#goodbye rulebook

[shadyfestivalperfection]

The Roommate Rulebook~1

Summery: When a campus housing glitch sticks you with Peter Parker as your roommate, things start rocky—he’s always disappearing, hogs the shower, and leaves weird bruises and tech parts around. But as late-night ramen turns into real conversations and comfort, you slowly start to fall for him… only to discover he’s hiding a much bigger secret than you imagined.

Characters: College!Peter Parker (T.H.) x College!F!Reader

Note: All characters except Peter Parker, Ned, MJ and Dr. Ock are mine!

||Master List||

Chapter 1: The Glich

You were sweating.

Not from the heat—not entirely. More from the combination of lugging two duffel bags, a suitcase, and a mini fan across campus while trying to pretend you totally weren’t dying inside. Your parents had kissed you goodbye ten minutes ago with matching expressions of pride and quiet panic. Your mom had cried. Twice. You had waved them off with a forced smile and a whispered “I got this.”

You did not, in fact, got this.

Still, you’d made it to your dorm building, climbed the narrow staircase to the third floor, and found your room—room 308—exactly where the welcome email said it would be.

What you didn’t expect was that it would already be half-occupied.

The door was slightly ajar. There was music playing faintly inside—some soft instrumental playlist with no lyrics. Your heart stuttered as you stepped forward and knocked.

“Hey, sorry,” you called out. “Is this room 308?”

The music lowered. A voice answered—muffled, then clearer as the door swung open.

“Yeah—wait—uh…” The guy blinked at you from the doorway, confusion written all over his face. “Are you… Y/N L/N?”

You blinked. “Yeah. And you are… definitely not my roommate.”

He let out a startled laugh. “Okay, weird. I was just about to say the same thing.”

You glanced over his shoulder into the room.

One side had already been claimed—sheets on the bed, a cluttered desk filled with tangled wires, small gadgets, and notebooks scribbled with handwriting too small to read. A backpack was slumped beside the bed, unzipped and overflowing with chargers. The other side? Completely untouched.

“I think there’s been a mistake,” you said slowly.

“Uh-huh. Pretty sure.” He scratched the back of his neck. “I’m Peter. Peter Parker.”

He offered you a hand, looking somewhere between sheepish and awkwardly charming. You shook it out of politeness, your brow furrowed.

“There’s no way they’d assign me a guy as a roommate,” you muttered. “I requested Mia Carson weeks ago. Got the confirmation and everything.”

Peter nodded. “Yeah, no, I was supposed to be with a guy named Raj. We texted over the summer. Unless you’re Raj?”

You shot him a flat look.

“Didn’t think so,” he mumbled, then stepped back. “Wanna come in? We can call the RA. Figure out what went wrong.”

You hesitated, then dragged your suitcase inside and dropped your duffel with a sigh. “This is ridiculous.”

Peter had already grabbed his phone and started typing. You took a seat on the edge of your assigned bed, surveying the disaster you’d walked into.

“I don’t mean to offend you,” you said after a beat, “but this feels like a disaster waiting to happen.”

Peter glanced up. “Why would I be offended? I feel the same way. I haven’t even told my Aunt May yet—she’ll probably sue someone.”

You snorted.

Five minutes and one very unhelpful phone call later, your shoulders slumped as you ended the call with the Housing Office.

Peter watched your expression carefully. “Bad news?”

“Apparently,” you said flatly, “there was a software glitch over the summer. They reassigned a bunch of people. Mia’s now living in Oak Hall across campus. They’re at full capacity, and it’s ‘too late to correct assignments at this time.’”

Peter winced. “Yikes.”

“I could try to get a transfer, but they said the waitlist is insane.” You looked at him. “Do you… wanna try and swap?”

He shrugged. “I mean, I could, but my old roommate already moved into someone else’s room. And I kinda need to stay close to the science building for my work-study.”

You exhaled, rubbing your temples. “Fantastic.”

“I swear,” Peter said quickly, “I’m not a total slob. I don’t party, I don’t bring random people over. I mostly just keep to myself.”

You raised a brow. “What do you actually do?”

He blinked. “Like, generally?”

“No,” you said dryly, “specifically. Why does your desk look like Tony Stark’s garage threw up on it?”

Peter laughed. “Okay, that’s fair. I… tinker. With tech. Robotics, circuitry. I’m in the engineering program.”

You glanced at the blinking device on his desk. “Does that thing… make toast or explode?”

“Both,” he said cheerfully. “Depending on the setting.”

You let out a reluctant laugh despite yourself.

Peter gave a shy grin. “Look, if it helps, we can come up with some rules? Like… roommate boundaries. Make it easier.”

You paused. “Rules?”

“Yeah. Like…” He grabbed a marker from his desk and tossed it toward the whiteboard hanging by the door. “Rule one: No panicking.”

You raised an eyebrow. “That’s for you, isn’t it?”

“Mostly, yeah.”

You stood, walked over to the board, and uncapped the marker.

“Fine,” you said, writing quickly. “Rule two: No shirtless lounging.”

Peter looked scandalized. “I wasn’t planning on shirtless lounging.”

“Good,” you said, underlining it. “Let’s keep it that way.”

He tried not to look smug as he added, “Rule three: Don’t touch the gadgets.”

“Rule four,” you shot back, “don’t wake me up before 8 a.m. unless there’s a fire. Or a spider. No—wait, even if it’s a spider, let it kill me.”

Peter snorted. “Duly noted.”

The room fell into a companionable silence as you both stared at the slowly growing rulebook on the wall. Something about it felt strangely comforting.

You finally turned and looked at him. “Alright, Peter Parker. Guess we’re stuck with each other.”

His smile softened. “Looks that way.”

You climbed onto your bed, sinking into the mattress, feeling the exhaustion of the day finally crash over you.

Peter, now back at his desk, muttered something under his breath as he fiddled with his tech again. Something sparked with a quiet zap.

You rolled your eyes. “Rule five: If you blow us up, I’m haunting you.”

He didn’t even look up. “Deal.”

You didn’t know it yet, but move-in day was the beginning of everything. Of chaos and late-night arguments and shared secrets and a love story written in mismatched bedsheets and midnight snacks.

And as far as college disasters went, this one… might actually be kind of perfect.

-to be continued

[lixiesfreckless]

Early | l. m.

➸ synopsis: God, you want him so bad it's almost pathetic.

➸ starring: lee minho x female reader

➸ word count: 2.5k

➸ general content: acquaintance!minho, reader is horrendously down bad, insane amounts of pining, like- this entire fic is just the reader pining for him lmao

➸ warnings: mentions of alcohol, mild swearing

➸ rating: teen+

➸ author’s note: I'd like to thank @ashonheavenscloud for the ending idea. sorry for the readers I'm about to blueball

♫ early- junny, soulbysel(THIS IS LITERALLY THE INSPO FOR THE FIC)

“Yeah, I can take her home.”

Ryujin claps a little too loudly, courtesy of the several drinks she had shotgunned an hour before.

“Thank you bestest older brother in the universe,” she slurs, wrapping her arms around the older man, who was furrowing his eyebrows in mild discomfort. You stand there awkwardly, already feeling like you were inconveniencing him as well.

As bad as you felt about it though, you couldn't help the nervousness creeping through your veins at the thought of being alone with Minho.

It's not as if you've never been alone with him. You have; just in transitional spaces. Waiting for the rest of the friend group to show up. Waiting for different trains at the metro station. Waiting for the closer mutual friend to come back from the restroom. Hell, him dropping you off wasn’t really any different.

You really don't talk to him much at all, which makes it all the more ridiculous that you even have a crush on him.

And yet, you just let it fester, held back by the classic best-friend’s-older-brother unofficial rulebook. But you think even if he wasn't related to Ryujin, you still wouldn't make a move, simply too shy to find out what was under his impenetrable blank stare and trademark doc martens.

After snatching up your purse, you quickly say goodbye to your friends before catching Minho at the door.

“Sorry about all this again–”

“I was already on my way out, don't sweat it.”

Minho holds the door to the club open for you, and you step out into the crisp coolness of night, trying to appear as collected as the man walking beside you.

“My car is just around the corner, I'm just gonna grab some water for you from the store, okay?”

You find yourself nodding, although you're barely paying attention; you are focusing on averting your gaze from his face, careful as to not give yourself any more daydreaming material.

His car has one of those proximity keys, so there's no cheerful chirp letting the block know that he's about to open the passenger side door for you. Which is how it should be, because that is not a monumental occasion.

Except oh my god, Lee Minho just opened the door for you to get into his car, you might as well be married at this point.

You watch as he disappears into the little corner convenience store, and returns in record time, barely giving you any time to rehearse any cool sounding conversation starters. Then again, it's not like there would be a long line at well past three in the morning.

Shit. You're in Lee Minho’s car going to your house at three in the morning.

Your thoughts are cut off by Minho jumping into the driver’s side, swiftly starting the car and dropping two bottles of water into the cupholders.

“You live right in front of the memorial park right?”

You settle on a hum, not trusting your voice to sound calm in the slightest as his hand reaches for the gear shift. Coincidentally, that's the same time you choose to take your bottle of water from the center console.

And this is how you learn that Minho’s hands are softer than they look.

You don't stand a chance against the tidal wave of thoughts that flood your mind immediately after the accidental contact, your mind suddenly reeling with images of his hands cradling your face, sliding behind your neck, around your waist, through your hair–

“Sorry,” you squeak out, immediately seizing the bottle and twisting it open, desperate for something to lower your rising body temperature. He actually chuckles in response, and the sound has you focusing on the cool leather seat against your bare back in an attempt to round up your remaining brain cells.

He pulls the car away from the curb, beginning what will probably be the longest ten minutes of your life.

There are some things you pick up on immediately.

For one, Minho predominantly drives with one hand.

You honestly don't get how he looks so relaxed doing it either, side profile completely at ease as his right hand absentmindedly taps on the gear shift. If you were in the driver's seat, both hands would be at 10 and 2 o’ clock, just like your driving instructor taught you. Which is exactly why you take the metro; you feel like a stressed suburban mom when you drive, but don't have the time to rewire your brain to make your hands sit at 8 and 4 o’ clock like everyone else.

But he looks like he's shooting a Hyundai commercial, hand resting comfortably on the top of the wheel as the soft orange glow of the dash illuminates his perfect nose bridge and perfect eyelashes–

“Are you cold?” 

“No, I’m good,” you reply, trying and failing to keep the questioning tone out of your voice.

“Sorry- thought I saw you shiver just now,” he chuckles, glancing at you and letting his eyes drop to your legs for a split second.

Honestly, you probably did shiver; just not from the cold.

Also, why on earth did you decide to wear this dress of all dresses tonight?

Backless and short with a halter neckline, one could call this a revenge dress if you had an ex. Except it’s starting to feel like revenge on yourself, because as fleeting as Minho’s glances towards you are, they never go unnoticed, and each one makes the hem feel an inch shorter.

Granted, the slope of the seat makes the skirt ride up anyways, so it was inevitable, but you can't pull it down—he would immediately think you lied to him about being cold. Or get the idea that you didn't want him to look at your legs. Which would be ridiculous; he's practically the whole reason you wore this dress in the first place. 

You're stretching your legs out before you can give it a second thought, and you don't miss the way Minho’s jaw sets, or how his finger stops drumming against the gear shift.

Now that made you more than a little curious.

The second thing you notice is Minho’s excellent taste in music.

You assume his phone automatically connected to the car once he turned it on, because no radio station you can list off the top of your head has beats this smooth. You've never considered what kind of music he would listen to, mostly because you were worried about what he would think of your music taste. 

But this? 

These are exactly the kinds of songs you would play if you wanted to set the mood. They sound like what the world looks like after the last hues of purple leave the horizon. Indigo. Whatever that means.

You can't help but wonder if he was trying to set the mood.

Oh god, you're almost to your apartment and you haven't said anything interesting since you left the club.

You steal a glance at his side profile, once again reminded that Minho can rock any hair color he chooses as the street lights reflect blue off of his jet black hair. It gives him a darker aura, one that stops most lingering gazes on him from ever getting closer. Sure, it's not much different from the color he had before, which was dark brown, but the change makes a difference. To you at least. 

You saw its effects in action, watching all night as girls at the club try to approach him to only end up shooting their shot with his companion, who was always eager to down tequila shots with bright eyes and cheeky smiles.

“The new hair looks good.”

“Didn't catch that,” he quickly says, turning down the volume of the music with his steering wheel and slowing to a stop at a red light.

“I like what you did with your hair.”

“Really? I honestly didn’t think anyone would notice.”

“The girls at the club sure did,” you half-laugh, and he turns to look at you in bewilderment.

“You think so?”

“You could have filled a swimming pool with how much they were drooling.”

Minho laughs. He actually laughs at something you said. The sound makes you so dizzy you think someone slipped something into your drink.

The feeling of the car sliding in next to the curb pulls you back down to reality in an instant.

He puts the car into park and you slump into your seat, not at all trying to hide how disappointed you are at your performance tonight.

“Thanks for driving me home,” you whisper, not daring  to look him in the eyes as you unbuckle your seatbelt.

“Anytime,” he says so casually, and maybe a bolder you would take him up on that offer.

Instead you nod and smile, and reach for the door handle.

“Y/n.”

You hum and look back at him, trying your best to ignore the turmoil in your stomach once your eyes meet.

“I…this might sound a bit odd, but can I use your bathroom?” He smiles crookedly. “My place is still a ways away–”

“Sure,” you say without thinking, and he nods and jumps out of the car. You definitely can't read into that. Maybe he really can't wait until he gets home. Maybe he doesn't want an excuse to be in your apartment past midnight.

Still, your hands tremble as you twist your keys in the doorknob.

You kick your heels off upon entering, and Minho follows suit, ditching his combat boots by the door as he awaits your instruction.

Looking up, you catch him watching you expectantly, and you indulge the attention before realization dawns on you.

“Oh– the bathroom, yes. Last door on the left, sorry,” you hastily choke out, shaking your head in embarrassment. He chuckles out thanks before sliding past you and disappearing around the corner.

Water. You need water.

The coolness of the marble counter feels good against your bare back as you lean against it, trying to get a grip as cold water rushes down your throat. Maybe you should just attempt to make a move on a different night, when you have a little more liquid courage running through your veins and he’s as hazy as he is handsome. Your mind wanders back to that blissful moment in the car, when he threw his head back in a fit of laughter. That felt so natural, so easy. Why couldn’t you make him do that all the time?

Well, maybe you could, but that requires talking to him regularly, which is something you only do in your daydreams.

Minho suddenly steps out of the bathroom and you fight the urge to choke on your water, setting the glass down on the counter as he approaches you.

“I take it you like jasmine?

“The flower?” The random trivia throws you off guard. “Yeah, it’s my favorite flower…how did you–”

“Everything in your bathroom is jasmine scented,” Minho chuckles, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets.

“Ah, well…I found it helps to match everything to your perfume so it seems to last longer.”

“So you’re saying my car should smell like jasmine when I go back?”

“Only one way to find out,” you say with a smile, internally crying over how you just created a seamless segue for him to leave.

He turns to go find his combat boots, and you punch the air, frantically looking for an excuse for him to stay. But he’s standing by the door too soon, running a hand through his silky black hair before giving you a wave goodbye.

“Goodnight Y/n.”

“Get home safe, Minho.”

The door opens, then closes, and you exhale a sigh of relief, or frustration. Most likely equal parts both.

Perhaps baby steps would be the way to go. You haven’t even texted him, and you want him to make a move? Maybe he thinks you aren’t interested because you haven’t exactly been forward.

Sighing, you move towards your kitchen table, and then you freeze. The universe has never given you a second chance so pointedly before. 

Minho left his keys.

You reach for your phone, deciding that calling him would be faster than chasing after him, but stop halfway through your contacts once you hear him knocking on the door.

“It’s open!”

He steps inside to see you twirling the key ring around your index finger, and you hold it out for him to take as you walk up to the door.

“I didn’t take you as the forgetful type,” you giggle.

“Let’s just say I was distracted.” He slides the metal ring off your finger, and you know the dip his eyes make isn't a trick of the light.

He turns to leave, even opening the door, but when he takes a step out and turns to look back at you, something shifts in his eyes. Like a cat that’s seen something move in its periphery.

And in your mind, it all happens so unbearably slowly. 

He would step back in without a word, moving slowly and soundlessly as he’d break eye contact just to watch the door click shut. You’d find yourself backing into the wall next to him, hands pressed flat by your sides as you’d try to make sense of his approaching silhouette under the dim lighting. 

It would feel all too real, his hands sliding around to the small of your back, his chest pressing into yours, his breath fanning across your face. Your breath would catch in your throat, and the first touch of his lips would be cautious, before diving in with unrestrained desire.

You’ve imagined what it would be like to kiss Minho a million times, and with your ever-descriptive reveries, it almost feels real as you ponder the different ways he could pin you against this wall, mouth hard against yours, or light and teasing with feathery brushes of his lips.

God, you want him so bad it’s almost pathetic.

So bad, in fact, that once he lifts the corner of his lips in a smile and turns to leave for the night, it takes everything in you not to throw caution to the wind, and spin him back around. Find out what Lee Minho tastes like for yourself.

But you don’t.

You watch him walk down your hall until he leaves your sight, and even after you’re gone, you spend at least another minute replaying the few moments you had with him tonight.

Next time, you think, chewing your bottom lip as images of kissing Minho resurface against your will. 

I’ll do something about him next time.

‧⋆ ✧˚₊‧⋆. ✧˚₊‧⋆‧

[spillingmygutsoutpoetically]

The last to leave was Cameron and he stayed with Todd for a surprisingly long time. When he finally has to go he looked at Todd with a sad smile which almost made Todd beg for him to stay.

/Congratulations Todd,/ he said again. It was the reminder that they will never see each other for a long time, maybe even forever.

/It's a shame, you know, that you won't be able to come with us to Harvard,/ he said with genuine sadness. Todd was touched at that because he and Cam was never really that close.

But maybe the sentiments were because their group had reduced into five members making it unusually quiet unlike before.

If Charlie and Neil were here maybe they'd never be separated until the end. If they hadn't ran away without a word or a clue maybe Todd wouldn't feel so bitter about all this.

But alas the two best friends were never to be seen again and his remaining friends were now leaving towards Harvard, a college he gave zero shits about. Todd was back to were he started -- depressed, lost, and full of anxiety he had no idea how to cope with.

/But I'm sure you'll be fine no matter what,/ Cameron smiled. He rarely smiles so Todd knew that he too was hurting from all these goodbyes. /Good bye Todd oh and!

Carpe diem/

//Seize the day,// he smiled. He grabbed the crumpled paper he hid in his pocket and unwrapped it with care.

Hampden welcomes you with open arms!

Todd finally left when the street went empty and the remaining lights in the houses and buildings were extinguished.

Good bye Wellton, good bye dead poets, and good bye captain.

This was Anderson dreaming.

And now Todd was living.

≪━─━─━─━──━─━─◈━─━━─━─━─━─━≫

College Au

The dead poets were separated but that doesn't mean they forgot about their trips, meetings, and poetry.

Neil and Charlie left Welton early but they still managed to enter college with a little bit of trickery and bribes. Running away wasn't easy but Neil was glad Charlie was there to accompany him. The only regret he has was leaving the others behind.

Both of them went to Dellecher Classical Conservatory where Neil can finally pursue acting.

Meeks, Pitts, Knox, and Cameron all went to Harvard. They were still together but they know it can't always be like that especially when three important members were missing. Knox felt more lonely than usual and Cameron was slowly trying to adjust life without an obnoxiously loud roommate and six idiots that became his most beloved friends.

Meeks and Pitts could also feel their world changing and desperately tried to keep their friendship lasting. Even if they feel sad it was just the two of them sharing jokes and interests instead of hearing dumb jokes from a crappy saxophone player, stories from an aspiring actor, poems from a Whitman reincarnation, love ramblings from a hopeless romantic, and the rulebook from a ginger.

Todd, meanwhile, was alone in this college life he stepped in. Well not alone as he thought when he found Chris and Stick in Hampden. It was a painful start but the changes were evident on him and the school. What used to be a hangout for disappointments and future criminals turned into a school ready to face the Ivy league just to gain medals and trophies they could use to make a chandelier.

A reunion awaits them.

In midst of the uproar and the ecstatic energy of the competitors, seven dead poets meet once again as they defend their respective schools.

[boygiwrites]

Harley D. Dixon 6

An amazing edit inspired by this story! (Cred to Cora_Line99) Harley D. Dixon's Pinterest Board! Harley D. Dixon's Playlist!

📖Chapter List.

Author's Note. I'm back!

Sorry for the two-week wait, and thank you for your patience. I'm so lucky to have such wonderful readers :)

Please enjoy this chapter!

The CDC shuts down in ripples.

The ceiling lights are the first to shut off. The second-hand light from the sconces is next. The fixtures die one by one in a fluttering shockwave down the corridor, leaving the solid darkness to swallow us up as they go. Then the vents turn off, which give out one last breath of cold air before going still above our heads. After that, the electric humming in the walls power down; all those hidden wires, arteries of the CDC's pumping heart of a generator flat-lining all around us. I can't even see past my eyelashes, no more.

As a final goodbye, the neon exit sign cuts out. 

Then, that's it — Total darkness and total silence. Like being trapped inside a coffin underground. I'd never even noticed all the white noise that everything used to give off, but now that it's gone, I want it back. It feels so empty without it.

I become aware of the room again.

The fight has been put on hold. The snot in my nose and the tears in my eyes have been put on hold. It feels like all three of our heartbeats and even our breathing has been put on hold. The air bulges with angry, directionless energy.

I hold my breath for a long, long time, clutching the edge of the sofa like it's a teddy bear. 

The building has died.

How can a building die?

"What the Hell was that?" Shane's voice mutters from somewhere inside the darkness.

We hear distant machinery whirring down.

Shane calls the death of the CDC a what, instead of a who, because nobody in their right mind would kill the power here. This is the last place on Earth that should be without power. I think of mysterious scientific specimens going warm in fridges, and important computer codes being lost forever. I think of the oxygen supply down here going stagnant. No, people would die before they let this happen.

I get goosepimples down my arms.

Maybe someone already has.

"Harley." A tight whisper. "Where are you?"

W— Wait, was that Dad or Shane?

Boot-steps slowly approach me.

A big hand bumps into my shoulder and feels its way down my arm.

Who—? Who is that? It might be my Dad. He was closer, last time I could see him, but I don't know.

I don't know if this is the nice hand or the mean hand. It could be Shane's, who was reaching out to me, or it could be my Dad's, who was raising the belt. There aren't supposed to be nice hands and mean hands. That's stupid. Hands are hands. My Dad's hands rocked me to sleep when I was a baby, and they lifted me onto his shoulders when I was a toddler, and they soothe circles into my back whenever I have nightmares. They pinch my cheeks and brush my hair. Those are all nice touches. I should not be scared, and yet my body is telling me that if this is my Dad's hand, I should be.

I don't remember deciding that. It goes against everything I've ever been taught.

When the fingers reach my hand, I flinch away.

I realize I don't want my own Dad to touch me.

"Hey, it's me. It's just me."

Oh, it's— it's not my Dad.

It's Shane.

I shudder against the sofa like a petrified little bunny rabbit.

I keep my mouth sealed tight, refusing to answer.

Even now, I'm still thinking about the consequences to breaking my Dad's rules. Cops are lying bastards and they can't help us, is a phrase I've come to live by. I lived by it when I told Rick I wished he was dead, and I should live by it again, now. I should tell Shane to get away from me, because my Dad wouldn't want me talking to him. My Dad's word is law. He's the angel and the devil that have made their homes on my shoulders. He's my bible; my rulebook, the worm in my ear. He's never been wrong about anything. 

I'm so, so conflicted.

In one ear, I hear my Dad saying, Don't you fuckin' speak to her. In the other, I hear my heart, saying, Answer Shane. He'll help you.

Am I gonna get in trouble for this?

I stay quiet for so long that Shane decides to speak again.

"Are you hurt anywhere, Harley?" He murmurs.

There are rattling sounds in the background. I think my Dad's tryna open the panel for the back-up power, near the bookcase. I saw that there was one in almost every room. I hope he can't hear what Shane's saying.

"You need to tell me, sweetheart," Shane says, "So I can help you. Okay?"

Shane's still using his police-man voice, but it's not the one that he must use on criminals. It's not the one he used on my Dad. It's softer, gentler. It's the one he must use on people he's saving. He's letting me know that he's my friend; he's going to help me. Nobody has ever helped me with this, before. I didn't know I was supposed to need help. I thought getting beat was just a part of life.

Sometimes, cops don't have to be brave in the face of danger. They have to be brave in the face of crying children, and bloody teddy bears, and angry men wearing wedding rings. I know, 'cause the cops used to be out the front of our neighbour Tristan's house almost every night. Their emergency car lights would dash across my bedroom window in the middle of the night. They were the color of toxic frogs — red-blue, red-blue, red-blue — like the ones I'd see on the Discovery channel during the day, so bright that they warn all the other animals to stay away. When I peeked through the shades, I'd see Tristan's Dad on his porch, putting on a charming smile as they questioned him. Then the police would knock on our door and ask my Dad what he heard. He'd tell them things like, yelling, dishes being thrown at walls, crying. They'd scribble it down on a tiny notepad, and that's exactly where it stayed, every single time. Nobody ever came to save Tristan. I wonder if Shane has seen a house like that; if he knows the signs of broken people.

I wonder if he knows more about what I'm going through than I do.

But I'm not broken. I don't need saving. My Dad is nothin' like Tristan's Dad; nothin' like Sophia's. That's why the cops were never outside our house. That's why I'm smarter than the other kids, 'cause I know that even though my Dad hits me, it only makes me better.

Panicked, I silently shake my head, no.

By answering Shane, I'm bending my Dad's rules just a little bit, but maybe I can convince him that I don't need any help at all. He can just scribble my life onto a scrap of paper and throw it in the wind, and I won't ever have to feel this way again. I'm only answering to make him go away.

"What was that?" Shane whispers.

I feel him tilt his ear closer to my mouth.

Oh, right. He can't see me. It's too dark. I have to gain the courage to answer all over again. I take a deep, deep breath. It shakes in my throat.

"No." I whisper, glancing over to where the rattling is coming from; where my Dad is standing on the other side of the room. I make my voice steady; believable. "Not hurt."

"Anywhere?" Shane questions, making me worry he doesn't buy it. His voice is the stern police-voice again, like he's interrogating me; like my answer is very, very important and he's going to stash it away somewhere to use later. That makes me even more anxious. I don't want this to get brought up again, not ever, and especially not by Shane. I just want to forget about all this.

"No." I say again, hiding the pink, chafed skin on my wrist as if he can see it.

There's a pause. I wait.

Then he speaks again, but in the nice voice.

"Okay. Very good, Harley."

The rattling becomes a slam, and I jump.

"Nothin'. Whole place is dead." My Dad's voice comes. The panel squeaks on its hinges. Then, "Where is everybody?"

Oh. I realize that we should be hearing our people. Where are they? There should be doors opening and foot-steps pattering around. We should be hearing Carol comforting Sophia, and Rick reassuring everyone that we'll figure this out. We should be hearing Glenn asking questions, and Dale asking even more from the next room over. There should be confusion all up and down the corridor. There should be voices, everywhere.

I focus very hard on the silence.

There's nothing.

"I don't know." Shane admits.

"You don't know?" My Dad mocks him, angry. "You's the last one with 'em."

"Hey. All I know is that the water got shut off 'bout ten minutes ago. We were all washing up after dinner; sinks just went dry. I was headed back down here to check how much bottles of the stuff we got left when I ran into you." He lets out a big breath. "Think we all know how that went."

Found you beatin' the shit outta your own kid, the silence says all too loudly. It stretches for so long that I almost start to think that their voices were hallucinations the whole time, and that I'm actually alone. But no, there's a warm hand in mine, and beside me, there's breathing. Heavy breathing. Angry breathing. I can tell that they both still want to kill each other. Shane was designed to hate people like my Dad, and my Dad was designed to hate people like Shane right back. They don't even gotta know anythin' about each other, except that we come from two entirely different worlds that weren't meant to mix.

"Yeah, well ya found us. Congrats." Dad's voice comes shootin' back. "You know why the water got shut off in the first place?"

Right. The water.

"No, but I reckon it's got somethin' to do with the power dying." Shane forces himself to answer. "You got a flashlight in y'all's room?"

There's a tightly-wound pause, and then my Dad spits, "Yeah."

"Looks like we won't be stumblin' around in the dark for much longer, then." Shane sighs. "Find the flashlight and try re-group. That's the plan."

"Let's get on with it." Dad's voice snaps. "Harley, let's go. I'm over here. Come grab my hand."

I freeze.

I'm holding Shane's hand already, and he doesn't even know.

Do what Dad says. My Dad has lots of rules for me, but this is the simplest one I've ever had to follow. I've never needed to think about it, just like I've never needed to think about how to breathe, or blink, or digest food. My body just does it all on its own — Ain't no thinking involved. Even a moron could follow this rule, and my Daddy ain't raised no moron. But I'm still sitting here on the floor, like a big, stupid moron, 'cause following this rule ain't comin' so naturally this time. It ain't like blinking, no more. It's like swallowing a rock.

I hear Dad let out a breath at my silence, either impatient, or desperate, or both. "Harley," He grinds out. "Come here."

I don't want to run to my Dad, but if I stay with Shane, I'll just be getting myself into even more trouble. I can't decide which is worse.

I don't know what to do. 

"Dad, I'm scared."

I almost can't believe I just said that.

I'm scared of the war that's going on inside my head. I'm scared of how I'm clinging onto a police officer's hand, and I'm scared of how my body isn't doing what it knows best, which is to find comfort in my own Dad. I'm scared that nobody's taught me how to feel this way. I'm scared that I'm already in trouble again. I'm scared of what it means when I say I don't want my Dad to touch me. I'm scared.

I'm just so, so scared.

"Don't—" My Dad tries, but then I hear him take a steadying breath, like the words got cracked to pieces inside his throat and he needed to swallow them down. I wait. There's so much I want him to say. I want him to tell me that he knows what's happening to me; that he knows what's wrong with me, and he knows why I can't take a simple beating, and he knows how to fix me. He can fix car engines and broken furniture, so maybe he can fix me, too. I want him to tell me that even though he hurt me, he loves me. I want him to apologize and scold me all at the same time. My Dad finds the words again, and he whispers them to me. "Don't be scared, baby."

I try to regulate my breathing. He's taught me how to do that, before. Maybe I can at least get that right.

"Now come here." My Dad's voice armors itself again. "I'm not askin' you again."

I feel Shane's hand flex.

"Daryl, how 'bout you cover front?" He suggests, but not because he really wants that. "Me and Harley can take up the rea—"

"No need for that." Dad declines. "She's fine wit' me. She knows that. Harley, c'mere."

Yeah, I— I know that. My Dad is the toughest man in camp, and he knows how to keep me safe better than any cop. I know that.

Shane pipes up again. "I just thin—"

"Hang on a second." Dad dismisses. "Harley. Baby, come over here."

Shane answers for me. "She doesn't have to do that."

"I ain't talkin' to you. Harley. Last time. Come here."

I think this is a test, or— or maybe it's just more begging. He's trying to gauge just how scared I really am.

Even though Shane's crouched right beside me, ready to defend me from whatever comes my way, I forget all about him until it's just me and my Dad in the room. I think my Dad's forgotten all about Shane, too; forgotten that he wants to kill him. This is more important to him right now.

It's like the night in the RV again, where my Dad scolded me for picking at my bandage but gave me a kiss afterwards. It was his way of telling me, I disciplined you, but I still love you. I know I could just get up right now, walk over to him and grab his hand like he wants me to, and I'd be telling him, You disciplined me, but I still love you. It would show him that I'm not afraid of him. It would show him it's all forgiven. It would show him that even though I was hurt, I'll recover.

I could, but something is stopping me. I just can't do it. I can't make myself get up.

Choosing to stay with Shane is the lesser of two evils, I decide, so I cower against the sofa and stay right where I am.

For so long that I don't remember ever thinkin' otherwise, I've been taught that even a spanking is a nice touch. It might hurt in the moment, and I might even cry, but it teaches me to never do what I did wrong again. If a dog is smacked upside the head for rippin' up a shoe, it's never gonna touch that shoe again. If I'm smacked upside the head for doin' somethin' dangerous, I'll never do it again. Discipline keeps me safe, and smart, and ready. I wanna be all of those things. My Dad wants me to be those things, too, 'cause he loves me. I've been spanked so many times that I couldn't count even if I used all my fingers and all my toes, but I always picked myself up right afterwards. I'd even feel proud of myself for taking it.

But with each second that passes, I think my Dad is realizing right alongside me that something is actually wrong this time. Whether it was the belt, or the fact we were arguing about my Momma, I don't know. But something broke and it ain't fixing itself, not this time. I'm not getting up. I'm not running to him. I don't forgive him. I'm not okay, and I am scared. I'm even choosing a damn cop over him.

I think that with each second that passes, we lose something that we're never getting back.

"You really gonna make me say it again?" My Dad's voice pretends to be an angry voice, but it takes on a nervous wobble that I ain't never heard before.

He's always told me that being afraid is a sign of weakness, and that I ain't weak — I'm brave. I'm his brave girl.

I want to be brave. I want to, I swear, but I can't help being scared.

"Harley. Please get over here." 

I still do not get up.

After a while, he just can't stand trying to beg me no more; can't stand the thought of his own daughter being afraid of him. He's done asking. It's time to do what he does best, which is not giving me a choice in the matter.

"Harley! Come here!"

Even officer Shane flinches.

As if I've just been shot at, I jump to my feet. I scurry through the darkness toward my Dad's voice. Shane's fingers snag on the back of my shirt, and I almost knock into three different hidden pieces of furniture, but I make sure I get over there like my life depends on it. There's that strange blockage in my body again, screaming at me that I shouldn't be doin' this, just as it would scream at me if I was running into a burning house. I can't listen to it. I can't listen to my own body, or my heart, or even my own voice, and I don't know why I ever thought I could, 'cause my Dad's voice is the only one that matters. I bump into his hip, and he catches me; grabs my arm. I try not to gasp.

I can't see it exactly, but when he squats a little to get in my face, I can imagine his frowning brows and his flaring nostrils.

"You're fine wit' me." He says, laying each word down very slowly. "You know that, don't you?"

He's not asking, no more. I am not afraid. I just have to believe this.

"I know."

No, I don't. Not completely. There will never be a moment in my life again where I know that. If I ever break a rule or anger my Dad, I'll be glancing at his pants-line, anticipating the clink and the rustle and the whip. I'll only feel safe in half-measures, 'cause even if I have memories of my Dad singing me to sleep, and patiently teaching me to fish, and cutting the crusts off my bread, and joking with me on early morning bike-rides, my body has a memory of its own — Tonight. 

I've learnt another lesson. Be afraid of Dad.

"Alright." He hesitates to say, grabbing onto my hand. I wonder if he even believes his own words. It doesn't matter. We don't have enough time to figure this out, not right now. The CDC is dead, and our friends are missing. "Let's go. Shane, you can take up the damn rear on yer own."

I can hear more of that angry breathing behind us.

"Lead the way, buddy."

I am very glad to leave the games room.

Author's Note.

This chapter KICKED. MY. ASS.

I'm sorry there's only one scene. I just needed to post it so I could get it out of my mind, and be able to move on. For some reason I totally lost my writing groove on this one. I was feeling very frustrated with how it was turning out, and I had to write about six other drafts before I finally came across one that felt right, which is the one you just read. At long last, I made it out alive!! I hate writer's block.

Hope you enjoyed reading. As always, sending love! :)

[carecrowgames]

Yazeba Read Through #4

We are on Page 18 now, and I am extremely excited, as it seems we have actually entered the rules this time folks! And I thought that might make me go less granular .. BUT as I said I have been wondering how the book would begin to explain to its reader what it actually is, so I just have to immediately hone in on the second sentence of the page.

It's a bed & breakfast of course but it's also this book right here.

There is something about stating these two as a dual existence that just works so well with the magical realism of the bed and breakfast itself. I guess I also just love when a fictional world gets legitimacy as existing similar to how the book (or in this case pdf) does

The playful voice from the welcome section continues here, but as it invites you to explore the bed and breakfast it also gains a gentle tone. The specific metaphor used, the sprawling bed and breakfast standing in for the complexity of a rulebook, both promising to become easily navigateble after some guidance, somehow manages to make both of them a more imaginable space. My mind begins to draw in what's missing within my image of one one with what I know of the other and conjures my own experiences of sprawling social spaces to lend familiarity and extrapolate development over time. I find myself remembering how I got used to life in the computer science faculty until it’s sprawling series of laboratories and hallways were simply another home.

I get away being able to imagine both Gertrudes life in the b&b after months and years pass and my own potential relationship to the version of it that could manifest in my games in it.

This is where the melancholic Amelie OST (the fact that this movie has the same name as one of the residents will break me oh my god. I am only noticing now) reminds me that at some point in this book there are late chapters, the last of which is Goodbye Yazeba and I have to wonder how much this is going to be a story that will have to end. What I can also imagine is the late chapters giving a number of open ending points, that would still allow you to replay some chapters, but this also feels like the kind of story that at some point just. Ends. I think I would find myself feel very content and sad in the healthy measures about that.

As a note, I am delighted to see the playlist I'm making for this already influencing how I interact with the book. The fact that the moon princes melancholic longing was able to carry forward to make me think about how this story might end is just really cool. Can recommend the method!

And now we get the confirmation that there are parts of the book that are off limits to start with - a super cool decision for a ttrpg book honestly. Explaining the choice by likening it to the way some parts of a bed and breakfast might be off limits to a new visitor is so clever too. It continues to build the book-building double reality, and in that playful way puts rules for reading the book down without having to spend much time explaining them immediately. It just makes sense this way!

This is also why this reading experience is extremely different for me than the usual ttrpg book I read. Normally I would have jumped immediately to the playbooks, read up on central mechanics and started browsing different parts of the book as I put some first session prep together. And I know that's not how other ttrpg books are intended to be read either, but the way Yazeba specifically presents itself as overlayered fiction book / bed & breakfast / ttrpg makes me want to engage with it as an authored experience more then I tend to with a ttrpg book, that invites me more to approach it as a box of toys.

 If i were to read it like I usually do though, this is where I would actually feel invited to start jumping, as the page continues to lay out how exactly Yazebas Bed and Breakfast is played it gives us all the needed key elements to get started, and importantly all of their page numbers.

I find this whole buildup so far works really well for me. We've been invited layer for layer to the fantasy and fiction of Yazeba, got first impressions of its central cast, narrative hooks to go along with then and some character voices to lead us along when trying to play them.

Now the book is pointing all the unruly readers with no attention span, who might have been hooked by the fiction, but won’t stay long for rules explanations (that’s normally me!) to exactly where the toys are - with just enough context to use them well. The rest, I would feel if I took on that mindset, can be figured out in play.

I really appreciate when a game recognizes, that not all its players are going to approach it the same way. Laying out different courses through it, that reward different interests and needs is a great way to do so.

The entire part laying out the rhythm of play is wonderfully efficient btw. Every section is at most 3 sentences long, contains bold keywords to keep attention going and manages to leave me with a good grasp of what's going on. For how gigantic this book is, making such short work of the overview feels very restraint, I'm super impressed.

I also love how encouraging the language is. You WILL be able to confidently guide your friends. Remember to take breaks, the bed and breakfast will wait. Rules often are hard for me to keep focus on mentally, and I know for many they can be overwhelming. The use of a strong, friendly and guiding voice here I think really helps keep the mind motivated.

In honor of that, the new song added to the playlist is Ben E. Kings “Stand by me” which, is a song that has symbolized a vibe of positivity and support for me since years now.

Speaking of language, the Nouns for the mechanics integrate so very well into the fantasy. Concierge for the facilitator for example is very flavorful. I feel like this book makes a consistent effort to make the feeling of playing the game make you feel like you’re a part of the b&b and that rules. In addition, Whoopsies and Bingos as names for what I’m pretty sure are going to be weak and strong moves feels like they very much help reinforcing the genre space, making the characters feel less mechanic and more like people with fuckups and cool moments to come, you know?

But now I’m really getting ahead of myself. Afterall the section is about the flow of play and I have not talked at all about it yet!

Let's get this out first: chapters are so cool! They are so cool it makes me want to work out my thoughts on them so bad, that I forget we don't even know much about them yet as far as the book goes. I already know a bit on how they look like from the ashcan (which released along the indiegogo campaign), but that only leaves me burning to revisit them as part of this more!

In addition, i think this is where we actually see how powerful the fiction book/ttrpg double-life the book is living is in communicating information. It is obvious from the text that chapters are at the core of playing out life at the bed and breakfast, being the thing characters are used to play, and putting out what is needed to unlock more chapters and characters (more on that in a sec). They are how you interface with life in the bed and breakfast, but that alone would not give much of an impression of what they are. But the name *chapters* and the consistent fiction book/ttrpg duality that has been build up, immediately conjures the kind of stories they will tell in your mind. We already know what it is like to read a chapter in a story, now our mind is left to ponder what it will be like to play them.

Excitingly, we have learned how unlocking works now!! As I said I already knew how to play a chapter from the Ashcan, but with added context much more about it is coming together. The way the loop works feels super elegant to me. You get familiar with characters and their connected narrative threads, you look at what chapters you are able to play and which might allow you to explore what you are interested in, you slot in your preferred characters and play to find out what happens, you go and check what characters and chapters you’ve unlocked and that gives you new chapters to pull on more threads, and new characters to explore and play with. The entire thing feels a lot like a narrative exploration loop I would design for a video game, which is actually the second time in today’s session that I was reminded of video game design specifically (the first being the way the page numbers create a dynamic playspace that can be explored based on player preference). I am fascinated to see these strategies implemented with how you interact with the BOOK instead of in play loops only.

Talking about game mechanics, the whole Shelf, Journey and Track system reminds me a bit of achievement systems. Which in turn makes me wonder if the game will invite us to look at the potential unlocks and what we’ll need to do for it beforehand. If it did it would give extra incentives to explore the chapters as well as extra prompts of what to do with them. If it doesn’t it makes for nice surprises. I am super curious about this!

As a last note on the page for now, Mementos you can put on your Shelf is another one of these amazing images, that already makes me nostalgic for experiences I didn’t even have yet. It actually reminds me of my favorite game Signs of the Sojourner ~ maybe I’ll add an ost from that game to the playlist at some point.

Aand I think that’s about it for the day. I might actually have even more notes on this tomorrow, but I need to sleep at some point don’t I.

See you tomorrow as we enter Page 19: Characters.

---------------

you can find my other Yazeba readthrough posts under #zeebthrough!

Preorder the game on https://possumcreekgames.com/pages/yazebas-bed-breakfast

[goat-and-a-pig]

Chapter 3

“Ford?” The stranger asked, a bewildered look on his face.

Icarus promptly whacked him unconscious with his D, D, & More D rulebook.

“Icarus! Did you just kill him?!?” Mabel exclaimed, coming out of hiding. “No, just unconscious. Here, help me drag him into the closet- we can’t let Bill see him!” Mabel nodded, and they pulled him into the closet. When he was finally stuffed in there, Bill floated up and called for Icarus.

“Hey, whatcha doing up there?” Icarus startled. “Uh, we were just, uh, debating on whether it’s better to play as an elf or a magician in Dungeons, Dungeons, and More Dungeons! I was just looking for my D, D, & More D character guide up here!” He pulled it off of the shelf. “Found it,” he added weakly.

Bill sighed. “Alright, just come down here. I have news for you!” Icarus perked up and slid down the rail. “Icarus,” Bill warned him. “Sorry, sorry. So, what is it? Did you travel to another dimension? Ooh, did you finally hear from your mysterious contact? Or can I go-”

“Icarus!” Bill interrupted. “Please! I have a headache! And quit the rambling, you know I hate it!” Icarus’ shoulders drooped. “Oh. Sorry, Bill.” Bill sighed, then apologized. “It’s fine. You were just excited. Anyway, I’m sorry for the way I shut you down yesterday, so as a make-up gift, is there anything you want? I’m open to suggestions.” Icarus knew that Bill was truly saying he never wanted to speak of this again, and Icarus had a man in his closet he needed to interrogate, so he quickly gathered a plan to keep Bill away for a bit. “Well, could you perhaps see if the new Sibling Brothers book is out? I’ve been waiting for it forever.” He took a deep breath, hoping Bill would take the bait.

“You know that that is a very long and tiring journey to find something like that on the market-” He broke off, then changed his mind. “But if that’s truly what you want, then it’s yours.” Icarus had succeeded! “Thank you Bill,” he whispered gratefully. “Yeah, yeah.” Bill waved him off. “I’ll get going now. You fix yourself some food, eat, then go to bed, you insufferable mortal,” he said lovingly. Icarus smiled and bid him goodbye.

It was time to interrogate the human from his world.

[writinggirlskissingwithdragons]

 B.A.I.L.E.Y

                                                        B.A.I.L.E.Y

    (bomb, assault, intelligence, laser-guided weapon, explosive, y)

          —--------------------------(She/her?)---------------------

       -6’10

       -Warforge

       -Fighter, Soldier background

       (See drawing, not completed yet)

     —------------------------------------------------ 

       Voice(?): Straight forward and serious with most, motherly and gentle to young or childish characters    

              -Common, Dwarvish

      —------------------------------------------------

         - Has a lot of dents in her arm (like scars), some are from the wars. Some are from rough housing a little too hard with the kiddos

         -Hates how she was repurposed, but is grateful to have had a life with her kids.

         -Fucking despises rich people, but is very to the rulebook and respect-is-given mindset

      —---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Memory file 1.0

    “How does this thing work?”, “Patience dear, i'm trying”, “oh!, it moved it –” ;

Bailey sat up, fully conscious now and immediately going on guard. Where is she? Where’s– who was she thinking of again? What’s happening? 

“Who are you?” she asked, standing up and surveying the posh room. Two small beings stood before her. One adjusted her glasses, looking up in awe at Bailey. 

“Dear Moradin, it can speak” she said, standing back a bit now and inching her partner closer to Bailey. Her partner cleared his throat and puffed out his chest, intimidated by Bailey’s height.

“We are the Dumonts, and you will be our servant” 

A servant!? Bailey was no servant, she was a.. A. What is going on? Why can’t she remember anything about herself? Her life? She can’t be a servant if she cannot be sound of mind.

“You must be mistaken I- “ “There will be no discussion”. Mr. Dumont, shaking a bit from his fear of Bailey, took a step closer and raised his voice. “My wife deserves the best care, you will do her duties of a mother, or you will be smelted into her jewelry” Mrs. Dumont smiled mockingly and played with her shining silver rings.

They held no threat to Bailey, but could she really survive if she left? With nothing but her name, maybe it’s wise to stay in such a lavish house.  

During the next 7 years, Bailey served as a nanny for the Dumonts. Part of her fell in love with the job, the children, and the simplicity of being a part-time mother. She cannot imagine a different life for herself

           One day, as she sweeped the floors of the manor, a knock came at the door. When she answered, no one was there but a heavy cloth bag.

            Bringing it inside, she found it was firewood! how perfect, winter was right around the corner and they could use it well. She gladly put some logs into the fire and set it ablaze

     When suddenly, a familiar scent hit her.

      What.. what is that?

       Burning hair? Burning.. burning flesh.

        Dear (god name)

  .. .. the firewood it it smells like the war

The war? w what war? Bailey was never in the wars shes..

A nanny.. A .. 

        She looked down at her metal hands. Recognizing the steel and what can no longer be ignored as just parts. She is wearing armor under her apron. she… 

Shes a warforge. 

          Later that day, Bailey threw her apron in the trash. Hugging the dumont children goodbye and leaving without a single word to her capturs. Those filthy rich bastards took her from the war and made her a NANNY. No. Bailey is made for much worse than lively children. 

*she joins travelers and slays many beasts before joining the party*

   —---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-Bailey remembers the wars from the scent of their firewood. The firewood smells a little like rotting flesh because it is from the wood carved elves. She remembers the people that died at her hands and those around her. And goes back to what she was made for

-that one audio like “now spell” is when she was a war prisoner and was tortwued :3

[cleverhottubmiracle]

🧹 What to Ditch After 50 (and what to keep) There’s something powerful about reaching 50. It’s a milestone that brings clarity, confidence, and—yes—a healthy dose of self-awareness. We’ve weathered storms, celebrated milestones, and learned a lot along the way. And while the media might want to shelve us after a certain age, I say this is the perfect time to refine, refresh, and reclaim. So today, we’re diving into a little spring cleaning for the soul and the closet. Here’s what to ditch after 50—and what to keep. Clothing that Doesn’t Fit (or Flatter) If it tugs, pulls, gaps, or makes you feel less than your best, it’s time to say goodbye. And yes, that includes those “aspirational” jeans from ten years ago. Your closet should reflect who you are now—not who you used to be or hope to become. I know, I know: This one might sting a little—because we’ve all done it. We’ve held on to that one pair of jeans we used to fit into. The dress from ten years ago that hasn’t zipped in five. Or the blouse that was almost perfect… if only we lost a few pounds. But here’s the truth: clothes are meant to fit you—not the other way around. Life after 50 brings so many changes—hormones, health, lifestyle. And guess what? That’s normal. Expected, even. But holding onto clothing that no longer fits isn’t motivation—it’s a burden. This isn’t about ‘giving up’—it’s about showing up. Showing up for yourself, for your body, for this season of life. Because style isn’t just about how we look—it’s about how we feel. You are not a number on a tag. You are not a ‘before’ photo. You are a woman with wisdom, strength, and taste—and your wardrobe should celebrate that. So let’s stop saving space for who we used to be, and start curating a wardrobe that fits the incredible woman we are right now. What to ditch after 50? Yep, clothes that no longer fit! Shop the Collage A few of my favorite spring wardrobe staples from Lands’ End available at Nordstrom! Outdated Style Rules No white after Labor Day? Long hair past 50? Enough. We make the rules now, and they should serve you. Fashion is personal, and there’s nothing more stylish than confidence. Outdated style rules are on my what to ditch after 50 list and have been for a very long time. I still remember the first time I wore white after Labor Day. It was a crisp October morning, and I pulled on a pair of white denim just because they made me feel good. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I could hear my mother’s voice whispering, “That’s not the way it’s done.” But I stepped out the door anyway—and never looked back. After 50, we’re not interested in dusty old-fashioned rules that tell us what we can’t wear. No sleeves after sixty? Who came up with that one? Matching your shoes to your handbag? Sometimes, but not every time. If style is about expressing who you are, why let someone else’s rulebook define your story? The truth is, confidence is the most stylish thing you can wear—and that never goes out of season. Fast Fashion Hauls Okay, let’s have a little heart-to-heart. If you’ve ever filled an online shopping cart at midnight because everything was under $20… you’re not alone. Fast fashion hauls can feel like a steal in the moment, but here’s the truth: those pieces often cost us more in the long run. They shrink, fade, pill, or fall apart after two washes—and suddenly that ‘deal’ becomes clutter. And let’s be honest… do we really wear most of those impulse buys more than once or twice? After 50, our wardrobe deserves the same kind of thought and care we give to other areas of our lives. Quality matters. Fit matters. And longevity? That’s everything. Instead of chasing trends, I now look for investment pieces—the staples that anchor my wardrobe. A beautifully tailored blazer. A crisp white shirt. A cashmere sweater that feels like a warm hug. Smart Investment Pieces for Women Over 50 Quality leather flats or loafers Neutral blazer (structured or soft) Dark-wash denim (great fit is key) White button-up shirt Timeless handbag in leather Cashmere or merino wool sweater Stretched Out Leggings Let’s talk leggings. We all have that one pair—the faded black ones that used to fit just right but now… well, they sag in the knees, they’ve lost their stretch, and the waistband does more rolling than holding Let’s be honest: they’re more lounge than luxe at this point. And if you’re wearing them to run errands, meet a friend for coffee, or even just feel put-together at home, they’re not exactly doing you any favors. Here’s the upgrade: structured knit pants or tailored joggers. Same comfort, but with a whole new level of polish. These aren’t your old-school sweatpants. Today’s knit trousers and joggers are soft, stretchy, and comfortable—but they hold their shape, hug in the right places, and elevate your look instantly. Comparing Yourself to Others Social media makes it tempting, but comparing yourself to others—especially people in different chapters of life—is a recipe for unhappiness. Embrace your journey. It’s uniquely yours. Your wardrobe should feel like your best friend—supportive, inspiring, and always making you feel your best. If it makes you second-guess yourself or hide… it’s time to thank it and let it go Every season of life deserves its own style evolution. You’ve grown. You’ve earned your confidence. So let’s build a wardrobe that reflects the powerful, beautiful woman you are right now. Because when your wardrobe finally aligns with your confidence? That’s when the real style magic happens. Now that we’ve discussed What to Ditch After 50 let’s chat about what to keep! 🌟 What to Keep They say turning 50 is about knowing what to let go—but I’ve found it’s just as much about knowing what to keep. Keep your sense of humor. Keep your red lipstick. Keep the heels if they still make you feel fabulous. Keep the classics that never fail you—a crisp white shirt, a great blazer, and that one dress that always makes you stand a little taller. But most of all? Keep your confidence. That’s the piece that pulls every outfit together. Because style at a certain age isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about honoring what makes you feel like you. A Signature Style  Now’s the time to refine what makes you you. Maybe it’s clean lines and neutrals, maybe it’s bold color and statement jewelry. The key is: own it. Here are a few timeless outfit ideas I reach for again and again: Curiosity Keep learning. Take the trip. Try the class. Learn the language. Feed your mind and heart with newness. Your Inner Circle  Prioritize those who show up. Who celebrate your wins. Who brings wine when you’re down. Keep them close. Healthy Habits  Wellness is a lifelong journey. Move your body. Prioritize sleep. Eat what makes you feel good. Aging gracefully is less about fighting time and more about honoring it. ✨ Closing Thoughts After 50, life doesn’t slow down—it sharpens. We get to choose what stays and what goes, and that kind of freedom is nothing short of fabulous. So here’s to letting go of what no longer serves us and holding on tight to the things that do. Tell me—what are you ditching and keeping after 50? Drop a comment below. Let’s inspire each other to live boldly, beautifully, and unapologetically at any age. About The Author Beth Djalali is the Founder and CEO of Style at a Certain Age. She writes Sundays-Fridays on all topics ranging from fashion, health, wellness, home design and more. She’s 66, 5’8, and size 8. Source link

[norajworld]

🧹 What to Ditch After 50 (and what to keep) There’s something powerful about reaching 50. It’s a milestone that brings clarity, confidence, and—yes—a healthy dose of self-awareness. We’ve weathered storms, celebrated milestones, and learned a lot along the way. And while the media might want to shelve us after a certain age, I say this is the perfect time to refine, refresh, and reclaim. So today, we’re diving into a little spring cleaning for the soul and the closet. Here’s what to ditch after 50—and what to keep. Clothing that Doesn’t Fit (or Flatter) If it tugs, pulls, gaps, or makes you feel less than your best, it’s time to say goodbye. And yes, that includes those “aspirational” jeans from ten years ago. Your closet should reflect who you are now—not who you used to be or hope to become. I know, I know: This one might sting a little—because we’ve all done it. We’ve held on to that one pair of jeans we used to fit into. The dress from ten years ago that hasn’t zipped in five. Or the blouse that was almost perfect… if only we lost a few pounds. But here’s the truth: clothes are meant to fit you—not the other way around. Life after 50 brings so many changes—hormones, health, lifestyle. And guess what? That’s normal. Expected, even. But holding onto clothing that no longer fits isn’t motivation—it’s a burden. This isn’t about ‘giving up’—it’s about showing up. Showing up for yourself, for your body, for this season of life. Because style isn’t just about how we look—it’s about how we feel. You are not a number on a tag. You are not a ‘before’ photo. You are a woman with wisdom, strength, and taste—and your wardrobe should celebrate that. So let’s stop saving space for who we used to be, and start curating a wardrobe that fits the incredible woman we are right now. What to ditch after 50? Yep, clothes that no longer fit! Shop the Collage A few of my favorite spring wardrobe staples from Lands’ End available at Nordstrom! Outdated Style Rules No white after Labor Day? Long hair past 50? Enough. We make the rules now, and they should serve you. Fashion is personal, and there’s nothing more stylish than confidence. Outdated style rules are on my what to ditch after 50 list and have been for a very long time. I still remember the first time I wore white after Labor Day. It was a crisp October morning, and I pulled on a pair of white denim just because they made me feel good. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I could hear my mother’s voice whispering, “That’s not the way it’s done.” But I stepped out the door anyway—and never looked back. After 50, we’re not interested in dusty old-fashioned rules that tell us what we can’t wear. No sleeves after sixty? Who came up with that one? Matching your shoes to your handbag? Sometimes, but not every time. If style is about expressing who you are, why let someone else’s rulebook define your story? The truth is, confidence is the most stylish thing you can wear—and that never goes out of season. Fast Fashion Hauls Okay, let’s have a little heart-to-heart. If you’ve ever filled an online shopping cart at midnight because everything was under $20… you’re not alone. Fast fashion hauls can feel like a steal in the moment, but here’s the truth: those pieces often cost us more in the long run. They shrink, fade, pill, or fall apart after two washes—and suddenly that ‘deal’ becomes clutter. And let’s be honest… do we really wear most of those impulse buys more than once or twice? After 50, our wardrobe deserves the same kind of thought and care we give to other areas of our lives. Quality matters. Fit matters. And longevity? That’s everything. Instead of chasing trends, I now look for investment pieces—the staples that anchor my wardrobe. A beautifully tailored blazer. A crisp white shirt. A cashmere sweater that feels like a warm hug. Smart Investment Pieces for Women Over 50 Quality leather flats or loafers Neutral blazer (structured or soft) Dark-wash denim (great fit is key) White button-up shirt Timeless handbag in leather Cashmere or merino wool sweater Stretched Out Leggings Let’s talk leggings. We all have that one pair—the faded black ones that used to fit just right but now… well, they sag in the knees, they’ve lost their stretch, and the waistband does more rolling than holding Let’s be honest: they’re more lounge than luxe at this point. And if you’re wearing them to run errands, meet a friend for coffee, or even just feel put-together at home, they’re not exactly doing you any favors. Here’s the upgrade: structured knit pants or tailored joggers. Same comfort, but with a whole new level of polish. These aren’t your old-school sweatpants. Today’s knit trousers and joggers are soft, stretchy, and comfortable—but they hold their shape, hug in the right places, and elevate your look instantly. Comparing Yourself to Others Social media makes it tempting, but comparing yourself to others—especially people in different chapters of life—is a recipe for unhappiness. Embrace your journey. It’s uniquely yours. Your wardrobe should feel like your best friend—supportive, inspiring, and always making you feel your best. If it makes you second-guess yourself or hide… it’s time to thank it and let it go Every season of life deserves its own style evolution. You’ve grown. You’ve earned your confidence. So let’s build a wardrobe that reflects the powerful, beautiful woman you are right now. Because when your wardrobe finally aligns with your confidence? That’s when the real style magic happens. Now that we’ve discussed What to Ditch After 50 let’s chat about what to keep! 🌟 What to Keep They say turning 50 is about knowing what to let go—but I’ve found it’s just as much about knowing what to keep. Keep your sense of humor. Keep your red lipstick. Keep the heels if they still make you feel fabulous. Keep the classics that never fail you—a crisp white shirt, a great blazer, and that one dress that always makes you stand a little taller. But most of all? Keep your confidence. That’s the piece that pulls every outfit together. Because style at a certain age isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about honoring what makes you feel like you. A Signature Style  Now’s the time to refine what makes you you. Maybe it’s clean lines and neutrals, maybe it’s bold color and statement jewelry. The key is: own it. Here are a few timeless outfit ideas I reach for again and again: Curiosity Keep learning. Take the trip. Try the class. Learn the language. Feed your mind and heart with newness. Your Inner Circle  Prioritize those who show up. Who celebrate your wins. Who brings wine when you’re down. Keep them close. Healthy Habits  Wellness is a lifelong journey. Move your body. Prioritize sleep. Eat what makes you feel good. Aging gracefully is less about fighting time and more about honoring it. ✨ Closing Thoughts After 50, life doesn’t slow down—it sharpens. We get to choose what stays and what goes, and that kind of freedom is nothing short of fabulous. So here’s to letting go of what no longer serves us and holding on tight to the things that do. Tell me—what are you ditching and keeping after 50? Drop a comment below. Let’s inspire each other to live boldly, beautifully, and unapologetically at any age. About The Author Beth Djalali is the Founder and CEO of Style at a Certain Age. She writes Sundays-Fridays on all topics ranging from fashion, health, wellness, home design and more. She’s 66, 5’8, and size 8. Source link

[ellajme0]

🧹 What to Ditch After 50 (and what to keep) There’s something powerful about reaching 50. It’s a milestone that brings clarity, confidence, and—yes—a healthy dose of self-awareness. We’ve weathered storms, celebrated milestones, and learned a lot along the way. And while the media might want to shelve us after a certain age, I say this is the perfect time to refine, refresh, and reclaim. So today, we’re diving into a little spring cleaning for the soul and the closet. Here’s what to ditch after 50—and what to keep. Clothing that Doesn’t Fit (or Flatter) If it tugs, pulls, gaps, or makes you feel less than your best, it’s time to say goodbye. And yes, that includes those “aspirational” jeans from ten years ago. Your closet should reflect who you are now—not who you used to be or hope to become. I know, I know: This one might sting a little—because we’ve all done it. We’ve held on to that one pair of jeans we used to fit into. The dress from ten years ago that hasn’t zipped in five. Or the blouse that was almost perfect… if only we lost a few pounds. But here’s the truth: clothes are meant to fit you—not the other way around. Life after 50 brings so many changes—hormones, health, lifestyle. And guess what? That’s normal. Expected, even. But holding onto clothing that no longer fits isn’t motivation—it’s a burden. This isn’t about ‘giving up’—it’s about showing up. Showing up for yourself, for your body, for this season of life. Because style isn’t just about how we look—it’s about how we feel. You are not a number on a tag. You are not a ‘before’ photo. You are a woman with wisdom, strength, and taste—and your wardrobe should celebrate that. So let’s stop saving space for who we used to be, and start curating a wardrobe that fits the incredible woman we are right now. What to ditch after 50? Yep, clothes that no longer fit! Shop the Collage A few of my favorite spring wardrobe staples from Lands’ End available at Nordstrom! Outdated Style Rules No white after Labor Day? Long hair past 50? Enough. We make the rules now, and they should serve you. Fashion is personal, and there’s nothing more stylish than confidence. Outdated style rules are on my what to ditch after 50 list and have been for a very long time. I still remember the first time I wore white after Labor Day. It was a crisp October morning, and I pulled on a pair of white denim just because they made me feel good. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I could hear my mother’s voice whispering, “That’s not the way it’s done.” But I stepped out the door anyway—and never looked back. After 50, we’re not interested in dusty old-fashioned rules that tell us what we can’t wear. No sleeves after sixty? Who came up with that one? Matching your shoes to your handbag? Sometimes, but not every time. If style is about expressing who you are, why let someone else’s rulebook define your story? The truth is, confidence is the most stylish thing you can wear—and that never goes out of season. Fast Fashion Hauls Okay, let’s have a little heart-to-heart. If you’ve ever filled an online shopping cart at midnight because everything was under $20… you’re not alone. Fast fashion hauls can feel like a steal in the moment, but here’s the truth: those pieces often cost us more in the long run. They shrink, fade, pill, or fall apart after two washes—and suddenly that ‘deal’ becomes clutter. And let’s be honest… do we really wear most of those impulse buys more than once or twice? After 50, our wardrobe deserves the same kind of thought and care we give to other areas of our lives. Quality matters. Fit matters. And longevity? That’s everything. Instead of chasing trends, I now look for investment pieces—the staples that anchor my wardrobe. A beautifully tailored blazer. A crisp white shirt. A cashmere sweater that feels like a warm hug. Smart Investment Pieces for Women Over 50 Quality leather flats or loafers Neutral blazer (structured or soft) Dark-wash denim (great fit is key) White button-up shirt Timeless handbag in leather Cashmere or merino wool sweater Stretched Out Leggings Let’s talk leggings. We all have that one pair—the faded black ones that used to fit just right but now… well, they sag in the knees, they’ve lost their stretch, and the waistband does more rolling than holding Let’s be honest: they’re more lounge than luxe at this point. And if you’re wearing them to run errands, meet a friend for coffee, or even just feel put-together at home, they’re not exactly doing you any favors. Here’s the upgrade: structured knit pants or tailored joggers. Same comfort, but with a whole new level of polish. These aren’t your old-school sweatpants. Today’s knit trousers and joggers are soft, stretchy, and comfortable—but they hold their shape, hug in the right places, and elevate your look instantly. Comparing Yourself to Others Social media makes it tempting, but comparing yourself to others—especially people in different chapters of life—is a recipe for unhappiness. Embrace your journey. It’s uniquely yours. Your wardrobe should feel like your best friend—supportive, inspiring, and always making you feel your best. If it makes you second-guess yourself or hide… it’s time to thank it and let it go Every season of life deserves its own style evolution. You’ve grown. You’ve earned your confidence. So let’s build a wardrobe that reflects the powerful, beautiful woman you are right now. Because when your wardrobe finally aligns with your confidence? That’s when the real style magic happens. Now that we’ve discussed What to Ditch After 50 let’s chat about what to keep! 🌟 What to Keep They say turning 50 is about knowing what to let go—but I’ve found it’s just as much about knowing what to keep. Keep your sense of humor. Keep your red lipstick. Keep the heels if they still make you feel fabulous. Keep the classics that never fail you—a crisp white shirt, a great blazer, and that one dress that always makes you stand a little taller. But most of all? Keep your confidence. That’s the piece that pulls every outfit together. Because style at a certain age isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about honoring what makes you feel like you. A Signature Style  Now’s the time to refine what makes you you. Maybe it’s clean lines and neutrals, maybe it’s bold color and statement jewelry. The key is: own it. Here are a few timeless outfit ideas I reach for again and again: Curiosity Keep learning. Take the trip. Try the class. Learn the language. Feed your mind and heart with newness. Your Inner Circle  Prioritize those who show up. Who celebrate your wins. Who brings wine when you’re down. Keep them close. Healthy Habits  Wellness is a lifelong journey. Move your body. Prioritize sleep. Eat what makes you feel good. Aging gracefully is less about fighting time and more about honoring it. ✨ Closing Thoughts After 50, life doesn’t slow down—it sharpens. We get to choose what stays and what goes, and that kind of freedom is nothing short of fabulous. So here’s to letting go of what no longer serves us and holding on tight to the things that do. Tell me—what are you ditching and keeping after 50? Drop a comment below. Let’s inspire each other to live boldly, beautifully, and unapologetically at any age. About The Author Beth Djalali is the Founder and CEO of Style at a Certain Age. She writes Sundays-Fridays on all topics ranging from fashion, health, wellness, home design and more. She’s 66, 5’8, and size 8. Source link

[chilimili212]

🧹 What to Ditch After 50 (and what to keep) There’s something powerful about reaching 50. It’s a milestone that brings clarity, confidence, and—yes—a healthy dose of self-awareness. We’ve weathered storms, celebrated milestones, and learned a lot along the way. And while the media might want to shelve us after a certain age, I say this is the perfect time to refine, refresh, and reclaim. So today, we’re diving into a little spring cleaning for the soul and the closet. Here’s what to ditch after 50—and what to keep. Clothing that Doesn’t Fit (or Flatter) If it tugs, pulls, gaps, or makes you feel less than your best, it’s time to say goodbye. And yes, that includes those “aspirational” jeans from ten years ago. Your closet should reflect who you are now—not who you used to be or hope to become. I know, I know: This one might sting a little—because we’ve all done it. We’ve held on to that one pair of jeans we used to fit into. The dress from ten years ago that hasn’t zipped in five. Or the blouse that was almost perfect… if only we lost a few pounds. But here’s the truth: clothes are meant to fit you—not the other way around. Life after 50 brings so many changes—hormones, health, lifestyle. And guess what? That’s normal. Expected, even. But holding onto clothing that no longer fits isn’t motivation—it’s a burden. This isn’t about ‘giving up’—it’s about showing up. Showing up for yourself, for your body, for this season of life. Because style isn’t just about how we look—it’s about how we feel. You are not a number on a tag. You are not a ‘before’ photo. You are a woman with wisdom, strength, and taste—and your wardrobe should celebrate that. So let’s stop saving space for who we used to be, and start curating a wardrobe that fits the incredible woman we are right now. What to ditch after 50? Yep, clothes that no longer fit! Shop the Collage A few of my favorite spring wardrobe staples from Lands’ End available at Nordstrom! Outdated Style Rules No white after Labor Day? Long hair past 50? Enough. We make the rules now, and they should serve you. Fashion is personal, and there’s nothing more stylish than confidence. Outdated style rules are on my what to ditch after 50 list and have been for a very long time. I still remember the first time I wore white after Labor Day. It was a crisp October morning, and I pulled on a pair of white denim just because they made me feel good. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I could hear my mother’s voice whispering, “That’s not the way it’s done.” But I stepped out the door anyway—and never looked back. After 50, we’re not interested in dusty old-fashioned rules that tell us what we can’t wear. No sleeves after sixty? Who came up with that one? Matching your shoes to your handbag? Sometimes, but not every time. If style is about expressing who you are, why let someone else’s rulebook define your story? The truth is, confidence is the most stylish thing you can wear—and that never goes out of season. Fast Fashion Hauls Okay, let’s have a little heart-to-heart. If you’ve ever filled an online shopping cart at midnight because everything was under $20… you’re not alone. Fast fashion hauls can feel like a steal in the moment, but here’s the truth: those pieces often cost us more in the long run. They shrink, fade, pill, or fall apart after two washes—and suddenly that ‘deal’ becomes clutter. And let’s be honest… do we really wear most of those impulse buys more than once or twice? After 50, our wardrobe deserves the same kind of thought and care we give to other areas of our lives. Quality matters. Fit matters. And longevity? That’s everything. Instead of chasing trends, I now look for investment pieces—the staples that anchor my wardrobe. A beautifully tailored blazer. A crisp white shirt. A cashmere sweater that feels like a warm hug. Smart Investment Pieces for Women Over 50 Quality leather flats or loafers Neutral blazer (structured or soft) Dark-wash denim (great fit is key) White button-up shirt Timeless handbag in leather Cashmere or merino wool sweater Stretched Out Leggings Let’s talk leggings. We all have that one pair—the faded black ones that used to fit just right but now… well, they sag in the knees, they’ve lost their stretch, and the waistband does more rolling than holding Let’s be honest: they’re more lounge than luxe at this point. And if you’re wearing them to run errands, meet a friend for coffee, or even just feel put-together at home, they’re not exactly doing you any favors. Here’s the upgrade: structured knit pants or tailored joggers. Same comfort, but with a whole new level of polish. These aren’t your old-school sweatpants. Today’s knit trousers and joggers are soft, stretchy, and comfortable—but they hold their shape, hug in the right places, and elevate your look instantly. Comparing Yourself to Others Social media makes it tempting, but comparing yourself to others—especially people in different chapters of life—is a recipe for unhappiness. Embrace your journey. It’s uniquely yours. Your wardrobe should feel like your best friend—supportive, inspiring, and always making you feel your best. If it makes you second-guess yourself or hide… it’s time to thank it and let it go Every season of life deserves its own style evolution. You’ve grown. You’ve earned your confidence. So let’s build a wardrobe that reflects the powerful, beautiful woman you are right now. Because when your wardrobe finally aligns with your confidence? That’s when the real style magic happens. Now that we’ve discussed What to Ditch After 50 let’s chat about what to keep! 🌟 What to Keep They say turning 50 is about knowing what to let go—but I’ve found it’s just as much about knowing what to keep. Keep your sense of humor. Keep your red lipstick. Keep the heels if they still make you feel fabulous. Keep the classics that never fail you—a crisp white shirt, a great blazer, and that one dress that always makes you stand a little taller. But most of all? Keep your confidence. That’s the piece that pulls every outfit together. Because style at a certain age isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about honoring what makes you feel like you. A Signature Style  Now’s the time to refine what makes you you. Maybe it’s clean lines and neutrals, maybe it’s bold color and statement jewelry. The key is: own it. Here are a few timeless outfit ideas I reach for again and again: Curiosity Keep learning. Take the trip. Try the class. Learn the language. Feed your mind and heart with newness. Your Inner Circle  Prioritize those who show up. Who celebrate your wins. Who brings wine when you’re down. Keep them close. Healthy Habits  Wellness is a lifelong journey. Move your body. Prioritize sleep. Eat what makes you feel good. Aging gracefully is less about fighting time and more about honoring it. ✨ Closing Thoughts After 50, life doesn’t slow down—it sharpens. We get to choose what stays and what goes, and that kind of freedom is nothing short of fabulous. So here’s to letting go of what no longer serves us and holding on tight to the things that do. Tell me—what are you ditching and keeping after 50? Drop a comment below. Let’s inspire each other to live boldly, beautifully, and unapologetically at any age. About The Author Beth Djalali is the Founder and CEO of Style at a Certain Age. She writes Sundays-Fridays on all topics ranging from fashion, health, wellness, home design and more. She’s 66, 5’8, and size 8. Source link

[oliviajoyice21]

🧹 What to Ditch After 50 (and what to keep) There’s something powerful about reaching 50. It’s a milestone that brings clarity, confidence, and—yes—a healthy dose of self-awareness. We’ve weathered storms, celebrated milestones, and learned a lot along the way. And while the media might want to shelve us after a certain age, I say this is the perfect time to refine, refresh, and reclaim. So today, we’re diving into a little spring cleaning for the soul and the closet. Here’s what to ditch after 50—and what to keep. Clothing that Doesn’t Fit (or Flatter) If it tugs, pulls, gaps, or makes you feel less than your best, it’s time to say goodbye. And yes, that includes those “aspirational” jeans from ten years ago. Your closet should reflect who you are now—not who you used to be or hope to become. I know, I know: This one might sting a little—because we’ve all done it. We’ve held on to that one pair of jeans we used to fit into. The dress from ten years ago that hasn’t zipped in five. Or the blouse that was almost perfect… if only we lost a few pounds. But here’s the truth: clothes are meant to fit you—not the other way around. Life after 50 brings so many changes—hormones, health, lifestyle. And guess what? That’s normal. Expected, even. But holding onto clothing that no longer fits isn’t motivation—it’s a burden. This isn’t about ‘giving up’—it’s about showing up. Showing up for yourself, for your body, for this season of life. Because style isn’t just about how we look—it’s about how we feel. You are not a number on a tag. You are not a ‘before’ photo. You are a woman with wisdom, strength, and taste—and your wardrobe should celebrate that. So let’s stop saving space for who we used to be, and start curating a wardrobe that fits the incredible woman we are right now. What to ditch after 50? Yep, clothes that no longer fit! Shop the Collage A few of my favorite spring wardrobe staples from Lands’ End available at Nordstrom! Outdated Style Rules No white after Labor Day? Long hair past 50? Enough. We make the rules now, and they should serve you. Fashion is personal, and there’s nothing more stylish than confidence. Outdated style rules are on my what to ditch after 50 list and have been for a very long time. I still remember the first time I wore white after Labor Day. It was a crisp October morning, and I pulled on a pair of white denim just because they made me feel good. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I could hear my mother’s voice whispering, “That’s not the way it’s done.” But I stepped out the door anyway—and never looked back. After 50, we’re not interested in dusty old-fashioned rules that tell us what we can’t wear. No sleeves after sixty? Who came up with that one? Matching your shoes to your handbag? Sometimes, but not every time. If style is about expressing who you are, why let someone else’s rulebook define your story? The truth is, confidence is the most stylish thing you can wear—and that never goes out of season. Fast Fashion Hauls Okay, let’s have a little heart-to-heart. If you’ve ever filled an online shopping cart at midnight because everything was under $20… you’re not alone. Fast fashion hauls can feel like a steal in the moment, but here’s the truth: those pieces often cost us more in the long run. They shrink, fade, pill, or fall apart after two washes—and suddenly that ‘deal’ becomes clutter. And let’s be honest… do we really wear most of those impulse buys more than once or twice? After 50, our wardrobe deserves the same kind of thought and care we give to other areas of our lives. Quality matters. Fit matters. And longevity? That’s everything. Instead of chasing trends, I now look for investment pieces—the staples that anchor my wardrobe. A beautifully tailored blazer. A crisp white shirt. A cashmere sweater that feels like a warm hug. Smart Investment Pieces for Women Over 50 Quality leather flats or loafers Neutral blazer (structured or soft) Dark-wash denim (great fit is key) White button-up shirt Timeless handbag in leather Cashmere or merino wool sweater Stretched Out Leggings Let’s talk leggings. We all have that one pair—the faded black ones that used to fit just right but now… well, they sag in the knees, they’ve lost their stretch, and the waistband does more rolling than holding Let’s be honest: they’re more lounge than luxe at this point. And if you’re wearing them to run errands, meet a friend for coffee, or even just feel put-together at home, they’re not exactly doing you any favors. Here’s the upgrade: structured knit pants or tailored joggers. Same comfort, but with a whole new level of polish. These aren’t your old-school sweatpants. Today’s knit trousers and joggers are soft, stretchy, and comfortable—but they hold their shape, hug in the right places, and elevate your look instantly. Comparing Yourself to Others Social media makes it tempting, but comparing yourself to others—especially people in different chapters of life—is a recipe for unhappiness. Embrace your journey. It’s uniquely yours. Your wardrobe should feel like your best friend—supportive, inspiring, and always making you feel your best. If it makes you second-guess yourself or hide… it’s time to thank it and let it go Every season of life deserves its own style evolution. You’ve grown. You’ve earned your confidence. So let’s build a wardrobe that reflects the powerful, beautiful woman you are right now. Because when your wardrobe finally aligns with your confidence? That’s when the real style magic happens. Now that we’ve discussed What to Ditch After 50 let’s chat about what to keep! 🌟 What to Keep They say turning 50 is about knowing what to let go—but I’ve found it’s just as much about knowing what to keep. Keep your sense of humor. Keep your red lipstick. Keep the heels if they still make you feel fabulous. Keep the classics that never fail you—a crisp white shirt, a great blazer, and that one dress that always makes you stand a little taller. But most of all? Keep your confidence. That’s the piece that pulls every outfit together. Because style at a certain age isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about honoring what makes you feel like you. A Signature Style  Now’s the time to refine what makes you you. Maybe it’s clean lines and neutrals, maybe it’s bold color and statement jewelry. The key is: own it. Here are a few timeless outfit ideas I reach for again and again: Curiosity Keep learning. Take the trip. Try the class. Learn the language. Feed your mind and heart with newness. Your Inner Circle  Prioritize those who show up. Who celebrate your wins. Who brings wine when you’re down. Keep them close. Healthy Habits  Wellness is a lifelong journey. Move your body. Prioritize sleep. Eat what makes you feel good. Aging gracefully is less about fighting time and more about honoring it. ✨ Closing Thoughts After 50, life doesn’t slow down—it sharpens. We get to choose what stays and what goes, and that kind of freedom is nothing short of fabulous. So here’s to letting go of what no longer serves us and holding on tight to the things that do. Tell me—what are you ditching and keeping after 50? Drop a comment below. Let’s inspire each other to live boldly, beautifully, and unapologetically at any age. About The Author Beth Djalali is the Founder and CEO of Style at a Certain Age. She writes Sundays-Fridays on all topics ranging from fashion, health, wellness, home design and more. She’s 66, 5’8, and size 8. Source link

[newtras]

The new rule era of Dungeons & Dragons is saying goodbye to a cute tradition.

Follow Dungeons & Dragons50th anniversary last year Coastal wizard Prepared New version of Core Core Core Tio Or Rulebooks: Player Manual,, Dungeon Masters' Guideand Monster Manual– While the dissemination of these, aiming to be Jeremy Crawford, D&D, SARS, the best version of these books, the best of these books that we can do. “There are a few details that fans Some people may find such as…

[satrthere]

The new rule era of Dungeons & Dragons is saying goodbye to a cute tradition.

Follow Dungeons & Dragons50th anniversary last year Coastal wizard Prepared New version of Core Core Core Tio Or Rulebooks: Player Manual,, Dungeon Masters' Guideand Monster Manual– While the dissemination of these, aiming to be Jeremy Crawford, D&D, SARS, the best version of these books, the best of these books that we can do. “There are a few details that fans Some people may find such as…

[starseedfxofficial]

Unveiling the Ripple/USD Secret: How Reinforcement Learning Models Dominate The Hidden Dance Between Ripple and Reinforcement Learning Models When it comes to Forex trading, most traders look at the big players like the EUR/USD or USD/JPY pairs. But what if I told you that there’s a sleeper hit in the Forex world? Enter Ripple (XRP) paired with the US Dollar. Now, before you roll your eyes and say, "Not another crypto pitch," hang tight. This isn’t your average blog post. Today, we’re diving deep into how reinforcement learning models (RLMs) are rewriting the rulebook on trading strategies for Ripple/USD. Buckle up, because this ride includes ninja tactics, insider secrets, and a sprinkle of humor to keep things interesting. Why Ripple/USD Deserves Your Attention Ripple isn’t just another crypto token; it’s the bridge currency that powers real-world transactions between financial institutions. Unlike Bitcoin’s wild west reputation, Ripple has practical applications, making it less volatile and more predictable—a dream for traders who love patterns. The Ripple/USD pair offers a unique playground for traders looking to diversify their strategies beyond traditional currency pairs. Pro Tip: Think of Ripple/USD as the indie movie that steals the show at a blockbuster-dominated Forex awards night. Reinforcement Learning Models: The Secret Sauce So, what makes reinforcement learning models such a game-changer? At its core, reinforcement learning is a type of machine learning where algorithms learn by trial and error, adapting strategies to maximize rewards. Imagine having a trading assistant who learns faster than a coffee-addicted programmer during a hackathon. Here’s how reinforcement learning models can optimize Ripple/USD trades: - Pattern Recognition: - RLMs excel at spotting hidden patterns in price movements that humans and traditional algorithms might miss. For example, they can identify when Ripple is about to rally before the herd catches on. - Adaptive Strategies: - Unlike static trading systems, RLMs adjust strategies in real-time. Whether the market’s bullish, bearish, or just plain moody, these models evolve to stay ahead. - Risk Management: - RLMs can calculate the optimal risk-to-reward ratio for every trade. Say goodbye to sleepless nights over "what if I’d set a tighter stop-loss?" Humorous Aside: If traditional trading bots are like weather forecasters (right half the time), RLMs are like meteorologists with crystal balls—eerily accurate but without the fog machine. The Ripple/USD and RLM Combo: A Match Made in Trading Heaven Let’s break down how you can harness the power of reinforcement learning to dominate the Ripple/USD market: Step 1: Data is King Start by feeding your RLM high-quality historical data for Ripple/USD. Include price action, trading volumes, and key events affecting the crypto market. Think of this as giving your model a balanced diet of trading wisdom. Step 2: Define the Reward System Set clear objectives for your RLM. For instance, prioritize maximizing profits while minimizing drawdowns. This step is crucial because the reward system dictates how the model learns. Step 3: Test, Tweak, Repeat Run your RLM in a simulated trading environment. Analyze its performance, make adjustments, and test again. This iterative process ensures the model’s strategies align with real-world market dynamics. Step 4: Go Live (With Caution) Once your RLM shows consistent success in simulations, deploy it for live trading. Start small and monitor its performance closely. Remember, even the best models need human oversight. Insider Tips for Mastering the Ripple/USD Market - Leverage News Sentiment Analysis: - Combine reinforcement learning with sentiment analysis tools to gauge market reactions to news. Ripple’s price often correlates with regulatory updates and partnerships. - Focus on Liquidity Zones: - RLMs can help identify liquidity zones where large players execute trades. Use this insight to align your entries and exits with institutional movements. - Utilize Layered Orders: - Employ RLMs to place layered orders around key support and resistance levels. This strategy minimizes risk while maximizing potential profits. Myth-Busting: The Truth About RLMs and Ripple/USD Myth 1: RLMs are only for tech-savvy traders. Reality: With user-friendly platforms and pre-built models, even non-techies can leverage RLMs. Myth 2: Ripple/USD is too volatile for reliable trading. Reality: While crypto markets can be volatile, Ripple’s institutional use case provides a level of predictability unmatched by other altcoins. A Case Study: Turning Data into Dollars Consider this real-world example: A trader used reinforcement learning to analyze Ripple/USD over a six-month period. The model identified a recurring pattern where Ripple rallied following major partnership announcements. By capitalizing on this insight, the trader achieved a 45% ROI in just three months. Lesson Learned: The combination of Ripple/USD and RLMs isn’t just theoretical. It’s a proven strategy with real-world success stories. Why Ripple/USD and RLMs Are the Future If you’re looking to diversify your trading portfolio and gain a competitive edge, the Ripple/USD pair is your ticket. By integrating reinforcement learning models, you can unlock hidden opportunities, mitigate risks, and stay ahead of market trends. Remember, trading success isn’t about following the crowd. It’s about finding unique angles and leveraging cutting-edge tools. Ripple/USD and RLMs offer just that—a fresh, dynamic approach to Forex trading. —————– Image Credits: Cover image at the top is AI-generated Read the full article

[themistechnologies01]

UK Tech Market Updates

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Each week, I delve into the latest trends and developments in the UK tech market.

Let's explore what's new.

Big Tech Boosts Britain!

Tech’s getting a turbo boost in the UK, with fresh investment streaming into British data centers! The Tech Secretary recently welcomed new funding aimed at boosting the UK’s digital infrastructure, promising a future where data centres are primed to support AI innovation and economic growth.

So, here’s what that means : more jobs, smarter tech, and a stronger economy! Imagine faster internet, smarter AI, and a tech scene that’s positively buzzing. With this funding, the UK could soon lead the way in digital infrastructure and innovation.

My take? This investment puts Britain right in the digital spotlight, setting us up for the future with some serious tech swagger. So, whether you’re into AI, the economy, or just happy about faster downloads, get ready—Britain’s tech future is looking bright!

Big Tech Goes Nuclear for a Cleaner, Greener Future!

Big Tech has found its new power move—and it’s nuclear! With the demand for data skyrocketing, especially thanks to AI, tech giants are looking to nuclear energy as a clean, powerful solution. Companies like Microsoft and Google are diving into nuclear investments to keep up with massive data demands while reducing their carbon footprints. As renewable sources struggle to meet the 24/7 energy needs, nuclear promises a consistent, eco-friendly power source.

In simpler terms, they’re saying goodbye to ‘dirty’ energy sources and opting for a more sustainable future for all. Think of it as an upgrade from your everyday battery to a powerhouse that doesn’t quit! With Big Tech going all-in on sustainability, AI’s environmental impact might just be a thing of the past.

So, keep your eyes on the grid, because Big Tech’s going nuclear could mean a cleaner, greener digital world!

Google’s Latest Move: Watermarking AI Text! 

Google just dropped a game-changer—tech that watermarks AI-generated text! That’s right, now AI-written content can have a digital “signature” so you know what’s written by bots versus us humans. Why? Well, with AI-generated content flooding the internet, it's getting tougher to tell what’s real and what’s… robotically real. Google’s watermarking tech aims to bring transparency and trust to online content by helping users spot AI-created text quickly.

Yes, you read that right!

This is Google’s way of saying, “We love our AI, but let’s keep it honest, folks!” It’s like giving AI its own “authenticity badge” so we all know who—or what—we’re listening to. Imagine being able to scroll and spot AI text without a double-take. It’s genius! Plus, it’s high time we had a little tech honesty, right?

Cheers to a future where we can tell if it's our buddy GPT or a real-life writer behind those words!

From Homeless to Headlining: Dean Forbes Tops UK’s Powerlist!

Dean Forbes, once homeless, has risen to become the UK’s most influential Black person of 2025, as celebrated in The Powerlist. Dean Forbes, CEO of Forterro, turned his life around with relentless ambition and now stands as a role model in tech and beyond.

Forbes’ journey is a testament to resilience and vision, proving that backgrounds don’t define futures. With Forterro, he’s driving innovative business strategies and showing that the tech world can be diverse and inclusive at the highest levels. Recognized as a leader who hasn’t just broken barriers but rewritten the rulebook, Forbes' journey reminds us all of the power of determination and hard work.

In a world where stories of success often overlook the struggles, Dean Forbes’ ascent to the top is a true highlight—and it shows that big dreams can happen, no matter where you start.

Dean Forbes: a name to remember, and a story to admire.

Apple’s Satellite Service for UK Roadside Emergencies

UK iPhone users now have access to satellite-powered emergency messaging. Yep, that means even without signal bars, help is just a message away.

The new feature lets stranded drivers contact roadside assistance via satellite when they’re out of mobile range. This service is designed for the unexpected—think of it as a lifeline for when your phone has a better chance of talking to the sky than the nearest cell tower. For now, it’s for iPhone 14 and 15 users, giving those with the latest tech an added layer of peace of mind.

So next time your car decides to nap mid-journey, just look up (literally), and let Apple’s satellites handle the rest.

This is Apple’s high-tech way of saying, “We’ve got your back.” A simple tap to request help in the middle of nowhere could save a day—or at least save you from a very long walk!

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