#he's just so flanderized in those 2 seasons its like not even fun

[cherry-bomb-ships]

Oh good lird it has definitely been more than a week since I've watched any PPG I feel like a dried up crumpled dying lil fish on a shoreline.... food... water.. chimp bf 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

[pedanticat]

Five Things I want in a new Sonic Cartoon

When it comes to animated series featuring Sonic, it has been hit or miss. There have been series that are loved, series that are hated and series that are very divisive among the fanbase for a number of reasons. However, while I did grow up watching Sonic X, I truly grew to love the Sonic franchise when I discovered the Archie Sonic comics about six years ago. While I haven’t read every single issue of the series, the majority of what I read shaped the way of how I viewed the franchise and its characters with me using the comics as an example for how I believed  the characters and the game series should be handled. A series about compelling heroes and villains with layers them instead of them being them base selves, thrill-seeking, hair raising stakes and more. Now that’s not to say I don’t mind the series being goofy, after all, I really enjoyed the Sonic Boom comics and to a lesser extent the tv show, but I just have a view over how things involving the characters and franchise as a whole should be handled, especially in an animated series. So, in no particular order, these are the five things I would want in a new Sonic animated series!

Number Five: Evil Eggman

Ever since Sonic X, animated series of Sonic have opted for Eggman having a frenemy relationship with Sonic instead of the two being bitter enemies. While I do know they are Eggman fans who hate this more friendly version of Eggman, I don’t mind it too much since it does allow for some fun interactions between Eggman and Sonic, especially in Sonic Boom. However, I find evil versions of Eggman such as his Archie and IDW counterparts to be more enjoyable since underneath his goofy nature, he’s a monster who takes great joy in causing mayhem and misery. Not beating Sonic and his friends in a soccer game misery. I’m talking about putting chips into organic soldiers’ brains that will explode if they disobey him and turning people into robot zombies’ level of misery! Eggman isn’t a good guy nor does he have any good qualities. He’s a sadistic genius who shows no remorse and commits horrible atrocities with a smile on his face and that is what makes him both a great character and villain. Even when he has to team up with Sonic and the gang, he’s just waiting for the first moment to betray them. This version of Eggman comes off as a legitimate threat and can be downright scary due to how sadistic he is with him providing an actual challenge for Sonic and his friends. I don’t know why they’ve opted to make Eggman more of a joke in the last two shows and not make him an actual threat, but I would like to have a series with a sadistic and threatening version of the mad doctor.

Number Four: Action-oriented half-hour series

Now while I don’t have anything against 11-minute episode segments, the Sonic series as a whole is all about adventure and action and I think the nature of the series is what makes it perfect for a half hour series. Heck, even Sega must realize that considering how half of the Sonic cartoons are half hour shows. Furthermore, I want it to be like Sonic X and SatAM in which there’s an overarching storyline with twists and turns as all the episodes actually lead up to somewhere. I know there’s already a bunch of those kinds of shows currently airing, which you can expect me to talk about in another video, but Sonic really lends itself to that kind of storytelling because of the kind of series it is. It would also allow to give more character’s times to shine, explore the world and keep viewers engage since they would want to see what happens next in the show.

Number Three: Utilizing Sonic Characters

The Sonic franchise have a very large roster of characters with the roster only growing as the years have gone on. However, there are many characters from the games who have never made an animated debut which I think is a huge shame. Sure, a lot of them have been better utilized in the comics such as the Hooligans, Blaze and Silver, but I think having them be a part of an animated series would provide many interesting story possibilities along with fun interactions and getting more exposure. For instance, Eggman isn’t the only villain from the Sonic series yet he’s the only villain from the games that have ever been used in the Sonic cartoons. Now while I don’t have anything against new original villains being made for the shows, I think that a new Sonic series should use other villains from the franchise such as the Hooligans and the Babylon Rouges since it would serve as a nice change of pace of always having Eggman be the antagonist while also giving underutilize characters time in the spotlight. It certainly would have made more sense for Sonic speed rival who rode a hoverboard in season 2 of Boom to be Jet the Hawk instead of making a discount version of the character. 

I’ve also read many stories involving the Hooligans and I found them be an enjoyable gang of villains due to their dynamic. So I would honestly love to see them make the jump from the games to an animated series. Fun fact, originally, I thought they were characters exclusive to the comics until I learned years later that they actually originate from the games. So yeah, characters like the Hooligans really do need to be used more since the fact that I didn’t even know they originated from the games demonstrates how poorly Sega treats a lot of their character. Furthermore, having those characters along with others like Silver, Blaze and Marine, yes I like Marine, sue me, appearing in an animated series would allow for them to be fleshed out more and given more character since nothing of note have been done with them in the games for years.

Number Two: Exploring Sonic World

Despite many games taking place on Sonic world, very little is actually known about it and Sega don’t seem to have any interest in properly exploring it any of the games. They’ll flesh out more of the human world then they will with Mobius. Yes, I know it’s not officially called Mobius, but I rather I call it that instead of saying Sonic World all the time. The only times Mobius have actually been fleshed out are in SatAM, Underground, and the Archie Sonic comics. I think it would be a nice change of pace to actually explore Mobius in an animated series with viewers actually getting to know about the culture and lifestyle of the planet, all the different types of Mobians that reside on it and just make the overall world of Sonic feel more alive and lived in. I want to have that kind of world in a Sonic series instead of the characters traveling to our world or having them stay on a primary spot in the world and constantly reuse the same locations over and over again.  

Number One: Proper Characterization

If there’s one thing every Sonic fan can agree on, it’s that they hate it whenever a character they love is written very poorly. Now this is a bit tricky since everyone does have a personal preference for how a character, they love should but the best way to avoid that is to not flanderize the characters and have them act in a way that makes sense with the character. Like Amy having a crush on Sonic is fine and that trait has provided many funny moments in the comics and shows. However, if Amy is Sonic crazy like she was in Sonic X, that may end up annoying a lot of fans. Likewise, despite taking place in an alternate universe, Knuckles was made into a total idiot in the Boom series which many people hated since while Knuckles may not be the smartest guy in the series, he’s not an idiot. For me, I just want the characters to actually be recognizable for who they are with them being written in a way that makes sense for their characters while even adding layers to their character that aren’t often explored.

[adriannaelle]

Treehouse and Chill

The Simpsons reached another milestone this year with the recent airing of its thirtieth “Treehouse of Horror” special which, coincidentally, is the show’s 666th episode. While certainly not the best installment of this annual series, “Treehouse of Horror XXX” was pretty funny. Still, even the funniest jokes in this episode pale in comparison to some of the classic “Treehouse of Horror” specials. To this day, iconic segments such as “The Shinning”, “The Devil and Homer Simpson”, “Nightmare Cafeteria”, and “Citizen Kang” are still hard to top.

So, in honor of Halloween, thirty years of scary tales, and 90’s nostalgia, I want to briefly discuss my favorite five episodes of the Treehouse of Horror series. As always, ranking articles like these are subjective and are based on personal taste. Therefore, I don’t care if you nor yo’ mama thinks “Treehouse of Horror III” was trash. It’s still going on this list!

Alright, let us continue.

Honorable Mentions: “Treehouse of Horror II”, “Treehouse of Horror VIII”, and “Treehouse of Horror X”

Number Five: “Treehouse of Horror VII” (Season 8, Episode 1; 1996)

Although “The Thing and I” was a strong first segment, I enjoyed it least in “Treehouse of Horror VII”. Don’t get me wrong, I thought the story was pretty funny, I just like the second and third stories better. However, I do have a bone to pick with the ending of “The Thing and I”. Instead of confining Bart to the attic, why not keep both Hugo and Bart around after they discovered Bart was the evil twin? I mean, the family already lived with Bart for 10 years. They might as well kept the mistake going.

“The Genesis Tub” was amusing.  It may be the creative in me, but I really enjoy the concept of creating your own world and overseeing it.  Still, I felt the ending of “The Genesis Tub” was a bit abrupt.  I feel like the writers could have done so much more with the concept of Lisa creating and ruling her own Universe. Maybe she could have assaulted Bart with more fighter pilots. Maybe she could have built a massive ray gun a la the ray gun seen in “Citizen Kang”.  The ideas are limitless.

Speaking of “Citizen Kang”, this story is one of my favorites in the entire Treehouse of Horror series.  It's a brilliant satirical take on elections in the United States and the country’s politicians.  I especially like how the writers make fun of our ridiculous two-party system.  Like really, are our only choices between a drooling, Gangreen Gang, cyclops squid, and his twin sister?  Ross Perot should have brought up Kang’s and Kodos’ emails.  That always works.

Number Four: “Treehouse of Horror III” (Season 4, Episode 5; 1992)

Akin to my feelings about “Treehouse of Horror VII”, I’m only a big fan of two of the three segments in “Treehouse of Horror III”.  “King Homer” was just a’ight to me. Granted, the segment did have a great exchange between Mr. Smithers and Mr. Burns about the former’s distaste of seamen and women mixing.  Yet overall, I didn’t get a kick out of this story as much as I did the other two.

“Clown Without Pity” is a parody of the lauded Twilight Zone episode “Living Doll”.  This segment had its share of funny jokes, particularly the line from Patty about losing the remaining thread of her heterosexuality after seeing Homer horrifically run through the house butt naked.  I also like how the key to turning off the Krusty doll’s murderous rage, is switching the lever from “evil” to “good”.  Like, what happens if the lever accidentally switches back?  What if it breaks and he gets stuck on “evil”?  Take the doll back and get a refund!  Like, what are y’all doing?!

Finally, there is “Dial ‘Z’ for Zombie”.  No matter how self-aware I am about the absurdity of my kinemortophobia (fear of zombies), I still have it.  That is why I hated this segment as a child.  But as a grown woman, I find this story very funny.  It’s a pretty simple zombie story, but the jokes strewn throughout are what make it a highlight of the series.  The joke about Homer being immune to the zombies because he lacks brains is one that stands out in particular.  Also, what are George Washington, Albert Einstein, and William Shakespeare even doing in Springfield?

Number Three: “Treehouse of Horror IV” (Season 5, Episode 5; 1993)

Choosing between “Treehouse of Horror IV” and “Treehouse of Horror V” as my second favorite episode of the series was the hardest.  Ultimately, I prefer V ever so slightly over IV, but IV is a heavyweight in its own right.  “The Devil and Homer Simpson” shows just how far our dimwitted protagonist is willing to go to get his favorite, sugary snack.  You got to be desperate as all hell to sell your soul for a donut!  Other than Homer’s enjoyment of his ironic punishment, the best part of the segment is the trial itself.  The Devil’s voir dire game is trash.  How do you select the jury and still lose the case?  Never hire this man for anything.

“Terror at 5 ½ Feet” is yet another hilarious spin on an old Twilight Zone classic. This parody of “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” stays true to the basic horror elements and story structure as the original tale, but, of course, adds its own Simpsons brand of humor to it. However, unlike the original, Bart is still tormented by the gremlin after he’s hauled off to the psych ward.  Side note, Ned Flanders really took a lot of L’s in this episode.

I’ve never seen nor read the original Dracula, so I do not know how faithful “Bart Simpson’s Dracula” is to the original story.  Well, I guess that doesn’t really matter here because this story is so funny and scary that it holds your attention from beginning to end.  From the super happy fun slide that leads to the vampires in the basement to Homer staking Mr. Burns (Burnscula?) in the crotch, this story provides many laughs that make this story a classic.  Also, the plot twist that Marge (Margecula?) is really the head vampire is funny as hell.  Sorry if that was a spoiler but in fairness, this episode is 26 years old now.

Number Two: “Treehouse of Horror V” (Season 6, Episode 6; 1994)

“Treehouse of Horror V” is solid from beginning to end.  “The Shinning” is firmly in my top five list of favorite Treehouse of Horror segments.  This segment has several hilarious moments, from Homer taking three days to make the voyage to the cabin due to his forgetfulness to the blood not getting off at the right floor, to that scene where the complete lack of television and beer made Homer go . . . something . . . hmm.  Well, anyway, I can definitely say that every time I watch “The Shinning”, I’m feelin’ fine.

“The Shinning” is not the only highlight of this episode.  Homer’s time-traveling escapade in “Time and Punishment” introduced us to numerous interesting alternative timelines that ultimately drove Homer to a pure state of “IDGAF” at the end.  Still sucks that he missed out on that donut rain.  That timeline would have smacked!  

This episode’s final segment, “Nightmare Cafeteria”, truly is the stuff of nightmares. I mean, it’s super funny now that I’m grown, but this segment used to legitimately scare me as a child.  It also didn’t help that I was a fat kid.  Like, imagine living your best life and then the next moment, you’re Ms. Wilson’s Fried Adri.  Woo, chile.

Number One: “Treehouse of Horror” (Season 2, Episode 3; 1990)

It’s often said that nothing beats the original, and in the case of Treehouse of Horror episodes, this sentiment rings true.  The very first Treehouse of Horror is the greatest episode of the series.  One of the highlights of this episode is the dulcet baritone of James Earl Jones as the mover, Serak the Preparer, and the narrator of “The Raven”.

The first segment “Bad Dream House” is a comedic spin on the classic haunted house movie trope.  The quintessential 80s style horror music that accompanies the story throughout greatly adds to the mood of the piece without overdoing it.  The conclusion of “Bad Dream House” is what makes this story so funny.  The house destroys itself rather than live with the Simpsons. I don’t know what it feels like to be curved by a house, but it must make you feel all kinds of insecure.  

“Hungry Are the Damned” is our first introduction to Treehouse staples Kang and Kodos.  It is also our introduction to the sorely missed Serak the Preparer, who definitely needs to return at least once in this series.  This segment parodies the classic Twilight Zone episode “To Serve Man” and gives us a humorous plot twist at the end.  I suppose this episode also serves as a sort of origin story of Kang’s and Kodos’ beef with mankind because this is the only episode where they are genuinely nice.  Dang, all Lisa had to do was sit down and eat her food. Literally.

Finally, there is “The Raven”, which is absolutely my favorite segment in any Treehouse of Horror Episode.  What I like most about “The Raven” is how the crew manages to add comedy to the piece without losing any of the mystique of Edgar Allen Poe’s riveting poetry.  It also made this poem a bit easier to understand, which I greatly appreciate.  It’s a refined piece of television without the pompousness of the bourgeois.  In short, I like it. 

Honestly, no matter which of the thirty Treehouse of Horror episodes you like best, all are great for watching on Halloween for squeamish, easy-to-scare people like me.  So for those of us who aren’t bravely equipped to watch the more realistic, gory, and scary productions, I highly recommend binge-watching these episodes for some softer scary vibes and lots of laughs.

[marvelandponder]

M.A. Larson Roasts the Fandom

Well, originally it was his, at least. From what we can gather, it seems this was an old script they had lying around from when Larson worked on the show, and they’ve retooled it to work for the current season.

Who exactly did the rearranging is still a mystery, although if I had to throw a guess out there, it would make sense that this season’s story editors Joanna Lewis and Kristine Songco (otherwise known as the Lady Writers) were the ones giving the script its updates.

If so, that explains why it came out so fantastically despite Larson saying he wasn’t happy with the final product.

From what very little I know about the industry, it’s not uncommon for writers to watch their scripts be turned into something totally, soul-crushingly different from their original vision. So, I’m hoping that behind-the-scenes communication issue is fixed. Even if it doesn’t always affect episode quality, we ended up losing a good writer over it, and I can’t imagine it feels good to put your heart and soul into something only for it to be changed before it airs.

That being said, it’s almost ironic that it happened with such a meta episode. Larson usually gets blamed for the Twilicorn fiasco despite his original script being totally different. So it’s kinda funny that Magical Mystery Cure got him flak for years and this episode — which ended up being sort of an encore after his grand finale with Amending Fences — is yet another episode that was changed without his consent but this time it ended up being pretty well loved (on the whole).

Life has a weird sense of humour like that.

I had to start with that behind-the-scenes stuff because I’m shocked—shocked—that they managed to make an episode that’s somehow even more meta than Slice of Life.

Not only that, but because of its weird production history it’s an episode that perfectly blends the old feel of MLP with the new. I really can’t tell you how much of Larson’s script they kept intact (he seemed to imply not a lot, but it feels so much like classic MLP that I almost refuse to believe some of this stuff wasn’t from him), but this is such a weirdly perfect episode because it brings that Return of Harmony feel to the season 7 version of these characters and this world.

And to top it all off, as a long-time fan of the show whose been in the fandom since season 2, the ponifed mirror it holds up to the fans is just hilarious. 

Pictured above: us rn

Like, actually the best thing. It’s a funny episode for causal fans, but for hardcore fans, it’s amazing—and any commentary that can add a layer for those in the know, but not detract anything for the little fans or casual viewers, is just golden.

It also sort of exemplifies what there is to love about Larson. Even if nothing but his original concept ended up being used (still don’t believe that), it makes perfect sense that this came from him. The smart edge he was willing bring to Pony will forever be missed.

But, at least we have one last hurrah! Sort of. So without further introduction, allow me to fangirl over and pretend to analyze an episode about the dangers of missing the point by over-analyzing!

… wait.

Not Just a “It’s Just a Kids Show” Argument

Okay, so when you’re a huge fan of cartoons made for children, you tend to come across this argument a fair bit: it’s just a kids show. Why are you looking so deep into it? Don’t over-analyze it, it’s made for kids.

At glance you might think that’s what this episode is arguing, too, that if adult fans want to watch, they should keep in mind that it’s just for kids and not overthink it.

But that argument tends to come with the connotation that kids shows aren’t deep at all and can’t be meaningful because they’re made for kids. And it doesn’t take me to tell you, a cartoon fan, that that’s just not the case.

This episode isn’t devaluing what kids enjoy, or even saying all deep thought over what was intended to be fun, silly, and heartfelt is bad. But it is a reminder not to get so lost in that overthinking that you miss out on what the show’s really about: the fun, silly, cute horses learning cheesy, but still incredibly earnest lessons on life, love, and (of course) friendship.

And this isn’t exactly a middle finger to the fandom, either---I’ve seen it taken that way a few times, too. If you remember Slice of Life and even the convention scenes of Stranger than Fanfiction at all, you’ll remember M.A. Larson (who wrote Slice of Life) and the rest of the staff actually love our creativity and world-building. They dedicated an entire episode, the show’s 100th, to characters the fans created themselves. 

And yes, even our analysis community is well-loved by the staff if Quibble Pants is anything to go by (his character may grate on Dash’s nerves from time to time, but he’s also portrayed as incredibly smart, inventive, and learns a lesson in the end to become a better pony).

So, please don’t misunderstand: they do still love our passion and even our crazy, overly-deep ideas, and you can even make criticisms if you want (I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s an anti-criticism thing, either), but the point is that we need just need to keep things in perspective, or else miss out on the fun of it all.

And, that this show is meant for kids. Not “just for kids,” like that’s a bad thing, but that kids are, have been, and will forever be the target audience, and that’s something we should always have a respect for.

I’ve always loved that about the staff. That they have a great love for the young fans of the show, and they’ll always put them first. It’s the way it should be, even with a an older fanbase that they also love dearly (despite our many, many flaws; which come to think of it mirrors the lesson the mane 6 are trying to teach).

So, yeah, this is one of the funniest lessons the show has had to date, and but also one that carries a lot of meaning, for fans young and old.

I warned you that this would be a lot of fangirling.

Character Growth, Comedy, and Criticisms

God, this episode has so much going for it… I’m just sitting here trying to think of where to start and remembering just how much there is to enjoy here.

Okay, for starters, he nailed the fanbase’s biggest hangups over the years:

Fluttershy: Learning the same lesson over and over Pinkie Pie: Considered flanderized when she seems too silly/not grounded in the moment (think Filli Vanilli, the colouring book in Princess Twilight Part 1, or the balloon distracting her in Three’s a Crowd) Rainbow Dash: Hardcore fans claim she’s perfect, is best pony Twilight: Was better before the wings, or would’ve been better if ____ had happened Applejack and Rarity are hilariously switched. Rarity is the background pony getting all the criticism every time she does anything (has an episode), and Applejack is the one that’s praised to the point of obsession.

Spike, ironically, doesn’t have a role in this episode, and you can tell just based on some of her lines that Starlight took his spot in the rewrites (Spike totally would’ve stayed behind with Rarity in the exact same way). I’m a bit bummed they didn’t put in a joke or two for him, because he did write in that journal, too. They could’ve even commented on whether or not he’s considered part of the friend group (a major character or a supporting character), but there’s only so much running time.

I love that the CMC just got popular on the playground for their entries. Like, no drama there, they’re just loved because they’re adorable and sweet, and isn’t that accurate though?

Also: they actually are going to have an episode later this season about that summer camp idea they had, called Marks and Recreation. And some people wonder why I love the later seasons.

And I like that by calling some things out in-episode, like Fluttershy’s baby steps or Pinkie’s silliness, they actually get a chance to say, yeah, you might be legitimately right, but here’s how they’ve grown as characters.

Even just listening to some of the lyrics of the song: Rainbow Dash’s ego is huge, but it gives her the courage to fail, Pinkie might seem overly excited on the outside, but it’s just because she’s so excited to be with her friends. Twilight’s was a bit rushed to get to the chorus, but aside from hers, they each get at the heart of why these characters are so compelling and endearing and I just?

I just really love that.

Oh and I want to take a moment to appreciate the design of the song, because Daniel Ingram puts in so much freakin’ thought to these sometimes. The point of the song is that their flaws are what make them who they are, and by extension make them friends, so what does Ingram do?

Not only gives them each a verse to detail one of their biggest flaws, but lets them come together in perfect harmony for the chorus. That perfectly matches the meaning of the song.

If it sounds similar to another season 7 song because of that harmony, you’re not wrong: it’s similar in structure to Until the End of Time (or was it When We’re with Our Team?), only that was half a joke song: the point was that in comparison to Starlight and Trixie, the girls have a ridiculously easy time getting along. Super catchy and upbeat, but also a lot more vague than Flawless because it’s focusing on just how well they get along after all this time of being friends. So, this episode’s song ends up being the more meaningful of the two.

Oh, and then there’s Starlight Glimmer in a supporting role! See, this season has been letting her play the supporting role instead of always being the star or costar in her appearances, which really helps integrate her more and more into the cast. Even though she comes up with the idea of showing the girls they’re appreciated, she doesn’t overshadow their efforts to solve the problem.

A part of me doesn’t like that she had to take Spike’s role in the episode to do it, and again, that would’ve been remedied if Spike had a small joke about being on the run from crazy fans asking how close he is to Twilight and the girls really. It’s not like whoever revised this episode didn’t have a great sense of humour too---if nothing else, our Mystery Editor(s) definitely must’ve put in Starlight’s line about needing to copy the Communist Manifesto, so I’m sure they also could’ve reworked something funny for Spike quickly.

But at least we have a Spike episode this coming week to help make up for it.

Back to this episode, can we just. 

Can we JUST appreciate the comedy?

Not even ‘oh this episode made the giggles’ but just like... the sheer variety of kinds of jokes? We had slapstick, we had sight gags, we had things floating into frame, we had the frame moving over to the punchline, we had ridiculously hilarious expressions, character humour, smartly written lines, and to put the cherry on the cake of course, we had meta humour.

Like, this episode is a comedic gold mine.

It makes me appreciate the different kinds of humour the show has to offer. Dr. Wolf just recently made a video on the lack of slapstick in MLP in recent seasons, and as a fan of director Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, At World’s End, Baby Driver, etc), I recently watched a video on how he does visual comedy like no other director. Give it a watch if you’re interested.

So, yeah, since most episodes have one or two styles of comedy they rely more heavily on, it’s just refreshing to get a full buffet.

Oh, but even after the lesson, I should probably still say something critical in this this critical analysis, shouldn’t I?

Well, fine. 

For one, the townsponies viewing the mane 6 differently once they know their personal thoughts is somewhat reasonable, but if you take a step back from the meta of the episode, it does put this episode in the category of: the town acts like jerks for an episode... episode

I find it hilarious and don’t have much of a problem with it, but I realize that for some, this is an actual problem because this is supposed to be such a loving, kind world.

At least this time there’s a reason for them to go total Jerk---unlike, say the marketplace in Putting Your Hoof Down or the squabbling delegates of Princess Spike---but for some this is going to be an issue.

Also, you have to wonder if they censored some things in the journal, because otherwise, everyone now knows Daring Do is A.K. Yearling...

... unless that’s what upcoming episode Daring Done is about. Have I mentioned I love the continuity in this show?

Oh, and I think I might make the details section its own post this time. Normally save a space at the bottom to highlight small details I liked in an episode, but this post has already become a huge love-letter, so I should probably spare your dash from being eaten alive.

So, overall, to me, this episode is kind of masterful. Larson was definitely the man for the job: I can’t think of anyone else who could so eloquently put the fandom in their place without straight up insulting them---or have the cojones to try! All while reminding the fandom of all the reasons there are to like the show in the first place!

Brilliant in concept, and in execution, so even though I spent this post praising Larson himself, I’ve also gotta give some love to the current staff members for this one. Like I said, it blends classic MLP sensibilities with all the polish, development, and emphasis on continuity of the current seasons, and for that, it’s a truly unique, wonderfully insightful episode.

And right off the heels of The Perfect Pear, which was an emotional masterpiece in my eyes, too! Right now, I’ve gotta say, it’s good to be an MLP fan.

Need more pony? I always do. That’s why I have all these episode reviews and editorials for you! And to make it easier, have the last three things I’ve done:

Hard to Say Anything Review, Honest Apple Review, and SciTwi v.s. Twilight

Year of the Pony

Special Thanks to Millennial Dan on Deviantart, who made the Microphone vector for the logo! And Kishmond for the book vector!

Is MLP Officially the Most Meta Cartoon Yet or What? 

[ramajmedia]

The Simpsons: 10 Storylines That Have Aged Poorly | ScreenRant

No other animated sitcom can beat The Simpsons. Now with more than 600 episodes and 30 seasons (plus 2 more that were just ordered by Fox) to its name, the fun and sometimes touching escapades of the dysfunctional Simpsons family is more than just a pop culture mainstay. So with its ongoing longevity in mind, it shouldn’t be too surprising to find out that some of the show’s storylines didn’t age well.

RELATED: The Simpsons: 10 Bart And Marge Moments That Broke Our Hearts

None of these make the show unwatchable today, but they do show how far The Simpsons has come from its meager beginnings in 1989. With each old problematic storyline, a new one emerged and audiences get to see the show address these in real time. Here are 10 storylines from The Simpsons that didn’t age well.

10 The Treehouse of Horror Anthology

The Simpsons loves to riff on pop culture, with one of its most celebrated roasts being the Treehouse of Horror episodes. As the title implies, these episodes are jabs aimed explicitly at horror trends and some contemporary issues.

But like any joke comedy that relies on references, The Treehouse of Horror didn’t age well. This doesn’t mean the episodes are bad, but some of the older shout-outs will fly over newcomers’ heads. With some exceptions, this dated anthology is better viewed as a fun time capsule to occasionally revisit rather than classic must-see episodes.

9 The Celebrity and Crossover Episodes

There’s a section of The Simpsons fanbase that bemoans the newer seasons, demanding that the show return to its roots. Their case is made strong by newer episodes like Lisa Goes Gaga and The Simpsons Guy, which feature Lady Gaga and the cast of Family Guy respectively

The Simpsons may not be a stranger to celebrity cameos but recent celebrity-centric episodes and crossover adventures feel more like advertisements and puff pieces for big-named stars and other shows. Elon Musk’s episode aged the worst, with his almost messianic depiction clashing with his actual arrogant public persona.

8 Nuclear Power As A Punchline

When The Simpsons first aired in 1989, nuclear energy was a relatively new concept that people didn’t know what to make of. But thanks to Homer’s buffoonery and Mr. Burns pettily evil brand of management, people’s view of nuclear power plants grew negative.

RELATED: Chernobyl: 5 Things That Are Historically Accurate (& 5 That Are Completely Fabricated)

Obviously this was a joke, but the accidental damage caused gave the real nuclear industry a headache. The showrunners were even given a tour of a power plant, but the public’s image of a nuclear energy plant as an unsafe toxic environment run by idiots persisted, sullying the reputation of a potential renewable energy source.

7 The Holidays of Future Passed Timeline

For all the flak that modern Simpsons gets, the holiday episode of the 23rd season proved to be one of the show’s greatest. Set 30 years later, Holidays of Future Passed shows what life is like for the Simpsons in what was supposed to be a series finale.

RELATED: Bob's Burgers: 10 Best Holiday-Themed Episodes, Ranked

The critically acclaimed episode wrapped things up in a touching way, so of course the showrunners revisited the timeline in Days of Future Future. As a result, the original episode’s emotional impact was nullified since Homer could beat death via cloning and the future was basically Futurama starring Bart.

6 Homer and Marge’s Hook Up

The episode The Way We Was shows how Homer and Marge got together in a lovingly and appropriately humorous way. According to this episode, the two fell in love during the ‘70s but then this is changed to the ‘90s in That ‘90s Show.

This confusing creative decision wasn’t even properly justified and is instead used to throw cheap shots at ‘90s trends, specifically the rise of grunge music. Following mass criticism, The Simpsons returned to its original timeline and effectively erased an episode that even a Weird Al Yankovic cameo couldn’t save.

5 Homer and Marge’s Divorce

The controversial Every Man’s Dream is rightfully deemed as one of the worst Simpsons episodes because of how bad its writing is. Not only does it destroy the show’s beloved fundamental relationship (i.e. Homer and Marge), but it does so for a dumb punchline.

RELATED: Girls: 5 Best (And 5 Worst) Relationships

There was a lot of media coverage for the supposedly momentous split, only for the divorce and the events that led to it being a dream with a dream within a dream within a tattoo of someone on HBO’s Girls. To say that the episode is insulting is an understatement.

4 Ned Flanders’ Fundamentalism

Originally, Ned Flanders – a devout Christian and family man whose life just seemed too perfect for Homer – was just Homer’s comically virtuous foil. But as seasons progressed, Ned devolved from a Mr. Rogers-like figure into a self-righteous religious bigot.

This wasn’t accidental, as the writers addressed contemporary religious controversies and their own gripes with conservatism by taking it out on Ned. In fact, Ned’s drastic degradation inspired the term “Flanderization” on TV Tropes. Recent episodes rectified this, toning down the spite he embodied with corrections seen in The Simpsons Movie where Bart views Ned as a father figure.

3 Anything To Do With Apu

While he may be an irreplaceable resident in Springfield, Apu Nahaspeemapetilon was and still is a character born out of a racial stereotype. Credit should be given to The Simpsons writers for fleshing him out over the years, but the fact remains that Apu’s mere existence was a lightning rod for controversy.

The backlash hit a crescendo with the documentary The Problem with Apu, where comedian Hari Kondabolu called out the showrunners for perpetuating demeaning stereotypes of those with Indian and South Asian descent. In response, Apu was removed from the show, much to Matt Groening’s annoyance.

2 Homer the Sitcom Dad

He may not be the first, but Homer Simpson is the definitive sitcom dad that other cartoons and series look to for inspiration. But as seen in many modern sitcoms that still play by the old rules, the stereotypical sitcom dad didn’t age well – especially not Homer.

When he’s not an incompetent idiot who lucks his way into getting what he wants, Homer can be a mean-spirited bully who lashes out on his kids. This has been somewhat addressed as of late, with Homer being more self-aware and sensitive but his old ways spring up every now and then.

1 Lisa’s Mistreatment

Ever since The Simpsons began, Lisa – a young intellectual – was shown as the only person in Springfield’s generally mediocre populace who could amount to something. And yet, the show goes through great lengths to punish her for her intelligence.

More often than not, Lisa is shown as an annoying know-it-all who everyone just begrudgingly tolerates. The argument could be made that Lisa is the writers’ avatar and they embody their struggles in hers. And yet, her episodic arcs almost always end with her submitting to the status quo and settling instead of finding something better.

NEXT: The Simpsons: 5 Reasons It Should Be Canceled (& 5 Why It Should Stay On The Air)

source https://screenrant.com/simpsons-storylines-aged-poorly/

[tarotx]

More GG questions for you because I love your answers! What are your 10 favorite and least favorite episodes? How would you rank the seasons? What would you have liked to see on GG that we never got? What's a storyline you'd have erased if you could? Who are your GG otps (aside from our Rogan!), brotps and notps?

This is going to be long so …

Favorite episodes  …right now

1). Friday Night’s Alright For Fighting

2). The Lorelais’ First Day at Chilton

3). The Lorelais’ First Day at Yale

4). Hay Bale Maze

5). Wedding Bell Blues

6). Say Something

7). Those Are Strings, Pinocchio

8).  But Not as Cute as Pushkin

9). You Jump, I Jump, Jack

10).  But I’m A Gilmore

My least favorite episode - I’ll just pick 5 because I love GG for the most part…

1).  Keg! Max!

2). Unto The Breach  

3). Here Comes the Son

4).  French Twist

5). Let me Hear Your Balalaikas Ringing Out

Season’s Rank

1). Season 5 (Every Time I watch it I love it more)

2). Season 1 (I just enjoy it without too much angst). 

These change position all the time. Sometimes I hate the bad of season  6 so much to rank this high. Right now I love the good too much.

3). Season 6 (I hate love triangles and for the most part there are just 3ish episodes that promote love triangle hell but the bad is bad bad bad. Binge watching makes Lorelai&Rory’s separation not as painful).

4). Season 4 (I’m rewatching this right now And I’m enjoying it a lot more this rewatch. There is no Chris! Still Dean and Dean/Jess. And no dealing with Keg Max! Which I’ll never accept). 

5). Season 7 (Some boring and too much Chris!! But there is no Jess or Dean (to mess with my ship). And the beautiful Logan&Rory moments make me happy.)

6). Revival (I think Fall has such a beautiful visual and love Logan/Matt enough to deal with the bull shit. Today anyway…)

7). Season 3 (Jess isn’t as big once he’s a BF but triangle &Chris &Keg Max ick)

8). Season 2  (Townies at their best but too much Jess/Dean and Chris. Some Tristan as well. Some times I have this at #3. It depends on the day).

There are always great moments in every episodes and season. For the most part, I love the show and its world. It always felt like a fantasy show without the genre elements. Which is why I hate the real world creeping in….

Some story line nip/tucks/Additions…

I would have liked to see Rory address the events in Keg Max! I get that it affected me more than it did Rory. I just wish it wasn’t the case…

I wish Logan and Lorelai had more scenes together in Amy’s OS seasons. I love how both actor really took the dialogue and it was a waste that we got so little of it

I wish Dean/Jess would have needed at the end of season 2

I hate all the tearing down of supporting characters. Pretty much the crap they did with Logan and Luke in season 6 and the white washing of Jess (off screen) and Chris. The fleshing out of Liz as well and then nothing of how that changes and shapes Jess’s story. 

I hate how some of the characters become caricatures (Flanderization and worse)of themselves. It even happened to Luke to a degree. 

I feel Amy doesn’t love the characters as much as she should. She wants that curveball for the leads and to do whatever with the supporting characters to get whatever plot she wants. I felt that way at the end of season 6 and the revival. I have a love hate relationship with her.

I would wish Paul and Odette away. And I never would have brought Chris back after season 5. Or Jess back besides being Luke’s Nephew. That is where he shines. They both shine together.

I would have had Rory come up with the revival’s Book subject herself. I’m fine with Jess telling her to write a book (he’s a publisher after all) and I’m fine with him telling her to write what only she knows. But to tell her to write about Her and mom. It’s just too much for me. Rory needed to be allowed to have her own creative aspect if she wanted to think she’s better than Logan for “caving” and too good for Sandy Says and of course, how she refused to write about Lines. That Vanity Fair guy wanted Rory to take that piece right then and there to show initiative. And then she blows it when she does take it. I know she’s so over journalism but It still makes me sad and mad.

OTPs 

(aside from Rory&Logan)

Richard&Emily: I love their partnership and their friendship. Super cute together ♥️

Morey&Babette: A super super super adorable couple! 

Lorelai&Luke: I adore their friendship and the many nonfighting scenes with them together. I wish Luke was less a grouch sometimes but he was such a great friend. 

Paris&Doyle: I know she’s the definition of a self-closeted Lesbian but I still really enjoyed them together. Fun fun fun. 

Brotps

Colin, and Finn with Logan there as well.

Rory and Paris

Lorelai and Rory

Lane and Mrs.Kim

Babette and Miss Patty

Luke and Jess

Lorelai and Paul Anka

Kirk and Pedal 

NOTP

Rory with Jess as a couple because of Keg Max! I also hated the way they treated Dean. Dean should have been dumped long before it got as bad as it did. It’s a wonder Dean as any self-esteem at all. Plus I hate Rory’s attitude about knowing nothing in Hartford when Jess Came back. I know they were trying to show us that she was the Rory Jess knew but it just comes off as reverse snobbery since she was out and about with the DAR and community service and Logan. It felt like she was lying because she knew Jess would judge her. They had cute moments like their first official couple episode but it all went down hill.

Lorelai and Chris as a couple. He was such a bad dad and Lorelai kind of encouraged it with her always dating him again 🤢

[kitsukyouno]

Here the translation from the side history:’‘Interview with Swim Swim’‘

http://pastebin.com/dfVgB3Ub

Swim Swim is fully of Ruler in the

Knowing that maybe this link will died in some moment I pasted the novel aboved

Part 1

“Today we’ll be conducting an interview with the newly active Magical Girl Swim Swim. Swim Swim-san, pleased to meet you.”

“Pleased to meet you.”

“For our first question. What do you think of your Magical Girl form, Swim Swim-san?”

“A failure.”

“--Eh?”

“A failure.”

“By that you mean…?”

“There’s too many accessories so I keep getting stuck in narrow passages. I spent a long time adding wings, but I can’t fly. My body’s too big, so my sense of balance is poor. White is very obvious even at night, so it’s hard to hide.”

“Quite the in-depth assessment… It must have been hard on you.”

“People have said that before.”

“Is that so… Then, on the other hand, what parts of your Magical Girl form do you like, Swim Swim-san?”

“It’s cute.”

“Could you please go into more detail?”

“What kinds of details?”

“Like say, it has soft hair, or a cute smile.”

“It has soft hair and a cute smile.”

“--Eh? Ah, alright, then. So you like those points.”

“Yes.”

“--I see. Alright, thank you for your answer.”

“You’re welcome.”

Part 2

“Now then, let’s change the topic. I’m sure everyone wants to know some basic things about you.”

“Mm.”

“In that case, can you tell us how you became a Magical Girl?”

“The Magical Girl Raising Project.”

“The Magical Girl Raising Project?”

“A game.”

“Ah, so it was a game.”

“I played Magical Girl Raising Project, then Fav popped out and I became a Magical Girl.”

“So after playing the game, a mascot appeared and Swim Swim became a Magical Girl… is that what you meant? You skipped over a lot of important points.”

“Playing Magical Girl Raising Project let me become a Magical Girl.”

“Ahhh, alright. Then let’s continue on this topic. You began playing Magical Girl Raising Project, because you were interested in Magical Girls, right?”

“Not really.”

“Huh? Don’t you like Magical Girls?”

“I like the princess types.”

“Ahh, that sort fo thing.”

“The ads said I could make anything I wanted with my avatar and costume, be it a murderer, race queen, potter or a princess. Also, it was free.”

“Indeed, princesses are nice.”

“Mm.”

“They’re pretty and cute.”

“Mmmm.”

“Huh? But your costume doesn’t resemble a princess’ at all.”

“My original game avatar looked like that.”

“Oh, I see… huh? But you were attracted to Magical Girl Raising Project by the fact that you could play a princess, right? In that case, you could have made your avatar look like a princess, couldn’t you?”

“There were reasons.”

“What kind of reasons were they?”

“White is a princess’ color, so I chose the whitest costume.”

“I see, so that’s the secret of how that striking costume of yours was born.”

“I was also very interested in the way it could raise my party’s magical defense.”

“Ah, so you thought about its game effects as well.”

“Always-on buffs are strong.”

Part 3

“I, I see… then, onto our next question. Could you tell me what a Magical Girl needs to pay attention to under normal circumstances?

“Listening to the leader’s orders.”

“A leader? You’ve formed a team already?”

“Mm.”

“I heard that most Magical Girls work alone and that teams are rare.”

“If we work hard and combine our strength, we can defeat strong enemies.:

“I see, that matches the mindset of a girl who became a Magical Girl from a game.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Everyone in the team gets along, right?”

“It’s not like that.”

“Eh? So you don’t get along?”

“Mm.”

“I, I see… no, but, it’s pretty amazing that you managed to form a team even if you don’t get along, at least that’s what I think. After all, people who don’t get along don’t group up into teams.”

“It’s all thanks to our leader.”

“The leader from just now seems to have very strong appeal.”

“Her name is Ruler.”

“Uh, is it really alright to say her name?”

“I was ordered to spread her name whenever I had the chance.”

“Ah, yes.”

“If I was interviewed, I would have to spread our leader’s name and let everyone know how appealing she was.”

“Did Ruler-san order you to do that?”

“Mm.”

“No, wouldn’t it be better to respond with silence?”

“That’s true.”

“It’s too late now… then, what other members are there in your team?”

“Twin angels and a dog.

“They feel like the team from the final chapter of the Dog of Flanders. What are your teammates like?”

“They’re all useless dummies.”

“Eh?”

“That’s what Ruler said.”

“Ehhhh… did Ruler order you to say that too?”

“No.”

“Maybe it would be better not to say that… then, let’s put Ruler-san’s opinions aside for a while. Swim Swim-san, what do you think of them?”

“They’re all good girls.”

Part 4

“That sounds really fake… let’s change our topic a little. Now then, has your mental state changed ever since you became a Magical Girl?”

“Yes, it has.”

“You can talk about trivial things if you want.”

“Mm… my Magic is to swim into anything.”

“Ohhh, that’s a handy Magic.”

“When I became a Magical Girl, I used my Magic to swim into all sorts of places.”

“That’s nice, it sounds like you had fun.”

“After swimming into all sorts of places, and then I thought of swimming into a mountain.”

“Oh, a mountain.”

“I thought that it would be fun to swim in there.”

“It does seem like the right size to swim around in.”

“I swam inside the mountain, round and round, but I could not swim out no matter what I tried. The mountain was much bigger than I imagined.”

“Then, were you alright?”

“Not really.”

“Huh.”

“I thought that I could not swim along the ground inside the mountain, so I swam upwards. It was very painful and I couldn’t breathe. I got dizzy, my chest ached, and my eyes went dark.”

“That’s terrible, wasn’t it?”

“I’m not sure what happened then, but after I checked, I realized that it was called passing out. That was the change in my mental state.”

“No, that’s not what I meant by an altered mental state. Then, what happened after that, Swim Swim-san? The fact that you’re here means that you were rescued.”

“I emerged in a hole dug halfway inside the mountain.”

“Ahh, is that so? That’s wonderful.”

“I was saved, but I don’t ever want to swim into a mountain again.”

“I think that’s a good idea. You shouldn’t do dangerous things again.”

“Mm.”

“On the flip side, can you tell us what uses your Magic has?”

“I can scare people on Halloween.”

“I see, is there anything else?”

“If I want to take a shortcut, I can go through a wall and scare the nearby people.”

“Ah… some productive uses, perhaps?”

“I can scare away people gathered inside the temple.”

“I’m sorry, but could you tell me something that isn’t related to scaring people?”

“I figured out what passing out means now.”

“That was what we were discussing just now. It’s not what I meant; I’m talking about how your power can help people. Have you done nothing dramatic like saving people in the nick of time and so on?

“I’ll work hard on that from now on.”

“Ahhh… er, that’s good, I’ll be cheering you on.”

“Thank you.:

Part 5

“Then let’s move on to our next question. COuld you tell me if you have any special skills aside from your Magic?”

“I’m learning how to swim.”

“Oh, you’re learning it because you’re Swim Swim.”

“I was confused about which was better between swimming and English, but in the end I chose swimming.”

“A good choice.”

“I’m also good at running, I’m the fastest in my class.”

“You’re surprisingly athletic, Swim Swim.”

“My punches and kicks are strong too.”

“Ohhh.”

“When Tanaka-kun said princesses shouldn’t be violent, I beat him until he shut up.”

“Surprisingly enough, I feel Tanaka-kun was in the right.”

“The royal family must be prepared to fight in order to protect the country. It is the duty of royalty, at least that’s what the book said. Princesses are royalty too, aren’t they?”

“Well, uh, it might be.”

“So I beat up Miyazawa-san when he told Sensei about how I kicked Tanaka-kun.”

“Please don’t do that, it’ll only propagate the cycle of violence.”

“Ruler said so too.”

“This is the first good thing Ive heard from Ruler-san.”

“Princesses not like knights and generals, so there’s no need for them to fight directly. When the court is in chaos, a princess survives by Machiavellian principles… at least, that’s what Ruler said.”

Part 6

“I take my previous words back. Then, onto the next question. Tell me about the Magical Girls you admire.”

“Ruler.”

“Well, I didn’t expect to hear that name. I think someone whose name comes up so often should be quite amazing.”

“Ruler.”

“I heard it. I’m listening.”

“Ruler is the leader that I respect.”

“Ahh, I see. By any chance, did Ruler-san order you to say that?”

“No.”

“Alright, so it is. Let’s move on. Swim Swim-san, what part of Ruler-san do you like best?”

“She’s strong, kind, cool, cute, beautiful, knows everything, and taught me everything.”

“And did Ruler-san order you to say that as well...?”

“No.”

“Ahhh, alright. Please, continue.”

“Also, she is like a princess.”

“Ruler-san is like a princess?”

“Very much.”

“Very much, huh. Speaking of which, you’ve been quite eager to talk about Ruler since just now, Swim Swim-san.”

“Because she’s a princess.”

“You seem quite interested in princesses. Is there any special reason for that?”

“When I was very small, Mama would read stories from a picture book to me. I liked the stories about princesses very much.”

“I see, so it was because of a picture book’s stories. Do you prefer princesses to Magical Girls in animated films? Things like Snow White, Cinderella, and so on.”

“I’ve seen them all.”

“As I thought. Ah, but there are some Magical Girls who are also princesses. Magical Daisy is the princess of the Land of Flowers, after all.”

“Magical Daisy… Don’t know her.”

“Then you’ll have to watch her. Magical Daisy’s very interesting. I recommend it very highly.”

“When and on which day is her show?”

“The season’s finished airing, so you’ll need to rent the DVDs…”

“I can’t.”

“Eh? Why not?”

“I can’t get a membership.”

“Is that so… well, that’s quite troubling.”

“Lend it to me.”

“Eh? Are you talking to me?”

“Lend it to me.”

“Uh… I think PR Department ought to have the full series, but--”

“Lend it to me.”

“Aren’t we being forceful. Well, alright. Magical Daisy would be happy to have more fans. I’ll send it over after the interview.

“Thank you.”

Part 7

“Then, our last question. What does a being Magical Girl mean to you?”

“Ruler.”

“Ah, yes. Ruler-san. The leader of your team.”

“Mm. “

“And did Ruler-san order you to say--”

´´No’‘

“Koff, alright, so it is.”

“Mm.”

“How shall I put this…. This interview gives me a better sense of how Ruler-san is rather than yourself, Swim Swim-san. Is that not true?”

“Make Ruler look good.”

“No, well, I wasn’t planning to badmouth her.”

“Ruler says she has a lawyer friend.”

“No, I really won’t say bad things about her… Although, after this Magical Girl Interview goes through editing, it’s possible that interviews like this won’t pass muster at all… I’ll do my best to take care of it.”

“Thank you.”

Part 8

“Now then. Swim Swim-san, let’s end by saying a few words to everyone.”

“Team Ruler is looking for new members. Experience not required, rookies welcome, interviews conducted during office hours. Since we are Magical Girls, there will be no wages given. We can help you improve your skills, so to all Magical Girls seek a place to shine, why not join Team Ruler to move on to the next stage?”

“Why are you reading off a memo pad? Was it all written there?”

“Mm.”

“Did Ruler-san ask you to promote her with that?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“There’s more.”

“There’s more?”

“I let Swim Swim handle this because this interview is for newbie Magical Girls. However, next time, you should interview the most capable Magical Girl of them all, Ruler.”

“Haaaah.”

“If there is a need to conduct another interview, please contact me, Ruler said.”

“Alright, thank you very much for all your hard work.”

“Not at all.”

“Swim Swim-san, thank you for today.”

“Thank you.”

Part 9

“Good evening, Musician of the Forest Clamberry-san.”

“Good evening. I heard that you were interviewing promising new Magical Girls for a Land of Magic publicity magazine, am I right?”

“Yes.”

“What a surprise. I was not informed of anything like that despite being the supervisor.”

“Is there a problem?”

“Oh yes, there is. Come to think of it, she--Swim Swim--is just a Magical Girl candidate, so she’s not interview material until she properly passes her test. She might have excellent potential, but for now she’s just a temp.”

“Huh, so that’s how it is.”

“Yes.”

“I do apologize for that. Something must have gone wrong somewhere…”

“A mascot character must have been meddling around and doing unnecessary things. You can’t rely on them at all. Now then, just leave all the information about this matter with us. It’s over. If you keep forcing your way into this, it’ll cause me a lot of trouble. This is a top-secret project by Human Resources, so… are you listening to me?”

“Well, if she’s a temp, then it can’t be helped. It was an interesting interview…”

“Is that all of it?”

“Yes, that’s it.”

“If you’re hiding anything…”

“I’m not hiding anything. I’ve never been good at hiding things.”

“That’s good.”

“Then, there’s something I’d like to ask.”

“What is it?”

“There’ll be a blank space in our magazine if the newbie Magical Girl interview ges taken down. Therefore, I was thinking that it would be good to replace it with an article along the lines of, ‘Listen To A Capable Examiner! Important Things About Being A Magical Girl!’ or something like that. So, Clamberry-san, I hope you’ll.. Hang on, Clamberry-san. We’re not finished yet, Clamberry-san…”

[endlessarchite]

#89: A Year Without Shopping

Could you put your wallet on lockdown for 365 days? Sherry shared the story of a woman who did, including why she took on the challenge, the few exceptions she allowed to make it possible, and how it’s inspiring us to adjust our spending… and maybe even try out a ban of our own. Plus, how much should you involve your kids in the design of their rooms? We share some tips and tactics for keeping everyone happy in the process, so the result is a room that they love (and that you also like to be in with them). Plus, the paint colors that will help your home sell for more money (some of them surprised us!) and a DNA test that led to a humbling personal discovery.

You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify – or listen to it below! Then use this page to check out any links, notes, or photos we referenced. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, you might have to click through to the post to see the player. 

What’s New

Here’s that book Sherry was raving about, The Year of Less by Cait Flanders, which came out earlier this year.

You can also follow Cait on her website, where she has some ongoing resources for people looking to follow in her footsteps.

If you want to grab one of the AncestryDNA tests that we did, they’re selling for $79 on Amazon right now. It takes about 8 weeks to get your results back, so just be ready to be patient.

Or you can just try searching for old relatives without testing your DNA first over at Ancestry.com (they offer free trials to access their database of old documents so you can attempt to construct a family tree).

Paint Color Quiz

Here’s Zillow’s 2017 Paint Color Analysis, which includes a chart of all of the colors from last year that helped houses sell for more than expected (and the ones that caused them to sell for less).

You can also check out the 2016 report to see what has changed or listen to Episode #24 to hear how Sherry quizzed me on that year’s data.

Sherry also promised some of her favorite sale-friendly wall colors that we’ve used frequently, so here they are:

Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore (with Simply White trim, also by BM), seen here:

office chair / bench / rug / woven blinds / curtains / rod / cork board tutorial / more room sources

And here:

console / similar mirror / similar baskets / more room sources

White Heron by Sherwin Williams (with Pure White trim, also by SW), seen here:

dresser / similar mirror / bench / rug / sconce / curtain rods / curtains / more room sources

And here:

headboard / art / blue pillow / sconces / side tables / striped duvet / more room sources

Irish Mist by Behr (with Simply White trim by Benjamin Moore), seen here:

mega sofa (it’s 3 of these together) / similar rug / curtains  / rod / more room sources

And here:

pendant lights / countertop / art / more room sources

Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams (with Pure White trim, also by SW), seen here:

art / leaning mirror / shelves (we sprayed them gold) / rug / more room sources

And here:

rug / desk / desk chairs / storage cubbies / more room sources 

Listener Question

If you want a peek at how our daughter’s room has evolved, you can scroll through this post that documented its progression. That post doesn’t include it’s most recently evolution (shown above), but it’s detailed in this more recent post.

art / night stand / rug / similar headboard / lamp / more room sources 

Since our son’s room hasn’t gone through quite as many stages (thanks to him being four years younger), this post about upgrading him to a big boy bed should get you pretty much up to speed. You can even see the striped sheets he chose poking out in this shot:

light / sconces / blue pillows / similar daybed & rug / ottoman / more room sources

In both of those rooms, you can see how we did neutral walls (Going To The Chapel by Benjamin Moore in our son’s room, White Heron by Sherwin Williams in our daughter’s room) but added color and fun with accents like bedding, accessories, and paint on surfaces like the ceiling (in our daughter’s room) or both of their closet doors.

similar chair and side table / cloth bins / ottoman / bookshelf tutorial / more room sources

And if you check out this post, we actually detail (and show video!) of how we got our daughter involved in one of the design elements of her room back when we was 3. So tiny!

Also, this is that closet with the desk that she requested recently (and helped me put together). Although this photo is from back before we got her a pink chair (that’s a borrowed dining chair below) and later added the rug underfoot when she noticed it was colder in that corner. Note: see how we covered that back wall in fabric here.

We’re Digging

That’s sister-and-brother-team Leann & Steve from Restored By The Fords above, in a space that kinda exemplifies what Sherry was describing in the episode. I mean the gold swan certainly wasn’t something we saw coming…

There’s more of their work on HGTV’s webpage, but below are a couple of highlights:

Sounds like their current season is complete, so you should be able to binge it on demand – and they just got greenlit for season 2, so they’ll be back in 2019.

And if you or the guy in your life is interested in checking out Wohven, the t-shirt subscription service I mentioned, I’ve been pretty impressed with the quality of them (versus what I typically wear which is usually Target, Old Navy, or free shirts from the various races I run). You can choose the size, the neckline (crew or V-neck), and plain ($9) or graphic tees ($11). Below are some samples of their designs:

If you’re looking for something we’ve dug in a past episode, but don’t remember which show notes to click into, here’s a master list of everything we’ve been digging from all of our past episodes.

And lastly, a big thank you to You Need A Budget (YNAB) for sponsoring this episode. Sign up at YNAB.com/YHL to get your first three months free!

Thanks for listening, guys!

*This post contains affiliate links*

The post #89: A Year Without Shopping appeared first on Young House Love.

#89: A Year Without Shopping published first on https://bakerskitchenslimited.tumblr.com/

[truereviewpage]

#89: A Year Without Shopping

Could you put your wallet on lockdown for 365 days? Sherry shared the story of a woman who did, including why she took on the challenge, the few exceptions she allowed to make it possible, and how it’s inspiring us to adjust our spending… and maybe even try out a ban of our own. Plus, how much should you involve your kids in the design of their rooms? We share some tips and tactics for keeping everyone happy in the process, so the result is a room that they love (and that you also like to be in with them). Plus, the paint colors that will help your home sell for more money (some of them surprised us!) and a DNA test that led to a humbling personal discovery.

You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify – or listen to it below! Then use this page to check out any links, notes, or photos we referenced. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, you might have to click through to the post to see the player. 

What’s New

Here’s that book Sherry was raving about, The Year of Less by Cait Flanders, which came out earlier this year.

You can also follow Cait on her website, where she has some ongoing resources for people looking to follow in her footsteps.

If you want to grab one of the AncestryDNA tests that we did, they’re selling for $79 on Amazon right now. It takes about 8 weeks to get your results back, so just be ready to be patient.

Or you can just try searching for old relatives without testing your DNA first over at Ancestry.com (they offer free trials to access their database of old documents so you can attempt to construct a family tree).

Paint Color Quiz

Here’s Zillow’s 2017 Paint Color Analysis, which includes a chart of all of the colors from last year that helped houses sell for more than expected (and the ones that caused them to sell for less).

You can also check out the 2016 report to see what has changed or listen to Episode #24 to hear how Sherry quizzed me on that year’s data.

Sherry also promised some of her favorite sale-friendly wall colors that we’ve used frequently, so here they are:

Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore (with Simply White trim, also by BM), seen here:

office chair / bench / rug / woven blinds / curtains / rod / cork board tutorial / more room sources

And here:

console / similar mirror / similar baskets / more room sources

White Heron by Sherwin Williams (with Pure White trim, also by SW), seen here:

dresser / similar mirror / bench / rug / sconce / curtain rods / curtains / more room sources

And here:

headboard / art / blue pillow / sconces / side tables / striped duvet / more room sources

Irish Mist by Behr (with Simply White trim by Benjamin Moore), seen here:

mega sofa (it’s 3 of these together) / similar rug / curtains  / rod / more room sources

And here:

pendant lights / countertop / art / more room sources

Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams (with Pure White trim, also by SW), seen here:

art / leaning mirror / shelves (we sprayed them gold) / rug / more room sources

And here:

rug / desk / desk chairs / storage cubbies / more room sources 

Listener Question

If you want a peek at how our daughter’s room has evolved, you can scroll through this post that documented its progression. That post doesn’t include it’s most recently evolution (shown above), but it’s detailed in this more recent post.

art / night stand / rug / similar headboard / lamp / more room sources 

Since our son’s room hasn’t gone through quite as many stages (thanks to him being four years younger), this post about upgrading him to a big boy bed should get you pretty much up to speed. You can even see the striped sheets he chose poking out in this shot:

light / sconces / blue pillows / similar daybed & rug / ottoman / more room sources

In both of those rooms, you can see how we did neutral walls (Going To The Chapel by Benjamin Moore in our son’s room, White Heron by Sherwin Williams in our daughter’s room) but added color and fun with accents like bedding, accessories, and paint on surfaces like the ceiling (in our daughter’s room) or both of their closet doors.

similar chair and side table / cloth bins / ottoman / bookshelf tutorial / more room sources

And if you check out this post, we actually detail (and show video!) of how we got our daughter involved in one of the design elements of her room back when we was 3. So tiny!

Also, this is that closet with the desk that she requested recently (and helped me put together). Although this photo is from back before we got her a pink chair (that’s a borrowed dining chair below) and later added the rug underfoot when she noticed it was colder in that corner. Note: see how we covered that back wall in fabric here.

We’re Digging

That’s sister-and-brother-team Leann & Steve from Restored By The Fords above, in a space that kinda exemplifies what Sherry was describing in the episode. I mean the gold swan certainly wasn’t something we saw coming…

There’s more of their work on HGTV’s webpage, but below are a couple of highlights:

Sounds like their current season is complete, so you should be able to binge it on demand – and they just got greenlit for season 2, so they’ll be back in 2019.

And if you or the guy in your life is interested in checking out Wohven, the t-shirt subscription service I mentioned, I’ve been pretty impressed with the quality of them (versus what I typically wear which is usually Target, Old Navy, or free shirts from the various races I run). You can choose the size, the neckline (crew or V-neck), and plain ($9) or graphic tees ($11). Below are some samples of their designs:

If you’re looking for something we’ve dug in a past episode, but don’t remember which show notes to click into, here’s a master list of everything we’ve been digging from all of our past episodes.

And lastly, a big thank you to You Need A Budget (YNAB) for sponsoring this episode. Sign up at YNAB.com/YHL to get your first three months free!

Thanks for listening, guys!

*This post contains affiliate links*

The post #89: A Year Without Shopping appeared first on Young House Love.

#89: A Year Without Shopping published first on https://aireloomreview.tumblr.com/

[billydmacklin]

#89: A Year Without Shopping

Could you put your wallet on lockdown for 365 days? Sherry shared the story of a woman who did, including why she took on the challenge, the few exceptions she allowed to make it possible, and how it’s inspiring us to adjust our spending… and maybe even try out a ban of our own. Plus, how much should you involve your kids in the design of their rooms? We share some tips and tactics for keeping everyone happy in the process, so the result is a room that they love (and that you also like to be in with them). Plus, the paint colors that will help your home sell for more money (some of them surprised us!) and a DNA test that led to a humbling personal discovery.

You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify – or listen to it below! Then use this page to check out any links, notes, or photos we referenced. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, you might have to click through to the post to see the player. 

What’s New

Here’s that book Sherry was raving about, The Year of Less by Cait Flanders, which came out earlier this year.

You can also follow Cait on her website, where she has some ongoing resources for people looking to follow in her footsteps.

If you want to grab one of the AncestryDNA tests that we did, they’re selling for $79 on Amazon right now. It takes about 8 weeks to get your results back, so just be ready to be patient.

Or you can just try searching for old relatives without testing your DNA first over at Ancestry.com (they offer free trials to access their database of old documents so you can attempt to construct a family tree).

Paint Color Quiz

Here’s Zillow’s 2017 Paint Color Analysis, which includes a chart of all of the colors from last year that helped houses sell for more than expected (and the ones that caused them to sell for less).

You can also check out the 2016 report to see what has changed or listen to Episode #24 to hear how Sherry quizzed me on that year’s data.

Sherry also promised some of her favorite sale-friendly wall colors that we’ve used frequently, so here they are:

Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore (with Simply White trim, also by BM), seen here:

office chair / bench / rug / woven blinds / curtains / rod / cork board tutorial / more room sources

And here:

console / similar mirror / similar baskets / more room sources

White Heron by Sherwin Williams (with Pure White trim, also by SW), seen here:

dresser / similar mirror / bench / rug / sconce / curtain rods / curtains / more room sources

And here:

headboard / art / blue pillow / sconces / side tables / striped duvet / more room sources

Irish Mist by Behr (with Simply White trim by Benjamin Moore), seen here:

mega sofa (it’s 3 of these together) / similar rug / curtains  / rod / more room sources

And here:

pendant lights / countertop / art / more room sources

Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams (with Pure White trim, also by SW), seen here:

art / leaning mirror / shelves (we sprayed them gold) / rug / more room sources

And here:

rug / desk / desk chairs / storage cubbies / more room sources 

Listener Question

If you want a peek at how our daughter’s room has evolved, you can scroll through this post that documented its progression. That post doesn’t include it’s most recently evolution (shown above), but it’s detailed in this more recent post.

art / night stand / rug / similar headboard / lamp / more room sources 

Since our son’s room hasn’t gone through quite as many stages (thanks to him being four years younger), this post about upgrading him to a big boy bed should get you pretty much up to speed. You can even see the striped sheets he chose poking out in this shot:

light / sconces / blue pillows / similar daybed & rug / ottoman / more room sources

In both of those rooms, you can see how we did neutral walls (Going To The Chapel by Benjamin Moore in our son’s room, White Heron by Sherwin Williams in our daughter’s room) but added color and fun with accents like bedding, accessories, and paint on surfaces like the ceiling (in our daughter’s room) or both of their closet doors.

similar chair and side table / cloth bins / ottoman / bookshelf tutorial / more room sources

And if you check out this post, we actually detail (and show video!) of how we got our daughter involved in one of the design elements of her room back when we was 3. So tiny!

Also, this is that closet with the desk that she requested recently (and helped me put together). Although this photo is from back before we got her a pink chair (that’s a borrowed dining chair below) and later added the rug underfoot when she noticed it was colder in that corner. Note: see how we covered that back wall in fabric here.

We’re Digging

That’s sister-and-brother-team Leann & Steve from Restored By The Fords above, in a space that kinda exemplifies what Sherry was describing in the episode. I mean the gold swan certainly wasn’t something we saw coming…

There’s more of their work on HGTV’s webpage, but below are a couple of highlights:

Sounds like their current season is complete, so you should be able to binge it on demand – and they just got greenlit for season 2, so they’ll be back in 2019.

And if you or the guy in your life is interested in checking out Wohven, the t-shirt subscription service I mentioned, I’ve been pretty impressed with the quality of them (versus what I typically wear which is usually Target, Old Navy, or free shirts from the various races I run). You can choose the size, the neckline (crew or V-neck), and plain ($9) or graphic tees ($11). Below are some samples of their designs:

If you’re looking for something we’ve dug in a past episode, but don’t remember which show notes to click into, here’s a master list of everything we’ve been digging from all of our past episodes.

And lastly, a big thank you to You Need A Budget (YNAB) for sponsoring this episode. Sign up at YNAB.com/YHL to get your first three months free!

Thanks for listening, guys!

*This post contains affiliate links*

The post #89: A Year Without Shopping appeared first on Young House Love.

#89: A Year Without Shopping published first on https://carpetgurus.tumblr.com/

[yesterdaysdreams]

#89: A Year Without Shopping

Could you put your wallet on lockdown for 365 days? Sherry shared the story of a woman who did, including why she took on the challenge, the few exceptions she allowed to make it possible, and how it’s inspiring us to adjust our spending… and maybe even try out a ban of our own. Plus, how much should you involve your kids in the design of their rooms? We share some tips and tactics for keeping everyone happy in the process, so the result is a room that they love (and that you also like to be in with them). Plus, the paint colors that will help your home sell for more money (some of them surprised us!) and a DNA test that led to a humbling personal discovery.

You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify – or listen to it below! Then use this page to check out any links, notes, or photos we referenced. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, you might have to click through to the post to see the player. 

What’s New

Here’s that book Sherry was raving about, The Year of Less by Cait Flanders, which came out earlier this year.

You can also follow Cait on her website, where she has some ongoing resources for people looking to follow in her footsteps.

If you want to grab one of the AncestryDNA tests that we did, they’re selling for $79 on Amazon right now. It takes about 8 weeks to get your results back, so just be ready to be patient.

Or you can just try searching for old relatives without testing your DNA first over at Ancestry.com (they offer free trials to access their database of old documents so you can attempt to construct a family tree).

Paint Color Quiz

Here’s Zillow’s 2017 Paint Color Analysis, which includes a chart of all of the colors from last year that helped houses sell for more than expected (and the ones that caused them to sell for less).

You can also check out the 2016 report to see what has changed or listen to Episode #24 to hear how Sherry quizzed me on that year’s data.

Sherry also promised some of her favorite sale-friendly wall colors that we’ve used frequently, so here they are:

Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore (with Simply White trim, also by BM), seen here:

office chair / bench / rug / woven blinds / curtains / rod / cork board tutorial / more room sources

And here:

console / similar mirror / similar baskets / more room sources

White Heron by Sherwin Williams (with Pure White trim, also by SW), seen here:

dresser / similar mirror / bench / rug / sconce / curtain rods / curtains / more room sources

And here:

headboard / art / blue pillow / sconces / side tables / striped duvet / more room sources

Irish Mist by Behr (with Simply White trim by Benjamin Moore), seen here:

mega sofa (it’s 3 of these together) / similar rug / curtains  / rod / more room sources

And here:

pendant lights / countertop / art / more room sources

Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams (with Pure White trim, also by SW), seen here:

art / leaning mirror / shelves (we sprayed them gold) / rug / more room sources

And here:

rug / desk / desk chairs / storage cubbies / more room sources 

Listener Question

If you want a peek at how our daughter’s room has evolved, you can scroll through this post that documented its progression. That post doesn’t include it’s most recently evolution (shown above), but it’s detailed in this more recent post.

art / night stand / rug / similar headboard / lamp / more room sources 

Since our son’s room hasn’t gone through quite as many stages (thanks to him being four years younger), this post about upgrading him to a big boy bed should get you pretty much up to speed. You can even see the striped sheets he chose poking out in this shot:

light / sconces / blue pillows / similar daybed & rug / ottoman / more room sources

In both of those rooms, you can see how we did neutral walls (Going To The Chapel by Benjamin Moore in our son’s room, White Heron by Sherwin Williams in our daughter’s room) but added color and fun with accents like bedding, accessories, and paint on surfaces like the ceiling (in our daughter’s room) or both of their closet doors.

similar chair and side table / cloth bins / ottoman / bookshelf tutorial / more room sources

And if you check out this post, we actually detail (and show video!) of how we got our daughter involved in one of the design elements of her room back when we was 3. So tiny!

Also, this is that closet with the desk that she requested recently (and helped me put together). Although this photo is from back before we got her a pink chair (that’s a borrowed dining chair below) and later added the rug underfoot when she noticed it was colder in that corner. Note: see how we covered that back wall in fabric here.

We’re Digging

That’s sister-and-brother-team Leann & Steve from Restored By The Fords above, in a space that kinda exemplifies what Sherry was describing in the episode. I mean the gold swan certainly wasn’t something we saw coming…

There’s more of their work on HGTV’s webpage, but below are a couple of highlights:

Sounds like their current season is complete, so you should be able to binge it on demand – and they just got greenlit for season 2, so they’ll be back in 2019.

And if you or the guy in your life is interested in checking out Wohven, the t-shirt subscription service I mentioned, I’ve been pretty impressed with the quality of them (versus what I typically wear which is usually Target, Old Navy, or free shirts from the various races I run). You can choose the size, the neckline (crew or V-neck), and plain ($9) or graphic tees ($11). Below are some samples of their designs:

If you’re looking for something we’ve dug in a past episode, but don’t remember which show notes to click into, here’s a master list of everything we’ve been digging from all of our past episodes.

And lastly, a big thank you to You Need A Budget (YNAB) for sponsoring this episode. Sign up at YNAB.com/YHL to get your first three months free!

Thanks for listening, guys!

*This post contains affiliate links*

The post #89: A Year Without Shopping appeared first on Young House Love.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8265713 http://ift.tt/2pn6fRU via IFTTT

[additionallysad]

#89: A Year Without Shopping http://ift.tt/2pn6fRU

Could you put your wallet on lockdown for 365 days? Sherry shared the story of a woman who did, including why she took on the challenge, the few exceptions she allowed to make it possible, and how it’s inspiring us to adjust our spending… and maybe even try out a ban of our own. Plus, how much should you involve your kids in the design of their rooms? We share some tips and tactics for keeping everyone happy in the process, so the result is a room that they love (and that you also like to be in with them). Plus, the paint colors that will help your home sell for more money (some of them surprised us!) and a DNA test that led to a humbling personal discovery.

You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify – or listen to it below! Then use this page to check out any links, notes, or photos we referenced. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, you might have to click through to the post to see the player. 

What’s New

Here’s that book Sherry was raving about, The Year of Less by Cait Flanders, which came out earlier this year.

You can also follow Cait on her website, where she has some ongoing resources for people looking to follow in her footsteps.

If you want to grab one of the AncestryDNA tests that we did, they’re selling for $79 on Amazon right now. It takes about 8 weeks to get your results back, so just be ready to be patient.

Or you can just try searching for old relatives without testing your DNA first over at Ancestry.com (they offer free trials to access their database of old documents so you can attempt to construct a family tree).

Paint Color Quiz

Here’s Zillow’s 2017 Paint Color Analysis, which includes a chart of all of the colors from last year that helped houses sell for more than expected (and the ones that caused them to sell for less).

You can also check out the 2016 report to see what has changed or listen to Episode #24 to hear how Sherry quizzed me on that year’s data.

Sherry also promised some of her favorite sale-friendly wall colors that we’ve used frequently, so here they are:

Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore (with Simply White trim, also by BM), seen here:

office chair / bench / rug / woven blinds / curtains / rod / cork board tutorial / more room sources

And here:

console / similar mirror / similar baskets / more room sources

White Heron by Sherwin Williams (with Pure White trim, also by SW), seen here:

dresser / similar mirror / bench / rug / sconce / curtain rods / curtains / more room sources

And here:

headboard / art / blue pillow / sconces / side tables / striped duvet / more room sources

Irish Mist by Behr (with Simply White trim by Benjamin Moore), seen here:

mega sofa (it’s 3 of these together) / similar rug / curtains  / rod / more room sources

And here:

pendant lights / countertop / art / more room sources

Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams (with Pure White trim, also by SW), seen here:

art / leaning mirror / shelves (we sprayed them gold) / rug / more room sources

And here:

rug / desk / desk chairs / storage cubbies / more room sources 

Listener Question

If you want a peek at how our daughter’s room has evolved, you can scroll through this post that documented its progression. That post doesn’t include it’s most recently evolution (shown above), but it’s detailed in this more recent post.

art / night stand / rug / similar headboard / lamp / more room sources 

Since our son’s room hasn’t gone through quite as many stages (thanks to him being four years younger), this post about upgrading him to a big boy bed should get you pretty much up to speed. You can even see the striped sheets he chose poking out in this shot:

light / sconces / blue pillows / similar daybed & rug / ottoman / more room sources

In both of those rooms, you can see how we did neutral walls (Going To The Chapel by Benjamin Moore in our son’s room, White Heron by Sherwin Williams in our daughter’s room) but added color and fun with accents like bedding, accessories, and paint on surfaces like the ceiling (in our daughter’s room) or both of their closet doors.

similar chair and side table / cloth bins / ottoman / bookshelf tutorial / more room sources

And if you check out this post, we actually detail (and show video!) of how we got our daughter involved in one of the design elements of her room back when we was 3. So tiny!

Also, this is that closet with the desk that she requested recently (and helped me put together). Although this photo is from back before we got her a pink chair (that’s a borrowed dining chair below) and later added the rug underfoot when she noticed it was colder in that corner. Note: see how we covered that back wall in fabric here.

We’re Digging

That’s sister-and-brother-team Leann & Steve from Restored By The Fords above, in a space that kinda exemplifies what Sherry was describing in the episode. I mean the gold swan certainly wasn’t something we saw coming…

There’s more of their work on HGTV’s webpage, but below are a couple of highlights:

Sounds like their current season is complete, so you should be able to binge it on demand – and they just got greenlit for season 2, so they’ll be back in 2019.

And if you or the guy in your life is interested in checking out Wohven, the t-shirt subscription service I mentioned, I’ve been pretty impressed with the quality of them (versus what I typically wear which is usually Target, Old Navy, or free shirts from the various races I run). You can choose the size, the neckline (crew or V-neck), and plain ($9) or graphic tees ($11). Below are some samples of their designs:

If you’re looking for something we’ve dug in a past episode, but don’t remember which show notes to click into, here’s a master list of everything we’ve been digging from all of our past episodes.

And lastly, a big thank you to You Need A Budget (YNAB) for sponsoring this episode. Sign up at YNAB.com/YHL to get your first three months free!

Thanks for listening, guys!

*This post contains affiliate links*

The post #89: A Year Without Shopping appeared first on Young House Love.

[lowmaticnews]

#89: A Year Without Shopping

Could you put your wallet on lockdown for 365 days? Sherry shared the story of a woman who did, including why she took on the challenge, the few exceptions she allowed to make it possible, and how it’s inspiring us to adjust our spending… and maybe even try out a ban of our own. Plus, how much should you involve your kids in the design of their rooms? We share some tips and tactics for keeping everyone happy in the process, so the result is a room that they love (and that you also like to be in with them). Plus, the paint colors that will help your home sell for more money (some of them surprised us!) and a DNA test that led to a humbling personal discovery.

You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify – or listen to it below! Then use this page to check out any links, notes, or photos we referenced. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, you might have to click through to the post to see the player. 

What’s New

Here’s that book Sherry was raving about, The Year of Less by Cait Flanders, which came out earlier this year.

You can also follow Cait on her website, where she has some ongoing resources for people looking to follow in her footsteps.

If you want to grab one of the AncestryDNA tests that we did, they’re selling for $79 on Amazon right now. It takes about 8 weeks to get your results back, so just be ready to be patient.

Or you can just try searching for old relatives without testing your DNA first over at Ancestry.com (they offer free trials to access their database of old documents so you can attempt to construct a family tree).

Paint Color Quiz

Here’s Zillow’s 2017 Paint Color Analysis, which includes a chart of all of the colors from last year that helped houses sell for more than expected (and the ones that caused them to sell for less).

You can also check out the 2016 report to see what has changed or listen to Episode #24 to hear how Sherry quizzed me on that year’s data.

Sherry also promised some of her favorite sale-friendly wall colors that we’ve used frequently, so here they are:

Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore (with Simply White trim, also by BM), seen here:

office chair / bench / rug / woven blinds / curtains / rod / cork board tutorial / more room sources

And here:

console / similar mirror / similar baskets / more room sources

White Heron by Sherwin Williams (with Pure White trim, also by SW), seen here:

dresser / similar mirror / bench / rug / sconce / curtain rods / curtains / more room sources

And here:

headboard / art / blue pillow / sconces / side tables / striped duvet / more room sources

Irish Mist by Behr (with Simply White trim by Benjamin Moore), seen here:

mega sofa (it’s 3 of these together) / similar rug / curtains  / rod / more room sources

And here:

pendant lights / countertop / art / more room sources

Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams (with Pure White trim, also by SW), seen here:

art / leaning mirror / shelves (we sprayed them gold) / rug / more room sources

And here:

rug / desk / desk chairs / storage cubbies / more room sources 

Listener Question

If you want a peek at how our daughter’s room has evolved, you can scroll through this post that documented its progression. That post doesn’t include it’s most recently evolution (shown above), but it’s detailed in this more recent post.

art / night stand / rug / similar headboard / lamp / more room sources 

Since our son’s room hasn’t gone through quite as many stages (thanks to him being four years younger), this post about upgrading him to a big boy bed should get you pretty much up to speed. You can even see the striped sheets he chose poking out in this shot:

light / sconces / blue pillows / similar daybed & rug / ottoman / more room sources

In both of those rooms, you can see how we did neutral walls (Going To The Chapel by Benjamin Moore in our son’s room, White Heron by Sherwin Williams in our daughter’s room) but added color and fun with accents like bedding, accessories, and paint on surfaces like the ceiling (in our daughter’s room) or both of their closet doors.

similar chair and side table / cloth bins / ottoman / bookshelf tutorial / more room sources

And if you check out this post, we actually detail (and show video!) of how we got our daughter involved in one of the design elements of her room back when we was 3. So tiny!

Also, this is that closet with the desk that she requested recently (and helped me put together). Although this photo is from back before we got her a pink chair (that’s a borrowed dining chair below) and later added the rug underfoot when she noticed it was colder in that corner. Note: see how we covered that back wall in fabric here.

We’re Digging

That’s sister-and-brother-team Leann & Steve from Restored By The Fords above, in a space that kinda exemplifies what Sherry was describing in the episode. I mean the gold swan certainly wasn’t something we saw coming…

There’s more of their work on HGTV’s webpage, but below are a couple of highlights:

Sounds like their current season is complete, so you should be able to binge it on demand – and they just got greenlit for season 2, so they’ll be back in 2019.

And if you or the guy in your life is interested in checking out Wohven, the t-shirt subscription service I mentioned, I’ve been pretty impressed with the quality of them (versus what I typically wear which is usually Target, Old Navy, or free shirts from the various races I run). You can choose the size, the neckline (crew or V-neck), and plain ($9) or graphic tees ($11). Below are some samples of their designs:

If you’re looking for something we’ve dug in a past episode, but don’t remember which show notes to click into, here’s a master list of everything we’ve been digging from all of our past episodes.

And lastly, a big thank you to You Need A Budget (YNAB) for sponsoring this episode. Sign up at YNAB.com/YHL to get your first three months free!

Thanks for listening, guys!

*This post contains affiliate links*

The post #89: A Year Without Shopping appeared first on Young House Love.

#89: A Year Without Shopping published first on https://landscapingmates.blogspot.com

[vincentbnaughton]

#89: A Year Without Shopping

Could you put your wallet on lockdown for 365 days? Sherry shared the story of a woman who did, including why she took on the challenge, the few exceptions she allowed to make it possible, and how it’s inspiring us to adjust our spending… and maybe even try out a ban of our own. Plus, how much should you involve your kids in the design of their rooms? We share some tips and tactics for keeping everyone happy in the process, so the result is a room that they love (and that you also like to be in with them). Plus, the paint colors that will help your home sell for more money (some of them surprised us!) and a DNA test that led to a humbling personal discovery.

You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify – or listen to it below! Then use this page to check out any links, notes, or photos we referenced. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, you might have to click through to the post to see the player. 

What’s New

Here’s that book Sherry was raving about, The Year of Less by Cait Flanders, which came out earlier this year.

You can also follow Cait on her website, where she has some ongoing resources for people looking to follow in her footsteps.

If you want to grab one of the AncestryDNA tests that we did, they’re selling for $79 on Amazon right now. It takes about 8 weeks to get your results back, so just be ready to be patient.

Or you can just try searching for old relatives without testing your DNA first over at Ancestry.com (they offer free trials to access their database of old documents so you can attempt to construct a family tree).

Paint Color Quiz

Here’s Zillow’s 2017 Paint Color Analysis, which includes a chart of all of the colors from last year that helped houses sell for more than expected (and the ones that caused them to sell for less).

You can also check out the 2016 report to see what has changed or listen to Episode #24 to hear how Sherry quizzed me on that year’s data.

Sherry also promised some of her favorite sale-friendly wall colors that we’ve used frequently, so here they are:

Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore (with Simply White trim, also by BM), seen here:

office chair / bench / rug / woven blinds / curtains / rod / cork board tutorial / more room sources

And here:

console / similar mirror / similar baskets / more room sources

White Heron by Sherwin Williams (with Pure White trim, also by SW), seen here:

dresser / similar mirror / bench / rug / sconce / curtain rods / curtains / more room sources

And here:

headboard / art / blue pillow / sconces / side tables / striped duvet / more room sources

Irish Mist by Behr (with Simply White trim by Benjamin Moore), seen here:

mega sofa (it’s 3 of these together) / similar rug / curtains  / rod / more room sources

And here:

pendant lights / countertop / art / more room sources

Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams (with Pure White trim, also by SW), seen here:

art / leaning mirror / shelves (we sprayed them gold) / rug / more room sources

And here:

rug / desk / desk chairs / storage cubbies / more room sources 

Listener Question

If you want a peek at how our daughter’s room has evolved, you can scroll through this post that documented its progression. That post doesn’t include it’s most recently evolution (shown above), but it’s detailed in this more recent post.

art / night stand / rug / similar headboard / lamp / more room sources 

Since our son’s room hasn’t gone through quite as many stages (thanks to him being four years younger), this post about upgrading him to a big boy bed should get you pretty much up to speed. You can even see the striped sheets he chose poking out in this shot:

light / sconces / blue pillows / similar daybed & rug / ottoman / more room sources

In both of those rooms, you can see how we did neutral walls (Going To The Chapel by Benjamin Moore in our son’s room, White Heron by Sherwin Williams in our daughter’s room) but added color and fun with accents like bedding, accessories, and paint on surfaces like the ceiling (in our daughter’s room) or both of their closet doors.

similar chair and side table / cloth bins / ottoman / bookshelf tutorial / more room sources

And if you check out this post, we actually detail (and show video!) of how we got our daughter involved in one of the design elements of her room back when we was 3. So tiny!

Also, this is that closet with the desk that she requested recently (and helped me put together). Although this photo is from back before we got her a pink chair (that’s a borrowed dining chair below) and later added the rug underfoot when she noticed it was colder in that corner. Note: see how we covered that back wall in fabric here.

We’re Digging

That’s sister-and-brother-team Leann & Steve from Restored By The Fords above, in a space that kinda exemplifies what Sherry was describing in the episode. I mean the gold swan certainly wasn’t something we saw coming…

There’s more of their work on HGTV’s webpage, but below are a couple of highlights:

Sounds like their current season is complete, so you should be able to binge it on demand – and they just got greenlit for season 2, so they’ll be back in 2019.

And if you or the guy in your life is interested in checking out Wohven, the t-shirt subscription service I mentioned, I’ve been pretty impressed with the quality of them (versus what I typically wear which is usually Target, Old Navy, or free shirts from the various races I run). You can choose the size, the neckline (crew or V-neck), and plain ($9) or graphic tees ($11). Below are some samples of their designs:

If you’re looking for something we’ve dug in a past episode, but don’t remember which show notes to click into, here’s a master list of everything we’ve been digging from all of our past episodes.

And lastly, a big thank you to You Need A Budget (YNAB) for sponsoring this episode. Sign up at YNAB.com/YHL to get your first three months free!

Thanks for listening, guys!

*This post contains affiliate links*

The post #89: A Year Without Shopping appeared first on Young House Love.

[jm-fraser]

The Simpsons Season 5 Ranked

22. Lady Bouviers’ Lover

Maybe having Grandpa falling for Marge’s Mom wasn't the greatest idea for an episode, its really not bad, just forgettable and it does the best it can with its premise, the premise just sucks.

21. The Last Temptation of Homer

 I don't know what it is but this episode has always left me cold, I guess it comes down to how quickly Homer goes from just having a crush on a co-worker to seriously considering having an affair with her, it just seems like too much, and doesn’t make Homer very sympathetic in that moment even if he does the right thing at the end.

20. Barts Inner Child 

Overall pretty good, but by far the best moment is the scene that has the two best guest stars in the history of the show: Albert Brooks and Phil Hartman.

19. The Boy Who Knew Too Much

Not a perfect episode, but every scene with Principal Skinner is great.

18. Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy

I actually really like this episode, the problem is as I have said before, during the golden years theres just too much good you have to rank some very good episodes way too low.

17. Homer Goes to College 

Kind of a weird episode, and maybe it doesn’t explore its idea as well as it could have, its still a very funny idea and as a result a funny episode.

16. Bart Gets an Elephant

The precise moment where you could no longer call this show a realistic look at a dysfunctional American family, I mean its still great, but this would never happen in the first couple seasons.

15. Homer and Apu

One of the first episodes that explores a character outside the main family, opening the door for many, many, many future stories.

14. Burns Heir

When I was a kid, I always wondered why Bart chose his family over, unimaginable wealth, maybe that says something about my morals. Its a very fun episode beside this.

13. Scenes of a Successful Marriage

A much better Marge/ Homer episode than The Last Temptation of Homer, it really breaks down the core of their relationship, and that is as depressing as it should be.

12. Bart gets Famous 

A hint at the meta deconstruction that the show would later explore in future seasons, where the show is already addressing its longevity, which is interesting looking back from season 28.

11. Marge on the Lamb

A Thema and Louise parody, that has far and away the best C-plot in any episode, where Lionel Hutz has about 1:30 minutes of screen time, and it is all gold.

10. Homer the Vigilante 

Another very joke heavy episode, and as the best of these type of episodes have to be, this is very funny, with a great parody of Its A Mad Mad Mad Mad World.

9. Treehouse of Horror IV 

While not quite as good as V, but it does include maybe my favorite Treehouse of Horror Segment: Homer and the Devil.

8. Boy Scoutz ‘n the Hood

Very solid episode from beginning to end, its very funny, has a great sense of adventure (I enjoy stories of people lost at sea, I don't know why) and a really great song, which puts it up a few spots in this list.

7. $pringfield

Besides being just one of the most purely enjoyable episodes of the season, the subplot of Marge becoming a gambling addict and the family falling apart without her around is a great emotional core, that impressively blends very well with the zaniness that is going on.

6. Sweet Seymour’s Baadasssss Song

Like Homer and Apu before it, this is an episode which, further develops a side character who was previously rather one note into someone with a backstory and an emotional core.

5. Homer Loves Flanders

Another hint at the deconstruction that seasons 7 & 8 would explore. Here they show a world where Homer and Flanders are friends, but they show understands that the world cannot exists this way and solve this problem in a very tongue-in-cheek manner.

4. Deep Space Homer

A classic, compatible to Mr. Plow in its legacy and its themes: Homer gets a new job and ends up having to compete with Barney. Plus the first appearance of the inanimate carbon rod!

3. Cape Feare

Many would consider this the greatest episode in the shows history, and its difficult to argue against that, its nearly perfect in its structure, comedy, parody and thriller aspects. But again this is my completely subjective list and I prefer the two above it.

2. Homers Barbershop Quartet 

I love The Beatles, they are my favorite band, and like most die-hard Beatles fans I studied those 7 years of those mens lives to an obsessive extent, so of course I love this parody of that story by my favorite show of all time. One things thats interesting, is I saw this episode way before I had any interest of The Beatles so it was a gradual developing love once I finally understood the references and jokes that are throughout the episode.

1. Rosebud 

Like the episode previously listed, I didn't truly fall in love with this episode until I saw and also fell in love with Citizen Kane, while I don't think you need to have seen Citizen Kane to enjoy this episode, I think it is a large benefit in the appreciation you can have for the attention to detail that was put in, and the skill in retelling the story of the greatest film of all time in 22 minutes, and have it be funny and have all the shows characters act within character for the entirety of the story, I’m sorry but if thats not an example of high art I don't know what is.

Overall Rankings:

1. RoseBud

2. Last Exit to Springfield

3. Homer at the Bat

4. Homer’s Barbershop Quartet

5. Cape Feare

6. Marge vs. the Monorail

7. Flaming Moe’s

8. Lisa’s Substitute

9. I Married Marge 


10. Krusty Gets Kancelled

11. Deep Space Homer

12. Mr. Plow

13. The Way We Was

14. Bart the Murderer

15. Homer the Heretic

16. Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk 


17. Kamp Krusty

18. Homer Loves Flanders

19. Sweet Seymour’s Baadasssss Song

20. Bart Gets an F

21. I Love Lisa

22. $pringfield

23. Whacking Day

24. Saturdays of Thunder

25. Boy Scoutz ‘n the Hood

26. Treehouse of Horror IV

27. Black Widower

28. Lisa’s First Word

29. Stark Raving Dad

30. Separate Vocations

31. Lisa the Greek 


32. Homer the Vigilante

33. Marge on the Lamb

34. Treehouse of Horror III

35. Bart gets Famous

36. Scenes of a Successful Marriage

37. Burns Heir

38. Homer and Apu

39. Bart Gets an Elephant

40. Duffless

41. Homer Goes to College

42. One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish 


43. Itchy and Scratchy: The Movie

44. A Streetcar Named Marge

45. Treehouse of Horror

46. Treehouse of Horror II

47. Lisa the Beauty Queen

48. Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy

49. Like Father Like Clown

50. Radio Bart 


51. The Boy Who Knew Too Much

52. Blood Feud


53. Oh Brother, Where Art Thou

54. Homer’s Triple Bypass

55. Homer Defined 


56. Brush With Greatness

57. Bart the Lover 


58. Three Men and a Comic Book 


59. Simpson and Delilah

60. The Last Temptation of Homer

61. Selma’s Choice

62. Brother Can You Spare Two Dimes?

63. Lisa’s Pony


64. Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes On Every Fish 


65. Old Money

66. Lady Bouviers’ Lover

67. Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington 


68. Brother from the Same Planet

69. The Front

70. Dead Putting Society


71. Bart the Daredevil

72. Colonel Homer


73.Marge Gets a Job

74. Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment

75. New Kid on the Block

76. Marge in Chains

77. When Flanders Failed

78. Bart’s Friend falls in Love


79. Itchy and Scratchy and Marge

80. The Otto Show


81. Bart Gets Hit by a Car

82. Dog of Death


83. Bart vs. Thanksgiving 


84. Principal Charming


85. Moaning Lisa


86. The War of the Simpsons


87. Krusty Gets Busted 


88. Bart the General


89. Bart’s Dog Gets an ‘F’


90. Dancin’ Homer


91. The Telltale Head


92. The Call of the Simpsons


93. The Simpsons Roasting on an Open Flame


94. Life on the Fast Lane


95. Bart the Genius 


96. So its Come to This: A Simpsons Clip Show

97. The Crapes of Wrath


98. Some Enchanted Evening


99. There’s No Disgrace Like Home


100. Homer’s Night Out


101. Homer’s Odyssey