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sellalametta · 4 years ago

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#SML (Not-so) Minimalist Fashion: An Intermezzo

Been a while, huh? I have wanted to talk about this since months ago, yes, you read it right, months with “s”, referring how long it was. I will just start it all now I guess.

Check your closet now! See and count how many clothing pieces you have! A lot? Not really?

Well, you don’t have to give me the answer right now. I believe it’s you, yourself who need the answer. Let’s reflect on how much we spent or how often we used each and every piece of those. Again, it's not for me you shall answer, it’s you, and obviously I also need to give myself those answers.

I did not know when or how it all begins, but if you have been to my place or talked to me, you will notice a thing or two about “my clothing habits”. I love shopping and spending time picking what to purchase, but I did not always end up buying that even-though I did not limit myself at all I promise. I was very picky in every purchase not because I did not find the cute top or minimalist bottom, nor a pink little stationary and rose-pink jewelry. (Yes, I just describe my type of favorite items to you, Readers! :3). Automatically, without me realizing, my brain not only started to calculate but also analyze deep down. The legit discussion that I tried to guess happening on my brain are:

Do I need this? Do I like this? Is the color belongs to my personal color palette? Do I have the same color in this fashion category? Do I want to spend this much on this purchase? Do I have it on my monthly budget? Well, I think they are all most of those.

I did try to always grant myself an appreciation since I know myself work hard, which also a thing I like to tell my friends about, appreciate, and say thanks to yourself. I will talk about this later, on different occasions. So, yes, let me repeat, I did always give budget on my self-entertainment as I noted on my monthly financial plan and report. I aim for myself to go shopping or just basically make myself happy. And like I said, I love shopping and so I think it’s suitably right to be on the list.

But anew, after I get attracted by a thing, a top, a skirt, artsy stuff, or whatever, my Megamind naturally works without a delay. It is not my soul, I believe. After hours in the shopping mall, I could just wrap up buying nothing since the stuff that my sight wanted to have is not approved by my intellectual organ.

Those many questions (listed before) need all to be answered with the confident yes, not maybe. Yet what shocking me the most is, my heart just let the brain work. It seems welcoming that decision. Alright, you may start making an inquiry now to me on why I would talk to you about this. Hmm, I have no exact response to your why honestly. LOL.

I am not trying to dictate you all to push your sense to copy mine, cause as much as I maybe want it, it will never happen, right? I ain't have the freedom to do so. Just in case. Yup, just in case. (I love the term and use it a lot, I know.)

Just in case you, who read this, are actually on the state of confusion about why your closet is so full, or why you spent too much on clothing, why it's so hard to make a single fashion purchase, or why it's so hard to arrange your closet or any point that one can think of and surely relate to this.

I would like to remind you of a situation I would always try to remind myself of every single stuff I have. All of the items we have will be examined in the Afterlife, and for everything you own, you will be responsible till the death bring you back to God. Yes, this statement may only be applicable if you trust religion and if you have faith that you are created by the Almighty for a reason.

There are definitely a lot-of topics and titles coming up on my brain monitor literally while finishing this one right now, but I think I will just give a full-stop here. I may see you in another post! Thank you for giving me the most precious thing in your life, your time.

May this talk is transferred to you well! I will come up with a new post about the tips on "not-so-minimalist wardrobe rules". Hopefully soon! InsyaaAllah!

Know that you’re loved, KL, August 2020 SLS

#minimalism #minimalistfashion #kualalumpurindonesia #minimalismlifestyle #seldefinedminimalism #minimalistcloset #fashion #fashiontips #introduction #lifestyle #twinkle #original #typedtalk

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snkpolls · 5 years ago

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SnK S3E20 Poll Results (Manga Reader Version)

The poll closed with 287 responses. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Please note that these are the results of the manga reader poll. Anime only watchers are suggested not to read if you do not wish to be spoiled about certain events! Anime only viewers, click here to view your poll results!

RATE THE EPISODE 279 Responses

This episode was another hit with most viewers, with 74.6% of participants ranking it 5 out of 5.

Just brilliant. Best series.

This was the first episode I’d been excited for in weeks. With the serum bowl I was dreading the last three episodes but the Marley Arc is my fave and I’m super super excited for what comes next in the anime.

The music was incredible and Grisha's VA stole the show.

The best of this season yet!

This season has now given us 2 (two) episodes WITHOUT openings and both times the episodes blew me away. I’m so stoked for the fourth season

I'd say it was a pretty solid episode. I can't believe we've finally made it to Marley, I am so not ready for the nonstop angst that is to come…

Anime quality was ass again, but the plot and voice acting make this a fantastic episode overall

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING SCENES WAS THE MOST MEMORABLE? 282 Responses

There were several informative and memorable scenes. 45.7% of participants thought Kruger’s big reveal was the highlight, while 12.1% can’t decide what stuck out the most. 9.9% of participants felt Dina becoming the Smiling Titan made the biggest impression.

DO YOU THINK GRISHA’S FATHER WAS RIGHT IN EASILY DEMEANING HIMSELF AND GRISHA TO GROSS? 270 Responses

Though Grisha’s father yielded to the Marleyan police regarding Faye’s death, 77.4% of participants believed he was right to prevent the rest of his family meeting a similar fate. 15.6% thought he should have shown a bit of resistance towards Gross’s accusations. Many in the comments agree the situation is simply not that black and white.

It's not whether it's 'right' or 'wrong' in these situations - if your options are the death of your family or satisfying your own feelings of dignity, then I think it's up to the individual what their priority is. But I think it is not a sign of weakness to put your family first.

He probably hated himself for doing it (at least I'd do), but losing another loved one would be horrible for anyone in his situation, so I can understand why he did that.

I can't really answer with clear 'yes' or 'no'. On one side, He was right to protect the rest of his family, on the other... He could try to comfort Grisha in a better way (you know, not yelling at him to be silent)

No, but I think he could’ve dealt with Grisha more privately. He didn’t have to continue with his indoctrination of Grisha.

I think it's complicated

no one is right or wrong here.

SERGEANT MAJOR GROSS STATED THAT “PEOPLE LOSE TOUCH WITH LIFE AND DEATH AND START TAKING THEIR LIVES FOR GRANTED." DO YOU THINK THERE IS TRUTH TO WHAT HE SAYS? 283 Responses

Gross told Grisha that people took their lives for granted when losing touch with life and death. 60.4% of participants think there is truth to his words even if his actions are morbid. 27.2% believe he just said this to excuse his cruelty.

Idk but him staring into my soul made me unconfortable

That is true, but it doesn't actually justify or support his position. We're SUPPOSED to all have the luxury and privilege of 'taking life for granted', as he puts it - that's why humanity has worked so fucking long to improve society to this point! We shouldn't have to think in life-or-death terms to consider ourselves worthy of living.

There is truth, but it's obvious that it's more words for him justifying his horrible actions more than a maxime which guides his life. If it were so, he wouldn't have been scared and screaming when the titan eat him.

Yes, but he's just making excuses for his sadistic mind.

DO YOU THINK HUMANS IN GENERAL BECOME INTERESTED IN VIOLENCE? 284 Responses

The episode observes humans and their reaction to violence, Gross saying he finds it interesting. 49.6% of participants believe that most people are interested in violence, while 40.1% specify that it depends on how violent the event is.

The most interesting part of the episode is Gross addressing the viewer over making his victim dance. Part of SnK is watching some victim being devored by the lions. Be it Faye to the dogs, Mike to the titans, Eren's squad to the titans in Trost, Carla to Dina, Marco to Araki Titan, Bert to Armin... the reactions however differ. Some of us came to see characters fighting and get eaten by giant monsters, but as the story progressed, our point of view differed and it became disgust for the most part.

HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT GROSS'S DEATH? 281 Responses

Gross’s death was a gruesome one, but 53.4% participants were satisfied he got what they feel he deserved. 17.1% were less comfortable by the irony of the situation, and 13.2% found his struggle enjoyable.

Watching reaction videos where people cheer on Gross getting his face chopped on kinda unsettled me, I'm not gonna lie.

IS FAYE’S DEATH THE CRUELEST MOMENT IN THE SERIES? 282 Responses

Being torn apart by dogs is a disturbing way to go and 46.8% of participants felt it was the cruelest moment of the series thus far. 45.4%, however, believed there were crueler moments worthy of mention.

I didn't think Faye's death was the cruelest because let's face it, Mike's was the absolute worst. :(

GIVEN HOW HE TREATED ZEKE, DO YOU THINK GRISHA IMPROVED AS A FATHER WHEN IT CAME TO EREN? 280 Responses

Though Grisha didn’t show a lot of compassion for Zeke as a son, 55.4% of participants believed he learned to be a better father for Eren as a result. 24.3% would rather have more information before saying for sure, and 20.4% of participants felt Grisha didn’t quite change his ways.

GRISHA STATED THAT YMIR “BROUGHT BOUNDLESS PROSPERITY” TO THE WORLD. WHEN GRICE QUESTIONED THAT, GRISHA RETORTED WITH THE FACT THAT HE “BELIEVED IN YMIR”. WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED? 282 Responses

There was a mix of histories regarding Ymir Fritz. 50% of participants believed Ymir may have brought prosperity but that Grisha was also jumping to conclusions without context. 40.4% of participants thought Grisha was just seeing what he wanted to see.

Grisha’s va knocked it out of the park this week. The episode made me re-think whether grisha actually could read any of the sacred texts. Was he just BSing the whole way through? Will we ever know what they say in that case?

BEST ROGUE TITAN DESIGN? 282 Responses

Out of the three Rogue titan designs, a majority 62.8% of participants thought Eren’s was the most physically appealing.

Best Rogue Titan design? That's not even a question. ITS ALWAYS ERENS. LOL

HOW FAITHFUL WAS THE ADAPTATION TO THE ORIGINAL MANGA? 276 Responses

A majority of manga readers believed the episode was mostly faithful to the original chapters, with 54.3% believing it was nearly perfect. Others felt the episode could have been more accurate.

Great, pacing was a little quick but I think the anime adaptation explained everything a bit better than the anime. I had to go back and read those chapters like 3 times to fully understand everything lol. I do wish they didn't cut lines from the warrior selection announcement though. Overall great though!

Great adaptation. They should've cut the ending too, so they wouldn't need to cut some parts, but it was as close to perfection either way.

I'm sad that they omitted so much when Marley announces the Marley warrior program. Besides that I think it was an amazing episode.

Was thoroughly impressed with how they managed to adapt two of the most dense chapters into a single ep without any significant cuts. The artwork for the Eldia/Marley lore was gorgeous, and the performances were as expected, phenomenal. Kruger's transformation was breathtaking, as was the OST. Definitely one of the best episodes of the season. Also, Marina Inoue saying "Shingeki no Kyojin" in the preview gave me chills.

KRUGER'S HAIR: BLOND OR BLACK? 282 Responses

Kruger’s hair was colored dirty blond in the anime compared to the darker shade in the manga. 47.5% of participants felt that either color choice worked well for him, while 39.4% preferred his black hair.

kruger is a dirty blonde colour imo ;p

I’m just over the moon to finally see The Owl aka Kruger animated with a voice.

The color scheme in this series has always been weird. Not that Isayama himself is limited palette-wise, but the colors have been much sober than WIT's multicolor fest. Kruger's hair are meant to be black or dark brown. Isayama draws blonde/hazelnut hair with full lines. Same goes with the uniform: Isayama uses frames for dark colors (the SC's green coat ie), ink for black and dark blue. Anime already made odd choices with Mikasa's scarf (black in the manga) or Armin's eyes (brown).

Always thought Kruger was brunette

After last week's preview I thought Kruger with blond hair was weird but having watched this week's episode I think it fits better with the blue uniform and the show's colour palette. Besides, he still looks hot so all is fine lol

HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT THE APPEARANCE OF MARLEY? 282 Responses

A majority 60.3% of participants believe Marley’s appearance was just as modern as they expected it. 29.4% of participants thought it appeared more lavished.

WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE CENSORSHIP FOR SOME OF THE GRAPHIC SCENES? 283 Responses

Some of the more graphic scenes were censored in the anime, but 53% of participants aren’t bothered by it. 35.7% of participants were disappointed that some parts weren’t shown as a result and 11.3% felt it was appropriate to censor the more graphic scenes.

I don't mind Grisha's penis as well as the gory parts being censored (it's NHK after all), but the censorship comes across as convenient for the series. They omitted some marleyans officers saying Gross was going too far, or masked the details of the warrior program: no full confirmation of RBA being trained into infancy to be promoted at the status of Honorary Marleyans. Conbine that with the RBZ+Pieck scenes from this season being watered down and you have the anime making it even more black and white than the manga.

ISAYAMA ASKED THE ANIME TO HIGHLIGHT GROSS’ SPEECH TO BREAK THE 4TH WALL AS A “CALL OUT” TO THE VIEWER. WAS THIS DIRECTION SUCCESSFUL? 277 Responses

Gross’s 4th wall break was a request made by Isayama to address the viewer as he spoke. 65.3% of participants felt the direction made them feel more called out than when they originally read it. 24.9% can’t relate to what Gross is saying in the first place.

His eyes that never left the spectator's gaze froze my blood, it was really very successfully made.

I get what Isayama was trying to do but there's a huge difference between being sadistic knowing that it's fictional and being sadistic in real life

Honestly I didn't even know that he broke the 4th wall until I took this poll.

I didn't feel like what he was saying pertained to me because I've always been repulsed by his mentality and justifications.I think it says more about Isayama that he felt this was something that needed to be broadcast to society.

The speech wasn't as well done in the anime. I think he broke the 4th wall in the manga pretty well.

The Gross 4th wall break didn't really deliver in the end. Wish it was more obvious (eye contact, zoom in, voice acting)

It would have been a lot more successful if he'd written the call out to come from someone less sadistic and despicable. It's hard to reflect like that on words that came from a character that had a nine year old child eaten alive by dogs.

considering i had no idea it was meant to be a callout, i'd say it failed

WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN WITH YMIR’S BACKSTORY FLASHBACK NEXT EPISODE? 280 Responses

Since Ymir’s backstory was moved to Season 2, 39.3% believe that Historia reading the letter will show Ymir’s death instead of the entire flashback. 35.7% of participants think the scene will just show a cut down version of the backstory with Ymir’s narration in the background. 21.1% believe that the backstory will be shown again with some tweak to the narration.

Fuck man I dunno, maybe they'll play some interval music and Ymir will tapdance

I feel like the one disappointing thing about this part in the manga is that Ymir died offscreen. This would be a good change and I wouldn’t mind a teaser of Galliard also.

The backstory shown in season 2 wasnt the letter 1/1 right? Then just have the letter read out and have slightly altered images of her story

I got no idea which way they'll go, but WIT will do her story justice, no doubt about that

They will recycle s2's animation and that's it. If they show Ymir's fate, kudos to them, considering they've been pretty lazy with additional content so far.

THE ANIME ADAPTED EREN'S LINE AFTER WAKING UP AS "WHO AM I?" WAS THIS A MORE APPROPRIATE PHRASE THAN THE TRANSLATIONS ABOUT EREN USING DIFFERENT JAPANESE PRONOUNS OR HAVING A DIFFERENT VOICE? 280 Responses

In the manga, Armin comments on Eren’s change of pronouns when he first wakes up, but the anime changed this line to “Who am I?” 38.6% of participants thought this change made more sense in context. 30.7% of participants didn’t realize there was a change, and 21.4% thought the manga made enough sense for it not to warrant a change.

I feel like this episode is where we lost Eren as he once was. The change wasn't immediate, but this is the impetus. All that information, all those memories. The boy has started to become a man.

WHICH SCENE FROM THE PREVIEW ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO? 284 Responses

Of the scenes that were shown, a majority of 52.1% of participants are most looking forward to more conversation between Kruger and Grisha.

Historia is lookin fine in the preview

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON THE EPISODE?

Just a nitpick but I wish Kruger’s attack titan was animated more in destroying the boat since it felt more like a colored panel; I’m still happy how it turned it though! Maybe there might be additional animation next episode but I can only hope :’D

This episode was beautifully done. The voice acting really knocked it out of the park, especially Grisha's. His screams, holy shit. I got chills. Kruger's voice was also brilliant, just that perfect blend of nonchalant and forbidding. What I found interesting was the VA for young Grisha sounded so much like Kaji Yuuki! I saw in the credits that it wasn't actually him, but what an excellent casting choice!

Needs more Floch

KRUGER!!!!

This S3P2 has to have the weirdest pacing I've ever seen: the 2ch1ep formula doesn't work at all for backstories like Grisha's, considering the whole worldbuilding is unleashed. That being said, the preview from last episode's accustomed the anime-onlys to the outside world, but combining chapter 86 and 87 leaves no time to breathe properly.

Thinking back on it, wasn’t this Grisha’s first time seeing Titans in the flesh, and eating a person right in front of him?

I had hoped Kruger's hat toss would be more dramatic, but alas, t'wasn't. Other than that, went pretty good

They pronounce 'Zeke' completely different from how I imagined it would sound.

Perfect, especially the final scene. I knew what was coming, but seeing the restorationists become the Trost Titans, the Dina reveal, and Owl transformation was something else. That sequence is on par with Reiner/Bertholdt reveal and Erwin’s charge as best scenes in the series. At least for the anime so far.

I thought this episode was kind of disappointing. Maybe it's just because I really dislike the tone shift that came with the Marley stuff, but I thought the manga handled all this exposition kind of awkwardly and was hoping for better from the anime. Nope, the only thing improving it is that it won't be drawn out for months between chapters this time.

Bby Zook my boi, must protecc at all costs, so innocent, so pure

In one episode all this information WAS WAY TOO MUCH! poor anime-only fans lmao

WHERE DO YOU PRIMARILY DISCUSS THE SERIES? 265 Responses

Thanks again to everyone who participated! We’ll see you again in a few days!

#snk spoilers #snk s3 #snk poll #snk polls #poll results

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dazombi3fari3 · 5 years ago

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Hey doll hey. How are you today? Good I hope. I’m having an OK Fibromyalgia day… low pain day and have a few spoons left.

Today I will be reviewing the full line (minus a lip product) of Benefit Cosmetics. I decided to do just 1 post today because I’m running low on spoons and this makeup day has put me in a bad mood…. Spoiler ….. I truly hated applying makeup today… read on and you’ll understand why….

BASE: I primed my face using the Benefit The POREfessional Hydrating Primer ($13 for the mini on their website). I didn’t color correct so that I could test out the concealer to see how well it covered. I concealed using the Benefit Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer ($13 for the mini on their website) in the color No. 5. I purchased 2 foundations to try so today I chose Benefit Hello Happy Soft Blur Foundation ($10 for the mini on their website) in the color 4 Medium Neutral. I set my full face using the Benefit Hello Happy Velvet Powder Foundation ($30 on their website) in the color 4 Medium Neutral. I bronzed using the Benefit Hoola Bronzer (it came as part of a trio for $30 on the Beautylish website).

EYES: I primed my eyes with Tarte Shape Tape ($25 at Ulta) in the color Light-Medium Honey. I set the Shape Tape with Wet n Wild Color Icon ($.99 at Walgreens) in the color Brulee. I started to try and do an eye look with the Benefit Vanity Flare Nude Eyeshadow Palette ($34 on the Beautylish website) but it was just a horrible mess, so I took off my makeup and started again…. I pulled in my Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Palette ($25 on their webstie and at Nordstrom Rack) and after priming and setting the primer with Brulee …AGAIN …. I used, from the Urban Decay Palette, Faith (a mid-toned grey based brown matte) as my transition shade. I used, from the same palette, Lockout (a slightly deeper grey based brown matte) for my crease color. on my lid I used, from the Benefit Vanity Flare Palette, Shimmering Nude (a deep champagne gold shimmer). I deepened the outer v with with Black Jack (a dusty black matte, from the Urban Decay Palette). Along my lower lash line I used Extra Bitter (a burnt orange matte, from the Urban Decay Palette) and I then took what was left on the brush into my transition shade to warm it up a bit. I defined the lower lash line by using the color Faith again. I highlighted my inner corners with Satiny Heather (a pale pink shimmer, from the Vanity Flare Palette). I lined my water line with BH Cosmetics Power Pencil ($8 on the BH Cosmetics Website) in the color Beige. I did a wing liner using the Benefit Roller Liner Liquid Eyeliner ($12 for the mini on their website) in the color Brown. For my brows I used the Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil ($14 for the mini on their website) and Gimme Brow Gel ($14 for the mini on their website) in the color 4.5 Neutral Deep Brown. I carved out my brow line with BH Studio Pro Brow Highlighter ($5 on the BH Cosmetics website) on the matte side. I set the brow line with Wet n Wild Color Icon ($.99 at Walgreens) in the color Sugar. For mascara I am using the Benefit Roller Lash mascara ($13 on their website).

CHEEKS and LIPS: On the cheeks I am using, from the Babe on Board face palette ($30 on the Beautylish website … it is limited edition), Rockabye (a mid-toned Coral satin). I highlighted my cheek bones, tops of the brow bone, and cupid’s bow with Dandelion Twinkle (a pale champagne). I didn’t like any of the lip selections through Benefit so to line my lips I chose NYX Suede Matte Lip Liner ($4 at Ulta) in Whipped Caviar and then filled in my lips using ColourPop Ultra Matte Lip ($7 on their website) in the color Gingham (a mid-toned true Coral).

Hold on to you seats dolls … I have plenty to say about this Benefit purchase ….. so here we go.

The Review….

Benefit The POREfessional Hydrating Primer: B This primer is billed as being a primer that moisturizes and refreshes skin, as having a natural finish, and as being able to minimize the look of pores and fine lines. You get .75 fluid ounces for the full sized and .25 fluid ounces for the mini sized. There is nothing special about this primer. It did nothing to minimize my pores or my fine lines. It did not feel moisturizing at all. It’s a tacky primer that grips on to foundation, but does nothing it claims to do. It’s just an OK primer. I’ll finish using it but I will not be repurchasing it.

Benefit Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer: C It’s billed as being a lightweight, 24 hour long wearing concealer that doesn’t cake up. It comes in 12 shades, 4 of which are for darker skin. You get .17 fluid ounces for the full sized and .1 fluid ounces for the mini sized. The color I chose is spot on perfect for my complexion… but you should only use the smallest amount possible. I used a bit too much and had to blot it away. It did not cover my under eyes well at all… you can still see the dark circles under my eyes. It does emphasize the fine lines but did not look cakey… it just looks dry and dull …. there is nothing special about this concealer. I’ll use up what is left of this concealer but it’s a hard pass for me … I will not be repurchasing it.

Benefit Hello Happy Soft Blur Foundation: D It’s billed as being a light medium coverage, that blurs imperfections and has a natural matte finish. You get 1 fluid ounce in the full sized bottle and .2 fluid ounces in the mini sized bottle. This foundation comes in 12 shades with 5 shades for deep skin. The shade I purchased was billed as being medium neutral but has way too much yellow undertone in it. This foundation emphasized every pore I have. It also clung to dry patches I didn’t know I had. It went on patchy and streaky and took forever to buff in. It didn’t look good at all … that is until I powdered and used setting spray… then it looked half way OK. I wont be using up the mini I bought I threw it out and definitely will never repurchase this foundation.

Benefit Hello Happy Velvet Powder Foundation: B+ It’s billed as being lightweight and breathable and having a natural matte finish. You get .25 ounces of product. It comes in 12 shades, 5 shades for deep skin. It’s finely milled and creamy. It gives a descent amount of coverage and in the color I purchased was said to be neutral medium in color … it was a perfect match. It is a good finishing powder… I don’t think it’s a good foundation powder, but it works as a finishing powder. I will use it up but may not be repurchasing it.

Benefit Babe on Board Face Palette: A- This is a limited edition face palette offered on Beautylish’s website. It comes with a Hoola bronzer (it seems to be a bit lighter than the one I have in the box version) a blush in the color Rockabye (Beautylish says it is a warm rose with a natural finish, however it’s more like a true mid-toned coral with a satin finish) and a highlighter in the color Dandelion Twinkle (Beautylish describes it as a nude pink with a shimmer finish, it’s more of a pale champagne with a slight pink shift). This is a descent face palette. It gets an A- because there is glitter in the highlighter … I didn’t give it a lower score because of the glitter because the glitter seems to dissipate with wear so it doesn’t bother me as much as other highlighters with glitter do. I really like this palette and this is the first Benefit blush I have tried and I love the finish of it. I am definitely picking up a few more blushes. I will not be able to repurchase this as it is a limited edition palette.

Benefit Vanity Flare Nude Eyeshadow Palette: F!!!!! This was the worst palette I have ever tried in my life…. no that’s not hyperbole …. that is straight up fact. There is no pigment to these shadows … the mattes are not mattes they are satins and the satins are not satins they are shimmer … I tried to make this palette work, really I did, but after 6 layers of the mid-toned colors with no color payoff at all I got fed up and washed my makeup off and started over. When you apply the darker shades to the crease and transition you don’t get color you just get this weird shimmery mess that picks up on every little spot of dry skin on your eyes. The kick back is terrible with this the pan was covered in shadow… and the fallout is just as bad …. this is just a hot mess… I know that Benefit has other shadows but after this experience I am hard pressed to not even attempt to purchase another eye palette…. it’s a definite hard pass for me. I’ll be using it in tomorrow’s Full Face of Benefit, only because I still need to test out the other foundation I purchased… then I am tossing it straight into the trash…. to bad I had already tossed the uni-carton or I would have returned this palette to Beautylish.

Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil: A+++!!! It is billed as having natural looking hair like strokes that lasts for 12 hours. It comes in 12 shades. You get .002 ounces for the full sized and .001 ounces for the mini sized. After trying the eye shadow palette I was deflated and getting moody and really starting to hate this brand. This pencil is heaven! HEAVEN I SAY!!!! I was able to block my eye brows out fast and without skipping or having to retrace my lines. I was able to fill in my bald spots without having the pencil pull at my brow hairs. The color is a perfect match for me and I think this is the best my brows have ever looked. I am so happy I purchased this product. It went a long way to helping my mood about doing my makeup today improve. This product didn’t bead up on my skin, it didn’t smear, it didn’t yank at my hairs, It didn’t get crumbly around the hairs that are growing back…. I love this brow pencil. I am so going to use this product up and I am most definitely repurchasing this in bulk.

Benefit Gimme Brow Gel: A++ This product is billed as a brow tint that volumizes and tames brows for a buildable natural looking brow that is water resistant and long wearing. It comes in 8 shades. This gel held my brows perfectly without being to crunchy. The brush applicator is the perfect size and doesn’t rip at the hairs. There is perfect amount of product on the brush and doesn’t get messy. I really like this brow gel. I will use up my mini and then purchase the full sized version. Definitely a good brow gel. I think it’s better than the Anastasia Beverly Hills brow gel.

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara: A+ This product is billed as a mascara that grabs, seperates, lifts, and curls lashes. It claims to hold the curl of the lashes for 12 hours. It comes only in black. You get .3 fluid ounces for the full sized and .14 fluid ounces for the mini sized. I missed the boat on this mascara when it first came out. I backed away from it because of the fact that it has a plastic bristle wand and I hate those. This mascara is great. I really like it. With one coat my lashes looked strong and full. I used a 2nd coat to see if it would over power the lashes and it didn’t it just defined my lashes even more. I will definitely use up the mini and then I will purchase the full sized.

Benefit Roller Liner Liquid Eyeliner: A+ This eyeliner is billed as being a matte liquid eyeliner that goes on smooth and is water proof and lasts for 24 hours. It comes in 2 colors… black and brown. You get .03 fluid ounces in the full sized and .01 fluid ounces in the mini sized. I normally steer clear of liquid eyeliners with a felt tip because they catch on the fine lines of my lids. This liner went on effortlessly smooth and pigmented. It was the easiest time I had doing a winged liner. I really like this product. I will definitely use up my minis and I will be purchasing replacements once I’ve used the minis up (i purchased both the black and brown). The brown is a deep brown color and it goes on super opaque. It’s a great liner.

Final Thoughts….

All in all Benefit seems to be a good company. Some of the products were just OK for me but others were true winners in my book… despite the drama with the eyeshadow palette. There were more products I loved verses products that were either just OK or that I hated. I would give the brand as a whole a grade of B++.

Well that’s all for now dolls… stay tuned tomorrow when I do a Revisit of Benefit with the second foundation I purchased.

I hope your day is good and as always save a spoon for a bit of lipstick.

XOXO

Benefit Cosmetics Full Face Review and Face of the Day Hey doll hey. How are you today? Good I hope. I'm having an OK Fibromyalgia day... low pain day and have a few spoons left.

#Beauty #Benefit Cosmetics #Face of the day #Makeup #makeup review #Product Review

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omgsatisshroffme · 5 years ago

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Book Review: Satis Shroff Book Review-Kathmandu Blues: The Inheritance of Loss and Intercultural Incompetence by Satis Shroff 'My characters are purely fictional,' says Kiran Desai. In her book (The Inheritance of Loss) she has tried to do exactly that, namely to capture her own knowledge about what it means to travel between East and West, and to examine the lives of migrants who are forced to hypocrisy, angst of being nabbed, and have biographies that have gaps, and whose lives are constructed with lies, where trust and faith in someone is impossible, as in the case of Sai and Gyan. Migration is a sword with sharp blades on both sides. The feeling of loss when one leaves one's matribhumi is just as intensive and dreadful as having to leave a foreign home, due to deportation, when one doesn't have the green-card or Aufenthaltserlaubnis. Everyone copes with such situations differently. Some don't have coping solutions and it becomes a traumatic experience for the rest of one's life. Some pull up their socks, keep a stiff upper-lip and begin elsewhere. The problem of illegal migration hasn't been solved in the USA, Britain, France, Germany and other European countries. It is an open secret that the illegal migrants are used as cheap laborers according to the hire-and-fire principle, for these people belong to the underclass. In the USA it's chic to have Hispanics as baby-sitters, just as Eastern Bloc women are used by German families to do the household chores. Nepalis work under miserable conditions in India as darwans, chowkidars, cheap security personnel and the Indians have the same arrogance as the British colonialists. The judge, Lola and Noni are stereotypes, but such people do exist. It's not all fantasy. I'm sure the Gurkhas looking after photo-model Claudia Schiffer and singer Seal's house and guarding the palace of the Sultan of Brunei are well paid and contented, in comparison to other people in Nepal and the Indian sub-continent. What does a person feel and think when he or she goes from a rich western country to the East? And what happens when a poor Indian comes to the USA (land of plenty) or Germany (Schlaraffenland)? Is there always a feeling of loss? I've been living thirty years in Germany and I have met and seen and worked with migrants with biographies from Irak, Iran, Turkey, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Kosovo, Albania, Croatia and East Bloc countries. The worst part of it is that the Germans ignored the fact that it had already become, what they call 'ein Einwanderungsland.' They thought they'd invited only guest workers after World War II, with limited stay-permits, not realizing that they'd encouraged human beings with families and emotional ties, hopes and desires of a better future in the new Heimat with for their children and their grand-children. Kiran Desai flashes back and forth, between Kalimpong and New York, and she uses typical clich's and Indian stereotypes that have also been promoted by Bollywood. She's just as cynical and hilarious with her descriptions of fellow Indians in the diaspora, as she is when she describes the Gorkhalis in Darjeeling. Her portrait of the Nepalis in Darjeeling is rather biased, but what can one expect from a thirty-six year old Indian woman who has been pampered in India, England and the USA? Her knowledge of Kalimpong and Darjeeling sounds theoretical and her characters don't speak Nepali. She lets them speak Hindi, because she herself didn't bother to learn Nepali during her stay in Kalimpong. The depiction of a Gorkhali world might be true, as far as poverty is concerned, but she has no idea of the rich Nepali literature (Indra Bahadur Rai, Shiva Kumar Rai, Banira Giri to name a few), and folks music in the diaspora. Gyan's role was overdone, especially when Sai demands that he should feel ashamed of his and his family's poverty and so-called low descent. What is Gyan? Is he a Chettri, Bahun, Rai Tamang, or even a Newar? Describing a country, landscape is one thing, but creeping into the skins of the characters is another. The Gorkha characters remain shallow, like caricatures in Bollywood films, and she overdoes it with the dialogue between Sai and Gyan. For someone like me, who also went to school in Darjeeling, Kiran Desai's book was a pleasant journey into the past, where I still have fond memories of the Darjeeling Nepalis, their struggle for recognition and dignity among the peoples of the vast Indian subcontinent. I'm glad that peace prevails in the Darjeeling district, although I wish Subash Ghising had negotiated more funds from the central Indian government, and a university in Darjeeling. Gangtok (Sikkim) also does not have a university. The recognition of Nepali was a positive factor, but a university each for Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong would have given more Nepalis (pardon, Gorkhalis) the opportunity for higher education and better jobs, if not in the country, then abroad. To eat dal-bhat-tarkari at home and acquire MAs and PhDs within one's familiar confines would have immensely helped the Gorkhali men and women, even more than the recognition of Nepali. We can regard it as a small step towards progress. The description of Gyan's visit to Kathmandu was extremely superficial. Kathmandu is a world, a cosmos in itself, with its exquisite temples and pagodas and stupas and the culturally rich Newaris families from Lalitpur, Bhadgaon and Kathmandu. Kiran is, and remains, a supercilious brown-memsahib, like the made-over English characters of Varindra Tarzie Vittachi's fiercely satirical book 'The Brown Sahibs' in her attitude towards Gorkhalis and the downtrodden of her own country. I can imagine that the Nepali author D.B. Gurung is piqued about Desai's portrayal of the Nepalis in Kalimpong as 'crook, dupe, cheat and lesser humans' and his own emotional rejoinder regarding the Bengalis as 'the hungry jackals from the plains of Calcutta.' Since D.B. Gurung is known for his poetic vein, perhaps he can treat the long standing problems between Indians and Nepalis, or as Desai puts it, Bengis and Neps, in his lyrical verses. But please, less of the vitriol and more of tolerance, because even a poet and novelist can make or break human relations. I, for my part, am for living together, despite our differences, for variety is the spice of life in these days of globalization. Vive la difference. The story is served like a MacDonald's Big Mac for the modern reader, who has not much time, and there are multi-media distractions craving for his or her attention. As small morsels of information, like in a sit-com. I found the story-pace well timed and interesting, and she has a broad palette of problems that migrants face when they leave their homes, and when they return home. You can feel with Bijhu when he embraces his Papa in the end. A foreign-returned son, stripped of all his belongings. It was a terrific metaphor. I'm glad that there are women like Kiran Desai and Monica Ali (Brick Lane) who've traveled and experienced what it is like to be in the diaspora and try to capture the emotional and historical patterns in their lives as migrants. When you read the last page of the Desai's book you feel a bit dissatisfied because you wish that the unequal love affair between Gyan and Sai will go on and take a positive turn. There are so many Nepali-Indian couples who live happy conjugal lives with their families. I know at least three cases of Nepali women who're married to Bengalis. The Nepali women speak perfect Bengali, but their husbands don't speak Nepali, even though they live in Gorkhaland. They are proud that they can speak English instead. Nepali (Gorkhali or Khas Kura) is such a colorful and melodious language and we ought to listen to Sir Ralph Turner's when he says: 'Do not let your lovely language become the pale reflexion of a sanskritised Hindi.' Dinesh Kafle calls Desai 'schizophrenic.' Well, when you talk with an Indian he always praises the achievements of India in terms of the second Silicon Valley (Bangalore), the Agni and Prithvi missiles, the increasing nuclear arsenal, the expanding armed forces etcetera. But, Gott sei dank, there are Indians, who like Gandhi, are humble, religious, practice humility, are poor, deprived, castless, untouchables and, nevertheless, human and full of empathy, clean in their souls and hearts, and regard this world as merely a maya, an illusion, an earthly spectacle to be seen and felt---without being attached. D. B. Gurung is wrong when he assumes that Desai seems 'unable to acclimatize herself to either the western milieu or her own home.' But where is her home? She's a rootless, creative jet-set gypsy, who calls India, England and USA her home. The gypsies (Sintis and Romas) were originally from India (Rajasthan), weren't they? Even V.S.Naipaul (Half a Life, The Mimic Men), J. M. Croatzee (Youth), Isabel Allende (The Stories of Eva Luna) and Prafulla Mohanti (Through Brown Eyes) haven't gone so far in their description of a race or nation the way Desai has in her book. What is missing in her writing is the intercultural competence. Instead of taking the trouble to learn Nepali and acquiring background knowledge about the tradition, religion, norms and values, culture and living style of the Gorkhalis in Darjeeling and the Nepalese in Nepal, and comparing it with her own Indian culture, and trying to seek what is common between the two cultures and moving towards peace, tolerance, reconciliation---she just remains adamant , like her protagonist Sai. She does not make an ethnic reflection, but goes on and on, with a jaundiced view, till the bitter end. The dialogue between Neps and Bengis, between Neps and other Indians (Beharis and Marwaris and others from the plains) or between the British and Indians cannot be described as successful intercultural dialogues. The dialogues are carried out the way it should not, because there's always a fear that one is different in terms of social and ethnic status, even between her two main protagonists: Sai and Gyan. There is no attempt to reveal the facts behind an alien in a new cultural environment, no accepting of the problems of identity and no engagement for equality and against discrimination. If you're looking for frustrations-tolerance, empathy and solidarity with the Gorkhalis in the book, it's just not there. The characters necessary for intercultural interaction are joy in interaction with foreign cultures (not arrogance and egoism), consciousness of one's own culture, stress tolerance, tolerance of ambiguity, and bucketfuls of empathy. Had she shown empathy towards the Nepalis from Darjeeling and Kalimpong and made a happy-end love story between Gyan and Sai, the Nepalese would have greeted her with khadas and marigold malas. The way it is, she has only stirred a hornet's nest. Kiran just doesn't have empathy for Neps, despite the Booker Prize. Great women are judged by the way they treat the underprivileged and downtrodden. Perhaps it's time for meditation and self-searching in Rishikesh, like the Beatles. Pic of Kanchenzonga, courtesy: pixaby

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doodlewash · 7 years ago

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Hi there! My name is Sandy Allnock, and I live with two rambunctious puppies just south of Seattle, Washington. I have an art degree from Frostburg State University; in the last few years I’ve been teaching crafters the love of coloring, painting, and drawing in a variety of mediums, in hopes of inspiring their inner artist to come out and play too!

Though I’ve been an artist my whole life, I’ve only dabbled in watercolor since the fall of 2014; I was going to sketch my way across Europe, and wanted some color, and thought, “How hard could watercolor be?” (You can stop laughing.)

I had fun filling sketchbooks during that trip, but not with much worth writing home about – though I did prop my little 5×8 sketchbook in a corner of the Louvre’s marble walls and snapped a photo, so I can say I had a limited one-woman exhibition there!

Fortunately, I’m not one daunted by a challenge, because after painting since then, I still feel like a newbie – and I get a thrill out of learning something new. I’m constantly taking watercolor workshops at my local art store, Daniel Smith (I know, I know, how lucky for me!), and trying to discover what is “my” style. For now I’ve decided that it’s ok to have a completely different style every day, without consistency, while I make that attempt.

While I use a variety of paints, my love for the last year or so has been Daniel Smith watercolors. I put my tube paints into half-pans in a metal palette, and create a swatch card for myself to remember what’s in it – since I have an embarrassing 7 palettes full! (Anyone else need all the colors?? #fullsetsyndrome is my nemesis!)

My desert island paints would be Daniel Smith’s 6 Essentials, if I could only have 6 colors…they have a warm and cool red/yellow/blue that mix to become anything. And if I had to pare it down further – New Gamboge, Phthalo Blue Green Shade, and Quin Rose. But…I am fortunate NOT to be relegated to a desert island!

That means I get to pick a few other favorite colors, and the palette shown here is my top 18:

Daniel Smith makes dot cards with samples of the actual paints (you can get one of mine HERE) – I chose colors that are some of my favorites, but also with a leeeaaaan toward my crafting students and their needs to paint simply and not mix a ton of colors. (For example: lately I don’t use Lunar Black for black, only for granulation; otherwise I mix Indanthrone, Transparent Pyrrol Orange, and Quinacridone Burnt Orange.)

My favorite brushes by a landslide are the Silver Brush Co’s Black Velvet line of round brushes, and have been working mostly with a #8 and #12 in recent months – the larger the better, as I’m trying to loosen up! These brushes point beautifully – and hold the point for a long long time – and hold a lot of water and pigment in the belly, if you like that!

I’m also an Arches artist – favorite paper for the most part! Some others stay wet longer, but, I find wet paper can be really hard for this impatient artist to work with!

Bible Journaling is another area of deep interest for me, especially since I’ve worked through some techniques to paint on that thin, lightweight paper; limiting water by sometimes even painting with baby wipes!

And other times, I paint my faith outside of my Bible, as well.

My online following is mostly my beloved crafters; I produce three videos a week on YouTube – at least one a week is usually watercolor – and I host classes at art-classes.com. Here are two examples of some of the regular card videos on my blog:

I’m an avid student of watercolor – as I said, I’m attempting to discover my style! You may have noticed a wide variety here, and much of that is due to taking so many watercolor classes from great instructors. I find I’m a little jealous that they know what “their” thing is – they have a signature style and a way to teach it. I, however, just “try on everyone’s sweaters,” as one teacher told me. I see what it’s like to paint in that style, and whether I find it’s “my thing” or not, I learn from the attempts.

As a discipline, I try to paint at least a little every day – as a full-time artist, that’s doable, but I encourage everyone to even take a few minutes to draw or paint in a sketchbook at least!

Creating every day is my mantra…the more you make, the more you learn, the more you improve!

I have one final painting to share….it’s Rome, and inspired by that European trip, though it was the 14th try at capturing it!

The B&B I stayed at was amazing, overlooking St Peters’s… and the owner, Rosa Maria, was the best hostess ever, sharing exactly which church in which of its naves displayed each of the Caravaggio paintings I had gone there to see. Each night she waited up for me to get home so she could look through my sketches and see where I was that day.

I painted this scene again and again, and wasn’t happy with it until I took a class from Björn Bernström – and applying his amazing techniques, I was finally happy enough with it to send it to Rosa Maria. So now… I have a one-woman show at Al Colonnato di San Pietro in Rome. Which fortunately sounds like it could be a gallery. *wink*

Sandy Allnock Website Instagram YouTube Facebook Twitter Pinterest

#WorldWatercolorMonth GUEST FEATURE: Inspiring Your Inner Artist by Sandy Allnock #doodlewash Hi there! My name is Sandy Allnock, and I live with two rambunctious puppies just south of Seattle, Washington.

#crafts #doodlewash #featured #illustration #painting #papercraft #papercrafting #Sandy Allnock #sketching #watercolor #watercolor sketching

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ginnyzero · 5 years ago

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Project Runway Results Musing

(Posted in Nov/Dec 2017 for Season 16)

Brandon didn't win. My faith in Project Runway is slightly restored. I will tune in this January for the next season of All Stars. (Veterans Vs. Rookies. Oh this could go very wrong.)

I'm not going to say who won (no spoilers here) but I am willing to talk about why Brandon and the others didn't win. It all comes down to what is a collection and what is a runway "show."

Now, this is what I said to Becca about the shows when I went looking for preview pictures. "ACK WHERE IS THE TASTE LEVEL someone did not take this seriously!!!, boring, mediocre, very 90s Japanese french fashion that I've already seen (very Yojimoto), blah so one note, MY EYES!" So, be aware that I wasn't very impressed with any of the collections, including the one that won. I know why it won. I just wasn't impressed by it.

Once the contestants get through all the challenges and are pushed to the limits of their brain power and endurance and the judges have decided what their taste is that season and what the designers styles are and who they want to see more of, the top six get 10,000 dollars each and a few months to go and prepare a collection that they must make by themselves with a strict set of rules about what they can spend their money on in the terms of outside help. And the judges want to see the designers put on a show that takes their styles to the next level.

So, what this means is that what viewers at home think who the winner might be in terms of clothes and what the judges decide on who the winner is in terms of a 'fashion show' are two completely different things. Viewers at home are about wearability and "would I buy it." The judges are about pageantry and pushing boundaries and often the more artistic side of it. This isn't about what you can take off the runway and put directly into a JCPenny store. (Hahahah, oh god no.) It's about the higher end, early adopter, top 20% more extreme versions of fashion and putting on a show while doing it.

A fashion show and collection usually has at least 3 groups with different colors or materials. Now, these groups can definitely mix and match especially if they are meant to be sportswear, but they might not be that way. The bigger the show, the more groups. Groups can be up to ten looks in the same fabrications. But then there will anywhere from 30 to 60 looks. (At three pieces a person that can be up to 180 items!) There needs to be a beginning, a middle and an end and some flair. Not all these looks are meant to be worn by the general public. (In fact, Haute Couture shows none of the looks are meant to be worn by the general public.) It should s how range and variety going from day wear to evening to even formal. Different hem lengths and bottom types. Most of all, it needs to invoke some emotion. Excitement, reverence. Something.

And this is where Brandon lost. He had one group. One set of fabrications, one boring flat color scheme. There wasn't even a bright or a deep tonal color to give us some relief for our eyes. Now, I've gone to the Academy of Art, which is where I assume he went, and when I went they didn't teach how many items to a group, they didn't even teach groups. They didn't teach traditional runway colors for seasons. They basically told you, "look at other designer fashion shows and base your collections off the number of items they have in their shows." And I stared at them completely baffled as to why if they were teaching fashion design they didn't have these very simple numbers. It was like they were trying to teach calculus without having taught basic math. Just. Just. What? (And then once I left I bought a bookshelf FULL of books that actually have this information! Even if it's spread out over two or three of them.)

So, Brandon even said on the show that he watched other runway shows and other designers that had 60 looks had 6 groups of looks of ten people each that used the same fabrications and he liked having 10 looks in the same fabrics. And I also know for a fact, because this is what happened when I went there, that for design projects you were told to come up with 3 to 5 colors and 3 to 5 fabrics and design all 7 to 10 looks of your project to those fabrics and colors. And you did three projects a semester over 15 weeks with different briefs (instructions, price points and customers) and different inspirations. All of this was supposed to be leading up to Design Level 6 where if you were one of the lucky ones, you got to prepare a collection for the Academy Runway. (I didn't make it to Level 6. I got to Level 3. Having read the coursework for 4, 5 and 6, I'm not sure I missed much not taking those classes. Because it was more of the same.) So, he hasn't been trained to think (as far as I know) in terms of "I need to make a collection of ten people with one major look at the end or middle and three groups of three people each in different fabrics." He isn't thinking that "Oh, I have to take what I saw in that 60 people fashion show and condense it to 10 people." He didn't make that leap.

So he created what he wanted to created. A ten look collection that used the exact same materials for every look. And it was mind numbing, blah and one note. Therefore, he didn't win.

Granted, Tim Gunn and the judges didn't help him that much either. No one went "Um, Brandon, you need more fabrics." The judges obviously didn't know, but Tim could have said something and didn't. You could tell that he thought he was a shoo in to win and was very shocked when he came in third. (For a collection, dedicated to his girlfriend, that his girlfriend thought was too 'sexy' and didn't like. Irony. Also naming collections makes me cringe for some reason. I do it sometimes, but still, cringe.)

The same could be said for some of the other designers. The one I said was mediocre was mediocre because of color palette, it needed something vibrant to pick it up and give it life. (Her inspiration place is very green, I didn't see any green or even yellow given she had birches. Something please. WAKE ME UP!) Then the groups weren't well thought out and it felt like there were a lot of pieces that were just there and could be bought anywhere. ACK MY EYES is just me going "that's a lot of color and print girlfriend. And I applaud your color and print but MY EYES." More Navy please to tone it down a little. And the one I said was very French Japanese designer from the 90s is well, me knowing a bit too much about Japanese fashion and knowing my fashion history so I wasn't exactly impressed. (If he'd taken some of his looks from the season and taken the next step, but no, that probably would have bored him. Conceptual designers. Spare me.)

(Yes, one of those three won, which one I'm not saying.)

Being a designer and having been through the Academy's "Design Courses" I know how challenging it is, especially if you're an eagle/beaver like me and love lists. I'm surprised at some of the choices Brandon made in his fabrics too by the way. Given the fabric snobbery that existed in the Academy back when I went there, him choosing an upholstery fabric is pretty shocking. (This is what I call fabric shaming: You were in what section? No. Do NOT buy that. EVER. Me: It's FABRIC. Who cares if you are supposed to "Sit" on it or "wear" it. So many fabrics of the past that were worn would be considered upholstery fabric now and did you miss my "I love medieval times" vibe? Yes. Apparently. MOVING ON.)

So, congratulations to the person who did win for putting out a collection that actually was a collection! They did a great job hitting all the right notes. -wink-

But really, getting to NYFW at all is a major accomplishment. Good luck to all the designers.

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andrewmawby · 7 years ago

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Budget-Friendly Outdoor Dining Space with IKEA Furniture

This post is sponsored by our very favorite budget-saving brand ever: IKEA. All opinions are our own.

I don’t know about you, but I am ready for summer to begin! It’s funny, we had REALLY mild weather til the end of February. About that time, we started feeling like, yes, winter is over. Psych… it has been snowing, raining, hailing and you name it since then up until last week. So- I am READY to get outdoors and really welcome the summer.

In preparation for this season, we invited a group of bloggers to join us for an Outdoor DIY Challenge (see more here) — and we have been working on our patio. We showed you how we fixed the concrete on our 40 year old covered patio, and it was the perfect foundation for setting up an outdoor dining space! We filmed everything, and I mean a whole month of cleaning, painting, assembling, sewing, staging and all that jazz- but it is finally done. So you must watch the video below to see how our covered patio became a cozy outdoor dining space below, and keep watching to see all the other amazing Outdoor DIY Challenge projects, too!

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Covered Patio to Outdoor Dining Room Transformation

First things first, every good after has to start with a before or two. When we bought the house:

After a long winter;

Cleaned off and ready to repair the concrete:

To help plan the space (and inspired by Dawn’s amazing virtual makeovers), I came up with a couple of Photoshop options. First I thought I’d try a dark wall since I’m really happy with it inside, for our fireplace, but ultimately I decided it was too boring for outside…

So we chose to match the bright green TEODORES chairs! (You might recognize the color from our wooden block art that hung here until we rearranged).

Painting the walls… We gave the left wall a couple coats of bright white paint and the back wall is a Glidden color called “Bright Teal Surprise” that we had color-matched to BEHR Ultra Exterior in satin. It’s the perfect name (surprise!) and I LOVE the color. We are avid Disney fans and try to visit Disneyworld when possible and this bright color reminds me of Florida. I could use a little more Florida in my life!

To see all the action of painting, installing, arranging, and decorating, check out the video, and if you want to see the after, well here you go! I’m so pleased with how the space came together.

Products we used in our patio space:

ÄPPLARÖ Drop-leaf table

TEODORES Chairs (green)

VIVAN Curtains

HUGAD Curtain rod

BETYDLIG Wall/ceiling bracket

BJURSTA Wall-mounted drop-leaf table (x2)

ASKHOLMEN Trellis

RAVENEA Potted plant, Majesty palm

MUSKOT Plant pot

REGOLIT Pendant lamp shade

LAPPLJUNG RUTA Rug

TRILLING Poster

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, hanging

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, thyme

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, daisy

MUSKOT Plant pot

PAPAJA Plant pot, turquoise

PAPAJA Plant pot, dark turquoise

The ÄPPLARÖ drop-leaf table gives plenty of space for our family or when we have friends or family over — we have 8 TEODORES chairs at the table, but we could fit one more in on each end for kiddos if we have a full house.

The white VIVAN curtains, which I hemmed to length and hung on a set of HUGAD rods with BETYDLIG brackets (see the video to see how we connected the shorter rods to be the length we needed), are such an affordable option to make this space feel really elegant and comfortable, and also give us great options for controlling the light as the sun sets. And I love the vibrant black and white of the LAPPLJUNG RUTA rug! It makes the fresh clean-slate painted concrete floor look that much better, in my opinion.

The REGOLIT pendant lamp shades are a great option for adding a large-scale element without being heavy or difficult to hang. And, bonus, they do a pretty good camouflage job on our not-yet-updated ceiling fan.

This view makes me SO happy! The RAVENEA Majesty palms (in MUSKOT pots) are perfect for adding to the Florida vibe.

The bright green TEODORES chairs are wonderful — bold and colorful for a statement, but pretty comfortable and easy to clean for real-world living.

The ASKHOLMEN trellis works double duty, adding a spot for some FEJKA plants for greenery while holding our SOMMAR 2018 BBQ spatula, fork, and tongs conveniently above the grill.

We added a black and white striped table runner, which really makes the white dishware, like our favorite classic white SOCKERÄRT pitcher, and turquoise/aqua accents pop in a fun modern way — the colorful SÖTVATTEN straws are always a favorite at our house, and the bright blue aqua of the SOMMAR 2018 tealight lantern is perfect for summer! Some trailing FEJKA plants add some greenery to the tablescape in the easiest way.

And the BJURSTA drop-down table makes the perfect outdoor serving bar — we actually used two together to create a longer bar area. Right now it’s loaded up with pretty FEJKA thyme, rosemary, and daisy plants in white MUSKOT and turquoise and dark turquoise PAPAJA pots and a the perfect miniature SOCKER watering can, but just imagine it all filled up with BBQ fixings or ice cream sundae toppings… THAT is summer! The super affordable FISKBO frames (watch for another project using those soon!) above the bar are holding the TRILLING shine bright print series, but they are so easy to swap out for a different print or even a menu for the meal, if we get to feeling a little fancy.

We are in love with our updated space and so excited to get plenty of use out of our covered patio this summer. We may never eat indoors again!

To see our last IKEA before-and-after, check out our updated entry! And don’t forget to check out the other Outdoor DIY Challenge projects here, too:

Get Out! Outdoor DIY Projects

Products we used in our patio space:

ÄPPLARÖ Drop-leaf table

TEODORES Chairs (green)

VIVAN Curtains

HUGAD Curtain rod

BETYDLIG Wall/ceiling bracket

BJURSTA Wall-mounted drop-leaf table (x2)

ASKHOLMEN Trellis

RAVENEA Potted plant, Majesty palm

MUSKOT Plant pot

REGOLIT Pendant lamp shade

LAPPLJUNG RUTA Rug

TRILLING Poster

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, hanging

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, thyme

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, daisy

MUSKOT Plant pot

PAPAJA Plant pot, turquoise

PAPAJA Plant pot, dark turquoise

I am a Brand Ambassadör for IKEA U.S. This is a sponsored post.

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The post Budget-Friendly Outdoor Dining Space with IKEA Furniture appeared first on Remodelaholic.

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manuelclapid · 7 years ago

Text

Budget-Friendly Outdoor Dining Space with IKEA Furniture

This post is sponsored by our very favorite budget-saving brand ever: IKEA. All opinions are our own.

youtube

Covered Patio to Outdoor Dining Room Transformation

First things first, every good after has to start with a before or two. When we bought the house:

After a long winter;

Cleaned off and ready to repair the concrete:

So we chose to match the bright green TEODORES chairs! (You might recognize the color from our wooden block art that hung here until we rearranged).

To see all the action of painting, installing, arranging, and decorating, check out the video, and if you want to see the after, well here you go! I’m so pleased with how the space came together.

Products we used in our patio space:

ÄPPLARÖ Drop-leaf table

TEODORES Chairs (green)

VIVAN Curtains

HUGAD Curtain rod

BETYDLIG Wall/ceiling bracket

BJURSTA Wall-mounted drop-leaf table (x2)

ASKHOLMEN Trellis

RAVENEA Potted plant, Majesty palm

MUSKOT Plant pot

REGOLIT Pendant lamp shade

LAPPLJUNG RUTA Rug

TRILLING Poster

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, hanging

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, thyme

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, daisy

MUSKOT Plant pot

PAPAJA Plant pot, turquoise

PAPAJA Plant pot, dark turquoise

This view makes me SO happy! The RAVENEA Majesty palms (in MUSKOT pots) are perfect for adding to the Florida vibe.

The bright green TEODORES chairs are wonderful — bold and colorful for a statement, but pretty comfortable and easy to clean for real-world living.

The ASKHOLMEN trellis works double duty, adding a spot for some FEJKA plants for greenery while holding our SOMMAR 2018 BBQ spatula, fork, and tongs conveniently above the grill.

We are in love with our updated space and so excited to get plenty of use out of our covered patio this summer. We may never eat indoors again!

To see our last IKEA before-and-after, check out our updated entry! And don’t forget to check out the other Outdoor DIY Challenge projects here, too:

Get Out! Outdoor DIY Projects

Products we used in our patio space:

ÄPPLARÖ Drop-leaf table

TEODORES Chairs (green)

VIVAN Curtains

HUGAD Curtain rod

BETYDLIG Wall/ceiling bracket

BJURSTA Wall-mounted drop-leaf table (x2)

ASKHOLMEN Trellis

RAVENEA Potted plant, Majesty palm

MUSKOT Plant pot

REGOLIT Pendant lamp shade

LAPPLJUNG RUTA Rug

TRILLING Poster

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, hanging

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, thyme

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, daisy

MUSKOT Plant pot

PAPAJA Plant pot, turquoise

PAPAJA Plant pot, dark turquoise

I am a Brand Ambassadör for IKEA U.S. This is a sponsored post.

The post Budget-Friendly Outdoor Dining Space with IKEA Furniture appeared first on Remodelaholic.

from Home https://www.remodelaholic.com/outdoor-dining-space-ikea-furniture/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

0 notes

thegregorybruce · 7 years ago

Text

Budget-Friendly Outdoor Dining Space with IKEA Furniture

This post is sponsored by our very favorite budget-saving brand ever: IKEA. All opinions are our own.

youtube

Covered Patio to Outdoor Dining Room Transformation

First things first, every good after has to start with a before or two. When we bought the house:

After a long winter;

Cleaned off and ready to repair the concrete:

So we chose to match the bright green TEODORES chairs! (You might recognize the color from our wooden block art that hung here until we rearranged).

To see all the action of painting, installing, arranging, and decorating, check out the video, and if you want to see the after, well here you go! I’m so pleased with how the space came together.

Products we used in our patio space:

ÄPPLARÖ Drop-leaf table

TEODORES Chairs (green)

VIVAN Curtains

HUGAD Curtain rod

BETYDLIG Wall/ceiling bracket

BJURSTA Wall-mounted drop-leaf table (x2)

ASKHOLMEN Trellis

RAVENEA Potted plant, Majesty palm

MUSKOT Plant pot

REGOLIT Pendant lamp shade

LAPPLJUNG RUTA Rug

TRILLING Poster

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, hanging

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, thyme

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, daisy

MUSKOT Plant pot

PAPAJA Plant pot, turquoise

PAPAJA Plant pot, dark turquoise

This view makes me SO happy! The RAVENEA Majesty palms (in MUSKOT pots) are perfect for adding to the Florida vibe.

The bright green TEODORES chairs are wonderful — bold and colorful for a statement, but pretty comfortable and easy to clean for real-world living.

The ASKHOLMEN trellis works double duty, adding a spot for some FEJKA plants for greenery while holding our SOMMAR 2018 BBQ spatula, fork, and tongs conveniently above the grill.

We are in love with our updated space and so excited to get plenty of use out of our covered patio this summer. We may never eat indoors again!

To see our last IKEA before-and-after, check out our updated entry! And don’t forget to check out the other Outdoor DIY Challenge projects here, too:

Get Out! Outdoor DIY Projects

Products we used in our patio space:

ÄPPLARÖ Drop-leaf table

TEODORES Chairs (green)

VIVAN Curtains

HUGAD Curtain rod

BETYDLIG Wall/ceiling bracket

BJURSTA Wall-mounted drop-leaf table (x2)

ASKHOLMEN Trellis

RAVENEA Potted plant, Majesty palm

MUSKOT Plant pot

REGOLIT Pendant lamp shade

LAPPLJUNG RUTA Rug

TRILLING Poster

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, hanging

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, thyme

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, daisy

MUSKOT Plant pot

PAPAJA Plant pot, turquoise

PAPAJA Plant pot, dark turquoise

I am a Brand Ambassadör for IKEA U.S. This is a sponsored post.

The post Budget-Friendly Outdoor Dining Space with IKEA Furniture appeared first on Remodelaholic.

from Home https://www.remodelaholic.com/outdoor-dining-space-ikea-furniture/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

0 notes

hellogreenweb · 7 years ago

Text

Prayer In the Silence of the Heart

It doesn’t need to be extraordinary. There doesn’t even need to be a special reason or an overwhelming problem. Sometimes I am just frustrated or uneasy about something. However it comes about, the most sanctifying prayers I have experienced are usually when I just stop, go to my knees, clear out my vocal chords, and seek my Father in Heaven. I start out sort of venting, but eventually I quiet down a little and my soul settles. I feel myself sink into a kind of listening, waiting attitude. A willing reception. A quiet space that I was craving.

Image: @thecremebruleehome

It is at this time that thoughts, images, memories, and feelings come to mind that help me to re-evaluate, to understand, to begin to feel differently about myself or the situation. And I kind of work through it with God, talking less, just keeping company with Him, like walking with someone to a new viewpoint. Led by the Holy Spirit, I experience an evolution of thought that brings me a little closer to the truth that my Father sees. Inevitably I submit to a good dose of honest self-evaluation and repentance before I really come full circle.

By the end of the prayer, I am usually wiping tears. My head feels like it’s been “taken off” a little at the top. My heart feels cleaned out and free. And I have found “sweet refreshment” of my soul. When I stand up, the world is still the same old dusty, imperfect, loud world, but I am a little steadier on my feet, and I crave light and truth a little more than I crave all the other things. I feel more truly myself and less like the public mask I often put on in the mornings.

It’s been harder for me recently to have these kind of moments. I know I’m busy, but I was busy before. It makes me think it might have something to do with a destructive interference that interrupts my communication with the Spirit. I’m talking specifically about my phone.

I remember walking across the university campus when cell phones were finally more common than not. Instead of waving at each other as before, students were now on their phones or plugged in. The thought I had was: “Well, with these phones in our pockets, we will probably pray less!” And I don’t think I was wrong. I used to pray when I was trying to meet up with a friend and couldn’t find her. I used to pray when I couldn’t find my way to a building. I used to pray for help to get through traffic on time to an appointment. I used to pray to understand something when I was confused. Now all of those things still happen, but instead of petitioning God, I make a call, use GPS, send a text, or ask Google.

Image: @thecremebruleehome

I definitely still say my prayers, but it’s so easy to merely pray as a formality. A duty. I settle for a shallow bucket of enumerated blessings rather than drawing deeply from the well of living water. Sometimes it goes so long between real communion that when I do pray, I feel either desperate or defensive, like I’m begging from a stranger.

On the other hand, I am incredibly familiar with my phone – I hardly even need to look at it to find my various apps, scroll through social media, or send a text. If it’s not sitting near me, I feel its absence. My kids rarely see me without my phone in my hand and have to compete with it to get my attention. I read news, listen to podcasts, manage my calendar, and study my scriptures on my phone. These are not bad things, but cumulatively, they create a kind of noise in my mind, a barrage of information and stimulation, such that I find myself quite uncomfortable when things get too quiet.

Significantly, the best remedy I have found to help me combat this reliance on my phone is prayer. At the beginning of the day, I express my intention to limit my phone use and otherwise leave it plugged in. I ask for God’s help. David Bednar teaches that morning prayers can be like a spiritual creation to the day, kind of the outline or sketch, before being fleshed out in full color. I express my hopes, my concerns and my commitments to be better. Then I feel accountable and also empowered. As Elaine Cannon said: “Having been passive we become active through prayer.” I lean into the day with a little more grit, such that when the prompting comes to play trains with my toddler instead of researching ship lap walls and gray paint palettes, I pick the trains. I am more willing to acknowledge my justifications, to admit my limitations, and to choose “that good part.”

Image: @gracelaced

I need to remember how to be okay with quiet, for it is “in the silence of the heart that God speaks.” I need to remember how it feels to sufficiently dwell in a moment of uncertainty so that I can exercise faith. Ultimately, I don’t need quick opinions, how-to’s or entertainment. I need to “draw myself apart,” and satisfy “that quiet and sacred part” of my soul. Says James Faust: “It is that part of us wherein no other soul intrudes. It is that part of us that permits us to come close to the divine, both in and out of this world. This portion of our being is reserved only for ourselves and our Creator; we open the portals thereof when we pray.”

Indeed, we die a little when we block this holy connection with God. Said Mother Teresa: “Prayer is as necessary as the air, as the blood in our bodies, as anything to keep us alive.” And from Martin Luther King Jr.: “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” This must be true, because I can feel it. I can be healthy in body and mind, have a clean, beautiful home, vibrant children, and a loving husband and friends. But without a meaningful connection with God, I begin to wither up inside. It seems essential that I restore this connection. It seems absolutely essential that I pray.

Image: @thecremebruleehome

Prayer In the Silence of the Heart posted first on http://ift.tt/2ulDYg7

0 notes

andrewmawby · 7 years ago

Text

Budget-Friendly Outdoor Dining Space with IKEA Furniture

This post is sponsored by our very favorite budget-saving brand ever: IKEA. All opinions are our own.

youtube

Covered Patio to Outdoor Dining Room Transformation

First things first, every good after has to start with a before or two. When we bought the house:

After a long winter;

Cleaned off and ready to repair the concrete:

So we chose to match the bright green TEODORES chairs! (You might recognize the color from our wooden block art that hung here until we rearranged).

To see all the action of painting, installing, arranging, and decorating, check out the video, and if you want to see the after, well here you go! I’m so pleased with how the space came together.

Products we used in our patio space:

ÄPPLARÖ Drop-leaf table

TEODORES Chairs (green)

VIVAN Curtains

HUGAD Curtain rod

BETYDLIG Wall/ceiling bracket

BJURSTA Wall-mounted drop-leaf table (x2)

ASKHOLMEN Trellis

RAVENEA Potted plant, Majesty palm

MUSKOT Plant pot

REGOLIT Pendant lamp shade

LAPPLJUNG RUTA Rug

TRILLING Poster

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, hanging

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, thyme

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, daisy

MUSKOT Plant pot

PAPAJA Plant pot, turquoise

PAPAJA Plant pot, dark turquoise

This view makes me SO happy! The RAVENEA Majesty palms (in MUSKOT pots) are perfect for adding to the Florida vibe.

The bright green TEODORES chairs are wonderful — bold and colorful for a statement, but pretty comfortable and easy to clean for real-world living.

The ASKHOLMEN trellis works double duty, adding a spot for some FEJKA plants for greenery while holding our SOMMAR 2018 BBQ spatula, fork, and tongs conveniently above the grill.

We are in love with our updated space and so excited to get plenty of use out of our covered patio this summer. We may never eat indoors again!

To see our last IKEA before-and-after, check out our updated entry! And don’t forget to check out the other Outdoor DIY Challenge projects here, too:

Get Out! Outdoor DIY Projects

Products we used in our patio space:

ÄPPLARÖ Drop-leaf table

TEODORES Chairs (green)

VIVAN Curtains

HUGAD Curtain rod

BETYDLIG Wall/ceiling bracket

BJURSTA Wall-mounted drop-leaf table (x2)

ASKHOLMEN Trellis

RAVENEA Potted plant, Majesty palm

MUSKOT Plant pot

REGOLIT Pendant lamp shade

LAPPLJUNG RUTA Rug

TRILLING Poster

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, hanging

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, thyme

FEJKA Artificial potted plant, daisy

MUSKOT Plant pot

PAPAJA Plant pot, turquoise

PAPAJA Plant pot, dark turquoise

I am a Brand Ambassadör for IKEA U.S. This is a sponsored post.

The post Budget-Friendly Outdoor Dining Space with IKEA Furniture appeared first on Remodelaholic.

from builders feed https://www.remodelaholic.com/outdoor-dining-space-ikea-furniture/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

0 notes

hellogreenweb · 7 years ago

Text

Prayer In the Silence of the Heart

Image: @thecremebruleehome

Image: @gracelaced

Image: @thecremebruleehome

Prayer In the Silence of the Heart posted first on http://ift.tt/2ulDYg7

0 notes

hellogreenweb · 7 years ago

Text

Prayer In the Silence of the Heart

Image: @thecremebruleehome

Significantly, the best remedy I have found to help me combat this reliance on my phone is prayer. At the beginning of the day, I express my intention to limit my phone use and otherwise leave it plugged in. I ask for God’s help. David Bednar teaches that morning prayers can be like a spiritual creation to the day, kind of the outline or sketch, before being fleshed out in full color. I express my hopes, my concerns and my commitments to be better. Then I feel accountable and also empowered. As Elaine Cannon said: ��Having been passive we become active through prayer.” I lean into the day with a little more grit, such that when the prompting comes to play trains with my toddler instead of researching ship lap walls and gray paint palettes, I pick the trains. I am more willing to acknowledge my justifications, to admit my limitations, and to choose “that good part.”

Image: @gracelaced

Image: @thecremebruleehome

Prayer In the Silence of the Heart posted first on http://ift.tt/2ulDYg7

0 notes

hellogreenweb · 7 years ago

Text

Prayer In the Silence of the Heart

Image: @thecremebruleehome

Image: @gracelaced

Image: @thecremebruleehome

Prayer In the Silence of the Heart posted first on http://ift.tt/2ulDYg7

0 notes