#i had a lot of fun painting this😀

[lazyboy-baby]

i only just now noticed you were taking requests

falling to the floor can i get some solar/eclipse or sunvant/lord eclipse bc im forever starving for them (you dont have to do both i'll be happy either way!)

There you go, two pretty boys at your service!

[yumeka-sxf]

Spy x Family volume 12 omake chapter translation and new pages

Volume 12 of the SxF manga was just released and it included a hilarious extra chapter about Anya and Becky's zoo visit! Here are my translations (I only have MS Paint so sorry for the poor editing!)

(shoutout to RAF on Discord for providing the raw images!)

This was such a great extra chapter, not just because Anya and Becky are hilarious as ever, but as usual, even in a humorous situation, Endo manages to slip in a serious theme without disrupting the comedy. This actually reminds me of a story my mom told me where, back when she was a kid in the 50s/60s, she went to a similar zoo exhibit that featured "the most dangerous animal of all," but inside was just a mirror.

I hope Endo had fun drawing lots of different animals! 😁

In addition to the omake chapter, the volume also features a few new illustrations.

Sylvia is on the cover and, keeping in line with Endo's tradition of showcasing the characters' inner/true selves on the inside cover, that's also what we have for her here!

I'm planning to pick up my own copy of the volume this weekend 😀

[chriscranky]

Recommended Mods for The Sims 1

This is my archive for tracking the Sims 1 mods I’ve added to my game. Since I started playing Sims 1 again recently, I will continue to update this list as I discover new mods and remove those that don’t work for me. Please check back frequently for updates!

If you want to play Sims 1 like me on a Windows 11 computer, you can check out my blog post on that here. 😀

MONEY & JOB MODS

Online bank computer

This computer allows Sims to pay their bills online, as well as find a job and chat online - no more waiting for the newspaper or visitors!

Link: http://www.somesimthings.com/Elec/hcomputers_bank_2015.zip

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Objects

No Forced Career Change at Level 10

Usually, if you reach Level 10 of any career, you only get to stay at Level 10 for a short time before the game forces you into a different career path at a lower level. This mod eliminates that and allows your sim to keep the job that they worked hard for.

Link: http://corylea.com/countdown/countdownlua.cgi?NoForcedCareerChangeAtL10.zip

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Objects

Call Work

With this phone plugin you will have the option to call work and tell them you are sick and can't go to work. If you do that you get the day off and they can't fire you for staying at home. You can stay home as long as you like, just make the call every day.

Link: http://www.somesimthings.com/Job/hcallsickPP.zip

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Objects

Call Interview

This is a phone plugin for Superstar. It will give you the alternative "Give Interview" on the phones at home for Sims in the Superstar career track. Just call and give an interview, you will get paid and your fame will go up, it never goes down.

Link: http://www.somesimthings.com/Job/hsuperstarPP.zip

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Objects

MOTIVES & SKILLS

Need Decay Crystal Mod

Turn this magic crystal ON, and need decay stops completely. You can still increase or decrease a need if you DO something, though. What this mod stops is the need DECAY. For example, if you work out on the exercise machine, your Energy and Hygiene will decrease, just as they always do when you use the exercise machine. But needs won't decay simply from time passing. It looks like a blue crystal on a gold base and can be found in the Decorative - Sculpture section of the catalog.  

Link: http://corylea.com/EliminateNeedDecayMod.html

Directory: Put this in The Sims\Downloads

Learning Brings Fun Bookcase

Adult & teenage sims recognise that learning can bring fulfilment in the future, no matter how miserable they are. Increases cooking and mechanical skills.

Link: https://simlogical.com/sl/downloads/motives/collegebookcase.zip

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Objects

Party Plant

Looks like a party plant. Maximises all motives for all Sims on the lot, except for Social, which is adjusted just enough to stop unhappiness. Perfect for making friends and having babies. No menu, just delete when you've had enough.

Link: https://simlogical.com/sl/downloads/motives/ijpartyplant.zip

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Objects

Party Plant (Visitors Only)

Same as Party Plant above, but acts on visitors only. Visitors are counted as anyone who does not live permanently on the lot, so this would act on NPC's and friends who visit.

Link: https://simlogical.com/sl/downloads/motives/ijpartyplantvisonly.zip

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Objects

Motives Maxer Outhouse

Outhouse (requires Makin' Magic EP). It satisfies ALL needs, but not when all motives are already high.

Link: https://simlogical.com/sl/downloads/motives/motivestoilet.zip

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Objects

Faster Skills Bookcase

A bookcase that skills 2x faster. For those who only want to cheat a moderate amount. :-)

Link: http://corylea.com/countdown/countdownlua.cgi?CoryleaFasterBookcase.zip

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Objects

Skill Picture Two

This painting, of Maxfield Parrish's "Morning," has been modded to add one skill point at a time, in whatever skills you wish. You can add as many points as you want in any skill, up to a maximum of ten.

Link: http://corylea.com/countdown/countdownlua.cgi?CoryleaSkillPIctureVersionTwo.zip

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Objects

Control Mods

Move-in Fern

This plant allows you to move Sims (including animals if you have Unleashed) into a family home as permanent household members.

Link: https://simlogical.com/sl/downloads/miscellaneous/ijmoveplant1.zip

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Objects

Move-out Fern

Allows player to choose which family to move a Sim out to.  

Link: https://simlogical.com/sl/downloads/miscellaneous/ijmoveoutplant1.zip

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Objects

Teleplant

This plant is buyable from your catalogue, and can be placed on any tile. But more importantly it can summon any Sim including NPCs to your lot at pre-set daily times, wearing your choice of clothing type. Should work with any EP.

Link: https://simlogical.com/sl/downloads/miscellaneous/ijteleplant.zip

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Objects

Visitor Query

Choose a name from the menu, and get a dialog box with all their motive scores listed. NPCs, strays, your date downtown - anyone!

Link: https://simlogical.com/sl/downloads/miscellaneous/ijvisitorquery.zip

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Objects

Visitor Enabler

When turned on from its menu, it gives all visiting neighbours the same powers as residents - cook from fridges, stay the night, use showers etc. Turn off from menu and visitors instantly revert to helplessness.

Link: https://simlogical.com/sl/downloads/miscellaneous/visitemp.zip

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Objects

Zappers

Objects that get rid of certain objects and visitors from the lot. None of these kill the Sim or destroy the object permanently, they work by waiting until the thing or person shows up then deleting that particular instance. That means the same thing might show up again and be zapped again - until you remove the zapper.

Link: https://simlogical.com/sl/downloadpages/zappers.htm

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Objects

Relationship Mods

No More Relationship Decay

When you make friends in The Sims, you have to keep up with them, because your relationship declines gradually over time. This mod stops that from happening, so you no longer need to maintain relationships.

I use Version 2: Eliminate Relationship Decay AND More Walk-Bys, which also means more people from your neighborhood will pass your lots.

Link: http://corylea.com/EliminateRelationshipDecayModForTheSims1ByCorylea.html

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Objects

Baby Gives Social

This mod allows your sims' social need to increase when interacting with a baby.

Link: http://corylea.com/countdown/countdownlua.cgi?BabyGivesSocial.zip

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Objects

Flirt with and Compliment Friends

In the unmodded game, the Flirt interaction disappears when your sim's relationship with another sim is over 60, and Compliment/Admire disappears when the relationship is over 40. This mod changes that; Flirt and Compliment will still be available all the way up to 100.  

Link: http://corylea.com/countdown/countdownlua.cgi?FlirtWithAndComplimentFriends.zip

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Global\PesonGlobals.iff - not in a folder!

Note: There can only be one mod in your Globals folder. If you want to use this mod with the Joke and Families and Friends Mod, download this instead: http://corylea.com/countdown/countdownlua.cgi?FlirtWith&ComplimentFriendsANDJokeWithFriendsANDFamiliesAreFriendsMods.zip

Joke with Friends

In an unmodded, game, sims lose the ability to tell a joke to someone when their relationship goes over 70. So you can only tell jokes to acquaintances and casual friends. nThe Joke with Friends Mod lets you tell jokes all the way up to a relationship level of 100.  

Link: http://corylea.com/countdown/countdownlua.cgi?JokeWithFriendsMod.zip

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Global\PersonGlobals.iff - not in a folder!

Note: There can only be one mod in your Globals folder. If you want to use this mod with the Flirt & Compliment and Families and Friends Mod, download this instead: http://corylea.com/countdown/countdownlua.cgi?FlirtWith&ComplimentFriendsANDJokeWithFriendsANDFamiliesAreFriendsMods.zip

Families Are Friends Mod

In the unmodded game, families are created with a relationship of 20; this mod makes newly created families have a relationship of 50. This mod affects only NEWLY CREATED families, so families that were made before you installed it will not be changed.

Link: http://corylea.com/countdown/countdownlua.cgi?FamiliesAreFriendsMod.zip

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Global \PersonGlobals.iff - not in a folder!

Note: There can only be one mod in your Globals folder. If you want to use this mod with the Flirt & Compliment and Joke Mod, download this instead: http://corylea.com/countdown/countdownlua.cgi?FlirtWith&ComplimentFriendsANDJokeWithFriendsANDFamiliesAreFriendsMods.zip

Custom Content & Notable Mentions

I don't really use Custom Content such as custom skins, furniture, or animations in my game, but I do have some sites for the day I might want to spice things up.

Objects & Furniture

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Objects if furniture, The Sims\GameData\Lights if lights, The Sims\GameData\Walls if wallpapers, The Sims\GameData\Floors if floors.

Links:

https://oddsim.com/the_sims_objects/miscellaneous

http://www.somesimthings.com

http://mistymage.com/gnohmongoodies/moods.html

http://simcrafters.parsimonious.org/furniture1/pages/k8_elgardian_light.html

https://www.thaliatook.com/MS/objects.php

https://pleasantsims.com/active-sims-1-sites/

Skins & Heads

Directory: Put this in The Sims\GameData\Skins

Links:

http://simcrafters.parsimonious.org/fashion1/pages/all_heads_1.html

http://simcrafters.parsimonious.org/fashion1/pages/all_1.html

http://www.awesomeexpression.com/maru.html

https://www.thaliatook.com/MS/heads.php

https://www.thaliatook.com/MS/skins.php

https://pleasantsims.com/active-sims-1-sites/

[melodiimelon]

The Outsiders Personalities Based on my opinion <3

Ponyboy:

He would probably be that one kid who would tell the teacher that there was homework and have a room full of opps.

Hates Steve with all his heart because hes jealous asf.

Would be like the made in romania kid (he prolly is)

Canonically smokes the most out of the gang, but he uses a penjamin because he thinks its “safer”

Is in orchestra and plays cello

Smoke seshes with Johnny😩

Speaks Romanian fluently, refuses to speak hebrew.

Adding on to the last one, the curtis’ just say all the prayers in english during holidays so the rest of the gang can understand, and because they don’t like hebrew in general.

Wore Adidas when he was younger. No questions.

Has atleast went to Romania ONCE.

Johnny

The quiet, but defensive hufflepuff.

If people ask him to say something in either spanish or thai, he’ll just say a bad word to embarrass them.

Has a better relationship with his dad than his mom (not canon)

Him and dally are like this🤞🏽no crosses count.

ALWAYS SINGS RANDOM THAI SONGS OUTTA NO WHERE

Theres this weird thing that he has (i have it too) where he could show his talents to a audience of people, but not in front of a small group.

So i can see him kind of spacing out while trying to sing for the gang.

Knows Muay Thai, so thats very useful to him for fighting socs.

Smokes pot just because.

Sodapop

Is constantly called “Soda-bop” from socs, and even Steve.

Takes band or orchestra

Takes Jewish cantor classes every Thursday bc he cant do it on Shabbat.

He always won first place in a cantor competition, and people even started hiring him for weddings.

Can also speak romanian, but speaks Hebrew for his classes.

People unfortunately are prejudice against him for being jewish, so he lies and says he’s atheist. He regrets it a lot.

His Bar Mitzvah was very festive, and he was lifted up on a chair😀

Girls and guys come up to him constantly for either beauty tips or falling in love with him.

He’s a gryffindor. Constantly boasts about it.

Says “what the sheol” on a daily basis.

Steve

Contrary to popular belief, he can actually cook.

He’s very bitchy when it comes to cars

He loves them more than Soda

Was the type to have car posters in his room as a kid

He wasn’t available on Fridays because of Jummah (iykyk)

Hides his relationship with Soda from his parents and sister

Not really family oriented (toxic parents)

Would be in band or orchestra in school

Hes a big back when it comes to Bastani and Ghormasabzi (IM MAKING GHORMASABZI)

His gay awakening was Soda. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Has the best comebacks for haters

Calls sunglasses Hater-Blockers😭

Almost fought Pony at school one time and Soda had to stop them

Two Bit

He’s the type to eat paint chippings and get Lead Poisoning as a kid.

People dont believe hes 🇧🇷🇨🇺

Only makes food from a air fryer because he’s not trusted with a stove

Almost burned his house down when trying to re-fry french fries from mcdonald’s(you probably know the consequences).

Plays accordion and lets his sister sing with him for funsies

But plays trombone in band so he can be with Steve

The gang was calling him Two-Bitch, but pony was on his horse period and called him No-Bitch for fun. Two Bit swore it was on sight while the rest of the gang was laughing.

Has SOME rizz, but doesnt like to use it to his potential.

Pranks all of Tulsa by becoming a elf and running around scaring kids.

Drinks and smuggles Cuban cigars and Brazilian beers in the curtis house. Darry banned him from the house for a week.

Dallas

The original super senior

WHERE MY HUG AT???

Lemme take you to ur class😭

He has a cat name Mau Mau Winston the First and he wont let the gang touch her.

Thats his daughter dont fw her😡

He would let that cat do anything😭

FRAGILE MASCULINITY.

He’s actually a good dancer, HE GOT LIQUID HIPS.

Actually hates his dad with a burning passion (besides P-philes) and loves his mom. Hes a mamas boy.

Since hes also arab, I can see him cussing out the gang in arabic.

Watches Kai Cenat on the daily

🟧⬛️⭐️ obsessed

Was called Buster Cherry in New York

Tries to get people into fights for fun.

Darry

Literal husband material

Would literally be the best dad in the world.

Also speaks both Romanian and Hebrew fluently.

He planned Soda’s Bar Mitzvah and they have pictures of EVERYTHING.

Is first generation American when he moved from Romania in the 40’s due to the holocaust

Touches up his language skills when he has the time.

LOVES FRANK SINATRA

Him and his siblings have Hebrew names from their Bat Mitzvahs

Visits Romania with Soda and Pony in summer when they have the money.

when their parents were alive, they would speak Romanian when they were together.

Hanukkah is a very INTERESTING TIME for him- (ill make a headcanon on that)

Wanted to be a lawyer when he was younger

Dealt with racism in elementary/junior high because he was an emigrant.

A/N: This took A WEEK TO MAKE. DONT LET ME DOWN; I NEED COMMENTS, LIKES, REPOSTS,

A N Y T H I N G.

[throwaway-yandere]

EHH ELABORATE FIRST ANSY??? HEIZOU AND DOTTORE?? 😀 kinda not surprised but like what? Why them??? Altho tbh, when i think about it, i guess you three have this similar vibe-ish? Maybe more to heizou rather than dottie cuz that's a lil wild if you have the same vibes as him lmao

Anyway, i agree sooo much on dain (trying to not be too biased cuz i know u like him) cuz it fits the dynamic between a gremlin (you) x calm (dain), i feel like it would be so cute!! Buuttt, personally for me, for it to start being romantic, it probably needs a long time? I'm sure you can rizz him during that time tho (^q^)d

(You made me say "YEAH IF I'M NOT DEAD BY THEN" at the last part lmfao)

Heizou I feel doesn't need much explanation, I feel like this matchup perfectly describes why we share 1 braincell lmfao. Always felt like I understand this guy all too well lol.

Dottore's thought process is a lot like mine, me thinks. We don't really linger on the end result, the process is way more fun. Plus, we both have a thing for understanding diff viewpoints ("perspectives"). I feel like my whole "there is no real you, all of the things you've done are the real you. You can be simultaneously polite and kind & be an informal asshole— don't you dare discredit that other side of you that you show to your professor and your friends" philosophy I have would prolly align with his segments. And the thing abt Childe going on about how Dottore had a massive hyperfixation on Ruin Guards, even going so far as to have a dedicated lab, only to abandon it is such a mood. IA character flaw. But still a mood, LMAO.

If I REALLY want to paint myself in a bad light, isn't my way of gaining information on who the anons are in matchups, and enjoying the pain the stories would have in said fics while not really "caring" (read: not really bothering to overthink) if they'd like the pairing or not and just laughing amidst the process of conjuring up messed up and evil yandere ideas— kind of Dottore of me? HAHAHAHAH. In a way, I'm not really anyone's grandparent. I'm the mad scientist and you guys are the puppets /lh (don't take me seriously)

[proadhog]

Struggling with Art: Proadhog's POV

I'm not good with titles

I've been struggling with changing from traditional art to digital for a long time. First I tried with a screenless tablet, which was a terrible experience. Look, I'm a gamer, I have a good eye-hand coordination but dear god it was so bad.

Then I got one with a screen but it still wasn't really working for me. I just couldn't do what I imagined and I got demotivated. Sometimes I tried but failed again so I put it away, pouting. Watched countless videos, tips and tricks, tried some of them but still the results were far from expected.

Then I came across 2 yt channels, which I really recommend:

Jeremy from Light Ponderings and Sam from SamDoesArt

Jeremy awakened my interest in lighting and offered useful and fun excercises where I could start without pressure. (I've figured that my problem is expecting perfection every time I try something, but that is another story). Sam is hilarious with good advices, fun to watch.

So I started with a simple excercise: draw and egg. BUT. it wasn't really about to get the shape right, but to find the colors and the lights without cheating with the eyedropper tool. It is harder than you think! Well, it was for me at least. But it was fun! I was motivated again! And I did some more studies!

Yeah, the colors are muted, the edges aren't so crisp, but I did something and I enjoyed. And it looked far better than my previous tries.

Life got busy and I stopped. I still collected images for later use, but every time I scrolled through them I felt they are all too complex and challanging. I had to figure out something. "Draw what you love" is an advice I heard a lot, but e.g. drawing characters is a big big no for me (at least for now).

Then I came across Blade Runner 2049, for about the 100th time, but this time I looked at it differently. I loved it already (one of my fav, that's why the 100th time), but this time I saw the mastery behind lighting and cinematography, and I thought... that's what I want to draw.

It really gave the push I needed:

- I can rewatch again for screencaps

- I can/try to draw the screencaps

- I can listen to the soundtrack while doing it

I already have a lot of images to draw but I only rewatched 20 minutes maybe? Anyway, I wanted to start with really easy things, so I don't get overwhelmed, but...

...way harder than expected. I suffered for an hour or so, I even cheated with the color of the tree (eyedropper) and I was still soooo far that I left it. BUT, this time, I had so much more to work with, the failure didn't hurt my soul that much.

Then these came:

Now I see many problems with them, but I was quite happy when I finished each one. I started using hard edged brushes got a bit braver, but forgot to use sketches and it shows 😀 but the aesthetics are quite similar so it's a win for me!

Anyway, my post is about encouraging other begginers to keep working, even though it is hard sometimes and you feel you've failed with a piece. It is all about learning and having fun. Draw/paint what you really like, challange yourself but take baby steps, set achievable goals.

I don't have any technical advice other than check the yt channels above. And do sketches before you get lost in a piece :D

I wish your next piece of art to be fun and an improvement to your prevoius works! ❤️

[alsjeblieft-zeg]

025 of 2025

🙏😥🟢🤪Emoji Questions Part 1🤣🎁🤗🟢

😀 What makes you smile?

Cats, nice memories, random little acts of kindness, knowing I'm not alone, my favourite songs, seeing beautiful landscapes, seeing elderly married couples holding hands.

🥹 what trend can you just not understand?

TikTok and similar bs. Influencers (is that even a real job?), recording accidents instead of trying to help (the last one infuriates me, actually).

🥲when was the last time you cried?

When my beloved kitty Victoria passed away. The whole two weeks were just tears.

☺️ do you use a lot of innuendos?

I don't, but I know someone who does. Once amusing, now annoying as hell.

😇 what was the last good deed you did?

I don't know, maybe this day I helped an elderly lady step out of the bus? I don't know, I don't think about it. I'm always the first to help, it's just instinct.

😍 what celebrities or public figures do love/admire?

Keanu Reeves. He's probably the most humble and genuine person in this whole show-business world.

😛 are you quite a goofy person?

Oh my, yeah. I'm that one you would call "the class clown", for real.

🧐 what are you really fascinated by?

Trains, shortwave radio, signal identification, people (yes really), cats.

🥳 what was the last thing you celebrated?

New Years, kind of.

😠 what makes you really angry?

People making fun of disabilities and chronic illnesses, that one I feel the most.

🤬 when did you last swear?

Probably today. Unfortunately, I swear a lot.

🤗 who was the last person you hugged?

My husband, I think.

🤭 are you easily embarrassed?

Not anymore but yeah, I still have my moments.

🤢 when was the last time you were sick?

Last November, I had stomach flu. 3 days of suffering, ew.

👻 do you believe in ghosts?

I don't really care.

💀 do you believe in aliens?

More likely for me. It's hard to believe we might be alone in the universe, it's just way too big.

🎃 do you celebrate Halloween? Do you enjoy it?

I don't celebrate Halloween at all.

👍 what are some of your favourite things?

Cats, sea, sunny weather, thunderstorms, when everything goes right, trains, my job, shortwave radio.

👎 what can instantly make you dislike someone?

Their attitude. Don't act like an asshole please. Also patronising, condescending, unsolicited advice and know-it-alls.

🦶whats your shoe size?

42. Sometimes 43, depending on the brand.

🫀 do you have a big heart or love and trust only a select few?

I love everyone, but I trust a few. That's it.

👩‍⚕️ what did you last go to the doctor for?

Just a neurologist checkup, plus control EEG. A routine for someone with a neurological disorder.

👰‍♀️ do you want to get married one day?

I'm already married.

👩‍�� do you want to be a parent one day?

No, I can't picture myself as a father.

💅 do you paint your nails? If so, what colour?

I don't. I only did it once for a prank.

👚 what does your shirt look like that’s on you now?

I don't like such questions. You don't know what I wear, and most likely is not even a shirt.

👖 what does your bottom wear look like?

Waterproof pants, so convenient in such weather.

🩴 what about footwear?

Nothing but socks at the moment.

💍 what jewellery are you wearing?

At this moment, only some in my piercings.

👜 do you have a handbag or a bag you carry around with you? What does it look like?

My work backpack is black, with three little flowers. It used to have a chain, but I lost it somewhere.

🕶️ do you wear glasses?

I do. I'm really nearsighted, and my left eye has some vision loss.

🐶 what’s your favourite bread of dog?

I'm not a dog person, but my favourite breed would be German shepherds. They are smart.

🐱 do you like cats? Do you prefer them from dogs?

I'm definitely a cat person, so here's the obvious answer. I love kitties with my whole heart.

🦁 do you think you’re a brave person?

People say so, but I don't know if it's bravery. I just try to live my life because I realised life is short.

🐦 what’s your favourite kind of bird?

House sparrow and house martin.

🐴 Have you ever rode a horse?

No, never.

🐝 Have you been stung by a bee or wasp before?

Yes, by both. I'm allergic to wasps, though.

🪱 have you ever held a snake?

Nope. I wouldn't even want, I don't like snakes.

🕷️ are you scared of spiders?

No. They're cute.

🦀 have you ever ate crab?

Yes, mostly in form of surimi. I love it.

🦈 have you swam with dolphins?

Nope, not at all.

🐏 have you fed a baby lamb?

No.

🌳 what’s your favourite type of tree?

Maple, birch, pine.

🪴 how many potted plants do you have?

Some artificial ones in our bedroom, that's all.

🍄 do you like mushrooms?

I do, but not all of them. My favourite is champignon and golden chanterelle.

🌷 what’s your favourite type of flower?

Tulip, iris, cornflower, poppy.

🌞 what temperature do you enjoy it to be the most outside?

Around 20°C.

🌚 do you prefer the full moon or a partial moon?

Moon is beautiful regardless the phase.

How much Geography knowledge do you have?

Some basic, I think.

Have you ever seen a shooting star?

More than once.

[its-mr-hedgie]

This morning sure was a lot of fun!

Since my friend Bean and I went off to different colleges, we don’t get to see each other as much as we used to. We’re still pretty close to the same city, though, so we’ve made an effot to meet up when we can for brunch.

Bean and I have gotten to try a lot of nice cafes this way. Just the other month we went out to a pretty good omelette place. But our usual place is a cozy little cafe near Main Street, called The Sunflower.

Bean loves The Sunflower for its pastries and baked goods. They make them fresh every morning. I love it for the large selection of tea they have. I’ve gone there a few years, and still haven’t tried them all yet!

It’s so lovely to have little quests to go on with a friend. Bean and I both have our list of items on the menu left to try every time we wind up there (though we both also have our favorites) and I’m glad to have such a great friend to share new experiences with.

This month, we swapped stories about the first halves of the semester, as well as our summers since we didn’t a chance to meet up before move-in. I haven’t seen them since before I got back from Japan, and in the meantime they managed to pass their road test and get one of their paintings framed!

It’s crazy how often we both feel we do nothing with our time in the moment, but looking back there’s so much that we both did or had happen.

I’m so glad to have someone to share my life experiences with, and someone who tells me the most interesting experiences of their own!

And I hope to share with you all some of my experiences abroad as well! It just takes a while to draw it all down! 😀

Until next time!

– Mr. Hedgie

P.S: Sorry for the small break in posts, college get pretty busy at times but I try my best to stick with it. I hope you all have a good day!

[lianailia]

Update:

So a lot has happened! I went and saw a condo that went up on a Fri. We went on Sun. Put in an offer, not thinking we were going to get it. Found out the next day that I got it!!!! I'm so excited! It's not closed on until the 13th and then I'll want to paint and clean the carpets. Then I can move. Lol and everyone is like "She can have this thing!" And I'm like chill. I won't know until I get in. But I do appreciate everyone offering and I'll have my Aunt's truck and trailer to move. And their help. Plus all of my friends. It was just kind of like the house we live in now where it came up, parents made a cash offer. It was accepted that same week. Crazy. (Now the market is crazy and houses and apartments cost way more. So this condo really is a Godsend.) Plus we have a great realtor. Then I meet with the disability lawyer soon and figure out how to move my assets so I can qualify for SSI, so that I CAN pay rent. But signed the contract saying it was in my name and ahhh! Next is getting a car. Might go tomorrow just to look. Then I have this week to test drive. I have no clue what I want. Heh

Next awesome thing happened on Thurs. Met with some friends from the Slayers chat before the Lindsey Stirling concert! Dinner was fun. We went to an Irish pub. Then the concert....

Please go. Please please please. Even if you don't like classical or instrumental music, she has something for everyone. It really is not just pretty violin music. She has such creative set designs, she makes all of her costumes, and has all of the choreo for her dancers. She's learned the acrobat ring and has a crazy act with that during one of the songs. I'm not giving too much away. You still will be amazed. Especially during the one song. The only thing is I wish Surrender was played. It's my fav from the new album. And I would have liked Sleepwalking, since I couldn't record it the last time. (My phone was dying because of the space.) But other than that perfect. Walk Off the Earth was the OP band and they were great. They had 2 songs with her. First one was during their set. She came out for it... wearing a cheese head hat! Because I'm in WI. It was hilarious. Sarah from the band was like "what is this? Oh, it's CHEESE!" And we were dying. I was sitting with mom, dad was on the end. We were kind of in the nosebleeds. But it wasn't as big of a place as I thought it was going to be. But the stage was still cool. They also had their kids perform. Which was hilarious. They had a little drum set! It was cute.

Then Lindsey opens with Eye of the Untold Her, which the way she does it on stage is so cool. I'm glad Evil Twin was closer to the middle. Serenity Found was really pretty. (I was kind of right with the spinning thing.) She did Shatter Me with the ring. She played Underground, Arena and Spontaneous Me from older albums. Untamed was cool even though I don't care for the song much. Firefly Alley was awesome! She told how she wanted there to be fans around her and the dancers and was explaining it to her stage designer. She said yeah, they'll be on wheels and be on us the whole time with ribbons! And he was going "fans? As in people?" She was caught off guard. Heh anyways, highly recommend going. She's my fav next to Kalafina. If I hadn't seen them she definitely would be first. And Piano Guys. Hoping she comes back next yr.

But I'm excited for the future. I will have my own place and car! Car I really don't care about too much, since I don't like driving, but it's still exciting getting to pick it out this time. I'm using my backpay. Things are happening so fast but finally happening! 😀

[marshmallowprotection]

I decided to draw and paint something today, and I had lots of fun! 😀💗

The only problem is that I have hand issues, and holding a paintbrush (or even pens/pencils) too long causes hand pain/numbness...now my right hand feels Bad...and I'm right handed 🙃

Now I'm in a weird place where I'm HAPPY because I made a cute little mushroom painting, but FRUSTRATED because my right hand will be alternating between numb and painful when I use it for probably the rest of the day... 😅

How would Saeran react to his MC telling him as much?

~Hearts Anon

GE Saeran knows what it feels like to overwork your hands. He’s done it a hundred times in his life and it’s the worst feeling. He wants to be able to kiss your hands and rub them as they ache. 

He knows that he can’t do much to take away the pain but he can hold your hands for you and remind you that it’s okay to take breaks when you need them. He had to learn that the hard way and you’re the one that helped him to discover that it’s okay to take things slow if it gets tough. Just let him soothe your aches and you’ll be okay. 

He’s such a worrywart. He’d be trying to do everything for you in the long run. It’s easier for him that way. He knows that he can do that much for you, if he can’t be the one that removes the pain, he can make sure that you don’t make the pain more. It might be a bit over the top, but just know that he’s trying his best to coddle you.

“Oh, don’t worry, my love. I’ll do that... no, I’ll do that as well. I can take care of that. You just rest here and let me do everything else. I’ll even feed you if you’re in need of that. I just want your hands to relax. Don’t make me hold them so you won’t use them.” 

[neonhairspray]

I actually picked all three of these guys on purpose: so it won't be THAT easy haha.

But I loved your answers & explanations. Everything clicked, as you said. And seemed reasonable. I know Daniel the longest & the fact that he speaks multiple languages very well (4 I think?) & just embodied Niki Lauda in "Rush" just gives him more respect points from me.

Now! Onto my choices:

Starting with the easiest one: Jamie Campbell - Bower as best friend. Ironically I know him the longest (out of him, Austin & Joseph) and he always seemed like a fun, open-minded guy. But recently I also got the impression that he is curious, well spoken & sincere guy. The type of person who'd be there for fun times, but would also hype you up when you're down. And if we were really close I think he'd show his soft, caring side (which I saw in videos with his girlfriend and some other presumably close people). So Jamie as my bestie!

This is where I had to think, because both Austin & Joe seem like caring guys, who lovr their family. However...

I'd take Austin as one night stand. First of all, I've noticed that my attraction to him leans more on physical side. Yes, his interviews and words from people show that he is a true gentleman, very attentive. Also that podcast I listened to showed just how much he treasures his family and those close to him (he said making food for others is kind of a love language for him & je loves to cook for the ones he loves). And how highly he speaks about his mom, who sadly passed away 7 or 8 years ago. But at the same time I get the feeling that I would definitely be.... too simple for him. I don't know if this makes sense, but from what I've seen it feels like we're from different worlds & in marriage wouldn't be good for us. A fling? Yes. But something more stable? No. I feel like he needs more than I'd be able to give him.

Which leaves us with our boy Joseph... Indeed, he is still like some kind of old painting that needs to be uncovered, layer by layer, to see the real picture. But I guess it's because everything is so new. I remeber the first pictures of him as Joe, not Eddie. You were my first source of them :D And for some reason I instantly felt relaxed and with a smile on my face. The more I saw, the more I read I felt like seeing an old friend that I haven't seen in a long time. Some kind of kinship I guess? I know that basing many things on your feelings is not necessarily good, but... yeah, I cannot escape it. That's who I am. So mixed with facts, his interviews & vibes that I get I think I'd choose him as a husband (Sorry Jamie and Austin). I just think we'd be able to give the comfort & warmth to each other, just what each of us seems to have a need of. Physical touch as well, lots of touching. And being sensitive with each other as well as learning something new together, but also giving space and alone time.

I don't know how long it would last, I'm not a hopeless romantic who believes in happily ever after. But I'd like to think that we'd be able to have it at least for some time (:

Thank you, dear! It was really fun 😀

instead of fuck marry kill, there should be an ask game that’s “husband, one night stand, best friend” because that’s the actual tough call

[offbeatworlds]

I had a lot of Christmas commissions last month but this was one of my favorites, this gnome paladin of Pan named Moe. I loved painting him, his expression, his helmet, the duo colored eyes, the sloshing drink. Does Moe look like a fun drinking partner? 😀 . . . . . . #creativenerd #artworld #digitalartwork #digitalpainting #artistsofinstagram #fantasyillustration #freelancelife #photoshopart #characterdesign #characterart #characterconcept #charactersheet #originalcharacter #artrealm #gameart #imaginativerealism #fantasticart #artshare #ladyartist #dnd #dungeonsanddragons #dndart #gnome #nerdlife #nerd #geek #geekgirl — view on Instagram http://bit.ly/2CWNYlV

[melindakayeee-blog1]

About two or three months ago, I had the oh so brilliant idea that I wanted to create beauty related videos on YouTube. And no, I’m not even going to flatter myself and say that I was some sort of “beauty guru.” Let’s just call a spade a spade, and refer my YouTube stint as one big learning experience. I made a lot of mistakes, and I did a lot of research beforehand. But, I had fun trying something different, and I’ve learned some valuable lessons that I thought I’d like to share. Whether you’ve considered starting a channel yourself, or if you’re a seasoned YouTuber with more patience than I, I hope you find this post helpful, if not entertaining. 😀 So without further ado, let’s begin! Here are my lessons learned during my attempt at YouTube stardom!

Being a beauty YouTuber is expensive!

Unless you are on the coveted PR lists (which in order to get on one, I needed several thousand more views), you will be spending your own money on makeup. I would constantly be picking up packages of makeup to review and demo on my channel. Then one day, my boyfriend asked me how much I’m spending vs how much I’ve actually made. This was as a reality check that wow, I’m buying a lot of makeup. I defended myself by saying that these are products that I would be purchasing anyway. Would I be purchasing them at the same rate? I don’t think so… but eventually, I would have, I swear! But hey, on the bright side, it gave me an opportunity to try out different brands and products that I wouldn’t have thought about before starting YouTube.

Recording My First Haul

And here I am recording my Tarte Haul

Don’t expect instant gratification.

If you read youtube success stories, they paint this blissfully unrealistic picture that the successful YouTubers uploaded their first video, suddenly everybody knew about it, their videos went viral, and the subscribers started pouring in. This is definitely not the case. Maybe it was back in the day when youtube first made its presence on the interwebs, but in today’s day in age, expecting instant gratification will lead to big disappointments. Learn YouTube’s algorithm, create watchable content, promote your videos via social media, and expect slow growth. 

“Sub4Sub” will get you know where.

When I first start my channel, the majority of my comments were along the lines of, “great video! I subbed, so sub back okay?” Of course I left them up because comments equal activity on the video. This activity tells the Youtube algorithm, “Hey! There’s activity on this channel! I’m going to promote this video in the search results!” And besides, I can’t lie and say that the “great video” part of the comments didn’t make me happy. 🙂 But did I ever subscribe back? Very rarely. I didn’t want to flood my subscription feed with a bunch of videos that I don’t care to actually watch. And that’s what you’ll be getting from your sub4sub subscribers. Trust me when I say that having 10 active subscribers is much better than having thousands of subscribers who don’t watch or interact with your videos.

Buying views or subscribers won’t do shit either.

I feel like this is a very tempting option for many new YouTubers. By buying views, you’re tricking the youtube algorithm to promote your videos for more organic growth, right? Not necessarily. When you buy views, you’re buying computer generated bots that will “watch” 2 seconds of your video and click out. Yes, you get your so-called “views,” but this will negatively affect your audience retention rate, which is another big factor in YouTube’s algorithm.

And don’t be fooled by the “social media marketers” who “provide real viewers to promote organic growth to your channel.” I almost fell into this trap, but luckily, I did my research and found that these companies are all the same. And besides, do you know how suspicious it looks to have a video that has thousands of views, and no likes/dislikes/comments? And how suspicious does it look to have one video with thousands of views, while the others barely get 100? Think about it. If these “social media marketers” promote real viewers and growth, why aren’t these “viewers” checking out your other videos as well? The real viewers will see right through that.

Be prepared for criticism. 

I will admit that the one thing that prevented me from starting my channel was the fear of the internet trolls and mean comments. I have the tendency to be overly sensitive, and I don’t take criticism well (especially when it comes to my creativity/content, because that is very personal to me). So when I got my first dislike, I was sad, but also thankful that they didn’t flame me in the comments. I could deal with the dislikes. When I got my first negative comment though… Yeah, that was a completely different story. The person basically said that I wasn’t using the product correctly (probably true – I reviewed a liquid contour stick and I’m used to powder contour palettes), my contour was a mess, and that I need to stop fidgeting and rambling (also true, but in my defense, that video was one of my first videos)!

Looking back on the comment, it wasn’t that bad, but it came at a point where I was really reflecting on my mistakes. Having an internet stranger point out the things I already knew really solidified in my head that I maybe I really do suck at YouTube. If you don’t have thick skin to begin with, it’s easy to get discouraged when you get your first negative comment… especially when you’re first starting out. However, I now realize that constructive criticism can be helpful. It is possible to use those comments to motivate you to get better at your craft. In this case, I learned that I needed to do better research on how to use the product before giving a negative review.

My first negative comment. 😦 Although it may be constructive criticism, I really hated the tone!

Keep your videos short and to the point!

Unless you already have a large fan base that eats up everything you say, nobody is going to sit there and watch a 30 min video. I learned this lesson when I checked my audience retention for each video. At this point, I realized that I wasn’t Grav3yardgirl, and I won’t get away with recording these 25 – 30 minute long videos. After studying my audience retention rates, I noticed that it was higher on my shorter, more concise videos. My longer videos had abysmally low retention because I rambled on and on for 10 min before actually getting to the product I was reviewing! Take it from me: don’t do that.

Nobody cares about your back story about why you bought the product (yes, I actually created a video reviewing the L’Oreal Lip Paints, and I rambled on for 15 minutes about the trip to Target, and what brought me to purchase these products). Nobody cares what you ate for breakfast before filming that days video. Nobody cares that you’re going to Sedona and Flagstaff with your boyfriend, and that’s why you’re creating a red/black smokey eye to match your plaid “Flagstaff shirt,” instead of the intended pink smokey eye (yes, another mistake I made). A long, drawn out story before getting to the actual point is the worst way to attract your audience, and grabbing the audience’s attention in the beginning is huge. And besides, do you really want your audience to click away before actually getting to the point of why you created in the first place? Didn’t think so. 😉

Practice with editing your videos before you upload your first (and sequential) videos.

While having perfect editing skills is not an absolute necessity when starting out (I do think that your audience will forgive unstudio worthy editing if the content is otherwise good/engaging), it’s still a good idea to have somewhat of an idea of what you’re doing first. This is something that I wish I would have done before uploading my videos for the world to see. My first videos were absolutely cringeworthy (which is why I was butt hurt by the above mentioned mean comment), and I wish I would have taken more time to learn the editing basics, and my way around iMovie before uploading my first video. Yes, there is a learning curve with YouTube. And yes, you tend to get better with your editing/content the more you film videos. I just wish I wouldn’t have started my YouTube debut with poor quality (in terms of editing) videos.

Don’t upload poor quality videos for the sake of uploading.

I wanted to upload 2-3 videos per week, because I read that YouTube’s algorithm favors consistent uploaders. As a consequence of this thinking, I uploaded videos with a few editing feux pas. For instance, I uploaded videos with the stupid voice to mouth mismatch, because I liked the overall content (I later deleted the video with the intention to re-record. Out of sync videos are a big pet peeve of mine). I uploaded videos with too many jump cuts. The worst part about this whole thing was that I knew these videos were was than perfect. And what compelled me to upload these subpar videos in the first place? I had an arbitrary uploading schedule that I felt the need to follow. I was also tired from editing that morning’s recorded video for 4 – 5 hours after coming home from work at 8 pm. Don’t do this. Take all the time you need to edit and perfect your videos. Yes, it’s a time consuming effort, but quality will always be better than quantity when it comes to YouTube. And besides, would you watch a poorly edited video? No? Then why would you expect that from your viewers?

Start your YouTube channel for the right reasons.

Before starting your channel, think long and hard about why you’re actually doing it. Are you trying to be “Youtube famous?” Wrong answer. Are you doing it to get free makeup? Also the wrong answer. Are you doing it to be taken on PR trips to exotic islands? Nope, that’s not the right answer either. These wrong answers are the wrong reasons to start your YouTube channel. Are you doing it for the love of content creating? Right answer. Are you passionate about the topic of your channel? Also the right answer. Do you actually enjoy filming, and the creative process that comes with it? Yup. These are the right reasons to start your YouTube channel.

So why did I start my channel? I did it for a creative outlet. I’m a creative person by nature, and I need to have some creativity in my life. I have always been infatuated with video editing and creation, and wanted to learn the craft. I also love makeup, and as a fellow consumer, I wanted to debunk the overhyped products and provide honest reviews. Did I also want my channel to blow up? Of course I did. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t. If I’m creating content and publishing it on the internet, I want it to reach somebody, or else I’m just talking to a computer screen. What’s the fun in that? 😉

As of right now, I have unlisted my most cringeworthy videos (I didn’t delete them, because I want to look back at them one day and see how far I’ve become), and I’m taking a little YouTube hiatus. This is not to say that I will never do Youtube again. I did enjoy posting videos, and I enjoyed the creative process of creating said videos. However, as of right now, I am refocusing my creative energy on blogging. Writing has always been my number one passion, and it’s something that I’ve always genuinely enjoyed doing. You don’t major in English Literature and Political Science if you hate writing! 😉 And yes, I was one of those people who actually liked and looked forward to writing essays….

But like I said: Youtube is not completely out of the picture. I am taking a step back to reflect on what I’ve learned, and I’m going to go back to into it with a different approach. I’m going to practice and perfect my editing skills. I’m also going to do better research on the products, and how to apply them. I’m going to take as much care with the video creation process as I do with my writing process. I’m such a perfectionist when it comes to my writing, so why wouldn’t I have that same attitude with my YouTube videos?

Anyways, I really hope you enjoyed today’s blog post! Whether you’re just staring your channel, or if you’re in the beginning/research phase, I hope you found this post helpful! Let me know in the comments down below!

My Lessons Learned During My Short Stint on YouTube About two or three months ago, I had the oh so brilliant idea that I wanted to create beauty related videos on YouTube.