#this whole thing is so fresh and fun teehee

[distant-velleity]

WOOOOO okay so school starts in a few days and i wont have time to make proper cards BUT—- i did some silly doodles for my ocs in @ashipiko ‘s SUPER FUN summer event bc i love them dearly and they need a break from the nonstop angst i put them through <3333

for the uninitiated, img1: chrysos and santiago img2: davis and ruixing img3: florian img4: yuhua

more thoughts if you’re interested and taglist under the cut!!!

chrysos and santiago would be so invested in the water balloon fight, they are THE MOST competitive and most athletic of all my twst ocs so 😭😭😭🙏🏼 really sorry to anyone who tries to take either of them on

although i think they’d be too busy targeting each other. ahh to be young and in love

look at davis being a mom friend even now <3

he’s honestly not that energetic so he’ll probably be chilling and talking with the few friends he’s made

ruixing was not built for long days under the sun LMAO he’s wearing one of those thin sun protector jackets. hydrate this birb 🙏🏼

florian is SO SHY help he almost didn’t show up but here he is… probably will enjoy a pawpsicle or something but he’s happy enough just being a part of it all actually

i drew yuhua in his post-ob look bc this look is peak whimsy and class. even though he normally wears muted/greyscale colors. he’s having so much fun and he quite likes this energy <3 whether it’s chattin with friends or getting SOAKED during the good ol water balloon fight

also yeah. basically everyone here has had minor adjustments to their hair, mostly getting it out of their faces some LOL. figured it's about time they get even just a bit of variation hehehehe

if you read this far thank you <3 i havent drawn some of these guys in. Too long now haha they need some love again 💖💖

-

art taglist (ask to be added or removed): @thehollowwriter @theleechyskrunkly @elenauaurs @casp1an-sea @nahelenia

@skriblee-ksk @boopshoops @scint1llat3 @nyx-of-night @nemisisnemi

@the-banana-0verlord @beneathsakurashade @kathxrat-01 @ramcatshackle

[sillyyuserr]

Chapter 117 analysis (WE’RE SO BACK) obviously spoilers for chapter 117 and chapter 114

i cooked with this one trust

Everyones looking for them yadayadayada terukane

Yk im pretty sure this is meant to be lore heavy but LOOK AT THEM

I don’t know how to word this correctly but since chapter 115/116 between akane and teru there seems to have been something that happened in which they stopped being freaky?? 😭 like ykwim hold on

in chapter 114 this happened

completely ruined almost everything they had, but in the span of a few days, shit still going on, they havent had their deserved break yet like they got on chapter 96-97 and somehow in the midst of all this teru’s forgiven(?) him and just moved on?? Really not sure but based on what we know ab the red house the next chapter may answer some of our questions

Also, this is so little i didn’t see it the first time reading but teru goes to the drink machine thing to get one and mixes like 4 of the sodas,

takes one sip decides its shit and switches with akane’s already half drunken out of tea. Indirect kiss guys wait

Also this is JUST like the date they all went on when aoi was gone. Again, aoi is gone here too 😭 my girl getting left out of everything is acc crazy

She comes in later tho and finally gets caught up for the first time in forever MAN aidairo must hate her😭

But also

We find out mitsuba and kou are going there TOO so for the first time i think ever we have the whole gang in one spot 🤥 alot of firsts this chapter smh

ALSO an honorable mention to this i saved best for last

Sir stay away from my children

ok but fr i have no fucking clue what to say ab this cus this is either ‘teehee im right ur wrong!!~~♡’ type shit which he does alot, or genuinely like what we all think it is, which considering outside context may, in fact make it make sense trust let me explain

teru says shit like this ALL THE TIME its kind of his ACTUAL personality aside from his fake shit, like the way he is only around akane and sometimes kou (at least what we’re shown) so you’d think he’s used to this, but his initial reaction is more of a ‘um. what.’

ALSO— backround MATTERS, the backround in this one, is pure black, which is only shown during stuff LIKE THIS (important stuff) example:

Black background either means its dark, or its something important, something meant to be remembered, or something like that (probably)

and that panel had a BLACK BACKROUND

Why is this important you may be asking, it has a black backround— so it must be, right? If this was a silly little ‘teehee you can’t do this im better than youuu!!!~~♡’ then it probably wouldnt even have a half panel it’d be another one of the mini panels, but it not only had a whole panel for just this, a black background ;blocking LITERALLY EVERYTHING OUT ASIDE FROM THIS AND WHAT HE’S SAID, but also, pay attention the contents of what he said.

(a different translation, this one is easier to read)

‘you are not in any position to oppose me, are you, aoi? ♡’ could mean, A LOT OF THINGS so i’ll put them in a bulletin here because any of them make for an interesting path we may be taking on ‘this’ reality😭😓

Number 1: he could be impliying, and or reminding akane, that he’s still engaged to aoi, and that if akane still thinks they shouldnt change this reality, he should reconsider, CONSIDERING he is engaged to aoi, as aforementioned. (Most likely this one)

Number 2: the power dynamic, yes akane is a school mystery with the ability to control time itself but also, teru is an exorcist, a skilled one at that— and could probably easily overpower akane in a 1v1 (lowk hyped to see this happen pls let them fight) teru may be poking fun, or reminding akane, that teru is in fact powerful, more than he seems to keep fresh on his mind — them having SO MUCH to do

Number 3: maybe instead he just felt like teasing akane and i wasted time+space for nothing and was looking way too into it (this is supposed to be the terukane option😪)

Never once has he used this before??? Obviously you cant talk in symbols but the heart kind of implies the user of this symbol is talking in a playful/slightly flirtatious tone, hence, the reaction:

Okay okay point is i think teru is still madly in love with him

WAAAHHHH just look at him pooks who else does he do this with smhh 😓 NO ONE

which i think may be PARTIALLY true but also not entirely because mayb im just a tweaker

Me when i when i ehen you whrn you when

This may make no sense at all, or alot of sense man idk its 3:12am i go back to school in like 2 weeks i am not ready for sophomore year gn

terukane will be real one day trust🤍🤍

[babblingbookends]

20 questions for fic writers

Okay so hopefully I found all the people who tagged me in this game, thank you to @fleur-de-violette @goldenraeofsun and @wildsofmarch for the tag! (If you tagged me and I didn't see it, thanks to you too!)

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

Thirty-eight! I didn't realize there were so many.

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

50,029. A respectable number, but could be better

3. What fandoms do you write for?

DC Comics, but mostly Batman. I pretty much exclusively write fics for DC Comics, with the majority being Batman and Batfam-related comics. I have one single fic for another fandom, and that fandom is Avatar: The Last Airbender.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Tim Drake (Doesn't) Drink Coffee, which is also my first fic! It currently has 990 kudos

Do You Need Another Box of Tissues? which beats the next fic by 1 kudo, sitting at 242 kudos

Hypnogogic Jerks and Other Body Quirks is still one of my favorite titles! It has 241 kudos (update: I double checked before posting this and it now has 242 kudos, tying it for second place

Batman vs. Bridezilla has an even 200 kudos

And number five is Isern, which I'm a little shocked by considering it's currently my most recent fic. It has 156 kudos

5. Do you respond to comments?

I try to! I don't get a lot of comments, so it doesn't usually take me long to get through them, but I do tend to let them build up a bit before I answer them.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Uhh good question. You're Just A Baby, You Can Not Fly is angst the whole way through, so maybe that one

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Realizing now that a lot of my fics are either angst or smut, soooo there's happy endings in most of the smut fics teehee. But also this one, Soda Pop, is sweet the whole way through.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I'm fortunate enough that so far, I have not! I don't feel like I'm big enough to get hate

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I do! Not sure how to describe what kind, but I've touched on a lot of smut things. This may be TMI, but I really like writing sex that also involves pain, I think it works so well with the Batfams gestures wildly everything.

10. Do you write crossovers?

No. I'm not opposed to the idea but it sounds too complicated for my writing tastes

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I've noticed or been told about

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not that I know of! I would love to have it happen though

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Nope! I think it sounds fun but collaboration scares me sometimes because what if. what if I'm actually stupid. and my co-writer hates everything I come up with. Horrible thought

14. What's your all-time favorite ship?

My all-time favorite is a tough one to choose butttt I really like Wonderbat from Justice League Unlimited. Niche, I know, but it was my childhood ship and holds a special place in my heart. Never actually written something for it though!

15. What's a WIP you want to finish but doubt you will?

Hoooooo-boy, I recently abandoned a buuuuunch of wips in my wip folder because I had named them random, unimaginative stuff, and simply didn't have the mental energy to go through them and see what was in them and rename them so I just put them all in a folder and started fresh. However, in that folder was another folder where I had a series planned based around Jason and a bunch of members of the Batfam. Each fic would have chapters from Jason's POV and another character. The first fic was Jason and Tim solving a missing persons case. I think Barbara's was them, like, getting trapped in a mall by the Joker, and I vaguely remember that Dick's took place in New York City.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I have no idea. Maybe my descriptions of stuff? I really like describing things in unexpected ways and trying to pull emotion into them. No idea if other people like it though!

17: What are your writing weaknesses?

I always feel like my flow is really bad. Like some places feel really slow and some places feel too rushed, if that makes sense. I also think that when I'm writing a character I always make the character feel a bit too distant, like I'm just describing what's happening to them instead of making the reader feel what's happening to them.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

Well you see, I have this bad habit of thinking I can just learn an entire language in an afternoon, which means that no writing actually gets done. So unless it's something I can a. easily translate from a dictionary (so a single word or a simple, common phrase) or b. ask one of my international friends to translate for me, I usually find another way to say it without using the actual language. Maybe sticking the words in italics, or the old classic "he said something in Russian".

19. First fandom you wrote for? 

Batman! As I said above, my first fic was Tim Drake (Doesn't) Drink Coffee. Before that I only wrote original stories.

20. Favourite fic you've written?

All these questions about fics when I don't remember anything about any fic I've ever written XD.

Probably either Gotham Roulette or Clock-Beat, Heart-Beat. Based off of popularity, Gotham Roulette is one of my least popular, but I still like it, it was so dramatic. And Clock-Beat was really fun to write, it's about the Batfam from the perspective of a clock.

And that's that!

Tagging @cephalog0d, @adelfie, @nelson-and-murdock, and whoever else wants to play!

[antrunner]

hey bestie can tell me about Kyle's origin story like how he vecame green lantern if possible can you explain how the others besides hal became green lantern

OF COURSE

so, kyle's origin is the most interesting and compelling to me, but in order to fully understand his start, we need a bit of context.

Hal Jordan. ya know him ya love him or maybe you cant stand his ass. he'd been The Green Lantern for decades!! but suddenly its the 80s. and he's exhausted. he's worn down and tired. and the 80's are like a minefield for him as he tries to find what he wants to do with his life. feeling lost and beaten down (both metaphorically and literally). then theres a reign of the supermen crossover thing where Mongul destroys the entirety of Coast City

7 million people dead in an instant, a lot of which were Hal's friends, family and neighbors. He grew up there and suddenly it's all gone and it's just a crater left. It breaks that final thread for him and he creates a massive construct of the city. The Guardians (the corps bosses) HATE this because rings aren't supposed to be used for personal reasons, so they revoke his ring.

Hal gets pissed and runs back to Oa in an attempt to argue with them... and it turns deadly. VERY deadly. Out of the 3000-4000 lanterns, only a handful survive Hal's rampage. He kills every Guardian except one (Ganthet), and absorbs the power from the central battery.

Anyways, long story short, Kyle is literally at the club and walks outside to get some fresh air and Ganthet goes "you'll have to do i guess" and gives him it. LMAO yeah that's his origin story. 100% CHANCE AND LUCK. it's fucking awesome. because it's completely different from all the other lanterns, who are chosen specifically by the guardians and the rings. like John and Guy for example. Guy was the second choice for Hal, but happened to be further away when Abin Sur (Hal's predecessor) died. John was then Hal's replacement. (I haven't read a whole lot about them since i'm working my way through some other runs, but thats the gist of it!)

Kyle, on the other hand, was completely alone, untrained, and also caught up in the middle of a cosmic massacre. It's really fun watching him figure things out and the ups and downs of his life. to me, being a 20-something year old art major too, his story resonates extremely deeply with me. Ron Marz has some AMAZING writing too. Highly recommend reading Green Lantern 1990 (kyle's run starts at around #50). It's super fun and engaging and we get to see Parallax (Hal) vs Kyle and how sometimes violence really genuinely isn't the answer, and sometimes people just need a friend to talk to. it's so freaking awesome

Lmk if you need more info I didn't wanna infodump too much today........ teehee

[auxrorkind]

fabian prewett: an introduction

hi it’s me i’m back with this lil bitch uhhh pls keep in mind that some of this is subject to change dependent on various plotting of the past present and/or future that is soon 2 come 

Basics:

Name: fabian jasper prewett Pronunciation: fay-bee-an Meaning: great question  Birthday: august 24th, 1957 Age: 23 Pronouns: he/him Sexuality: bisexual Siblings: gideon prewett (twin), molly prewett (younger sister) Parents: peter prewett & melody prewett (nee macmillan) Other Family: the macmillan’s, most purebloods lets be honest lmao Languages: english, irish Current Residence: tbd stay tuned :)  Hometown: uhhhh also stay tuned :)

Wizard Fun:

Hogwarts House: ravenclaw Year of Graduation: math is hard someone else who has a 23 year old figure it out and get back to me thanks Occupation: auror Pet: a PAINFULLY old owl named The Bard, old classmates will recognize him as the owl he had at school who was old as shit then, so honestly how the hell is he still kicking?? we don’t know Blood Status: pureblood Species: wizard Patronus: bloodhound Boggart: molly & gideon’s dead bodies teehee Amortentia: lavender, wet grass, fresh wood, cinnamon Wand type: red oak wood, core of dragon heartstring, 12″ Affiliation: order of the phoenix 

Appearance:

Height: 6′1 Hair Color: brunette Eye Color: brown Typical Hair Style: messy and a little too long Fashion Style: here’s his fashion pinterest board for this very reason: https://www.pinterest.com/notcharliebucket/hp-fabian-prewett/see-i-do-good-fashion/ Distinguishing Features: he has a shocking amount of scars and honestly 90% of them are from dumb shit, not order or auror shit. potions accidents, miscast spells, quidditch crashes, tripping on his own feet, getting into dumb fights, you name it. 

Personality:

Positive Traits: passionate, clever, creative, sociable Negative Traits: hotheaded, immature, conceited,  

Quick Facts/Headcanons:

he’s the older twin by a few minutes and therefore he is the eldest of the prewetts and he does make a point to bring that up in conversation with them whenever possible

has invented various potions throughout his illustrious side-gig as a potion maker (it’s a hobby), all of varying degrees of purpose and success, though his favorite is what is essentially an extremely overpowered redbull 

fab is a full member of the order and is - and always will be - still fully dedicated to them. he’s taking this whole “losing” thing pretty hard lmao, “laying low” isn’t a part of his vocabulary so lil faby waby is adjusting 

was captain of the ravenclaw quidditch team at hogwarts and still holds a large passion for the sport, he used to play on the local recreation team in the summer but he doesn’t have the time anymore. he DOES take the world cup very seriously though, go puddlemere!!!!

loves both of his siblings very very much don’t touch them don’t look at them weird don’t even tell them they’re stinky only HE can say they’re stinky

he's a very smart lad who will be serious and brainy when he truly needs to be but boy howdy does also do a lot of dumb shit 

he’s throwing himself into his work at the moment to keep busy, taking double shifts and volunteering for every opportunity that comes his way and doing a loooot of paperwork.

fitness junkie masochist who goes on frickin like 4am/5am runs before work

he’s a big sweetie who loves to love people and he gives great hugs BUT he also holds massive grudges and will happily straight up fight anyone who is a dickwad

ummmm that’s all i have for now i am speepy but i am very excited to be back and writing with yall and cant wait to plottttt

[emotionalsupportfiction]

Can we get chai and lemon tea from the prmpt list?

Teehee~ I’m going to assume you want all the handsome RGB boys, so Ahem~ -uses Starbucks barista voice- One lemon and one chai tea for anon~!

lemon tea; what are mornings like with them?

chai tea; how do they spice up their relationship?

Lukas

·       Expect mornings with Lukas to have breakfast in bed. He’s always early to rise so he’ll whip up either French toast, waffles, or pancakes for you while you sleep

·       If you aren’t awake from the smell of food, he’ll press a very light kiss on your lips or whisper in your ear (who wouldn’t love to wake up to that voice that sounds like liquid chocolate?)

·       If he isn’t in a rush, you’ll enjoy a cup of coffee in bed after breakfast, along with some warm banter. He’ll talk about what he has to do that day and mention how he looks forward to coming home to you at day’s end

·       To keep the relationship fresh, Lukas doesn’t mind getting into your hobbies or even exploring new hobbies you can do together. Maybe you want to take up sewing, he’d gladly pick that up with you. Interested in dance classes, he’ll gladly tag along and participate.

·       I can also see him talking to you about things you want to try out in the relationship. If this is going into more, ahem, sensual territory, communication is key. If there’s a kink or fantasy you’d like to explore, he’s down (totally see Lukas very into edging and toys)

·       Lukas can come across as very vanilla, pure and conventionally romantic, so spicing up the relationship is a team effort. He won’t take offence if you think his ideas aren’t spicy enough (if you tell him nicely)

·       Perhaps he’s getting some pointers from Python but occasionally Lukas will surprise you with a playful pinch to the butt, its very unexpected from him but you take it as a sign that he’s becoming more and more comfortable with you and physical touch

Python

·       Mornings with Python are a struggle. His arms are all tangled up in yours, you can’t wiggle your way out of bed. If you do, he’ll pull you back and lock you into an embrace.

·       If you manage to escape him, you’ll be the one making him breakfast. He’ll often notice your absence quickly and get out of bed. Python will hug you from behind and nestle his head into the crook of your neck, maybe planting a few kisses here and there or dozing off.

·       He’s at his sweetest when he’s just woken up and hasn’t rubbed all the sleep from his eyes. You’ll often get peppered with feathery kisses or “I love you’s”. He denies ever saying the 3 words and insists you must’ve been dreaming.

·       I’m just gonna say it… Python likes morning sex. He sleeps much better with you in his arms and he wakes up more energized and refreshed. Spending most if not all his energy on you in the morning is the perfect excuse to stay in bed for the rest of the day.

·       In the sexy times department, that isn’t really a problem. His drive is average but when he’s in the mood, you can expect Python to perform. (He’s down with you pegging him or tying him up and blindfolding him then domming him.)

·       Python adds spice to the relationship by being all sweet, stark contrast to his cool and casual approach to things. A nice date every now and then, dancing with you under the moonlight, and even a serenade, things you wouldn’t expect him to do. If he says it in passing as a sort of test if you’re into that kind of stuff and you say that’s not something you’d see him do, Mila’s grace he takes that a challenge and he will surprise you. “Challenged Accepted” is his motto

Forsyth

·       You are going to wake up to Forsyth looking at you with so much love and adoration, its as if you woke up to the sun right next to you.

·       LOTS of morning kisses and cuddles. He doesn’t care if your morning breath could kill a wyvern, he will kiss you.

·       If you walk around in his clothes in the morning, it will send him to another plane of existence. He loves seeing you wearing his shirt or tunic.

·       Forsyth is a morning person and wouldn’t dare stay in bed or sleep in but if he sees you wearing his shirt, he’ll definitely try to pull you back into bed to steal a few more cuddles and kisses.

·       TICKLE FIGHTS.

·       You’ll always cook breakfast together (1. Because he never fails to wake you up with all the kisses. 2. Forsyth is a fire hazard), it’s a fun and playful experience. He’s always feeding you pieces of fruit or maybe dabbing some honey or butter on your nose or cheek.

·       Ho boy… you really don’t need to spice up a relationship with Forsyth, his energy and being a hopeless romantic always makes things exciting.

·       He never stops courting you, he’ll pull off the whole “Would you date me all over again?” thing. Gifts, dancing in a candlelit room, matching clothes, cheesy poetry, getting a pet puppy/cat together, he doesn’t run out of things to do in the relationship so its always interesting

·       If its bedroom stuff Dominate or edge him

[kittengirlcorner]

I don’t know what I’m doing on this blog haha. It’s been almost 4 years since i last posted here, and it was a cringe fest. Actually, not really. I tried this whole writing novel/story kind of thing, and i’m not that good at it. Like I have a solid plotline, or HAD should i say but i never really followed through. I honest completely forgot about this blog until i rewatched Awkward the MTV series, and I realized how FUN writing your feelings to strangers (or privately) would be! Soooo yeah, that’s what I’ll be doing from now on Inshallah. I will be writing in english and french sometimes, it depends on how I feel mostly; because feelings have languages too. :P 

So umm, this will be my online diary in some sorts, write out everything that makes me happy, sad, angry, confused, anything really. And it’ll be my “glow up” journal as well. Hence the title, from nobody (where i currently am personally and spiritually, also physically if i’m being honest) to SOMEBODY, somebody i aspire to be. I’ll make a list of everything i want to become, and everything i want to change about my current self. This is mostly for self improvement, nothing unheathly hopefully teehee. 

So yeah, I’ll try to be as consistent as possible in this blog, not that anyone would read this, it’s just a promise to myself. 

PS: the picture is Ariana Grande, she has one the characteristics that i aspire to have, confidence, a good happy healthy relationship, she went from nobody to somebody, just like i want to do. 

How do you close a blog post???? I have to go get ready for school, gotta be looking fresh-ish. ok bye

[survivorreelsmagicwithin]

Episode 1B - “I'm praying to Yoncé I survive and don't get first boot.”-Jess

no words.

LITERALLY

NO WORDS.

Two points. TWO FUCKING POINTS.

I'm praying to Yoncé I survive and don't get first foot. That ain't a cute look xoxox

i'm already forgetting to search for the idols, i'm already getting paranoid about if i need to start making alliances instead of just enjoying the really cute convos i'm having with ruthie lily and kevin (max is kinda dry and annoying but... we'll try to make it work ig).... and i'm already hating every challenge we do especially this one although i actually really liked the challenge it was so creative and fun, i just hated that i have bad luck and am stupid with the deduction things, HENCE why i havent looked for the idol yet. LOL. so.... tl;dr - things are going perfectly! this hufflepuffle is workin exactly as he should!

I just wanna say we really are the hufflepuffs. 114 moves in like 5 hours, but we did it.  Really proud of Ruthie, Landen, Kevin, Max, and I! Sending positive vibes to slytherin. Hope they are okay in this madness.

Yo my tribe? Kinda dope. I think that everyone worked really well together today! I think Joanna kinda took the lead and some of her ideas were... a choice. But! It got us first place! I think that this tribe has a good shot of getting to swap unscathed.

With Slytherin going to tribal, I really hope that someone I don’t know goes, but at the same time I’d be okay with Jess going? I feel like she’s such a sleeper threat in most games I’m in with her and I really just don’t want to compete with that this time around.

I kind of snapped and got myself an idol good until final 6 teehee.

I knew that the Snape's letter or writing or whatever that freak was up to was SOMETHING. Did I get lucky... hell fucking yeah.

A crackhead like me SHOULD NOT have all this POWER.

I also gave Jacob literally the worst clue ever because we are sharing clues ladies xoxoxo

The clue was:

"Snape is taken aback. “That wouldn’t be any business of yours now would it? I wouldn’t want to find out you are spreading false information. I trust you won’t have any issue with that”. Congrats! You’ve discovered Snape Storyline 2! That’s all for the moment, and will end your search for this round."

BOTH ARE HALF TRUE. Just in case he doesn't put 2 and 2 together and now I went from place to place on purpose. He's gonna think now I gave him something of value and I know he's gonna think "No way someone go an idol on day fucking 3".

CONFESSIONAL 1.1 — Walking into the Great Hall, I saw a few familiar faces... for not good reasons!

First Jacob, who I know from tengaged. He and I were in a similar friend group for a short period before he left it, but we had a rocky relationship. We flirted a bit (blame 16-year-old Nicholas), but that is in the past.

Secondly, Jess... who I just directly sent home in Eve’s The Challenge: Fresh Meat. She did not have great words to say to me (such as I’m condescending), so I was very wary and, honestly, unhappy with her being here.

But, as Kylie Minogue says, it’s better the devil you know.

Flash forward to the Sorting Ceremony, and I’m so happy to be.. Slytherin? I told Mister Vintage (Sammy) and Mister Heinen (Caeleb) that I’m either a Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff, but I suppose I’ve been lying to myself.

Then, I see my tribe: both Jess and Jacob are present. This is a curse wrapped in a blessing wrapped in an enigma. And, I love it.

I hate, hate, hate conflict and bad vibes, so I directly spoke to both. Jacob did not easily recognize me, but remembered me fondly; so, a successful reacquaintance. Jess, on the other hand, was definitely more apprehensive (as was I), but I made one thing clear: the past is the past, and I am declaring my loyalty.

I have been hurt in previous games by shoving the past aside while the other is still grudgingly aiming for revenge, but I feel Jess is different. She apologized to me about her words, which did hurt, and I apologized to her. What I said was honest, so I’m glad to see a fateful blossoming.

The first reward challenge is revealed, and honestly, I’m really bad at participating in pre-merge competitions, because I do not mind tribal. However, I do want to, since we are such a small tribe, focus on maintaining our numbers in case of a swap. We came in second this reward, and honestly, I’m glad to have eaten cupcakes (although I hate cherry). The fact we all chose a dessert and were privately messaged makes me assume someone received an advantage, but who knows...

What I DO know is that I had two separate relationships, so I wanted to lock a trio down (Me, Jess, Jacob), but I obviously did not want to gamebot this early and make the chat day one. So, naturally, i waited until after immunity.

Speaking of immunity... I took charge, because I like it, but also, I wanted to be able to take blame if we lost. I hate the whole “let’s vote someone out cuz they cost us a virtual challenge” this early in the game, it’s a cheap way to vote. I want to vote on loyalty and activity instead. That’s why I am probably going to target Jessie or Vi, but I‘m unsure as to which will be my vote. On one hand, Vi is much less social, but she also contributed a lot to the challenge. I do not want to judge a book by it’s cover, so I will reach out to her and assess her vibe.

I like going to tribal first, because my philosophy is that it’s better to test loyalties now, rather than guess loyalties later.

Regarding other players, Jules and Juls just played in a mini with me and sheeped the majority alliance to screw me over, so I’m not feeling them right now. Bitterness doesn’t exist in my mind: play well and I respect it; sheep and be stupid, and I will gladly dish out the karma. 

I’m satisfied with the happenings of this game so far, and I hope to make it further!! This is one of my first real orgs so, I’m em definitely excited. x. nick

Yay we won immunity. Raffy do be carrying our tribe though!

WELL WELL WELL!!!!!!! as far as my relationships go which is where i left off last round, really nothing much has changed about how i feel about or view my tribemates, but in exciting news... we won immunity!! i am not going to be first boot that is so nice, and im hoping that we can keep winning immunity until a swap so I can feel more secure. I think I could stand a shot if we lost on this tribe but i think if so the vote would split 3-2 i dont think i can get a unanimous vote on anyone unless its myself which is NOT WHAT WERE TRYNA DO HERE !! if anything i feel like i have the best chance to wiggle myself in with the girls (lily and ruthie) Max would probably be my ideal first vote if we ever lose an immunity because I know landen can be useful in challenges, but he YET AGAIN addressed me with a name that does not sit well with me he called me a "challengewhore" yet another reference to TS 2020, so this is not a good sign. Ideally I could get landen out and still be set but i know he has a relationship with juls who i also have a relationship with and wish to continue to have in this game, and us going against each other could make that more stressful than it needs to be because i know landen avenged beck for voting juls out maybe juls would do the same for him? Much to think about, but thankfully i dont have to think about it all that hard because yet again we ARE SAFE !!! woo, anyways thats pretty much it hopefully we can keep winning :D

Ahhhh safety feels so nice, I’m glad that I’m not in danger of being the first boot. Also I love the fact that ravenclaw won the first challenge with so little moves HAHA!

I want to go far in this thing with lily and with kevin, my goal right now is to get to merge and owen be alive so I can work with him!

I am very happy to have won this immunity challenge. We barely won, but I managed to pull my tribe to a victory. Emphasis on the "I" part. I am very frustrated with my tribe's lack of challenge activeness and ability. If the time did not work for them, then I do not know why they even suggested doing it at 2 PM. This challenge would have gone faster if I had done everything myself. In the end, though, I hope this helps in me staying in the game because I am a necessity if they want to ever win a challenge in first place. I highly doubt that they could do it without me.

So I’m currently writing this with one hand because my cat decided to lie on my other one  anyways Nobody is really talking about the vote which means it’s probably me going but I’ll see what I can do to change that

Here's a breakdown of my first few experiences since I am writing this a few hours before the first tribal council.

FIRST I was cast in this game along with a BUNCH of people that are icons across different formats of Tumblr Survivor - so that's intimidating. Mostly because my play style is kinda vanilla in comparison. I gotta find a way to stand out or I'm going to be thrown out fast.

SECOND There's a twist that will probably have some major effect at some later point in the game where everyone is added to the Great Hall. I think that it's for convenience of posting things like results and challenges so it only has to be sent to one chat... but also so that we can feel THEMATIC which is a lot of fun.

The game started in the Great Hall and we got sorted into our houses and the implication was that it's random but.. I don't think it's entirely true if I can read into what the hosts said to me once I was sorted into Gryffindor (something about running out of room in Hufflepuff) - because I definitely didn't say Gryffindor in my application.

THIRD My tribe has the following people: Joshua, Juls, Raffy, Autumn, and myself. 

I do not know how many of theme said Gryffindor when they applied but also did not want to bring it up to them as I am masquerading as a brave idiot. :D

Anyway, I started conversations with all of them and they all seem very sweet!!

I've played in a game before with Raffy where he was super snakey but also a great ally until he tried to snake me. So there's that... he's also an "over the top" type of person so he takes charge a lot of the time and voices his opinions about everything. I hope we can create some sort of working relationship in the game, but I think that he will tell me the truth if he does align against me.

Autumn is super chill and super strategic-minded. She puts lots of thought into all of her decisions and makes calls that benefit her getting to the end while trying to align with the right people. If I can't get to the FTC of this game... TBH I want to make sure she gets there. I played with her in one game and we both were tossed out one after another when the game turned on our "side". I don't think that relationship will factor into this game as it was forever ago and we both kinda play "new" every time we start a game but I'm hoping she will want to try and play with me just because I've seen how great she is at the game.

Juls is a very fun person who seems to always be having a great time! I found out she lives in Texas too and that she was excited to get to know me because we are from the same state. I was like.. do I know you? Because when she messaged me the way she did implied that she knew who I was and I was thinking OH NO what have people said.

Joshua seems really sweet. He hasn't added incredibly much to conversations so far with him but he has contributed some fun things. I love that he tries to be entertaining, but as I see it so far he's the first person I'd be willing to vote out if it came to our tribe going to council... though of course, having said that I bet they've all declared me their first choice.

FOURTH The reward challenge was the Letter plus Number challenge so as predicted...

I did terribly and earned 0 points for our tribe and was SO happy it was not for immunity.

The immunity challenge was a Choose Your Own Adventure Puzzle.

We got a slow start in that I feel like everyone was afraid to make a move because that would put a target on whoever "failed for the team". Then me and Raffy kind of got things rolling with him taking the main leader role and me taking on a secondary role either agreeing with his suggestions or contributing a suggestion for what we should do.

There was a misunderstanding with the competition and we ended up making a whole bunch of extra moves because it was unclear to us that the letters we found at a later part of the challenge were able to be changed into numbers at a lockbox so we did a bunch of extra stuff... and I was resigned to the fact we were going to the first tribal when we go surprised that Slytherin... DID WORSE!!! O_O

Anyway... I still have no alliances or confirmed "working game" relationships and I really don't feel like starting those conversations at the moment so if I am out of the ones established or on the bottom of one that will add me to "pick me up" for later votes then I blame myself for not trying hard enough in that category.

FIFTH I definitely didn't just now search for the idol and waste two days that I could have searched other times. Nope! Not me!! :)

Anyway I went on a trip to Hagrid's Hut because I love me some Hagrid and I figured he'd let me in since I"m a Gryffindor and he loves us the best (you know, like a reverse Snape)... I dug through all of his junk and found his umbrella. Apparently I liked that it was pink and then left his hut. 

To be honest, I probably should have taken his dragon's egg and turned him in... maybe could have gotten him fired.

Someone finally got me to come out of retirement- can you believe it

It's been cute so far and I have no complaints, probably cause the hosts wisely put me, Owen, and Dan in separate corners lmao. Yooo if we all make it to merge?? Hell hath no fury. But we will cross that bridge when we get there! And for now I enjoy the calm before the storm. I deadass forgot how to be an org so I need all the time I can get to socialize and reacclimate. Me checking Skype more than once a year? Don't remember ever doing that. I love Raffy, it's always good to see Chips, I think I like Juls, and I'm not sure how I feel about Joshua but it's fine. I like Gryffindor cause we have no beef and I hope it stays that way.

ok so my tribe lost :( big sad. but im def ok bc jess is soooo close to me and we made a threesome with nick so. i think jessie is an easy first boot bc shes not around as much as vi. but really its our decision at the end of the day!

here’s the hot goss.. i’m a little upset i didn’t get anyone i Know on my house/tribe but also grateful HSBSNSNN all i know is that so far i’ve been doing pretty solid in securing relationships with those on my team (at least.. i hope so :flushed:) and i’m hoping they all like me hehe. kinda praying to just mist my way to merge where i can be united with people who like me enough to keep me around still.. >:D 

[anxious-band-pan]

A list of random crackheadery from high school cause I low key miss it

“I’m gonna yeet myself into the afterlife”

“I’m gonna rotisserie cook your future children and eat them”

“KARMA’S A B*TCH!” Yelled while playing a game of uno in homeroom very loudly

a kid walked around our lunchroom with a fake blue bird pinned in his hair which was life size and honestly the weirdest part of lunch

“What should i put on my shirt for (x club)? It’s between uwu, Space Boi uwu, and rawr XD. My goal is to be as cringey as possible.”

*crying* “Well you just threw off my groove and i-“

(To the tune of G-6) “I’m a dumb bish, I’m a dumb bish”

“(X name)! How far would you have been if i didn’t stop you to tell you you’re a thot”. “Probably yeeted off a bridge by now”

“He just looks like a sad pigeon with a boss hat”

(To the tune of celebrate good times) “end my suffering, come on!”

“My hands are white!” “YOU’RE WHITE!”

“I’m a firm believer in don’t judge something unless you try it, unless it’s illegal or drugs; don’t do drugs kids”

“.....but not all dogs can fit on skateboards!”

“Can we just cut my legs off and sell them”

“Invade my body, daddy bacteria”

“That’s what I imagine it would sound like if a spider ran in tap shoes”

“My church had an average attendance of 421 this year, we were so freaking close”

“Did you know that Waluigi has the same number of syllables as hallelujah, so if you think of any song with hallelujah in it you can replace it with Waluigi and it’ll fit”

“Anyone wanna feel my swollen gland”

“Your gay is like your mother’s tendency to sleep with men: plentiful”

“If being gay is a sin is satan the gay fairy”

“Vines are like actual vines: you get stuck and you never get out” “vines can choke you though” “Yes choke me daddy vine”

“You are each gonna have a burger component on your back” “I wanna be the meat ;)”

“Grab me however you want daddy hamburger”

*showing a paper with a picture of a bottom bun* “I guess you could say I’m a.... bottom”

“STOP EATING THE DUCT TAPE!”

“Shut up, don’t talk about my potatoes like that”

“Can you snort tide pods”

*whisper screaming and hitting a chair* “WHY IS COTTON EYED JOE BACK”

“But if two furries screw, is god cool with that?”

“PHD- pretty high dolphins”

“Do crocs have memory foam? i think not”

“I’ve run out of creative ways to whip”

“This is why we shouldn’t legalize weed, because we’re having this conversation sober”

“Don’t you just get sad every time a chair dies”

“Praise our lord and savior, Magic Mike”

“I’ll give you fifty bucks if you can guess what’s in my thermos.” “Coffee.” “No. It’s chicken noodle soup”

“I’m gonna eat your fingernails” “did you say EAT” “yeah, I’m gonna chew his fingernails off”

“I already went back to Mexico”

“You’re the BFG” “How so” “Big Frickin Gay”

“But since you’re gay, would you date me if i was” “the only way I’d date you is if you were an online catfish”

“We have a speaker with fake arms today” “he cant bring those in the school those are weapons” “how is he gonna throw them?” “With his feet”

“did you say the THOT police?” “no you idiot the THOUGHT police”

“I’m not scared of Russia. Like honestly i can beat them”

“I share a brian with satan and it smells shirty” (not a typo. Those exact words. I think it was making fun of a typo)

“I look like I’m about to go repaint all my mugs with lead paint”

“And today on the game show of sentences i never thought I’d have to say: it’s not a necklace if you buy it in the pet aisle of walmart”

“You look like the kind of person who would cut spaghetti with dull scissors”

“Hey, hey, hey, not in my f***ing Christian Minecraft server”

“We’re all going to hell” “Not me” “listen we’re in a school we’re already there” “True”

*to the tune of “what is love? Baby don’t hurt me”* “POKÉMON! BABY DON’T HURT ME, DON’T HURT ME, NO MORE”

“YO! PITBULL JUST CAME IN AND OFFERED DONUTS!”

“I’m gonna suck your eyeballs”

“Are we not allowed to have our nails painted since we’re guys” -a definite female, to another definite female

“Ok, so here’s the deal: straight people are uncooked spaghetti. Gay people are cooked rotini. I’m kinda like a cooked spaghetti. I’m not straight, I’m in between.” “The Italian is now interested I’m here what’s up with pasta”

“This song reminds me of Mexican food” “How does this remind you of Mexican food it’s jazz?”

“You’re not allowed to switch schools, I need my twin cop”

“You guys are the reason I wanna die” “you guys are the reason I drink”

*taking a huge drink of peanut butter hot chocolate* “I’m allergic to peanut butter” “THEN WHY DID YOU DRINK IT????” “Because i wanna die”

“so there’s two kinds of country hicks: the yee haws and the haw yees. Now the yee haws are the ones in country songs, they’re vaguely normal and drink and do horse riding stuff. The haw yees are the ones who fish with their hands and then f*** their cousins afterwards”

“Pop is just spicy water”

“I’m sorry, it’s not pizza Steve anymore” “Who is it” “the fresh prince of bel air”

A kid took his phone out of the microwave like that was a normal thing that humans do

“BUT IS HE DATING THE DEER?!”

“Chinese people eat cats, why not lesbians?” *teacher looks up* “saying Chinese people eat cats is too far”

“A gryffindor and a ravenclaw ooh this is good”

Two girls at the exact same time: *Gasp* TEA!

*girl leans back and cracks her head on a counter kind of thing* a friend:”that’s the third f***ing time!”

“SUCK MY WEENIS!”

“If you ever need a professional con artist I’m here” *teacher looks up* “you didn’t hear that” teacher:”hear what”

“Guys I’m stupid. You know when there’s a big number and then a lil number what’s the lil one called” “exponent?” “Yeah!”

*impersonating yoda screaming*

*chugging coffee* “well, I’m still just as tired, but now my atoms are just jazzed.”

“Not to quote Frozen, but you can’t marry a man you just met!”

“Not knowing what kind of exorcise people are talking about is always interesting, because I don’t know if we’re talking about working out or satan”

“If we actually die in the scene where they kill themselves, do we get bonus?” Teacher: *sighs* “sure.”

“Physically you have hair but spiritually you’re bald.”

*Singing boyfriend by BTR for about an hour straight*

“Stop saying teehee you sound like off brand Michael Jackson”

“He smells dead mice for a living!”

*kicking someone’s foot off a ledge* “long live the king!”

*holding a banana like a weapon* “give me all your debt!”

“I want my fingers to be four inches long”

“Let me read your head for a second”

“Oh no you’re white out now”

“This is what happens when your insides are cold”

“Did you just call me a dumb banana?”

“So Kelvin is Fahrenheit...”

“Let me add another fat roll to your arm”

“You wanna see a cute pic of my baby nephew?” “Sure but I might cry”

“Listen I need these pictures to load so I can see if my goats are being little crackheads”

“I keep trying to see if you’re a VSCO girl but you’re holding out on us”

“Pumpkin. Spice. Bleach.”

“I’m already a mother and I don’t like it.”

“This is a vegan cult, Jessica”

“Did you just say you started a religion?” “Yeah, I think I’ll call it the Fedoras”

“Isn’t a fedora just like... a cowboy hat but formal”

“Yes choke me daddy panic”

“I’m your emotional support crackhead deal with it”

“She got possessed by country satan”

“If you think about it toes are just little feet”

“Oh my god imagine if you pronounced Roosevelt like goose”

“Roosevelt got really sad when i broke up with him.”

“I love how I just classified reaper as its own state of being”

“So Santa’s not a cryptid”

“We’re not meat creatures like crabs”

“Do you want to be a famous writing?”

“Self care is becoming a breaded chicken tender on the weekends”

“You are a little yellow boy”

“I gotta look up how to have a stroke”

“At least you still have straight privilege”

“You piece of b*tch”

“Children having skulls is scary”

“You wanna crochet my friend a rat”

“If you kill yourself and you have a life insurance policy that your family then collects, is that insurance fraud?”

“Spaghetti man is talking about pregnancy and I’m scared”

“You’re the cutest trash I’ve ever seen”

“Poetry? Lame. DriversEd? Lame. Dousing myself in butter and becoming a dinner roll? F*ckin’ MINT”

“Finally, an invention to get rid of me” *zooms in on words garbage disposal*

“Is Swiper from Dora a furry or an actual fox?”

“I’m laughing because I just realized the word identity has t*tty in it”

“Oh my god I thought Paris was a country”

“Girl if you are having a baby this month the only thing you are birthing is FLAT Stanley”

“My eyes really said gardening”

“I snorted soapy water this morning”

“Intestines: do you really need them or are they a social construct?”

“I watched the first episode of that show illegally, and it was great”

“How much does a hit man cost in this economy?”

“Is santa wearing stripper heels?”

“No, I didn’t give birth to a baby cow”

“I am a whole grape not a raisin”

“I’ve decided on my career. I’m becoming a hit man for cheap”

“And you fought the tomato”

“You can be gay with the homeless”

[kimpossiblygorgeous]

SaSa Hong Kong Beauty Haul: Asian Makeup & Skincare

I love traveling and I always tend to be in the I-want-more mood whenever a trip comes to an end, but sleeping in my own bed after nights of hugging an unfamiliar pillow is also the best thing ever so I don’t really mind doing the cycle over and over again. My mom, sister and I had the best time in Hong Kong last February (You didn’t know? You should definitely follow me on IG: @kimlmendoza. Teehee!), celebrating Valentine’s Day, eating far too many delicious (albeit stinky) street food, doing all touristy things, and of course, shopping.

I actually didn’t go too all out on that aspect as my mindset of “Experience > Things” is at its strongest when I’m traveling, nonetheless, there’s something about stepping a foot in a SaSa Store that has my fresh-from-ATM Hong Kong Dollars fervently wanting to leave my wallet. So yeah, this post is all about makeup and skincare items that came home in a hastily packed luggage with me – my SaSa Hong Kong Beauty Haul!

Bifesta Foaming Whip – I did my research beforehand and listed things I really need. Part of that list was a facial wash; I was firm in repurchasing Shiseido Perfect Whip because it’s such a good stuff but I saw that Bifesta’s new arrival is similar: foam and whip. Uncanny! So I went for the Bright Up variant and so far so good, it smells divinely citrus and a good everyday cleanser.

Guerisson 9 Complex Cream – I saw this in Japan, I ignored it. Saw it again in Korea, I passed by it. But finally, its bright orange packaging called my name in Hong Kong. To be honest, I know very few things about this cream. One is that it has a horsemeat by-product and second a lot of locals are hoarding it so you can see it everywhere in Hong Kong. I’ll do a review on this for sure!

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation & Concealer – The next two items were also on my researched list as these seem to be a favorite here in the blogosphere. But as far as first impressions go, I didn’t like them very much. Ooops! I only tried them for a few times (always hand in hand) and they slid every time. My blemishes are peeking through before the eight-hour mark. Any suggestions as to how I should set these? My shades are: 53 for the foundation and 52 for the concealer.

Sailor Moon Clear Compact Cheek Color – Okay, how pretty is this blush? This is the first item that grabbed my attention in the store. Because, duh, Sailor Moon. I mean, look at that pretty little compact! I can’t lie, I’m not in dire need of a peachy blush right now, but I couldn’t pass it up. I can’t want to play with it – or not. Just stare at it? Haha!

K-Palette Lasting 3Way Eyebrow Pencil – Fine, fine, I bought this because it’s Cinderella, my favorite Disney Princess. I let myself indulge considering I do my brows everyday. And I love K-Palette, with or without a special packaging.

Heroine Make Mascara & Mascara Remover Set – Funny Story: Of all the things I’d forgot, I didn’t remember to pack my handy mascara remover. My current mascara is extremely waterproof and I was already panicking if I should just give up wearing it for the whole trip. Then I remembered that I was in HK, not in some faraway island, and SaSa was just a few steps away from our hotel. Silly me! I got this set because it was such a great deal; for the price I paid, the remover almost came as free. Still, I slept with mascara on for one night.

Sexylook Disney Princess Mask – Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat? Who else here is a sucker for anything Disney? It was also not helping that my shopping day was after Disneyland day! I picked up: Cinderella (of course) for Baby Soft skin and Ariel for Hydration. Unlike the good ol’ facemasks, these are colored in Black. And I think it added some fun in the routine.

--

SaSa in Hong Kong was unquestionably an experience in itself, especially for tourists – shelves and shelves of Asian makeup and skincare brands. It was overwhelming as there’s so much to look at and even more to think through. I kind of wish I’d came in a little more prepared (I did last minute Googling), but oh well, Hong Kong is just two hours away and I’m delighted with what I got. Now it’s time to try find a place to store all these in my already brimming vanity area…

What are your favorite SaSa finds?

BLOGLOVIN  |  FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER

[morrisbrokaw]

7 Feel-Good Books that Instantly Uplift and Inspire

When it comes to seasons, winter is always one for the books. (Teehee — pun intended.)

Curling up in that beloved oversized sweater with a mug full of warm, spicy (or spiked, no judgment!) cider in one hand and a page-turner in the other while both the temps and leaves are dropping outside… I mean, does it get any better?

No, it does not.

Well, maybe if you had mouthwatering slow-cooker aromas filling the air, then the scenario would be a tad bit better. But hey, you get the idea.

The point I’m trying to make is that these “ber months” are some of the most superb for reading. And better yet — for becoming inspired. Because whoever said the New Year was the gatekeeper to new resolutions? If you ask me, there’s no finer time to be infused with fresh ideas than when you are nestled in for winter. So if you’re seeking a few feel-good books to add to this season’s reading list, you’re in luck. Below are seven awesome options, guaranteed to uplift, encourage, and inspire.

Without further ado… Happy Reading!

1. Chasing Slow: Courage to Journey Off the Beaten Path

OK, not to sound dramatic, but this book has truly changed my life. See, so often we find ourselves experiencing each day at the same pace. You know, that grueling speed of Go! Go! Go! We’re constantly chasing happiness, thinking if we go faster, if we jump higher, if we become stronger, then we’ll ultimately find it. But what is “it” that we’re seeking anyway?

In this compelling book, Erin Loechner, HGTV.com star and “The Nicest Girl Online,” takes us through her journey of venturing off the beaten path and ditching the same old “grind.” And trust me, what she finds after refreshing her perspectives, renewing her priorities, and shifting her focus is enough of a reason for everyone to read these insightful pages.

2. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear

While we instantly fell in love with Elizabeth Gilbert after the wonderful Eat Pray Love, chances are you’ll fall even harder for this bestselling author once you read Big Magic. In this vibrant, uplifting book, she shares her wisdom and unique perspective on creativity by digging deep into her own generative process.

By showing us how to tackle what we love most — including how to face what we fear most — Gilbert encourages us to live each day with more mindfulness and passion. And in doing so, she cracks open a world of wonder and joy. Yes, this certainly is a must-read for anyone hoping to live a more creative life.

3. What I Know Now: Letters to My Younger Self

Quick question: if you could write a letter to your younger self, what would it say?

Well, in this intriguing collection of letters, 41 remarkable women do just that. Filling the pages with advice and insight they wish they would have had when they were younger, it won’t take long to realize what these letters ultimately offer: hope. From the globally-adored Maya Angelou to the Today show correspondent Ann Curry, this book is chocked full of powerful wisdom and is one paperback I will always have within easy reach.

4. Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives

If you’re yearning to master new habits in life, this book is the key to accomplishing just that. Written by the same author as the infamous Happiness Project, here, Gretchen Rubin tackles the essential question: can we change?

Using herself as a guinea pig and testing her theories on family and friends, she shows us that yes, we all can change. And the best part? She explains how, too. By harnessing the energy of habits, Rubin instills the concrete framework to a whole new world for us — one in which we can become happier, stronger, and live more fulfilling lives.

5. Double Bind: Women on Ambition

Ever wonder why so many women who are naturally driven and goal-oriented shy away from it? Or why the word “ambition,” for many, seems to be loaded with such ambivalence? If you ask me, no other book could have come at a more necessary time than Double Bind.

Throughout these 320 pages, editor Robin Romm identifies the paradox at the very heart of feminism by curating a stunning constellation of thinkers to examine their relationships with ambition. Oozing with insight, wisdom, humor, and rage, each one of these essays shows women from a range of backgrounds — and at all stages of their lives and careers — wrestling with fear, aspiration, failure, and yes, success.

Let’s just say this was one book I simply couldn’t put down.

6. What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding: A Memoir

Looking for a fun, light-hearted read that will leave you cracking up on pretty much every single page? If so, check out Kristin Newman’s witty memoir about mastering the art of the “vacationship.”

Despite the majority of her friends getting married and having babies, Newman was not at all ready to settle down, but was desperately in need of escaping her fast-paced job. So what did she do? Packed her bags, traveled the world — often alone — and fell madly in love with the planet, of course… meeting many attractive locals along the way.

There’s no doubt, this candid reflection overflowing with wondrous travel tales will instantly inspire you to renew your passport.

7. In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs

First things first: EVERYONE SHOULD OWN THIS BOOK!

OK, sorry for the all-caps, but seriously, these career profiles of 100+ powerhouse women making waves in the creative community will infuse you with a lifetime of inspiration. From media titans and ceramicists to tattoo artists and architects, Grace Bonney (founder of Design*Sponge) has marshaled together an incredible collection of influencers, all describing how they embraced their creative spirit, overcame adversity, and pursued their passions and dreams. To say this book is inspiring would be a complete understatement!

–

Top image via Domino

Kathryn McLamb is a writer and photographer on a mission to inspire others to celebrate the everyday. She runs her blog Pineapple Street, and when she’s not plotting her next travel adventure, you can find her wandering the colorful city streets of San Francisco.

  The post 7 Feel-Good Books that Instantly Uplift and Inspire appeared first on Wit & Delight.

7 Feel-Good Books that Instantly Uplift and Inspire published first on https://workbootsandshoes.tumblr.com/

[mikeatthecinema]

The Mermaid (2016)

By Mike Avallone

Stephen Chow is probably my favorite foreign filmmaker.  He directed many blockbusters in China, such as “Shaolin Soccer” (2001), “Kung Fu Hustle” (2004) and “Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons” (2013).  His latest film “The Mermaid,” quickly became the highest-grossing film of all time in China.  It only made $3,232,685 in the United States, but made $553,810,228 worldwide, although it did recently get knocked down to the #2 spot by “Wolf Warriors 2″ (2017).  If you’ve seen any of Chow’s previous films, you know what to expect here: silliness, cartoonish action, plenty of laughs, great visuals and memorable characters.  You won’t be disappointed.

Watching "The Mermaid” will be more enjoyable the less you know, so I’ll try to limit the plot summary.  The story follows seemingly heartless, super successful and incredibly wealthy, businessman, Liu Xuan (Deng Chao).  At an auction, he buys an area of land known as the Green Gulf for a massive amount of money.  The Green Gulf is a wildlife reserve but he plans to re-purpose it and purposefully removes the wildlife there with sonars.  Liu Xuan is a womanizer and at first glance he’s pretty detestable.   Unbeknownst to him, his plans to re-purpose the Green Gulf are more harmful than it may have appeared.  His business partner, Ruolan (Zhang Yuqi), does her best to keep these plans moving forward despite the harm it may be causing.  Without spoiling the story too much more, Shan (Lin Yun) meets Liu Zuan early on and does her best to bring out the good in him.

I was a little confused by the story in the first 15 minutes or so, but it ends up being a pretty straightforward plot, albeit a very original one.  Sure, you’ll see this and recognize different elements of the plot you’ve seen before, but in it’s whole it felt very fresh.  The story telling is so great here, and not just from dialog.  All the actors have great facial expressions that are internationally understood.  Yes, the film is in Chinese, and I’m sure some of you don’t like subtitles in your movies.  But that’s what is great here, so much of the story telling is done visually.  This is a case where, if there was a book, I’d say the movie is better because of how much it does visually.

The movie is legitimately funny.  You will laugh, and I don’t mean a little snicking and teehee’s, I mean laughing loudly out loud.  I was watching this at night, tired and by myself, which is probably the time when it’s the hardest for me to laugh.  Despite all that, I was still laughing loudly, probably making my roommates wonder why Mike is listening to something in Chinese and causing such a commotion.  One scene in particular that kept me howling was; one character trying to describe a mermaid to another, you’ll know it when you see it.

The set design here is particularly amazing.  So colorful, vibrant and just gorgeous.  The sets really help illuminate the mood of the scene and the emotions of the characters.  Think about “Amélie” (2001) and how beautiful each set was because of the attention to detail in the color.  You’ll see similar things here.  Stephen Chow really has a wonderful eye for this as these subtle choices add up and almost give the film a comic book feel to it.  I think I could’ve watched this with the subtitles off and just enjoyed the humor and how visually stunning it was.

It reminds me of other films in the United States that do well in the box office: impressive visuals, creative fantasy and a plot with a bit of everything: romance, action, drama and comedy.  Stephen Chow continues to be one of my favorite directors in the world.  I can’t wait to see what he does next because he consistently produces fun.

87/100