner. I need to write everything down and check in with my planner at the beginning of each day to make sure I know what’s going on. Often I will write down my to-do items in specific spots in the scheduled part of the day so I know I can fit them in.

Recently I said no to a really fun morning book club with some of my best girlfriends because it was one of my three mornings a week with nothing while the babies were napping. Sometimes to stay sane I just need to say “no” and do stuff around the house… being an introvert means I really need that time by myself to rejuvenate.

Lastly… bonus tip: Say YES to things that rejuvenate.

Work out… even if it’s hard

AJ and I usually give each other time to work out each day. If I know only one of us has a chance to exercise I’ll do my BBG workout with the kids around. It’s total chaos but they see me making a healthy decision and I get it done while being with them… plus they think it’s hysterical to do the exercises with me. (In June I’ll be sharing the results of my 12 weeks doing this program!)

Say YES to getting away

Over April vacation we took the big kids to Florida and stayed at my in-laws condo. Say yes to a vacation that saves cash (we didn’t have to pay for a hotel) and gives you much needed time away! Save for it and get it on the schedule!

One of our best times was when when my parents took the kids for a weekend and AJ and I had a staycation in our own home!

Say YES to easy dinners and desserts

For the past six months or so I’ve been obsessed with All Recipes magazine and making the easy meals for my family out of the mag. It’s about $10 for six issues and it’s choc a block full of good ideas.

Also, have some EASY desserts to bring to a friend’s house for dinner. This 10 Minute Chocolate Mousse does the trick.

Say YES to furniture that makes your life easier

In December we traded in our old clip on to the table high chairs for these ridiculously easy to clean plastic ones. I can’t tell you how much less stress these are to keep clean.

 What are YOUR tips for making your home work?

The post 7 Ways to Make Life Work with Kids appeared first on Migonis Home.

7 Ways to Make Life Work with Kids posted first on aireloomreview.blogspot.com

[wp-yahoo-style-1042-yahoopa-blog]

Why plus-size women can't pose seductively with food like Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski

In a recent video shoot for Love magazine, Emily Ratajkowski slathered herself in spaghetti. That same week, Vogue Italia released photos from its “Celebration Issue” featuring Bella Hadid and Lily Aldridge holding up chickens and posing with big feasts.

#thenewvogueitalia #TheCelebrationIssue out now ❣️❣️ ⭐️s: Natasha Poly @natashapoly Lily Aldridge @lilyaldridge Irina Shayk @irinashayk Sara Sampaio @sarasampaio Mariacarla Boscono @iosonomariacarlaboscono by #mertandmarcus @mertalas @macpiggott by Patti Wilson @patti_wilson Editor in chief @efarneti Creative director @gb65 hair Odile Gilbert @odilegilbert_official make-up Lisa Eldrige @ Streeters @lisaeldridgemakeup manicure Anatole Rainey @ Premier Hair and Make-up @anatolerainey casting Piergiorgio Del Moro @pg_dmcasting and Samuel Ellis Scheinman @samuel_ellis set design Emma Roach @ Streeters @emmaroachstudio on set Across Media Production @acrossmediaprod special thanks to Lapérouse, Paris

A post shared by Vogue Italia (@vogueitalia) on Dec 5, 2017 at 4:58am PST

It’s lauded as “editorial” and “chic,” and people commented, “This is fabulous!” and “My kind of dinner date!”

In other words, people see the food featured alongside the thin models as simply props in a photo shoot, and perhaps something different and “real.” But what would happen if curvy or plus-size women modeled in the same ways? Would readers call them sexy and salivate at the thought of dining in their presence? History, and curvy women, say definitely not.

Plus-size model and mental health advocate Callie Thorpe not only sees the huge double standard, but has lived it. Just a photo of her breakfast once prompted someone to tell her, “You shouldn’t eat that. This is why you are unhealthy.”

“When slim women share images of themselves eating doughnuts and pizza, people think it’s fine (which by the way … there is no issue with women eating food in photos),” she says. “If a plus-size woman/fat woman were to do this, they would be accused of being unhealthy, greedy, gluttonous, and wasteful.”

Find joy in the little things, like getting whipped cream on your nose drinking really delicious hot chocolate ❤️

A post shared by Callie Thorpe (@calliethorpe) on Dec 5, 2017 at 10:16am PST

Not to mention, when a thinner woman posts a photo with or eating food, her health is rarely ever questioned, despite body size being an unreliable indicator of health.

Of course, women, thin or curvy, are shamed for other things when posing with food or not — Piers Morgan called Ratajkowski “stupid” and slut-shamed her for her sexy spaghetti shoot. But there is an inherent aversion to plus-size women with food, period.

The wait is over!☃️#LOVEADVENT2017 is OUT! Link in bio @thelovemagazine @kegrand @sallylyndley @philpoynter

A post shared by Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) on Dec 3, 2017 at 6:32am PST

Anna Shillinglaw, a former model and founder of MiLK Management (an agency that promotes diversity, representing the top curve and plus-size models and influencers) would know.

“There are still double standards when it comes to women and food in the media, and if a plus-size model slathered themselves in food in a sexy or provocative way, the reaction would absolutely be different, which is wrong,” she tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

And when bigger women do pose with food, it’s often to fight back.

In 2016, Aerie Real’s “role model” Iskra Lawrence posted an Instagram photo of herself in a huge pile of chips. The media went wild, calling her photo a “clapback,” which it was. But the hyped reaction proved the point that curvy women posing with food can’t be just accepted. It can’t stand on its own as just a photo of a girl with some chips — it has to serve a greater purpose.

The most ironic thing is, some of the shoots echo one of the earlier plus-size women-with-food defiers, French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld. She published an editorial of then-plus-size model Crystal Renn gorging on all kinds of dishes for the magazine’s shoot “Festin,” which translates to “Banquet,” seven years before their sister mag’s latest “Celebration” issue came out.

This whole fashion and food thing in new Vogue Italia is perhaps very much inspired by something Roitfeld did a few years ago. pic.twitter.com/wiDjzgoYYc

— O.O. (@ndakogboya) December 5, 2017

So why does our society equate sexuality to food — and why can’t it just let women of any size pose with whatever they want, food included? Amanda M. Czerniawski, PhD and author of Fashioning Fat: Inside Plus-Size Modeling, says food and thin bodies actually have a natural connection.

“Food can have a very sensual quality,” she says. “We’re more likely to accept that kind of imagery, [because] we have this obsession with trying to understand what they do with their bodies.”

She says the problem people have with bigger bodies being able to express themselves with food similarly comes down to people’s own conditioned insecurities.

“We have this perception that larger bodies are undisciplined and lazy,” she explains. “[Coupled with] obesity and fear of obesity — the news will show larger bodies — and the juxtaposition of larger bodies and fast food corroborates the anxiety and fear over that. When we see larger models and food, it intensities that anxiety.”

There is hope though. Both Shillinglaw and Czerniawski have seen positive changes over the years. For instance, thin models were more accepted in less clothing when plus-size women weren’t. Czerniawski says now, they’ve rejected the notion they have to cover their bodies, and the same is slowly happening with food. Until then, it’s about accepting that a model or woman, no matter her body size, has the right to pose with whatever she pleases, even if it’s a loads of chips or spaghetti.

“[Food is] an intimate thing. But when you have a whole class of people who are stigmatized because of eating, it’s highly problematic,” says Czerniawski. “Maybe we should have models of all shapes and sizes eating together.”

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: 

Missouri state Rep. Cora Faith Walker is here to change her state’s politics

Breastfeeding mom kicked off of Spirit Airlines flight: ‘It was humiliating to be chased off a plane’

2018 will be the biggest year for ‘wellness’ yet

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