#my first time actually with nutcracker as such and i am loving the visuals of this movie

[lumiereandcogsworth]

hey lumi! I just thought of another question I wanted to ask you, other than batb, which live action remake do you think is the best? I haven't seen any and I want an expert opinion 😄

oh my gosh!!!!! i’m so honored. and i’m also SO autistic so i did so much more here than you asked. but anyway i wanted to wait to answer this until today because the little mermaid (2023) just dropped on disney+ and i JUST watched it for the first time. so i can include it in my list!!

of course prefacing with these are all my personal opinions, im not a film expert (and i pray to God i never am) i just like what i like! so without further ado: my thoughts! also this is just in chronological order, not ranked.

alice in wonderland (2010) - dude!! this was SUCH a hyperfixation for me when i was a kid. somehow, batb 2017 is NOT the first live action disney movie i’ve been utterly obsessed with. this movie is so good. i love the lightly gothic, mysterious fantasy aesthetic that is has. i love the wardrobe, i want to wear every outfit alice wears. i love how dark it is, like there’s such an edge to it while still being pleasant and fun enough to respectably be a disney movie. johnny depp does a fantastic job of course, (purely discussing his acting abilities here) he truly brings the madness into the mad hatter. all the acting is fantastic though. i highly recommend this film. you don’t really need to have seen the 1951 cartoon, i hadn’t, but it doesn’t hurt to! (i don’t recommend the sequel, alice through the looking glass, though. they really should’ve quit while they were ahead on this one)

maleficent (2014) & maleficent: mistress of evil (2019) - i enjoyed both of these!! i actually liked the second one more, but either way, it’s such a fun take on sleeping beauty. and this is coming from someone who LOVES sleeping beauty 1959!! it’s different obviously but it really is a good time, absolutely worth watching.

cinderella (2015) - beautiful! lovely!! not the most exciting film honestly but i do love the aesthetics and wardrobe. it’s a really pretty, pleasant movie. i’d love to rewatch it sometime! if only disney+ had it! which it doesn’t! for some inexplicable reason!!

beauty and the beast (2017) - i know you said besides my wife but obviously i have to still list it because. that’s my wife. anyway perfect film no notes!

the nutcracker and the four realms (2018) - i wanted to like this one so much more than i did. but it was just, so weird. it derails from canon in a way that isn’t enjoyable. ah. twas a let down, for me.

christopher robin (2018) - i don’t remember much honestly but it’s cute!! certainly worth a watch, but i don’t recall anything too special about it. it did make me cry though (that’s not hard for me to do at movies, to be fair)

mary poppins returns (2018) - CANNOT RECOMMEND ENOUGH!! THIS MOVIE IS LIKE IF JOY WAS TURNED INTO A FILM!!!! AAAHHH!!! :) SO LOVELY SO WONDERFUL!!!

the lion king (2019) - :/ genuinely not worth your time. it was TOO similar to the cartoon in terms of storyline, so it felt incredibly pointless to me. plus, it’s kind of boring that they look like real lions. i felt like i was watching animal planet but then pulled out of reality whenever they spoke or sang afjskfj

aladdin (2019) - ever since i saw this, i’ve only ever had three takeaways, and i’ll say them like a compliment sandwich. 1. visually STUNNING. the colors and the choreography, the people! all very beautiful. 2. the romance was… very flat? i honestly kept forgetting there was a love story going on. when they kiss at the end i was like “OOOHHH RIGHT!!” lmao. there’s just so much other stuff going on, jasmine & aladdin’s love story really fell to the wayside for me. 3. i LOVED that they gave jasmine her own song. she’s like the only disney princess that didn’t have her own song, somehow, so i was happy they gave her one and it was SO good. i remember it giving me chills on the first listen. — so, all in all, it was fine. not the worst but also not a personal favorite. worth a watch.

mulan (2020) - BLEGH sorry i almost threw up a little. maybe the worst live action remake of all time? let’s think: what are the best parts of mulan 1998? the music? mushu? shang’s bisexuality? shang, in general?? WELL LOOK NO FURTHER BECAUSE THIS HAS NONE OF THAT!!! :) it’s genuinely just… so bad. they took the basic concept and turned it into a freaky ass action movie. they make it so mulan was like, gifted from a young age with superhuman abilities (calling it chi, which, i don’t know the full story but i believe there was some major cultural appropriation that occured) instead of just being a normal badass human!!! and it wasn’t the villain from the cartoon it was a random witch. nothing made sense and it was stripped of everything that makes mulan one of the greatest disney films of all time. *godfather voice* look how they massacred my boy.

the little mermaid (2023) - so honestly i never really liked the original cartoon. it just never clicked with me. but i had every bit of hope that this one would maybe bring it to life for me!! and… well, it wasn’t bad! it was visually lovely and the music was fun. i just don’t think i’m a “love at first sight” kind of person. but eric was an incredibly likable nerd boy, sebastian the crab was funny, and ursula was SCARY. especially at the end oh my gosh???? anyway. worth a watch, but not my personal cup of tea. ariel and eric get points for dancing a bit AND they hugged at the end which was really sweet. couples Do Not hug enough in media.

lastly, i can’t comment on: peter pan & wendy (2023), the jungle book (2016), dumbo (2019), lady and the tramp (2019), and cruella (2021), because i have not seen them. i will absolutely note though that i despise cruella 2021 in solidarity with my friend @freakwiththeknifecollection because it blatantly disregards the canon of 101 dalmatians 1961 and they couldn’t even like?? train the dogs?? for ONE scene?? huge huge mess. i’m just scratching the surface. if you want a live action cruella, look no further than 101 dalmatians 1996. top tier live action that i loved as a kid!!

[wheatbeats]

2018 is over and I feel compelled to write a retrospective of sorts, but since I don’t feel like talking about myself I’m gonna talk about Every Anime (Series) I Watched in 2018. Each one comes with a numerical rating out of 10 and a short blurb of what I thought about it.

Recovery of an MMO Junkie - 9/10 - Incredibly sweet and heartfelt, with mature adult characters who act as such. Drama and comedy both are mined from real issues rather than petty miscommunication, and is all the more compelling for it.

Land of the Lustrous - 10/10 - A delightfully unique setting with an enrapturing story and fantastically constructed characters. The moments of levity and sweetness only serve to make the deeply engrained sadness and loneliness more poignant. The CGI animation is shockingly gorgeous, and a triumph of the medium.

Kino’s Journey: The Beautiful World (2018) - 5/10 - Certainly entertaining in spots, but ultimately rings rather hollow. Not really an improvement on the original in any respect.

Princess Principal - 8/10 - An absolutely gorgeous setting brimming with atmosphere and style, and a fun ensemble cast. The series-wide arc is a little hard to follow or understand, but each individual episodic plot is really enjoyable and engaging.

The Vision of Escaflowne - 8/10 - A well-built fantasy that’s occasionally ridiculous but never not fun. The new dub is really slick and helps the series go down nice and smooth.

A Place Further Than the Universe - 10/10 - Extraordinarily sweet, earnest and heartfelt. Deftly written, smartly directed, and masterfully executed. I cried really hard, a lot. 

Tsuredure Children - 8/10 - Cute, ridiculous, and eminently relatable. If you’ve ever had a crush, you’re bound to identify with at least one character in this series.

From the New World - 5/10 - Had a glimmer of potential, but mostly ended up fake deep, poorly paced, and fucking ugly to look at. The more I thought about this series the less I realized I enjoyed it.

The Ancient Magus’ Bride - 5/10 - An extraordinarily promising start that’s disappointingly squandered by wildly inconsistent tone, static plots, nonsensical character arcs, excessive cliffhangers, and hollow stakes.

Princess Tutu - 10/10 - An expertly built deconstruction of fairy tales as well as a sweeping, gorgeous love note to ballet, classical music, and romantic storybook heroism. Wonderfully intricate plotting and stunning character work, a true gem.

Kaiba - 8/10 - Brilliantly unique and emotionally engrossing, if not a bit obscure and hard to follow at times. You never have, and probably never will again, see an anime quite like this.

Girls’ Last Tour - 7/10 - Deeply atmospheric and sometimes quite poignant, but also dreadfully, awfully, agonizingly slow.

Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto - 9/10 - A smooth and even mix between laughable absurdity and actual real emotional stakes. Somehow, I feel like I learned something about myself.

Megalobox - 8/10 - Briskly paced and action-packed, but by far the biggest draw is a classic 90s aesthetic reminiscent of pre-digital legends like Cowboy Bebop. This series lives and breathes style.

Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These - 6/10 - Would have the potential to be interesting if it wasn’t so hollow and boring. I wanted to get more engaged in the politics of this complicated war, but the plot is held at arms length and the characters are more like walking philosophy textbooks than actual people. That said, the ship designs are pretty cool.

Hinamatsuri - 10/10 - Sweet, pure-hearted, and gut-bustingly funny. Any moment I wasn’t laughing until my sides hurt, I was near to tearing up from actually caring about these characters so much. Each episode was a joy and I loved every second of it.

Golden Kamuy (S1) - 7/10 - Absurd, charming, and goofy, with a surprising amount of gore. Seems to care more about food than plot, but I’m kind of into it.

Revolutionary Girl Utena - 9/10 - Brilliantly dense, symbolic, and metaphorical. Sometimes hard to understand, sometimes hard to watch, but always excellent.

Dragon Pilot: Hisone & Masotan - 7/10 - Gorgeously animated and undeniably charming, but still a little awkward, garbled, and uncomfortable at times. The most earnest vore anime I’ve ever watched.

Steins;Gate 0 - 4/10 - A total, utter, crushing disappointment. Follows up a spectacular prequel with a nonsensical, contrived plot, inaccurate characters, and piss-poor visuals. This series is only carried by its relationship to the original. I will never trust again.

Princess Jellyfish - 7/10 - Charming, varied characters populating an unfulfilling narrative.

The Big O - 6/10 - Plenty of goofy, stylish fun, but slowly devolves into an inscrutable, incomprehensible mess. R. Dorothy Wayneright is the best part of this series by far. Roger Smith is a louse.

Aggretsuko - 7/10 - Fun and relatable, if a bit simple. 

TOP 3

3. Hinamatsuri - This series came totally out of left field for me. I usually don’t emotionally respond to comedies very well but this one somehow hit all the right buttons. None of the humor was mean-spirited or put anyone down, the situations were absurd but didn’t cripple me with secondhand embarrassment, and on top of it all I really started to care about the cast. I wish I could get surprised like this more often.

2. Land of the Lustrous - As you can tell if you’ve been following me at all recently, this series has been absolutely consuming me from the moment I watched it. The plot is gripping and excellently paced, and I don’t know if I’ve ever been invested in another main character quite as much as Phos. It’s plenty easy to get wrapped up in thinking about the plot and the character arcs and the meta, but then when I go back and watch the series again I’m shocked by how good it is on a technical level, too. The CG animation is beyond gorgeous and the technical grace of each scene, the pacing, the colors, the music, the character animation, the voice acting, are all stellar. If this anime had more of an ending it would absolutely be my number 1 pick, but for now I just have to read the manga (AS SHOULD YOU, YOU COWARDS. IT’S EVERY BIT AS GOOD AS THE ANIME).

1. Princess Tutu - I, like many people, I think, reacted with derision at the title of this series, but by the time I was done I was completely blown away, and every time I thought about it more I was even more shocked. Every inch of this series shows some of the smartest construction I’ve ever seen in fiction, every layer is filled with stylistic flourish, brilliant writing, and metatextual commentary. You can dig as deep as you want and Princess Tutu will always have something to offer you. It’s been less than a year, I’ve already watched it twice, and I’m still discovering new things about it. A story this brilliant would be a once in a lifetime experience on its own, but Tutu is fulfilling on the surface level, too. Even if you’re not diving deep into what the series means you can still be just as enraptured by the characters. Fakir probably has the best redemption arc this side of Prince Zuko, and I could sing the praises of every other major cast member. And the music, the music! I was doomed from the start the moment I heard both The Nutcracker and Pictures at an Exhibition in the score. Princess Tutu takes some of the greatest masterpieces of western art music and builds off them, creating a sense of atmosphere as deep and vast and dramatic as the finest opera or ballet could ever be. Princess Tutu is one of the greatest works of fiction I’ve ever consumed, and absolutely the best I’ve watched this year.

BOTTOM THREE

3. From the New World - Immediately after I stopped watching this series I actually sort of thought I’d liked it, and I think the reason for this is because From the New World tries its very best to engage in ideas a bit deeper and more ambiguous than a lot of other anime do. But the more I thought about it, the more I disliked this series. Everything about the plot was confusing and off-putting, I didn’t find the characters particularly charming, and perhaps most of all, this series is butt-ugly. It might have a high score of MAL. but my advice is to give this series a hard pass.

2. The Ancient Magus’ Bride - I wanted to like this series so fucking bad. I fell in love with the prequel OVA and waited anxiously for each new installment to come out. I even bought tickets to my local Artsy Fartsy Theater to see the first three episodes when the screened there. And I liked them! Finally, an anime engaged in Celtic and English mythology, some of my favorites, and a protagonist with a truly gripping internal struggle. I was certain from the very first moment that this series would sit in my Top 10 list, and that Chise would be one of my favorite protagonists ever. And then it... didn’t happen. As the episodes unfolded I was treated to a series that had no idea how to establish or maintain stakes, how to relate its two main characters to each other, or how to use the wealth of mythology it was referencing and drawing from. How am I supposed to care when Chise gets stabbed in the chest every 2 episodes and then just kind of shrugs it off for the sake of drama? How am I supposed to be interested in the mythology when it’s all just watered-down fantasy archetypes with giant boobs? Don’t even get me started on the main villain. I feel very betrayed by this series and honestly I’m still bitter.

1. Steins;Gate 0 - This series is as much a lesson in betrayal as Ancient Magus’ Bride, but I think this one stings worse because it’s preceded by Steins;Gate, and anime I love dearly. I sincerely believe that the original Steins;Gate is one of the best anime ever produced, and this sequel struggles to live up to even a single aspect of it. As it began I was hopeful- I liked the darker tone, I liked the idea of a story within a failed timeline. But as I kept watching, I realized something awful: I was bored. All of the charm and intrigue was gone. The characters were all acting different, all looked different (why are all the girls wearing skintight winter coats? Why have their chests all inflated three sizes??), and there was no impetus for the plot. Steins;Gate was driven by simple goals; in the first half, it was to build a time-leap machine. In the second half, it was to save Mayuri. In Steins;Gate 0 the impetus is to... watch Okabe be sad. Hope he gets less sad. There’s nothing to keep the plot moving, and this listlessness was so overwhelming that the random bits of unforeshadowed action and unprecedented (for this franchise) violence felt cheap and confusing after the doldrums we just sat through. By the time the plot finally, finally, picks up towards the final quarter of the series, the damage is done. I don’t care anymore, I can’t figure out what’s going on, and I’m just so done with a franchise I used to love. One day I’ll go back and rewatch the original Steins;Gate and remind myself why I cared so much, but for now I’m nursing wounds. If you say the name “Kagari” in my presence, I’ll probably blitz the fuck out.

Here’s to a good 2019!

[adamwatchesmovies]

The Worst of 2018

Before we dig into my Worst of 2018 list, let’s make something clear. Making movies is hard. I may be criticizing people’s efforts but am fully aware that they’ve all accomplished far more than I have by making an actual movie. Even the worst film on this list is still a fully-functional production that someone somewhere might enjoy... theoretically at least. If you were somehow involved in anything made on this list, I know you can do better. With that said, I sat through all of these, some multiple times and suffered so it’s time for me to get my revenge. How many were on the list I made halfway through the year, and how many new entries have we got?

10. 2.0

I typically reserve my #10 spot for a movie so bad it’s good and 2.0 is just that. Part techno-horror, part supernatural thriller, part superhero adventure, part sci-fi action movie, it goes in all sorts of outrageous directions. This one’s a gem, a picture I’d like to bring home and show to my friends on our weekly movie nights to hear their screeches of disbelief. I had a blast with it but legitimately good? Nah.

9. Show Dogs

I have some affection for this film as well. It’s awful, even as low-grade children’s entertainment. The plot has no idea what it’s doing and can’t figure out its own rules. The special effects are dodgy, premise idiotic, and jokes bad. And yet, I treasure seeing it in theatres. Soon after its release, a specific scene stirred uproar within parents and critics alike. This prompted the studio to re-edit the film. The scene in question concerns Ludacris’ character, talking police dog Max getting ready for the dog show he needs to infiltrate in order to discover who has kidnapped a baby panda. His partner, FBI agent Frank Nicholas (Will Arnett) explains that part of the competition involves the dogs getting their genitals inspected by the judges. In real-life, it’s to ensure the animals are capable of breeding. Finding the idea of someone fondling his junk without his consent intolerable, Max is told to escape the situation by going to his “zen place”. I didn’t take offense to it but understand why others would. I doubt the scene is available in the home release’s deleted scenes menu so I count myself among the few who saw the original cut.

8. Selfie from Hell, Slenderman & Truth or Dare

I’m lumping these three together because they all suffer from the same problem. They were doomed from the start. ���What if a game of Truth or Dare… was fatal?” What if you could only take 13 selfies before a supernatural entity came after you?”, “What if severe head trauma caused H.P. Lovecraft’s intelligence to plunge and he set “The Call of Cthulhu” in the 21st century?” seemed to have been the opening pitches for these would-be spookfests. None featured any scares or compelling characters. I doubt anyone will remember any of these by the time 2019 ends.

7. Robin Hood

Many of 2018's films ended by assuring us that more was yet to come. Robin Hood should've saved itself the embarrassment of being yet another aspiring franchise which failed to take off and been self-contained. It failed because it tried to be a superhero film when it should’ve simply been a movie about Robin Hood. This story by Ben Chandler steals so many ideas from Batman you almost forget to criticize the costumes, the impossible action sequences, and Jamie Foxx’s bad performance. It’s dripping with “tries too hard”.

6. Life of the Party

Boy does Melissa McCarthy need a new Agent. Her and Tiffany Haddish actually. Life of the Party is all-around lazy. It hardly has a plot. Instead, it throws one scene after another, praying something will stick. This film about a newly-divorced mother who goes back to college to reconnect with her daughter can’t even get its characters right. In some scenes, McCarthy’s Deanna is mousey and unable to give a speech to the class. In others, she’s such a partier she ends up wrecking everything for everyone around her. I hated the film’s conclusion worst of all, a deus-ex-machina of an ending which has nothing to do with anything and feels like it was hastily shot when director Ben Falcone and co-writer/spouse McCarthy realized the film they made wasn’t amounting to anything.

5. Fifty Shades Freed

Fifty Shades Darker was terrible. It began by immediately undoing the ending of the previous film but at least it was building up to something while introducing us its equivalent of the Legion of Doom, a trio of villains all of which would converge and attempt to ruin the relationship between Anastasia Steele, and Christian Grey… or not. This third and final chapter struggles to find something to do for the first three quarters and then suddenly introduces a thriller element before rapidly concluding it and showing us the end credits. The unrated version released on home video filled in a couple of holes (such as Kim Basinger’s disappearing character) but those holes shouldn’t have been there in the first place. Between the un-erotic sex scenes, we’re treated to lame melodrama and further proof this trilogy is completely oblivious to matters of love and relationship. Even if it had been well acted and gave fans some satisfaction by adequately tackling some of the bigger questions the series posed, it would’ve still been bad.

4. Venom

I didn’t want to listen to people who proclaimed Venom would never work. The character has appeared in solo adventures before. There’s nothing to say a talented writer couldn’t make one of Spider-Man’s most well-known archenemies work on his own. Or maybe not. This is an appallingly written film full of plot holes, vaguely defined powers, bad humor, and illogical actions. In many ways, it reminds you of films like Ghost Rider and Catwoman. In a way, it’s worse than either because everyone involved should’ve known better. Making its flaws doubly apparent is the film Upgrade, released earlier during the year. It essentially did what this film wanted to but better, funnier and more inventively. It’s extra funny that Upgrade features Logan Marshall-Green, who looks a lot like Tom Hardy, making the pair a perfect double feature if you like to compare bad movies with good ones and discuss them with friends.

3. A Wrinkle in Time and The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

These Disney films, the first directed by Ava DuVernay and the second by a combined effort by Lasse Hallström and Joe Johnston, wanted to be empowering female-led fantasy adventures. A Wrinkle in Time is historic in that it’s the first $100 million+ film directed by a woman of color. This makes it extra disappointing because it’s awful. Both tales are filled with developments who inspire you to say “but I don’t care”. Overrelying on visual razzle-dazzle, neither of these had any substance whatsoever. I blame the writers, who took the original stories and tried to make them into something they weren’t. Much of AWiT could’ve worked if the story had kept some of its novels' Christian themes. Then the evil black cloud who does evil for evil’s sake would’ve simply been Satan and wouldn't have seemed nearly as lazy and underwhelming. By attempting to force The Nutcracker and the Mouse King into the same mould as Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (another bad film), you robbed the ballet of any potential charm. In many ways, these are worse than most of the others on my list because you keep hoping something would turn around and because they’re not obviously bad, at least not at first. They fill you with false hope.

2. Life Itself

I should’ve known this Dan Fogelman creation was trouble from the advertisements, which built it up as this epic tale containing all of the universes’ deepest truths. I sat there aghast as one corny development followed another. This tries to be poetry in motion, this grandiose tale about the bonds which connect us and not one second works. It’s utterly ridiculous, so bad it might be funny except you’ll be bored by its nearly 2-hour running time. 

The Runner ups:

Nobody’s Fool & Night School

Both featured Tiffany Haddish who is rapidly burning through any goodwill she might’ve earned with her breakout role in Girls Trip.

Holmes & Watson

Bad movie but it made me laugh more than the other films on this list

Book Club

A film I’m kicking myself for not being harder on when I first reviewed it but take comfort in the fact it seems to have dropped off the earth completely.

1. The 15:17 to Paris

Agonizingly dull, The 15:17 to Paris was well-intentioned. That doesn’t translate to “entertaining”. Most of this film’s 94 minutes are spent watching the real life Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler and Alek Skarlatos vacationing through Europe, periodically flashing back to the time when they met and were the real-life non-actors were played by equally bad child performers. I hated this flat slab of propaganda masquerading as entertainment so much after it was over I had to turn to the other people around me and ask them what we just saw.

[madisonrooney]

loved your camel picture! you were so young. oh whoa riding an elephant sounds a little scary.

i'm glad you got your fancy cookies! sorry to hear that the chocolate chip ones were disappointing. those are normally my favorite too.

oh, it's really cool that the event had a radio station to listen to while looking at lights! (i would've been too scared to open my window then too)

those are all great christmas movies. some of my favorites would be the santa clause, how the grinch stole christmas, barbie and the nutcracker, and the muppets christmas carol

aw i'm sorry to hear your movie experience with the good dinosaur was so disappointing. hopefully you've gotten to see many better films at the el capitan since then to make up for it!

oh i like that idea with only christopher robin and his daughter being about to see that the toys are alive. that would have been very interesting to see.

luca really nailed it with the character design. it definitely felt like some things could have been explained a little better.

disney needs to hire you to fix their movies haha

cruella was very disappointing tbh. i enjoyed emma stone and really loved all the costumes, but i feel like they tried too hard to make her a sympathetic character when i would've liked to see a little more of her spiral into villainy. the movie also felt incredibly long for some reason, and i'm not sure what they were trying to do with the jasper romance.

the nutcracker and the four realms was another one i was excited for and visually it was beautiful, but the plot was just not there for me. it was kind of a mess. and they didn't put clara and the nutcracker together, like what was the point? sorry, i am just being a little dramatic. i do love good friendship stories, but they up theirs like a romance so i was left disappointed when nothing happened between them.

there's definitely some others but those are the main ones on my mind right now.

what is your dream job? and if you could be a character in the descendants world, which disney character would you want to be your parent? ⛄

all good movie choices! ive seen all of those except for barbie and the nutcracker bc as you may know im not as well-versed with barbie as the rest of you lol

i definitely have!! the next movie i saw after that was a re-release of bolt where i got to meet one of the directors so you can imagine that more than made up for it lol

i totally get what you're saying about cruella. its kinda weird how lately weve been getting movies that try to justify the villain's actions and its like...why. why cant they just be villains lol. i also wasnt really sure if i was supposed to like her or not like her by the end. ironically, speaking of the el cap, that was my first movie there post-quarantine so the excitement of being back kinda overshadowed the movies flaws for me.

i always forget about the nutcracker and the four realms lol. i didnt like it myself. i wasnt that excited for it but i decided to give it a chance and it didnt end up being great. i thought the plot twist with the sugar plum fairy or whatever was weird. i barely remember anything else about it which just goes to show it didnt have a lot going for it.

yknow, not to fault you for asking at all, but i dont really believe in the concept of a dream job anymore. i once saw a post that said "i simply do not dream of labor" and yah that about sums it up. plus, with my neurodivergency and niche interests and skills, its hard for me to find a job that actually works for me. over quarantine, i got to watch so many shows and movies id been meaning to watch for YEARS and that felt so fulfilling, but now that im working again i hardly have time for that. if it were up to me, id still be spending my time binging shows and movies.

i originally set out to be a screenwriter but ive come to the conclusion that i dont think im capable of a creative job like that. and i dont mean that in a self-deprecating way, i mean it as in knowing my limits. taste in film and tv is so subjective and my mind struggles to work without exact numbers and limits (ex. at my new job, if someone asks me to fill the cubby with bags, its hard for me not to ask them for an exact number, bc i dont have a concept of too much or not enough). ive decided the best way for me to go forward knowing that is to have a simple enough straightforward job, which luckily, i have now, to pay the bills, and use my more niche skills on the side for more creative things even if theyre not as lucrative (and you probably know what im referring to when im saying that but well keep that between us for privacy reasons lol).

sorry for the essay of an answer but thats a hard question for me to tackle lol. what about you?

[oreopata]

Ending 2017 - Journal

This has been quite the Christmas, and I don’t necessarily mean a good one. But it’s certainly left me with a lot to think about in terms of how I want my life to change for the new year. So I’m splitting this journal into three sections. Before leaving for London, Christmas in London and my thoughts for the New Year and having returned home. If you’ve been keeping up to date with my tumblr, you’ll probably already have a good idea about what this Christmas was like for me. But I have plenty more to say.   I’ve split the journal into three sections: covering pre-christmas, Christmas in London and my New years plans. Brace yourself, I’m afraid this is going to be a lengthy one. 

1. Pre-Christmas oop North:

I knew that for the actual Christmas, my parents and I would be traveling down London to have Christmas with my paternal grandparents. Until then, I was really enjoying my time at home and really getting into the Christmas spirit - in spite of my financial limitations. I felt cosy as hell at home with my Christmas lights and treating myself to chocolate. Along with the amazing time I spent with my friends and my art class. 

I honestly had a blast getting into the Christmas spirit while I was home. I’d really pushed the boat out this year. Got some new lights in, bought a few new decorations. The new decorations included some more fairy lights, a nutcracker and a lovely wooden star light I’ve got sitting in the window. I’m hoping to buy more fairy lights. Since I’ve noticed a trend amongst people my own age to have them as part of the decor. I can certainly get behind that idea. I felt really cosy as I sat in my living room, now illuminated by the aforementioned lights, along with a couple tea-lights, while watching Wallace and Gromit.

Speaking of nutcrackers: I’ve mentioned this before, but I feel I might as well while I’m here, just this last time. My baby nephew is currently obsessed with a nutcracker holding a drum kit that his parents got him. He’s not even two years old and he’s already being very careful with it and doing things like getting tissues to wipe it’s nose and look after it. None of which his parents have taught him to do. But the clever little fella is full of surprises. Not only that, but as they got some miniature nutcrackers for the tree, they haven’t out them on the tree. He keeps them with him and plays with them. Also, his parents let him keep a festive cup from Costa Coffee which had a nutcracker print on it. So he uses it to drink milk out of when he’s home. A cup I’ve also acquired for myself on my trip back home. 

He refers to T.K Max as “The Nutcracker shop”. You should hear the immense excitement as he says “NUTCRACKEEEERRR!!!” Show him something with a nutcracker on it and his face just lights up! You can bet that when I wrapped-up his presents, I made sure to find the cutest wrapping paper covered in nutcrackers.

All this has lead to me going back to the original story, The Nutcracker & The Mouse King  by E.T.A Hoffman; Which the Tchaikovsky ballet was based on. I bough this most beautiful book and I couldnt help but show him. He was delighted. The second I put it in his hands to show him, he made a hop, skip and a jump straight to my dad (‘Cos he bloody loves his grandad), climbed up on the couch next to him and asked him to read it. Of course, my dad wasn’t going to make any attempt to read a more detailed novella like this one. So he resorted to describing the pictures to him.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1786330636/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


His obsession soon became my own as I just had to buy one for myself. As creepy as they kind of look, there’s something undeniably charming about them. Now I’m just in love with the things. I bought a silver one holding a staff and a Christmas tree and a smaller blue one with a crown which I’ve really drown fond of. I got him in TK Max. 

Along with this most beautiful wooden Geisha statue with fabric glued on over the carvings for her clothes. She reminds me a lot of something out of Kubo and the Two Strings, which I love.

I also had fun by setting up a Christmas drinking game. Wherein you stick a hat on the corner of the telly and every time someone perfectly lines up with it to look like they’re wearing it, you take a swig.

I made it a point that I would not leave for London and miss the Christmas buffet my art class was putting on. Even if it possibly meant taking a train down on my own after my parents had left. But it didn’t have to come to that. I had a feeling that this would be a massive highlight of my Christmas, and it kind honestly was.

The night before the class, I spent the day with my friend and he was a tremendous help and blessing in driving me out to get some last minute presents for my paternal grandparents and groceries for myself. We were out for hours and it was certainly a blast. Despite how knackered we were, we got straight onto making the festive chocolate cornflake cakes that I was going to bring to the buffet for the next day. Complete with edible glitter and chocolate snowballs on top. Everyone brought a little something to the table. We both decided to open a Christmas present we got each other. And we had the biggest laugh as he got me a set of three stress balls (which came in very handy). Unbeknownst to him, I had also gotten him some “Stress balls” - As in stress balls made to look like testicles. Words can not describe the hysterics we were in!

On to the buffet itself: We started out the lesson as normal, I was doing some christmasy-themed sketches. That particular day I was continuing with the Kadomatsu. We finished early to start with the buffet. They seemed to go down a treat. The ones that weren’t eaten during the party, I went to the disabled riding school down the road from me for them to feast on. Saving one for my neighbour. 

It was a great day! Since I didn’t have a festive jumper, I improvised an outfit with a black, glittery jumper, a red penguin print shirt that I fashioned into a jacket, my late gran’s necklace that look like baubles, reindeer antlers and a red ribbon around my neck. So I could strut in there and be like;

I love going to the class every week. It’s probably the one place I feel like I belong, despite being so out of place at a first glance. It’s such a boost to hear these much more advanced artists say how much they love my work. Telling me how smart and talented I am. How I’ve had a couple instances where I’ve helped my classmates with their art and have even had one of them show interest in commissioning me. I’ve learned to enjoy what I do and get out of my comfort zone. I have a laugh with the people I’m with and I learn from them. It’s helped ease the crippling loneliness I’ve felt since my Gran’s death. 

For the upcoming year, I’m hoping that I can really out-do myself. Especially as we will be focusing on doing pieces based around Mining in the North East and hold and exhibition in March. 

2. Christmas in London:

It was a little tense going down London. If only for the usual headaches of packing and also worrying about financial strains and trying to pay the rent. I won’t go into detail, but let’s just bureaucracy and other people’s cock-ups can be bloody costly. But all I could do was just hope that the presents I’d gotten everyone would be worth it.

I’m always very mixed on my feelings towards London. As a hardcore northerner, I could never live there. It’s difficult for non-English natives to grasp, but the North and the South are pretty much different planets to us. Both in terms of environment and people. Something I should mention about my myself and my family: I am a mixed-race, Northern English girl. My mother is a white Northerner and my father a black Londoner. I have always lived and grown up in the North with my maternal family + my dad. Everyone on my paternal side of the family lives in London or in the Caribbean. My own dad’s mum and dad coming from St. Lucia and Grenada respectively. Throughout my life I’ve always seen my paternal family on a less regular basis to my maternal family. As a family, taking the 5 to 6 hour drive down on special occasions to visit.

On the other hand, backtracking to my mixed feelings, I adore London for how multi-cultural it is and for it’s visual identity and rich history which is still shows in it’s surface details and flowing through it’s veins. It’s hardly a wonder I chose this city to be the main setting for my graphic novel. Being there helps me feel closer to my characters, as I’m walking the streets they would and seeing what they’d see. I remember the last time I was there, I had a walk round the local Sari shops, picking up a few magazines while I was there. I had a similar experience this time.

Another great advantage about being in an area consisting of a lot of south asians is that their shops will be open over the Christmas period. A shop is literally across the street to my nan’s home, run by a man of the south asian persuasion. He’s lived there for a long time. I’d popped in to grab an ice cream for my sore throat and get an alcoholic present for a visiting aunt. He’d recognised my features due to the striking resemblance I bear to my uncle. The one who currently works in the film industry in L.A. He was excited when he looked at me. While in the shop, I spotted this beautiful, ornate candle and bought it for only £2. I found it to be a comforting purchase. Eager to gain some cultural goods.

Which I needed, considering what I’d soon have to put up with from certain relatives.

I think my first warning sign of things to come were when we first arrived in the area of North London where Nan lives. To which my mum shouted with joy that the Christmas tree was in the town square. Something she didn’t think would be there, given the amount of asians there. She then proceeded to stick two fingers up at what looked like a Sikh-run shop shouting “FUCK YOUS!”  Thank god no one saw that. But it was a cringeworthy sight for me. But a mild one compared to what’s to come. Racially insensitive, but perhaps not full-bown racist. That would come later…

Straying a little off topic, one thing that’s always difficult to get used to in my Nan’s house is that it’s so bloody hot! One big different between the North and South is the temperature. I often like to joke about how “You know it’s cold when the Newcastle players have to put on a second string vest.”. My nan seems to insist on having the heating on very high. Made worse once she starts cooking. At least I could be greatful that it was winter - because she does this in summer as well! I spent a lot of time right next to the electric fan this year and had another running in the room I slept in.

Making things more difficult is how I would like to just wear a string top, but then I knew I’d be greeted with comments about my body, hair, fucked-up skin and scars. Or at  the very least stares. I caught some family members staring at me a few times, making me nervous as to what they might comment on later. I’ve certainly had that happen. Like one time I came downstairs for breakfast with a sleeveless top on, got some comments made about my acne scars; forcing me to retreat upstairs to put on a hoodie. Or how I’ve had my mum pull me aside to tell me stuff about what others have been telling her about my appearance or figure or making subtle gestures to me in order to adjust myself or clothing. This has only become more infuriating for me as time goes on. They can complain all they like about how aspects of my appearance make them uncomfortable, but I’m the one who has to live with the emotional and physical pains of bearing them. How many people do you know whose skin becomes dry and flakey immediately after being hydrated?! When I came downstairs to in something to keep my cool, my mum kept trying to persuade me to where a shirt and questioned me as to why. But as I tried to tell her about how I’ve gotten comments from her and others about my skin, she very quickly changed the subject. But that doesn’t surprise me. Friends of mine will know about how when I try to open up to family members and let them know something hurts them, they instantly get angry and turn the situation around. Saying how I’ve made them feel awful for calling them out on things. Well I’m sorry - but maybe I don’t like being referred to as a “whale” in front of my infant nephew!!!

Speaking of which: My visit would come with plenty of comments being made about my size. Including relatives thinking it’s okay to constantly make cracks about my weight and grab a hold of my belly. Then I’ll get a dirty look and they’ll act surprised when I smack their hands away and tell them “No!” I already don’t really like my family members getting too touchy with me, for reasons I won’t get into here. When I showed my nan this vent comic I made, she asked me “Is that you?” To which my mum laughed and responded, “Aye, a much, much SMALLER version, but it’s her.”

Then, on the very last day of my visit, the last words my nan said to me as we were saying goodbye were; “Now next time I see you, I want you to come to me looking more slender.”

FUCKING HELL!!!

Even when the hinges to my door came loose, the first thing that comes out of a relative’s mouth is that I did this because I’m heavy-handed. Which I pointed out I wasn’t. Since I had to keep opening my door slowly due to the fan on the other side!

However, as you may have guessed, sometimes being around family feels like being a fly on the wall to an EDL meeting. My nan claims to be a very good Roman Catholic lady, but she seems to hate every other nationality, religion, homeless people and slags off her own family members behind their backs all the fucking time. I’ve overheard her complaining about someone and hear her say, 


“So I said to her, I know you, I know your race…” At which point I try and black-out of the conversation and drown it out with a drink. You would not believe how often I’ve had to hear her saying “Bloomin’ Asians” this and “So bloody many of them now” that.

I can’t help but appreciate the irony of her complaining about foreigners, when she herself is a foreigner. I think this is one of the cases where a prejudice comes from personal reasons and she bullshits about them being principle ones. Many times I’ve spoken up and pointed out her double-standards or corrected her on her racial insensitive. And when that happens, I’m usually told by my parents to keep quite so as not to cause a fuss. So she can rant and rave on about anyone and everyone, but I’m told to hush the very second I offer a calm and logic to the situation.

Also, my Nan REALLY  hates cats. Me: “At some point I’m hoping to finally get two cats. I’m constantly missing the company of animals and I think it could greatly benefit me mentally…” Nan: “Oh god, well that’s me then! I won’t be able to come within miles of your house.” Me: 

It got to the point where it became an endurance test for my patience. For instance, I genuinlly heard this from a FEMALE member of my family:

“…Women used to take it as a compliment getting touched and chatted-up. You can’t even touch someone’s leg these days without losing your job…”

At which point I retreated upstairs without saying a word to indulge in the secret stash of whiskey and coke I’d brought with me. ‘Cos I knew I was going to need it for occasions like these. I did my best to help escape things by keeping my head in my sketchbook when I was free to. However this didn’t stop me getting comments like these thrown my way:


“Would you rather not put down your sketchbook for once and come up here, sit with us!? Chill!” “Are you getting headaches? It’s from the sketches.” “Cmon, take a break. Come here, now!”

I wish I had the nerve to say. “Honeslty, no. I’m fine with my sketchbook ATM, thank you.”

Along with all the other stresses of Christmas, my mum’s leg is in worse pain and she thinks the nerve endings are beyond buggered, there’s no fixing her leg and amputation might be in order. Not exactly something you want to hear. Merry sodding Christmas to me! Thank fuck for wine!

I still hear about all these quarrels and incidents within my family and it’s painful. If this Christmas has taught me anything, it’s that “family” means… “Blood relatives that bitch about each other behind their backs, con each other, walk away from each other and stab each other in the back; come out with racist, ignorant, close minded shit with a very limited understanding of what’s around them, other people or even me; who constantly impose their expectations of your appearance onto you. Making me more justified to escape into my own mind, hide the spare room with my secret stash of chocolate and cans of whiskey & Coke I came prepared with to numb everything, and count down the minutes until I can go back home to be alone or with my friends.” It does not mean “Like-minded individuals.”

I’ve pondered the idea of spending a Christmas alone. I don’t know how, but i figure that’s just likely to happen someday. And the prospect of that doesn’t alarm me at all. But the worst part is, I still love them. I do. Especially after seeing how much they adored and appreciated their presents. I always carefully choose what presents to get them to make them special. No white elephants when you have Christmas with me. I soon realised I could only elevate the atmosphere with my humour for only so long before things would descend into racism, hypocrisy, bitching and backstabbing again.

The presents I got were really nice. I got a gorgeous mug with my initial from my friend, my gran’s necklace back from my mum, some trainers and as predicted, more make-up from my nan. Which she gets me every year (I’ll admit I’m not overly keen on how cakey it is and how it doesn’t match my skin tone. But I know why I keep getting them). Some skin creams from my brother and his family and some lush fluffy slippers from my mum.

Still, it was a welcome feeling to return home to the North. Especially as the snow started to fall on my first night back. <3 

3. New Years Plans.

As the year draws to the close I’ve realised I want to make some really big changes for 2018.

Ever since my Gran died in 2014, I’ve been more alone than ever before. Alone even amongst my family. I’ve seen the family dynamic break apart with the chaos formed from the grief. I’ve been forced into a position of being the reliable shoulder to cry on, the one to witness mental break downs and the one to fix everyone’s problems without thanks as a parent would. But I haven’t had the same for myself. I’ve had my false happiness be a measure of my families mental stability.

I remember the first Christmas without her; I was down London and this was playing on the telly. Watching this brought back so many fantastic memories we had watching this and how this defined so many christmases for me. Unfortunately, this meant I couldn’t control myself and I ended up sobbing in front of everyone because it just reminded me about how the best years of my life, and my gran, were gone forever. I think that incident is why I don’t let myself get emotional in front of my family anymore and keep a lot of things close to my chest. Even when I’m prodded to try and open-up more. It’s like the time my mum and I watched Anastasia (another film that was VERY special to us) it took all the strength I had to not cry when I was sat next to her. Especially at the scene when Anya is reunited with her grandmother. 
 Now, I feel tired of it all. I can’t keep this up forever. Despite what I know are my duties towards my family, it’s time to move on. For my own life to truly start.

I don’t know whether or not to feel guilty that I’ve began to feel more strongly about focusing on the families in my stories than my own. I felt great to escape further into my own mind. But I’m starting to wonder whether I need to spread my wings even more. I want to become less reliant on my family things - for both of our benefits. There are many changes I want to make for the upcoming year.

I have many plans for my life in the distant future. One of them being that I want to publish my graphic novel and set a consistent series going. But this Christmas has got me thinking more about my immediate future:

I want to see a doctor to get some treatments for my PCOS, I want to have a friend to suppose me through it all. I don’t want to involve my family. I tried hinting towards it, but this ending up bringing up my families wishes to get Gastric balloon surgery. Which I was nearly forced into earlier this year - a very upsetting time for me. 

I want to perhaps change things about my appearance, find a style I can wear with ease and learn about how to apply make-up. And have the support of the friend who will help me through it without imposing what they want on me like a mannequin - as my family tend to. 

I want to make greater progress to finishing the script for my graphic novel and figure out my series deeper lore.

I want to change my lifestyle and get back to an hour on the treadmill each night, as I used to enjoy. I want to have greater health in my life and a professional and successful routine. I want to do these because I want to. Not because I have relatives want me to be this perfect pretty girl they used to have when I was younger or because they don’t want to face the idea of me dying and forcing them to face their own mental grievances instead of imposing them onto me.

I want to know that I’ve created a good business out of doing what I’m talented at doing and finally make myself a working member of society while sitting comfortably on it’s outer edge. To be my own boss and controller of my opportunities. Especially given the boosts I’ve gotten from my classmates and even getting a compliment from Disney animator Aaron Blaise for my Horse study sketches. 

I want to develop more as an artist and a writer, to grow out of my amateurish mistakes.

I want to learn more practice life skills and DIY so that I may shape my home and let myself be prepared for any situation.

I want to be able to meet more people. Perhaps experience the joys of flirtation again and impress an older gentleman. 

I want to be able to have two indoor cats to share my home and introversion with and in return take care of them.

So all those and more are what I plan to do. Tonight will be a fun night of quite recreation, but after that, it’s time to get the ball rolling. I know plenty of my friends seem to be making some great transitions in their life. So I really hope they succeed in what they want.

Also, if I’m to finally stop whinging about my problems. This year hasn’t exactly been great overall. What with the absolute cunt that is Donald Trump somehow convincing his backwards supporters to make him the president and then get into a dick-measuring contest with the equally sociopathic, narcissistic and immature Kim Jong whatshisface and having the threat of nuclear holocaust over our heads. Blue Planet 2 let us know that humanity has fucked the planet and become an inoperable cancer for every other species we share it with. Then of course, the whole Brexit thing here in the UK wasn’t exactly pretty. Plus there was the tidal wave of sex pests in show business and politics that serve to remind me why as a woman.. I'm fucked either way. I’d love to hope things will be better for the world next time around, but then I remember I’m a pessimist. And if things were bad this year… I’m shitting myself. It certainly explains why I’ve been constantly listening to this song on a loop.

Tonight, to celebrate New Year, I’m using what little cash I have in hand to treat myself to a Chinese takeaway. I’ll also stick a mixed prawn platter in the oven. Made myself some chocolate strawberries, a few glasses of either Amontillado along with some Whiskey & Coke and just watch whatever telly will make me happy. I sometimes miss attending the New Years parties I used to. But after this Christmas, spending the New Years Eve alone is much more refreshing.

To my dear friends @strangehyperbole  @rationalnonsense @ecmcookiez @sibera-the-wanderer @buradorei, I fucking love you guys and hope this year treats you well. Thank you so much for being there for me. I appreciate your friendship more than you could imagine.

CHEERS!!!

[havekiddoswilltravel]

American Girl Bistro Family Lunch in Natick, MA. A Perfect Winter Break Outing for the Entire Family.

The American Girl Store was decked out in beautiful American Girl inspired holiday decor

Our family of six stopped by the American Girl Bistro for an early lunch en route to Boston to watch the Urban Nutcracker. Our party included Mami, Papi, and 4 kids (2 girls and 2 boys ages 12, 9, 6 and 4). Yes, our two boys joined us for lunch at a doll store and enjoyed the food and watching the joy on their sisters’ faces. Our youngest son has a boy doll (named Manny, after the retired Red Sox Baseball player- Manny Ramirez) which he brought with him to the store and wanted to buy everything in sight. Who says that boys can’t love baseball, cars and dolls? 

Manny enjoying his lunch at the American Girl Bistro in Natick, MA

Our family was warmly greeted upon entering the store and our girls went right into American Girl mode. The Natick store was nicely decked for the Christmas holiday and the kids enjoyed looking around prior to our 11:30 am reservation in the bistro. After checking in, we were asked if we wanted to borrow a doll which our 9 year old son politely declined. Our server was amazingly attentive. He asked each child's name, their doll's names and even the doll's dogs' names. He then proceeded to use each name every time he addressed us. Our kids thought that was way cool and smiled each time he spoke to their dolls. He brought out a cup for the dolls and a water bowl for the dogs which my kids thought was a nice touch. The food was very good and the ambiance provided great picture opportunities to document our youngest daughter's first trip to the American Girl Bistro. Our eldest daughter had previously dined at the Natick and the NYC Bistro and I will say that we were glad that we decided to provide this treat for our youngest. If your child does not have his/her own doll, do not fear as they do have dolls to lend out at the bistro.  

Click here to read more about our prior trips to American Girl.

The napkin ring is actually an American Girl hair tie which is a memento

I enjoyed the salmon and it was perfectly prepared

The kids had chicken noodle soup as an appetizer and loved the heart shaped toast

The dessert platter was delicious and visually appealing with heart shaped brownies and sprinkles

The child and doll make your own cupcakes and cookies were a huge hit

The American Girl Bistro offered several holidays specials which added to the festive environment

Enough About the Bistro, Let’s Talk About the American Girl Store

The purpose of our trip was to provide our youngest children with a memorable doll, pet and child lunch experience at the American Girl Bistro, but we would be kidding ourselves if we thought that they would be able to walk through the store and not browse the many dolls, accessories and book offerings.

Our daughters’ smiles as soon as we walked into the store and they saw the Girl of the Year who looked like she could be part of our family 

Our happy girls enjoying a memorable time with their dolls at the American Girl Store

Our love of American Girl dolls started when our eldest was a toddler and we experienced difficulty finding baby dolls that looked like her. She actually had her 4th birthday party at this same store with her cousin and picked out her first American Girl doll. In the year’s since, we have traveled to the American Girl Store and Bistro in NYC and attended the Melody launch in the Virginia store. As we were reminiscing about all of her American Girl experiences, we realized that our youngest daughter had never had the privileged of dining at an American Girl Bistro with her doll. We took advantage of a pre-Christmas trip to Boston, to surprise them both with this trip. Once again, American Girl did not disappoint and I smiled from ear to ear when in the middle of lunch our six year old turned to us and said: “Thank you for making this the best day of my life!” Wow, that was easy. 

The American Girl has faced criticism regarding the large number of Caucasian dolls that they have featured over the years. While I acknowledge and agree with some of this criticism, as a mom of diverse kids living in a white suburb, American Girl has been a lifeline for our family as one of the few large doll companies that have look like me (Truly Me) dolls that cater to a broader audience. Is there room for improvement? Absolutely! However, my girls have truly benefited from dolls, books and movies like Melody, Josefina and Gabriella that feature characters that look like them and I hope that the American Girl company will continue to break down stereotypes and expand their offerings further. 

The Doll of the Year, Gabriella is a dancer which our kids loved as we are a family of dancers

This doll brought me to tears, as I can’t imagine what it would mean for a girl fighting cancer to see a doll that looks like her

Disclosure: I have partnered with American Girl on this blog post. All opinions and feedback are our our (my kids had a lot of input on this write-up). 

[rebelmeg]

65 Questions You Aren't Used To

(I know, it’s an ask meme, but... I just kinda want to do them all.  I LOVE this kinda stuff, it’s like writing a nifty journal entry for people that suck at journals, like me.)

1. Do you ever doubt the existence of others than you?  Um, no... they’re right there.

2. On a scale of 1-5, how afraid of the dark are you?  1.  I’m very comfortable in the dark.

3. The person you would never want to meet?  Donald Trump was the first to spring to mind.

4. What is your favorite word?  Popcorn.  (Because it visually appeals to me, and it feels nice to say.  I know, that made literally zero sense.  I know.)

5. If you were a type of tree, what would you be?  I always fancied myself a weeping willow, but there is literally nothing willowy about me.  Ooh, ooh, can I be a fruitless pear tree?!  They turn every color from yellow to purple in autumn and they’re so pretty!

6. When you looked in the mirror this morning what was the first thing you thought?  Probably something like, “Ew,” or “I need to shower,”.

7. What shirt are you wearing?  It’s cute!  It’s a gray tunic with a deep V in the front with lacing, and the words, “I’d Rather Not.”

8. What do you label yourself as?  Writer.

9. Bright room or dark room?  Bright when I’m working, dim when things are winding down, dark as sin when sleeping.

10. What were you doing at midnight last night?  Same thing I’m doing now, screwing around on Tumblr when I should be finishing up and going to bed.

11. Favorite age you’ve been so far? 17 was a good year for me, I found the other half of my heart.  Everything before and after was basically a crap shoot.

12. Who told you they loved you last?  My daughters.

13. Your worst enemy?  Probably myself.

14. What is your current desktop picture?  It’s doing a slideshow through my saved file of New Years pictures.

15. Do you like someone?  Romantically, just my hubby.  He’s awfully cute.

16. The last song you listened to?  Listening to “U and Ur Hand” by P!nk right now.

17. You can press a button that will make any one person explode. Who would you blow up?  No one wants me to have this responsibility.

18. Who would you really like to just punch in the face? I could prepare a list...

19. If anyone could be your slave for a day, who would it be and what would they have to do?  Oh geez, I have no idea.  Who wants to be my slave and clean my house?

20. What is your best physical attribute? (showing said attribute is optional)  My eyes!  I have pretty eyes.

21. If you were the opposite sex for one day, what would you look like and what would you do?  I’ve got no idea what I’d look like, I’ve got too much boob and hip going on.  I’ll be honest, I’d have to have at least one orgasm, because I’ve always wondered what the difference is.  

22. Do you have a secret talent? If yes, what is it?  Secret?  Not really, I’m pretty open with all my talents.  

23. What is one unique thing you’re afraid of?  Family members dying.  I’ve never had a close family member die, and I’m like... ridiculously afraid of that (especially my husband and kids), especially since I’m deeply religious.

24. You can only have one kind of sandwich. Every sandwich ingredient known to humankind is at your disposal.  The #11 at Jimmy Johns, plus bacon.

25. You just found $100! How are you going to spend it?  Probably on something stupid.  Discount Christmas shirts (I only have one), stuff on my wish.com list and Amazon list, that kind of thing.  Takeout from Arby’s.

26. You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere in the world, but you have to leave immediately. Where are you going to go?  Europe!

27. An angel appears out of Heaven and offers you a lifetime supply of the alcoholic beverage of your choice. “Be brand-specific” it says. Man! What are you gonna say about that? Even if you don’t drink booze there’s something you can figure out… so what’s it gonna be?  Um... yeah, I don’t drink so... maybe the rarest, most expensive liquor known to man.  I’ll sell it and be rich.

28. You discover a beautiful island upon which you may build your own society. You make the rules. What is the first rule you put into place?  No littering.

29. What is your favorite expletive?  I can’t say, I’m trying to quit.  (And it’s a bad one.)  If we’re doing PG rated expletives, I’ve taken to using “son of a nutcracker” and “oh my honk” pretty frequently...

30. Your house is on fire, holy shit! You have just enough time to run in there and grab ONE inanimate object. Don’t worry, your loved ones and pets have already made it out safely. So what’s the one thing you’re going to save from that blazing inferno?  LAPTOP.

31. You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?  I know what it is.  But I’m not telling all y’all because it’s horrifically embarrassing.

32. You got kicked out of the country for being a time-traveling heathen who sleeps with celebrities and has super-powers. But check out this cool shit… you can move to anywhere else in the world!  SCOTLAND.  It only gets, like, into the 70′s there in the summer.  I can dig that.  I’m a freaking polar bear.  (Do I get to pick the celebrities I get to fictionally sleep with, because I’ve prepared a list...)

33. The Celestial Gates Of Beyond have opened, much to your surprise because you didn’t think such a thing existed. Death appears. As it turns out, Death is actually a pretty cool entity, and happens to be in a fantastic mood. Death offers to return the friend/family-member/person/etc. of your choice to the living world. Who will you bring back?  Like, for a visit, or for permanent?  Because that’s different.  If it was for a visit, I’d bring back one of my two grandparents that have died.  I have QUESTIONS.  If it was for permanent... if an early term, miscarried baby counts, I’d bring back mine.

34. What was your last dream about?  I only get dreams when I’m in that weird “not 100% sleep” state, and man are they bizarre.... and I rarely remember them, but you can trust me that it was weird.

35. Are you a good….[insert anything you’d like here]?  Yes.  Yes I am.  Exceptionally.

36. Have you ever been admitted to the hospital?  Several times, yeah.  Most of them for baby things.  (I had the baby, I was not the baby.)

37. Have you ever built a snowman?  Oh yes.  Not yet this year though, not a really awesome snowfall yet, just a few inches.

38. What is the color of your socks?  I’m wearing neon pink and navy blue Black Widow socks that I got from my hubby for Christmas!

39. What type of music do you like?  Most of it.  Seriously.  Country, rock, pop, oldies, alternative, instrumental, show tunes, classical, movie scores, Disney, Celtic and Irish.... seriously.  Most of it.

40. Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?  Sunsets, sunrises are full of tiredness.

41. What is your favorite milkshake flavor?  Depends on my mood, really.

42. What football team do you support? (I will answer in terms of American football as well as soccer)  I... don’t.  I’m not a sports person unless the Olympics are involved.

43. Do you have any scars?  Lots, yeah.  Biggest is my c-section scar(s), my favorite is the one on my middle finger from when I sliced it open trying to set up a trampoline.  Pro tip, wear gloves, because those springs can slice your finger open when pulled back and loosed.

44. What do you want to be when you graduate?  I’ve already graduated (high school, never went to college and I don’t regret it), I wanted to be married and happy.  I’ve mostly succeeded.  Still chasing happiness, but I get the golden moments enough that I can call it successful.

45. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?  Probably body size, mostly because they don’t have a lot of cute clothes in my size and I have no power to change that sad standard.

46. Are you reliable?  Almost 100%, yes.

47. If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be?  How does Infinity War and Avengers 4 end?

48. Do you hold grudges?  Big ones, yes.  Little ones, not so much.

49. If you could breed two animals together to defy the laws of nature, what new animal would you create?  Panda peacock.  Because a cute, cuddly panda with peacock colors?  Best.

50. What is the most unusual conversation you’ve ever had?  Someone trying to goad me into participating in one of their infantilization fantasies that made me feel extremely uncomfortable.

51. Are you a good liar?  I’m an excellent liar.  I shouldn’t be proud of that.  I am.

52. How long could you go without talking?  Does talking to myself count, because I do that a lot...

53. What has been you worst haircut/style?  The awkward between-phase after I did a shoulder-length bob and needed to grow it out again after my perm started to lose strength too.  Poof.

54. Have you ever baked your own cake?  Tons of times.  I made my own birthday cake this year.

55. Can you do any accents other than your own?  I do a pretty decent British (a few dialects), I can pull of Australian, Irish, Scottish, New Zealand, French, and occasionally Russian or German, as long as I get a good audio clip first to jump off of.

56. What do you like on your toast?  Butter, or butter with jam/jelly or cinnamon sugar.

57. What is the last thing you drew a picture of?  A terrible sketch of Marty the zebra from Madagascar for my three year old.

58. What would be you dream car?  A big honking pick-up truck with the full backseat and excellent gas mileage and fuel efficiency.

59. Do you sing in the shower? Or do anything unusual in the shower? Explain.  Okay, the way that is worded is hilarious.  I do sing sometimes, when I’ve got music going, but I am pretty quiet since neighbors.  I don’t usually do anything unusual, except sticking my loose hairs to the wall so I can wad them up and throw it all away rather than it going down the drain and clogging it.

60. Do you believe in aliens?  Not in the traditional sense, but I know we’re not alone.  It’s based in religion.

61. Do you often read your horoscope?  Rarely.  When it pops up in magazines from last year or whatever.

62. What is your favorite letter of the alphabet?  M, probably, for my name.  And, fun trivia, M is the 13th letter of the alphabet, which puts it smack in the middle.

63. Which is cooler: dinosaurs or dragons?  DRAGONS.  I’d have a dragon as a pet if I could.  Hagrid and Charlie Weasley would be over all the time.

64. What do you think about babies?  They’re cuuuute.  Most of the time.  Mine were cutest.

65. Freebie! Ask anything interesting you can think of.  If anyone thinks of something, do ask me.  I seriously love this stuff!

[arplis]

Arplis - News: Arlyns Warm (& Sort of Last-Minute DIYed) Holiday Reveal

Spoiler alert: This starts sad, but I promise a happy endingjust like your favorite Hallmark movie. Yes, its a post about decorating for Christmas, but its a bit of a journey (and your prize for sticking around is seven tips for a pretty holiday look without a ton of planningnext to a cash reward, what more could you want, hm?).

Before moving to LA, I had a long-standing Christmas tradition that involved a sleepover at my place with my twin nephews. Wed go buy a fresh tree, head to Target to pick out their yearly ornaments (and okay, I usually caved and bought them several when they couldnt pickauntie privilege), and settle in for the night with a big ol cheese pizza and tons of candy to decorate and watch holiday movies. When I left Florida, my absolute favorite weekend of the year stayed behind along with my family, and frankly, I didnt feel festive enough last year to decorate. Sure, I bought a tree and then proceeded to cry my way through placing all the memories from years past on it (like I said, no this whole post wont be one giant Joni Mitchell River-esque depressing monologue). But, its been almost two years, and I realized that it was time to start making some new traditions, starting with proper decorations to set the scene for the season.

By proper, I mean nothing more than something that actually brought me joy. In my last home, I didnt care even the tiniest bit about my Christmas aesthetic. Id throw around scraggly bows, dangle strange garlands in places that would inevitably fall off (left unfixed until January). While I appreciate a classic, kitschy look, this didnt make me happy. Looking back, it was a lot like the holiday aisle at Big Lots come December 26sparse, random and nowhere I wanted to be. BUT THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT. Guys, I really actually tried, and whoa, I love coming home. I get so jazzed to know Ill walk through that door after work to all the fairy lights on (thanks, timers) and all I need to do is light my pine-scented candles.

When I first discussed decorating and shooting my place for the blog, I told Emily I would take the more last-minute DIY angle for this story, except, ha, I should know myself better than to think Im a DIY person (have I talked about the unfinished dining chairs sitting in a corner of my master bedroom enough times for you to understand the stakes here?). Im more of an early minute buying personif we can all agree thats the opposite of last-minute DIY, but dont worry Emily, I pulled out a few stops even for me to salvage this story. Really, though, its an excuse to show you guys my living and dining rooms again, this time just festooned for Christmas using nearly everything Target, because those guys have affordable holiday decor on lock.

Aside from what I bought, there were a few things I planned on doing going into this: dried oranges for garland and ornaments, and the addition of real greenery to anything faux for a lusher more natural look, but more on that in just a bit when we get there. Lets start in the living room:

Creating a Christmas Couch With Simple Textile Swaps

Swapping out textiles seasonally always felt to me like the equivalent of womens magazines telling me when I was younger that Id be going from day to night far more often than I ever have (never). Who was really doing this? Sure, my mom would throw a random Christmas pillow on the sofa when I was younger, but a full swap was absolutely something Id NEVER consider doing. Except well, for the sake of this shoot, I did it, and guess what. IM OBSESSED WITH IT. Dont knock it til you try it.

I left one of my everyday pillows out because it played well with everything else, but Im half tempted to never actually switch them back. Im officially living the cozy life and DONT MAKE ME GO BACK. But seriously, seeing that Fa la la pillow and those little gold embroidered Christmas trees fill my heart with childlike wonder and joy and Im now a winter textiles swap person (once I figure out a more permanent solution than throwing my year-round pillows and blanket in the guest bedroom).

Neutral Tree + Homemade Goodies

The (Christmas-celebrating) world is divided into two subsects: those who take no issue with faux trees, and those that choose to torture themselves with a real evergreen. I am the latter. Every year, when it comes time to recycle this baby, I curse myself for the massacre of needles. But alas, I cant be stopped and I will always opt for a real tree. This is a noble fir that I picked up at Lowes and it has that gappy vibe everyone is into right now. I like how you can load up a branch front to back and things dangle so nicely, sparkling and dazzling in the twinkle lights.

As for the decor, this is actually the first year in a long time I went with white lights. Ive always been a colored-lights just throw crazy stuff up on the tree and call it a day girl (correction: let your small nephews throw crazy stuff up on the tree and call it a day). Someone once asked me if I changed my trees color motif every year and Im pretty sure I rudely laughed in their face before I realized they were serious. No. I am not that person. This is why this year, once I realized that oh wait, people will be seeing my home and I needed to try, I opted to go for something a little more neutral so I could build on it over time. I also had a box full of handmade and drawn ornaments from my nephews that I needed to be sure made it up on those branches (see the paper and crayon snowman, for example). Theres enough going on in my apartment that something a little more minimal didnt make me want to crawl out of my skin a week into the merriment.

Because I wanted some color, I thought to do what evidently everyone else on the internet also thought to do this year: dried oranges as ornaments. I definitely did not get the mailer that must have gone around to tell everyone this was the look of 2019, but regardless, I love it. Some string (in a white and red becauseChristmas), a bag of small oranges and a few hours to dry them out in the oven (Erin from Francois et Moi has a great tutorial here) and boom, I supplemented my tree for about$4. LAST-MINUTE DECORATING LIFE HACK. Put dried oranges on just about everything and you have an instant holiday lewk that feels warm, unpretentious, welcoming and a wee-bit British (i.e. all I ever want to feel).

Some of my favorite ornaments I scooped up this year with my nephews top of mind: the sloth, the fabric Santa, the clip-on glittery birds, and the ceramic turtle doves (I promptly forced my husband Charles to sit and listen to why I got those to represent our undying love). Oh goodness, and I cant move on before discussing that Cookies For Santa plate and milk jug. No, there are no children in my house, but when I saw it, I knew I needed to hoard it for the day that there are because every year my sister runs around trying to find something to put cookies and milk in and it always ends up being an awkward mini loaf pan or something and this feels like a pat yourself on the back for planning ahead moment that I wanted to put on display.

Mix Real + Faux

HOT TIP: Faux garland is so great for using year after year and traditionally, I used to think it looked very fake, but Target has some good stuff. I went with their faux white pine and berries strand here and over the archway and Im so happy with them. This one is 72, so, maybe dont be like me and instead measure before you figure out how much of something you need. I ended up with about 8 inches of bare mantel and had to guinea rig a solution. The left side there, by the candlesticks, is actually a piece of faux greenery also from Target in the same color/finish that I added to the end and BOOM, fixed.

Once I put the eucalyptus wreath on the door, however, I realized it was much cooler in tone than the garland and side by side, they looked a little jarring. My solution? Get some actual eucalyptus (I had some leftover from my Thanksgiving tablescape) and shove in pieces of it about every 6 inches or so. This accomplished two things for me: it married the color/style gap between the wreath and the garland, but it also brought some life to the faux-ness. (Again, this stuff is good, so it doesnt NEED it, it was just a visual preference for me).

Can we talk about the cutest stocking? Growing up in Florida, a land devoid of mantels and fireplaces for obvious reasons, we were not a stocking family. Every now and then, my mom might tie some to the stair banister, but they were never full of anything. Well folks, thats over. I live in LA now, a land with NON-FUNCTIONING fireplaces, but fireplaces nonetheless. LA is all about illusions after all, so as long as it looks like a fireplace, thats all that matters, right? Throw some fairy lights in, no problem (and maybe light some candlesI used these candlesticks from Targetif youre brave and attentive for that real fire feel). This knit guy with the poms is maybe my favorite thing I got this year but HEAVY (hence the nutcracker on top of the stocking holder for that oneI have a little cut-out in the molding that meant less stability, but itll probably be fine if you have a normal 90-degree angle on your mantel).

And, in one of my favorite last-minute moves to use up random leftovers of things, I took some ribbon I had bought for my gift wrap, tied a little piece into a bow and velcroed it to this art piece. Dressing up your artwork can be SO fun for holidays (remember Emilys googly eyes over that oil portrait?). Its so unexpected, costs basically nothing and will get everyones attention, I promise.

Sprinkle Christmas Cheer Throughout Other Vignettes

This whole post should be titled Never Underestimate the Holiday Styling Power of the Bottle Brush Tree because if you look closely enough, there is absolutely one in nearly every shot angle of my home. I threw some on my console table, on a side table, on my coffee table, on my TV standand just WAIT until you get to the dining room. Bottle brush tree galore! They are very affordable and if you dont mind glitter sprouting from nearly everywhere until the end of time, theyre almost all you need to fill in your home with some Christmas spirit outside of the big moments (tree, fireplace). Same goes for leftover ornaments, pieces of greenery (such as free scraps from the tree lot), and super budget-friendly figurines, like these reindeer that make me so happy.

That blonde wood bowl is VERY good guys, and I will absolutely be leaving it out year-round, but for now, it screamed FILL ME WITH JINGLE BELLS so I had to oblige. These are 2-inch bells and honestly just so dang fun. Put them in a vase or bowl but save a few to sprinkle throughout other vignettes (or on a gift!).

The last moment I threw together in this room was the bench by my window. I moved the rust-colored velvet cushion into the guest bedroom (which honestly, I treat like a storage unit, so I know this is not a universal solution) and draped my sheepskin pelt a little asymmetrically. I gotta say, Im quite proud that this placement was my first go at it. The less fussing you do sometimes, the more effortless things look. I over-ordered pillows for my sofa, but thank goodness, because they worked great on here. The green pillow with the poms is SO cute and you might not see it here, but it has these little wood beads at the base of the pom pom which makes it extra special.

Alright, lets move this party into the dining roomafter you.

Accentuate Your Architecture

Ever since I saw Ginnys garland-bedecked archway into her dining room, I dreamed of being able to do the same thing. So when I stepped foot into this apartment for the first time, I instantly knew it would fulfill my greenery-over-archway dreams. This is three pieces of faux garland, hung with some small nails I dug out of an IKEA art hanging kit. Because of my 100-year-old plastered and heavily textured walls, Command hooks simply laughed the THREE times I tried themin three different sizes and configurations (both the laughter and hook type). I finally gave up and went to get the hammer. Cant wait to patch those holes come January, trulythough worth it to me.

Implement a Big Holiday Moment (Thats Actually Really Easy)

Over on the console, I went for a sort of kind of holiday village. It was my initial vision to do a jam-packed Christmas village here, so I bought what felt like hundreds of trees and houses, and then I put them all down and the credenza ATE it. It was like starting with a pan full of fresh spinach and ending up with 2 tablespoons of cooked spinach. My dreams were dashed and I came up with plan B: mix in everyday things with some holiday feels and pretend it was your plan all along. Im actually very happy with it and dont think I havent sat at my dining table some mornings and nights just looking over here with a twinkle in my eye and sugar plums dancing in my head. When you boil it down, its really just three new vignettes: the two bottle brush trees + seasonal candle (above), a footed bowl with some leftover greenery and bottle brush trees (below) and ceramic houses with some fairy lights shoved up into them on top of books which were already there (photo after next). Oh, and some oranges from the grocery store because #theme.

My favorite thing about this whole scene is probably those beautiful wreaths hanging by velvet ribbon over the windows. I LOVE a wreath-over-window (or, as youll see, mirror) moment and two windows meant I had two chances to do it in this room. Quickly: Im very much obsessed with this wreath. It looks so high-end with the dangling brass bells and it matches the garland in the living room, so both spaces speak to each other.

Over on the bar, my vintage gilded mirror called for another ribbon-hung wreath, but I went for the faux cypress leaf version instead to keep things more minimal. The addition of some new brass barware (the Project 62 line looks really good, folks) and a few bottle brush trees and voila, my holiday bar.

When In Doubt, Keep It Simple (For Real)

When it came to what to do on my table, this was REALLY a last-minute DIY situation because I had no idea (which is typically the case with my table). The day before this shoot, Emily texted me that she had some leftover garland at her house from her shoot, and I could come grab some if I wanted. So grab it I did, not knowing what I planned on doing with it, but I ended up throwing it on the table just to think and when I finally came to, I realized it was exactly where it belonged. I pulled out my kitchen sheers because I do not have clippers (apartment living), trimmed it to size and pulled out some small, cheap glass votives I had in my cabinets already to make things moody. AND THEN, I had some extra oranges from my tree ornaments and I just scattered some throughout to connect both rooms visually.

But wait, theres more. At the last minute (okay, the night before), I wanted to give the room more of a casual party vibe and wanted a dessert set up, so I ran out to Ralphs with the intention of making something with the zero minutes I had left in my life to whip up a baked good and found a pre-made bundt cake instead. A simple glaze (though Im sure you could find one glazed already), some cranberries I rolled in sugar, and a smattering of fresh sage leaves is all I needed to fool Sara into thinking I had actually made this when she made it over to shoot. SEMI HOMEMADE TRICKERY.

I will most certainly be doing this again in the future, and if you do, as well, everyone will think youre a domestic goddess. Set out some cute appetizer or dessert plates (these from the Hearth & Home with Magnolia are super cute with festive sayings on them that are subtle but still fun), flatware and napkins, and with very little effort, you just became the hostess with the mostest time to actually blow dry your hair before people show up.

And thus ends my holiday dissertation. It started out bleak, but I promised it would end on a high note, and theres no higher note than being pulled together enough to maybe put some curls in your hair (at least for me).

I rounded up ALL the goods I got from Target below in a few groupings, and yes, at the end of the season, you might find this stuff is sold out either in-store or online, so for that Im SO sorry, but ALWAYS check your local stores because they restock or people make returns and you might just find what youre looking for. Oh, and for a few more exclusive tips, I wanted to share the story Ruemag.com featured of my home as well, so check that out if youre interested. Thanks for stopping by and the happiest of holidays and the merriest of Christmases to you all.

1. Wooden Ornaments Set of 3 | 2. 28 LED Battery Operated Wreath | 3. Lit Up House Ceramic Christmas Ornament | 4. 13 Lit Gold Metal and Capiz Star | 5. 3ct Glass Christmas Ornaments Set Birds | 6. 72 Faux White Pine Garland with Berry | 7. 8ct Glitter Pine Cone Ornament Set | 8. Green with White & Gold Wreath Gift Wrap Roll | 9. 40ct Shatter Resistant Veranda Ornament Set | 10. Fabric Santa White Ornament | 11. Embroidered Tree Skirt | 12. Ceramic Birds Ornament | 13. Sloth Ornament Ornament | 14. Artificial Cedar Stem w/ Pine Cones | 15. Cream w/ Black Swiss Dot Gift Wrap Roll | 16. Faux Leaf Ball Ornament | 17. Truck with Bottle Brush Tree Ornament | 18. Philips 300ct Incandescent Mini String Lights

1. Large Gold Glitter Christmas Tree | 2. Christmas Nutcracker Figurine Gold | 3. Knit Square Throw Pillow with Corner Poms | 4. Holiday Stocking Sour Cream Knot with Red Poms | 5. Milk & Cookies Stoneware Set | 6. Small Gold Glitter Christmas Tree | 7. Wooden Oval Bowl with Handles | 8. 2 16pc Jingle Bells Vase Filler | 9. Cream Faux Fur Oversized Throw Pillow | 10. Embroidered Trees Velvet Throw Pillow | 11. Holiday Stocking Green Stripe | 12. 3pc Taper Candle Holder Set | 13. Texture Faux Fur Throw Blanket | 14. 3pc Mini Deer Figurines | 15. 10 12pk Unscented Taper Candle Set | 16. 2pk Basic Stocking Holder | 17. Large Mercury Glass Christmas Tree | 18. Fa la la Velvet Oversize Lumbar | 19. Clear Glass Vase Large | 20. Channeled Faux Fur Throw Pillow | 21. 4pc Green Flocked Bottle Brush Trees | 22. Large Bottle Brush Tree | 23. Philips 50ct Battery Operated LED Dewdrop Lights | 24. Small Ceramic House

1. 24 Faux White Pine Wreath with Metal Bell | 2. Set of 4 Linen Napkins | 3. 3pc Bottlebrush Trees | 4. Stainless Steel Cocktail Strainer | 5. 4pc Bottle Brush Christmas Tree Set | 6. Stainless Steel Cocktail Stirrer Spoon | 7. Ceramic House Figurines | 8. 5pc Stainless Steel Kayden Silverware Set | 9. 4ct Seasonal Appetizer Plates | 10. Oblong Brass Footed Bowl Gold | 11. 4pk Napkin Set Green | 12. 18 Faux Cedar Wreath | 13. Dew Drop LED Lights w/ Copper Wire | 14. Bottle Brush Tree with Wood Stand | 15. 2.5oz Stainless Steel Double Jigger

***photography by Sara Ligorria-Tramp, design and styling by Arlyn Hernandez

The post Arlyns Warm (& Sort of Last-Minute DIYed) Holiday Reveal appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Arplis - News source https://arplis.com/blogs/news/arlyns-warm-sort-of-last-minute-diyed-holiday-reveal

[gramilano]

Shale Wagman in the Grand Pas Classique at English National Ballet, photo by Laurent Liotardo

Canadian dancer Shale Wagman turned 19 last May. Soon after he was guesting at the Mariinsky Theatre. What’s more, it was his first time dancing a principal role. Ever. Last season – his first as a professional dancer – he was dancing with English National Ballet’s corps de ballet, part of his prize after winning the Prix de Lausanne when he was 17, last year.

My year with the company was nice. I got opportunities to dance the Pas de trois and Neapolitan Pas de deux in Swan Lake, the Beggar Chief in Manon, and roles in Wheeldon’s Cinderella, Nutcracker, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Broken Wings as well as the Grand Pas Classique.

At the Mariinsky, however, he was dancing James in La Sylphide alongside Olesya Novikova. From the Beggar Chief to James is quite a phenomenal leap and on one of the world’s most prestigious ballet stages.

I was in St Petersburg for Dance Open, and while I was there, I had the opportunity to be invited by Mr Fateev [Yuri Fateev, Acting Director of the Mariinsky Ballet] to take company class. Three weeks later, I received an email from him proposing me to dance La Sylphide, and I questioned which role. I thought maybe Gurn or a demi-solo part, but he said, James. I couldn’t believe my good fortune. I have dreamed of dancing at Mariinsky since I started ballet, so I was overcome with emotion.

Maybe it’s time to rewind to when and how he began dancing.

Shale Wagman the little thrill seeker (2)

Shale Wagman the little thrill seeker

Shale Wagman the little thrill seeker (4)

Shale Wagman the little thrill seeker (5)

Shale Wagman the little thrill seeker (3)

Shale Wagman was born on 2 May 2000 in Thornhill, a suburb to the north of Toronto in Canada.

My dad was a chartered accountant, and still is, and my mom was a paralegal before she had kids.

He grew up with his two hockey-playing brothers, and although he says that his mother is creative, there is no theatrical vein running through the family.

His mother, Heather, says,

As an infant, he was mesmerised and stimulated by anything visual. It went beyond the usual curiosity or wonder of a toddler.

From his stroller, he was fixated as the roller coaster was rising, falling, twisting and turning. Once he was tall enough actually to ride the coasters with his brothers, he turned into a little thrill seeker.

His attention to detail was impeccable. He would draw the most beautiful and intricate pictures that were well beyond his years.

At six, he began dancing.

I had been in gymnastics and swimming. I was agile and flexible. My swimming teacher’s son encouraged me to see his dance teacher, who worked with boys. Right away he said I moved like a cat and he was adamant I start seriously training in competitive dance right away.

Shale Wagman at 6 (on the right) in his first ever dance

When Shale Wagman won the American Dance Awards at 9 years old

Shale Wagman at 10

That teacher was a Russian, Vlad Novitski, who runs one of the most respected schools in the greater Toronto area.

This was my introduction to tap, hip hop, modern, jazz lyrical, acro, contemporary and the competitive dance world. He instilled a strong work ethic, discipline and encouraged me to improvise, choreograph and bring out my creativity from a young age.

His mother says,

At his first regional dance competition at seven-years-old, I watched him standing in the wings transfixed for hours. The other kids would do their routines, cheer on their friends for a couple of numbers and leave. He didn’t leave! Looking back, I believe it was at that moment, he knew that this is all he ever wanted to do.

It was during this time that he participated in Canada’s Got Talent.

It was my mother’s idea. At first, I was upset with her because I didn’t want to be on the show due to the fact that I would miss a few dance classes. As an 11-year-old, I wasn’t aware of how much it could benefit me.

A stage mother?

Shale’s dad, two older brothers and I have always been supportive and proud of him. We were a good team doing whatever we could to encourage and nurture his talent and gift and at the same time, knowing when to let go and give him the independence he needed to grow and learn.

Shale was definitely special. With his determination, self-motivation, discipline, passion, natural abilities and God-given gift, I knew that one day our family would be sharing him with the world!

Not a pushy mother but a supportive one. Shale says,

My mom told me to try the audition and see afterwards if I didn’t want to do it and of course I loved being on a stage of that scale. I really enjoyed sharing what I love with a bigger audience. Naturally, I became excited, and it turned out to be a fantastic experience.

He arrived in the final, just after his 12th birthday.

Shale Wagman at 12 in the final of Canada’s Got Talent, photo by Canada’s Got Talent media team

Shale Wagman for Canada’s Got Talent at 12

Shale Wagman dancing a solo called Mad World, at 12

Shale Wagman in Canada’s Got Talent

In a newspaper interview at the time, the journalist stated that Shale was “completely unconcerned with the effeminate stereotypes that come with dance”. His attitude has changed slightly.

I didn’t ever let myself get bullied, but of course people tried, and it was a struggle at times. I guess at 12, I blocked it all out because of the pride I had in my dancing.

Even in the ballet world, it is frowned upon to be feminine at times, but everyone has their own way of expressing their art. If it is tasteful, then I am a fan, whether it looks ‘masculine’, ‘feminine’, or anything in between, depending on the role. There is strength to be found in being both feminine and masculine. A true artist has no limits and, in my opinion, those labels can block people.

Shale Wagman with his first teacher, for 6 years, Vlad Novitski after his graduation performance at the Princess Grace Academy

Shale Wagman with his ballet teacher from Canada, Tatiana Stepanova

Shale Wagman with his mother Heather (left) and teacher Tatiana Stepanova (right) after the YAGP finals at the Lincoln Center

The shelves at Vlad’s Dance Company are heaving with trophies, but when Shale was 13, he was more drawn to ballet and left the competition circuit so that he could study ballet seriously. He discovered a teacher in Thornhill who had studied at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow.

I made the move and began training with Tatiana Stepanova.

I asked her what she saw in the young dancer who arrived in her class.

The first time I met Shale at my studio, I could see there was something special about him.  Not only did he have the unique physical attributes for ballet, but I could see a boy with an incredible desire to dance. He was focused, paid careful attention to details, and would listen intently and apply any correction given to him; he was determined to be the best that he can be.

Even at a tender age,  I could see Shale had an innate sense of artistry.  This God-given talent, coupled with his pursuit of technical excellence, is what makes Shale so special when he is on stage.  He is a true artist, always striving for the next level.

After only six months of ballet classes, he participated in the Youth America Grand Prix, the world’s largest ballet competition and scholarship programme, and he won the 2014 Youth Grand Prix. He was offered scholarships at the Houston Ballet Academy and the Bolshoi Academy among others, but he chose the Princess Grace Academy in Monaco.

I made the decision to go to Monte Carlo, where I trained under the direction of Luca Masala and many wonderful teachers for four years.

His mother remembers the trip vividly.

On our flight from Toronto to Monaco, he was showing me videos of various ballets and ballet dancers, two of whom were Olesya Novikova and Leonid Sarafanov. He was so captivated.  It brought me to tears watching him.

I cried the whole way there and on the way back to Toronto. Having him so far away from home at such a young age was difficult for all of us.

Shale Wagman with parents, Michael and Heather Wagman

Shale Wagman with mom Heather

Shale Wagman with brothers Max (left) and Jared (centre)

Shale Wagman with his father at the airport, ready for his second year in Monte Carlo

In Monte Carlo, Shale found himself in class with pupils who had been studying ballet for several years – was there was a lot of catching up to do?

Of course, there is always so much to learn, but I didn’t feel like I needed to ‘catch up’. My teacher in Canada, Tatiana Stepanova, really helped me to learn the basics, and she helped me sculpt my body for ballet. I had already danced before, so movement wasn’t new for me, the problem was the turnout and the understanding of line and aesthetic.

Luca Masala, Artistic Director at the Princess Grace Academy, says,

Shale was a very passionate student who always gave back 100%. Being that he wants to be perfect, he always questions what he does. He wanted to see results very fast, but he had lots of trust and love. When you asked him to practice or to work towards something, he would take on board all our advice and then make it work as best as he could.

He knows exactly what he wants, and he tries to find people who can help him achieve what he wants. He’s an ambitious person but not an arrogant person. He’s also very humble, which is a very agreeable ingredient for success. He’s always ready to help other people… a very kind person.

Shale Wagman at 15 in Monaco

Shale Wagman at 14 during his first year at the Princess Grace Academy

Shale Wagman at 15 back in Toronto for the summer

Shale started devouring ballet videos when he started ballet classes at 13.

I love watching dance, and I have an iPad where I have downloaded thousands of ballet videos for entertainment.

His taste is mature and thoughtful. Asked to name some of his favourite ballets he chooses Laurencia (“Unfortunately it isn’t performed much, and mostly just in Russia.”), Béjart’s Bolero, Marco Spada and La Dame aux camélias (“It’s always been a favourite of mine because of the sensational music and the drama.”). Not a typical selection for a teenager – where’s Don Quixote or Swan Lake?

What draws me to a ballet is the combination of intriguing music, intelligent choreography and a captivating story. When the music is perfectly matched with the choreography, it makes for an indescribable feeling as an audience member. I also love to think and read between the movements so that I can leave the theatre feeling like I’ve learned something and having a full heart. I love to watch all types of different ballets. I love ballets with lots of depth and true human emotion.

For someone who has some impressive technical pyrotechnics up his sleeve, the dancers who inspired him the most growing up are the those best known for their lyricism and beauty of line.

I have many ballet heroes, and the list keeps growing. I’ve always been so intrigued with Nureyev for his artistic virtuosity. Nicolas Le Riche, Anthony Dowell, Vladimir Shklyarov, Leonid Sarafanov, David Hallberg, Mathias Heymann, Semyon Chudin, and many others inspire me greatly. I would watch these artists 24/7.

When I ask about the choreographers he admires, the names he offers are no longer surprising: John Neumeier, John Cranko, Crystal Pite, Jerome Robbins, Kenneth Macmillan…

Is life only dance?

I think about dance, talk about dance, watch dance, read about dance, choreograph in my head. Just kidding… sort of. I love being with my family and friends and learning about contrasting cultures. I also love museums, art and music. Jazz and classical music can get me through anything. A little bit of Nina Simone and Sarah Vaughan can make my day.

Simone? Vaughan? You’re 19!

I am aware that I have different taste in music and ballet from my contemporaries.  In my opinion, there is much more profundity in the era of Vaughan, Simone, Fitzgerald etc compared to the music today.

Shale Wagman at 14 with his teacher Michel Rahn

Shale Wagman at 14 with Luca Masala, the director of the Princess Grace Academy

Last class in Monaco with, from left, grandparents Phillip and Eleanor Starkman, Shale Wagman, Heather Wagman, and dad, Michael Wagman

Back in Monte Carlo, it wasn’t all plain sailing. When he was 15, he developed a stress fracture in his lower back.

It was in my L5 vertebra, due to lots of physical activity as my body was still growing. My back was extremely flexible, so I had to learn how to control it with my core. I rested for a couple of months and rehabbed with physiotherapy and Pilates. I learnt so much about my body and how to control each muscle.

Marsala, at the Princess Grace Academy, remembers,

He was devastated as ballet is everything for him and he told me that if he were to stop dancing, he wouldn’t have a life anymore.

Shale now looks back at this time positively.

I grew from this injury as a dancer and person, but it definitely was a low point because I always turn to dance as an outlet for my emotions. Since I didn’t have dance, I didn’t feel like myself.

In class At Prix de Lausanne 2018, photo by Gregory Batardon

Masala encouraged Shale to enrol for the Prix de Lausanne in 2018.

The Prix de Lausanne was a life-changing moment. It didn’t feel like a competition, it was more about how far I was able to push myself during that week. I wanted to grasp everything I could like a sponge.

There was quite a lot of build-up before the competition. From the first year I joined the Académie Princesse Grace, my director voiced how he’d like me to go. Of course, I dreamed of taking part. When we started preparing for it, the pressure was enormous because essentially I was representing my school that has a very high standard.

The week was quite special. We all came to share our joy to dance and learn. It was great to be in an uplifting atmosphere where everyone was supportive of each other. I made dear friends and met some of my idols and dream company directors. There was this sense of being apart of something much bigger than yourself.

Shale Wagman in class at the Prix de Lausanne 2018, photo by Gregory Batardon

Prix de Lausanne 2018 class, photo by Marina Kleinwort

Shale Wagman dancing Chroma at the Prix de Lausanne 2018 finals, photo by Gregory Batardon

Shale Wagman winning the gold medal at the Prix de Lausanne 2018, photo by Gregory Batardon

With winning the Best Young Talent prize came the opportunity to join one of the competitions partner companies, an apprenticeship offered by the Oak Foundation and Rudolf Nureyev Foundation. Shale chose the English National Ballet.

I chose ENB based on the versatile repertoire, the progressive direction of the company and of course, seeing the talented dancers within the company.

And I have lots of respect for Tamara Rojo; she is a strong female director who is also a Principal dancer at the same time. I don’t know how she does it! There are some extraordinary people in the company. So many of the company members have helped me in my dancing but have also supported me when I was struggling.  I’ve learnt from everyone there and have made some beautiful friendships.

Lead Autumn in Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella at English National Ballet, Photo by Emma Kauldhar

But after his year with the company, he felt it was time to move on. Plus, the Mariinsky came knocking.

The preparation [for La Sylphide] was strenuous, and there were a lot of bumps along the way. I got an allergic reaction, major headaches, and I couldn’t walk the day before the performance due to an injury in my foot.

The first time in your life that you dance a principal role in a complete ballet is with the Mariinsky Ballet. It’s also the first time you dance James, and the first time you partner a famous ballerina. Pressure?

This was my debut in the role, so I hadn’t had any previous experience. I’ve always enjoyed this ballet, and I’m a ballet freak, so I’m constantly researching. I was coached by legends Vladimir Kim and Gabriela Komleva who gave their incomparable passion and love of the art in the studio.

Shale Wagman with Olesya Novikova and Gabriela Komleva rehearsing La Sylphide at the Mariinsky theatre, photo by Svetlana Avvakum

rehearsing La Sylphide at the Mariinsky theatre, Photo by Svetlana Avvakum

Shale Wagman with Olesya Novikova rehearsing La Sylphide at the Mariinsky theatre, photo by Svetlana Avvakum

rehearsing La Sylphide at the Mariinsky theatre Photo by Svetlana Avvakum

Did you find it difficult to immerse yourself in the story and understand your character?

People argue that the storyline of this ballet is unrelatable and out-dated, but for me it is a timeless classic because of the meaning behind it. Fundamentally, it’s all about an unobtainable love that you can never touch or get a hold of, and people can resonate with that. When you get your hands on true love, it is the best feeling you can experience but also the worst because if it isn’t reciprocated, you will experience heartbreak.

The audience can get fully entranced within the story if the artists can make the story and characters relatable to this day and age. I feel that it is the dancer’s duty to make that possible through character analysis and adding their own feelings and personality to the role.

Apart from familiarising yourself with the story and characters, you had to learn a very precise style, one that dancers at the Danish National Ballet learn as they move through the school.

I like dancing the Bournonville style because it is extremely human. It challenges me to push beyond my limits, technically and artistically. Batterie is one of the most challenging things for me, and Bournonville incorporates a lot of that into his ballets. The port de bras are very simple, which makes for a more natural appearance, which I love. The sheer musicality is something to really be appreciated in this ballet as well.

And then you found yourself on the Mariinsky stage.

That theatre has an atmosphere beyond belief. The first time I walked into the theatre, I couldn’t help but tear up. The moment I stepped on that stage was the first time I felt truly free in months. It was a genuine feeling of euphoria.

Shale Wagman with Tatyana Tchenko as Effie, photo by Eli Cattiva

Curtain call for Shale Wagman and Olesya Novikova, photo by Catherine Pollak

Curtain call for Shale Wagman and Olesya Novikova photo by Catherine Pollak

After La Sylphide, from left Vladimir Kim (coach), Olesya Novikova, Gabriela Komleva, Shale Wagman, Tatiana Stepanova, Heather Wagman

You were also dancing with one of your childhood heroines.

Novikova made the experience all the more stunning. She is elegant, poised and professional. To me, she is the epitome of a world-class ballerina. It was a privilege to share the stage with someone of her calibre who has performed this role many times. For her to give me the time and understanding in my debut and have the connection we had while performing together was an absolute honour for me.

His mother, Heather, was in the audience.

People have said, would you have ever believed that your son would be dancing on the Mariinsky stage in Russia? Secretly, yes, but I could never say that out loud. It was such a spectacular performance and a feeling of pure joy watching your child living his dream.

A review on the German site Tanznetz says: “With great enthusiasm and stage presence, Wagman mastered the tricky Bournonville style effortlessly. The lightness of his high jumps, elegant arabesques, perfectly controlled turns and precise and speedy impressed the audience from his first step on stage.”

Shale’s boyhood teacher, Tatiana Stepanova, once gave him a present.

It was a book with details of the best ballet theatres in the world, including the Mariinsky. He told me that one day, he would be dancing on one of these stages – he just did.

His mother adds,

Shale is unstoppable, and we are all so excited to watch and see more of his dreams come true!

I ask him, “So, what happens next for Shale Wagman?” He grins:

Stay tuned…

Curtain call for Shale Wagman after La Sylphide, photo by Catherine Pollak

Introducing 19-year-old Canadian dancer Shale Wagman: from Lausanne to ENB to the Mariinsky Canadian dancer Shale Wagman turned 19 last May. Soon after he was guesting at the Mariinsky Theatre.

[thejacksmit]

Projection Room: The Smit Awards 2018

What a year it’s been. YouTube channels got ripped apart, launched and ripped apart even more, Disney actually closed the Fox deal, life at two cinemas has become the norm, superhero films have dominated the box office, and for a change Hollywood has had less scandal than it usually does... hang on, I sense a Gunn has been fired somewhere. 

As ever, here on TheJackSmit.com, we end every year with our satirical awards that honour the best and worst of the last 12 months. It’s our way of looking back at a year where 66 films got reviewed in-cinema, a new strand of screening was conquered, and I got to witness actual film production for the first time. So, let’s just get on with it. Welcome to this year’s edition of the Smit Awards.

Before we begin…

Time for the usual rules and regulations of these elusive honours. There are none, except for the main Film of the Year- that has to have been screened on a British cinema screen (whether it’s previews, Screen Unseen or general release) between January 1st and December 23rd, and the important bit: if it was nominated for any of the major Hollywood awards back in February, it’s of no interest here. So, here we go, and be warned, there are potential spoilers ahead.

DIRECTION

Bart Layton, American Animals

This guy worked wonders on this film. After making a few documentaries in the past, his first true feature film blended the worlds of fact and fiction incredibly well, and stylistically, this film just worked on so many levels. I really wanted to give this award to a fresh filmmaker, and for Layton, he did his thing at the right time.

PERFORMANCES

Lead: Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody and Viola Davis, Widows

These set of awards were difficult. And as usual, because of the way distribution works, I can’t go with the big films yet- so these two are the strongest performances in my eyes. Malek was able to become Freddie Mercury pretty damn well, and for Viola Davis, she is able to pull off quite a complex role and make it her own.

Support: Timothee Chalamet, Beautiful Boy and Claire Foy, First Man

Again, it’s been difficult to pick these awards. Chalamet continues his blistering rise into Hollywood’s elite with his work on Felix Van Groeningen’s adaptation of Beautiful Boy (and that performance arguably saved the film, believe me), and with Foy’s performance in First Man- a film which has been looked down upon by cinemagoers, it is subtle, nuanced and very thoughtfully worked out.

Ensemble: Bad Times at the El Royale

I can’t not give this film some love- when myself and film production guru Ed Greenberg seen this one back in October, we were rather taken back by the quality of the entire cast- so it felt like the natural choice for this year’s Ensemble award.

SCREENPLAYS

Original: Bad Times at the El Royale

And speaking of the El Royale, Drew Goddard’s script really did make that film come alive- we all know how good his films have been, and this one is no exception, every character has their own narrative, and it is balanced so well that even the mighty Ed Greenberg (who I have worked with more than ever for this blog over the last year) was impressed with it. And me and him are not easy to impress. 

Adapted: Black Panther

Hail to the king. Ryan Coogler added a whole new take on the superhero genre with his work on Marvel’s February release this year, and his script with Joe Robert Cole felt refreshing. This may be the big award it scoops at the Oscars, and considering the success of this film, it is fully deserved if it wins the big one.

CINEMATOGRAPHY

First Man

You can’t really argue with the work of Linus Sandgren nowadays... unless it’s on films like Nutcracker and the Four Realms. Just the sheer scale of that landing sequence in First Man was enough to convince me for this award- but obviously shooting it for IMAX is the real reason that cinematography worked.

Traditionally we’d deliver an award for Visual Effects in this bit. But because the standard this year has been so good, picking one film wouldn’t do any justice. So here’s the best of the best.

AQUAMAN

AVENGERS INFINITY WAR

READY PLAYER ONE

MARY POPPINS RETURNS

All of these films had some top quality CG, and like I say, picking one sole winner would be too difficult.

MUSIC

ORIGINAL SCORE: Daniel Pemberton, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

This guy has had an absolute killer few years. Steve Jobs, The Man from U.N.C.L.E, Molly’s Game, Ocean’s 8, and now his masterwork- not bad for a guy who once upon a time wrote the title music for Peep Show. Watch the film first, then listen to that score again- because it fits the action perfectly.

SOUNDTRACK ALBUM: A Star is Born

Obviously. The impact this film has had in the charts kind of warrants this particular award, and potentially that Oscar for Best Original Song too.

WTF MOMENT OF THE YEAR (THE I SMELL BULLSMIT AWARD)

The entire film, Sorry To Bother You

Anybody who’s seen this film will know exactly what I mean when I say that the ending was literally unexpected. But seriously though, Sorry To Bother You is the most surreal thing I’ve seen in a cinema screen, and that’s saying something.

TURKEY OF THE YEAR

Awarded to the film that disappoints audiences and critics alike

There were so many contenders for this award in 2018. But there could only be one.

SHOW DOGS

Angry. Disappointed. Regular readers will know that those are the most scathing words I can bestow upon a film, and in this case, those are the most suitable.

In a year where we’ve had Venom, The Happytime Murders, Patrick, Nutcracker and The Four Realms as well as Robin Hood, none of them could compare with the mediocrity of Raja Gosnell’s Show Dogs. It truly was horrific. And that’s before I mention the infamous ‘zen place’ joke.

THE ‘MYSTERY FILM NIGHT’ AWARD

Awarded to the most surprising Screen Unseen film of the last 12 months

AMERICAN ANIMALS

I am honestly surprised that this film didn’t open wider than it did- because it was a film that really came out of nowhere. It was bold and unique, especially considering the true nature of the story, and quite honestly, seek this film out when it’s released on DVD- because it’s unlike any heist film you’ve ever seen.

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM

WIDOWS

It’s been a rocky road for this film at the box office, but Widows was another masterclass from Steve McQueen, one that qualifies for this honour through its link with Film4- it’s Ocean’s 8, but way more serious, brooding, and it’s a much better take on the female heist movie.

BEST ANIMATED FILM

SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE

This was a real surprise considering that we finally got The Incredibles 2 this year- but seriously, Spider-Verse really delivered upon the goods, and broke Sony’s curse of making some pretty mediocre superhero films. It has some brilliant comic-inspired animation, a perfect script, and so much more.

THEJACKSMIT.COM FILM OF THE YEAR 2018

The big one. Which film will follow Dunkirk, Arrival, Brooklyn and others into the history books? It has been an incredibly difficult decision, but the 2018 Film of the Year is...

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT

Now, because of the way the awards films are released, we haven’t had the proper contenders like The Favourite or Green Book here in the UK yet, which is a real shame. But in terms of what Chris McQuarrie did with Mission 6, there isn’t much to fault. Everything about this film was incredibly well thought out, and even with a slight injury to Tom Cruise, the film got finished on time, and it delivered upon the hype. I rewatched it earlier this week during the final deliberations, and it is just hard to believe that this is a 2 and a half hour film.

2019: Back to Basics

And that just about does it for 2018 here on the blog- but as you’ve seen in December’s Journal and our little rebrand last week, there’s a few changes on the horizon. Guest writers, merch, podcasts, and 100% less bias to any cinema chain will become the norm over the next 12 months. And readers, you are a key part of it all. Keep your eyes peeled on the blog over the next few weeks for further announcements, because this is a bold new era for TheJackSmit.com. An era where we are all #BornIndependent.

[fashiontrendin-blog]

When a Hotel Is Home: A Bellman, a Bartender and an Artist Share Their Stories

http://fashion-trendin.com/when-a-hotel-is-home-a-bellman-a-bartender-and-an-artist-share-their-stories/

When a Hotel Is Home: A Bellman, a Bartender and an Artist Share Their Stories

In partnership with Freehand Hotel NY.

Freehand New York is one of those places you hear about over and over until you finally cave, give it a visit, and then suddenly, urgently get it. At least that’s what happened to me. The hotel carries the kind of word-of-mouth lore normally ascribed to old New York institutions like the George Washington Hotel (where Freehand is now housed). But it’s actually fairly new, and it maintains both a modern and old-world charm that either confirms and defies that, depending on the minute.

Freehand New York sells itself as more than a place to book a trendy room, get a fancy cocktail, or enjoy a social media-worthy meal — although I can personally confirm it more than checks those boxes. It’s a transient space founded on the idea that art and community need to be celebrated and nurtured, and that spirit is present in the rooms as much as in the people who populate them. Sometimes I stop by for no reason. It’s a nice place to just be.

In partnership with Freehand New York, I asked three people who work at the hotel and contribute to that magic to tell me their stories. First, in the lobby, you’ll meet Hero, the friendliest bellman in the world. Then, on the 19th floor, you’ll meet Miguel, the artist in residence who’s choreographing a new dance performance. Finally, up on the roof, with sweeping views of New York City before her, you’ll meet Yoly, a bartender from Puerto Rico who’s game to make you any cocktail you can dream up. Read their stories below, and then pop over to Freehand New York to meet them yourself.

Heroni Navarro

Hero is a bellman at Freehand New York.

I am one of the bellmen at Freehand New York, which means I’m in charge of making sure people’s luggage is checked in and checked out, and that people feel welcome and want to come back. We’re diplomats, as bellmen; we make sure that everyone’s happy.

I’ve always been a very outgoing person. A friend of mine wanted me to work with him as a bellman for years because he knew I had the personality for it, so that’s how I started. At other hotels I’ve worked at, though, I’ve felt like a robot reading a script. At Freehand, we’re allowed to be ourselves and professional at the same time. We have a saying: Good vibes only. The guests bring that, too. If I’m having a shitty day, someone will be like, “Hey! Why are you not smiling? I like when you smile.” They bring me up; it’s uplifting. I haven’t had a day where I didn’t want to be at work.

There are five bellmen at Freehand. We’re close, like brothers — one is the little brother, one is the middle brother, one is the hard-headed brother. I was the first hire, so I feel like I’m the older brother. I want things to be perfect, so I take a lot of responsibility for all of us. Some of us are lax; others are more organized. We all have different personalities, but that’s what makes us work.

The wildest thing that’s happened at Freehand is probably Hotel Man Repeller. We had a wild checkout; there were like 200 people from Man Repeller who came at one time. We had all these bags lined up outside and when everyone ran to the bus, I had to move out the way because I didn’t want to get stampeded. That was one of the funniest moments for me working as a bellman. It was really fun.

The most challenging part is the physical aspect. I stand on my feet all day, I carry bags, I get taxis, I am outside in the cold, I am outside in the heat. It’s very physical. People always ask me, “Where do you get the energy for this?!” I do get tired, but I just have to bring it regardless.

I like making friends with everyone. We had this Italian guest, and I kept trying to say “nice to see you” to him in Italian, which is “piacere.” Instead I was saying, “Porcini, porcini!” This dude was like, “What?!” Turns out I was saying “Mushroom, mushroom!” We were laughing so much. He never forgot me after that. He left a note in the elevator that said, “Porcini Hero!”

I like putting a smile on people’s faces. I had a guest the other day who came up to me and told me that I’m his kindred spirit because I’m always so jolly and so happy. This guy is always here and in a good mood. That makes me feel good, that I can make an impact. That’s what keeps me coming back.

Miguel Gutierrez

Miguel is the Bard artist in residence at Freehand New York.

I am a performing artist, a dancer and a choreographer, and I also compose and perform music. I’m currently the Freehand Fellow Artist in Residence, in partnership with Bard College, where I’m using the studio space on the 19th floor to create a dance-based performance. Right now I’m rehearsing a new dance piece called, “This Bridge Called My Ass.”

The piece explores the tensions that exist between identity-based work — in this case, LatinX identity — and abstract-based work which, for better or for worse, has often been rooted in whiteness. I’m working with an all-LatinX cast and we’re playing with questions that come up for us around those issues and seeing if identity-based and abstract-based art are, in fact, in opposition to each other.

The title is a play off of this famous book in the 80s called This Bridge Called My Back — a series of poems and essays put together by Cherríe Moraga and Gloria E. Anzaldúa and a seminal text of third-wave feminism. This book was really important to me when I was younger, but a lot of issues raised in it really haven’t shifted that much. If you read one of the essays from it, you might think, This sounds just like a Facebook post I read yesterday. It makes you think about the weird, cyclical nature of our relationship to the politics and poetics of identity.

With the kind of work I do, I don’t think of dance as a mode of interpretation as much as a mode of perception. I think what I do is create physical relationships and engaged actions that then have an associative quality. When people watch a performance, their minds go through a whole range of thoughts. Dance puts people into a space where they don’t know what the fuck they’re looking at, and I think that’s a really fertile space. The same could be said for music or non-figurative painting. A lot of people get confused by dance because they think it’s supposed to be mimetic, that it has a one-to-one relationship with meaning. Like if someone does a gesture with their arm, it might mean they’re hungry — but no, they just did that with their arm. With dance, you’re looking at a group of people, and when you look at people doing something together, you start to interpret and read identity into those people, whether they want that or not.

I’ve been thinking about what it does to people to look at brown or brownish bodies doing actions that are read more as abstract. Does abstraction belong exclusively to white bodies? Do people want brown bodies to perform entertainment? We’re also using objects and different colored fabrics that obscure us and also evoke things like seeing versus being seen.

I came into dance really young. My sister was a cheerleader, and I was obsessed with watching her practice. I would teach myself the routines. Later I took visual comedy classes in school. They put me in the yearly performance of the Nutcracker because I was one of the few boys in school — boys are always overly-privileged in dance contexts. I got really into that and thought I’d end up in more jazzy, entertainment-based stuff. When I got to college, though, and learned about modern dance and post-modern dance, I realized there was this whole world of dance tethered to philosophy. I’m a person with a whole lot of ideas, and this form felt like the way I could access those things. I dropped out of college but kept working with small ensembles — companies where the process was highly collaborative.

Art is severely undervalued in this country. I’ve been in the field for some time, but I’m in the same pool of competitors as anyone else applying for stuff. When you’ve been doing something for 25+ years, to feel like there’s no security that you’ll get what you need to do what you do, that’s hard. It’s a very precarious position. Yesterday’s successes are not tomorrow’s. It takes a tremendous amount of resources to make these projects happen. The conceptual things are difficult, too — people are interested in the new, hot, young people. But I still have a lot that I want to do with my work, and I want my practice to evolve.

We’re still really early on. We’re just generating the piece here at Freehand, and we will probably perform it at a larger performance-based venue in New York. I’ve spent a lot of time in hotels because of the nature of my work. They’re like airports in that they become the people that animate them at any given moment, but no one — except maybe the staff — owns the experience of what that is. It’s nice; it gives us a different sense of allegiance while working here. It gives the place a slightly different life.

Yoly Báez

Yoly is a bartender at Broken Shaker, a bar on the rooftop of Freehand New York.

I’m from San Juan, Puerto Rico. I moved to the States six years ago and I lived in Miami for three years. That’s how I got to work at Broken Shaker in Miami. I started as a cocktail server there, and after a year and a half, they asked me if I wanted to learn to be a bartender. I started intense training for six or seven months, and after that, I was working behind the bar. But I always wanted to live in New York, so when I heard that we were opening a Broken Shaker here, I came to visit in November for a pop-up that we did here and I fell in love with the view and the location and with Freehand. So I decided to move here to help with the opening and to bring the Miami vibe here to New York.

I’ve been bartending for five years. In Miami, I was very active in competitions and representing the bartending scene as a woman. Bartending has a few big national competitions such as Bacardi Legacy and Bombay Sapphire’s Most Imaginative Bartender. I got into the semifinals of both of them. You have to create cocktails that are very creative — you can make anything that you want and you have to do an entire presentation. It’s a whole production. They have 500 to 700 submissions, and people make crazy stuff!

Bombay Sapphire was my first competition. My cocktail was called Catch My Wave — my inspiration was the ocean because I’m from Puerto Rico. It was clarified milk punch with blue foam on top. Clarified milk punch is a cocktail that has milk in it but is completely clear. It’s a five-day process to make. I wanted to do something I’d never done before. I am a filmmaker and I wanted to combine both passions, so I also created a fish tank effect by projecting a video of waves in the background. It was a trip. It was super fun. I made it to the top ten. In 2017, I also won the Pineapple Award for Rising Bar Star in Miami. It was a People’s Choice Award. I was really proud.

I like working at Broken Shaker because I can be myself. I can create anything that I want, not just vodka sodas. We have so many ingredients and so many tools to be creative; we make everything from scratch. It’s like I’m cooking but with liquid; that’s the way I see it. And I get excited to see people get excited. I like to create an experience for my guests. It’s not just about creating a good cocktail for them, it’s about creating the best experience and seeing their faces light up. For me, it’s like a performance.

I like when people come to my bar and say, “Make me whatever you want,” and then just list a few flavors they like. I like that they trust me, and I like to surprise people. I add little flamingos, alligators, flowers. I like to play around and make it fun because that’s the whole point. I don’t see bartending as a job. It’s a space to have fun and be creative.

My first day at the opening of Broken Shaker in New York, I was working the bar by myself, taking care of the entire room. I had no idea how to use the sale system because it’s a different system than the one we have in Miami, so I was taking care of the service bar, the terrace, and with the new system I was like, “Aaah! Somebody help me please!” We had 906 guests on opening night!

I love it. It’s a challenge, but it’s fun. I never thought that I would make it behind the bar. Never in my life. But the people who trained me listened to me and worked with me, and now I’m here and I love it. It’s the best thing that has ever happened to me.

9 PHOTOS click for more

Visiting New York soon? Freehand NY is hooking MR readers up with a 15% discount if you book through the website with code MANREPELLER. See you there!

Photos by Edith Young. 

[luxlisbonblog]

Who does all of your videos?

THIS GUY.  Mr Christopher James Tongue.

What a special guy!!!. Well yes actually, don't take that tone! (despite the photographic evidence clearly to the contrary) Christopher James Tongue is a bona fide legend. 

 Chris has been there as the brain (and brawns) behind any video that we've ever done. ALL OF THESE VIDEOS. Just click to watch any of them...

Chris and I lived together in Earlsfield in London many moons ago and he is, simpy put, one of lifes good guys....maybe you will see him at a Lux Lisbon show in the future! Say hello!

Here is Chrissy T at the day job - the Video Production Company he set up and runs - Dead Read Productions. He's not above getting the coffees in (for himself). 

This boi has done like, HEAVYWEIGHT STUFF, such as the backdrop visuals for the Nutcracker On Ice and Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall before - so cranking out a few ace music videos for our silly songs is smally fry BOI!

Ok, so?

WHAT EXACTLY HAS CHRIS TONGUE EVER DONE FOR ME!!? I hear you cry. Not literally. Or even metaphorically. But still. Let me answer that question for you. Ignore the fact that I both posed and answered it if you can. I am kind of drawing attention to it a bit, so the heat is on you to be honest. 

Right.

So, Chris ainmated all of 1. 'Keep Me Wild'.....

.......and seemingly couldn't resist a little dig about my (alleged) and (occassional) (total and utter) failure to (ever) keep milk in the fridge in our Earlsfield flat. How petty. Shame really. I wish to put it on record that I forgive you for this, as I am a big man. Much like our diary produce bill circa 2011. 

The 'Keep Me Wild' video is absoutely beautiful by the way if you haven't seen it (it's here if you missed it first time around). 

Chris was there doing all the animation for our (2.) 'Memento Mori' video....

N.B - A side note - The Memento Mori video 'stars' my friend George Johnson (Cabinet Maker)- who you may have seen on one of his many viral facebook videos recently - all about his amazing expanding tables. They are up to 30m hits or something now! You may recognise his workshop ;)

Anyway - back to Chrissy T!

Chris was there as we trampled round London looking for shots for our Wes Anderson 'homage' that is the (3.) 'Get Some Scars' shoot...

Although we were careful to make sure he was wearing a paper bag at all times in that particular video because as you can see for yourself in this mugshot he is unfortunately hideously ugly....

Chris has been thrown down onto the road (whilst holding a massive Camera...natch) by Stu dressed as some sort of MEGABUTLERBOUNCER in our Lynchian Looped Nightmare of a video for (4.) 'Demons You Show'....

Chris was there AGAIN as we trapsed round London (AGAIN) shooting Tom as a 'keen imbiber' is our recent (5.) 'Change To Stay The Same' video....

Did all of those Spectrum ZX/Super Nintendo/Street Fighter 2 graphics in our 'visit to an abandoned shopping centre in Reading to play Zombie LARPING-fest' that was (6.) 'Your Heart Is A Weapon The Size Of Your Fist'....

And isn't too proud to blow his own head off in the name of a great vid....

Chris shot the (7.) Bullingdon Club video - so it was HE his made us all dissapear and morph into Boris and his pal Dave. We forgive him for this. Just about.....

And of course anyone that has come to any of our shows knows exactly how important Chris's visuals are to our live gigs......like this one at Bush Hall....

....where OF COURSE you will find Chris in the thick of it anyway.....

So that adds up to our (8.) 'Show Me The Money' video - which used footage from our show at Bush Hall and also our actual live performance video of (9.) Bullingdon Club (Live) that same night. 

And don't forget all of our 'Lux Lisbon Loves' Covers too. Chris did those. 

And it doesn't stop there. He is working on something new for us right now. We thankyou all for your patience.... 

So hear this - a big THANKYOU for Chris. THANKS MAN. You da best. 

I'll leave you with a couple more pictures of Chris. This year is his mainly into climbing stuff. Alot of stuff. And running miles along roads in foreign cities. Plus he has a Freddie Mercury circa 1980 T-Shirt that I am very, very jealous of. He wears it much better than I would and so it's ruined. THANKS MATE.