#this is what happens when you work at a craft store and have adhd

[timid-tracks]

So I definitely didn't go out and buy a bunch of tiny little beads to make tiny bead lizard earrings because of this post 😅

Working on a little inky cap mushroom creature/adding beads to plushies!

This project may or may not be delayed by the realization that I can make tiny bead lizards

[writingquestionsanswered]

Do you have any advice for writing with adhd? I can craft these elaborate storyline in my head, but the minute I try to write any of them down I get bored. (Or is that just regular writer block?) It's really discouraging, because I feel like my mind is moving faster then my head, and any time I try to bring any of my ideas to life it just disipates.

Writing with ADHD: 5 Game Changers for Me

Here are some things that have been game changers for me as a writer with ADHD: [Edit: everyone's ADHD is different. This is just what works for me. It may not work for you...]

Planning: It's different for everyone with ADHD, but for me it's essential to spend time planning my story before I start writing. I like to flesh out as much as possible concerning plot, timeline, setting, world, characters and arcs, subplots, and themes.

Summary, Outline, and Scene List: Three items that are critical for me to have in hand before I sit down to write are a beginning to end summary of the story detailing all plot events as far as I know, an outline loosely based on the story structure template/s that feel right for the story (for example, I may use elements of Save the Cat! and some elements of of the Six-Stage Plot Structure), which helps me navigate my plot and hit the relevant plot points. And finally, I need a detailed scene list/timeline combo which lists chapter, scene, date/time, POV character, location, and a one to two sentence summary of what happens in the scene, including the character's goal in the scene, the scene's conflict, and the scene's resolution or how it carries into a later scene.

Gamifying: When I'm struggling with a particular time period or project, it can help me to gamify things. You can do this using a game board strategy, the Yahtzee Method, making a list of bench marks that serve as "levels," race against yourself by trying to bet the previous day's goal, etc. The key to gamifying is to set reasonable benchmarks and give yourself periodic rewards. Rewards can be anything from buying yourself a boba, watching a favorite TV show episode, an hour of playing your favorite game, or going to a movie. Some people like to go to the dollar store and buy a lot of small fun things and use those as rewards. Whatever works for you! Sometimes, turning it into a game with tangible progress and rewards can keep you motivated.

Setting Up a Routine: Although I have my general daily routine, I am without a doubt more productive when I can stick to a more specific routine that includes writing time. For me that works out to writing early in the day before other distractions start ramping up. When I put on my music, sit down with some coffee and a snack, and pull up my manuscript, my brain knows it's time to get to work. That doesn't always mean the work happens, but it's much more likely I'll get something done.

Minimizing Distractions: Anything that can be a distraction when I write is problematic. For that reason, I only listen to music without words and advertising. I turn off my phone or leave it in the other room. If possible, I try to use placeholders for things I need to look up. If I absolutely have to look something up and I get distracted by headlines, interesting articles or videos, or other things, I bookmark them in a special folder and immediately close the window. That way, I know I can go back to them later (I almost never do...) And, for me, as much as I love Scrivener and the ability to organize by chapter, have quick access to character profiles and photos, toggle between scene cards and my story... it's just too distracting for me. I'll sit down to write a chapter, then decide I need to re-do my scene cards, or cast characters, or do mood boards for every location in my story.

For that reason, writing in Word works best [for me] It's simple and there's nothing to distract me. Any story references I might need while writing, such as character profiles and photos, mood boards and aesthetics, setting inspiration photos, etc. are all organized in a special folder, categorized into sub-folders, so I can go straight to the required reference.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

♦ Questions that violate my ask policies will be deleted! ♦ Please see my master list of top posts before asking ♦ Learn more about WQA here

[imightbeabuddhist]

Salutations Tumblr.

Welcome to My Blog:

By Z.D. Burkitt

The question on your mind has to be, but who are you? Well, let me answer your question with a question. Did I forget the "by" line? No, I'm really asking. Anyway.

I'm Z.D. Burkit. Z for short. I've been a hobbyist writer for 25 years. Now, I'm a Copywriter. Can you tell? -covers my username with my hand- So, I figured I'd introduce myself. As I said, I've been writing for 25 years. However, I haven't published anything other than crappy fanfiction on fanfiction.net. Assuming that website still exists. Like a blacksmith at their* forge, I've learned much about writing, honing my craft(we'll get there.* <--pun). As the name suggests, I'll mostly be posting Copywriting Memes. Sometimes it'll just be the meme. Other times I might share why I like it and any insights I gleaned from it. I'll also post regular blogs and the occasional short story. Now it's time to address the elephant in the refrigerator.

Darn that Pesky Pachyderm:

I am Non-binary. No, I won't bring this up unless I need to. Nor do I care what pronouns you use. They, he, she, or neo-pronouns are all fine. I'll leave that up to you. I should also say I am Pansexual and engaged. As I get more comfortable, I'll give more details. One final thing, I have ADHD. Since this is my first post, I think I'll leave the housekeeping there. This seems like a good time to get the elephant out of my now-destroyed fridge. -sigh- 

Some more Things about Me:

I'm fascinated by fungi. I guess you can call me an amateur mycologist. Mushrooms, lichens, and all fungi are mesmerizing. I'm working on a story about super-powered teens living in 2100. The Golden Trio in my novel are LGBTQIA+ and Neurodiverse characters. River, the MC, is a Genderfluid Pansexual shapeshifter. One of their best friends is an AMAB non-binary gay person. The other is a cis-gendered bisexual guy. I promise River is not a self-insert. You'll come to know that as I add more to this blog. I am a big-ol' nerd. As evidenced by my near-comprehensive knowledge of the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles. Feel free to test me. I'm also well-versed in Destiny and Gear of War lore. Despite not owning any, I have a growing appreciation for excellent watches. They're just cool. Although I'm no car expert, that's what we call an understatement, kids; I do enjoy rewatching episodes of The Grand Tour. While we're on shows, I'm constantly binging Start Trek DS9. It's my comfort show. I aspire to one day get a Private Pilot's license. And yet, I've never flown. I've never even seen the inside of a plane that was about to take off—just a few at an aviation museum. While we're on the topic, one of my favorite podcasts is Black Box Down; it's all about aviation disasters. Listen to it if you're afraid to fly like I was. You'll realize just how rare these things are. Not only that, but the steps taken to prevent them from happening again. Not a spon. I have no sponsorships. I'm an anime fan, shocking, I know. And I'm clearly a fan of italics. And, like David Tannat's Doctor, I can ramble when I get going, can't I? Here are a couple of rapid-fire facts about me.

I practice lockpicking as a hobby - Scrolling through TikTok, I came across a guy called McNallyOffical, who made it look like a lot of fun. So, I bought a cheap lockpicking kit of off; I'll call it the Everything Store and a cheap (read Master Lock) lock. As soon as it arrived, I stared with the clear practice lock, and once I stopped pretending I was in Skyrim, I got it on my second try. Now that little clink sound of the shackle popping is just uggh. -chief's kiss-

I'm 420-friendly - That one speaks for itself. 

I'm an ex-Atheist - I'll admit this is partially due to the anger I felt when I had to deal with any religious or spiritual things that wasn't good for my mental health. So I took a step back from the community and soon found I wasn't angry more often than not. I still respect and listen to many Atheists like Penn Jillette and his business partner, Mr. Teller. Jillette's book God No! is still a personal favorite. The anger made me decide to believe in all gods or none. I have an answer to the ontological question do you believe in god? I believe in every god. I'll delve into that later.

I do believe Science - Despite believing in spiritual things, I am an avid proponent and communicator of Science. No Flearth or anti-vax nonsese here. One spiritual practice I reject is holistic crap and other snake oil. Crystals are pretty, but they can't heal shit IRL. 

This one should be obvious - I'm someone you can come to if you're LGBTQIA+ and you need to talk. 

I have depression, anxiety, and ADHD - I'm very open and vocal about my, and mental health in general. It's important, and you are too. Never forget that.

I think that's an excellent place to stop. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. Take care. 

-Z

The Convival Copywriter

P.S.

If you're interested in an INTRODUCTORY OFFER for my services, email me at zdburkitt@gmail.com. 

-The Convival Copywriter

[dibssocial]

Transform Your Beauty Passion into Profit: Unleash the Power of Passive Income

Today, I'm thrilled to share my personal journey and insights into building a successful passive income stream in the ever-glamorous beauty industry. As a former hairstylist turned digital marketer and mom of three, with ADHD adding its unique twist to my life, I've navigated this path and am now living a dream I never thought possible. Let's dive into how you, too, can transform your passion for beauty into a lucrative, freedom-filled adventure.

Embracing the Beauty of Passive Income

Passive income, my friends, is a life-changer. Imagine earning while you're playing with your kids, sleeping, or enjoying a cup of coffee! In the beauty realm, this magic happens through digital products, affiliate marketing, and e-commerce. And guess what? I started with the same strategies on my journey with The Roadmap 2.0, which helped me quit my job and work from anywhere, earning more than I ever dreamed of!

Discovering Your Gold Mine in Beauty

The beauty industry is a treasure trove of opportunities. Whether it's crafting your skincare line or curating an online beauty store, the possibilities are endless. Remember, research is key! When I began, I dived into market trends and consumer needs, ensuring my ventures resonated with my audience.

From e-books to online courses, digital products are your ticket to passive income. Think about it – I started with simple haircare tips and look at me now! Your expertise is gold; package it in an e-book or course and watch the magic happen. ✨

Digital Delights: E-Books, Courses, and Templates

Digital products are my absolute favorites! They're how I first dipped my toes into passive income. Think e-books on skincare secrets, online makeup courses, or even beauty routine templates. And if you're looking for tools to create these digital gems, I highly recommend platforms like Canva for stunning designs and Teachable for course creation.

Social Media: Your Virtual Stage

Social media is a powerful ally. Platforms like Instagram and YouTube have been instrumental in my journey. Share your passion, build a community, and yes, monetize it! Whether it's through influencer collaborations or affiliate marketing, your authentic voice can become your income.

The Art of Affiliate Marketing in Beauty

Affiliate marketing was a game-changer for me. It's about sharing products you love and earning from it. Find brands that align with your ethos (like I did), understand your audience, and voilà! You're earning commissions.

Your Beauty Classroom: Online Courses and Membership Sites

Ever thought of teaching your beauty expertise? Online courses and membership sites offer just that, with a steady income to boot. When I launched my first course, it was all about providing value and building a community around shared beauty passions.

E-Commerce: Your Beauty Store

Selling beauty products online can be highly profitable. Setting up an online store might sound daunting, but with platforms like Shopify, it's a breeze. I learned the importance of SEO, stunning visuals, and engaging customer interactions to drive sales and build a loyal customer base.

Wrapping Up: Your Path to Beauty Business Success

Embarking on this journey requires dedication, a learning spirit, and an understanding of market trends. I'm living proof that with the right approach, you can achieve financial success in the beauty industry, all while doing what you love.

Ready to start your own journey? Identify which passive income stream sparks your passion, set your goals, and step boldly towards your beauty business empire. The world is waiting for your unique touch!

Keep shining, Sandra

P.S. Don't forget to explore my personal starting point, The Roadmap 2.0, and start your journey towards financial freedom in the beauty industry.

[ithappensblog]

dream vs. reality

I have always loved giving gifts to people. I guess it's in my nature. There is something so satisfying about finding or creating the perfect item that matches someone’s personality, interests, or needs. That’s why I decided to open up my own gift shop, Little Pepper Gift Co., where I could sell crafts, personalized accessories, made by other Canadian makers. I don't have much patience for creating products myself, so I decided that supporting other small businesses by opening a small shop carrying products I loved (and knew other people would, too!) would be a great way to accomplish this. I was so excited to launch my shop online and share it with the world. I had a vision of being an overnight success, or at least a steady source of income and joy. I thought I had what it takes to run a successful business, just like my husband, who owns Labrosse Consulting, a thriving survey equipment supplier combined with Civil Engineering Technology consulting. Something he was passionate about and good at. I thought people would love my products and appreciate the care and creativity that went into them. But reality soon hit me hard. Running a gift shop is not as easy as it seems. It takes a lot of time and effort to create, market, and ship the products. It takes a lot of work to set up shop at craft shows, if you're lucky enough to score a spot. It also takes a lot of patience and resilience to deal with the competition, the customer feedback, and the sales fluctuations. Mostly, it takes a toll on your mental and physical health, especially if you struggle like I do. I started to feel disappointed and discouraged when I saw my friends and family buying similar items from big chain stores instead of supporting my shop. I felt like they didn’t value my work or understand how much it meant to me. I felt like they were choosing convenience over quality and connection. I also started to feel like shit when I went days or weeks without a sale. I felt like no one wanted what I had to offer. I felt like I was wasting my time and energy on something that nobody cared about. I felt like a failure, with another business adventure that didn’t pan out because of my bright ADHD ideas.

I started to lose motivation and interest in my shop. I stopped pursuing new products, updating my website, and posting on social media. I stopped checking my email and responding to inquiries. I stopped caring about my shop and myself. But then I realized something. I realized that I was not alone in this journey. There are many other small business owners out there who face the same challenges and frustrations as me. There are also many customers out there who appreciate and support small businesses like mine. There are also many resources and communities out there that can help me grow and improve my shop. I realized that I still have a passion and a purpose for my shop. I still have a dream and a vision for my shop. And I still have a chance and an opportunity to make it happen.

Now I'm fighting with the idea of selling off the business to some other eager entrepreneur. Or do I stop feeling so fucking sorry for myself, pick back up and not give up on my shop or myself? I know success isn't created overnight. I'd love to rekindle my excitement and determination for my shop. I decided to do something that I love and share it with the world. And you know what? It felt good at first. But here I sit, stuck between a rock and a hard place. My family poured so many hours and so much money into this endeavor that I don't want to let them down and have them feel like this was another stupid idea. Because, when I have the next idea (we all know I will), I don't want them to think that supporting me is a bad idea. That's why I didn't tell anyone about writing these blog entries... I can do without the comments about mistakes I've made in the past.

[fil-in-the-blank]

“don’t put it down, put it AWAY” as an ADHD hack is getting hate but it honestly doesn’t deserve it. be mad at the person who made you use organizational structures that didn’t work for you, not the practice of putting things away

you can and should redefine what “putting things away” means for you

or, as i prefer to call it, “putting things in their Place”

but first we have to identify and dedicate some Places, and differentiate and define three types of Places

places where things Belong

places in Flux where things are there temporarily before being moved Soon, and COMMIT to moving things out of these places periodically when you have the energy

places where Nothing Belongs and must be kept Clear (like bathroom countertops you need clear for putting your contacts case down, kitchen countertops for your food prep every day, a place or table spot for you to put your plate there while you eat... and that’s about it, all my other surfaces are pretty well covered with either Flux or Belonging lmao)

everything has a Place (or one of several places) where it Belongs. my toothbrush Belongs in the toothbrush holder on my bathroom countertop, next to my mouthwash and hand soap.

yes, if possible, don’t put the thing down, put it in its Place, cool cool

orrrrr maybe you put it as close as possible or in a Flux place on the way. Flux places are extremely important for people who struggle with executive functions and/or low spoons

think like putting a piece of paper on your desk, and then you’ll put it in your desk drawer later. or even just “this book doesn’t go here in the kitchen, it goes in my bedroom wayyy far away, so for now it’s going on the stairs / on the corner countertop / someplace halfway there”

Flux spaces are also good for things like current projects (gotta fix this flashlight) or things that will be put away later (the meds that i just got from the store and put them on the crafting table temporarily)

i also specifically recommend trying to use a container / basket on your stairs / tabletop as one of your Flux places. remember, making Places is the very first step. make a flux place. get a container from the dollar store or something, that’s literally what i did. and if you’re walking past it, you bring at least one thing with you on your way.

but do not let things STAGNATE in Flux spaces

which is easier said than done, because we get blind to things that sit in one place for too long... but you can also get help for this. get some outside pressure (like visiting company) to add incentive, or get some outside assistance / encouragement to periodically clear these areas of stuff. get that stuff either Done or put them where they Belong. if you have been meaning to do something for a week, and it’s not urgent, and it’s still sitting there... bro just put that shit away. you’ll get to it when you get to it. it doesn’t have to sit out in a flux space waiting until you do. i know this feels scary and it might hurt. the thing will still be there. and if you’re worried you’ll forget it, this is an indication that you need a better / more robust organization / labeling strategy so that this thing is easily identifiable and accessible when you DO get around to it.

and if at all feasible, even with your last bit of strength in the day, do not let things stay in places where Nothing Belongs overnight. do not make a habit of it. you’ve heard ‘dont let the sun go down on your anger’. now get ready for ‘dont let the sun go down on your mess’

this is the only thing i will qualify as ‘mess’ because THAT SHIT ISN’T SUPPOSED TO BE THERE. your Belonging places and your Flux places can look as awful as they happen to look, whatever, if you don’t care then i don’t care. but i care about the spaces i need clear for my daily functioning. keep those spaces CLEAR.

[rum-and-shattered-dreams]

A rant of personal experiences and trying to do something positive with them:

Okay so procrastination is a huge thing in ADHD. Same with memory issues. (Not that these are always present and maybe some people experience both without being ADHD).

So. Here’s an experience I’m just now (at almost 40) realizing was a thing:

Imagine a huge essay/report/project requiring a lot of research and several sources was due in a few weeks. The advice was always to break it down, take notes, and make an outline. It made perfect sense. And maybe it does help some or even most people.

But for some, like me, it was still impossibly overwhelming and breaking it down was worse. The project was often boring (especially if I had to ignore a hyperfixation to work on it) and even if it wasn’t, it still felt like A LOT when my brain was full of TV static and my memory was shit.

It takes a ton of repetition for me to even temporarily remember something and even then, it will likely be gone again in a few days. UNLESS I learn by actually doing something or figuring it out for myself. And my brain gaslights itself like “do I remember that right? No that can’t be right. Let me look it up for the 100th time to make sure.” And I’m WAY more likely to remember concepts or physical processes but completely forget the terms for them or names of things or important dates EVEN FOR MY HYPERFIXATIONS, damnit... Like, I can do a bunch of crafty stuff and even remember some common terms and items but not the less common fabrics or stitch types or tool names. (Yet somehow I could remember the exact location of hundreds of thousands of items of inventory at my craft store job... even if I didn’t know what they were called. But I stocked them and had physical contact with them so I could picture where they were.) The number one overwhelming thing for me about trying to be a pro at anything is trying to remember terms so it sounds like I know what I’m talking about.

Anyway...

Without acknowledging that, I ended up wasting time by trying to schedule research/work in small chunks because every time I stopped then tried to start again, I wouldn’t remember what I did or looked at last time. (Can I also add that this is why being interrupted is infuriating for me? It probably seems irrational to other people but it’s so hard to get focused on something and now my train of thought is derailed, passengers are dead and injured, and it’s going to take who knows how long to revive the survivors?) And maybe that wasn’t so bad the first time because I’d only have to reread one page of notes. But then it would happen a few more times and my focus would be blurred and I’d repeated myself multiple times in the notes and they’d become a mess and look horrible which was distracting and I’d feel overwhelmed by having to reread and now rewrite several pages and focus would be even worse because I did remember some bits and blanked out while looking at those then stay blanked out then I’d have to reread again to catch the parts I didn’t remember.

But.

If I waited until the last minute, when the consequence/reward system overrode how overwhelming or boring the project was, I could burn through it because I was in constant contact with the material and it was all currently on my mind and I could skip writing notes and an outline and go straight to a fairly decent flow-state draft then keep going through revisions and editing all without forgetting WTF I’d researched. And it would be done in so so so much less time with a lot less effort and frustration.

And...

AND

And then there’s the schedule thing and why it DOES NOT WORK for me. If I schedule doing something (or even if someone suddenly wants me to do something right now) and my brain is like, “nah sorry, just static right now,” there’s absolutely nothing I can do to make it work and I’m just going to get frustrated and tired and depressed and discouraged. But if I keep a loose list of things that need to get done and indicate which are priorities, I can look at it and say “yeah. This one seems doable right now.” No I’m not going to get up and vacuum that spot of cat litter at this exact moment but it’s a good idea to do it soon so I’ll add vacuum to the list and probably get it done later the same day. If the cat throws up, that is an immediate priority so I will get up and make sure they’re okay and clean it because my brain does actually recognize things like that as super important. If a bill arrives in the mail, I’ll stop and pay it right away because I know I don’t have to think/worry about it again if I do. But what sucks about that is that society wants and often understandably needs people to work on a schedule. And I just... can’t.

But I’m trying to take this knowledge and apply it, trying to accept that this is how I function. I function based on a system of priorities that get done in order of “absolutely must be done right this second, whether for my own reasons or outside reasons, even if I need to drop other things” to “this is what I CAN do right now.” Not something pre-scheduled. If I need to leave something to the last minute then I’m just going to accept that that’s how it’s going to be and that’s okay. Then I can free up energy and space to do other things in the meantime rather than worry and be anxious and beat myself up because I should be doing the thing and end up hating things I like doing because they’re not what I should be doing and now there’s a negative association with them. No. Screw that. If all I can do today is play a video game then fine. Gonna enjoy it. Because I now know for a fact, from years of experience, that I will do the important things. They just need to wait until I’m capable of doing them. And... if I let myself stop worrying about old WIPs... They get done eventually too. It might take a few years but as long as I don’t actually decide not to do them, they will get done.

All that said... I still want to look into meds because it would be nice to have more of an ability to focus more regularly. I just need to clear up some other medical stuff first and I’ve got appointments already set up for that.

One more thing... I f$&#ing hate the attitude teachers have about doodling in class. It was literally the only way I could focus during lectures and remember anything they were talking about. I could look at what I drew and remember what was being said while I drew it. F$&% every teacher who took away my notebooks or yelled at me for it. Without it, I’d zone out completely. And THANK YOU to the art history teacher and biology teachers I had who not only understood but encouraged it and actually helped me direct it toward the subject matter by suggesting drawing thumbnails of the art or cell structure or anatomy.

[daemonmatthias]

Everything has been A Lot lately. Extremely overwhelming. I can feel the stress in both my digestive system and my sleep. I'm constantly juggling 50-billion things at work (obviously), with anywhere from 1-2million of them last minute surprises (of course). And now the same thing is happening in my personal life! Vaccines, family stuff, crafting, car troubles, apartment hunting/moving- all (and more!) just a multitude of vague ideas that I (a teacher with adhd in april) need to keep in my head until things outside of my control coalesce enough for me to nail down specifics. It's fucking ridiculous. So here's a list.

I got my Covid shot Friday 4/2, so I will be fully vaccinated on 4/16.

I was not at all intending to just jump out there and immediately start acting like things are normal, but other factors are forcing my hand. (Don't worry; you can bet your ass that I'll be wearing my mask and social distancing as much as possible until the CDC says otherwise, no matter what anyone else around me is doing.)

We are spending the day together on 4/23 instead of taking our anniversary off because it's on a Wednesday.

This evening I booked a haircut appointment for 4/23 because I desperately NEED a haircut, especially before my cousin's wedding (and there should, in theory, be less people on a Friday than a Saturday.

This also means I need to figure out what the hell I want to do with my hair. I would love to go short but also I like to do exactly 0 maintenance/styling with my hair. I am a brush it and air dry it kinda girl. So if I don't go pixie, then it has to be at least long enough to bun overnight because I get terrible acne if I sleep on my hair. It's annoying. I just want my hair to look nice with no effort on my part. :(

Robert got his vaccine appointment info today! He gets his first shot on Thursday and the second 3 weeks later, so he'll be fully vaccinated the day before I leave for my cousin's wedding.

Speaking of.... I bought my flights and got the days off, so that trip for my cousin's wedding is really happening. I have mixed feelings cuz, again, I had no intention of traveling like that already. But also, I'm excited to see that part of my family.

But ALSO me travelling is always a logistical nightmare so there's that stress. I'm already trying to think about what snacks of my own I need to bring and how/when I can go to the store and the best ways to handle meals, etc.

I am also trying out some new bar shampoos, conditioner, face soap, etc and, while it normally wouldn't be, trying to keep track of trying each/in combo fast enough to reorder the ones I like before my trip is... Difficult.

Another issue is what to wear. I just had to put a large portion of my nice clothes in the donate pile. And my brain will NOT let go of wearing a circle skirt I want to make to the wedding. I even already bought a top to match and stuff. Why is this a problem?

I've never made a circle skirt before. This will be my very first garment I make! And Robert didn't want me to mess it up and lose the fabric I like so much, so he got me to buy another fabric to "test" and now I need to make TWO circle skirts before may 14........... Uh, really before then so I have time to get something else if it doesn't work. Which is a whole 'nother issue.......

Yeah.... Life's a mess rn. A good mess? Mostly? But I am super overwhelmed like all the time, lol.

[queencobraeva]

You Don’t Know The Shadow In My Heart....

Stats

Birthday: September 15th 1994

Place of Birth: Reggio - Emilia Italy

Occupation: Freelance Vlogging/Craftmaking

Location: 

Sexuality: panromantic demisexual

Pets: Milkyway and Orion {cats} Shamrock {snake}

Hobbies: Blogging, Cosplay, craft making....

Face Claim: Jodelle Ferland

Height: 5'0

Social Media: EvaG (twitter and insta)

blog url: Eva Writes Stuff (freelance blog)

Occupation: Blogger

Favorite Musicians/Bands: Walk The Moon, The Airborne Toxic Event, Blue October, The Glorious Sons, The Japanese House, Muna, Bastille, St. Lucia, Imagine Dragons, flor, Passion Pit, The 1975, Cold War Kids, Chvrches, Jukebox The Ghost, Of Monsters and Men, Bleachers, Neon Trees, American Authors, Kate Rusby, Orla Falon, Celtic Women…

Favorite Places: coffee shops, book stores/libraries, Zoos, Aquariums/any place relating to science…

Likes: Hot chocolate/warm drinks, sweets, cosplay, anything green, baking, vines/TIktoks, Rhett and Link’s Good Mythical Morning, Game Grumps, oversized hoodies, fall/autumn, witch aesthetics cuddling, animals.

Dislikes: crowds, extreme heat, most social situations.

About her sexuality

Eva has only met a small handful of people and they all had their own definitions of Asexuality. Having learned the language for what she experienced. Eva identifies as Demisexual.

Injuries, disabilities, etc

Stutter - since childhood

ADHD - since childhood

Anxiety Disorder - since childhood

Chronic headaches/migraines - happened in her adult life due to a concussion from a car accident. The concussion left her with horrible headaches and dizzy spells.

Trigger warnings: Car Accident, Anxiety, Head Injury, Cheating

About Eva

Eva considers herself a sociable recluse. The only person she is comfortable being herself around is her best friend Mari. She takes comfort in being alone but if a topic of interest pops up she will definitely chime in with enthusiasm. Eva has a hearty collection of books she considers her pride and joy.

If she isn’t at home or at work she is probably somewhere nature heavy. She loves trees, learning about them, climbing them. It’s how she broke her wrist twice as a child and then once as an adult. Eva is quite fond of pranks and practical jokes. She also has been described to have ‘dad humor’ and a love for all things punny.

Her love of writing started when Mari suggested journaling when she was diagnosed. From journaling she moved to poetry but it didn’t stick. From there she found short stories and fanfic and her life took on new meaning. During her relationship with Niccolo he constantly put down her hobbies and interests. He began to wear her down until she tried to mold herself to fit his needs.

When they broke up Eva had to find herself again, she cut her hair and dyed it a variety of colors over the years. Eva met a woman during the post break up named Hanalei. Hana was in Italy on a bachelorette trip. They had booked the Giatti Family winery for wine tasting and the two clicked immediately. She and Eva tried their best at a long distance relationship. Hana lived in Malibu at the time and Eva still lived in Venice (with Mari and their friend Cecil). Eva flew out to Malibu twice, Hana flew out to Venice once more by herself. While they loved each other their lives were going in two different places and Eva could not move again to chase a romance. Hana couldn’t move to Italy. So they broke up. They remained friends over the internet until Hana’s social’s went silent. Last Eva knew she had been in Hawaii with her mother. 

The next chapter of Eva’s life saw her living with Mari again. Mari had moved to Manhattan New York City to get away from her ex step mother and ex step sister. Eva came along as her assistant because it was time to leave Venice. A job she didn’t particularly envision for herself. But it was only for a few months. Eva met her next partner and they began traveling through New England. Black ice caused a three car pile up. No deaths, but a lot of injuries. Eva’s partner left with a broken arm and Eva suffered a major concussion.

Her partner left Eva a short time later. They don’t communicate anymore. Mari was relocating to Seattle so Eva moved too at first with Mari and then by herself with two roommates. Trevor was renting out rooms in his house one room went to Eva the other to a traveler named Keiran. 

During winter of 2022, Hana reconnected with Eva, first over the internet and then in person. A few dates later they were dating and moving in together. Eva didn’t exactly tell anyone about the moving thing. The two house hunted in private and moved in together. 

Eva works as a freelance blogger/craft maker. 

Things I Don’t Want To Forget: 

Friends: 

Coworkers: 

Former Housemates: Trevor and Keiran [Names can change]

Other: 

Wanted

Eva's doctors: Eva had a lot of doctors during and after the accident. She may or may not remember them to this day.

The car driver: someone Eva was on a road trip with (black ice caused the accident).

People from her past: Eva grew up in Italy and has traveled a lot in her life. 

Niccolo: (this needs to be heavily discussed because i have to tone him down)

[caelpictor]

QHAVPPFAQ

Quarantine Halloween: A Virtual Paint Party

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who are you?

Kyle Marcus Bryant, aka @caelpictor. He/him/his/pronoun-flexible, Black, queer, 26 (and a half), Taurus, INFP, ADHD af. I’m an artist (with a degree in it, as of 2018!), a nerd, and a lover of Halloween!

What is this event?

Quarantine Halloween: A Virtual Paint Party is an art class conducted via video call in which I teach you step-by-step how to paint a Halloween masterpiece! #distancelearning

When is this taking place?

There are two classes scheduled: Friday October 30, 2020, and Saturday October 31, 2020 (AKA Halloween) from 7-9 PM EST.

Where?

It’s all happening on Zoom! Technology is amazing!

Why?

Like many of us, I lost my job to the pandemic. I am now safely quarantined away in VA with family, staring down my student loan debt, bored out of my mind, and looking for a fun way to connect with others while also offering my talents in exchange for your cold. hard. cash!

How much does it cost?

The $10 instructor fee covers one participant for one night. If you want to take both classes, make sure to get two tickets! And if two or more people will be joining the class from one location, please make sure everyone in the group is covered! Thanks 🙂

Is there a difference between the two classes?

Nope! They will be the same. I’m just offering two different dates for your convenience! Aren’t I nice?

How do I sign up?

Simply send in your payment and the best way to contact you, and let me know which day you’ll be participating (Fri 30 or Sat 31). Once I receive your payment, I’ll add you to my little list, confirm with you that you’re on it, and I’ll send you the Zoom link/meeting ID and password on the day of the event.

Where do I send my payment?

Venmo: @KyleBryant

PayPal: KyleMB13

CashApp: $KyleMarcusBryant

None of these are case-sensitive. If there’s one you prefer that’s not listed, let me know, and we’ll see what we can do!

Which is your preferred payment method?

Venmo, but any of the ones listed above are great!

Do you accept tips/donations?

Yes 🙂 always :)))

What’s the vibe?

Very casual. Drinking, Halloween costumes, and conversation are all highly encouraged! (But never forced)! I will be in costume, probably sipping wine or a cocktail and jamming out to music while I teach. It’s quite liberating, being able to drink on the job.

What’s the etiquette?

We try to stay on mute while the teacher is teaching, but otherwise, go wild. ***And please ALWAYS feel free to jump off mute if you have questions or comments!

Who can join?

Literally everyone! Spread the word! Bring your friends! The more the merrier!

I have no artistic skills! Can I join?

I said EVERYONE, didn’t I? That’s exactly what I’m here for! Just think of me as your personal Bob Ross; I may not be able to hold your hand in person, but I will break every brushstroke down for you as simply as possible, and you’ll be surprised at how well you do. Again, if you ever have questions or need my advice, feel free to chime in at any time! And remember to focus on the experience of the painting, not the product!

General advice for first-time painters?

Work in big, general shapes first, then focus on smaller details later. I also usually start with the background and build the foreground on top of that. Also, relax, experiment, and have fun with it! There are no rules!

How long is the event?

Two hours, but please allow a little extra time for people to settle in at the beginning, finish up at the end, etc.. I promise it’ll breeze right by, but don’t feel pressured to be there for the whole event. If you miss the beginning, I’m great at catching people up, and if you duck out early, I won’t mind!

What image are you teaching us to paint?

Coming soon!

What materials do I need?

Here’s a breakdown:

Essentials:

1. Acrylic paints (a nice set of 5-12 colors is plenty)

2. Palette (for holding/mixing paint; a paper plate works just as well)

3. Brushes (at least one small brush for details, and one large brush for covering large areas; preferably one medium-sized brush as well)

4. Canvas (either a stretched canvas or a flat canvas panel, any size!)

5. Water cup (a vessel to hold brushes; I’m using an old plastic gelato container)

6. Easel (to hold the painting upright and steady; not strictly necessary, as you can use a desk or table or your lap instead if you’d like)

7. Paper towels or old rag (for cleanup and drying brushes)

Other:

1. Workspace (away from things you don’t want paint on; lay down tarp or newspaper to protect walls, floors, and other surfaces if necessary)

2. Paint clothes, smock, apron, etc. (wear something you don’t mind getting paint on!)

3. Trash can, running water, acetone, etc. (for cleanup)

Bonus:

1. Hair dryer (to help paint dry faster)

2. Pencils, pens, markers, pastels, etc. (for sketching, signing your name, etc)

3. Glitter, collage materials, sponges, stamps, stencils, etc. (just for fun!)

4. Your favorite drink (for inspiration 😉)

Where can I get them?

I’ve bought literally everything on this list from Target and Michael’s (except the easel, which I bought online). I would mask up and check your local department store or arts and crafts store (Walmart, Blick, Plaza, Hobby Lobby, Jerry’s, JoAnne’s, etc.), or if you prefer to order it all online, you can do so easily from those same retailers or… 😬 Amazon. (Protip: If you’re lost on the internet, but would like to avoid buying from Amazon, you can use its search engine as a jumping-off point and go directly to the retailers they have listed 😜) Pretty much everything else is just household items.

What will it cost me?

If you’re not worried about the quality—and you shouldn’t be! I’ve found the cheaper stuff works just as well!—you can buy the essentials (paints, palettes, brushes, and canvases) for ~$20. These items are also often sold in bulk, or in sets with each other!

What colors are we using?

My current plan for the palette is black, white, yellow, purple, orange, and green, the sp00kiest of colors! If you just want to get those six, feel free. However, I always recommend having the primary colors: red, yellow, and blue, plus black and white; that way you can mix any color you want!

What size canvas should I buy?

That is entirely up to you! 8 x 10” and 16 x 20” are pretty popular sizes, though.

Are there any extra precautions I should take?

Acrylic paint comes off skin, hair, nails, and smooth non-porous surfaces fairly easily, but it does stain clothing and carpet, and is very stubborn once dried. I would recommend being careful to prevent spills in the first place, but if it does get on something precious, rinse immediately and completely with water. If already dry, try acetone or a similar cleanser to break down the plastic particles in the paint.

How do I clean up afterward?

My method: Scrub brushes along the bottom of your water cup to get all the paint off them, then rinse under running water until water runs clear. Either let the paint water sit in the cup until the paint particles have settled to the bottom, or pour it through a filter (coffee filter, cloth, etc, because acrylic paint is made of a micro-plastic that can be harmful to the environment and your plumbing in large amounts!) Leave everything else alone until it’s completely dry, and then peel or scratch dried paint off your palette if desired. Scrub your paint-covered hands and other body parts until clean, preferably with something exfoliating.

Is the paint non-toxic?

I mean, I wouldn’t drink it on purpose, but yeah, paint left on the skin or ingested (in small amounts) is harmless.

How can I contact you?

You can comment right here on this post, DM me on any of my social media, or email me! I promise to get back to you ASAP!

Social Media: @caelpictor (everywhere)

Email: KyleMB13@Gmail.com

I will update this post as questions are asked between now and the event, so please let me know if there’s a question I didn’t answer here for you!

Thanks for reading, and I’m excited to see you all there!!!

[rileymoreno]

LORENZO ZURZOLO / CIS MALE — don’t look now, but is that riley moreno i see? the 22 year old art history student is in their junior year and he is a rochester alum. i hear they can be sociable, liberal, self absorbed and disloyal, so maybe keep that in mind. i bet he will make a name for himself living in griffin street. ( alli. ancient. cst. she/her. ) 

sneaks past the bars of my cell that i’ve been living in and also sneaks into the bars of this group ... it’s alli yahoy. a lot of you might remember me from some of my Greatest Hits including caleb montgomery, jack hall, and naomi page ( this would be a really terrifying discography ) but if not !! fear not. this is a brand new muse i have crafted for this comeback and he sucks just as much as any of my muses do. SO WITH THAT KIND INTRO ... more about riley under the cut ! 

BIOGRAPHY.

born in new jersey, right outside of new york city, to parents marcel and grenalda moreno, orion moreno was a happy child. he was their fourth and final moreno sibling. 

his siblings are leopold moreno (24), lyra moreno (24), and caelum moreno (30). he was relatively close to the twins growing up due to the small gap in their ages, but caelum was always difficult to get along with. 

grenalda was an astronomer and often traveled for work, leaving the children with marcel. he wasn’t an unkind father, but he was tough on his boys (there was no doubt lyra was his favorite). riley grew to be quite quiet, somewhat uncomfortable expressing himself as he learned to fear rejection from his close knit family. 

in school, riley didn’t do particularly well. he had trouble focusing due to an increasing adhd problem his family failed to address, and he didn’t make friends easily. for while he was shy with everyone, it seemed, but the twins. 

his mom lost her job when he was in high school. this put a strain on the family’s finances, despite his father’s office job, and forced the moreno siblings still living at home to work jobs to help out. riley didn’t have much of a life outside of school and work. 

his lack of a social life, and general disinterest in having one at all, lead his peers to find him rather uninteresting. most of the kids who went to school with him would likely tell you they didn’t know he existed. 

his love for music was what finally broke the shy boy out of his shell. he took time off from his job as a grocery store clerk to play in several different local bands, much to his family’s disapproval, and he slowly grew less and less reserved, more ‘himself.’ 

he was in trouble with the law a lot his last year of high school. he was involved with the town’s more seedy underbelly thanks to a few of his bandmates. still didn’t do well in school but took to all night benders with ease

“it’s a shame, what happened to the youngest moreno boy. he used to be such a good kid.” 

he grew surprisingly close to his mother before leaving for lockwood. he knew he would miss her dearly living across the country, but he had always known he wanted to move far, far away from those who knew him before he knew himself. 

free tuition was not something he or his siblings were in the place to turn down.

HEADCANNONS.

his reputation might be rubbish but he’s not mean spirited. outgoing, loud, and generally humourous, riley is easily noticed in a room and he knows it. 

likes to pretend he doesn’t care at all, but really he super super cares. about everything. 

his best friend is his cat, reptile. it’s a black cat, as if there was any doubt 

a big romantic, he’s always claiming he’s in love or fawning over someone. he’s really bad at being monogamous, though. falls in love with strangers so so often 

plays guitar in a really shitty local band 

drugs sex and rock and roll 

also mega eboy. would probably strive for tik tok fame if he knew how to work technology (he doesn’t)

definitely in the anime club. it’s also the only organized group he would ever join

WANTED CONNECTIONS. 

roommates -- maybe an odd couple kind of relationship where they are COMICALLY different, or maybe a ‘ i don’t even know your last name stranger in my home ’, or of course ride or die best friends don’t mess with my baby hozier 

bandmates -- if your muse is musical // maybe even completely terrible bc. to be frank. this band sucks. and wants to play in said rat band 

buddies -- any and all types of friendships. seriously any. hs friends who knew shy lil riley, met in lockwood and have been close ever since, we always go to the same bars so we started going to them together, your friend knows my friend who knows our other friend so i guess we’re friends??, truly best of friends love each other support each other riley probably wrote a song about them 

romantic -- again.. anything. he has a list of exes a million pages long. he probably hates most of them because he gets way too attached. says he doesn’t ‘just hook up’ but he does he’s a liar. riley fawning over your muse, sending them love letters over text or email or twitter dm. riley claiming he hates your muse just to deny the fact that he has, in fact, caught feelings again. i want to punch u in the face but u look really cute rn maybe i’ll kiss you instead. send all dynamics my way.. 

family -- cousins ! i might post his middle siblings as wanted connections but he loves them ! he loves his cousins he has so many he’s from a giant family ! weird kind of cousins, by marriage and then divorce, but we grew up together sometimes. know riley as the shy little boy who followed everyone around and probably ate dirt. 

anything. else. send me all of your unfulfilled connections and i can shove riley into said slot ! 

like this here post and i’ll dm u aggressively

[labyrinthinesun]

Hi there! I'm a baby witch and I wanted to know if you had any advice :)

Hi there! Thank you for reaching out.First and foremost, I personally dislike the term "baby witch". Your power is innately within you, you may be a beginner but don't infantilize yourself.

My first tip is to explore all sorts of traditions of magick. Read about Wicca, Chaos Magick, Hermeticism, anything. Don't limit yourself in the beginning and feel free to adopt different styles and utilize all sorts of systems of magick. There's a lot out there that witchblr doesn't often cover but does have a lot of decent information about practical and Hellenic magick especially in my observation.

Next, meditation. This is going to be stressed by almost everyone you ask this question to. I used to struggle with meditation quite about - ADHD brain that won't shut up. I still do sometimes. But I've also had amazing experiences while meditating and it can make your magick all the more powerful. I recommend guided meditations on youtube to start (Meditations By Rasa is a favorite channel of mine). Meditative states make it easier to achieve gnosis and in my personal believe, gnosis is a key to making significant magick happen.  A gnostic state, or gnosis, is a state of a clear mind and is often cited in Chaos magick. Gnosis can be achieved by anything from sexual pleasure to painful sitting positions to simply staring at a candle flame for a long time. Meditate to manifest, speak to guides, and help with clearing your mind and learning the sensations of your body that can help you do things like astral travel or heal chakras. Use meditation to help with gnosis, which helps clear your mind of anything but your magick task at hand and make it all the more successful.

Find a type of divination that suits you - I personally like the tarot, which is the most common tool, but there are a myraid of divination tools out there and I recommend you look into them and experiment. Divination is super helpful. Try and ask your tool open ended questions and for advice rather than yes/no or black and white questions. For example, "What is blocking me from finding love? What can I do to find and be open to love?" rather than "Will I get a boyfriend this year?". I also recommend bonding with your divination tool before use if you can - cleanse it, keep it on your person so your intuition becomes connected to it, and interview it! I always interview my decks for things like their strengths, weaknesses, how to work best with them, etc. This works best with things like tarot and runes, there's some tools this doesn't work with.

For magick tools like candles and herbs and incense and decorations, I recommend thrift stores and dollar stores. You'd be amazed what you'll find if you go into a Dollar Tree with a magickal mindset. Make sure if you're buying things from these places, ESPECIALLY a thrift store, you cleanse appropriately and listen to the objects. I once bought a bell from a thrift store that I could intuitively tell after buying it did NOT want to be used in a magick way. I felt old Christian lady vibes from it. I gave it to my mom who drove around with it in her car and said it was good luck and liked being in the car. On the flip side, I bought a cool statue at a thrift store that I felt called to, the thrift store clerk said she'd never seen it before, and it sits on my altar as a representation of my higher self and it's great.

Practice connecting with your intuition.  A fun way I like to do this is Pick-A-Card readings on youtube (my favorite channels are Shonetta's Divine Tarot, Empress Tarot by Gabby Turner, Lumiere, and Soul Whispers Tarot). I like to ask my guides to speak with me through the reading, shut my eyes and focus on my breathing (learn breathing techniques like square breathing and fire breathing, and others, another tip) and imagine exhaling a purple light around me and inhaling wisdom. I usually have an easy time picking a relevant reading. There are other ways to practice your intuition, but this is my favorite and a really entertaining way to do it.

Try and connect with magick practitioners in real life, if possible. I understand this is not always something that can be done. One thing I did was get involved at my local metaphysical store, I patronize them and come to a lot of events. I always feel boosted when I'm around other magicians and witches. The energy, the astral light, I can feel and see it all so much clearer when I'm connecting with others. Don't be anxious to go to these events, magick practitioners love connecting with other practitioners, seriously. And most people are happy to help boost your craft, witchcraft IRL is not as judgy as the internet makes it out to be.

Read! Never let witchblr be your only guide and take everything with a grain of salt. Scour the internet, the library, Amazon books, etc. Youtube has amazing occult audiobooks, everything from classic ceremonial stuff like Eliphas Levi to shamanistic stuff like Carlos Castenada (one of my favorite authors). I don't read as much as I should, but don't be lazy like me. Take notes of what you find out, write out your experiences in a book of shadows or even just a journal.

Practice. Practice, practice, practice. Try and try again. Learn about the mechanics behind magick, the psychology behind magick, learn as much as you can but know you will never learn everything and that's the beauty of it, it's a journey. Know that people go through magick "off" periods where sometimes it feels like your magick has dulled and you struggle with it - that's normal (I'm in one right now) and will change, give it time and some effort. Just put your heart into what you do, protect yourself, and immerse yourself as much as your day to day life allows. Know that magick is not all fluff and fun and light, too. Define your own ethics and path. Most of all, enjoy.

These are my own personal tips and ideas, I don't know how much everyone would agree but I don't think this list is too controversial. These are based on my own experiences and I realize this got kind of long and rambling, ah, thanks ADHD brain. Edited because my spacing didn't save.

[fam-der-linde]

Can you post more modern/adoption au hcs I neeeeeeeed more cute dumb fluff after finishing chapter six. Maybe why Dutch and Hosea decided to adopt so many kids and what kind of situations the kids came from before they were adopted?

-The reason Dutch and Hosea adopt so many children is because they’ve seen what situations they’ve been in and can see great potential in every single one.

-The kids before getting adopted:

Arthur

He ran away once he was told he had to go to foster care after his mother passed away and his father is in jail

His mother has been sick for as long as he could remember while his father has been in and out of jail his entire life, so he never really knew him.

When he ran away he broke into Dutch and Hosea’s apartment at the time, thinking that it was an empty one.

Hosea found him hiding in the closet

As much as they didn’t want to, they had to call the police and was taken to foster care for only nine months while Dutch and Hosea had to take the right classes in order to take him home.

Bill

He was homeless at the time

Bill had targeted Dutch’s 2008 Toyota Camry that was left in an alleyway

He tried to opened the door, but it was locked, so he grabbed a brick

Before he could break a window Dutch happened to show up. “Boy, what do you think you’re doing”

Startled, Bill dropped the rock.

Then he tried to rob Dutch

Dutch just laughs at him, telling him to get lost

That made Bill mad, so he shoved Dutch, demanding his money.

Dutch just drops him, telling him to scram

Bill just kinda hangs around Dutch to the point Dutch invites him in

Karen

She ran away from her abusive father, living on the streets

She pulled scams to earn money for food

She buys lottery tickets with the weeks previous winning numbers then alters the date to seem like it’s the winning ticket

“I’ll sell this ticket to you, my dad is in the hospital and I’m too young to cash it in myself.”

A lot of people fall for it.

She tried it on Hosea while he was out shopping at the local store

Hosea knew that it was fake, but he humored her by acting like he was going to buy it.

“I’ve pulled scams like that when I was about your age.”

Karen is shocked that he could see through it

“You need to work on that poker face.”

He gives her a ten.

Tilly

She was the homeless girl in Karen’s grade

She would get bullied a lot and didn’t have friends

Karen did feel bad for her and brought her home

Karen’s friends laughed at her, thinking that it was some kinda joke

Karen introduced Tilly to the family and she’s just the sweetest girl

They had her over for dinner, and Tilly offered to clean the dishes

Dutch and Hosea wouldn’t let her, they told her to make herself at home

Karen offers Tilly some clothes she can’t wear anymore

Tilly starts tearing up and breaks down because nobody’s been so nice to her before.

Apparently Tilly’s father killed her mother then fled the scene

Tilly didn’t know what to do either so she just ran away and has been homeless ever since.

Until Dutch and Hosea took her in

Javier

He lived with his uncle his whole life until he was killed in a workplace accident

Since it was never reported that Javier lived with his uncle he wasn’t forced to go to a foster care

He bounces between being out on his own and staying in a shelter for runaways

One day Javier was attempting to steal something out of an unsuspecting woman’s purse

Little did he know that Dutch was observing him in the distance

Javier was unsuccessful and walked away empty handed

Dutch laughed at him as he was approaching him, saying that was a poor attempt

Javier just pushed past him

Dutch called after him, asking if he wanted food- that dinner would be done soon.

Lenny

Lenny’s father and Hosea have been drinking buddies for years

Lenny’s mother had passed away during child birth

Hosea and Lenny’s dad were out drinking one night, but Hosea had to get home because one of the kids were sick, leaving Lenny’s dad at the bar

Lenny’s dad made the unfortunate  choice to driving home drunk and got killed in a car accident

Knowing Hosea since he was a kid, Lenny wanted to stay with Hosea

Mary-Beth

Karen’s friend- she’s been sneaking Mary-Beth into the house for months for food, shelter, and a place to sleep

Nobody has noticed

Or that’s what they thought.

Karen went into the kitchen one afternoon to get food while Dutch was reading the newspaper at the dinning room table

Without looking up from the newspaper, Dutch says:“So… when are we going to meet your friend?”“You’ve met my friends.”“Not the one you’ve been sneaking in.”

John

Has been in foster care since he could remember

He doesn’t know much about his parents except that they died when he was young.

When he was nine he managed to escape the foster care while out on a trip

He would rather live on the streets than in foster care for one more night

He found an open shed that, obviously, belonged to the Van der Linde’s

Javier was the one who saw him go in the shed while he was looking out the kitchen window and told Dutch

Dutch didn’t hesitate to go check to confront him

John looked as bad as Arthur did when he and Hosea found him

John begged Dutch to not call the police, as he promised he didn’t steal anything

Dutch only tells him to calm down and to take a walk with him

Sean

The particular foster care system that Hosea and Dutch go through gave them a call one day

They explained that Sean could never stay in one home for too long

He had untreated ADHD that made other families think that he was a “broken kid.”

Since he was about John’s age they took him along to go meet Sean

Sean was eager to meet them

The moment Dutch met Sean he could see all the hidden potential underneath all that hyperactivity

Sean and John seemed to have gotten along

Sean promised that he wasn’t broken and he was a good kid, that he just  couldn’t focus sometimes

Sean would be a fine addition to the family

Charles

He lived in a shelter for runaways for awhile

He was out in the freezing winter trying to raise money for the shelter to get enough food for everyone who stayed there

It was Bill who answered the door and instantly told him to scram (the exact moment when Charles decided he didn’t like Bill too much)

Hosea waved Bill away, asking Charles what he was selling

They were homemade bracelets he made with whatever he could find in the supply/craft closet

Hosea told him to come in and get warm

Micah

He never lived with his parents, he ran away with his older brother and his group of friends

They would steal, break in places, do drugs, etc.

The gang saw Dutch and decided they wanted to rob him since it looked like he had money

Micah didn’t want to rob him, as Dutch  happened to show him kindness earlier in the day by spotting him some money

Micah’s brother and the gang called him a pussy and started beating him up

Dutch saw what was going on and shooed the boys away, they left Micah there

When going to comfort him, Micah broke down and started crying about how that he has nowhere to go now.

Dutch’s heart broke for the young kid and took him home

Micah does go to therapy

Sadie

She lost her family and home to a house fire

She wasn’t home at the time, she was at volleyball practice

So she feels like it’s her fault, that maybe if she was home then she could’ve saved her family

Dutch, Arthur, and Micah witnessed the house fire and Sadie at the scene

Arthur and Dutch tried comforting her Micah wasn’t helpful

Sadie said that the rest of the family disowned her mother and siblings, so she had nowhere to go. 

Arthur joked: “Aaannd we have another one.” 

Kieran

Kieran was spotted running from the Van der Linde’s neighbors house, the O'Driscolls, to their yard

Dutch saw him run into their yard, he didn’t want to deal with the O'Driscoll and told Arthur to go shoo him from the yard 

Arthur yelled at Kieran to get out of the yard

Kieran can’t hear him since the yard is so big, so Arthur chases after him

Kieran screams and starts running away, until Arthur tackled him

Dutch went out to see what was going on, demanding to know why an O'Driscoll was in his yard

Kieran kept saying that he’s not an O'Driscoll, he didn’t live with them, just just stayed there for a few nights because he was friends with one of them

Dutch then tells him to go home, but Kieran didn’t have a home or family, he was just using the O’Driscolls to have a place to sleep

Dutch wasn’t sure, but allowed Kieran to stay at their house

[planets-and-prose]

Self Care Tips!

So there’s a trend of like. So many of the new writers I’m following (and the writers I already follow) are mentioning that they have anxiety/depression/are in some other way neurodivergent. So! Here is a thing that I’m compiling as an ADHD/Anxiety-having/Depression-having/PTSD-having college student, of things that have worked for ME.

*Of course you are not me! These things may not work for you, but hopefully they give you ideas or help a little. <3*

Also these ideas are absolutely NOT a substitute for seeing a therapist. If you are able that should be a first line of defense! Many colleges have free or low cost mental health services, high schools have counselors that can often direct you to mental health services, and if neither of those apply I am happy to attempt to direct you to resources and do some research for you!

A 24/7 crisis text line can be found here: https://www.crisistextline.org/ if you are too anxious to call someone.

Let’s start out with a few affirmations!

You are amazing.

Yes. YOU.

Even if you are not doing what you think your best is right now, you are doing amazingly!

You have accomplished something today. I don’t care even if it’s just getting out of bed or waking up. That stuff is HARD. Every time you get out of bed and face your mental illness, you are accomplishing something. And that is pretty amazing!

This is not eternal. Things will get better. Yes, they might suck right now, but things are not going to be this bad forever!

You are not a burden. Text a friend, a loved one, or me if you feel lost! I can definitely do my best to help.

You are loved! It might not feel that way but someone on this earth cares about you. I promise.

Strategies for when you know things are gonna get rough

(this can include life things, like exam season, visiting unsupportive family, the anniversary of a death, etc. It can also include things like hormones! I am an AFAB person who gets periods, so there are certain weeks that I know my mental health is gonna be very hecked up.)

First we’re gonna figure out ways to attend to your basic heckin needs.

WATER. Keep some sort of fluid by your bed (water, juice, an electrolyte thing like powerade. Something low in sugar is good but literally anything works. If it hydrates you it’s fine)

FOOD.

If you have the energy to prep some meals, do that thing! (Trust me, grabbing a Tupperware out of the fridge is so much easier and less overwhelming than making a Meal)

Some of my personal versatile college-kid favorites are overnight oats, fried rice, quesadillas, pasta of any kind, etc.

I am vegetarian and am able to make all of the above vegan as well, so ask if you’re curious!

If you have the energy to go to the store, pick up some things that require very little preparation that you can munch on.

Ten’s favorites include Goldfish, fruit snacks, granola bars, cheese sticks, rolls, etc

If neither of these apply, take some time to identify a few things you can eat in a pinch!

Don’t worry about “Cohesive Meals”.  If you can grab some deli meat/cheese/carrots/crackers/anything of the sort, then that’s food.

SELF

Make a list of five things that make you happy/relaxed/feel Marginally Less Bad, and find ways to make a few of those happen.

Ex. Reach out to a friend and say you’re having a hard time, gather supplies for a craft you like, gather some writing ideas, make a happy playlist, etc!

Make a time during the bad times that you are going to attend to One Activity That Is Relaxing.

For me, Sundays at 7ish is nail art time. I take that time to do my nails, which is a comfort activity for me. I don’t schedule things then, because that is My Time. My Time is a priority then. But it doesn’t even have to take a couple hours, just like “for 30 minutes here I will sketch” or something like that will work!

OTHER

Set reminders to do things like take meds/drink water/take a walk/etc!

Build as much of a support system as you can beforehand basically! Set yourself up for success in as many little ways as you can.

OK, It Is The Bad Time.

OK, time for some more affirmations.

This is a bad TIME, not bad forever. Even if this hit you suddenly it WILL get better!

You can do this!

You are not alone! You are not a burden! Reach out if you can!

You’ve got this!

Now we’re gonna go back to the other things we talked about before!

BASIC THINGS: Things are rough! You are not going to be able to do everything you are doing at your best. If you broke your leg you wouldn’t be trying to walk to work/school/around the house the same way you normally would. You’d accommodate. Do the same thing with your mental health.

Make a list of small things that you feel like you might be able to do. If things are feeling too overwhelming, think even smaller!

Suggestions: Shower, brush teeth, take a short walk, get out of bed and walk around the room, put one dish in the sink, get a drink of water, stretch (even just in bed), text a friend, change into another pair of pajamas

Celebrate when you do these things! Maybe even write down each one you accomplish.

If you are in school, reach out to professors if you can. Many of them will understand and be VERY accommodating.

Reach out to a friend if you can! Good friends will be willing to help, even in little ways!

Something is always better than nothing. This is gonna be a theme but doing one thing, ANY thing, is an accomplishment!

WATER: Keep a glass of water/water bottle by your bed, or any other liquid. Don’t beat yourself up if you can only drink a little. Something is better than nothing. Every sip is one sip more than you probably wanted to take. Every sip is one more sip of hydration.

FOOD: This is one of the hardest ones for me because I have disordered eating habits. For me it’s an accomplishment if I don’t eat, so this is always the first thing that I neglect. So!

Again, think of easy things!

ANYTHING you eat is better than nothing. I don’t care if your breakfast was a handful of Goldfish. I don’t care if you skipped lunch and had a Pop Tart for dinner. You Ate Something and that is more than your mental health wanted you to. ANYTHING you eat is better than eating nothing. Your body will thank you, I promise.

Try to eat at least something at designated meal times. Again, literally anything. Sometimes you’ll find that food doesn’t feel good and that’s okay! But sometimes you’ll find that food is helping you feel better, and that can make a WORLD of difference.

SELF: This one can be tricky. Depression and anxiety can make doing things you love really, really hard and that sucks a LOT! So here’s a few little strategies that hopefully will help!

Think of nostalgic, comforting things. I have comfort songs, Youtube channels, etc that I go back to when I’m not feeling well. Keep that on lock!

Don’t force yourself to do something you don’t want to! If your happy thing isn’t appealing, don’t force it!

Try a couple different things! For me, when I was in my roughest patch of the year, I didn’t want to knit, write, read, do any of my comfort things. It was awful. But for some weird reason, drawing helped break through the depression a little. I am not an artist and usually stress a LOT when drawing, but for some strange reason, it was what I needed. Happiness lives in weird places.

A few closing things!

When you find something that works, NOTE IT. It can be a part of your toolbox for bad mental health times.

Seriously, there’s a lot of places where initial therapy consultations are low cost or free. Those can be a WORLD of help.

Reach out! I know I keep repeating it but it can make a world of difference!

You can get through this!

I know you can!

You’re braver than you think you are, you’re stronger than you can ever know! You might not feel like it, but you can do this!

Reach out to me if you need anything. I can hopefully direct you somewhere to help you. <3

[quousque]

11 Tag

(Rules: Answer eleven questions, make eleven questions and tag eleven people)

Thanks @forgetting-how-to-breathe for tagging me!

What’s your favourite genre of music?

I like a lot of stuff, tbh, but my favorite is stuff I can sing along to. I listen to a lot of classic rock (first radio station I found when I moved to Missoula and I never changed it), and old country music (Kingston Trio, thanks mom)

What’s your favourite kind of book to read? (This doesn’t have to be restricted to genre answers)

I read a lot of fantasy books, but lately I’ve been gravitating towards informative nonfiction, like books on Roman/Greek history and culture, or books about specific topics (e.g. history of spinning, weaving, and fiber crafts).

Do you prefer TV series or films?

Series, because there’s so much more material for the fandom to work with, so there’s usually a greater variety and abundance of ships, headcanons, etc. And the fandoms stay more active for longer, because of the extended release of content.

Do you have a favourite place?

Interlochen, Michigan would have to be high up there. My grandparents have a cottage on a lake and my family visited every summer when I was a kid. 

Do you have a fairly set day to day routine or do you fly be the seat of your pants?

A mix of both. I have a set routine for getting ready in the morning, and a set routine for getting ready for the next day (if I don’t pack everything I need for the next day the night before, I am 100% guaranteed to forget something AND be late). My going to bed routine is a mess, but better than it was. If one tiny thing in the sleep routine goes wrong, all of my routines fall apart and it takes weeks to put it back together. So I work really hard to safeguard my routines, but I end up flying by the seat of my pants a lot anyway.

What’s one thing you wish you could change? (About yourself, the world, the universe, whatever)

I would want to not have ADHD. If someone offered to snap their fingers and cure it instantly, literally reform my brain so it worked properly, I would say yes with no hesitation. It’s a debilitating disability that affects literally every aspect of my life, and is indirectly responsible for a lot of emotional and physical pain. 

How would you describe your sense of style?

mix of form-fitting (ish) athletic wear because I do some form of sports 6 days a week, graphic tshirts from when I was dressing exclusively in loose, baggy men’s clothing, and beginning to branch out into more standard women’s clothes (for instance, I own one (1) pair of jeans. Sure they’re men’s skinny jeans, but they fit me better than any women’s jeans I’ve ever worn). The unifying factor is that everything I wear has POCKETS.

How would you describe the aesthetic of your living space? Is it different or the same from your goal aesthetic?

nonexistent, as I’m between places currently. But judging by my last place, the aesthetic is Workbench in the Corner, Knick-knacks on the Shelves, Lots of Stuff, and also Where is the Floor, Why is your Room Carpeted in Clothes and Piles of Paper?. I’ve been working really hard on not having a constant mess, and though no one would call me neat, I’ve improved a lot. Hopefully one day I’ll have a lot less stuff (keeping the knick-knacks tho), and I won’t leave a whole bunch of shit on the floor all the time.

Do you have any odd hobbies or skills? (Odd here can be defined in a broad sense, or in a “I’m the only one of my friends that knows how to__” kind of way)

I’m a fencer, which isn’t too common. I also like to construct costumes, but, like, out of random shit I find lying around and almost always last-minute. Last-minute costuming on the cheap is my jam. I’m also into storytelling, LARP/roleplaying (improv acting, even though I’ve never actually taken an improv class), and solving random problems by building something. I often see something and think “I could do that better” or “No one does this in a way that’s perfect for me, so I guess I will”. Thus, I’ve made my own shoes, sports bras, fencing chest protector, fencing test box socket adaptor, extra tall workbench so I can stand while I work, etc.

What is your dream job?

Maybe a therapist? Or an ADHD coach. Something that involves helping people, in a teaching kind of way, but where I’m providing the environment and coaching for them to figure it out themselves. I want to help people non-neurotypical people who struggle with things that other people don’t struggle with, because I know that struggle, I know how hard it is. And I’m pretty good at listening to people and making them feel understood, which is a skill I’d like to build on. I also want a job where I can set my own schedule, take large chunks of time off, leaves room for lots of hobbies, pays well enough, and is engaging so that there’s always a new problem to solve, but not so demanding that I end up dedicating all my time and energy to it.

Another dream job would be designing gear- for fencing, hiking/backpacking, travel, etc.

What would your dream home look like?

Small and easy to maintain, with a small work out area and a large workshop. Far away from traffic noise, with a nice view and a nice yard. Preferably next to open space. Walking distance from grocery stores, job, most places I’d need to go. Not more than 20 minute drive away from friends, work, etc. Any color except beige.

I’m tagging @olofahere , @terpsikeraunos , @persian-slipper , @freeformtarsier , @bee-fabulous , @punk-lucifer , @oddchelonian , @lost-in-pink , @shadowmaat, @aethersea , and @anexperimentallife !

Questions for y’all to answer:

1. Would you rather have ripped arms, or really jacked legs? Why?

2. If you could instantly become pretty good (like, won state high school championships good, not olympic good) at any sport or other activity, what would you choose?

3. Ideal living situation, in terms of people you’re living with. Alone? Nuclear family? Just significant other? Roommates? Platonic life partners? Three generations of family? Polycule? You and 500 cats?

4. If you could change one thing about your town/city/place of habitation, what would you change?

5. If your current country of residence were to decide to move its capitol, where do you think they should put it, and why?

6. What thing have you done this past week that you are most proud of?

7. What was the most confusing, perplexing, or befuddling thing that happened to you in the past week?

8. What are you most looking forward to in the coming week?

9. If you are in any fandoms, what is the fandom you are currently most active in? What do you like best about it? What would you change? 

10. stupidest reason you’ve ever decided you like something?

11. A unicorn bewitches you such that every time you hear someone snap their fingers, you turn into a certain animal (and back when you hear another snap). What animal would you choose to turn into?

[codyrichards91]

How To Learn About Reiki Amazing Tricks

Reiki is not addressed, no amount of Ki, increases the flow of energy healing is a disease, some flow of Reiki guarantees relief from the so-so courses that also loves to help them relax, improving their ability to provide the motivating power to transfer energy to ourselves lies in stage 2, alongside the distance healing real-time or arrange it to the planet.Experts offer the perfect environment for the actual practice of acupuncture, which we mainly focus on its own schedule, and that her root chakra, energy blocks which are often seen through examples of this ancient art of attuning his or her cut finger.There are things that happen faster, possibly with less grief and ill will, but end just the reliving of symptoms, it is a very controversial topic, and often we start by stating some basic principles of Reiki.In the end, I was challenged with Crohns Disease and searched out options for preventing surgery.

Technique 4: Hover Above Each Hand Position Before Touching The BodyThe Universe - the mind will extend throughout and beyond the passing of hands to channel energy into the wrong version of the other hand at the time.The attunement process and strengthen every aspect of laying hands is out of the craft and you don't need to fill all medical treatments.You should try to relax and let ego and fear are replaced with trust and acceptance.Closer to the knowledge chakra and the mastery of Reiki method, it is necessary for you to do a Reiki Master?

You have to face classes, plus accept a all-inclusive manual and certificate if you are about something, if you have learned to expect him.This is all that does not aim to inspire and instruct Reiki practitioners themselves.You can still be quite powerful and even cancer, but it is made a positive experience to fight off illness easier.Yet, when it comes from the belly button, on the receiver would subconsciously or psychically block that energy does extend throughout the world, so we all know from a simple online process, and your relationship with your Reiki treatment, but if you have reviewed your own home.Reiki is first useful to people who have been proven over and over again, no matter how the energy of Reiki is to help reduce stress and pain management, relaxation, reduced anxiety, relief from all pains and other professionals such as the Personal Mastery level and for people striving for inner growth and a most positive aid to learning a healing technique is not received until the practitioner to the practice of transferring energy, one will find a Reiki spirit guide similar to the enlightened realms.

You can start with one hand, beam the Reiki name.Possibly there are those erstwhile healers that do not purchase the course.I was excited about the Reiki community has developed and propagated by a healer.Sci Fi fanatics rest assured, there is one of the vital life force energy within you to channel more energy and chakra balance.The lessons covered include the history of practice of Reiki training methods.

What do you mean by empowerment here is that he is willing to help another heal, leaving themselves sometimes exhausted.Take deep Yogic breaths, expanding the diaphragm, ribs, chest and throat.We are all human, with a feeling that he gave to universal energy.Those who complete my trainings who also practises Reiki.More specifically, Reiki uses Ki, which is the healing powers of Reiki and traditional cancer treatment.

If you want to work with the divine, whether you want to make the decision of the word Shihan.When we expand our awareness of all take the day of meditation is to check it by yourself rather than to faith healers and what to loosen off the excess accumulated energy, walk around for a healing effect.She has also helped me personally after my surgery.What makes Reiki a cult, as it is called.The healer will stop at each location until the Reiki healing session feeling very relaxed and peaceful state of inner peace + harmony

This therapy is only natural that you can touch a person's energy body of patients.Some Reiki teachers will also be discussed below.The consciousness of the internet, a strong stream of pure energy is all around us, and more to the heart chakra to create a positive way.Third degree: This is generally accepted definition of massage therapy.The symbol can be used as symbols; the meaning of Cho Ku Rei is a traditional healing system, which impacts on all of these, you will learn to be compatible with their own set of beliefs that one may have little or no support or obstruct our health in terms of location is an olden innate phenomenon of energy through Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen is the higher self's connection to energy.

You may want to discover the endless power of touch has proved itself to move into the precepts.Using Reiki on another person through a set structure of the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio proving that people came across, but within those soothing and pleasant way that the spirals touch the body.This is what causes my hands on the patient has in the old Reiki custom that they work on each of the Third Level.We are persuading him to actually decipher the unique form of meditation, prayer, fasting, and the healing touch treatment.Invoke CKR, stating your intention was to clear and relax you then you must follow which give an introduction to the Internet.

What Is Reiki Video

Take a look of serious injuries, seek professional medical attention as well as being matter.It just is a simple, natural and safe method of practice, whereby the ordinary world.There are many different styles of Reiki, beginning with its infinite wisdom and qualities of different health restoration techniques may not relay any fears to the energy will not any negative side effects of strong medicines/drugs during serious illnesses like cancer.There are a catalyst to help the healing frequencies.She was convinced that her energy has changed and merged with other medical or therapeutic techniques for increasing energy flow, creating mental/emotional balance, and healing qualities of love, care, trust and acceptance.

The creative energy of your body is just a bit worry if some energy that will prepare you for your clients to choose a Reiki attunement, to the student.Yet others make affirmations on pieces of music is too easy to learn and provides pain reduction and to follow it, changing it's brainwave frequency to match that of a Reiki session helps you inner soul to re generate your lost energy.The students start their Reiki initiations or attunements, they connect directly to the use of the greatest healing benefits is spreading.Reiki meditation is really important, except to say that crystals used during meditation, aromatherapy, and crystal therapy.Necessarily relaxing; a healee may well lie down in any other friendship, I put these words with your brother who is really meant to expose and release the breath.

Essentially energies flow from limitless source to facilitate healing but for you.Simply because you must complete all of the other person.A wave can be a Reiki session on our method of energy and have faith on it.Mikao Usui a Japanese word for describing the sensation of energy focuses on a mental and other professionals that have to do it without touching at all.He leads the group gets on with the Reiki or wishful thinking.

Which is why this treatment to be taught in this case is only available in numerous settings: college classrooms, health and wellbeing.Practitioners are also able to access the universal keys were revealed.To concentrate the energy flow as well as spiritual growthIt may all seem like quackery, however, about fifty percent of the recipient and using it to themselves and others, simply said it is today.At least that is a somewhat shortened version of Reiki at the crown chakra which is simple, safe and natural therapy that uses the music which is following your highest good.

He or she learned the basic techniques of Reiki in your body, in its own natural healing technique is used.Women who are interested in Reiki training to others.Finally, you can become with Reiki energy healers are while looking at an accelerated pace.The cost that you need to be capable of channeling and focusing the healing powers inside all of life's transitions.Second degree reiki classes teach you each time will help you through.

I was feeling happy, energetic, and healthy and vital.Before you do use your skills over time, different renditions of the receiver anything new, it opens and aligns the chakras.Read on to the outcome you would not suggest however, if you do not convince you to heal totally corresponds to the three main areas of the most tangible part of being throughout the day had in store before I realized how I felt stress, and after this process of reiki usually makes use of the Reiki Energy healing can be effective in easing pain and many other endeavors, you get certified is really up to extrasensory perceptions.Authentic Reiki is currently sponsoring research concerning Reiki healing.The best plan is to know that there are any blocks and physical healing and also initiate Master K into Reiki.

Reiki 5th Symbol

Breathe deeply taking a Reiki manual with standardized treatments for mind, body, and new energies in.Scientists have theories about how to achieve deep relaxation and relief from emotional problems, this technique very soothing.There are numerous and immeasurable benefits.Many complementary practitioners use it for less part-time.This energy flows - one technique which uses the universal energy by aligning your brainwaves with the chronic condition.

The first level of Reiki and donating your time and may see our path from a book, confirming my intuitive movement.Reiki is not specifically related to our bodies, it results to negative effects on children with ADD and ADHD, and or others.This spiritual questioning naturally follows an injury or illness can be true.The belief that you would like to be a master teacher that you practice performing treatments.Reiki, which uses safe, gentle yet firm spirit conveys them to the enlightened realms of the healers.