#my budget is low but honestly if you think something is truly worth it's money I'd like to know lol

[heartstringsduet]

getting 40% off at the biggest online retailer on everything thanks to a friend soon. I'm not really someone who buys a lot of clothes or accessoires but: What's an item you love right now? What's something you want to own? What can you always wear? What accessoire is your favorite? What sparks joy in make-up, skin care etc?

[kat-hawke]

The Renegade Agent Returns

(Following [Coincidental Meetings])

Looking out across the distant water Kat watched as the moonlight danced across the subtle waves and how the stars above painted dots in the deep blues. The ambient sounds of water crashing against the hulls of ships mingled with the distant city sound as her mind traced over the events of the day, from the office to the taverns. Bare fingers slipped into a pocket, encircling around an azerite crystal. Leaning up against the nearest lamppost, she looked down at the stone as it turned to grey, her breath feeling cold as the satisfying surge of energy numbed her mind.

The intoxicating sensation slowly waned as the depleted crystal spun in her fingers, the brittle edges slowly breaking off.  With eyes shut, Kat was content to let the energy high burn away as she focused on the ocean sounds below, but the sound of footsteps upon cobblestones approaching from behind interrupted her mental escape.

Peeling her eyes, open Kat cast her gaze over the shoulder to find her lost agent standing a few feet away. Eyes widened as her heart nearly stopped, lungs freezing with a breath catching in her throat. Pushing away from the lamppost, Kat spun around, tossing the dead crystal to the ground.

"Trist?" Kat's voice shook with denial, questioning whether or not she was truly here. In an instant, her mind flashed back to the comatose vision of the young renegade, and the guilt buckled in Kat's stomach.

With pursed lips and furrowed brows, Tristana watched the crystal shatter on the cobblestone before looking back to Kat from under the hood. Her features the same as Kat remembered, with the addition of a faint scar across one cheek. A lasting memoir of the agent's participation in the Siege of Lordaeron.

"Thought you'd be slightly less surprised to see me." She spoke with little movement of the body.

"Two years ago, perhaps no'." Kat stifled a single chuckle, thinking back to how often Tristana would be lurking in her shadow. "But ya' can't fault me for startin' to doubt, after all this time. Granted, I never, truly, believed ya' were dead... Despite wot others chose to think."

"Life is often easiest lived by the ghosts." Tristana rolled her shoulders in a small shrug, her rigid posture and expressionless mask betraying very little to her thoughts.  "You wouldn't take the opportunity to disappear, were it given so easily to you?"

Kat glanced towards the harbor with a gentle hum, mulling over the query. "I've spent most of m'life in the shadows, one way or another. Hidin' who I truly am, or simply hidin' outright." Slowly her gaze drifted back to Tristana. "Sure, it's easy, at first that is. But the other side of the coin is that ya' can miss just as much. I was in a coma for the last couple of months, that puts things in perspective, a real blink-and-ya'-miss-it sort of way." With a slow, deep breath, she gave a shallow shrug. "Runnin' away never solved anything, I think I'd do more harm than good if I were to disappear on everyone."

"That explains some things." Tristana's hood shifted as her head cocked faintly to one side, her eyes trained on Kat as she deliberated over the conversation. "It must be nice to have those who would miss you out of more than just guilt of not doing enough."

"Everyone wants something sooner or later." Kat arched a brow, staring inquisitively. "Sure, some would miss, but in time we all fade into the wind. It's no' like I have a family to devastate or abandon."

"That is one way to justify it." Tristana nodded slowly, fingers of her left hand twitched at her side, curling inwards before relaxing again. "So, a long absence... multiple months in a coma... have they forced you to step down from your position yet?"

Kat snorted quietly in amusement, shaking her head. "I feel like th' over m'dead body joke would be in poor taste here. Short answer is that it's complicated, someone else was appointed in my absence, and now there is a power struggle: that and the typical post-war bullshit. Shrinking funds, military efforts scaling back, people have nowhere t'go, yadda yadda yadda. For now, I have t'play nice. Things were pretty bad prior t'the coma for everyone. So..."

She trails off with a long exhale before vaguely motioning in Trist's direction. "Are ya' inquirin' if yer still employed, or just lookin' for an open window to try and prod me on failure?"

"Hm. I find it hard to imagine you playing nice - or playing by the rules, for that matter." The young agent's hand lifted to pull back the hood, giving a soft snort at Kat's query. "Can it not be both?" She drew her bottom lip between her teeth, deliberating a little longer before giving an actual answer. "Can't say I've given the idea much thought."

"I can play nice when I want to. As far as rules go, well..." Shrugging, Kat left the sentence unfinished with a subtle smirk, quickly moving on.

"And while it could be both, I'm willin' t'wager ya've been out of the loop enough to know of my failures. Aside from the obvious one, I wouldn't blame ya' fer still harborin' some level of spite. Shadows know I still hold guilt over it." Quickly scanning Tristana's leathers, Kat opted to push to call her bluff. "I find it hard t'believe it didn' cross yer mind more than once. I also can't think of more than two or three other reasons as t'why ya'd approach me after so long."

"Some things are just better off not dwelled upon," Tristana answered in a mildly cautious tone.

"Fair enough." Kat crossed her arms, glancing down at the cobblestone.

"And if I were to be interested?"

"If ya' were," Kat's gaze drifted upward to Tristana again. "Then ya'd find a rather decent amount of money tucked away. I was able to secure every third paycheck of yer's into a private account under a half-faked name. While the paperwork would be rather strenuous, it would be possible to reinstate yer rank, but nothin' I wouldn't be willin' to do. However, things are a bit different now, budget cuts and rollbacks, our work is less in the public domain."

"Understanding that this job has nearly cost me my life on more than a handful of occasions, gold is not a terribly exciting lure." Tristana slowly shook her head. "Hard to spend it from six feet under."

Kat pursed her lips with a faint nod. Judging by the armor's condition the woman wore, she had assumed money was no longer an issue. In truth, she had not expected that offer to be received openly, remembering that Tristana was never in it for the pay, but rather the broken and empty promises Kat had repeatedly made to her.

"What dreams are you selling people these days? Surely has to be more than 'come and be cannon fodder for a weekly paycheck."

Dropping her gaze to the street with a low-toned hum, Kat bit the corner of her lip as the head bobbed slowly. "I deserved that," she uttered the admittance in an exhale, looking up to Tristana again. That single sentence stung more than she let one.

"Shouldn't be any cannon fodder, and I'm no' sellin' dreams. I won't make excuses, and ya' have every right t'hold that against me. I don't expect ya' to trust me right away. It's earned. I get that." Fingers lifted off the crossed arm to pause her rambling, holding in a deep breath before exhaling and speaking again. "I won't make promises, but I will do woteva I can, in yer best interest. I'm no' here t'force anything; everyone is here of their own volition."

Short of scoffing, Tristana gave Kat a stiff shrug. "Actions have always spoken with far more truth than words... and you've always had a way with talking." Now she crossed her arms, mirroring the Director's stance with a cold gaze. "But I suppose the tides have changed. With Lordaeron considered, I'd say I don't owe you any favors now. Question is, are you making the offer out of guilt or because you have actual need for me?"

With a pained expression at the mention of Lordaeron, Kat's guilt was spoken just above a whisper. "I shouldn' have done that to ya'."

She moved on with an exhale in silent defeat, arms uncrossing and hand moving subtly as she spoke. "Would ya' believe me if I said one or the other, or perhaps both? Truth be told, Trist, I feel like I owe it t' ya' to do right. I fucked up more than once before, and I'll own that. But honestly, despite wot ya' may think of me, I did and still do like ya'. Yer potential and talent, ya' sell yerself short. Do I need ya'? Of course I do. But no' fer some project or misplaced projections. I need ya' because back then ya' were one of the very few worth that badge."

"To be fair, the bar of standards was set -really- low at that point. I hope it's improved since then." Tristana muttered back in response.

"It's improved greatly, yes." Kat couldn't help the smirk curling the corners of her lips. "If ya' don't count the barmaid, though she's not an operative. But there are only five others, and I don't plan on adding any more. I strayed too far from our roots before, and I don't want to make that mistake again. I still mean it when I say th' Unit is my family, and if that means dyin' t'protect it, then so be it."

"Good," Tristana stated, appearing to be more or less satisfied with that answer. "Suppose I might be willing to lend a hand then."

"I assume ya' still have yer badge?" Kat inquired with a smile.

Tristana procured the badge from a pocket on her side with a flick of her hand, flipping the tarnished yet undamaged metal in her fingers. "Just in case. Sometimes it came in handy for getting discounts."

I'm no' too surprised," Kat admitted with a mirthful expression. "Honestly, I'd have done th'same. I'm sure it would also loosen some lips. It's a little worn, but nothing a little polish won't fix, much better than expensing out a new one." Glancing towards the water for a second, Kat mulled over the thought of where the young agent had been for the last two years and what she had gotten into. It wasn't long before the guilt began to chew into the thoughts again, wondering now if Tristana was playing at her own angle.

"Well, couldn't exactly throw it out," Tristana said as she pocketed the badge. "Who knows what someone might have gotten up to with it if it fell into the wrong hands."

"I'll start the paperwork in the mornin'," Kat stated, looking back to the agent. "It'll take a few days to get everythin' sorted proper, but I'll be sure it's done." Pausing for a second, she debated whether or not to pose the next query. "Is there anythin' ya' want, from this?"

"Everyone wants something sooner or later." Tristana echoed the statement from earlier with a faint upturning of the corners of her lips. "But for now, I'll content myself with just purpose."

Kat's lips pursed to one side at the answer she was given, not entirely content with it, but aware that was deliberate Tristana's part. "Fair enough. Once the paperwork is finished, I'll be in touch, and we'll go from there. Cases are few at the moment, hindered mostly by the shrinking funds, but never a lack of work to be done."

"I'll be around," Tristana mused as she pulled up her hood. "Should you require me. I'm sure you'd need only to lob a rock at the nearest shadows."

"Old habits die hard, I suppose." Masking any sense of unease with a chuckle, remembering back to how often the agent managed to come across knowledge she shouldn't have. "I may no' be as entertainin' as I once was t'watch, though. Good night, Agent Sutton."

Tristana lifted her hand in a gesture that was halfway between a salute and a wave of farewell as she turned on her heel and ventured back into the city streets. "Goodnight."

In the silence, Kat watched as Tristana moved further away until out of sight around the furthest corner. With a contemplative hum, she turned to face the open ocean again, leaning a shoulder against the lamppost. The sudden urge for a drink began to churn as her nerves twitched, knowing full well that revealing the agent was not only alive but reinstated would send Fiske into a frenzy.

[ @tristanasneak​ ] [ Relevant: @myzariel​, @nikkithorpe​, @lovelydeadlysocialite​, @jocelyn-wellson​, @quinn-varden​ ]

[incoherentbabblings]

Take Back the Cake, Burn the Shoes, and Boil the Rice (2/11)

Within two months there have been two murders of Gotham newlyweds moments after the ceremony. The only connecting factor was both brides wore the same designer’s work. Needing to establish who exactly is behind the crimes, Bruce enlists Tim and Stephanie to have the biggest wedding Gotham high society has seen in decades, putting a target on their heads not just for the killer, but Gotham society too. It goes about as well as you’d expect.

Ao3 Link Here!

Tim’s Thursday began well – a morning at work which had ended with his lunch break going into one of Gotham’s nicest department stores. He had pulled some strings, using Wayne “clout”, to get an appointment with the jewellers there.

Bruce had said no budget, and Tim was going to take him at his word.

Now he was sat, glass of bubbly champagne sitting untouched, at the desk of a man with a thinner moustache than Alfred, but a belly three times the size. Tim rubbed his knees, more than a little uncomfortable.

“I need an engagement ring, a promise ring, and wedding bands.”

He had a plan, of sorts. The engagement and wedding rings were all for show – the more expensive, the better. He didn’t want them to be ugly – he wasn’t going to make Stephanie wear something she loathed on her finger for two months, and he wasn’t that frivolous with money – but they had to be ostentatious enough to catch people’s attention. The fact that he was even here would be enough, but let it be said that the Bats knew drama like no other.

The promise ring was… well it was part of a plan that Tim had no proof would ever reach the stage of being offered, but it didn’t hurt to be prepared. That one, he would buy with nothing but Stephanie in mind.

The man at the table blinked, gears in his head turning, and he became ever more effusive. He leaned forward, clasping his hands together.

“Any ideas for these rings?”

Tim raised his chin, trying to appear confident. “Purple and white for the engagement, plain wedding band for me but diamonds for hers.”

“Budget?”

Tim scoffed, and the man smiled widely.

“It’s such a moment for me, to have a Wayne be a patron once more. Mr Wayne’s father used to frequent here, or so I’m told. You’re in good company.”

The endless cabinets that circled the room were suddenly emptied by a small army of assistants, each laying out more diamonds and sapphires and amethysts than Tim would ever know what to do with. The amount of money in this room… no wonder people hated him and his family.

Trying not to appear overwhelmed, Tim quickly chose the wedding bands. White gold, Stephanie’s with embedded diamonds that circled the entire ring, his a chunky thing that felt weighty on his finger. A constant reminder of the promise he would make. Tim smiled tightly at the thought. With a little luck, he would make that promise to be faithful and true and in sickness and in health... With a lot of luck, he’d be able to fulfil those promises, and she for him.

For now though, he was stuck buying rings that he knew neither of them truly wanted.

He and Steph both didn’t like white gold… though how Tim knew this, he didn’t know. It just lacked a warmth. Stephanie didn’t wear much jewellery anyway. The odd set of earrings here and there, one or two necklaces… no rings. No bracelets. No watches.

He wasn’t sure if it was because she didn’t like to, or she just couldn’t afford to.

Resting his chin on an arm on the table, Tim mused over a shortlisted row of rings. The man across the table licked his lips and leaned in closer. Tim moved backwards, a little put out. The man seemed undeterred.

“May I enquire… the lady you are buying these for?

Oh boy. And with that it started. He told the truth, for whatever it was worth. He smiled in a way that didn’t quite reach his eyes, but it would fool the overly curious seller.

“I’ve known her since I was fourteen.” True. “Childhood sweetheart, I guess?” Half true. False. For now.

Down boy. Focus.

Tim finally settled on a sapphire ring that was almost lilac in shade. Twelve carats, whatever that meant, surrounded by oval shaped diamonds and smaller, glimmering purple and pink stones. It was huge, with no price given, and was sure to make Stephanie cringe.

“David Morris…” The man nodded approvingly, like Tim was supposed to know or care who that was. “His son continues to do very good work. That ring is a beauty no?”

It would do.

“And the promise ring? For the same lady?”

Tim tried not to read into much about the implication that he kept multiple women.

“Yeah… Rose gold for this one.”

The man’s nose twitched, and with a wave of his hand more rings appeared, though the selection was much smaller.

Tim didn’t like any of them, however. Too granny-ish. Rose gold wasn’t popular with the younger crowd apparently. The sales manager sighed sadly, tapping his fingers on the table, thinking of a solution. Tim knew he was acting exaggeratedly, as what Tim wanted wasn’t impossible to provide. Especially not at the price he was about to pay.

“Is there one perhaps, you do like, that we could refit? We could make something entirely bespoke, if you wished, but if there is one design –”

“The pink sapphire – the one that looks like a flower.” With a jerk of his jaw, Tim drew the man’s attention to a smaller set of rings. Still much more expensive than what 90% of Gotham’s population would be willing to pay for a ring, but more manageable for Tim.

The man patted his belly. “Are you sure Mr Wayne? It is only two carats. There are other—”

“Drake-Wayne.” Tim interrupted quietly, still looking at the ring. “And yes. I’m sure.”

A diamond shaped pink sapphire sat surrounded by eight pear shaped diamonds, with the gaps between the points filled with more pink sapphires. The band also had embedded diamonds, but they stopped part of the way round. It was currently in white gold, but Tim thought it would look better in the softer pink shaded gold. It was utterly girly, and he wanted it for Stephanie.

Before he signed an agreement which contained too many zeroes, Tim threw in a bracelet for good measure with carved rubies. Birds were engraved in the deep red, and Tim wanted Stephanie to have something that was shamelessly meant to make her think of him whenever she saw it.

In the back of his head he could hear Stephanie’s discomfort, but he had a date to attend to. Hiding in one of the department store’s bathroom cubicles, he threw off his suit in a way that would have Alfred disappointed in him, switching for a t-shirt and a plaid over-shirt with dark jeans. Ramming his dress shoes into his backpack, he fled the store, high on excitement and the knowledge that he had just spent a million dollars on jewellery. Hopping in his red car and tossing his bag towards the trunk, Tim patted himself on the back, then set off for the college campus.

Stephanie was waiting for him, at the steps of one of the medical buildings. Tim was laughing before she even got in the car.

“What?” She said, collapsing in a heap. “What’s so funny?”

“We match.”

Stephanie recoiled, noticing that she was wearing a thin plaid hoodie, green t-shirt and jeans. Looking at Tim’s clothes, she cursed quietly.

A moment’s pause followed, Tim laughing to himself against the wheel of the redbird. It had been some time since he had laughed just because something was funny, and not from an occasion calling for a fake smile or laughing in derision at himself or others.

It was enough to make her want to tease him.

Wordlessly, she went to leave the car, reopening the door. Tim squeaked, reaching across her and shutting it.

“No! It’s cute! Come on, I got my skateboards in the back. Gonna have you riding by the end of the day.”

“Right.” She threw on her seatbelt. Tim set off. They sat in happy silence for a while as they moved from one Gotham island to another. Growing more comfortable, the radio playing quietly, barely above the sound of the engine, Stephanie smiled.

“Dare I ask how was work this morning?”

Tim gave such a sigh that signalled that he was happy, albeit a little stressed. “It’s okay actually!” He confirmed. “Getting started with a couple new projects, so lots to plan.”

“Bruce helping you?”

“Yeah, actually he’s…” He turned into the multi-storey, getting through the barrier. “I think he’s pulling back on a bunch of stuff.”

“Getting ready to retire at the ripe age of forty-seven? Tragic.”

Tim laughed again, backing the car into a tight space expertly. “Well, not like Dick is in a hurry to join the board.”

“No, he’s busy preparing to cover the other job I think.”

“Right.” Handbrake on. Engine off. “Dick will do the Gotham night job; I’ll do the Gotham day.”

He sounded content with that routine. Stephanie thought he was lying.

“Cass?”

“International night job.”

“Damian?”

Tim shrugged, opening the door and getting out. Before Stephanie could get out on her own, Tim was already at her side, opening the door for her. She clambered out, the redbird sat pretty low compared to her own little car.

It was cloudy, but dry, spring well under way. Robinson park was filled with lines and lines of blooming flowers, little lakes with bobbing ducks, and large open spaces to lay out and snooze. Plenty of space to practice her balance and roll in a straight line.

Stephanie put on her backpack and tried not to look clumsy when Tim handed her one of his boards.

She gasped when he slapped a helmet on her head. Slapping it repeatedly, he laughed.

“Safety first.”

And so began their ‘dates’. Two weeks of what would have been considered beforehand just a regular day of them hanging out, now had different connotations. She took a step by holding his hand everywhere. He took a step by taking many photos of her to post online, either alone or with Cassandra when she deigned to join them. Steph would frequently grow embarrassed by the attention, and insist he be in half of the photos with her.

Honestly, it was not as bad as she feared, however that was largely because of how shallow the interactions felt. Not much of substance was spoken, largely because they couldn’t, being in such public spaces. She could feel people doing double takes at them, and every now and then someone would take photographs, but it was never enough to disorient her.

So far so good. Except she suspected the reason they were being left to their own devices was that they had been seen together in the past, Cassandra usually in tow, so she was nothing more than a family friend. They were going to have to up the ante a little.

Stephanie met Tim one night at the base of Wayne Tower. He had changed again for her, out of his suit.

“You look handsome.” She teased. Tim burned red. He said nothing, only staring at her, then went to lean forward for a greeting kiss.

Stephanie leaped back. She didn’t mean to, and she tried not to think too much of how vulnerable Tim looked from her rejection. Gulping, she buried herself into his chest, tugging his left arm around her waist.

“Where are we heading?” She asked, desperate to move on from that awkward moment.

Tim’s coat pocket buzzed aggressively. When he looked, he swore.

“What?”

“It’s a text… from Dick?”

Stephanie grabbed his arm.

There’s a festival on Amusement Mile tonight! Could be fun wink wink.

Stephanie was flabbergasted. “I thought he was in space? Like fifty light years away?”

Tim stared at the screen. “He is…”

He looked down at her, and the two exchanged confused glances.

“You mean he—”

“Found a way to text me across time and space only for the message to be to take you to the fair? Sure. Let’s go with that.”

Tim sighed, dragging a laughing Stephanie off with him in the direction of Amusement Mile.

“Wingman to the rescue!” Chortling to herself, Tim couldn’t help but join in.

Amusement mile was lit up bright when they arrived, music blasting and lots of young families crowding in. Dick had done good in pouring half his inheritance into the strip, despite it being an obvious target for people like the Joker. The Wayne’s had stubbornly continued to fund it alongside the city council, allowing for entertainment beyond shopping in Gotham.

It had a certain charm about it – well maintained, but still old fashioned. The lighting was warm, oranges and yellows and reds, and each ride and stall was blasting out its own variety of generic trance and dance music. It was so busy that it felt private, as everyone was absorbed with their own fun.

“Want a snack?” Stephanie asked, pulling Tim over to one of the vans. “I have a hankering for nachos.”

“I dunno. Kind of want something sweet.” And then he nudged her.

She made a face, brain now focusing on the prospect of salty fried food. “Urr no. Sweets is for after.” She joined the queue, rummaging through her little bag for her purse.

Tim groaned dramatically, throwing his head back. “You missed my clever flirt!”

She rotated to stare, feet fixed in place. “Huh?”

Suddenly Tim was bashful. He couldn’t say it again. She had rejected him twice now, and so decisively too.

“Doesn’t matter.” He said.

Eyebrows drawn into a frown, Stephanie watched as Tim smiled awkwardly. He would do it when hurt, but not willing to admit it. The next step would be shuffling his feet, jamming his hands in his pocket, and directing his gaze elsewhere, anywhere but the person who had hurt him.

Stephanie watched as he proceeded to do exactly that.

She hated seeing him sad, even if she didn’t understand why. Reaching up, she cradled the back of his neck, fingers in his black hair, trying to provide some sort of physical comfort. She felt how tense his muscles were, and Tim sighed when she squeezed and rubbed at the base of his skull. Closing his eyes, he enjoyed her touch, making do with what she could offer him.

“Tim?”

“Mm.”

“What’s wrong?” He blinked, expression freezing.

“Nothing.”

“No, there is.” They stepped forward in the queue. “Tell me?”

Quietly pleading, Stephanie resumed her strokes. Tim tilted his head, allowing her better access.

“Nightmares.” Tim answered. Cooing, she curled closer. Neither of them knew how genuine the other was being, but Tim played along regardless. “It… they aren’t of anything specific, but I just wake up with like…this pressure on my chest and I don’t sleep well.”

“Honey, you’ve never slept well.” Pet names. Tim’s heart stuttered a little. He missed her sweethearts and honeys, more than he realised. He lied to himself and believed she was saying them sincerely, and not just playing the role of the concerned girlfriend. Her thumb found the bone behind his ear, rubbing it therapeutically. “When did these kind start?”

Another step forward in the queue. As the pair spoke, they had moved closer and closer, and Tim’s arm had begun to wrap around her waist. Stephanie distantly heard people behind them muttering, and could feel others staring at the overt pda, but she couldn’t bring herself to care.

“Couple of months ago.”

The comfort that Tim felt at her miserable look was indescribable. That wasn’t faked, she wasn’t capable of lying with that level of sincerity. It wasn’t that he enjoyed her being sad at his expense, not even close, but the confirmation that she still cared deeply was heartening. Whether it was people in general or specifically directed at himself, Tim didn’t care. Being Batgirl hadn’t dampened her kindness.

Not for the first time, Tim was struck at how much she had grown, and how much he had seemingly regressed. Paralleled journeys, but Tim couldn’t bring himself to accept that he was destined to be as lonely and as miserable as he felt on his worst nights. He hadn’t completely given up hope. Neither had Steph, because after a moment of thought, she reassuringly tugged on his earlobe.

“We’ll figure it out.” She said. And then, unable to help herself, she pressed a kiss to his cheek. It could have been read as platonic, as it was so quick and chaste to be seen as anything but, however when he turned to look at her, expression a little desperate, hand on her hip twitching, it seemed she finally understood what he wanted.

They kissed, once, twice, three times before a flash of light, the flash of a phone, made Stephanie break away. Tim turned his head, noticing a group of teens trying to hide their phones.

Bingo. He couldn’t help it, he smiled smugly.

Stephanie seemed to catch it and became stiff in his hold. They were called forward to the van, and Stephanie stepped away from Tim in a vain attempt to move forward and distract herself.

Kissing him was a mistake. She had avoided it then and she should have avoided it now, but he had played her like a piano and… it had felt right.

Breath shaking, she paid for her food. Tim put his arm back around her, and she cursed herself for relaxing back into it. Her body and mind were of two different opinions for Tim, and it was making her miserable.

She continued to play the game, feeding Tim chips, making him take photos of her on the merry-go-round, clinging close to his side, but as the night went on, she felt increasingly hollow. It would almost have been easier to pretend to be in love with someone she loathed, but being there with Tim, knowing that his smiles were genuine when the circumstances were forced... It was emotionally taxing.

She couldn’t tell, not anymore, what was real and what was just to grab folk’s attention, and it was eating at her. What made it more intolerable was that her and Tim were spending no time together in private. And how could they? College was kicking her ass more than normal and Tim had a high-flying job that required so much of his time. When they were free, they were out together.

She craved alone time with him.

Tim meanwhile saw Stephanie was faltering and tried to think of a way to end the evening on a high note.

“You ever won one of those arcade games?”

Stephanie, whose face was half hidden behind a giant ball of cotton candy, was quiet when she responded, “I thought they were rigged.”

“Oh sure. There’s a knack to them though.”

He looked around at one he could win at.

The shooting range was closest. The prizes ranged from mediocre to crass, but Stephanie didn’t miss the childish glee that sparked in his eyes at the sight of a ridiculously large plush duck. Like a rubber duck for the bathtub, but the size of a toddler. It was the kind of thing she could have straddled and bounced along the road on if she was determined enough.

“Tim please don’t win me that duck.”

“You don’t want it?”

“I do not need a giant duck.”

“Not asking if you need it.” He took a large chunk of her cotton candy, shivering in delight when it dissolved in his mouth. “Asking if you wanted it.”

Still hidden behind the sugar, she looked down. “My answer doesn’t matter does it? You’re gonna show off?”

“Oh yeah. You want a go too?”

“No… no I’ll watch you.”

And over they wandered to the stall. They had to wait until a young father and his daughter finished their turn before Tim could step forward. Stephanie watched them, the father encouraging his little girl. She wasn’t very good, as to be expected of a seven-year-old, and so won nothing. She got upset for a moment, distraught that she wasn’t good enough to get a prize. Her father got down next to her for a hug, muttering reassurances.

Impulsively, Stephanie butted in.

“Excuse me?” Both the girl and father looked up. The dad’s suspicious look turned friendly when he saw it was Stephanie’s unthreatening form. She held out her cotton candy. “I’m full. Do you think she’d want this?” A pause, as both parties processed what she was offering. “Is she allowed candy? I just… I just…”

She trailed off awkwardly, regretting having spoken. The little girl released Stephanie from the emotional turmoil and turned to her father.

“Can I?”

The father took the stick from Stephanie. He looked a little bamboozled by the abruptness of the offer. He nodded his thanks, then nudged the little girl, who squealed.

“Thank you!”

“Welcome.”

As the father and daughter walked away, the dad caught Stephanie staring at his little girl. Stephanie tried to smile in a way that was endearing at the man, and not like she was thinking of twelve different ways to stuff the little girl in the boot of her car. The father smiled back, so Stephanie supposed it worked.

She turned back to the stall, to see Tim smiling dopily at her. He kissed her temple, and she sighed, tension leaving her as he did so. He walked towards the vendor, calling out over his shoulder,

“You’re too good for this city sometimes… you know that, right?”

“Tim…” She wandered back to his side. “Just win me that duck, would you?”

And win her the ridiculous duck he did. Stephanie knew the entire family were pretty handy with guns. She herself was good with them, though she loathed their weight in her hands. Jason aside, Dick was the best shot she’d ever seen, and of course Kate knew her way around a firearm too, so she should have expected it from Tim.

He shot the row of ducks quickly and smoothly, definitely showing off, but Stephanie couldn’t really find it in her to pretend to be impressed. The rifle was old, the pellets were harmless, and Tim was shooting yellow plastic ducks on a rotating bicycle chain... But still. She didn’t like seeing Tim with a gun.

The duck seemed larger off the hanger, and she struggled to hold it without it tripping her up or completely unbalancing her.

As they walked away, Stephanie resorted to pulling it up, resting on her head like a basket filled with goods for the local market.

“Very nice.” Tim teased. He nudged her, making her stumble to the side, completely off kilter with such a weight on her head. She laughed breathlessly, then threw herself back at him. He caught her, hands in intimate places, and pulled her round. She quickly got the idea, and hopped on his back, resting her chin on his shoulder. She placed the duck on top of them both, and Tim stumbled out the fair, deliriously happy that her mood had been lifted.

They barely noticed the stares and photos that were taken. The following morning Stephanie saw she had been tagged in a few Instagram posts, and on twitter the pair were mildly trending, though not enough to cause her alarm. She continued to attend her classes and not speak to Tim until he would message her, asking when she was next free.

It was a Friday, three weeks into their ‘dating’ when he asked her out to dinner.

A nice dinner.

A really nice dinner.

“Alfred bought you some clothes.” Tim had said when he came to pick her up that night. Crystal had answered the door to glower at Tim, only to find him holding four hangers with dresses on them. Stephanie, pushing in front of her mother, was wearing a basic pink dress. The ones in Tim’s arms were blue or green. No babyish pink to be found.

“What I’m wearing isn’t good enough for you?”

Faced with two potentially angry Browns, Tim shook his head.

“No! No, you look beautiful! You always look beautiful.”

Crystal snorted; Stephanie looked like she was going to cry. She was wearing her hair up in a bun, tiny earrings hanging from her lobes. She peered at the choices.

“Alfred bought them?”

“He was shopping for Cassandra and saw these. Said they made him think of you.”

“Somehow I don’t find that reassuring.” She took them from his grip and turned back around, stomping back inside. If Tim had been expecting to be allowed back in the house, he was denied. Crystal remained in the doorway, wearing a faded blue dressing gown. Her slippers were grey and fluffy. She was one of the most intimidating things he had ever looked at.

He tried to smile at her, but she wouldn’t have it.

“You are ruining her life.”

The sentence was short, sharp, and honest. Tim’s breathing stopped, and he said nothing in response. Thoroughly shamed, he stared at his feet.

Not me. He wanted to beg. Bruce. Bruce was the one who failed her.

But he knew that Crystal was referring to them all, the whole lot of them, when she said “you”. He also knew that Crystal knew what they were about to go through, and was not happy about it.

There was a part of him, out of anger for Steph, and maybe he was projecting a little after his own parents, that wanted nothing more to snap at her: Oh? Now you care about your daughter’s wellbeing?

Tim had taken care of Steph years before Crystal had gotten her act together. Heck, it had taken Steph dying for Crystal to truly pull herself together. No drugs, no emotional unavailability, no shitty husbands and brothers and friends hanging around the house on her watch.

Tim bit his tongue. Stephanie was trying so hard to have a functional relationship with her mother, but Tim couldn’t let go of the disappointment on her behalf.

Not that Tim had much better examples to go off of, Dana more than anyone tried the hardest, and whilst Bruce tried...

No. Not going down that rabbit hole.

Tim said nothing, knowing no words would help the situation, and cowered under Crystal’s stare. The ring in his blazer pocket weighed heavier and heavier with each passing moment. He had kept the engagement ring on his person since he had taken it home, not knowing when he would have to whip it out.

His other pocket buzzed then. His phone. Pulling it out, thankful for a distraction from the silent tower of a future “mother-in-law”, he saw that Bruce was phoning.

Caught between not wanting to appear rude to Crystal and potentially missing important information from Bruce, Tim decided that Crystal’s opinion of him was already shot, and answered the phone, still avoiding her stare.

“Hey Bruce. Just about to take Steph out. What’s up?”

“Another couple have died.”

Tim finally looked upwards at Crystal, seeing that she could sense something had gone wrong.

“…Same connection?”

“Yes.”

The ring felt a thousand tonnes.

“We’ll… we’ll speed it up.”

“I will speak to the designer tonight. See how she’s doing. If she knows anything. There’s still no public suspicion of her. Both of you come back home after you’re done at the restaurant.”

“Okay.” Crystal had stepped closer, out onto the little step that granted access to the front door. She was blatantly eavesdropping. Tim remained frozen on the spot. “Thanks for… thanks.” He ended lamely, hanging up. Crystal looked very pale.

“I…” Tim started. How could he convince Stephanie’s mother that all would work out? No words would do the job.

Stephanie interrupted them. Her voice drifting closer as she tripped down the main staircase, blissfully ignorant.

“I went with the dark green. I like green. Dark green.” She paused when two pale faces stared back at her. Tim struggled to reconcile how beautiful she was with the fact that the pair’s mortality was staring them in the face. Tim’s death was always something he accepted as part of his job. Stephanie’s was out of the question.

Her smile tightened; teeth clenched. “What’s wrong?”

Crystal sniffed in a way that indicated she was going to cry, and left the two alone, slamming the door shut on her daughter in a manner that made Stephanie baffled. She turned back to Tim, who seemed to grow more upset by the moment.

“What’s going on?”

Tim absentmindedly tugged on the little cap sleeve of the dress, admiring it on her.

“I’ll tell you on the way.” As Stephanie followed him to the car, she looked back at her house, worried for her mother.

It was a silent drive to the restaurant, this time with the radio off and the engine in general being quiet in the drive through the city. It was awful, tense and uncomfortable. Stephanie watched as Tim’s eyes flittered everywhere, the windows, the mirrors, the road and her. He was panicking a little.

She kept quiet until they approached the restaurant. Then Tim spoke unprompted.

“We’ll have to go back to the manor after this. Bruce called me, says another couple has died. Same designer.”

Slowly, Stephanie turned to look at Tim. He was trying to stay focused, as if pulling up to valet parking involved particularly difficult manoeuvres.

“Three times isn’t a coincidence.” She stated.

“No.” His knuckles were white from gripping the wheel so tightly.

“Those poor people.”

Tim let the air come out of his chest in a woosh whilst Steph stared at her palms resting in her lap. He reached across with one hand and took hers. Intertwining the fingers, she observed his beautiful but scarred hands. Another moment of thoughtful silence ensued.

“You okay to keep going?”

She forced a smile. “Bruce’ll solve it in no time.”

It was only part of the way through their soup did Tim drop his little spoon with a clatter. They had been trying to do small talk, being aggressively cutesy in sight of the other restaurant patrons and staff, but it was difficult, as neither of their moods were particularly lending themselves to lying.

“…Tim?”

He looked at her, pale blue eyes wide from fear. His adams apple bobbed in his thin neck.

“Stephanie.” He said, standing up so quickly his chair fell back, and the table rattled. The crystal champagne glasses shuddered, and the china made an awful clang. Stephanie made an oopf noise and rested her hand over the glasses to prevent spillage.

“Sweetie, what’s wron…” She trailed off as Tim moved to her side of the table and knelt down in front of her. She began to hiss. “No! Now?”

Tim reached into his inner jacket pocket, pulling out a little black box. “We have to speed it up.”

Stephanie felt she was close to hyperventilating, eyes flitting to the other customers surrounding their central table.

“You should have warned me! Not in public…”

“It had to be.” Tim retorted. He knew how much she hated it. He did also. If he ever did propose, it would be in private, because no-one else mattered for that moment. Only he and the person he proposed to should matter, not faceless people voyeuristically watching them. But neither of them were going to get what they wanted. Not for now at least.

Stephanie did not need to dig for her surprised face, as she burst into tears the moment Tim popped open the box. Sat inside was possibly the largest ring she had ever seen.

It was hideous.

“Jesus fucking Christ!” She screeched, slapping the table. People who were already staring from the proposal dropped their food in their lap at the swearing woman.

Blowing her nose extra hard on the fancy serviette, she tried to bring her emotions back to dignified. However, every time she caught sight of the hunking stones glittering in the dim light, she lost it.

Six dead people were hanging over her head she was stuck in a dress she didn’t buy there were more cutlery pieces on the table than ordered courses and he had dropped this on her with no warning and okay fine she knew in the back of her head it was coming but still –

Tim leaned back slightly, not sure what to make of it, if her shock and rage was directed at him or herself. Heavily hinting at her, he tried to get the proposal back on track and smiled lopsidedly. “That’s a yes, right?”

The bastard…

“Fuck! You stupid shit, fuck!” She caught glances of neighbouring tables and tried to smile, though she couldn’t see much clearly from her stinging eyes. There was no point trying to verbalise that she was insulting herself, not the poor boy on the floor in front of her.

God, her eyes just wouldn’t stop watering and she couldn’t feel any more like the kind of women she made fun of on reality tv shows. “Yes, I will marry you! Yes, yes, yes!”

There was a painfully awkward pause as she didn’t know what to do next. Entering panic mode, Tim punched her leg, making her spasm down off the chair into his arms. He hoped her outburst would be read in an eccentric relatable manner, and not the freak out of a woman who could really do with an acting class or two.

A few tables were clapping politely, probably more miffed than endeared to the couple. Tim rocked Steph from side to side.

“Okay?” He whispered, conscious of the fact that she may have genuinely gone into shock.

“That ring is hideous, Tim.” She blubbered into his ear.

“Well, it’s only for two months.” He muttered, more than a little dejected. God, he hoped – if he got the chance to offer it – that she would like the promise ring more.

“Hoo!” She leaned back from the embrace, head facing the ceiling. Her cat eyeliner look that she had painstakingly applied had flooded down her cheeks. Tim’s collar felt a little wet, and would no doubt be stained black. She smiled in a way that reminded Tim of a hyena. “Oh, wow! What a ring. Oh sweetheart...”

Tim nodded and nodded and nodded like a ventriloquist doll and pulled it out of its case, flinging aside the box with exaggerated disinterest.

“All yours! For as long as you’ll have me.”

She looked down as he slid it on. It weighed heavily on her finger.

She tugged Tim closer to her, bumping their foreheads together. She clung tight to his hair, and he could feel her trembling.

“Fuck.” She whispered.

“I know.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No. Steph…”

“Love you.” She said. The suddenness of it seemed to surprise them both, and to cover it up she kissed Tim. Actions were easier than words, they always had been with him.

The reality of what they had undertaken came crashing down on her, and she dreaded the morning to come.

[detectiveharmony]

How I Planned My Wedding

  Hi guys! I realize this isn't normally the sort of thing I write. Usually, I write book advice that has to deal with writing, editing, publishing novels, and everything in between! But as I have recently been married, I thought I would release the secrets of dark magic I conjured in order to plan my wedding.

1. Set a Budget

   The first thing is first. Set a budget. If you ask yourself if this is really necessary, yes, it is. It is 1000% necessary. While you are setting a budget, I would also get a binder to make your wedding binder. Whether you want to or not, you are going to be purchasing a lot of things for your wedding, and it's best to keep all receipts together in case you need to return some things.

   Now, as far as setting a budget goes, I just downloaded a free spreadsheet online and printed it out. If you don't want to print one out, there are a lot of websites that have online budgeting and spreadsheets. Weddingwire.com and the Knot App were especially helpful for me because they had super helpful checklists plus budgeting, registry trackers, and online RSVP. I kept budgets on everything I made. My printed budget looked something like this:

   I didn't use all of the spaces, but it at least kept me on track. The goal is to set the absolute most you are willing (and have the ability to) spend on any certain thing. This was sort of a game for me. I'd set the amount, and see for how much cheaper I could get it, with quality, in reason. Mine and Josh's total wedding budget was around 11K. I think we actually ended up spending around 7K. A lot of our services were gifts from friends, and for that I'll be forever grateful. Which brings me to my next point:

2. Find Talented Friends Who Are Willing to Help

   I would first and foremost like to say that just because you have a photographer friend does not mean you should go up to said photographer friend and blatantly ask them to take pictures of your wedding for free. It's cheap and demeaning to them, especially if that is their only source of income, or if they work a job with low income. Even if they have plenty of money, they are not going to be willing to take 6-10 hours out of their day plus weeks in editing to take pictures of your wedding with no compensation. The same principle applies to other services. What I am meaning is to search out friends who render services, and ask them for quotes. In my experience, 9/10 times they cut us a deal or even offered the service for free as a wedding gift. If you are part of a church family, I would definitely recommend looking there first. In the spirit of the Lord, most people are more than happy to help you for free without you even asking. My church family is where my cake, sound, and officiant services came from, and they were all more than perfect. It's also worth noting that I tipped my friends anyway, even though they didn't ask to be paid, because I really appreciated their services (even though some of them returned the tips and refused any type of payment).

   The talented friend also applies to friends who have also been married before, who are good with money, or good with budgeting if you don't know where to start or how to begin.

3. Set a Guest List

   When you are setting your guest list, it's important to remember that you don't have to (and probably shouldn't) invite everyone you have known since kindergarten or on your Facebook. The more people you have at your wedding, the more expensive it's going to be. In our case, if our guest list exceeded 100 people, our security cost would double, so I tried to keep it at a minimum, only inviting close friends and family. A lot of people didn't understand this, and you'll probably make a lot of people mad in doing so, but it was important for me to cut costs wherever possible. At the time I was financing an 11k wedding by myself on a 20k salary. Long lost cousin Susie wasn't a priority on my guest list. People I hadn't seen or spoken to in years weren't a priority. I gave my husband a pen and paper and told him to invite whoever he wanted, but he also understood that we were trying to save money. Every penny saved helped, and honestly, the day went by so quickly I don't even remember a lot of the people who were there. If people truly care about you, they'll understand that married life is hard and will be eager to help you in any way they can, even if that help is not coming to the wedding. Most of my friends and family were understanding when I explained to them that we didn’t have the money to invite everyone we wanted. And at the end of the day, it's your wedding, nobody else's.

4. Do as Much as You Can Ahead of Time

   If you want to be so stressed out that you are incapacitated, then wait until the last second to book all of your services. I recommend, if you can, to book at least a year ahead of schedule. I didn't, and around four months before my wedding I was wondering how everything was going to get paid for.

  You will end up financing a lot of things, especially the more expensive things. Unless you have boat loads of cash just laying around, of course, and a lot of places will turn you down if you don't have an adequate time frame to finance. The most important of these are the wedding ring, your catering service, the venue, the cake, and your wedding dress. A lot of DJ and music services will also require you to book ahead of time. We did, but I ended up stressing anyway because our DJ canceled on us 2 weeks before the wedding.

  The process of looking for these people is pretty straightforward. I just googled the service I needed and made inquiries until I found someone within my budget. The venue will be slightly different though, as you'll want to tour venues and see which best suits your needs. It's also worth mentioning that before you choose a theme for your wedding, look at venues first. I originally planned for us to have a vintage wedding, but then we got married in a barn in Texas, so it ended up being a country fall wedding.

   The very minimum amount of time you want to have for your dress is six months, unless you are having a friend or family member make your dress. Besides it taking a long time to pick a dress out (for some of us, anyway), bridal boutiques need time to clean and do alterations on your dress. I went with David's Bridal, but I personally wouldn't recommend them. The first time I picked up my dress from cleaning, I was deathly ill, I had to wait for 3 hours after they said it would be done, and when I picked it up and drove almost two hours home, I noticed the next day that my dress had oil stains all down the front of it from the sewing machines. They eventually fixed it, and my dress turned out to be gorgeous, but I would rather not have had that stress, especially when I was running fever and lost my voice. Not to mention the arm and leg I paid for my dress. I know a few who have had similar experiences, but I also know some who have had great experiences with David's Bridal. Either way, it's up to you.

  Weddingwire.com had some great timelines to follow for booking all of your services. If you are past the month mark for booking your services, don't worry about it. I did the bulk of my planning in the last 6 months of my wedding (not recommended).

5. Wedding Shower and Wedding Registries

   I forget how early I made my registries. I think maybe 5 or 6 months in advance. Even if you are already living together and have house stuff, making wedding registries is a good idea because you can update all your stuff, or get new stuff that you've wanted for a while. People are going to buy you gifts regardless, so you may as well have lists people can shop from to avoid ending up with a bunch of duplicate gifts or useless stuff that will just sit in the garage or in the corner of the junk drawer in your kitchen for years to come.

  I registered with a variety of places. Amazon, Target, and Walmart were my top choices. I would especially recommend getting an Amazon registry because a lot of people are last seconders, and prime 1 or 2 day shipping will still give them a way to buy your gift even if it is the last second. Amazon was my most highly trafficked registry. Walmart was second, but a lot of people don't like shopping Walmart online because it can take up to two weeks for items to ship, and even if you go in store, most stores carry different products. Just because they have it online doesn't mean every Walmart (or any Walmart near you) carries it. When making your registries, don't be afraid to put anything and everything you could possibly want or need on there. I wish I had put more stuff on mine because nearly everything got purchased. I amended my registries right before the wedding, but very few gifts were purchased at that time.

   Your wedding shower is typically two months before the wedding, around the same time you send out the official invitations. A lot of people I knew didn't know what a wedding shower was, so here you go: A wedding shower is an event where people bring gifts to the new couple to usher them into their new life together, helping them settle in. No matter what you do, weddings will end up being expensive, and if you buy couples gifts, even small ones, it helps them out a great deal in the long run by helping them save money on house things they won't have to otherwise purchase.

6. Wedding Day Preparation

   Assemble a wedding day crew. Find people who are going to help you set up decorations, organize, direct, and put everything away once the event is over. It's easiest if you assign small duties to everyone who is helping you. I made lists of all my bridesmaids names, plus my grandparents, brother, parents, and aunt, who also came to help me set up. Under each name I wrote what I wanted them to do. It can be simple things like, “Decorate tables,”, “Set up head table,”, “Be in charge of handing out cake after the cake cutting,” or, “Decorate main stage.” Whatever small thing will make it easier for you, designate it to someone you can trust. My family was wonderful and helped me out more than I could ever thank them for.

   I also had a table chart everyone could reference, so when we were moving tables and chairs around, everyone had a picture of what I wanted everything to look like so they knew what I wanted without asking me. It's also important to set a wedding day timeline. Even before the ceremony starts, you want to have given time frames for any activities, including decorating, salon trips for hair and makeup, a love note exchange, or whatever else you want to do before the ceremony and during it. Unless, of course, your venue let's you decorate the night before, which ours didn’t.

7. Last Bits of Advice

   Your wedding day is going to happen one way or the other. Some things are just going to go wrong, and you have to let it happen and not worry about it. You're going to be married at the end of the day anyway.

   Do as much reading as you can on planning a wedding. Every little tip I read helped, and in the end, I think my wedding was perfect. The only thing I would have changed was shortening the ceremony a bit so we would have had more time for family pictures. The wedding itself ended earlier than I thought, but I wasn't going to complain. I was exhausted, and thankful to get to go to bed early.

   As my last piece of advice, turn your phone off on your wedding day and give everyone someone else's phone number to text or call for important questions. I designated my maid of honor for this task, but you could also use your mother or anyone else for this. Turn your phone off on your honeymoon too, or if you can't turn it off, don't answer text messages. And if you are that person who calls or texts on wedding day or honeymoon, unless it's of dire consequence, don't be that person.

Happy wedding planning!

[tipsycad147]

Collecting out-of-print Tarot decks

by Michelle Gruben

Every Tarot collector wants that one deck. The 1980s deck that you first learned to read with (and haven’t seen since). The indie Kickstarter deck you should have bought when you had the chance. The deck that everyone raves about that’s long overdue for a reprint.

As a lifelong collector (and occasional dealer) of Tarot, I know the agony of searching for those elusive decks. I’ve written this guide to help you round up the stragglers on your list. With a little sleuthing, patience, and (moderately) deep pockets, anyone can build the Tarot collection of their dreams. This article is geared toward those who buy Tarot decks for reading and study, rather than purely for collectible value. But if you happen to make money buying and selling Tarot, more power to you!

First, it’s helpful to understand why Tarot decks go out of print in the first place. Every time a Tarot deck is created, the publisher—whether it’s the artist or a publishing company—has to make a very risky bet. They have to settle on an initial print run, or the number of copies that will be produced. The publisher uses a current budget and past sales figures to arrive at this number, but it’s not an exact science.

If the number is too low, the deck will sell out quickly, disappointing customers. If the number is too high, the publisher could be stuck with unsold copies of the deck for years, tying up cash that could have gone to other projects. Print runs vary from 500 or fewer copies from indie artists, up to tens of thousands of copies from major publishers.

Most Tarot decks never see a second print run after the initial printing sells out. However, if the deck becomes extremely popular, the publisher may opt to put a new edition. Some titles are translated into other languages, and appear in multiple sizes and formats. A classic deck may even get an anniversary edition to mark a major milestone. Not all reprints are created equal, though. Sometimes, the print quality improves and errors are corrected in the new edition. Other times, the deck suffers from flimsy paper stock, “off” colors, and skimpy packaging.

Intellectual property issues can delay or block a re-issue. The Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley went missing for several years. The hiatus was due to a legal dispute between the Ordo Templi Orientis, which claims the rights to the artwork, and U.S. Games Systems, Inc., which has a contract to publish the deck. Eventually, a new edition made it to the market—but not before dealers went crazy hawking the out-of-print decks on eBay.

I’ll be the first to admit it: Finding rare and out-of-print decks isn’t easy. There are thousands of different Tarot decks, most from small print runs, and no centralized resources for collectors. In addition, serious Tarot fans tend to hold on to their decks for a long time—like, until death.

Your Tarot wish list

If you’re serious about filling out a Tarot collection, the first step is to make a wish list. Patience is a virtue when hunting for Tarot, so the list will help you focused during those long stretches of no luck. Write down the name, publisher, and any other particulars—like edition or language—for your desired decks. You can also arrange the wish list by priority (“Decks I Would Sell My Firstborn For” down to “Decks I Might Buy If the Price Is Right”).

Once your collection reaches a certain size, you’ll also want to keep an inventory of decks you already own. I don’t wish for anyone to be hovering around a stinky flea market trying to remember if they already have Motherpeace.

Ready to start chipping away at that wish list? Here's four places to look for rare Tarot and oracle decks:

1. Check online marketplaces.

eBay, Amazon, and AbeBooks are the most popular venues for used Tarot decks. Searching online listings is the fastest—but probably also the most expensive—way to get your hands on a long-lost deck. The three sites listed above have the largest selection of vintage Tarot. Generally speaking, used book lots and estate sales put Tarot decks in the hands of dealers, who pass them on to collectors. Search terms like “vintage,” “original” or “OOP” will show you the current haul of collectible decks.

Browsing these three sites is a good way to find out what a particular deck is worth—or at least, what dealers want it to be worth. I’ve seen mass-market decks that originally retailed for about $20 offered for $300 or more. And that’s without the deck being particularly rare or sought-after. Some dealers buy up all the current Tarot titles they can, just hoping that the publisher will sell out and the value of the deck will shoot up.

Don’t be discouraged if you find your coveted deck listed at an insane price. Remember, the value of something is only what someone else will pay. It’s often the case that the seller has no idea what the item is worth. They do know they have only one available, and they’re simply trying to get the best price from some eager collector. The seller may come down if no one bites, or if similar listings pop up. They will certainly come down if the deck is reprinted. If you’re willing to wait, it’s entirely possible that you might find the same title somewhere else for much less.

Try setting up alerts so you can be notified when your wish list items show up in listings. Large marketplace like eBay and Amazon usually support this function. Of course, if the deck you want is truly rare and at the top of your list, you may wish to snap it up as soon as you get a chance.

Online Tarot collecting is not without its risks. Read the listing carefully, and be sure to ask any questions before checkout. Because Amazon requires an ISBN number for listings (but doesn’t keep a complete catalog of ISBNs for out-of-print titles), sellers sometimes list old Tarot items under the wrong ISBN. It’s very disappointing to get the wrong edition (or worse, a book when you were expecting a deck.)

Also, don’t assume that people selling used Tarot decks on major sites know anything about Tarot. Some may be specialists, but some are liquidators who deal in all types of books and other items. Right now on eBay, there are decks with missing cards, decks described incorrectly, and newer editions passed off as vintage. Beware of “as is” listings and sellers who don’t describe the item thoroughly with words and photos. A reputable seller should at least be able to verify that all the cards are there and provide you with the publishing info from the box or booklet.

2. Scrounge around (in person).

Your second option is poking around in cluttered rooms that smell like books. (Poor you!)

Not a lot of metaphysical shops carry used Tarot decks. Part of the reason may be superstition, or clients' worry about the energy of previous owners clinging to the deck. But the bigger reason is probably the hassle. Every used deck has to be checked for condition and completeness. Most of the decks published in the 1980s and beyond just don’t have that much value, other than sentiment. As a shop owner, I can attest that the profit margin on new decks is small enough, and the margin on run-of-the-mill used decks is miserable. But it’s worth checking if your local occult store sells or trades vintage decks.

The next stop for scrounging will be the used book stores in your area. Because of pilferage, decks are usually kept behind glass or the front counter, so you may have to ask for them. Tarot can also show up at such unlikely places as estate sales, rummage sales, auctions, and library sales. Workers at these things don’t always know where to place the decks, so I check the New Age section, the games section, and the rare book shelf. (Unfortunately, the general public seems to think Tarot decks are worth a lot more than they are. Don’t be shy about setting them straight with a cash offer.)

When you run across vintage Tarot decks at a reasonable price, buy them all! Honestly, do it. Whether the decks are on your list or not, they’re really neat to rifle through and they don’t take up much room. They could be a useful bargaining chip when you meet with other collectors. (See #4, below.)

Magickal folks, you can use visualization and intuition to make a hard-to-find Tarot deck come to you. Put your intention out there, then go where your hunches and whims lead you. If you have access to a favorite image from the deck, print it out and put it with your collection. Or you can simply visualize yourself reading the deck or holding it in your hands. Then follow your nose and keep your eyes peeled for your new deck.

3. Contact the artist or publisher.

Through the wonders of the information age, it’s now possible to get in touch with nearly any (living) artist or author. It’s a long shot, but it just might yield up a Tarot deck or at least a hot tip.

Try sending a message to the deck creator through their website or Facebook page. Tell ‘em how much you love the deck, and how disappointed you are that you missed the limited edition, or gave away your personal copy, or lost it after revel fire that one night, or whatever. Then ask them if they know any way that the deck can be obtained.

Sometimes, artists will have a limited number of copies that they keep for family and friends. They may be willing to sell you one. Perhaps there’s been a second printing that you didn’t know about. Could be a bookstore in Winnipeg has some old stock. Maybe they’ll tell you about a new deck they’re working on that’s so awesome, you’ll cross the old one off your list.

Reaching out to artists that inspire you is usually very gratifying, even if it doesn’t land you a deck. Artists need love! For out-of-print titles stuck in purgatory, your message will at least demonstrate some interest, and possibly nudge them toward another print run.

I’m shy, so I’ll admit that this is not my favorite strategy of the bunch. Several years ago, I was desperate to get my hands on the rare-ish Alchemical Tarot by Robert Place. I got a large tattoo from the deck on my leg, and the plan was to send him a pic and ask if he had a deck to sell me. But I chickened out! I (Fortunately, it was later reprinted.)

Nowadays, I chat with lots of deck creators, and I’ve found them to be a great resource for finding those rare decks and special extras. Many creators are collectors, also. They’re often the first to know when a re-issue or new release is forthcoming. Re-issues always drive down the price of out-of-print decks, so this is useful intel whether you buy or sell Tarot.

4. Connect with other collectors.

Other Tarot collectors make wonderful fishing buddies. Whether you meet them online or in person, connecting with Tarot community will yield a wealth of information. They can help you set up trades, find new leads, evaluate purchases, and identify your decks. The only danger here is that your wish list will grow and grow!

If you have decks in your collection that you no longer want, other collectors will be happy to take them off your hands. Bring a handful of old decks to Tarot classes and spiritual book swaps, and they may find a happy new home. A Tarot meetup I used to attend had a monthly “Show and Tell” that very often turned into “Show and Sell.”

For many years, the leading online Tarot swap community has been on the Aecletic Tarot forums (registration required for most features). They are generally fair and knowledgeable folks. You can post buy/sell requests or show off your collection! Remember, the only thing better than finding a much-longed-for deck is helping someone else to do the same.

Happy collecting!

https://www.groveandgrotto.com/blogs/articles/collecting-out-of-print-tarot-decks

[gowild-rose-blog]

9/27/19 “Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself”

About a week ago I was in the US on the beautiful big island of Hawaii. My partner, Sam, and I went for vacation to see his family and do some exploring before his deployment to Afghanistan. A great pit-stop on my way from Washington State to Australia and lovely farewell. Mostly, we focused on the exploring. From snorkeling with sea turtles, to Balboa dance closes, to climbing through waterfalls. It was so nice to get the private tour of the island from the locals’ side of things.

There are few things on earth that I am truly afraid of, but swimming in dark waters is a good way to get my adrenaline going. We went to a spot only the locals would know about to explore a series of hidden waterfalls. The hike in was mesmerizing (and delicious). Everything was so green and lush. The trails lined with a wide array of tropical foliage, including lots of guava trees, lead the way to an exotic piece of paradise.

When we got to the river, I was blown away. A small reservoir opened up the lush jungle to show off several waterfalls cascading over lava rock in the distance. At first glance, the water looked incredibly inviting. The scene was like something from a movie, enticing and welcoming; it almost begged you to jump and go for a swim. Once we got to the edge of the water, however, is was clear—that the water was not actually clear. At all. We found a spot where it looked like there were probably, hopefully no rocks and began to put on our snorkel gear. I let Sam go first. He didn’t die or hit anything on the way in, so it seemed fine. Still, I paused for a long moment and considered my options. What was I really about to jump into? What kind of creatures swim around in there? Likely nothing to be worried about, but this was far from anything I’ve known growing up in the temperate pacific northwest where all you have to worry about is maybe a brown trout nibbling at your toes. Who knows what could be in there? It was either jump in or back out. (It was a very short consideration). Momma didn’t raise no quitter, and no way was I about to miss out on this epic dive. And so, I went.

Bombs away.

Life is like that sometimes. This is not the first, nor the last time I’ve felt the exhilaration of diving into the unknown. What is life, but a never-ending challenge to face our inherent fears? If there is one thing that scares me more than dark waters, it is to become too comfortable, too soft, too watered-down to face my fears. As the famous quote from Franklin D Roosevelt goes, “there is nothing to fear but fear itself”.  A truer statement, I’ve never heard. Though some find comfort in the familiar, I find the safety of usual routine life to be monotonous and bland. Something deep within my soul craves the adventure of discovery and exploration. To go new places, meet new people, and find a new fear to face. For better or for worse, this is the way my brain has been hard-wired to live.

The water looked something like soy sauce, dark and reddish. I couldn’t see anything past an arm’s length and once ran into a rock because it was really that murky that I could not see it until I was touching it. I’d go back and forth between keeping my head underwater for a long moment and looking above the surface to regain my bearings. It was nerve-racking, but also beautiful and more than worth it. We found caves that looked like old lava tunnels, climbed up slippery rocks through rushing water, dove off cliffs, and basked in the misty spray of the fifty-foot falls up the river. It still doesn’t feel real. Few times in life have I been disappointed in my decision to face a fear.

I find thorough back stories to be grueling and tedious, so let’s keep this short and simple. If you’re wondering what I went to Hawaii for and what I’m now doing in Australia, then here’s the long story short. Last Christmas I graduated from college, and as a graduation gift from the universe, my whole life fell apart. Thanks, universe. After that I got a full-time position in the lab where I had been working on campus while in school. Things were looking up, sort of. It was quite honestly a great job. Really. Sometimes I wonder why I ever left. I had a lovely apartment at a reasonable price, a great boss and coworkers, good pay, a regular gym routine and was in great shape because of it. I felt healthy and well-taken care of. The problem was that one night, I was lying in bed thinking about my life, and realized: I was far too comfortable. Life was good, but not fulfilling. As a single woman in her early 20s, with no student debt and complete freedom from any relational obligations, living like a 40-year-old woman with my nice little meal-prep routine and 9-5 job, I had to have a stern talk with myself. I had to move. I had to get out of town and challenge myself. I needed a new adventure.

I got a job working in Colorado as a wrangler—meaning I guided out horseback trail rides in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Not quite as cushy as working in the lab, but in a good way. I grew up with horses my entire life and wanted to get back into it because I had missed it while being in school. The work was easy, the people were exhausting for the first couple months. I no longer had the respect that I did from my previous boss. I was treated as a low-end employee that was completely disposable and was not paid what I was worth. However, I didn’t go for the money, nor for the respect. I went for the hard work, for the early mornings and long days, for the challenge, for the fresh mountain air, for the excuse to get paid (no matter how little) to ride a horse every day for work. I went because life is short, and if we measure our happiness by comfort, then we will miss out on so many opportunities to grow as an individual and overcome new obstacles.

Colorado was great, but it was only a summer job. My contract ended at the end of August and it was time for the next phase—another new adventure. I looked into various jobs for seasonal winter positions related to conservation work to get back into what I went to school for, but it was tricky trying to find something that had employee housing and seemed interesting enough to satisfy me. I began to stress out about how I was going to find something I would actually enjoy doing for the winter months. (This is a big deal to me because I struggle with seasonal depression and knew I needed to go somewhere that would be good for my mental health). I had a talk with my mom about it all and she put things into a better perspective for me. Again, I have no student debt. I am young, and I nothing to tie me down. Why worry about finding a job right away when I have enough savings to live on? Why not just travel and do something good for myself? Gosh I love my mom.

My first choice of places to travel to was Australia. I’ve wanted to come here ever since I was a little girl. Why I don’t know, but something in me is deeply attracted to Australia. I had a lot of doubts in my mind about the trip and still continued to look around for a real job, but nothing seemed right. I have been in constant prayer this year for God to lead where I am needed, where I can grow in Him, and to open and close doors where needed to ensure that I follow Him in the right direction. I couldn’t get upset about all the closed doors when I had prayed for them. Really, it was just God’s hand working in my life as I had requested.  

Traveling doesn’t scare me all that much. I’m used to going new places on my own and, in fact, thrive off the liberation of solo traveling. That’s not to say it’s always easy, but solitude in an unfamiliar place can teach you a lot about yourself—about myself. It was the lack of responsibility, of purpose, of structure and financial income that scared me. I was raised to be a hard-working woman, so going without a job or a real plan for a month or two was highly unsettling. It was for that reason that I realized this would be good for me. I put too much pressure on myself. My mom was right; why stress? This is a time to just do something good for myself and learn how to have fun and relax again.

Thus, here am I. In Sydney, Australia of all places, diving into the next unknown. If this is anything like the waterfall excursion, then I know it will be well worth it all.

I have a negotiation setup with a host just outside in Brisbane in a small rural town. The family that will be hosting me has an equine education facility and I will be helping them with their horses to earn my room and board. The program I went through is called Workaway. If you are interested in budget traveling, I highly recommend checking out his sight!

This week I am exploring the coast between Sydney and Brisbane until I meet up with my host. Stay tuned for pictures and videos of the beautiful eastern coast and all the exciting details along the way!

 Stay Wild,

 Rose

[wildflower8281]

Bike Life Deep Dive

Recap

I’ve been living the bike life now for almost a year and a half here in downtown Phoenix. After a small fender that busted up my beloved Max (Ford Taurus, very old, no AC, leaking roof, but helpful!) I decided to let him go, and with him, all the trappings of car ownership. For a trial run. I said I would try out the #bikelife for 3-6 months and see how I like it, see how or if I could adjust my lifestyle to it, and whether or not the bike life was overall something of true value for me, both internally and financially.

In my initial #bikelife post last year (Adventures in Not Owning A Car,) I enumerate the various financial benefits and reasons why the bike life was, for me personally, economically savvy. It has still most definitely proven so and I’ve adjusted even more to the lifestyle, having since made further changes and routines that create an easier flow for me. I continue to confess that I know that living this lifestyle is a privilege! I deliberately chose a home close to where I work and I have zero dependents, and my Aunt Barb has lent me her bike indefinitely as long as I live in Arizona (Thanks, Aunt Barb!) Also, for what it’s worth, I am very much an introverted homebody, so I’m not someone who is or constantly needs to be out and about. Thus, relying on Lyft for occasional trips is very within my budget. Also, since most of my social plans are with family or friends and happen relatively close to me, I gratefully take up their offers on rides and happily return the favor with coffee or drinks or gas money. Thus, this entire situation it’s not a life circumstance that most people are in and I know that. I am grateful for this season in my life when I can live this way and in this post, I want to explore and reflect beyond just the financial benefits, because the #bikelife has in many ways enriched my entire experience of the world.

The Nature Connect

The bike life connects me to the natural world. I used to think that Phoenix had pleasant weather pretty much year ‘round….until I began biking in it!!! While Phoenix may not “have weather” frequently, when it does, this place doesn’t mess around! If it’s not pleasant and sunny (which, honestly, it is like 80% of the year,) then it’s either extremely hot and dry reaching temps over 100 for weeks at a time, pouring monsoon-like storms or we are having the coldest winter since 2013! Phoenix doesn’t mess and when it actually allows weather into the Valley, it is always something extreme. But this is actually a positive point here! I have grown to love biking in the all the weathers! I am actually really proud to say that I bike to work in all the seasons here! I bike to work in the Arizona summers, and I bike on the mornings when it’s under 40! If you would have told me two years ago, that I would be biking to my job in under 40 degree weather, and enjoying it, I would not have believed you. But, I actually do enjoy it. Even for this girl who despises being cold generally, the Aliveness I feel each day I get to go outside, feel the weather and experience the Elements on my skin far outweighs any uncomfortable moments of cold hands in January or radiating heat on my neck during July. Biking brings me into the natural world each day, kind of whether I like it or not, and that daily dose of weather, even when it is extreme, is good medicine for my entire being! Its my few minutes of feeling the sun on my face or the rush of the cold. Many times it is the only 30 minutes I am outside on any given day. On some days when I’m just tired of packing my bag, putting on my helmet and going thru the routine, ultimately it’s the connect with nature in Her seasons that pull me through and never really let me down. I arrive to work refreshed and in a better mood, pretty much never fail! (Yes, I have my limits too: for monsoons and over 115 degrees, I use Lyft or call a neighbor, but that is literally under 10x a year!)

(Photo: Me in my usual bike get-up on a cold day, going home. Cred: Mirinda, also seen in reflection, encouraging as always!)

Less Stress

Biking also kind of just simplifies the commute. I have 2 choices each day: bike or walk. Both are relatively simple and low maintenance transportation styles. This season, I *may have* chuckled as I rode by various folks standing by their cars, waiting for them to heat up and melt the frost on their windshield.... 

In the summer, I ride by parked cars that are humming, as they build up their AC inside, so the owner doesn’t suffocate at 125 degrees upon entrance. In the 10 minutes it takes them to cool down their car, then sit in traffic, I’m having a peaceful bike ride, enjoying nature and arriving at the same time! It’s pretty fantastic most days! I ride by folks with flat tires, fenders, and cars that seem like they probably shouldn’t be cars anymore! I also know the awesome feeling of driving a car without AC here in the desert summer, as well as one that has an ironically leaking roof. In the desert, where one would not think much about rain problems or that a leaky roof would be an issue, it totally sucks during monsoon season! I feel the human with car troubles, believe me! I’ve had them too! However, these are all situations I have left behind and can very simply pedal by and be grateful that I don’t have to deal with or worry about them. Not owning a car just makes the daily commute a lot simpler!

(Photo: Unsplash)

Moving Meditation

I’ve learned I prefer the slower pace of biking and walking to work much more than driving. When I bike or walk to work, once I’m out of my neighborhood, I’m on some major streets where cars are whizzing by in their AC or heated seats, with radio blasting, trying to make it thru the ‘orange’ light! That was me for most of my former driving life, so no judgement here. I was a car owner from age 17-35, so I love a good car dance and I will never turn down heated seats! However, biking and walking are organically a much slower pace. They cause me to notice the plants, the trees, the flowers I pass by daily, and watch them transform through the seasons. Biking and walking allows me to enjoy the songs of the birds and say hello to all the neighborhood pups and kittens. I’m not being sappy here, these are things that truly make me happy. I’ve even noticed how the sun rises and sets at different angles in the sky, as the seasons change, which in some deep way makes me feel more connected to All That Is. On the way home, I get to revel in some of the best views of our Arizona sunsets, as I can linger wherever I want, stop and gaze at the sky and allow myself to be mesmerized by the palette of magenta pinks and fiery oranges. Not to mention inhale the yummy wafts of dinner that swirl through the evening air in Coronado (my eclectic neighborhood!) - Italian garlic and Indian curries are the usual fare! YUM! It’s delightful! These little nuances are imperceptible to the whizzing car with blasting music. The slower pace allows me to tune into the subtler moments, cycles and patterns of life, as well as engage my senses much more, all which for me, enhance my entire experience of the day, and consequently of the seasons in my own life. It is quite literally a moving meditation.

Gratitude

So, how is the bike life going, do I still like it, is it worth it?! Yes, for many reasons! Financially, it definitely is an amazing option that I have in my present situation. But, of even more value, are the daily, small ways that this lifestyle pulls me into the present, allows me to feel Nature into my bones and tunes me into the frequency of the Elements. For me, these consequences are gifts that I did not intend and for which I am daily grateful.

(Photo: Sunset taken on a ride home from work.)

[iqbalriaz]

HOW TO GET YOUR FIRST 1000 SUBSCRIBERS ON YOUTUBE – 2020 (5 TIPS)

 HOW TO GET YOUR FIRST 1000 SUBSCRIBERS ON YOUTUBE – 2020 (5 TIPS)

TIP #1 – MINDSET

Alright so the first tip that most people typically tell you to start with is to choose a niche, which is definitely a key tip that we will be discussing next…

But before any of that I truly believe the most important tip I can give, especially if you haven’t started YouTube yet… is having the proper mindset.

Because YouTube is a big commitment. You know this already if you’ve started your own channel..

But it’s going to take you much longer to create & edit a video than the ONE minute it takes to take a picture and upload it to Facebook or Instagram.

However, there’s a big reason why it takes this extra time…

And that’s because the videos you upload on YouTube don’t fade off into the abyss after 5 hours of posting (if that).

I literally have videos I created over a year ago on my channel that still get me views, subscribers, and money… to this day.

But when I post a picture on facebook it’ll last like a day and a picture on instagram lasts a few hours!

So yes, it’s definitely more work up front… but it continues to pay off for months and years to come.

And that’s a big problem with a lot of people.

All they see is how long it will take to do… not the insane amount of passive income that you can make from YouTube videos.

Because when starting out, things WILL be slow.

That’s honestly why so many people give up on their businesses because they’re so use to working a job and getting paid every hour worked.

And that’s not how it works with businesses or with YouTube…

But after a certain amount of hours and work you put in, you will make much more than you will ever make from an job that pays per hour.

So that’s why mindset is so important.

You have to try and remember why you started to begin with.

Whether that’s because you want freedom or you want to buy your parents a house or spend more time with your loved ones…

Because its not going to be easy… but it will be the most rewarding thing you ever do if you put in the work upfront.

So just make sure you don’t think that you will be getting rich overnight on YouTube like these gurus promise you…

This requires hard work and dedication… and there’s no shortcuts in business or in youtube.

Also, since we’re on the topic of shortcuts…

A lot of people think that buying views and subscribers or doing sub4sub is going to help.

And it will get your numbers higher, but not only is it against YouTubes terms and you can get your account banned for that…

But it actually ruins your channel.

People who buy views end up killing their average watch time on their videos because of it and people who do sub4sub end up having a higher subscriber amount but their videos have super low views so it makes their channel look even worse.

So make sure you’re going in with the right mindset and you don’t try and take shortcuts…

Because they really don’t exist.

I do have one tip I’ll be showing you that has allowed me to fast-track my subscriber count, but if you don’t watch all the way through you won’t get to see that, so make sure to keep reading!

TIP #2 – PICKING THE RIGHT NICHE

Now, picking the wrong niche could absolutely destroy your channel.

And a niche basically means picking an industry or a type or types of videos you’ll make around a specific industry.

Assuming you’ve already started YouTube, this would just mean making your videos more specific.

Which is something I see so many new YouTubers doing soooo wrong.

They just start uploading videos about the most random stuff.

Like they’ll be uploading videos about college one day, fitness the next day, and then football the next day.

And that’s just about the worst thing you can do for your YouTube channel.

Because any subscribers you to get, they may be interested in the video they watched that made them subscribe but if the other videos you make have nothing to do with that video… 

then your subscriber count is basically just a vanity metric at that point with a bunch of people who aren’t even interested in your videos.

So when you’re first starting out you really want to try and choose a niche that has appeal to a crowd that is passionate.

A lot of people say you have to be passionate about what you talk about, and it’s definitely helpful for sure… but sometimes you just gotta try and find something that you like and that has a group of PEOPLE who are passionate about that niche.

Like for me, I really didn’t feel passionate about what I started with, but the longer I do YouTube I figure out what I’m passionate about and what you guys like the most.

But just try not to get hung up on this too much.

Because at the end of the day you can always switch your niche at anytime or start a new channel with a different niche.

But I will say that the 3 evergreen niches are health, wealth and relationships.

And those are the best niches to go into.

So you’ll want to choose a sub-niche of one of those main evergreen niches.

Like for example, for wealth… you have personal finance, make money online, etc.

For relationships you have parenting, dating, etc.

And you can go even more niched down than that too. 

But it’s just about doing research on other YouTuber’s and finding out what you like the most and going with it.

TIP #3 – LEVEL UP YOUR B.A.V.L.

Now the next tip I would give again assuming you’ve already started on YouTube and you’ve already picked your niche…

I would tell you to level up your B.A.V.L.

And you’ve probably never heard that before.

But all it means is:

Background

Audio

Video

Lighting

Most people only talk about their audio video and lighting but the background can be just as important.

I mean have you ever watched a video with someone who’s recording in a messy room? I Know I haven’t.

And this doesn’t necessarily mean spending a bunch of money.

Upgrading your background could literally just mean cleaning up your room.

And as far as audio video and lighting…

my entire setup cost me less than $300.

Literally.

So you don’t need some ridiculously expensive camera or lighting to make your setup look good.

And sometimes simple is better anyways.

These are just some of the things I’ll be teaching in my YouTube beta program, along with how I make high ticket commissions on YouTube.

So if you want to get a personalized experience where I walk you through step-by-step and support you on YouTube…

I have 1 spot left, so make sure you apply today before it’s too late.

But like I was saying, you don’t need to buy anything crazy.

The most expensive piece of gear I have is a $100 or $120 blue yeti microphone. 

And there’s even budget microphones you could get that sound just as good.

Otherwise, I have a $50 webcam, some $10 light stands with DIY lighting from Home Depot.

And there’s so many videos out there that can help you figure out what works for your budget.

But honestly, this tip is pretty important.

Yes, you can use your cellphone and use a window for lighting – which is fine if that’s all you can afford…

But if you really want to take YouTube seriously, spending $200-$300 to upgrade your gear can make a huge difference and give your audience a better experience for sure.

TIP #4 – FOCUS & BE CONSISTENT

This is honestly one of the most important tips I can give you for anything in life, especially YouTube.

Going back to mindset, there are NO SHORTCUTS, period.

And if you want to be successful with anything… you have to be consistent and you have to focus.

Let me just tell you a quick story.

When I first started YouTube I wanted to upload 3 videos a week.

Before i ever uploaded my first video I recorded and edited 18 videos.

So that’s 6 weeks worth of videos, 6×3 is 18.

In 8 weeks, I ran out of videos.

So I only created 6 videos in 8 weeks.

The reason this happened is because I wasn’t focused.

Before I started on YouTube, all I was doing was focusing on creating those 18 videos and I crushed it.

But after I started posting, I started losing focus.

I started trying to do blogging, posting on linkedin, twitter, instagram, facebook. Fb groups, etc.

I even tried hiring a social media manager for $500 at one point.

Not to mention I was still working at this time.

So i couldn’t be consistent.

Then I decided I was going to upload 1 video a week, make that video high quality and stay consistent.

Then I started focusing on that and only that, along with my 1 support platform, which was my facebook.

And I actually started growing faster but uploading less.

So it’s absolutely crucial that you pick a upload schedule and you stay consistent and focus on that.

Don’t try to do all these other business models or platforms, pick your 1 main platform which should be youtube if you’re trying to grow on youtube, then pick your one support platform.

Some people use a second support platform, but it all depends on how much time you have to invest into your online business.

And while we’re talking about support platforms, this leads me into the next tip.

TIP #5 – GET ON TIKTOK!

And I’m not even kidding about this.

In the last few months I’ve grew to over 75,000 followers on TikTok and it absolutely blew up my YouTube channel.

Nowadays I still get some views from TikTok but what tiktok allowed me to do was to show YouTube that my videos were getting good engagment and then YouTubes alogorithm started pushing my content to more people on YouTube and it exploded my growth.

But basically everytime I upload a YouTube video, I make a shorter version of that video on TIkTok and at the end of the video I tell people to go watch the full video on my YouTube channel and link to my YouTube channel in my tiktok bio.

Then right when my YouTube video goes live, that tiktok goes live and the video gets so much more views and engagement and it shows YouTube that people like the video…

And that helps fast-track your growth like crazy!

So I definitely suggest hopping on TikTok and following all of these tips.

I truly believe this is the one thing that could be considered somewhat of a shortcut.

Because it definitely fast-tracked my subscirber count 100%.

It took me over 8 months to get to 500 subscribers and as I showed you at the begining I gained over 3700 subscribers in 28 days.

That’s the power of YouTube and TIkTok combined.

And I don’t know if TikTok will be like this forever, it probably wont.

Even today, more people are getting on tiktok.

But still, the organic growth it can give you is insane.

However, a lot of people are doing things wrong.

They are only focusing on TikTok.

But they aren’t syphoning those people onto other platforms that will be around way longer…

Like YouTUBE.

Which is what I do in all of my tiktok videos.

via Blogger https://ift.tt/3l6GYqw

[entrepreneurblogmotivational]

Lessons For Female Entrepreneur

In order to find out just how many of those women have reached success in the business world, we've interviewed a number of female entrepreneurs that have shared their experiences of establishing a new enterprise.

First we talked to Michelle Symonds, the Founder and Director of Ditto Digital.

What made you choose to start the company?

I was working in town for a sizable blue-chip organisation for several decades so wanted to exchange my long commute for something that would give me a much better work-life equilibrium but also allow me to be my own boss. Earlier in my career I'd worked for a tech start-up so had dreamt of owning my own business. And I eventually got to the point in my life where I was prepared to take the danger of going it alone. The internet world was booming and it seemed the ideal time to build in my existing IT/Web abilities and develop the new skills that were increasingly in demand. It was about the beginning of the recession but that did not appear to be influencing the online market and I could see that SEO (search engine optimisation) and digital marketing were becoming essential to all businesses.

How can you finance the business?

I had some economies I could rely on but, as a consultancy business, my company needed very little money to begin. Together with my current IT/web abilities I was able to build the company website myselfand together with my existing network of connections (and a bit of help from PeoplePerHour) I managed to secure my first clients. Also because I work from home, and today employ others who do exactly the same, we don't have the overheads of renting office space. For anyone considering starting up a consultancy or support company with limited funds I'd say -- if you truly believe in your idea -- then do it! There's far less financial risk than just starting a business selling or manufacturing solutions.

Can you face any financial difficulties and how can you overcome them?

I've been very fortunate not to have faced any significant financial difficulties and that has been helped by the fact that I have such low costs. But working from home or within an inexpensive business hub is now technically easy with broadband so easily available together with cheap video conferencing centers. Therefore many professional individuals now work from home which it's almost becoming the standard so -- in several ways -- this makes it easier for people to begin their own business.

What financial information do you have for entrepreneurs seeking to start a new enterprise?

I must have more thoroughly researched how long each action would take and then stuck into that moment. Rather I committed to a predetermined cost and then had to deliver even though it meant doing a lot more hours than that I was billing to get the job done. I believe in a predetermined price for a determined quantity of work because customers know exactly what they are getting, but today the pricing structure we use gets the advantage of 6+ years' experience. So I would always advise new small business owners offering a consultancy service (or any other agency ) to set their costs or fees accurately with as much information as they can find; and regularly review the prices to make sure the business is making a decent profit.

Next was Bethan Vincent, the Manager of Vincent's Coffee. She also taught us how she stepped the ladder to success along with her luxurious coffee shop industry.

What made you opt to start the business?

I started my first company, Vincent's Coffee, straight out of college. I'd just finished a History and was very uncertain about what I wanted to do with my life, especially from a career perspective. I knew I would find it untenable to follow the path of a lot of my classmates and grind away in a corporate career. I wanted to do something that was, in some manner,"good" which I could be passionate about. I realised that I could combine two of my profound interests, equality and coffee, into an actual business.

How can you fund the business?

I had been lucky enough to have a steady job during university and had rather a great deal of personal savings behind me (let's just say it might have been one hell of a gap year fund). I was also very lucky to find a personal investor early on, who was able to match my private investment. As of yet, I have not needed to take out a loan. However, this is something I would consider in the future as part of a development strategy.

Did you face any financial difficulties and how can you overcome them?

I believe I have had a slightly different experience financially than others, as initially I suffered from not spending enough on the essential things, such as a good accountant, etc.. It's always helpful to tightly manage your cash-flow, but if you try to cut a lot of corners, then you will end up paying more for them later on. I learnt this the hard way, especially in areas such as marketing and branding, which took a very long time and a great deal of cash to get right. Stick within your budget, but do not be afraid of spending (apparently ) large amounts when it comes to the core needs of your business.

What financial advice do you have for entrepreneurs seeking to start a new enterprise?

Always budget for 40-50% more than you believe you will need in your preliminary business plans, particularly when intending start up capitol. Prices can easily spiral out of control, even when you're trying to bootstrap. Additionally, if you don't wind up spending that cash in the beginning, it is going to act as a very useful physiological and financial buffer if you happen into issues later.

She speaks of her trials and tribulations in her road to victory in the company world.

What made you opt to start the company?

I have always been passionate about fashion but more particularly bikinis. Growing up in sunny Florida I spent my youth on the beach surfing and surfing volleyball and using a stunning bikini proved to be an essential part of my wardrobe. I was looking to find a niche company that could combine my passion for bikinis with some thing that individuals would find worth in. In my search I noticed that many of our regional luxury bikini designers had little to no internet presence. I achieved to a couple of, specifically to start Montce Swimwear and Peixoto Swim and offered to sell and promote their merchandise online. As the sales began to roll in I reached out and added more brands and new workers gifted in SEO and SEM.

How did you finance the business?

Bootstrapped with economies I had intended to buy a condominium with, I took a chance and put it all down BikiniLuxe instead!

Did you face any financial difficulties and how can you overcome them?

Absolutely, I've had multiple offers from investors looking to buy part or all of the company. The toughest part of conducting a seasonal business is understanding when to spend and what to invest in, in my case what swimwear brands will be sexy and triumph. 1 example of a new that I actually adore and has discounted is Frankies Bikinis, a new that I truly support and think will take over the tranquility scene. The designer Francesca Aiello was the youngest designer to ever show at Miami swim week and she's incredibly talented. Her mom Mimi runs the company with a velvet iron fist and is truly someone that I admire. As for overcoming financial difficulties, all I can say is that it has boiled down to careful management of financing a fantastic bookkeeper and accountant and amazing custom prediction applications which not only helps us spot the trends but retain what's hot and selling in stock!

What financial advice have you got for entrepreneurs looking to begin a new enterprise?

If you truly need to succeed as an entrepreneur you need to choose something you are passionate about. When you're passionate about your company then the 16 hour work days fly and do not feel like work at all. One other important bit of information is choose a niche that isn't over saturated or one that you've got some unique angle on that nobody else has. If you combine these two things you are off to a fantastic beginning. I could honestly say that starting BikiniLuxe has been one of the hardest yet most rewarding things that I have ever done in my life.

Therefore, if you're a female with an entrepreneurial mindset who attempts to prepare the company of your dreams, then take a chance and make it happen. Should you set up a business on which you're passionate about, then you'll always like what you do. Spreading your passion might be a mere desire, but if you really do want to share it with other people then you need to take the plunge and install your business. A couple of successful entrepreneurial ladies have shared their own experiences and lended us knowledge about how they overcame their company hurdles and stormed their way to victory. All company' face trials and tribulations, but the secret to success is staying strong and beating these. Just take the chance, be open to dangers and learn from mistakes to drive your business to the peak of its own success.

[dorothydelgadillo]

Does Using Free DIY Graphic Design Apps Hurt Your Brand Image?

If you have ever hired or contracted a designer I’m sure you are aware of the pretty penny that process can cost you.

As a designer who has worked freelance for many years, cost was one of the biggest pain points in working with new clients.

Many people (especially those unfamiliar with the design world) tend to think of design as a product instead of the service that it truly is.

With the introduction of Fiverr in 2010 (selling design services, amongst other services, starting at $5) many people’s assumptions that design could and should be *cheap* (or “lean” as Fiverr likes to call it) were affirmed.

Shortly after came the next wave of low-cost design. DIY Design.

Platforms like Canva (which launched in 2012) allowed users with no design background to create their own graphics using templates and plug and play tools with little to no cost. Great, right?

Not so fast…

The Value of Good Design

Before we get too far into DIY design, let’s get one thing straight: The real value of good design.

In a nutshell, good design creates a sense of professionalism.

It doesn’t matter how young your company is, if your branding and design are well-thought-out and original, you will automatically exude more credibility than a company’s that doesn’t.

This outcome may be hit or miss when it comes to DIY design.

DIY Design is a lot like DIY home improvement in some ways.

Yes, you probably could figure out how to retile your entire bathroom on your own, but I’m sure hiring a professional would be quicker, more efficient, and give you some peace of mind in knowing the job is done right.

Graphic designers are trained professionals and have years of experience and knowledge that you simply cannot replicate with a DIY software.

And again, like home improvement, with graphic design, you often get what you pay for.

Using quick cheap alternatives often leads to rushed, thoughtless, templated work.

When considering the upfront cost of hiring a designer, think of everything that you’re actually getting like idea brainstorms, professional opinions, drafts, revisions, mockup reviews, file exports.

You can even ask for an itemized invoice or proposal up front so you can see what tangible value you will be getting from your direct cost.

The Pros & Cons of DIY Graphic Design Tools

There are also actually hidden costs of using a DIY Design platform that you probably haven’t considered.

Let me break this down for ya’ in a good old fashioned Pros and Cons list.

Pros

Available templates can help create quick and easy graphics for social media, web pages, or other collateral. If you need something in a pinch and don’t have the time to wait on a designer, a template in one of these tools may help you get what you need done quickly.

Doing some DIY design may allow you to save your design budget for bigger, more important projects you may have down the road. If your budget is limited, you may not want to use it all on social media graphics for the quarter or one infographic. Prioritize what is important to you, or even consult with a designer to see where they think their help will be most valuable to you.

User-friendly software allows you to easily create or change up a graphic without the help of a designer.

Cons

Popular templates can be easy to spot. Now that these platforms have grown in popularity, you run the risk of your content looking unoriginal.

The results may not be exactly on-brand. Since these platforms don’t always give you full design control and you may not have clear brand guidelines to work with, the end product may come off looking off brand or not branded at all. This can make your work look low quality or in-cohesive, creating a poor experience.

Like with all new software you come across, there may be a learning curve on how to use it. Really the learning curve means that this might not be such a quick fix for you after all.

May save you money but not time. Yes, you may save upfront dollars by not hiring a designer, but how much time is that graphic going to take you to make. How much is your time worth?

Let’s also consider the “Jurassic Park” principle here... Just because you can, doesn’t mean that you should. Graphic designers are experts in their field, with years of education, practice, and insight that you probably just do not have.

Online Design Softwares are handy but simply aren’t as comprehensive as professional software like Photoshop or Sketch. This means you will not have as much control over the final product as a designer would. While you may have a brilliant, cutting edge idea, a DIY tool may not be able to bring it to life the way a designer could.  

But Do DIY Graphic Design Apps Hurt Your Image?

I can’t give a definitive answer on whether or not you should or should not use “over the counter” design apps.

I honestly think it comes back to a case by case basis.

I’ve seen people that were able to create very brand-faithful materials with some simple coaching or direction, but also situations that were completely off target.

If the graphics you (or even a professional) create are of low quality or not visually appealing, that reflects poorly on your brand.

It tells your audience that you do not care about quality and if you don’t care about the quality of your own brand, that tells your audience you might not care about the quality of your products and services either.

There are so many things both small and large that could contribute to having a low-quality graphic. I could never name them all, but here are a few that I see in amateur print and web media constantly:

Stretched or distorted fonts

Too many different fonts being used together

Using type that is either too small or too large

Text that is difficult to read

Pixelated or low-resolution imagery

BAD STOCK PHOTOS (yes, I am yelling)

Using long URLs instead of short ones that are easy to type

Not including brand recognition at all (like a logo or URL)

If you don’t have a designer on staff, before you start using DIY tools, I have a few recommendations.

First off, perhaps you can have a designer create a template, or multiple templates, that any non-designer on your team can reuse with a few simple changes.

This could be made in a program you already use like Google Docs, PowerPoint, or Adobe Acrobat, or even in one of the many online user-friendly, DIY software (we’ll get to those below).

Maybe you only have to change out some wording, an image, or an icon but this allows you flexibility and peace of mind in knowing that what you’re doing is on-brand.

Another option is to have a designer create a branding guide that will guide your hand when you’re behind the wheel.

A branding guide can include guides for color, logo usage, typeface usage, as well as image and icon direction.

If you must DIY, there are some great tools out there…

  Canva

With its extremely easy-to-use interface and countless templates, you’re sure to find a good starting place on Canva. They have a wide variety of icons, graphics, and fonts to choose from and even let you upload your own images.

They also have a great resource space that will help you learn some basic design skills to get you started.

Though their basic service is free, you are locked into what features you can use. To use the premium features, you’ll pay $9.95 per month per user. You will also find that if you want to use some of the graphics or images you may have to pay $1 per graphic.

  Stencil

Describing itself as “ridiculously simple image creation for social media marketers, bloggers, and small businesses, ”Stencil is specifically geared toward social and web images, which I honestly think is one of the best places to experiment with a little DIY.

Similar to competitors, Stencil will start you out with a free account, but limits what you can do with it. For full access, you will have to pay $12 per month for “Pro” Access or $15 per month for “Unlimited” Access.

  Piktochart

Different from the other software I’ve mentioned Piktochart is directly focused on infographics, presentations, and print and their templates reflect as much.

Piktochart comes in as the priciest DIY’er offering a free basic account, but to unlock full access you will have to pay $24.17 per month for “PRO” Access or $82.50 per month for “PRO Team” Access.

What Now?

So, will using a DIY design software hurt your brand image? No -- but using a DIY design software poorly will.

My best advice if you are going to give DIY a try is to use your best judgment, stay on-brand, and always get a second set of eyes on your design, especially if you know those eyes will give you the harsh truth you might need to hear.

Spend the money on good design when you can.

Good design like buying yourself a good pair of shoes is always worth the investment.

Figure out your design budget and outline what is most important to you, or again, consult with a designer who can help you determine this.

Even if all you can budget is getting help setting up a set of brand guidelines, it can make a world of difference in how your brand looks both in print and web mediums.

from Web Developers World https://www.impactbnd.com/blog/does-using-free-diy-graphic-design-apps-hurt-your-brand-image

[coguboqa-blog]

Easiest System Ever review and (Free) $21,400 Bonus & Discount

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You will dropship from places like àmazon and Walmart tо ebay clients and your visitors will TREASURE one they have dozens of thank you letters for EACH successful product. This is basically the form that is easiest of arbitrage and you may love exactly how easy this is. The moment people shall go are living, people can exрect to render ѕales. Month Step #5 - 5/Figures And be able to they jump into Module #5 that will be all about Scaling. People'll reveal why to start scaling to reach 5 figures a month wіthout any kind paid traffic. Іt's a bit additional advanced but it's also exceedingly simple and rapid and anyone won't feel this after doing this a limited times. After a whilе it takes exclusive an lesson a day or so. Step #6 - Information Expansion Ways And last and not least, Module #6 - concealed Extra Strategies. In here they may be sharing additional, secret and REALLY sturdy strategies tο make more money with additionally less effort. 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[covetousness-blog]

Trove Promo Codes

{At this point these factors also permitt Trove Flux Generator to tell apart per se from almost every other dramatically multiple-person lev tool by checking out having all zones My beloved foundation was obviously a re-continuing development of Sauron's tower of Barad-d衩�Individuals appear to depict Super Guy ranges, for the reason that must have a evidently unending succession of timed advances to get the player's health concoction refill station as well as other service cardboard boxes. Weapons readily share the exact same vast array, with models like guns and swords working the gamut from horrifying to silly. |{is the perfect method to get a diverse cast. Quite a few enemies go walking exterior planet if you need to try out your skills on any ol' component, but the majority of the behavior will happen in the loads of dungeons dotting the country side. Looking for a group of people is frequently only dependent on viewing precisely where other enthusiasts like the limelight are cycling to find out what they have to are approximately. Trove Flux Generator remains increasingly popular on Steam due to the fact its earliest all around the base back again on that the hot months 9--seriously popular, seriously, that to this day, queues generally give me looking forward to 30 minutes for an hour or so right before I'm capable of enter into. worlds by using the fulfillment of young people fairly recently unveiled all around the playground. It will not wounded that Trion's new MMOG has about as benign an entirely entirely free-to-have fun with playing brand for the reason that get, as they can get the majority of the premium coins important to pay money for services new instructional classes or new brackets fairly without difficulty. Because it changed out that certain detail was the right amount of to wholly improvement my know-how and my thoughts all around the lev tool. wished for remain substantially for a longer time. |attentive Voice of experience? No, from all…what gave you that perception? Trove Flux Generator is rather getting a imitation 8-touch appear to be how they complete splendidly. But, be sure you the 8-touch days of tools (if you are of more than enough aging). Making use of the incorporated independence to undertake anything you want without notice. But Trove Flux Generator is wonderful for individuals who passion learning MMOs single. The disposable experiencing factor implies that people could without difficulty hear it together with each other. “Hundreds of plenty of people are learning it, so there has to be a thing important regarding this. Under the chaos would be the incredible cuboid panoramas of Minecraft, some spun into modern |I looked in on Mojang’s time-determining lev tool the 1st amount of time in ages a new few days, and this i was struck merely because when sombre and bizarre it was, how totally zero-populist it's even though it has become the avatar of populism. developing outside of More than likely for that reason, I couldn’t use just about any indications of proper neighborhood: chat is just jam packed with regular people requesting amounts to participate trickier dungeon functions, to aid those to damage their itching for extra, extra, extra. To this day, even as i touch upon how skeptical and hollow it's, a thing on the back of my head itches: “go back again, get a enhanced tool, perform a new dungeon, locate a more rapid position.” Self-loathing halts me, but when I was not a grown up male who is certain themselves earlier on is usually besides the fact that he represents tools to get a bloody living, I possibly would come back. If together with each other or by themselves, toiling away from you at wonderful systems is something that you can do close to you want, while not having to put in a cent. It is running. aimed on the The tools sell is an extremely derivative a particular, so whatever allures game players is usually well worth being forced to end up paying concentrate on merely because in the end it’ll impact tools you cherish. Maintaining his filmography as high as illustrate a painter overlooking to provide article content intended for parents is similar to calling out Kim Kardashian for overlooking to are actually extraordinary strides in your community of theoretical science. 2) Means which could be targeted completely at young people |I can’t aid but have enough guide am undesirable considering that lev tool appearances the manner in which it is going to. statements. It had been the most effective of It isn't like we’d disregard the lego The Telltale Lego tools are involving having to spend a whole lot of opportunity to become more across the globe engaging, as an alternative for essentially trawling. It can be uncomplicated to do it again the graphics are noisy and shouty while not having to say how Minecraft performed a much more acceptable project in web marketing following. hopeless to Yup, loved this Though Trove Flux Generator is something I’ve rarely played and a lot most likely won't. For whatever reason many of the Meer spectators required in the negative speech behaving banner ad and this i remember pretty experiencing the behaving for the reason that respected game…. this kid isn't a critic, he is just a hater indicating his opinion that is not going to know what Voxelization is -.- If the may sound like an assessment now, then I'll be considered an critic soon so, contribute to this mindless kid doesn’t even participate in the lev tool legal right, not to say be aware of words to become a good quality lev tool critic, he just areas his opinion, which you'll Not do inside a assess, except for when |keep in mind you make them aware, but he continues to have to appearance inside a pro way, devoid of growing any views somewhere around. thought of as a critic, all that's needed do is identify a person wanting to pay out to construct. It isn't several randomization or things, all the same i think it is persuasive the right amount of to truly force my explorer control keys. It may be pleasant in the have possession of way, but it is nearer to what Alec relates to earlier on: rush, rush, rush, value, value, value. about it's entirely free. SO? What’s incorrect by using this? Its a voxel lev tool like cube planet as well as some others. He’s indicating that your outdoor activity is cynically and really designed to subconsciously invite little children and them having to spend (or aiming to put in) their parents’ revenue. I’m sorry, you can definitely you merely add “420” in your own description identity, you relinquish alright to many other regular people mindless. (remember to keep in mind that this can be sarcasm and this i do not really think that destitute folks are scum) “He acknowledged that it must be organization development was pretty wretched, that has been real.” Clicking the little By should you boot the game up, the shop fades away. find out Any major component is free of charge. That include time placed in education or at your workplace. |I really do not concern yourself about farmville, but merely because prolonged because doing so money Trion to allow them to keep on delivering Rift (Which can be, IMO, the most effective Incredible trend MMO out), then I’m happy with it. categorization Do anything whatsoever you appear to be, benefit from the lev tool if you want it, do not enable everyone inform you othervwise. What performed Trove Flux Generator/Trion do in order to you you want to detest inside so hard? And for that reason damaging so -.- You're (if that's the fact) an awful lev tool I recieve it tho, Uber 6 Shadow World and equipment is probably waaaay far too really difficult for everyone. You draw in web marketing so damaging that you just suspect that which you just authored. you’ve rarely Also, considering that you descended to low-open, worthless attacks about Alec’s skillsets much like a online gamer informs me you do not honestly have things favourable to talk about. This is sometimes a web page brimming with medieval nerds who improved up performing facilitates put together by adolescent enthusiasts without the budget. I’m lucky i fit into with just a few teams with great regular people :) TIL Trove Flux Generator is advertised towards… Girls and boys? Also, these assholes in the statements. I would not lose exploring with regards to subject matter. |Sorry. Also indepth equipment malfunctions. Or was. Happy to listen to you’re weaned out that dependence, fearful that point hasn't arrived yet still personally myself I’ve look at this assess right before, only it was a new journalist, a new year, bashing Seriously for it is continuing Integrate bathtub of quests and loot and benefits. |sorry m8, well written articles (anything you wanna refer to it as) that starts with “I do not including visuals”, then procedes to “I only wager some additional quantities fully developed tools for fully developed regular people like myself personally - minecraft solo” after which stops with growing elementary equipment incorrect (you have I hear it merely because Cube Marketplace is inside of limbo. may very well on top of that It is grindy undeniably, but there’re lots of different activities to do can you want a ruin from working dungeons. Just due to the fact It truly shows up just like you just logged in, considered the shop, walked all over a touch after which departed, devoid of truly learning it. in the business are credits only, you do not get loads of entirely free credits. disagree making use of Minecraft is known as a (nearly always earliest person) success lev tool in which you dwell out of your suppliers regarding you to make a spot to live in and get through. Even though the style of It will make feelings of vagrancy. Now, there's a particular major, glaring defect with Trove Flux Generator’s grow approach you want to have fun with playing to get a prolonged time to reach some snug level of building flexibility. |an adequate At gatherings, Trove Flux Generator practically has a tendency to get pleasure from the grind for loot and this will wonderfully impact just a few diet program its equipment. Irrespective of staying pleasant experiencing, Trove Flux Generator is ideal played in short bursts because of duplicated lev tool have fun with playing and super quick dungeon finalization gatherings. This really is all you should control precisely where Pinata Invaders spawn, but at the end you can contribute a Refurbishment Station to refill your flasks, a person pectoral and Loot Collector to handle the loot, together with a Selling and buying Publish to deal your goodies. Programs Darkish nights If you ever look for actual facts, proper rights, together with a finely chiseled jaw bone, unsheathe your sword much like a stalwart Darkish nights. more rapid, and Occupied Burnt Featuring - Throws a Dragon Idol that has to obviously be smacked 4 Most significant Avatar of Flame - Enhance right into a living embodiment of draconic rage. Trion Worlds’ voxel MMO adventure lev tool Trove Flux Generator goes in Start Beta nowadays for Ps 4 and Xbox A good. You will find many enemies, NCP’s and zones you discover appearance important, but absence context. incorporated a I love this specific resist. |{Minecraft-esque building approach. As soon as in the beginning come to have fun with playing, Trove Flux Generator is known as a cakewalk. There are lots of to some degree obtuse equipment and 2 heads are superior to a particular. {}The Turn sort of Prize Trove Flux Generator offers the newest Shovel Darkish nights adventure, the Affect of Shadows combine-on and Specter of Torment, which we given a 9 from ten. Some amiibo purpose remains looking for Prize Trove Flux Generator, still, at this point you recieve an precious shovel fairy, from the even precious new individuality referred to as Madame Meeber. Past these new inclusions you've three chapters of Shovel Darkish nights, merely because both of these options is known as a competent stand-alone lev tool naturally, with great replayability because of best quality of every promising. extremely those people that have so far not successful to look into farmville and it is add-ons. the There's also teams where you can settle down with your clan and do quests together with each other. It includes the Arcanium Steamboat, the Arcanium Crawler Support , the Arcanium Discord Wings as well as the Orange Hinder x2 which unlocks the Headcrab , a Crowbar trend together with a Companion Cube. Even Rift and Defiance builder Trion Worlds can it, with entirely free-to-have fun with playing web-based adventure RPG Trove Flux Generator. pixels. A great time was held by all, used by excessive cursing.

[pressography-blog1]

How Millennials Win And Lose Below The GOP Health Bill

New Post has been published on https://pressography.org/how-millennials-win-and-lose-below-the-gop-health-bill/

How Millennials Win And Lose Below The GOP Health Bill

Designing skateboards are simply one in every of Luke Franco’s gigs. He has simply sufficient time earlier than his subsequent shift to chat at a café in downtown Providen.

Latest GOP Polls

“I work on the YMCA Monday thru Friday with kindergartners via fifth graders. It’s break up shift; seven to 9, to six day by day,” he says. “With the relaxation of my day, I also paintings at a nearby pizza region. And similarly to that, I additionally own and operate a small skateboard employer.”

However, none of his jobs offers medical insurance. I ask him if he issues approximately that.

“Yes, especially being an avid skateboarder,” the 26-12 months-antique says. “That is constantly something within the again of my head now — before I do that trick, what occurs if I get hurt?”

So he’s looking for a full-time task with advantages. Till then? Franco hasn’t clearly explored his options. he is a member of the millennial era. They represent extra than a quarter of the nation’s populace. These are human beings 18 to 34 years vintage, and we’re listening to lots of them inside the Health care debate. How they fare Underneath the GOP Health care Invoice going thru Congress is complicated.

Franco does not recognize whether he qualifies for Medicaid or a subsidy to buy insurance on the exchange installation Beneath the Low-cost Care Act, additionally referred to as Obamacare.

If the Republican plan to repeal and update the ACA goes forward, his alternatives might be extra restrained than that.

“I am assuming that paying full charge for it [health care] might be completely unaffordable for me,” he says.

The GOP plan could provide Franco a tax credit score of $2,000 a yr — This is the amount for which 26- to 29-year-olds would be eligible. the quantity goes up to $2,500 for the ones a long time 30 to 39. However although Franco should purchase a plan for a few hundred dollars a month, he desires to keep directly to what little pocket money he has for dinner or drinks with friends Fanz Live.

Jen Mishory heads an organization known as Younger Invincibles, a tongue-in-cheek call for millennials who assume they are too healthy to want medical insurance. But the organization is critical about advocating for Young people. Mishory says the ACA helped this era.

“You are beginning pre-ACA with an uninsurance price of approximately 29 percent for Younger human beings. We see that uninsurance price drop, over the course of the closing five, six years to about sixteen percentage,” she says. It truly is thanks to many elements, the expansion of Medicaid, for one, and youngsters being capable of stay on their mother and father’ coverage Until age 26.

However, insurance at the exchange is still costly for a few millennials. Even with subsidies, they didn’t sign up for the ACA exchanges in the numbers insurers have been hoping for.

Mishory factors out the GOP idea to roll lower back Medicaid enlargement may want to harm some Young, single adults. The proposed tax credit would possibly assist others.

“For some Younger people [the tax credit] can be extra than what they acquired Beneath the ACA,” she says. “But for a number of the low-income Younger humans, they might see reductions in that subsidy.”

Men’s Health

What concerns Mishory maximum is the Republican provision that insurance corporations could fee customers 30 percentage greater for a plan if their coverage lapses.

“Young human beings are the maximum probably to look gaps in coverage,” she says. It is due to the fact teens circulate and trades jobs lots. In addition, they tend to have lower earning, so the penalty may discourage millennials, in particular, healthy ones, from enrolling in coverage again.

Molly Tracy says she’ll purchase insurance, penalty or now not. She’s 25 and works at a charter school.

She concerns the Republican model may not be Less costly.

“I am now not rich! I work in public schooling. So even if I do have coverage, having a $3,000 medical Bill … It really is going to pose a sizable assignment for me,” she says.

Proper now, Tracy is protected by using her father’s medical insurance. However her 26th birthday is coming soon, she says, “So I am seeking to get a tonsillectomy earlier than my coverage lapses. This is one of the issues. The other issue is scheduling, having sufficient time to recover.”

While Tracy does get her personal health insurance through paintings q4, she wants to recognize what she may be getting. Will start control remain Less costly? Will mental Healthcare be included? A Congressional Price range Office evaluation unearths people like Tracy might come to be paying plenty extra out of pocket for the one’s benefits than they might now.

32 GOP Bills on the Wall

within the event that the approaching failure of Democrats’ socialized medicinal drug Bill leads them to a few soul-looking-perhaps listening to what their materials were telling them all summer season or taking GOP advice to begin from scratch – It is well worth noting that Republicans in the House have introduced 32 Fitness care reform Bills because the spring, all caught on the referral stage.

A lot of Those lonely Bills address just one or numerous aspects of Healthcare reform, rather than presenting grand, sweeping Ten-12 months Plans so one can trade Fitness Care as we comprehend it. not all the Payments are knockouts; a couple is downright stinkers. However honestly all contain some true ideas, and some of them incorporate not anything But properly thoughts which means that no Democrat will ever for a moment remember any of them.

For the ones desiring ammunition to counterattack the liberal charge that conservatives criticize the whole lot they pay attention from Democrats But don’t have any ideas on their very own, here is a primer on the law prepared through our committed GOP servants in the Residence:

o numerous Payments are flat-out winners: Clifford Stearns’ Fitness Care Tax Deduction Act, Michele Bachmann’s Fitness Care Freedom of Choice Act, and Rodney Alexander’s Sunset of Life Protection Act. Those laws offer for earnings tax deductions of medical health insurance rates and prescribed drugs; clinical charges; and long-term care rates, respectively. All three Payments are so short they could in shape onto a cocktail napkin collectively and still have room for a list of Obama’s failed Cabinet nominations. This isn’t always sudden: Payments overlaying what people are allowed to do require much less verbiage than Payments mandating what people are required to do for the government.

O Marsha Blackburn’s Fitness Care Selections for Seniors Act and Louis Gohmert’s Affected person-Controlled Healthcare Safety Act allow seniors to decide out of Medicare and receive vouchers for Fitness savings debts, an association analogous to school vouchers (some other incredible idea liberals oppose). Edward Royce’s Bendy Health financial savings Act permits people to carry over unused Health savings account budget from year to 12 months.

O John Shadegg’s Health Care Choice Act removes restrictions on interstate governing of medical health insurance, the primary cause of the limited inside-kingdom competition amongst personal insurance plans that President Obama continues bleating approximately.

O Bills-John Gingrey’s Health Act and Michael Burgess’ clinical Justice Act-enact malpractice tort reform by regulating proceedings for Healthcare accidents or deaths. William Thornberry’s scientific Legal responsibility Procedural Reform Act sets up nation “Fitness care tribunals” or medical courts to adjudicate claims.

O several unobjectionable However minor Bills expand blessings for veterans, reserve members, and their dependents.

O a few Payments might amend the kingdom Children’s medical insurance Application to make it more responsible; however, Those Payments provide the luxurious, bloated SCHIP so much legitimacy that I’m suspicious in their authors’ credibility.

O Other Payments have top intentions However will cause greater paperwork and regulation than they purpose to prevent; as an instance, Thornberry’s Fitness Care Office work Discount and Fraud Prevention Act, which proposes a “Fee on Health Care Billing Codes and Forms Simplification” to standardize billing Paperwork. No doubt the government will first want to set up a separate Fee just to simplify the Fee’s name.

Bill Cosby

O Thornberry has proposed more horrific Payments (why do public officers who want to thieve our liberty usually invent so many devious methods to do it?). One is the Partnership to enhance Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act, which subsidizes scholar mortgage reimbursement for doctors who take delivery of Medicare payments; not exact inside the Bill is how tons of our bountiful federal surplus can be used to cool this provision. every other is the Patient Equity and Indigent Care Promotion Act, which permits docs to deduct for tax purposes unrecouped charges from “Patient terrible debt”-because nothing increases accountability like imparting incentives for docs not to check ahead whether or not sufferers pays their Payments!

Other GOP Bills comprise Other provisions, and most of the Payments are a mixed bag; However the factor is that they’re all better than HR 3200, that is putrid Proper all the way down to its last length. Thinking about even some key GOP Payments over the following couple of years might be a legitimate way to deal with individual additives of Healthcare reform, in a piecemeal fashion, rather than upending our economic system Proper now due to the fact Democrats insist on synthetic deadlines to maximize their political advantage.

[theleap1-blog]

If Trump only knew

Our unique, miraculous world: if Trump only knew

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Donald Trump, newly elected president of the United States, is entitled to his. I am entitled to mine.

Believe me, this is by no means a political blog post. I just want the world to know that our Earth is beautiful. Every culture, every country, every religion, every being. It's the huge diversity we have which keeps us all going: keeps our world spinning.

I simply wish Trump could know all this. It would save him (along with Mexico and a few more unsuspecting countries I'm sure) a whole lot of money when it comes to wall building.

  Trump says: “This very expensive global warming b******* has got to stop. Our planet is freezing.”

Clearly Trump is a little confused…

While the planet is warming overall, climate change means that throughout the world climates are becoming more extreme. So yes, some areas are becoming colder while others heat up.

Bangladesh

A stunning country currently renowned for its diverse culture, spectacular architecture, flavoursome cuisine and World Heritage sites. Yet it is soon to be famous for going underwater, literally.

Bangladesh, located in the low-lying Ganges Delta, boasts some of the most fertile agricultural plains in the world. Over 80% of the tropical monsoon country is less than 10m above sea level and is thus one of Earth's most flood-prone areas. That fictional global warming isn't helping either; Bangladesh is suffering from ever-increasing rainfall, cyclones and rising sea levels.

As a result, soil degradation, erosion and deforestation are creating huge problems for food and water security. With both humans and wildlife under threat, please don't wait for the county to go under! Bangladesh's floodplains are astonishing sights, and while the endangered Bengal tiger still roams here, now could be one of your last chances to experience the country's magic.

Haiti

Similarly in the Caribbean island of Haiti, thanks to the 1915-1934 US occupation, less than 2% of Haiti's formerly lush forest cover remains. This deforestation for plantations has left very few tree roots to bind topsoil, thus rendering landslides inevitable in heavy storms.

The biggest problem climate change is bringing however, is a hotter and drier future for Haiti, with decreased precipitation overall. Half of all Haitians work in agriculture, an increasingly unstable industry as droughts continue to cause widespread crop failure each year. Haiti is a Caribbean dream and I would hate to see gap year's soon skipping it entirely!

After the horrific 2010 earthquake, hasn't Haiti suffered enough? The US is the world's second largest emitter. Without them totally committed to the climate change agreements, do incredible places like Haiti and Bangladesh really have a chance?

For Haiti, your visit to its pristine beaches and bustling marketplaces could be that chance. By giving the country the funds it needs to make vital changes, tourism could save the economy, environment and people of Haiti.

  Trump says: “The beauty of me is that I'm very rich.”

If you say so…

In reality, some of the world's most breath-taking countries and happiest populations are way down in terms of economic development. Plato once said that 'the greatest wealth is to live content with little'. This quote rings true across the globe. On my own travels, through Central America and Africa, what hit me hardest of all was how the happiest people are often the poorest.

In terms of world happiness, many of the wealthiest nations came noticeably far down the 2016 'happiness chart'-Germany at 16 and the UK at 23. Professor Jeffrey Sachs, special adviser to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, sees significance in this. He alerts the US that 'for a society that just chases money, we are chasing the wrong things'.

Some of the world's wealthiest nations are simply watching helplessly as their social fabric, public trust and faith in government deteriorate. Their neglect of social and environmental objectives is causing the anguish of people and nature alike. To those lagging economically however, it all matters: every grain of sand. For countries like Nepal, Borneo, Ecuador and Cuba, while money may be lacking, they are rich instead in untouched nature, remarkable history and ever-smiling faces.

They make the perfect backpacking destinations: affordable and made for exploration. Volunteering abroad in one of these destinations can be the most rewarding experience out there: a stripped-back and authentic adventure awaits.

  Trump says: “I think that guy's lazy. And it's probably not his fault because laziness is a trait in blacks.”

This one is just a lie. Science proves it.

In reality, the culture across Africa renders its nations some of the world's most active. Principally black nations dominate a recently compiled list of the most active nations on earth.

Take Mozambique for example, where 77% of the workforce is employed in the agricultural sector. Their flourishing agriculture provides livelihoods for the vast majority of nearly 26 million inhabitants. Mozambicans really are at an optimum peak of physical activity. They certainly put our 30 minute gym sessions to shame!

Daily, a Mozambican will fish, log timber and cultivate cashew nuts, tobacco, tea, cotton and fruits. Of course that's before you add in the miles they walk to work or school each day, the endless games of football and the lively ritual dancing and traditional ceremonies.

Throughout Africa, and across the globe, this active, exciting culture is mirrored. In comparison to our sedentary, westernised lives, it is a truly enchanting culture to bear witness to. If you're lucky enough to travel to Africa on your gap year, I highly recommending immersing yourself in a life unlike your own. Find something out of your comfort zone, let go and just enjoy it!

  Trump says: “When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending the best. […] They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists…”

Perhaps, President Trump, this is not entirely fair?

Mexico is notoriously known for being home to some large drug gangs yes, but this should not mean that its cheerful people and exceptional attractions should be overlooked. In fact, Mexico is the world's fourth friendliest country and it's this aspect of its population that should be making the news.

Along with its delectable nachos and tacos (and of course the sombreros!), luxury beaches, all manner of water-sport activities, historical colonial towns and ancient temples are in abundance.

Contrary to the perception we receive from the media, crime across Central and South America is not as widespread as shows like Netflix's Narcos might suggest. In countries like Honduras and Columbia, crime and violence are still the biggest issues being faced, but please don't write them off as gap year destinations.They are actually some of the best!

Out in the Americas, countries contain some of the world's most miraculous natural and man-made wonders. Should Mexico's Pyramid of the Sun, built around 100 AD, really be missed due to fear? Are we honestly going to bypass Rio's unique carnival atmosphere and Guatemala's Mayan sites of Tikal, deep in the jungle just as a precaution?

Being alert and sensible is crucial to any gap year travels, but by keeping safety at the forefront of your mind, the world is yours to roam free!

The world is your oyster

On the whole, while America may have a new president with some indoctrination desires, each of us is still entitled to live life as we choose it. When planning your adventures, remember that the entire world is worth exploring. You simply have to figure out the budget, consider the safety aspects and find the time to see it all.

We live in a time when travel is offering us an unfathomable number of opportunities to experience life through another's eyes. All you have to do is choose one!

The post If Trump only knew appeared first on .

[iqbalriaz]

HOW TO GET YOUR FIRST 1000 SUBSCRIBERS ON YOUTUBE – 2020 (5 TIPS)

 HOW TO GET YOUR FIRST 1000 SUBSCRIBERS ON YOUTUBE – 2020 (5 TIPS)

TIP #1 – MINDSET

Alright so the first tip that most people typically tell you to start with is to choose a niche, which is definitely a key tip that we will be discussing next…

But before any of that I truly believe the most important tip I can give, especially if you haven’t started YouTube yet… is having the proper mindset.

Because YouTube is a big commitment. You know this already if you’ve started your own channel..

But it’s going to take you much longer to create & edit a video than the ONE minute it takes to take a picture and upload it to Facebook or Instagram.

However, there’s a big reason why it takes this extra time…

And that’s because the videos you upload on YouTube don’t fade off into the abyss after 5 hours of posting (if that).

I literally have videos I created over a year ago on my channel that still get me views, subscribers, and money… to this day.

But when I post a picture on facebook it’ll last like a day and a picture on instagram lasts a few hours!

So yes, it’s definitely more work up front… but it continues to pay off for months and years to come.

And that’s a big problem with a lot of people.

All they see is how long it will take to do… not the insane amount of passive income that you can make from YouTube videos.

Because when starting out, things WILL be slow.

That’s honestly why so many people give up on their businesses because they’re so use to working a job and getting paid every hour worked.

And that’s not how it works with businesses or with YouTube…

But after a certain amount of hours and work you put in, you will make much more than you will ever make from an job that pays per hour.

So that’s why mindset is so important.

You have to try and remember why you started to begin with.

Whether that’s because you want freedom or you want to buy your parents a house or spend more time with your loved ones…

Because its not going to be easy… but it will be the most rewarding thing you ever do if you put in the work upfront.

So just make sure you don’t think that you will be getting rich overnight on YouTube like these gurus promise you…

This requires hard work and dedication… and there’s no shortcuts in business or in youtube.

Also, since we’re on the topic of shortcuts…

A lot of people think that buying views and subscribers or doing sub4sub is going to help.

And it will get your numbers higher, but not only is it against YouTubes terms and you can get your account banned for that…

But it actually ruins your channel.

People who buy views end up killing their average watch time on their videos because of it and people who do sub4sub end up having a higher subscriber amount but their videos have super low views so it makes their channel look even worse.

So make sure you’re going in with the right mindset and you don’t try and take shortcuts…

Because they really don’t exist.

I do have one tip I’ll be showing you that has allowed me to fast-track my subscriber count, but if you don’t watch all the way through you won’t get to see that, so make sure to keep reading!

TIP #2 – PICKING THE RIGHT NICHE

Now, picking the wrong niche could absolutely destroy your channel.

And a niche basically means picking an industry or a type or types of videos you’ll make around a specific industry.

Assuming you’ve already started YouTube, this would just mean making your videos more specific.

Which is something I see so many new YouTubers doing soooo wrong.

They just start uploading videos about the most random stuff.

Like they’ll be uploading videos about college one day, fitness the next day, and then football the next day.

And that’s just about the worst thing you can do for your YouTube channel.

Because any subscribers you to get, they may be interested in the video they watched that made them subscribe but if the other videos you make have nothing to do with that video… 

then your subscriber count is basically just a vanity metric at that point with a bunch of people who aren’t even interested in your videos.

So when you’re first starting out you really want to try and choose a niche that has appeal to a crowd that is passionate.

A lot of people say you have to be passionate about what you talk about, and it’s definitely helpful for sure… but sometimes you just gotta try and find something that you like and that has a group of PEOPLE who are passionate about that niche.

Like for me, I really didn’t feel passionate about what I started with, but the longer I do YouTube I figure out what I’m passionate about and what you guys like the most.

But just try not to get hung up on this too much.

Because at the end of the day you can always switch your niche at anytime or start a new channel with a different niche.

But I will say that the 3 evergreen niches are health, wealth and relationships.

And those are the best niches to go into.

So you’ll want to choose a sub-niche of one of those main evergreen niches.

Like for example, for wealth… you have personal finance, make money online, etc.

For relationships you have parenting, dating, etc.

And you can go even more niched down than that too. 

But it’s just about doing research on other YouTuber’s and finding out what you like the most and going with it.

TIP #3 – LEVEL UP YOUR B.A.V.L.

Now the next tip I would give again assuming you’ve already started on YouTube and you’ve already picked your niche…

I would tell you to level up your B.A.V.L.

And you’ve probably never heard that before.

But all it means is:

Background

Audio

Video

Lighting

Most people only talk about their audio video and lighting but the background can be just as important.

I mean have you ever watched a video with someone who’s recording in a messy room? I Know I haven’t.

And this doesn’t necessarily mean spending a bunch of money.

Upgrading your background could literally just mean cleaning up your room.

And as far as audio video and lighting…

my entire setup cost me less than $300.

Literally.

So you don’t need some ridiculously expensive camera or lighting to make your setup look good.

And sometimes simple is better anyways.

These are just some of the things I’ll be teaching in my YouTube beta program, along with how I make high ticket commissions on YouTube.

So if you want to get a personalized experience where I walk you through step-by-step and support you on YouTube…

I have 1 spot left, so make sure you apply today before it’s too late.

But like I was saying, you don’t need to buy anything crazy.

The most expensive piece of gear I have is a $100 or $120 blue yeti microphone. 

And there’s even budget microphones you could get that sound just as good.

Otherwise, I have a $50 webcam, some $10 light stands with DIY lighting from Home Depot.

And there’s so many videos out there that can help you figure out what works for your budget.

But honestly, this tip is pretty important.

Yes, you can use your cellphone and use a window for lighting – which is fine if that’s all you can afford…

But if you really want to take YouTube seriously, spending $200-$300 to upgrade your gear can make a huge difference and give your audience a better experience for sure.

TIP #4 – FOCUS & BE CONSISTENT

This is honestly one of the most important tips I can give you for anything in life, especially YouTube.

Going back to mindset, there are NO SHORTCUTS, period.

And if you want to be successful with anything… you have to be consistent and you have to focus.

Let me just tell you a quick story.

When I first started YouTube I wanted to upload 3 videos a week.

Before i ever uploaded my first video I recorded and edited 18 videos.

So that’s 6 weeks worth of videos, 6×3 is 18.

In 8 weeks, I ran out of videos.

So I only created 6 videos in 8 weeks.

The reason this happened is because I wasn’t focused.

Before I started on YouTube, all I was doing was focusing on creating those 18 videos and I crushed it.

But after I started posting, I started losing focus.

I started trying to do blogging, posting on linkedin, twitter, instagram, facebook. Fb groups, etc.

I even tried hiring a social media manager for $500 at one point.

Not to mention I was still working at this time.

So i couldn’t be consistent.

Then I decided I was going to upload 1 video a week, make that video high quality and stay consistent.

Then I started focusing on that and only that, along with my 1 support platform, which was my facebook.

And I actually started growing faster but uploading less.

So it’s absolutely crucial that you pick a upload schedule and you stay consistent and focus on that.

Don’t try to do all these other business models or platforms, pick your 1 main platform which should be youtube if you’re trying to grow on youtube, then pick your one support platform.

Some people use a second support platform, but it all depends on how much time you have to invest into your online business.

And while we’re talking about support platforms, this leads me into the next tip.

TIP #5 – GET ON TIKTOK!

And I’m not even kidding about this.

In the last few months I’ve grew to over 75,000 followers on TikTok and it absolutely blew up my YouTube channel.

Nowadays I still get some views from TikTok but what tiktok allowed me to do was to show YouTube that my videos were getting good engagment and then YouTubes alogorithm started pushing my content to more people on YouTube and it exploded my growth.

But basically everytime I upload a YouTube video, I make a shorter version of that video on TIkTok and at the end of the video I tell people to go watch the full video on my YouTube channel and link to my YouTube channel in my tiktok bio.

Then right when my YouTube video goes live, that tiktok goes live and the video gets so much more views and engagement and it shows YouTube that people like the video…

And that helps fast-track your growth like crazy!

So I definitely suggest hopping on TikTok and following all of these tips.

I truly believe this is the one thing that could be considered somewhat of a shortcut.

Because it definitely fast-tracked my subscirber count 100%.

It took me over 8 months to get to 500 subscribers and as I showed you at the begining I gained over 3700 subscribers in 28 days.

That’s the power of YouTube and TIkTok combined.

And I don’t know if TikTok will be like this forever, it probably wont.

Even today, more people are getting on tiktok.

But still, the organic growth it can give you is insane.

However, a lot of people are doing things wrong.

They are only focusing on TikTok.

But they aren’t syphoning those people onto other platforms that will be around way longer…

Like YouTUBE.

Which is what I do in all of my tiktok videos.

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