#or having any plastic in my house i'm not 100% invested in

[n7punk]

Okay professional post done, let's get into my insanity.

In an Instagram post, Annalise said the girls' sculpts came from the DC Superhero Girls line (Bow is from MH G2 in case you've missed that in previous posts). This always confused me because from the photos of the DC dolls I found, they didn't seem to match, plus there are some changes on the She-ra dolls, like Glimmer's "curvier" sculpt (also something Annalise mentioned and, well, I can see on the sculpt comparison she is right but boy is that waist measurement the same) when the DC line didn't seem to have body type diversity, but her portfolio finally answered these questions for me.

Part of my confusion was because there were two lines under the same DC Superhero Girls name, one in 2016 (which was most of what I turned up and focused on) and one in 2019. The 2019 line did actually feature body diversity, but the She-ra line began work in 2017, so while it was possible they pulled the bodies from the in-development 2019 refresh, I thought it was more likely they used the 2016 ones.

This comparison from Annalise's portfolio shows the difference between the two DC lines. None of the articulation counts match the She-ra dolls, as they have 11, so they had some added regardless of the base body.

[Left picture from Ebay since Annalise doesn't have body photos for this line] Left to right, this shows the 2019 DC "Slim" body type on Harley Quinn, Adora's sculpt (the same base sculpt used for Catra and Shadow Weaver), and the 2016 DC bodies on Batgirl (molded outfit details changed for each doll and sometimes chest articulation was added, but otherwise they were all the same). Based on this comparison, I believe the 2019 Slim sculpt was used for the She-ra line as it is by far the closest match, so they were probably pulling from the in-development line and just added details as needed. (Note: the Petite sculpt for the 2019 line is extremely similar to the Slim sculpt, but I'm confidant SPOP used the Slim sculpt from the chest and the fact that the Adora, Catra, and Shadow Weaver dolls are taller than Glimmer's doll)

Adora, Shadow Weaver, and Catra were all molded with the exact same torso in different colors. This torso had a circular hole added in the back with a plug that was popped out to make room for Catra's tail on her. I believe this torso variant with the hole was added for the She-ra line as I haven't seen a DC girl who has it or would even need it.

[Left photo by me of the Shadow Weaver doll; Right photo from Ebay featuring the Katana Slim doll] Here you can see the added hole in the middle of the lower back that was used as a slot of Catra's tail. I have no idea why they included this (filled in, but still) on all the She-ra dolls since they have a version without it already and they're all cast in a different plastic/skin color, but it meant they had to move the molded copyright info up.

For the arms and legs of the Adora and Shadow Weaver dolls, they're exactly the same and seem to just be the DC Slim type with elbow and wrist articulation added. There were a couple hand styles for the DC dolls and they just picked one style to use for all the She-ra dolls (right fist, open left hand).

Catra's hands and lower legs are slightly different as claws have been added and, as noted in Annalise's portfolio, the arch of her foot was changed so she could stand without shoes, but otherwise her body is the same. And, of course, she has the back slot opened for adding in her tail.

Now, onto the doll that I've always had the most questions about: Glimmer! Knowing about the body diversity in this 2019 line now, this is less mystifying to me (I always wondered if they pulled her body from another unnamed line or modified the sculpt used for the other girls), but now the question is: which doll did her body type come from?

The DC line had Muscular/Curvy, Tall, and Petite/Curvy body types in addition to the Slim and Petite body types.

[Left Supergirl from Ebay, middle Glimmer, right Catwoman from Ebay] Well, damn. Now we run into a problem. Left is the Muscular/Curvy body. Right is the Petite/Curvy body (confirmed by comparing it with Bumblebee's body which I know is P/C, but this Catwoman photo is better than the one of Bumblebee), and middle is Glimmer's. Glimmer isn't a perfect match for any of them. Her torso and legs match the P/C body (as does her height relative to Adora/Catra/Shadow Weaver), but her arms don't match either body type. (Also: this sculpt shows her as having two opened hands, but she ended up with the right fist/open left hand all the other She-ra dolls have).

Alright, so lets sus this out. Here's the list of DC characters that got 2019 dolls that I found, along with their doll body type:

Supergirl (teen, superhero): Muscular/Curvy

Wonder Woman (teen, superhero): Tall

Batgirl (teen, superhero): Petite

Zatanna: Muscular/Curvy

Bumblebee: Petite/Curvy

Green Lantern/Jessica Cruz: Slim

Katana: Slim

Harley Quinn: Slim (visual match - not officially confirmed)

Catwoman: Petite/Curvy (visual match - not officially confirmed)

As far as I can tell, there is no just plain "Curvy" body. It looks to me like the P/C arms are pretty much the same as what the Petite and Slim bodies have, and Glimmer's arms are thicker than Catra and Adora's (something you can see in the sculpt but that I've also confirmed is present on the final dolls IRL). My best guess for Glimmer's sculpt is: she is using the Petite/Curvy body and legs, but her arms are based on the ones used for the Muscular/Curvy body. I think her shoulders have been reduced a little from the base M/C arm sculpt, either to fit onto the P/C body or to be more screen accurate.

This is kind of an odd solution, but it's the best guess I have based on the data I've been able to gather. I have checked and I don't think it's plausible she's using the Tall arms - they're too broad at the shoulder and too thin everywhere else. Maybe one day if someone is selling the Supergirl and Bumblebee doll together for five dollars I'll get them and do an IRL comparison between the three, but this is the solution I'm the most confident in, so that's my final assessment for now!

Design details for the 2019 She-ra dolls from toy designer Annalise Lao's portfolio!

[aeide-thea]

i did not engage with black friday but the absolutely relentless barrage of emails from various retailers about their sales! sales! sales! has had me thinking a bunch abt Shopping nonetheless

and like. there are a lot of things to be said on that front but specifically at the moment i'm frustrated with the way in which my own human failings (ADHD mainly) and also reqs/prefs make it difficult to be as good about things i care abt as i'd like—which frankly is a statement that's true far beyond the scope of this post, lol, but specifically i'm thinking abt like [cut for length]:

i've been contemplating microplastics with dread/frustration/shame and wanting to move towards natural fibers, which also just feel and perform better—but the reality afaict from my reading of reviews is that with actual t-shirt-thin 100% merino,¹ even if it says it's machine-washable, people find that it develops holes within, like, one season of wear, if not significantly sooner? which is obviously not even a little bit sustainable financially, never mind the other costs (shipping emissions, etc) of reordering clothing that often. so basically you either have to accept some percentage of reinforcing nylon in the garment, which means you're still creating microplastics when you go to wash it, or you have to handwash all your shirts, which—i've met myself. that just isn't realistically possible for me. i'm like multiple weeks overdue for doing a Big Wash but i keep ADHD-ing my way past the point in the day that i'd want to have started the process by, so it keeps getting put off, and that's with in-house washer/dryer access—imagine upping the level of difficulty by adding in handwashing! could Not be me.

so ultimately where i end up is that like, in buying corespun merino i'm improving my textural/wicking/temp reg/etc experience, so i do benefit, but the environment isn't benefiting nearly as much as i'd like, although i suppose washing a garment that's like 13% plastic is probably still not-insignificantly better than washing one that's 100% plastic, especially if the anti-stink/anti-wrinkle properties of merino pan out enough that i can actually wash the garment less often? but like. not nearly as gratifying as achieving 100% natural fiber, 0% microplastics. :/

(it's possible merino-tencel blends are hardier? so that might be worth looking into. but also i have very particular size/style/gender prefs/needs that really narrow the field of possibilities, is the thing—wanting to wear a smaller-than-standard men's size rather than a more common women's size, basically—and idk how many merino-tencel blends (if any) fit within the narrow band that leaves for me. [it's maybe possible a men's S could be dryer-shrunk enough to function as an XS, but that sounds (a) more possible with 100% merino than with a blend and (b) like an experiment too expensive to risk having fail.])

⸻ ¹ i do have one (1) fancy merino hoodie i bought years ago as an Investment Piece that's like, 100% merino machine-knit that's fleecy inside—sort of like american apparel california fleece except wool?—and is ime entirely machine-wash friendly: practical attractive impeccable garment‚ after years of amortization price almost reasonable‚ no notes. but i think it's the thickness of the fabric that makes that possible—t-shirts you want to be much thinner‚ and thinness → tearing.

[tomugatchi]

Tamagotchi V5 Customisation Guide: Painting

This is part 3 of my tamagotchi customisation series, showing how to paint a tamagotchi.

For the rest of the series, click here:

Part 1 - Dissasembly

Part 2 - Painting prep

Part 4 - Reassembly

Part 5 - Overview

Obligatory disclaimer - I'm not responsible for any damage caused to your tamagotchi, you do this at your own risk. I'm just showing what I did!

You will need:

- A tamagotchi (disassembled and taped)

- Matte spray paint

- Paint pens

- Glossy clear sealant spray

- Newspaper

This is a do as I say, not as I do situation. If you care about the surface you're painting on, spend time actually covering it with newspaper, and take wind direction into account. I was not super invested in protecting this grass from the paint and now theres a weird white patch on my lawn. But it'll grow out!

I'm not going to pretend to know enough about paint to give solid recommendations. If you know more about paint than I do, use your own knowledge and make good decisions. If you don't, maybe do some research!

Personally, I went with mtn water based spray paint in matte white. Make sure whatever you choose advertises itself to be used on plastic.

To decorate, I used posca paint pens. For my design I used blue, pink, green and yellow.

To seal it, I used craft sealer from hobbycraft, because posca pens recommend using a water based sealer. I know Mr Super Clear is popular, but this was cheaper so it's what I went with. So far, it's holding up well!

This is where the pencils are super useful, especially when painting on grass like I was. Stab them into the ground, then spray the shell. Once again, I'm no expert. I recommend watching a youtube video if you don't know how. Keep the first coat light. If you miss any parts, you can get them in the 2nd coat.

Another benefit of the lollipops! They held the shells very easily for drying. I just poked them into the gaps in this table.

Best to follow the instructions of your specific spray paint for this. Personally, I did two coats, with 30mins between them, but my paint had a faster dry time since it's water based. Then, I left them overnight to ensure they were 100% dry before using the paint pens.

Now for the fun bit! Decorating the shell!

TamaShell is such a good resource for inspiration. I loved the half and half look of this shell so I used that as a starting point. My tama has yellow buttons, so I also incorporated that into my design. I wanted mine to look like an official tama design, so I put the face on the house and matched it with the button colour.

Paint pens are pretty self explanatory. I drew the outline of my design, and then filled it in. I had to go over some colours a few times to stop the white from peeking through. Unfortunately I forgot to take any photos of it after I added the details, but you'll see those soon enough! The good thing about paint pens that if you make a mistake, you can just paint over it! Avoid unnecessary stress by having a paint pen in the spray paint colour if you can. The pressure to not get any paint on the white parts was a lot and could have easily been avoided.

When you're 100% happy with your design, it's time to seal it.

Back to lollipop mode. Cover any unpainted parts in tape, then put them back on the pencils. Follow the instructions on your sealer. I did two coats, and left it to dry for half an hour between them. Sealer is really important because not only will it protect the tamagotchi from wear and tear, but it will also give your tamagotchi a really nice glossy feel. It wont be identical to an original tamagotchi, but it makes it feel more official.

Once that's done, make sure the sealer is dry and then it's time to put it all back together!

[la-bruja-de-la-literatura]

Confessions of a Budget Witch

Originally posted by me, in the "Witches & Pagans" Amino.

Let's get this out of the way right now: Being a witch on a tight budget sucks.

Being on a tight budget in general sucks, but this entry is focusing on witches on budgets, and the shadowy, consumerist side of witchcraft and paganism circles. So hold on to your brooms, brujxs, this is going to be a log post.

The Aesthetic/ Instagram Witch

Before anybody throws stones, I have an Instagram account (with this same name). I'm not against the witch aesthetic.

In fact, I think it's great that so many people are passionate enough about art to create these wonderful images. I adore those photos with rose quartz crystal balls and points next to delicate himalayan salt lamps and towering pastel pink candles, and the magnificent bundles of dried roses and lavendar.

Would I want all of those? Goddess, no. Cleaning up all the pouring wax alone would drive me insane, and thinking of all the vacuuming involved with all the dried herbs littering the floor makes me want to take a nap.

And yet, when I close my eyes, I think of some of those images of tall candles littering an altar, of a big crystal ball and tall crystal points. I think of creating big, elaborate crystal grids. I think of a nice stone mortal and pestle I've been wanting to buy for years.

Reality, however, has to hit sometime, and for me it's always when I check my bank account and remember that I barely pay rent with my current salary on most months. I constantly need help with groceries, medical and cellphone expenses. It's gotten better, but I still am not completely financially independent.

That said, I'm fortunate enough to still have some money to buy the things I enjoy, mostly crystals, candles and readings these days. I desperately want to support other witches/spiritual healers, so I carefully look over my finances and put aside some cash for them.

Does this mean I am any less frustrated? No.

In fact, a lot of my anger bubbles up when I read a new spell or witch book with a list of ingredients, always with the note saying like "you can always substitute ingredients, but it won't have the same effect". Which begs the question of why I bother looking up spells in the first place when I usually only have kitchen herbs and my 10-15 crystals (which is quite a lot of pretty rocks as it is). I feel like all these resources ask for the few things I do not have.

Now, I won't say that all sources are like this.

Websites and YouTube channels on minimalistic witchcraft are mostly free, and books like "Light Magic for Dark Times" by Lisa Marie Basille and "Holistic Energy Magic" by Tess Whitehurst, for example, have little to no need to buy a list if ingredients. However, these tend to be the minority in the witchcraft community.

Is that the budget witches fault? Absolutely not. We all have bills to pay and real-world responsibilities. The fact that we still fit this stuff into our lives just shows how much the Craft means to us. Which beings me to my next point...

Finding Affordable and Functional Tools

Western Witchcraft tends to rely heavily on materials and tools to gain results. While many witches guarentee that you "only need yourself" to do magick, the reality is that magick without tools is incredibly difficult and almost impossible for baby witches.

The good news is that stores (in the US, at least) like Five Below and Dollar General are selling some basic stuff like candles, essential oils, crystals and incense at low prices. That said, aside from the candles, glass jars, wooden boxes and incense holders, many of those tools are low-quality. Most of the essential oils I've found at these stores, for example, are perfumed and not real plant-based oils. Tarot decks from places like Wish are usually cheap bootleg imitations that are also low-quality (and also don't support the creators). Another disadvantage is that we aren't supporting the metaphysical community when you buy from these places, which is something I find frustrating. Lastly, I've also noticed that cheap crystals are not not mined ethically, and that is another thing that I personally try to avoid buying cheap if I can.

Now, some common stores, such as pharmacies and grocery stores, are still quite useful to the budget witch. Pharmacies tend to have plant-based and cruelty-free essential oils and diffusers for good prices. Just make sure to research what can harm pets if you have them. Tea tree oil is very toxic to dogs, for example, but lavendar is not. However, lavendar is harmful to cats. Make sure to know what you're using if your pets are around you. Grocery stores are also great places to get cheap dried herbs.

Law of Attraction and The Root Chakra

If you've been reading my post, you'll have noticed that I do not like the Law of Attraction. So we are all clear, I am not against having goals, or following your dreams or passions. I am against the way this system makes the practitioner feel responsible for factors out of their control. (There is a Tumblr post that also explains how the ideology of LOA falls withing the B.I.T.E. model, which is used to identify cult ideology. I'll link it here soon).

I have also become incredibly wary of using chakras, as the popularized system that most witches use today were made-up by a white author.

What bothers me more than any of the aforementioned things is when other practitioners state that those of us in a difficult financial situation are either not working with our root chakras (which focuses on finantial stability, and livliehood) or just aren't using the Law of Attraction well enough. Blaming these kinds of difficulties on budget witches is not only shameful, but it's also usually a marketing tactic used by certain folks to make those of us desperate for money to want to buy their services to "learn how to get rich" or at least financially stable enough to thrive.

If you are interested in using the Western chakras, there are cost-effective ways to work on them, such as using meditation. Again, YouTube is a rich resource for hundreds of free and effective guided meditations on anything from chakras to spirit guides.

Also, let's not forget our good old friend, Practicality. When you get an infection, for example, your priority should the doctor/medical professional first before witchcraft, unless you have a herbal specialist that can create a safe and effective holistic medication (and this person should be, again, a professional). In the same vein, if your are going through a financial rough spot, buying a bunch of root chakra candles or crystals in the hope that your situation will improve is contradictory to what you need to do: save that money. Maybe get one or two inespensive things if you can. If not, use the free resources on hand.

Don't Allow This to Discourage You

As much as many of us claim not to need tools (and I applaud you if you manage with so little, willingly or not), the truth is that most of us like to have things on hand, and I am no exception. Books, candles, crystals, decks and herbs are what I spend my money on. I am aware that there is a materialistic aspect to the way I choose to work. I even have a cauldron and a professionally made wand, despite not being Wiccan and using both for only special occasions. Heck, right now the cauldron is just housing a bled of herbs to cleanse anything I put in it.

That's my choice. I save for some months and then buy little by little. But there are other ways to be an effective budget witch and thrive.

For example, many witches on this site have pointed out that you can make your own tools, such as wands or altar decorations, out of sticks and rocks. Some folks prefer finding their own tools. Just be careful not to pick up anything poisonous, or disturb the nest of any animals that may be around. Also, do NOT eat anything off the ground unless you are 100% sure what it is and that it has been grown in clean soil. Go to the supermarket for edible herbs if you can't find a local market or herb shop. A quick online search will help with that, and you'll be acquainted with your environment.

Tea is also another wonderful resource for the budget witch. It is easy to find, usually under $5 a box (in the USA) and good for you. Again, it's still wise to be careful when trying new herbs, but I find most tea companies will stick to fruits amd common herbs like chamomile and peppermint, to name a few. Honey pairs well with tea, great for magick, and also very accessible. You can also open tea bags for a spell, or invest in loose herb mixes and a strainer. Try buying a teapot if possible. If not, boil your water in a pot over the stove, microwaved tea isn't as good. Trust me.

Tips & Tricks

🖤Crystals are just as effective if they are small or pocket-sized, and usually a lot cheaper that way. There is the bonus perk of being able to carry them with you on the go in your bag or pockets.

🖤Use non-magickal sources as well a magickal ones to identify herbs and crystals so you can be sure they won't harm you. Crystals can also be toxic.

🖤Some people (myself included) believe normal rocks to be just as powerful as crystals. You can even try painting them the color you want to manifest, or you can put sigils on them.

🖤There are free digital tarot apps that are great for readings and having a deck with you wherever you go. The Labyrinthos and Kawaii Tarot apps are the ones I currently use.

🖤Plastic flowers and fruit can be cost-effective decor for your altar, and maybe even an offering or representation of your deity(ies) if you have any.

🖤Epsom salts are relatively cheap, and adding your own essential oils to them in a tub or foot bath is a great spa day remedy and good for metaphysical and physical cleansing. Just make sure they are real essential oils, and look up the correct dosage.

🖤White vinegar is also affordable, and efficient glass, counter-top and carpet cleaner. It also has protective properties along with salt, and it's great for cleaning your altar, if you can stand the smell.

Some Resources:

My Go-To Etsy Stores for Ethical and Affordable Crystal Buying: (I am not a sponsor for these stores, nor am I being paid to advertise them).

The Spiritnectar

Moonrise Crystal

Ethically-Sourced & Affordable Crystals. My order came with a tea bag as well!

Crystal LionGems

Budget Witch Videos:

The Witch of Wonderlust on Low-Budget Witchcraft

Magickians Budget Witch Guide

Cheap Places to Get Books that Aren't Amazon:

Thriftbooks

BookOutlet

Or rent books at your local library! You can also make requests if they don't have what you're looking for.

That's all for now, brujxs. Please tell me your thoughts, and how you handle being a budget witch. Stay safe, witchy and freaky. 💜

[miki-agrawal]

I just closed on my new house - Here's why the Tushy bidet is the first thing I'm buying

Now that renting is behind me, I'm installing this little bathroom device in my house

Originally Posted On realhomes.com By Kaitlyn Mcinnis On Oct 09, 2020

I will never forget my first trip to Japan. The sights, the shopping, the restaurants and bars that greeted me when I first set foot in Tokyo have continued to pull me back for more—but there’s something else about Japan that I always look forward to… the high-tech toilet that more than 80 percent of Japanese households subscribe to. Part bidet, part spa day for your buns, Japanese toilets are beyond compare—and I’ve wanted one of my own since I first left Japan.

While toilet paper is the standard way to, ahem, wash up after using the bathroom here in North America, a bidet is actually a much more sanitary (and eco-friendly) alternative. In fact, when you think about the benefits, it’s quite surprising that more American homes haven’t already embraced the sanitary bathroom device.

According to a Healthline report, using a bidet can actually help avoid hemorrhoids in people of all ages, maintain better genital health, and help keep bacteria from spreading into the bathroom by way of soiled hands (sorry, it happens!)—and if I’m being honest it just feels so much cleaner down there versus using standard toilet paper.

Think about it like this: You wouldn’t wipe bird droppings off your shoulder with a paper towel, would you? What about when your hands get a little messy after changing a diaper? Would you wipe off with a tissue or actually wash up with warm water?

While I certainly don’t think bidets should be reserved to high-tech Japanese bathrooms or luxury hotel suites, they have historically come with a pretty steep price tag—which is the only reason I haven’t bothered to install one in my place. Like many home improvement projects and investments, I just didn’t see a point in doing so when I was renting. But after closing on my first house earlier this month, the Tushy Bidet is the first purchase I’m making!

Designing a bathroom? Check out our favorite bathroom ideas

After doing a bit of research on bidets in North America, I found Tushy. This American-based bidet brand aims to make the buns-cleaning device as accessible as possible and I’m 100 percent on board with it. The modern bathroom brand offers a healthier, cleaner alternative to toilet paper that’s both innovative and affordable with the goal of making the sanitary practice as commonplace in the US as it is in Europe, South America, or Asia—but instead of spending thousands on a brand new toilet, the bidet attachment is a cool $100.

The Tushy water bidet attachment easily fits over just about any toilet size -- all you have to do is hook the water connection cord into your toilet’s existing water hose and screw the plastic attachment into your toilet seat. From there, the bidet is good to go and can be easily adjusted to your preferred temperature and water pressure. It’s so easy that I sort of regret not installing one in my rental unit.

While I’d like to eventually install a high-tech (and high price tag) Japanese toilet seat bidet by Toto, I love that the Tushy attachment allows me to introduce a bidet into my home (and to my hesitant partner) without having to splurge—especially after just spending a huge chunk of my savings on a down payment. In the meantime, I’m so excited to have that super-clean feeling at home without having to hop on a flight to my favorite hotel in Tokyo.

TUSHY SpaPremium Warm Water Bidet Attachment | Was $129, now $119

Hoping to score your own bidet attachment? The Tushy spa line includes an assortment of spa-like features -- like adjustable water temperature and intensity—and is currently on offer for $119.

Tushy is a bidet startup which aims to replace toilet paper, Tushy was founded by Miki Agrawal.