#they do not wear white generally as a rule. hence the loosely based.

[vigilbutts]

ok i need you all to know the color scheme for beans' outfit is uh. loosely based on solo jazz.

the scarf is what really shows that inspo, i think

[starr-fall-knight-rise]

Humans are Space Orcs, “Martial Arts.”

Had this lined up for today based on two requested ideas given to me by readers. I hope you like it and have a great day!

“I think you’re really going to like this.”

“So I assume it involves beating the ever-loving shit out of someone.” 

Adam grinned, “Exactly.”

Sunny cheered and Krill sighed, “Why do you two always insist on having the most violent pastimes.”

“I promise today is ALSO educational. Now stop being a stick in the mud. I am sure you will find use for yourself today.”

Krill sighed but allowed them to continue on. The Admiral was wearing a duffel bag over one shoulder, and the tennis shoes he was wearing, alone with the shots suggested that he intended to participate in some sort of physical activity. The same shades of blue light flickered over his prosthetic leg and those that licked over hers, and even from here, he could hear the soft whirring of the machine.

Sunny craned her neck at the city around them trying to figure out where they were being taken, and neither of them figured it out until the admiral cut right and shouldered open the door to a large building. 

Stepping inside they were greeted with a waft of warm, humid air. The ground under their feet was squishy, made of some sort of synthetic material, and all around the room humans in various stages of physical activity dominated the landscape.

The predominant sound was that of flesh impacting padded bags as humans -- both bare knuckled -- and wearing padded gloves punched and kicked and violently strove to beat the ever loving shit out of inanimate hanging objects. Krill wanted in surprise and -- what would have been horror if he wasn’t so used to being appalled-- as two humans sparred together in a ring lined with three large ropes.

They were padded, with gloves and face masks and helmets of some sort, but that gave them free reign to punch and kick each other silly, until one of the humans grabbed the other by the arm and flipped backwards throwing them both to the ground with a violent thud.

Across the room, humans wearing strange white uniforms tied with colorful belts moved in synchronization to the call of a master. He'd punch and then kick and then block venting air by way of shouts.

Sunny turned in a tight circle, her eyes wide as they fell on another padded platform, this time in an octagonal shape, and bounded by a chain link energy cage.

Inside two women were roused to blood, fighting with nothing but barely padded gloves and the clothes on their back.

One of the women managed to throw the other to the ground and for a second they were a mass of tangled limbs before she had her arms around the other’s neck squeezing tight. Krill stepped forward but a sharp tap on the arm of one woman to the other caused the winner to let go, and the fighters to return to their feet, one rubbing her soar neck..

“What is this place?” Sunny asked, in absolute awe

Adam grinned, “This, my fine friend is what humans call a dojo. Not exactly sure where the word comes from per say, but I am pretty sure it originated in asia more than two thousand years ago and basically means a location where people train in the art of hand to hand combat. 

Sunny turned her head again eyes wide as another two men grappled each other to the floor hands gripping onto each other’s uniforms tugging and pulling and trying to swipe with their feet.

“It all looks so… different.”

Adam nodded, “That's because it is. There are hundreds of different fighting systems developed by humanity over the years, sort of like how you have different spear stances in your culture fire versus water, accept these ones work on different principals.

He motioned to the square ring, “Boxing for instance focuses a lot of its attention on punches specifically. Historically the rules required that you couldn't use elbows knees or kicks, and your punches had to land above the belt, or at least that’s what I remember. He turned to point at the other side of the room where the men and women in white were still busy in their forms. Stuff like Karate Kung Fu and others are sort of more about forms and techniques. I would say that that sort of fighting is more of a philosophy or a way of life than anything, and very ancient.”

He then turned to look at the two men still wrestling on the floor, “Then there is Jiu Jitsu, a form of combat that relies on submission and grappling. USe the weakness of an enemies body against them, use their weight, use the weakness of their wrists and elbows and knees and neck. Jiu Jitsu is likely to always end up on the ground. It is similar to wrestling, though wrestling requires than you pin the other person’s shoulders to the ground.

Krill turned to look at Sunny’s face and would have rolled his eyes at the giddy expression she had if it weren't for his inability to actually roll his eyes.

“Why are there so many types?’

Adam paused tapping his chin, “Well, humanity has always been working to find a system that works best. In many cases it started with a philosophy of some kind. IN certain cases it was poise, or focus or any number of things. Monks dedicated their entire lives to the mastery and perfection of a single art of combat. In a way it was almost like meditation that could be used in times of need. Some martial arts required steal or quick movement which spawned stuff like Ninjitsu and still live son in spots like parkour despite it not being a combat sport.”

He lend them further into the room, “A lot of them spawned out of the fact that humans just love to fight, we love to see who is physically better. It made it’s way to the olympics, and then into popular culture. Wrestling, while a great athletic endeavor was just as much a theater production as it was anything else and requires an understanding between two parties to put on the most dramatic show possible.”

He walked over a few feet pausing before the octagon, “Then someone had the idea of what would happen if you put the different martial arts up against each other in a contest of who is better hence Mixed Martial Arts fought in an octagon just like this. At first practitioners of one discipline were pitted against each other to see who was better.” He rested his hand against one of the braces, “In the end it ended up weeding out a lot of the older forms of martial arts which were more a form of art than actual fighting. Philosophy wasn’t exactly helpful in the octagon, and many of the flashier forms, while they looked cool in practice turned out to be impractical in the ring.

He dropped his bag to the floor, reaching in to take out a pair of gloves, “The idea became that the more brutal straight to the point contact sports were most superior.”

Sunny crossed her arms, “So what is it, which martial art is more superior?”

Adam grinned, “That’s the catch… all of them are.”

“What do you mean.”

“All of them are assuming you put them together. Fighters that were well versed in multiple styles of fighting were the most victorious.” he fell into a standard human fighting posture feet shoulder width one foot before the other hands up and loose before his face neck down, “If you can punch like a boxer, Kick like a Muay Thai fighter, grapple like a Jiu Jitsu master and put all of it together, you may have more than a chance of winning.” he patted the side of the cage, “The general consensus is that the best kind of fighting is one that doesnt just take focus from one discipline, it is someone who can take the best things from all the disciplines and put them together all at once.”

Sunny looked on rather hungrily at the ring.

“Let’s do it.”

He grinned back, “I thought you might be interested.

Krill just shook his head and backed away, leave it to the drev and the human to find one of the most dangerous pastimes in the world. Who would have thought that philosophy could span a better way to kick the shit out of someone.

Kril Turned his head to look around the room and was surprised at all the thighs he saw. He may not have agreed with the martial arts necessarily, but there was something to be said about the variety, and the sort of human that came out of it. The men and women he could see practicing were, without a doubt some of the fittest humans he had ever laid eyes on, and he spent his time with a crew that wasn’t likely to shirt their physical health.

Men and women alike glistened with lean muscle sharp and prominent against their sweat glazed skin. Hands punched bags over and over and over again. In certain cases he watched as men and women kicked wooden poles repeatedly ramming their shins against the unforgiving surface their faces barely showing any hint of pain,

The feats of acrobatics which they managed, and the way they utilized their center of gravity was astonishing. He saw a five foot woman throw a two hundred pound man over her head simply by throwing herself to her back and kicking the other man over.

While weight and size seemed to matter to some degree there were a few humans here who didn’t seem to care.

Sunny and Adam were on the other side of the room Adam explaining the idea of kinetic linking to sunny, how by moving your body, you could force the power from your feet, all the way up through your legs hips and back and into a single punch making it more powerful.

Krill could see, on a physiological standpoint where that was true.

He even watched for a few sessions as Sunny and Adam went a few rounds Adam winning a surprising amount of times for someone who was so small, but often using the techniques that Krill was seeing around the room.

It was only after they had taken a break and were gearing up to go again that Krill noticed another human walk onto the floor. He was an older human, the pigment having faded from his hair long ago, bleaching him silver. Despite that, the man had the body of someone half his age, lean and sinuous, veins crawling up his arms like the vines of a tree.

Adam was just pulling on his gloves when the man stepped up.

“Excuse me, son.”

Adam lifted his head standing when the man approached, “Can I help you.”

The man set down his bag. Based on his voice, the man was clearly an older gentlemen though Krill had trouble guessing. Either way he had the opinion that this guy probably should take it easier than this palace suggested.

“I hate to ask, but My sparring partner is sick today, and I was wondering if you might consider a round or two. You look spry enough.”

Adam blinked in surprise but then shrugged, “Yeah sure I guess.” The way his ione eye traveled over the man suggested he was having the same thoughts as krill. He seemed like he was a bit too old to be doing something like this. Krill worried that he could potential break or tear something , but no one said a word as the man set down his bag and took a few minutes to stretch.

Krill was a bit more than surprised at the flexibility of the old man who managed a full split in both directions after warming up.

Adam seemed a little less sure of himself upon seeing that.

He definitely could not do that.

The old guy’s face was lined with delicate wrinkles through the skin, the body becoming less taught with age, but when the two of them hopped up into the ring, the older man seemed just as energetic as Adam, which seemed surprising.

No matter though, as old as he was, he would probably tire pretty easily.

“What do you say, no crotch shots and no eye gouging.” Adam announced and the old man agreed as they moved into position.

Krill and Sunny came to the side of the cage to watch as the two men squared off.

Adam kept his hands a bit relaxed, still guarded but not too concerned.

The older man didn’t keeping tight and low as they circled for a bit.

“You’ll want to keep up your guard, son.” The man chided, and adam smiled but pulled his hands in tighter.

Krill tapped his fingers.

Sunny smirked as if she knew something he didn’t

They exchanged a few blows, Adam going eas and the old guy, well being old and slow as Krill had expected. Adam’s guard began to drop again, and then all of a sudden out of absolutely nowhere there was a sharp blur of motion and a loud THWACK. 

Adam hit the ground hard dazed and confused as the old man stood over him.

Sunny ohhhhed in absolute glee.

Krill hissed in pain.

Adam had just been round kicked to the head.

“I told you to keep your guard up.” The old man said, reaching down a hand to help Adam to his feet, “probably also a good idea not to underestimate senior citizens.”

Adam rubbed his head, “Ok, ok I deserved that. Let's go another round.”

“You sure, you got your memory jogged kind of hard there.”

Adam shook himself and squared back up, his guard tight this time, “bring it on grandpa.”

The old man smiled and fell back into his stance. This time Adam was not smoking, and his expression was hard as he stared at the old man. Adam came forward with a jab which the man blocked and they exchanged a few punches catching each other only grazing blows as they hit. 

Adam got a kick to the upper leg,, the old man took a body shot that should have downed him, but by the staggering way Adam moved to the side suggested he had kicked something as hard as a brick wall.

The old man moved forward and the two of them were suddenly head to head, hands gripping shoulders, fingers digging into shirts, before any of them knew what happened Adam was thrown to the ground his wrist held tightly in the other man’s hands,

He tried to get up but the old man leaped down after him throwing his legs over Adams chest and positioning his elbow over his hips.

He arched his back subtly which had Adam tapping one of his legs frantically.

He let go and the two disengaged.

Sunny cheered.

Adam rubbed his elbow, “Armbar?”

The old man smiled, “I’m old boy, not an invalid.”

Adam raised an eyebrow, “I can see that. How about another round.”

With a teasing smile the old human winked a grey eye, “Only if you want to get beat again.”

Adam snorted, “yeah not so sure about that.” he squared up, “Besides, today’s early bird special is on a knuckle sandwich.”

The old man wiggled his head mockingly, “Oh a wise guy eh.”

Once Upon a time Krill would have assumed they were being aggressive in their words, but the cadence and the smiles on their faces assured him that, despite their actions, this was a friendly fight.

And how strange it was to see someone like the old man holding up so well against someone less than twice his age. By all rights Adam should have beaten him easily, but this old human despite his looks was more than what he appeared. Krill was going to have to do some more research on human aging processes, for there was something he felt he was missing.

The two had squared up again, dancing around in a circle as they came in repeatedly for attacks. Adam tried to get the upper hand with a sudden flurry of blows but the old man weathered it using precision to his advantage with precis body shots that had Adam packing off huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf.

At some point Adam did something neither of them had ever see, grabbing the man under his arms and turning, flipping the man over the fulcrum of his hips and sending him flowing into the ground. Adam jumped after trying to claim full mount but the old man somehow flipped him to the side and reversed it catching Adam around the back of the neck with a forearm.

The flat of his forearm went across Adam’s throat, his legs wrapped around his middle, and his opposite hand grabbed onto his wrist. As he squeezed, he also elongated his body..

Krill stepped forward hand out afraid the man was going to pop his cervical spine apart until Adam tapped falling to the ground with a grunt.

“Ok ok, ONE more time.” Adam said wobbling to his feet

The old man followed after grinning, “Whatever you say.”

This last fight went much like the one before it. An exchange up top and a sudden move onto the ground, though this time the man trapped adam using his legs, thighs constricting around the side of his neck.

Adam was still breathing just fine, until his body slumped to the side.

Krill leaped forward in shock and confusion thinking that the man had somehow injured his neck, killed him. But almost as soon as the man let go Adam twitched and then sat up looking groggy.

“What the.”

“You were supposed to tap before passing out.”

Adam rubbed his head, “Was that a triangle choke… didn’t even feel like I was choking.”

Krill stormed forward, “What happened! Adam are you alright. Do I need to call the police.”

Adam waved him off, “It was a blood choke krill, he temporarily cut off blood supply to my brain, no big deal.”

“No big deal!” Krill shreakied, “How is it having blood in your brain NOT a big deal.’

Sunny cheered with glee behind Krill’s protests leaping up into the ring and towards the old man, “Can you teach me.”

The old man seemed surprised, but agreed and glanced oer at Adam, “Someone needs some extra lessons anyway.”

Adam snorted and rolled his eyes but otherwise took it with good humor.

Krill sat fuming in the corner.

Humans, frigging humans always finding ways to hurt themselves. Crushing each other’s windpipes and cutting off carotid arteries, and bending joints that weren't supposed to be bent, and all for what because it was FUN to look STRONGER. He couldn't believe this.

Stupid 

Stupid humans.

He was going to have to tell someone. He was going to have to rant.

He was…..

Probably going to write an academic paper, though he was going to be angry while doing it. 

[bluegarners]

So I got an ask the other day about my thoughts on the Court of Owls; I gave my general  opinion, but in this post, I’d like to dive into what I actually know about them

The Court of Owls

"Beware the Court of Owls, that watches all the time,

Ruling Gotham from a shadowed perch, behind granite and lime.

They watch you at your hearth, they watch you in your bed.

Speak not a whispered word about them, or they'll send the Talon for your head."

So the Court we know has existed since colonial times and is pretty much a secret society/crime group that resides in the corners of Gotham City. The Court first appeared in Batman V.2 #3, back in 2011. The Court is composed of some of Gotham’s oldest and wealthiest families that use the Talons as assassins (I’ll make another post about them) for political influence and other gains and means. The members are all human (the so called “Owls”) and wear an owl mask to conceal their identities; the mask doesn’t look much like an owl though. It looks more like a smooth, white, porcelain mask with some slits for eyes

However, the rest of the Court is speculated to be mutant human-owl hybrids with long claws, owl-like distorted faces, and owl-like eating habits. I’m not sure what the mutants role is, but I believe they are experiments gone wrong that the Court just hasn’t killed off yet.

The Court’s origin of operations is Gotham City, but they’ve expanded internationally, where they call themselves the Parliament of Owls (this is explored in the Robin Wars storyline) or the Tribe of Judas (the Court is an extension from this religious cult, but that's a whole other can of worms). Not much else is said about the Parliament of Owls, but it can be assumed they do the same things as Gotham’s Court, but on a more worldly scale. For those who do not know, a group of owls is called a parliament, so this suggests that there are more “groups” of Owls stationed across the globe other than the ones just in Gotham, hence the Parliament.

DC Rebirth Nightwing Series

The Court is led by a Judge of Owls, the overarching leader. They wear a bloodstained owl mask, unlike the clean white masks the rest of the court wears, and garb themselves in a dark cloak to cover their head. Not much is known about the Judge, as there doesn’t seem to be specific criteria that needs to be met for one to be the Judge (taking into account that the Judge of Owls was a woman in the Batman vs. Robin the animated movie, but they also called her the “Grandmaster” instead soooo)

Doomsday Clock #6, 2018

So, because everything must always connect back to Batman/Bruce Wayne,  many of the Court's bases are in hidden rooms in every building established by the Alan Wayne Trust (Bruce’s great-grandfather), supposedly all located on the thirteenth floors. Hilariously enough, Bruce didn’t believe in the Court of Owls for a long time, as his investigations initially did not prove their existence in Gotham. Previously, he had investigated them because he believed they had something to do with his parents' murder. That line of thinking came from a young and traumatized Bruce Wayne, as he believed it didn't make sense for his parents' to have been murdered over some pearls and loose change; he thought there had to be a greater conspiracy than a mugger named Joe Chill with a gun. At some point, young Bruce had asked his father about the Court of Owls but had been denied a true answer; just like when Bruce had needed a sign to become Batman (a bat flew by his window), young Bruce had found an owl nest in his attic, which he proceeded to destroy and kill the owls in it, and thus began his investigation into the Court of Owls and his conclusion that they did not exist.

I always laugh at this panel because Bruce is so darn sure that he knows everything that goes on in Gotham and that there is no legend or myth he doesn’t know about, going on to say that his own work is proof enough that the Court of Owls doesn’t exist because he couldn’t find them. But then we get this great and ominous quote from Dick (who actually plays a larger role in all of this)

“Look, Bruce. No one knows Gotham better than you. It's your city. It's Batman's city... But it's also nearly four hundred years old. Which means over the years, maybe it belonged to something else, too. Something big. Something dark.”- Dick Grayson, Batman V.2 #4, The Court of Owls, Part 4: Face the Court

All you really need to know about that series is that Bruce didn’t believe in them, then almost got assassinated by a Talon and thus fought the Court. He didn’t defeat them, as defeating them would mean having to dismantle everything, but he fought them. Bruce, I suppose, is a more “seeing is believing” type of guy; won’t believe in a deadly court until they send someone to kill him lol

The last thing about the Court specifically, which I feel like is the most focused upon thing in fannon/fanfiction, is the labyrinth. There is an underground labyrinth that contains a drugged fountain, and it is where victims are trapped before they are killed. In the maze, the stories of all their victims are told, eventually leading the victim to their own room where they are killed by a Court Talon. This was heavily focused on when Batman was captured by the Court, where he was forced to spend a week in the labyrinth without food or water, his only source for sustenance being the drugged fountain.

The point of sending a victim into the massive underground maze is to degrade their minds to the point of hallucinations, of which Batman suffered from and at one point saw his parents, slowly going insane. This also weakens the body, making an easier kill for the Talon or an easier persuasion by the Court to join their ranks as an Owl or as a Talon to work for them. It is here in the labyrinth that the bodies of Talons, past and current, are stored, residing in these coffin-like structures with their pictures placed on top (most are pictures of children).

Now, unfortunately, in Batman V.2 #5, Bruce is drugged out of his mind and hallucinates frequently, so not everything he sees can be proven true; for instance, there’s a floating boat with an owl as its ships’ figurehead, and he punches the head of it off in anger. Bruce also talks to himself, though it can be assumed the voice in his head is someone specific, so it just lends to the narrative of how manipulative the Court is. Other than the coffin room, there is also a room where pictures of all the Court’s victims are laid out, showing how they broke down over time and became more and more insane until Talon was sent to kill them.

There’s also a room showing all the names of every person who has ever been involved with the Court, be it the victims/Talons, the members, or enemies they’ve killed. Along with these names are models of Gotham, little buildings, roads, and city maps built as smaller structures.

Batman V.2 #5

I'll make a post detailing more about Talons (uber cool but sad assassins), but this is pretty much all I know about the Court

The Court is such as cool concept, and I'm excited they're getting more attention! I feel like what they do is undervalued/underestimated considering that they've existed for centuries and are composed of almost every major elite and wealthy person in Gotham

[annietaylorfmb-blog]

E-wear competitors

Looking at where E-wear would position itself in the market I have decided to carry out a traditional perceptual map analysis using the axis digital/physical and high-fashion/mass-market. By doing so, I am hoping that I will be able to identify a gap in the market for Anna’s brand so that it can bring something fresh to the industry. However, I do feel as though from the map there may not necessarily be a clear-cut gap as such because the extent of which a brand can be fully digital and fully physical can be varied. Thus, I am going to summarise a little bit about each of the key competitors that I feel align with e-wear first as this will hopefully aid in grasping more specifically where the gap lies for the brand.

I.AM.GIA: https://iamgia.com

Story: I.AM.GIA is a fashion label which was created solely around the concept of a fictional character named Gia. The brand is based loosely on the film Gia, whose character rose to fame very quickly and therefore, the brand wanted to do the same thing for the clothing label – which it was successful in doing (growing 60% month on month since its launch). It produces collections based on what GIA is doing within her life and thus they’re released monthly as opposed to four capsules a year.

Positioning: I.AM.GIA’s character is the ‘it girl’ of social media and thus, the brand uses social platforms to create an ultra-elusive and luxury like label, but for the masses. It has a turn-around of six weeks, which is mega in the fast-fashion industry.

Aesthetic: GIA has introduced a masculine aesthetic to womenswear which enables women to dress the pieces with a high-heel or combat boot depending on their style.

Wearing the brand: Emily Ratajkowski, Bella Hadid, Jordyn Woods

Signature piece: Pixie coat

Off-white: https://www.off---white.com/en/GB

Story: Off-white is a hybrid brand which fuses high-fashion with streetwear. The brand reaches common ground between the two by giving a classic silhouette a fresh direction that appeals to the millennial generation; aiming to give the young generation freedom to style themselves instead of dictating who should be wearing the brand. It allows them to mix and match apparels as they want without adhering to any rules.

Positioning: It is a premium brand based on the combination of style and quality.

Aesthetic: An American aesthetic – priding itself on quality with a modern approach.

Wearing the brand: Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid.

Signature piece: Yellow and black belt.  

Gucci: https://www.gucci.com

Story: Gucci is an Italian fashion house that is reinventing luxury fashion by giving it a modern and contemporary feel that remains desirable. The brand is crafted upon quality and attention to detail.

Positioning: Gucci belongs to the Kering Group, which is a global Luxury group that manages the development of a series of renowned Houses in Fashion, Leather Goods, Jewelry and Watches.

Aesthetic: Eclectic, contemporary and romantic.

Wearing the brand:

Signature piece: GG belt.

Balenciaga: https://www.balenciaga.com/gb

Story: Balenciaga is an haute-couture fashion house renowned for exquisite craftsmanship and innovative designs– especially regarding shape. Modern Balenciaga, however, embraces logos and streetwear looks like hoodies, while still experimenting with textures and silhouettes in futuristic or glamourous styles – appealing to the millennial consumer.

Positioning: Balenciaga belongs to the Kering Group, which is a global Luxury group that manages the development of a series of renowned Houses in Fashion, Leather Goods, Jewelry and Watches.

Aesthetic: Oversized, contemporary

Wearing the brand:

Signature piece: Chunky trainers

The Fabricant: https://www.thefabricant.com

Story: The Fabricant is a digital-only fashion house which exists to present fashion beyond the current concepts of catwalks, photographers, studios and sample sizes. The brand specializes in photo-real 3D fashion design and animation, developing digital fashion editorials, digital clothing and occasional collections.

Positioning: Free digital downloads of digital clothing

Aesthetic: Futuristic, innovative, new

Wearing the brand: N/A

Signature piece: DEEP collection

Carlings: https://digitalcollection.carlings.com

Story: Carlings is a multibrand-chain that offers a wide selection of housebrands, mixed with well-known international brands. The concept is rooted in denim and music, made for urban-minded youth whom are energetic and somewhat rebellious. The brand is not afraid to challenge the norm in a way that is socially responsible – minimizing the negative impact they have on the environment. It has released a digital clothing to support this premise.     

Positioning: Norwegian mass-market brand, offering digital collection ranging from 20-30 euros (currently delivering to Norway, Sweden and Finland) that can be e-fitted to users’ photos for a small cost. 

Aesthetic: Tech aesthetic - metallic tracksuits and streaks of lightning, slogans that nod to the digital realm such as ‘Artificial Excellence and ‘I’m Not A Robot’

Wearing the brand: modelled’ by CGI influencers like Perl

Signature piece: N/A

Atacac:

Story: Atacac is a Swedish based fashion studio that digitally designs three-dimensional garments so that these garments can be presented before being produced. It is used for many things such as developing new designs, replacing physical prototypes, replacing product images in stores, or for communication purposes. 

Positioning: Premium brand which sells digital basics clothing with an average price of 200 euros. Content is created within four weeks therefore by reducing the time and resources that would usually be associated with physical production, Atacac is able to sell its pieces at lower price points than traditionally designed pieces.

Aesthetic: Clean, contemporary

Wearing the brand: N/A

Signature piece: N/A

This is not an exhausted list of E-wear’s competitors as there are independent designers etc. that do the same jobs also. However, I believe that these are key players within the market (hence why I relabelled the title that within my presentation) and thus, ones of which E-wear need to bare in mind. As I mentioned earlier, I have used this information to now produce a perpetual map of these competitors shown below: 

The gap identified above is where Anna’s brand would sit within the market. After doing using this model, I decided to visualise the data differently so that it tied in with the rest of my presentation, which can be evidenced here:

[rinnahtheskinchanger]

REALLY  LONG  CHARACTER  SURVEY.

RULES.  repost ,   don’t  reblog  !    tag  10  ! TAGGED BY: @celestialspitfire​ B|  TAGGING.   anyone who wants to torture themselves

BASICS.

FULL  NAME :   Rinnah  NICKNAME :   Rin, Rinrin, Puppy, Wolfy, Wolf, Pipsqueak, Half-pint, Furball, Fuzzball, Fluffy, etc. AGE :   19 BIRTHDAY :  August 31st ETHNIC  GROUP : Mixed blood (Dad has some of the Eastern blood in him, hence the lion), but she looks stereotypical white (Nordic, specifically) NATIONALITY :  Skin-changer (Nordic in modern/Earth) LANGUAGE / S :   Common Tongue/English, most animal languages SEXUAL  ORIENTATION :   Pansexual ROMANTIC  ORIENTATION :  Panromantic RELATIONSHIP  STATUS : Single and hoping to find someone that she can trust and love completely. Hasn’t had the best life, so having a stable, caring partner would do wonders to help her. CLASS : Skinchangers don’t really have classes, but she’s the granddaughter of the chief. Whether or not that’s recognized by the other denizens of Middle Earth really depends. I wouldn’t think that many hold her kind in high regard. Probably most think they’re savages, or something, really. HOME  TOWN / AREA : The Withered Heath, in the far North of Arda. CURRENT  HOME : She’s a wanderer, though whether its by nature or necessity is actually quite hazy. PROFESSION :   A hunter, guide, muscle for hire, etc. Rin does what needs to be done in order to survive, whether it’s selling wares, or letting people pay her to help them in some way.

PHYSICAL.

HAIR :   Bright white; a product of Leucism. It really depends on how she wants it cut. Grows relatively fast, so there are times when she lets it grow to her waist. Other times, it’s cut into a crest that becomes midback length locks. Either way, there are two side pieces, and it’s been likened to a lion’s mane, as her father’s was. Soft to the touch, but doesn’t lie flat and silken. EYES :   Heterochromatic. Her left eye is a golden brown/amber, while the other is a vibrant green (inherited from her mother) NOSE :   A medium length nose, with a slight bump in the middle. The bottom is not overly wide, and slightly upturned. FACE :    Her facial shape is not remarkably feminine, more androgynous, though her features definitely point towards her being female. Her brows are a bit heavier than most women, and with a semi-strong jaw. (Think Norn of Guild Wars 2) LIPS :   Nice, full lips, plush for sure.  COMPLEXION :  Not pale, but not too dark. She has the permanent tan of someone who is always outside. No freckles or acne. Skin is pretty clear for the most part, though in the cold there can be a need for something to give it moisture. BLEMISHES :   Only occasional things. Dry lips, sometimes, maybe dark circles if there hasn’t been much sleep. SCARS : General wear and tear, as to be expected. There is also a massive burn scar on her left side, from hip, to under the bust, but not crossing over her center or spine. Two rips on back and front each of her right side, from massive fangs. Three claw marks over her left eye from forehead to midcheek. TATTOOS :   ...there’s, uh, some tribal stuff on the top of her...dick HEIGHT :   137 cm / 4′6″ WEIGHT :    50 kg / 110 lbs BUILD :  Rinnah is toned, but not sculpted. She has an endomorphic body type (reference is Samantha Wright, mostly). There isn’t too much going on, bust-wise, and there’s a bit of broadness to her shoulders, but her hips are decidedly wider, giving a more pear shaped appearance, though her upper body is nothing to sneeze at. FEATURES : Thick thighs, thick ass. Got a bit of a happy trail going on (white peach fuzz) ALLERGIES :   Nope! USUAL  HAIR  STYLE :   Let it loose! Though she has been known to braid her crest, braid it when long, or just tie it up to keep it out of the way. USUAL  FACE  LOOK : Generally curious, interested. Not necessarily happy, but there’s no resting bitch face either. USUAL  CLOTHING :  Think vikings, with more bones and furs, and no shoes.

PSYCHOLOGY.

FEAR / S :   Being alone, rejection, abuse ASPIRATION / S :   To find whatever it is that she’s looking for. ( Rin, herself, doesn’t know what it is, but it’s to find someone that cares for her (in any sense of the word) and/or a place that she can have purpose. POSITIVE  TRAITS :   Strong, loyal, gentle, caring, protective, brave ( for others ) NEGATIVE  TRAITS :   Pushover, nervous ( under the surface ), easily influenced, gullible ZODIAC :   Virgo TEMPEREMENT :    Easy-going, yet a bit on the shy side, until she gets to know/trust you. Then, she’s a fluffy whirlwind of fun, if you let her be. SOUL  TYPE / S :  Server. Click the link on the actual “soul type” thing to find out what that means! ANIMALS :   Wolf, Lion, Horse, Hawk ( Her and her immediate family’s forms )

VICE  HABIT / S :    Tendency to isolate herself, despite the fact that it makes her feel horrible,  Is very secretive, and tries to give out as little information as possible, until convinced that she can trust them completely,  Easy to corrupt with her eager-to-please nature and fear of rejection

FAITH :  Believes in the Valar, mostly because she has met two of them, so it is not possible for her not to believe at that point XD GHOSTS ? :   Eh AFTERLIFE ? :  Everyone is told the story of what happens, and being that she has met two of th Valar, proving their existence, Rinnah isn’t quite sure on the matter. REINCARNATION ? : I don’t think Rinnah wants this to exist, the possibility of coming back, and not having her family the way it was. She refuses to think about it. ALIENS ? :  Modern verse? Certainly POLITICAL  ALIGNMENT :   True neutral. Rinnah will making decisions based on who gets to her first ( and shows some form of affection/care, even if they’re faking.

ECONOMIC  PREFERENCE :   Skin changers are not known for being materialistic. They might have a home, but everything has its purpose, and is usually crafted by them, themselves. SOCIOPOLITICAL  POSITION : Granddaughter of a chief, but that really doesn’t mean much in her society. Everyone is inherently equal, in their eyes, though your behavior and prowess can sway it. EDUCATION  LEVEL :  Basic survival/self care. A bit of domestic knowledge, but no formal schooling. Can’t really read or write that well... (main verse only)

FAMILY.

FATHER :   Folkvar -Deceased- ( The White Lion ) 7′6″, broad and thick muscled. White hair, and blue eyes. A traveller by nature, until he met his match, Selehna, in the Withered Heath. He is jovial, and kind, though a big flirter as well. Has shared his bed with many people, of all races and genders when they’re interested. Doting father to his twin daughters, though Rinnah is his favorite, which everyone knows, but there is no problem with it. MOTHER :   Selehna -Deceased- ( The Knight Mare ) 6’4″, more slender and wiry, reminiscent of Elves. Dark red hair, and green eyes. Described by her husband ( and agreed upon by many ) as a Warrior Goddess. She has a temper, to be sure, and is not quite as cuddly as Folkvar. Though, her daughters are a different matter. Sinha is her favorite, and similar to her in many ways. Selehna is the beat down first, ask questions later type when it comes to intruders, or anyone threatening her family. Other times, she is cool and calculating. SIBLINGS :  Sinha -Deceased- 5′7″ ( At age 13 ) Fraternal twin to Rinnah. Lighter red hair than their mother ( not fiery ), and blind ( blue eyes ). Takes after their mother in build, and a bit in temperament. Sinha is not entirely fun-loving, but will do all sorts of playing and fun things with her sister, and their father should Rinnah be present. Calm, assertive.

EXTENDED  FAMILY :    Unknown on father’s side. Mother’s, however, which made up many of the tribe, were not fond of an outsider marrying their most sought after daughter. Were abusive to Rinnah when her parents took Sinha away to find a better healer. They are the source of all her scars, stunted growth, and psychological problems NAME  MEANING / S :    Folkvar: “guardian of the people”, Selehna: “Moon”, Rinnah: “Shouting for joy”, Sinha: made to match Rin’s HISTORICAL  CONNECTION ? :   N/A.

FAVORITES.

BOOK :   N/A MOVIE :   N/A 5 SONGS :  N/A

DEITY : Orome and Ulmo ( because she’s met both, and finds them to be quite pleasant )

HOLIDAY : N/A MONTH :  Probably September, when it’s not too cool, but Fall has begun. SEASON :  Summer/Fall PLACE :  She wanders too much to have a favorite. If she did, then there’s a good chance that there would be no more traveling for her. WEATHER :    Sunny days, warm, but not too warm for someone who...wears a fur coat -wink- SOUND :   The sound of fire crackling, the animals of the forest, rain on a roof, or on the leaves SCENT / S :   Baked treats and bread, roasting meat, freshly cut wood TASTE / S :    Savory, meaty flavors. Freshly baked bread, deserts of all sorts FEEL / S :    Leather, fur, crunching leaves, smooth river stones ANIMAL / S :    Dogs and horses, and bears NUMBER :  N/A. COLORS :  Golden yellow, warm browns

EXTRA.

TALENTS :    Good, scrappy fighter, ready to use whatever weapons she can find, and her body if she can’t. Cooking and singing. Very good listener. BAD  AT :  Reading, math, fitting in with more “cultured” people, especially the women TURN  ONS :   All sorts of things, really. Mostly anything that takes away her control, and even possibly belittles her. Teasing is good, verbal or otherwise, but nothing too cruel. Facesitting is pretty awesome (especially when someone else is doing the sitting). SIZE DIFFERENCE HELL FUCKIN YEAH. Experienced partners, and a reasonable amount of roughness. Put a hand around her throat, maybe pin her down completely, make her cum over and over until she’s begging you to stop, or the reverse is good too. TURN  OFFS :   MAKING ANY SORT OF NEGATIVE COMMENT TOWARDS HER GENITALS (The existence of, moreso than being like “oh gosh it’s so small, because that kind of comment makes her feel all hot and embarrassed and she loves it.)  HOBBIES :  Woodcarving, hunting, singing, traveling, sleeping in sun beams AESTHETIC  TAGS :   Animals of all sorts, gorgeous landscapes, carved wood, bone jewelry, all sorts of weapons (more along the primitive/medieval aspect), rustic dishes (bread and meats predominantly) GPOY  QUOTES :  N/A. Look at the musings tag on my blog

FC INFO.

MAIN  FC / S :   Emilia Clarke & Samantha Wright ALT  FC / S :  Isla from Plastic Memories (For any non-live action) OLDER  FC / S :   N/A YOUNGER  FC / S :  N/A VOICE  CLAIM / S :   Nora Patterson of Royal Teeth, I think, is probably the best I can find? GENDERBENT  FC / S :    N/A

MUN QUESTIONS.

Q1 :   if  you  could  write  your  character  your  way  in  their  own  movie ,   what  would  it  be  called ,  what  style  would  it  be  filmed  in ,  and  what  would  it  be  about ?          A1 :   Oh geez, this is definitely a very tough question. Personally, I don’t think there’s really much of a way to do a movie about her. I mean, the beginning would be fun, probably, with the antics of her and Sinha, as well as just enjoying time with the parents. Then everything would just become depressing, more depressing, and then a bit indifferent as she went on her own. After all, She doesn’t have anything big that happens, she’s just another denizen of Middle-Earth.

Q2 :   what  would  their  soundtrack / score  sound  like ?          A2 :   Ooh boy, Instrumentals all the way for this one. It fits best with the world she lives in, and a lot of the Lord of the Rings stuff would fit for that reason. However, while it’s good on the epic/battle fronts, it doesn’t have quite as many happy and depressing songs that would fit for her. For that reason, I could actually see Ghibli type music working well. It has a whole range of emotional songs, from the most light-hearted, to the most heart-wrenching. Princess Mononoke would definitely have good instrumentals, as well as Spirited Away.

Q3 :   why  did  you  start  writing  this  character ?          A3 :  Well, I had her as a character in my mind since I first read The Hobbit in second grade. (I was really good at reading) There have been multiple revisions over the years (as children tend to make sort of mary-sue characters, but that’s not their fault), and I finally really settled about 2009. (other than the average hair changes because people don’t have to stick to one style)

Q4 :   what  first  attracted  you  to  this  character ?          A4 :   BEORN WAS MY FAVE IN THE HOBBIT AND I WANTED SO MUCH MORE!!! I would have loved a book about his life, and more of when the Company stayed at his home. Shape-shifting characters have always been a draw for me, but I wasn’t quite as fond of the one’s who had even more power than that. Trust me, being able to change into one animal is enough to make a character interesting, without overdosing on coolness and power.

Q5 :   describe  the  biggest  thing  you  dislike  about  your  muse.          A5 :   Being that Rinnah is naturally so friendly, and her culture pretty open, I have a lot of trouble when it comes to rp partners thinking that she’s trying to get into their pants. She also has a lot of fears and conflict when interacting with others, so I can’t always proceed the way I would like, in threads. Pleasing the character she’s interacting with is her top priority, so sometimes it can be pretty limiting.

Q6 :   what  do  you  have  in  common  with  your  muse ?          A6 :   We both stay quiet about our own problems, and will constantly try and help people while we, ourselves, are just treading emotional water. I personally, emotionally carried like half of my fellow Honor students in college through every midterm and finals week, while completely freaking out in my own head.

Q7 :   how  does  your  muse  feel  about  you ?          A7 : She’d probably be really excited to have someone like me as a friend. Interacting with me isn’t as emotionally taxing, because of my laid-back nature, so it would be very comfortable for her.

Q8 :   what  characters  does  your  muse  have  interesting  interactions  with ?        A8 :  Ya know, I can’t make this shit up. With, like, 90% of villain characters, she will become like someone they absolutely love to be around, some even ask to marry her, while others mostly go out with her, if she hasn’t been adopted by them. (And yes, I’m including the ones who really are not fond of other people, like; Gisborne, Smaug (in multiple cases), Bolg, Ganondorf, Hades, Gregor Clegane, Hyde (from BBC’s Jekyll), etc.

Q9 :   what  gives  you  inspiration  to  write  your  muse ?         A9 :  Music, mostly. If I’m listening to some good shit I will check tumblr so many times for notifications hoping that it’ll be time to write XD My other inspiration is all of the positive feedback I get from my partners, as well as my want/need to do the best that I can for them.

Q10 :   how  long  did  this  take  you  to  complete ?          A10 : Don’t....don’t even..please...

[weedwaiter45-blog]

Ask Me Anything: Q&A

Ask Me Anything: Q&A - Bikinis & Passports

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Well, that escalated quickly! A good 10 hours ago, we were at the airport waiting to board to New York City with a 1.5 hour delay. So I decided to use the question tool on Instagram Stories for the first time and posted a “ ask me anything” call to action. Little did I know there was lots of things you were burning to know… I received so many questions from you (so many good ones, also!), that answering all of them in my stories would be borderline spam. Hence, I decided to make use of the 9-hour flight and jot them down in one big Q&A blogpost. That way, the answers won’t disappear after 24 hours and you may get to know me a little better.

How did you meet your boyfriend? 12 years ago in school. He was attending the HAK and I was in the Gymnasium next door. I was the new girl from California and he wrote me on Uboot (which was before Myspace in the good old days).

Favorite boutique in Vienna? Amicis, Duft & Kultur, Lederleitner Home + Inked.

How do you manage to deal with your travels, relationship and household all at the same time? My boyfriend also works and travels a lot, so there is a mutual understanding there. We have our wonderful Anita who helps with the household once per week and I think that if you love what you do, it always helps and seems only have as bad!

What is your favorite city to travel to? So difficult! I love the L.A. lifestyle and it feels like home, but NYC is pure magic. In Europe, I love Rome and Paris but would not want to live there!

In which city could you imagine living? Mike and I always wanted to go to college in Munich, and it is still a city I love! But nothing beats Vienna in terms of quality of life!

Do you think that there is still a chance to make it big in this Instagram fashion business now? Yes! Quality always wins! If you create unique, creative content, it will pay off sooner or later!

What is your favorite running interval training? 20 minutes of running sprints on the treadmill, alternating between 1 minute at 14km/h and 2 minutes at 8.5km/h. Such a torch and super effective!

What do you eat on the flight back home when you can’t prep your meals? I usually wash the containers I came with and stock up at a health food store with things like pre-made quinoa salads or hard-boiled eggs. If this is not an option, apples, nuts, raw bars and lots of water!

Why do you never take pictures with your boyfriend? I do – I just don’t post them <3

Where are you heading? New York City for 4 days to see the Weeknd, Dua Lipa and Migos at a festival on Randall Island.

What are you especially thankful for in life? 1000% for my family! It is an absolute privilege to grow up with and surrounded by so much love and support at home.

What are your dream destinations? Where do you really want to go? Bali is at the very top of that list, followed by South Africa, Fiji and Vietnam!

Favorite brunch spots in Vienna? Vienna is a great place to have breakfast or brunch, my favorites are The Guesthouse (serving breakfast until 11pm), Motto am Fluss, Salonplafond, Ulrich and/or Erich and the acai bowls at Superfood Deli.

What are your favorite trends of the season? I am loving satin (midi) skirts, wrap skirts, lots of white, linen-inspired fabrics, loose fitted pants and timeless sandals (like the Hermes Oran sandals or Nu Pieds by Saint Laurent)

Do you still have fitness “goals” (ie. More workouts, more yoga,…)? Not really. I am super happy with my 3-4 workouts per week at the moment and the flow I am in. However, I do want to incorporate more yoga and regular runs again.

Favorite book? Can’t decide (forever a fan of Harry Potter, To Kill A Mockingbird and The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants).

What products do you use for your hair? Currently shampoo & conditioner by Playe + the Moroccan hair oil. But I also love Kerastase, The OUAI and Aveda.

Why do you never show your boyfriend? No reason in particular! Despite loving social media, I (we) think it is important to keep certain things private – he is one of them!

Does your assistant only work for you or The Daily Dose also? What does she do? She only works for me and her tasks always vary. She does a lot of organizational stuff (book keeping, post office,…) but is also in contact with clients or does research for new posts.

Were you always organizes or did you have to learn to be? I feel like social media can be misleading. While a lot of travel definitely requires a lot of organization, my life is far from organized. If you see a clean corner of my apartment on Instagram, chances are the other side of the room looks like a bomb exploded… just sayin’

Are you in Vienna at the end of August, beginning of September? We are going to Tuscany with the entire family and I couldn’t be more excited!

How long have you and your boyfriend been a couple? It will be 12 years in September!

Why the “new girl from Cali”? Did you live there? Why did you move to Austria? I lived in Southern California from age 10 to (almost) 16 because my dad worked there. And we also moved to Austria for the same reason.

Which district in Vienna would you recommend for living? Many! Every district has beautiful corners and some that are not so hot! My favorites are 4, 5, 6 and 7. The Servietenviertel in the 9th district is beautiful, the outer 19th and 18th… like I said, so many!

When will the home-workout videos by your personal trainer be available for purchase? Soon! The video team is currently working on the last rounds of edits!

Coolest places for girls week out in Vienna? Lunch, dinner? I would make sure to have lunch at Mochi, sundowner drinks at Tel Aviv Beach or the 25 hours rooftop bar, an afternoon glass of rosé at Naschmarkt, dinner at Motto in the 5th district, brunch at The Guesthouse Vienna or Motto am Fluss and if you like people watching, have some bubbles and small bites at Schwarzes Kameel in the first district or drinks at the Fabios bar. Classic cocktail bar: Roberto’s or Kleinod.

In what job/profession do you see yourself at age 40? Content creation, for sure! That could be social media, strategic input or photography – but definitely something creative and preferably still in self-employment!

Have you been to Budapest? What languages do you speak? Yes, I have been to Budapest twice (beautiful city, very similar to Vienna in many ways). I speak fluent German and English, plus a few bits and pieces of French.

Where do you see yourself in 10/15 years? With a family, still working (yay for working moms, we can really do it all) side-by-side with my best friend, living in an apartment that we own and I spent all my free-time remodeling to our likes, traveling a lot and learning to speak a different language fluently.

Do you ever regret having started with Social Media? No! I think if you practice a healthy relationship with/on social media, it is a beautiful source of inspiration and communication. Plus, I have my career to thank for it!

Which boutiques can you recommend in Munich? Unfortunately, Munich is not my hometown, so not really any – except I always stop by Theresa when I am in town!

Favorite flowers? I love flowers in general, but peonies, hydrangeas and wild garden roses are definitely at the top of the list.

All time favorite spots in Vienna? Fabios has the best Italian food and great service, The Guesthouse is my favorite hotel (and love their brunch), Mochi is a must, Motto am Fluss has a great breakfast, Neni at Naschmarkt and Roberto’s is a cool bar. But there are so many more!

How tall are you? 172cm

Favorite restaurant in Vienna? Fabios! Never fails!!

Daily make-up essentials? A tinted moisturizer or bb cream with SPF, mascara and bronzer and some sort of an eyebrow product (or even better freshly tinted brows!)

Where do you find interior inspiration? Good question! Probably the most via Pinterest and travels. I am such a sucker for stylish hotels and always find so much inspiration when traveling. I also pick hotels based on their interiors and style a lot of the time. Also, a cool boutique in NYC (think: the Apartment by The Line), stylish café in LA or a pretty restaurant in Paris can be a source of inspiration!

Books that have helped me develop as a person? Wow, such a good but tough question. I am not sure if any single book has had a particular impact, but I do think that The Circle (social media control/obsession) was a good read even though I didn’t like the end and earlier this year I read Magic Cleaning by Marie Kondo and am determined to clean out our apartment (and life) in a major way! Also, I am currently reading The Marshmallow Test and if it comes close to the reviews, I am sure it will help me develop as well!

Do you want to get married? Yes! But let’s not forget that a wedding/marriage comes in all shapes and sizes.

Is there a discount code as part of your Pandora collaboration? I am currently not actively collaborating with Pandora. All the jewellery I wear from them is just because I love it. So unfortunately: no.

Where did you get your jade roller? Is it also available in the US? I ordered mine via Cult Beauty and paid around 17€ for it. And yes, they are also available in the US – try amazon!

Are you originally from California? Nope, born in Stuttgart, Germany!

Do you want to get married and have kids? Yes and yes.

Are there rules you eat by? There are a few basics that I keep in mind when it comes to nutrition. I try not to snack, instead have 3 full meals per day with 4-5 hours between each meal. I try to have protein with every meal, eat tons of vegetables and usually don’t have anything raw (uncooked) at night because it is hard for the body to digest. I eat carbs mostly for breakfast and lunch, rarely at night.

What sign are you? Aquarius

Favorite districts in Vienna? 1st, 4th and 5th, 6th, 7th and corners of the 3rd.

What is your best tip for a long and healthy relationship? Funny enough, I have been working on a post about this exact question for over a week now. It will probably be live on Sunday of this week and will include not 1 but 10 tips! However, my no.1 tip is probably brutal honesty and the ability to fight or disagree (in a healthy, respectful manner).

What made you happy today? A text message from my mom the first thing in the morning, wishing us safe travels. Mom’s are the best, right?

What’s your favorite color, and also color combination (especially for outfits)? I am not sure I have a favorite color. Even though I wear almost every color, none of them are particularly “my favorite”. I love a neutral color palette and also think they are the easiest to work with in terms of outfits. White, beige, gray, black… and in my world, leopard is also considered a neutral!

What are your plans for the next years? Both for work and private! I have never been someone to plan ahead too much. I just try to stay open for every opportunity that comes along. For work, we have a few exciting things in the making for The Daily Dose, which we are not ready to talk about just yet, and privately I still have a few destinations on my travel bucket list before I start thinking about family (and stuff).

What is your favorite athletic brand? Definitely Lululemon. The quality is amazing and the cuts usually very flattering. A new brand I am loving is aimn, Puma has recently made some really cool stuff and of course the regulars like Adidas and Nike. I also wrote a blogpost about my favorite workout wear here.

What is your favorite spot for hot days in Vienna? In all honesty: our terrace. Such a lame answer and not very helpful to you guys. But the outside space is the reason we fell in love with our current apartment. Nothing makes me happier than a BBQ with friends on a hot day. In terms of spaces that are open to the public, I think Tel Aviv Beach is great for drinks or Pratersauna for good music and an occasional dip in the pool!

outfit details: ZARA sweats (aka my travel pants), Anine Bing shirt, Chloé beltbag, Hermes sandals

Favorite brand for dresses? Overall, I think Self-Portrait. I think the price-point is more than fair, the styles beautiful and the quality good. Lately, though, I have really been loving Ganni (especially dresses and skirts) and of course, Zimmermann makes beautiful dresses as well!

Favorite podcasts? I don’t listen to a lot of podcasts, but The Goop is my favorite that I have come across so far. Even though I find myself drawn to topics around health, fitness and food, I thought the recent one called “who are you in a crisis?” with the spiritual legend Marianne Williamson was extremely powerful!

What are you reading right now or have read recently that you’d recommend? I am going through a phase where I prefer guides/studies to novels. Magic Cleaning by Marie Kondo was one of those and currently I am reading The Marshmallow Test about the ability of self-control and how it goes hand-in-hand with a successful, fulfilled life!

What are your favorite skincare products at the moment? My routine is simple: micellar water to cleanse, a hydrating or calming serum + moisturizer. Currently, I love the micellar water by La Roche-Posay or Caudalie, the Bobbi Brown remedies (80 + 86), Dior Capture Youth serums (Redness Relief + Plump Filler), the Charlotte Tilbury Miracle Cream and Crème de la Mer moisturizer.

Favorite dinner spots in Vienna? Depends entirely on the mood/occasion. But Fabios or Mochi is where we always have our date nights.

What motivates you and how do you find motivation? My biggest motivation in life is spending my time doing things I love. Having turned my hobby into a job is the biggest blessing and is pure motivation itself. Even though it also includes tasks that I really have to force myself to do (accounting, for example). The procrastinator that I am, deadlines have always been one source of motivation for me. Also, purposefully slowing down can be really motivating. To me, slower/calmer phases are always a good source of inspiration because I am not constantly chasing a to-do list but have time to let my thoughts wander and creativity spark.

How do you edit your photos on Instagram? I usually only use the app VSCO cam (filters A4 or C8) and all the tools within the apps to adjust brightness, saturation, grain,… it always depends on the original photo. For some effects I like Afterlight and if I need to make a pimple disappear, Facetune is the app.

What do you think about fasting in-flight? Probably not a whole lot. I am the type of person who likes to use food to pass time and I am a boredom snacker. My in-flight meals and snacks are ways to make the flight go by faster. Even though I love the idea of intermediate fasting and practice it at home sometimes, I think a plane filled with strangers and the occasional crying baby is not the place to be hungry. Of course, it totally depends on the length of the flight. For anything longer than 2 hours I have snacks, for flights over 5 hours I bring full meals!

How do you edit your photos for your feed but also your stories? Again, VSCO cam (filters A4 or C8) but for the stories I also sometimes use an app called “unfold” to create those collages or frames.

Favorite perfume? Even though I am currently not using it, I would have to say Chance Eau Vive by Chanel.

Favorite mascara? “lash expert twist brush”The by terry .

What should everyone have in their closet? A really good pair of jeans (no holes), a simple black and/or white round-neck t-shirt and a pair of black heels that you can walk in all evening!

What do you NOT like to eat? I will definitely get hate for this, but: gummy bears! Not even as a kid did I like the artificial color, flavor or consistency. I just don’t understand the point. Also, any intestines.

Do you have tips for long-distance flights? Yes, I do! Lots and lots of water (no alcohol or coffee), healthy food and snacks, no make-up + lots of hydrating products. Read some of my tips HERE or be sure to check out this article on The Daily Dose.

Do you ever have days that you are simply lazy? I think it depends on your definition of lazy. In the classic sense of staying in bed all day: no, not unless I am sick. But in the sense of no work: of course! For example when I am home with my parents. But that may include a morning workout, long walk, cooking together or taking the oldtimers out for a ride I guess the word would not necessarily be lazy but rather relaxing or offline.

How did you and Katharina become friends/business partners? Like ya’ll by each other 24/7! We met when she moved into my old apartment. We instantly hit it off, founded The Daily Dose 6 months later and have been inseparable ever since!

Which lipstick is your favorite? I actually have two: the “rich nude” art stick by Bobbi Brown and the “Nude York City Style” 002 by Catrice.

Which good vintage stores do you know in Vienna? Unfortunately I am not a big vintage shopper. The only one I know is Burggasse 24.

How can I love myself without makeup? I think the key is feeling comfortable in your own skin. So focus on good skincare and drink lots of water. Also, I feel so much more confident without make-up if I have my eyebrows and lashes tinted. Try working your way towards less make-up with more natural-looking products like a tinted moisturizer or bb cream.

Do you have a monthly shopping budget or is it different every month? It varies every month. I never go shopping just for the sake of it, but when I see something I love, I usually splurge right away (if it is not crazy expensive).

Which yoga/pilates clothes can you recommend? Also Lululemon or Hey Honey!

What are your L.A. must-sees? Hike up Runyon Canyon early in the morning, have breakfast or lunch at the Malibu Farm and go to El Matador State Beach after, Abbot Kinney Road in Venice Beach, Griffith Observatory, Rodeo Dr. (obviously), Universal Studios, Melrose Drive and an In ‘n Out Burger, of course!

Do you miss you cappuccino now and then? Never! If I would miss it, I would totally just have it! Occasionally, I feel like an almond milk flat white, but on the daily I absolutely love my black Americano and much prefer it to a cappuccino!

Would you ever show your kids on Instagram? Probably in some way yes. But haven’t put much thought into it yet since kids are nowhere near on the horizon!

Do you use self tanner? If so, which one can you recommend? The only self tanner I use is L’eau Tan by Chanel. It is super subtle and actually smells good. But not really a self tanner in the traditional sense! I have also tried Tan Luxe twice and was pretty happy with the results.

If you had to choose just 1 beauty product – which one would it be? It is a close call between a tinted moisturizer with SPF and a highlighting bronzer. I am obsessed with a natural glow. However, I would have to get my brows and lashes tinted weekly – no can do without eyebrows!

One word to describe yourself? So basic, but “happy”. I think it is in my nature to be happy and easy-going 90% of the time!

TRIED&TESTED HOTELS I LOVE

The Standard

If you have ever found yourself researching hotels for New York City, chances are pretty high that you have come across, or heard of The Standard High Line Hotel.

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Travel Tip: 11 Howard, Soho New York City Hotel

As much as I love the excitement of exploring and getting to know a new city, there is something extra special about returning to a place.

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Beyond Coachella

Just like every year, Coachella is taking over April and everyone’s Instagram feeds as we are currently between weekend 1 and 2 of the über-famous festival in the California desert.

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Where To Stay in Vancouver?

After sharing some of my favorite things to do, eat and see in Vancouver, I also wanted to share a full hotel review of the Fairmont Pacific Rim with you.

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Hotel Zoo

Berlin and I didn’t always have the best relationship. It took me a while to fall for the city and all it has to offer (especially when it comes to food).

Read More

Source: http://www.bikinisandpassports.com/ask-me-anything-qa/

[rey-129-fan]

Isra Character Bio

So I finally sat down and wrote out the full bio for Isra!  Woo!!  Now a lot of these answers are based on the events up to chapter 5 in The Scion, so slight spoilers for the first arc.  Also, a lot of these questions are answered by Isra herself, though when she can’t, I labeled them with a WOG so you know that’s my answer.

Character bio template can be found here: http://yeahwrite.co/post/24774343500

ORIGINS & FAMILY:

Name: Isra Luana Douglas

Nickname: Bakagou likes to call me shadowy bitch.  Flint prefers Ningyo.  Flint’s is my favorite.

Reason for name: Isra means nocturnal journey, which given my dad’s family quirk, fits really well.  It was also suggested by a family friend, though I can’t remember who.  Luana was also tossed around, but according to Mom, she didn’t think it would fit as well.  I agree, and am glad they went with Isra and not Luana.

Birthday: February 13 (Aquarius).  I especially love it when it falls on a Friday.  If only Japan had the same superstitions.

Age: 14.  I will be 15 in time for the Entrance Exam.

Gender: Girl, she/her.

Place of birth: Honolulu, Hawaii.

Places lived since: Mustafa, Japan.

Parents’ names, backgrounds, occupations: Galen was my dad’s name.  I don’t remember what he did before he died.  Zoey was my mom’s name, and I think she was a pediatric nurse?  She was really sick for the last year she was with us, so I can’t really remember what she did either.

Number of siblings: Flint is technically considered my brother, since Sophia adopted me and we grew up together.  I don’t really remember Jack, since we really little when he died with Dad, but according to Sophia, we were close, like twins generally are in their early years.

Relationship with family: Dad’s side is pretty much gone.  Mom’s side, outside of Sophia and Flint, are all dicks and can never speak to me again, and I would not care.

Happiest memory: There was that time Mom was well enough to be out of the hospital in time for my birthday, so we went down to the beach and built sandcastles.  Mom wanted it to be a big party and invite all my friends, but I really just wanted her, Sophia and Flint.  Mom even got me a book I really loved, while Sophia got me this game that I could play with Mom when she had to go back to the hospital.  Flint showed me how to bodyboard in the waves, and even let me try his board.  After we had dinner, and then a cake.  Mom let me have her piece, and then laughed because I got it all over my face.

...That was the last time Mom got to celebrate my birthday.

Childhood trauma: I guess having both my dad and brother dying before I was even 4.  And then mom got sick and died too.  Then the CHI targeting me because of my “villainous” quirk.  Honestly, the deflating grades is probably the least bad thing to happen to me, though the school in general was full of dicks.

Children of her own?: I’m 14.  What kids?

PHYSICAL

Height: 5’6.5” or 169 cm.  An inch taller than Izuku.

Weight: I thought it was rude to ask a person their weight?  I guess maybe about 150 pounds.  That or 70 kg.  I don’t know, I don’t weigh myself regularly.

Build: What?  I guess I’m fit, and I don’t have much in way of hips or chest.  I’m 14.

Nationality: American, White.

Disabilities: Um… chronic pain in my leg, though only affects me if I did a lot of running.  Sophia thinks I might have ADHD, but I’ve been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and PTSD.  The second one’s been around since I was little, and mostly shows itself as being unable to talk in certain situations, particularly in schools and around teachers.  I’ve been working on it, and I can use my quirk or sign language to communicate, I just can’t speak.  I’m on antidepressants for the others, and am mostly fine.

Complexion: Tanned, no freckles.  Definitely have acne, though it’s mostly on the shoulders and back.  No notable birthmarks.

Face shape: Face shape?  I mean, I guess it’s round?

Distinguishing facial features: Given that I’m white in Japan?  Eye Shape.

Hair color: Violet, though the tips go black when I use my quirk for long periods of time.

Usual hair style: It’s normally down, though I tie it back when working out.  There is this annoying strand that for some reason stays short and tends hang between my eyes.

Eye color: It’s a light grey most of the time, though turns black when I use my quirk.

Glasses? Contacts?: I have glasses.  Aizawa-sensei says I may need to get contacts when I get into high school if I’m going to become a hero, since glasses will just get in the way.  I get that, they just feel weird.

Style of dress/typical outfit(s): Loose, long, baggy.  I prefer graphic tees, but they stand out like a sore thumb, so I tend to stick with solid cool colors.

Typical style of shoes: No heels.  Covered shows that I can slip on and off are great.

Health: I’m generally in good health and don’t get sick often.  When I do… urgh.

Grooming: People wear clothes that are already dirty?!  Yuck!  Anyways, I tend to shower once a day, and my clothes are cleaned regularly.  Hair is brushed a couple times a day, but I don’t do anything fancy.  I do have to also wash my face before bed, but I don’t wear makeup.  Pretty sure it’s against school rules anyway.

Jewelry? Tattoos? Piercings?: Pretty sure those are against school rules.  I don’t like jewelry that much, and don’t care for piercings.  As for tattoos, I’m in Japan.  Tattoos aren’t seen… favorably here.

Accent?: I guess it’s close to Standard American, with a bit of Hawaiian?  At least in English.  According to Izuku, my Japanese sounds pretty American, though I do have the r down.

Unique mannerisms/physical habits: According to Sophia, I tend to bite bottom lip when I’m concentrating.  I tap my foot when impatient.  I also tend to walk quietly and my shoes get really worn out by the balls of my feet.  My quirk tends to act up when I’m nervous or stressed out.

Athletic?: Training to become a hero, and Mom insisted that Flint and I take martial arts after Dad and Jack...

INTELLECT

Level of education: Third Year Middle School, which is about equivalent to a Freshman in High School in America.

Level of self esteem: I know I’m smart, I know I have a good quirk.  I also know that I’m not the best.

Gifts/talents: I have a nice strong quirk, and I tend to pick up on things quickly, especially if there’s a clear pattern.

Shortcomings: ...I really have a hard time speaking aloud, especially around strangers.  I also don’t like putting up with other people’s shit and will call them out, which some people don’t like.  It’s led to a couple of fights.

Style of speech: Um… I guess pretty informal?

“Left brain” or “right brain” thinker?: I prefer to be pretty logical, but according to Yagi-sensei and Aizawa-sensei, I can come up with some really odd ideas.  Don’t know what they mean, after all, how else will Izuku learn not to block with his elbows without a bit of pain?  Trust me, if you want strange ideas, get Izuku started on one of his quirk ramblings.  Some of his theories and ideas can be pretty out there.

Artistic?: I like art, and doodling helps me concentrate.  Flint has been pushing me to try drawing.

Mathematical?: Oh math?  That’s easy.  At least the tests and classes would be if I could understand what the teacher is asking.  I know he’s doing it on purpose, but it gets really frustrating when on tests, he throws in kanji that I almost never see, without the hiragana.

Makes decisions based mostly on emotions, or on logic?: ...There are people who can make decisions based on logic without it taking forever to decide?

Neuroses: What’s neuroses?  ...Oh.  Um, I do have extreme anxiety, and have since I was little, hence the mutism.  I was also diagnosed with depression, and was maybe not in a good place before I met Izuku… And I do have PTSD after CHI.  I’m working on it with a therapist and psych, and I’m doing a lot better, but I do have moments were I just… reset to a couple of years ago.  I wish I could get better faster.

Life philosophy: Go out and do what I want to do.  Life is too short for regrets.

Religious stance: The stories can be pretty interesting.  I just don’t believe in that stuff.  And if I find something funny in the story, I will laugh, sacred text be damned.

Cautious or daring?: Depends.  I’m not as cautious as Izuku, but I’m nowhere near as daring as Bakagou.  Then again, that’s probably a good thing.

Most sensitive about/vulnerable to: I really don’t like people judging others about their quirks.  I also am very sensitive about my own quirk.  I don’t like not being able to use it if I need to.  It’s probably the main reason I don’t feel fully comfortable around Aizawa-sensei after Izuku realized who he was.  I just… had a bad experience when I wasn’t able to use my quirk.

Optimist or pessimist?: I think I’m more a realist.  I prefer the thought of prepare for the worst, hope for the best.  I do like looking for the bright side of something when things are shitty.

Extrovert or introvert?: Mix.  Crowds are tiring, but I do like hanging out with Izuku, Flint, Aunty Inko, and Sophia.  Aizawa-sensei is good too, but Yagi-sensei can be draining.

Level of comfort with technology: I know how to use the devices I come into contact with, but I would not be able to fix them.  Breaking them is easy, though, especially if I’m allowed my quirk.

RELATIONSHIPS

Current marital/relationship status: Single.  A little busy with school, training and studying.  Plus all the kids at school are jackasses.

Sexual orientation: ...I don’t know.  I don’t quite understand what everyone means by hot and wanting to bang someone.  Not even Izuku could really explain it in a way that makes sense.  Oh well, Sophia doesn’t seem too worried about it, so maybe it’s not so bad.  (WOG: She’s ace/aro, just hasn’t quite realized it yet.  She’s 14.)

Past relationships: None.

Primary reason for being broken up with: Kinda need to have had one to be broken up with.

Primary reasons for breaking up with people: Again, need a relationship for a break up.

Level of sexual experience: Um, virgin.  I haven’t dated at all.

Story of first kiss: I haven’t really thought about it.  I don’t know, maybe after a romantic date?  Do people seriously think about this stuff at my age?  I thought that was just a thing for stories.

Story of loss of virginity: Um, what?  I’m 14.  I haven’t given it much thought.  I guess if I meet someone I really like?

A social person?: I don’t have many friends, but those I do I will fight for.  Most people are put off by the mutism, and I really don’t like interacting with strangers, especially in large crowds.

Most comfortable around: Hard to say, but if I had to pick, Izuku.

Oldest friend: Hina.  Jack and I met her back in daycare.  We were together until I moved to Japan.  We’re still in touch.

How does he/she think others perceive her?: I think the mutism puts a lot of people off.  I also do tend to pick fights, though most of the time they’re asking for it.

How do others actually perceive her?: WOG: A lot of people see her as a haughty foreigner who befriended the quirkless freak who wants to be a hero.  Toshinori and Aizawa see the hard worker she is, and how protective she is of Izuku.

VOCATION

Profession: I’m a student, about to become a hero-in-training.

Past occupations: I didn’t know there was an occupation before student.

Passions: I like learning, and I want to make sure no one feels hopeless and alone.

Attitude towards current job: It depends on the subject.  I do like learning, when the teachers are competent and will actually treat their teachers fairly.  Orudera sucks ass.

Attitude towards current coworkers, bosses, employees: Most of the other students are assholes who I wish would leave Izuku alone.  Seriously, what did he do to them to warrant all the shit they put him through?  Don’t answer that, I know they’re just entitled assholes who need to feel better about themselves and are just taking it out on him.  Teachers aren’t much better, though if Aizawa-sensei is any indication, UA is a million light years better.

Salary: Wait, I’m supposed to be paid?  Jesus, all my schools were full of dicks if they were skipping out on my paycheck.

SECRETS (Every character–no matter how minor–should always have secrets!)

Phobias: Abandoned buildings remind me a bit too much of CHI.  I also don’t like being in hospitals, though I’m better there than abandoned buildings.  Also I don’t like being unable to use my quirk.  Honestly, if Aizawa-sensei were to erase my quirk, I’d probably have a panic attack.

Life goals: To become an Underground Hero.

Dreams: To save others so they don’t have to feel helpless.

Greatest fears: Being unable to protect the ones I love.

Most ashamed of: Those months between CHI and becoming friends with Izuku.  I really, really wasn’t in a good place.

Most embarrassing thing ever to happen to her: Oh god, there was this one time where we were showing Flint’s friend Naotsu Todoroki how to have fun at the mall.  Well, my shoes came undone, which Izuku pointed out.  Now I never trip on them, so I just rolled my eyes.  Then we go up the escalator.  Just as we’re stepping off, the escalator decides to eat my laces.  Nearly broke my nose and had to get new shoes after that.  Flint could not stop laughing for the rest of the day.

Compulsions: Checking a new location and new people with my quirk.  Just constantly checking that my quirk is working.

Obsessions: I guess my need to constantly make sure my quirk is on and working counts.

Secret hobbies: I like to read and doodle.  Most of my free time is spent studying and working on my Japanese with Izuku.  He also likes to drag me to his hero fights just so he has someone to help him analyze and bounce ideas off.

Secret skills: Good at martial arts, being just below first dan in both judo and taekwondo.

Past sexual transgressions: ...what?

Crimes committed: I guess quirk usage?  Does that count, cause everyone breaks that law, and you don’t really get in much trouble, so long as it’s not for vigilante/villainous stuff.

What she most wants to change about her current life: I’d kinda like not to have all the shit wrong in my head.  Also wouldn’t mind having my parents and Jack back.

What she most wants to change about her physical appearance: My hair is a little noticeable.  I’d probably just change it to be like a black or dark brown, something that’d blend into the shadows a little better.

DETAILS/QUIRKS

Daily routine: Get up, get ready, drag Izuku to school (hopefully without running into any hero fights on the way), nap when I can, doodle or do homework in the classes where the teacher won’t let me sleep, have lunch with Fujita-sensei and Izuku, after school go and train with Yagi-sensei and maybe Aizawa-sensei, go home and finish my homework with Izuku.

Night owl or early bird?: Night owl, oh so much.

Light or heavy sleeper?: Apparently I’m a pretty heavy sleeper, even when sleep walking.  Sophia’s given up on waking me and just puts me back in bed.  Thank god our front door is locked.

Favorite food: Strawberry Bon Bons are the absolute best.

Least favorite food: You give me anything with even the littlest amount of spice and I will break all the toes in your feet.

Favorite book: Flint had me read this book a few years back called Blue Skin of the Sea, and it was pretty good.  I don’t have much in way of favorite books, though.

Least favorite book: If a book is so bad, I will drop it within a few chapters.  I guess I’d have to say Warriors got pretty bad after the first couple of series.  And there was that bear series the same author wrote that wasn’t that good.

Favorite movie: A classic, but The Princess Bride.  I have a few memories of curling up with Mom, Flint and Sophia just laughing at it.  Haven’t watched it in years.

Least favorite movie: I swear to god if Izuku makes me watch that All Might movie again, I will put him in a fucking choke hold.  That or make him watch Watership Down.

Favorite song: Oh god… If it’s just musical pieces, Hopes and Dreams from Undertale.  But if it needs words, either Kuraiinu’s English Cover of Peace Song or Sora ni Utaeba by amazarashi.

Least favorite song: 100 Years, by Five for Fighting.  My homeroom teacher back in 6th grade insisted on having us sing it.  Just thinking about it reminds me of her.

Coffee or tea?: Tea, particularly non-bitter.  Caffeine doesn’t really work on me anyways.

Crunchy or smooth peanut butter?: Smooth, with a nice glass of milk.

Type of car she drives: I don’t know.  Something useful, but would blend in.  Mm, maybe a bike?

Lefty or righty?: Righty.  Though maybe I should learn to use my left more, it’d be so useful.

Favorite color: Light purple, lavender.

Cusser?: I learned a lot of Japanese ones from Bakagou.

Smoker? Drinker? Drug user?: I do have an antidepressant subscription, but nothing really beyond that.

Biggest regret: ...I really wasn’t in a good place before I met Izuku.  I just regret how much I worried Sophia and Flint at the time. 

Pets?: Don’t have one.  Wouldn’t mind a cat.

[sherristockman]

Growing Turmeric Is Easier Than You Think Dr. Mercola By Dr. Mercola A bright orange spice that's been a favorite in Thai and East Indian cooking for thousands of years, turmeric (Curcuma longa) is aptly named for the Persian word "saffron," a hue much like a pumpkin or the flesh of a sweet potato, but the similarity ends there. The vibrant, yellow-orange color is synonymous with the robes worn by many Buddhist priests. Turmeric is part of the ginger family, which is why both exude a pleasant little zing on your tongue, but the flavor is different; the former is described as both pungent (read: bitter) and peppery. It's not meant to be a flavor on its own but as a seasoning to complement other foods. It's famous in curry dishes, mustard (hence the color), soups, the current obsessions known as turmeric latte or golden milk, and more. But here's where the benefits keep going. Besides creating a unique and signature flavor, turmeric's aforementioned health benefits make turmeric a natural, healing substance that more people than ever want to have at the ready. That's because it's not just powerful, it's also safe, which can't be said for most prescriptions. Because natural turmeric can't be patented, making a mega-profit off its benefits isn't possible, and since it's not a "drug," it can't bear the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) seal of approval. The root is used to make prescription drugs, however.1 Nonetheless, the healing aspects are readily available in the root itself. Daily Health Post notes that turmeric "may be the world's most important herb" because it contains more than 600 potential preventative and therapeutic functions, and further, that it's: "A medicinal spice so timelessly interwoven with the origins of human culture and metabolism, so thoroughly supported by modern scientific inquiry, as to be unparalleled in its proven value to human health and well-being. Indeed, turmeric turns the entire drug-based medical model on its head. Instead of causing far more side effects than therapeutic ones, as is the case for most patented pharmaceutical medications, turmeric possesses hundreds of potential side benefits, having been empirically demonstrated to positively modulate over 160 different physiological pathways in the mammalian body."2 That said, while this spice is commonly thought of as growing best in a hot, tropical climate, you can actually grow turmeric at home, similar to ginger. Sure, you can buy it in many large supermarkets, but it's usually quite expensive, is somewhat limited depending on the time of year and to find it in organic form is rare. Growing Turmeric: Nipping It in the Bud I experimented with growing turmeric and planted a pound last year. This year I have a virtual turmeric forest that even flowered. Now I can have fresh turmeric at my fingertips year round. Turmeric, the featured video notes, is a plant grown for its roots. It isn't propagated by seeds; how it's grown, both indoors and out, starts with a firm, healthy root, which you can usually find at a health food store or supermarket. Root cuttings have little "growing buds," which look like nodules or even "fingers" extending outward, generally in the same direction. When planted, rule one is that the buds are facing upward, not downward, in the soil. Here's the drill: Instructions Break or cut a large turmeric rhizome into a small piece (or more, if desired) that has two or three buds. Fill 14- to 18-inch-wide pots (for each 6- to 8-inch root) that are at least 12 inches deep and provide good drainage with rich, moist, organic soil to 1 or 2 inches below the rim, depending on the rhizome's size. Place the rhizome so that the buds are facing upward, not downward, below the surface of the soil by two to 4 inches. Whether planting outdoors or in pots inside, these plants thrive in heat — 86 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit works well — as cooler temperatures will produce much slower growth. However, part shade is fine. Water the plantings and keep the soil moist, especially in dry, hot climates; less frequently in cooler temperatures. Watering every other day is a good rule of thumb, but don't let them sit in soggy soil. You can also mist the soil with a spray bottle, which tropical plants appreciate. Areas that don't have the high temperatures that turmeric thrives in must produce it other ways. That's where grow lights and heat mats come in handy, either full time in early spring or late fall, or during the night when available light isn't around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It can take eight or 10 months for turmeric to mature enough to be edible, so determine your planting time, method and location accordingly, and be patient! While you can also eat the leaves and roots, the star of the show is the underground root. While the spiky flowers are beautiful, lush and tropic-like, their presence doesn't adversely affect the roots, as is the case in many herbs and edible plants. Growing Hints and Helps for Turmeric, Inside and Out Once the plants reach 2 inches in height, transplant them if necessary so there's at least 16 inches between them. Compost tea is a good thing to implement to ensure optimal growth. Outside, only garden zones 8 or 9 (expert sources vary) and above will sustain the growth of a turmeric plant, although summers in colder zones will also work if you dig up the plant and move it inside or take the whole pot inside before it starts getting too cool. Turmeric plants don't do as well when it dips below about 65 degrees F. You should also know that turmeric outdoors will go dormant in winter, but in the warmest climates (7b garden zones and above, generally) it can be left in the ground to sprout new, greenish-white and sometimes pinkish-white flowers the following spring. The roots will survive as long as they don't freeze. Mulching them with a couple inches of organic matter will also help protect them from an unexpected frost. Rodale's Organic Life3 explains that your turmeric is likely ready for harvest when the plant above ground begins turning dry and brown. Gently remove the roots — if in pots, tip the whole thing to get to the root — and shake off loose soil. Cut the stems off about an inch above the rhizome root mass and wash them well. Grow This4 notes that it's usually best to harvest turmeric rhizomes all at the same time, but when you dig them up, you can save one or two for future plantings so that in every sense, the potential health of each root is propagated. Once You Harvest Your Turmeric Once you begin handling turmeric (which should be done so gently, Heirloom Gardener5 advises), especially peeling them or cutting them for propagation, be aware that exposure to the flesh will turn you bright orange, so wear gloves. Fresh turmeric can be used in similar ways to ginger. You can cut the peeled roots into coins or grate it to add to stir-fries or drinks. Drying turmeric is another option, but you should know that the process will inhibit the strength of its pungency, as are essential oils, The Kitchn says.6 Store fresh turmeric rhizomes in a baggie or other airtight container for up to a week, or freeze them. To dry turmeric for later use, you can boil your harvested turmeric root for 45 minutes, pat it dry with a paper towel, peel it and allow it to dry for about a week in an area that's protected from dust but with air circulation — not plastic. You can grind the roots into a fine yellow powder using a coffee grinder, food processor or even pestle and mortar to use for multiple applications, both culinary and medicinal. Turmeric powder adds so much zest to cooking that you may wonder how you ever lived without it. You can also throw a teaspoon into your smoothies with other healthy ingredients, such as coconut oil and fruits like banana or mango. You can sprinkle powdered turmeric root on roasted vegetables such as cauliflower, zucchini and sweet potatoes, on meats such as pastured chicken or grass fed roasts or in lattes; in fact, the options are only limited by your imagination. A good rule is that 1 inch of fresh turmeric is equal to 1 tablespoon of fresh grated turmeric or 1 teaspoon of dried powder. What's so Great About Turmeric? The single-most exceptional health-beneficial and disease-preventive compound packed in turmeric is curcumin. One study notes several of the most important properties of this rugged rhizome, and the plant chemicals involved, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, immunostimulant, antiseptic, analgesic and anticarcinogenic: "Components of turmeric are named curcuminoids, which include mainly curcumin (diferuloyl methane), demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin … Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a polyphenol derived from Curcuma longa plant, commonly known as turmeric. The active constituents of turmeric are the flavonoid curcumin (diferuloylmethane) and various volatile oils including tumerone, atlantone, and zingiberone."7 Curcumin is also hepatoprotective, aka liver protective, notably against the toxins tetrachloride (CCl4), galactosamine, acetaminophen (paracetamol) and Aspergillus aflatoxin, mainly due to its antioxidant properties, as well as its ability to reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines from forming, and evidence shows it may help treat gallstones. Further, the phytochemicals in curcumin prevent platelet aggregation, or the clumping together of platelets, which improves circulation.8 WebMD lists an abundant amount of maladies, conditions, illnesses and disorders that Ayurvedic and other natural approaches have been employing curcumin for over centuries. Incredibly, this is just a sampling of the ways the potent phytochemical curcumin has been used successfully. Arthritis Skin conditions Urinary bladder inflammation Kidney problems Heartburn Joint pain Diarrhea Intestinal gas Crohn's disease Ulcerative colitis Headaches Fibromyalgia Gum disease Parasites Bruising Curcumin's Potency Against Cancer, Alzheimer's Studies on the astonishing potency of curcumin against cancer are numerous. In vitro, for instance, it was found to resist oxidative damage in aortic endothelial cells.9 In addition: "Curcumin is antimutagenic as it potentially helps to prevent new cancers that are caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapy used to treat existing cancers. It effectively inhibits metastasis (uncontrolled spread) of melanoma (skin cancer) cells and may be especially useful in deactivating the carcinogens in cigarette smoke and chewing tobacco."10 Animal studies have indicated three stages in which curcumin helps inhibit cancer: tumor promotion,11 angiogenesis12 and tumor growth,13 particularly in colon and prostate cancers. Daily Health Post lists serious disorders and diseases curcumin may be useful for treating or preventing, including:14 Killing cancer cells, including stem cells or roots, and those that are drug resistant Protecting against damage caused by radiation Reducing and/or preventing inflammation Protecting against heavy metal toxicity Not just preventing but reversing Alzheimer's and other types of dementia Keep in mind that curcumin may interact with a variety of prescription and nonprescription drugs, including some diabetic medications, aspirin and other painkillers, by causing nausea or upset stomach. Overall, however, studies and reviews have tested turmeric's effectiveness against disease extensively. The study concludes, as we should, that the "efficacy, pharmacologic safety, and cost effectiveness of curcuminoids prompt us to 'get back to our roots.'"J ust one example observes: "Because it can modulate the expression of [several important molecular] targets, curcumin is now being used to treat cancer, arthritis, diabetes, Crohn's disease, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, psoriasis, and other pathologies. Interestingly, 6-gingerol, a natural analog of curcumin derived from the root of ginger … exhibits a biologic activity profile similar to that of curcumin."15