#zen is super amazing and cool!

[lordterronus]

@shandycandy278 @zen-unknown @blossomtato

REBLOG if you have amazing, talented WRITER friends.

Because I certainly do, and I love every single one of them and their work.

[metalandmagi]

Romance Anime Starter List

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m sick and tired of seeing “Top ___ Best Anime of All Time” lists that are nothing but shounen. So, with "My Happy Marriage" getting a little attention from the anime community, I wanted to put together a list of some romance anime that I consider good “starters” for the genre. Because if I were just now becoming an anime fan, I’d think all there was to offer was shounen action series.

And by “starters” I mean basic stuff that’s not too…out there, and actually involves the characters getting together instead of just harems or using romance as a side plot (sorry Ouran High School Host Club and My Next Life as a Villainess). 

So if you’re new to anime and want stuff that’s not just guys beating the shit out of each other (which is also fun, don’t get me wrong), here are some basics.

Taisho Maiden Fairy Tale- When the pessimistic Tamahiko Shima loses all function in his right arm, his family sends him away to live in the mountains with the cheerful, hard working Yuzuki Tachibana…who was purchased by the Shima family to pay off her family’s debts and basically act as a caretaker/future bride for Tamahiko so they’d never have to deal with him again. It’s a more cheerful version of My Happy Marriage (without the supernatural stuff), except in this one, the guy is the one who has massive self-esteem issues and an abusive family. There are still very serious themes, but ultimately it’s not meant to make you cry every episode. I swear it’s so good, but nobody watched it!

Horimiya- A slice of life in which pretty and popular high school queen bee Hori, finds out her quiet, unassuming classmate Miyamura is hiding piercings and tattoos that could get him expelled. The two gradually find out more about each other and get together in the most realistic way I’ve seen depicted in an anime. It’s also fucking hysterical and genuinely emotional.

Recovery of an MMO Junkie- Another slice of life that focuses on two adults who meet in an MMO game without realizing they also know each other in real life. I don’t want to say much more than that. It’s adorable, and the main character is so relatable it hurts.

Love with Yamada-kun at Level 999- Speaking of MMOs, this is a newer series about Akane Kinoshita, a college first year who’s reeling from a bad break up. In an attempt to get back at her ex, she winds up meeting Akito Yamada, a popular gamer who happens to be in her guild in the MMO they both play at an IRL meetup. The two go from acquaintances to something more as they keep running into each other. Even more relatable main characters and just wholesome relationships all around.

Snow White With The Red Hair- A fantasy in which an apothecary named Shirayuki (meaning, you guessed it, “snow white”) runs away from her home in order to escape becoming the concubine of her town’s prince. While fleeing, she is rescued by Zen, the prince of a neighboring country, and she ends up becoming an herbalist to repay him. It's super cute with some genuinely swoon worthy moments and a couple that just works so well together. I have a habit of comparing this to Akatsuki no Yona, even though the two aren’t really that alike. This is more romance driven while Akatsuki no Yona is more of a serious historical fantasy with romance elements (Yona manga is amazing, but the anime barely scratches the surface, so that’s why I didn’t include it).

Sasaki to Miyano- When the shy, easily flustered Miyano meets Sasaki, a cool “delinquent” upperclassmen, the two end up bonding over manga…specifically BL manga. That’s right, Miyano is a fudanshi, but due to his small stature and somewhat feminine appearance, he’s constantly trying to convince others that he’s not interested in having his own love story where he’d be reduced to a stereotypical doe-eyed uke. But as Sasaki and Miyano spend more time together, they realize that what they have is more than friendship, and they have to come to terms with their own perception of gay relationships. This is my favorite romance of all time. It’s a slow burn, but boy is it worth it. Their relationship is so natural and realistic, just like Horimiya. Just two people hanging out and bonding over things the way people do in real life!

Given: The story of some boys in a band with trauma. Enough said. It's great. Go watch it.

Bloom Into You- Yuu Koito is a high school girl who’s been waiting her whole life for her own perfect romance to start…but when she receives a confession, she realizes she doesn’t know how to respond when she’s just not into the guy. And then she gets another confession…this time from the cool student council president Touko Nanami, who basically jumpstarts her lesbian awakening. Very cute story about how we perceive the concept of love vs actually feeling it. Also has a canonically aro/ace side character, so that’s a win for me. Another show like this is Adachi to Shimamura (but I honestly don’t remember much about it. It just didn’t stick with me as much).

Ore Monogatari- Takeo Gouda is a tall, bulky high school first year with a sensitive heart of gold. He wants nothing more than to find his own true love, but most girls are intimidated by his enormous stature, and they end up falling for his conventionally attractive friend instead. That is, until he meets the tiny, adorable Rinko Yamato. He falls in love instantly, but he’s sure she’s interested in his best friend like everyone else, so he vows to help get them together, even though his heart is breaking. Peak himbo behavior. Pure of heart, dumb of ass.

Yuri on Ice- Yes it’s the gay figure skating anime everyone knows. And yes it’s a fucking romance, okay? I will die on this hill. The romance between Viktor and Yuri is just as important as the plot!

Kaguya-sama Love Is War- Two insanely smart high school students both have a crush on the other, but since they’re…you know…high schoolers, neither of them wants to admit it first. So they come up with increasingly convoluted plans to get the other to confess first. This will go down as one of the best of all time. It’s a hilarious yet poignant modern classic.

Fruits Basket- I’ve talked about it before and I’ll talk about it again. A romance “comedy” that slowly morphs into a drama about a girl named Tohru who finds herself living with the mysterious Sohma family after her mother dies. Little does she know, the Sohmas are the victims of a  (somewhat silly, but ultimately tragic) curse that she must fight to break. Even though I’m more into it for the family drama, the romance is still top tier and plays an important role in the story. This is my second favorite anime of all time, and it’s a classic for a reason. If anyone hasn’t watched it yet, GO WATCH IT! IT WILL RIP YOU TO SHREDS!

And now for some honorable mentions that didn't quite fit into the regular list:

Ride Your Wave- A movie about a surfer who falls in love with a firefighter……and I’m not going to say any more than that. Go into it blind. If you like stuff like Your Name, this is a good one to watch.

Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun- A comedy about a high school girl who finds out the upperclassman she has a crush on is actually a shoujo manga artist, and no matter how she tries to confess to him, he just never gets it.

The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague- A slow burn slice of life that focuses on a guy with ice powers who has a crush on his coworker. That’s it. That’s the show. When I say slow, I mean SLOW. It’s perfectly cute and fluffy, but my god does it take forever to get anywhere with these two.

Skip to Loafer- A high strung, small town girl decides to go to high school in Tokyo, where she meets a variety of classmates, including the laid back Sousuke Shima. The unlikely pair become friends, and soon enough, she starts to feel something more than friendship. The only reason I didn’t include it in the main list is because they don’t get together by the end of the first season, but it’s still really cute (also canonically trans character for the win!?)

So that’s my starter list. And no, I didn’t include Toradora, even though it’s a classic. I know it’s blasphemous, but I like it more as a comedy than a romance. It kinda lost me with the ending. But anyway, maybe someone will find something they like. Or maybe you'll just want to roast me and my picks 😅

[introverted-scribblings]

The RFA w/ MC who loves sewing

What? A post? From me? You're crazy, there's no way that's happening.

I'm trying to get back into writing for this blog and recently started replaying Mystic Messenger because I want poor sleep 💕 Basically I'm letting my fixation fuel my writing because... the sentence ends there.

Enjoy these headcanons! I thought they turned out really cute~

(FYI: I used fem!MC for these headcanons; girlfriend/wife/etc.)

Yoosung:

He found out in the RFA chatroom when the two of you were talking about games and hobbies.

Yoosung had been excitedly telling you about the armor set he had gotten in his latest LOLOL binge, sending a picture and saying how he wishes he could wear cool armor in real life.

“I can make it for you”

“MC… what???”

And this is where he discovered your passion for sewing and your side-hobby of cosplay

He had a little experience with sewing, he could sew on a button and fix small tears thanks to his high school “home ec” classes, but you’re talking about making entire outfits and costumes from scratch.

THAT’S. SO. COOL.

He is amazed and thoroughly impressed by your talents, even moreso after you send some pictures of your completed works.

It’s amazing that you can make your own clothes, but he’s definitely super impressed with your cosplays. They’re insanely detailed, matching perfectly with the source material. He often says that your cosplays look better than the source material. They’re true works of art in his eyes.

Praises your talents nonstop.

Talks about it all the time to everyone. Every one of his friends knows how skilled his girlfriend is. And the other RFA members know tenfold.

After hearing you talk about your projects, Yoosung decided to join the sewing club at school in the hopes that he could help you with your amazing work! (Not that you need help, he really just wants to participate in something you love)

What ends up happening though is him sitting beside you at the sewing machine and getting lost in your working rhythm. (“Yoosung, are you paying attention? I thought you wanted me to give you tips?” “S-sorry, MC!! You’re just… really good at this… Like magic!”)

There’s no way he’ll be able to catch up with your skill anytime soon, so you compromise with him. You’ll make the costumes, but he has to cosplay with you~

(I have a short fic continuation of this! You can read it here)

Zen:

He found out just before one of his performances.

The costume he was wearing was a bit snug but worked fine in all the dress rehearsals, so he didn’t think much of it at the time.

You were backstage with him before opening night, ready to tell him to break a leg and give the audience a show to remember, when you saw the rip in his jacket.

It was a seam rip behind his left shoulder. Not the worst, but clearly noticeable.

Curtain was in ten minutes.

“Hyun, take off your costume.”

“Jagyia, I know I’m irresistible, but can you wait until after the show?”

“Not like that!!!” >////<

You pulled a flat black case from your purse and opened it, revealing a small sewing kit. You had everything you needed for a sewing emergency. Pins, buttons, snaps, scissors, an assortment of colored thread. And needles, of course.

You fixed the rip and strengthened the seam with four minutes to spare.

Zen asks you about it after the show (which went perfectly, thanks to you) and you explain your sewing hobby to him. Mentioning that you always have your little sewing kit with you for emergencies like tonight.

You show him pictures of the projects you’ve made and entire outfits you’ve designed and created from scratch. A good chunk of your wardrobe are pieces you’ve made yourself.

Of course he supports you! He’s so impressed and is constantly gushing about how talented you are in the chatroom.

Though nothing could prepare him for the moment you said you wanted to make something for him. Looking up at him with big hopeful eyes as you asked if he’d let you design him an outfit. His heart nearly burst.

You poured hours of time and effort into these pieces for him, determined to make this your best project yet. Your magnum opus. (You also sent concept sketches and fabric swatches to Jaehee for her “professional fan opinion”)

When he put it on for the first time, he was speechless. Everything fit perfectly, there wasn’t a part of the outfit that was uncomfortable in the slightest.

And he may be a bit of a narcissist, but he swore that the clothes you crafted made him more handsome than he thought possible. He looked good but never this good.

Your heart was filled with sunshine and warmth when he decided to wear it to an interview.

“My outfit? It’s custom-made. My girlfriend is a very talented seamstress and this was a gift from her~”

Jaehee:

She found out when she called you to complain about the c-fur she was still cleaning up around her apartment.

“Ugh, I’m sorry, Jaehee. I know how bad that can get. I took care of my friend’s cat for a weekend once and I spent an entire month cleaning fur off all my fabric.”

Your fabric?? “What fabric, MC?”

The fabric for your projects of course! Once she got you started, you happily explained your passion to her and how you’ve been making your own clothes for a while now too.

She is also very impressed with your skill and also impressed with how handy it is. You very generously offered to mend her favorite blazer when one of the seams split. You also fixed the two loose buttons you found.

When you two open up the cafe together, you made Jaehee a custom apron to wear. Even going so far as to embroider her name on it along with some decorative coffee beans.

It’s her favorite apron and the one she wears the most while working. (until it has to be cleaned, but then it’s right back in the cafe for her to use)

It gets a lot of compliments too and you’ve actually had a few customers commission you from Jaehee’s (unintentional) promoting.

You since made more clothes for her, even an entire sundress similar to one she had been looking at while you both were out shopping. (You didn’t think the one sold was her color, so you made one yourself that would highlight her best~)

The only issue is the thread and fabric scraps that tend to scatter just as bad as the c-fur… but hey, at lease the end result is more useful! And she can always count on you to tidy your mess when you’re finished~

Jumin:

You mentioned it offhand. Simply mentioning the stitching quality on one of his ties and how you hadn’t made a tie before.

He followed up asking why you would want to make a tie, to which you explained that you often made your own clothes but would love to give yourself a little challenge with something you hadn’t done before.

Initially, he didn’t quite understand. He could easily have any outfit you desired tailored specifically for you, there wasn’t the need to go through all the hassle of making it.

You had to explain that it was your hobby. That, while time consuming and occasionally tedious, you truly enjoyed making your own clothes, and showed him some examples from your closet.

“I’m quite impressed, MC. I’ve only seen this kind of quality come out of trained professionals.”

“I’ll take that compliment. Thank you, love~”

He gives you an entire studio for your projects. While you insist that he doesn’t need to give you so many elaborate gifts, you have to admit that the space is very nice. Much better than working in cramped conditions or on the floor.

While Jumin doesn’t have an interest in joining your craftiness, your husband is more than willing to encourage your hobby monetarily with machine repairs and high quality materials.

Whatever you want, you can have. You’re his darling wife after all.

He even gifted you an antique sewing machine, a vintage 1902 Singer Treadle. You don’t “use” it, but you learned how to just for fun. It’s a lovely decoration of your hobby at the least.

And, yes, you did make a tie for him. Two actually, but you only gave him the second one, insisting that the first was practice only.

It quickly becomes his favorite and he always wears it to important meetings. It’s like having you right there with him for support.

It also becomes quite the talking piece at one of the RFA parties when a member of the Cultured Citizens asks about the brand and price.

“This tie was handmade by my wife and is certainly priceless.”

707:

He already knew because of course he did.

He would often send you (jokingly) ridiculous “orders” with impossible time frames, including:

An iridescent “Statue of Liberty” costume - 3 days

Twenty-seven onesies for ducks - 4 days

A prom dress made of pasta - 3 days

An overnight yeti costume

The two of you would banter about it in the chatroom until someone told you guys to knock it off, it was never not fun.

Whenever you finished a new piece or outfit for yourself, you would try it on and call him while standing in front of the camera in the apartment, asking for his opinion.

The cat-themed overall skirt was the one that broke him. You were just so cute with all the decorated pockets~! And the buttons looked like little cats too! You’re just too precious~

After the dust of the first party settled and Saeyoung had his brother back, you took it upon yourself to make Saeran some new clothes. He was going to be your brother-in-law, after all, you wanted to make him feel welcome.

Of course, it then turned into making both boys some new clothes as you kept thinking of new ideas. Not that you minded, this was your passion after all.

I think Saeyoung would also give you your own room/studio in the bunker. A place where you could spread out without worry. (Vanderwood was just grateful he didn’t have to keep cleaning up thread)

Saeyoung was also happy to help with any repairs your sewing machine needed, or he’d just make you a new one… or three… with some—interesting—added features.

“Saeyoung, dear, I don’t think my machine needs a Ph.D Pepper dispenser.”

“But what if my honey gets thirsty while she works?!”

“...But won’t the sewing shake up all the carbonation? It would explode on my pretty clothes T^T”

“OMG! I’m so sorry!! I’ll take it out right away!!”

This kind of conversation happens regularly.

Eventually, there was one top-secret project that you were working on… one that you made Saeyoung swear not to snoop through. Even going so far as to have Saeran keep an eye out to make sure his brother stayed true to his word. (He did but he whined about it)

The project took a long time and you had to have Saeran help you order the materials in secret.

Saeyoung didn’t like being kept in the dark, it made him uneasy. You assured him it was okay and that you just didn’t want the surprise to be ruined.

He was still uneasy, but he trusted you.

And it was all worth it in the end…

When you walked down the aisle in your handmade wedding dress, glittering and shining like stars in the night sky you both loved so much.

[lordterronus]

@scrubthings

@zen-unknown

Solomon and Mio.

my favorite fic trope 

[jolikmc-thoughts]

I really need to do more reports regarding what I've been watching…

I recently finished watching Ultimate Spider-Man from 2012. It starts off kind of annoying, since it ditches the whole "Spider-Man doing his own thing" pretty early. It also kind of tanks in the middle of Season 3, but I'll get to that.

The initial premise is "what if S.H.I.E.L.D. made a team of teenage heroes and trained them to their 'ultimate' potential?" Well, Nick Fury does exactly that, tossing an eclectic team of Spider-Man, Nova, White Tiger, and Iron Fist head-first into training and being super. I wasn't on-board at first, since I kind of prefer how other series did Spider-Man and his day-to-day life, but it didn't take long for the other characters to grow on me.

Nova is a dork. White Tiger is pretty cool. But Iron Fist? He's simply the best of the team, aside from Spidey. He's the best of both a "surfer dude" and "zen martial artist" and is often the voice of neutrality when problems within the team pop up. He has his issues, of course, but he's just a joy to have around!

So, around the middle of Season 3, the series shifts dramatically and starts focusing almost exclusively on the "Web Warriors" of Iron Spider, Kid Arachnid, Agent Venom, and Scarlet Spider. And… the show quickly goes downhill from that point on. There are still a few good episodes here and there, but the shift to the "spider-clones" just makes for a really uninteresting and unappealing show, to me. Why they thought this was a good idea is beyond me. 'Cause it wasn't.

Anyway… while it's not as absolutely amazing as Spectacular Spider-Man or even Spider-Man (2016), it has its charms. For example, it absolutely loves… loves… to make shout-outs to Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends from the 1980s. I was kind of surprised Iceman and Firestar didn't show up at some point, even if just for a cameo. They did bring back the worst villain from that series: Swarm, but made it way more interesting, so there's that. Beetle is there, too, though I don't think he originated from Amazing Friends. I digress, though.

Flaws aside, it's a pretty decent watch and I'd recommend it. Just don't let this very strange interpretation of Dr. Octopus turn you away too hard. It's… unique.

[nokaru]

For the AnS asks: 13, 15, 16, 23, and 32 pleaseee.

(I'll answer yours too soon, I promise!!)

Lmao no worries hun I will be waiting patientally :) ty for the ask! I let my toxic side out 💀

13. Favorite scene or line

ohh definitely this Obi line when he was talking to Torou about Zen and Co.:

If we're talking scenes my favs are whenever the OT3 or OT5 are just vibing together and living their wholesome and silly slice of life all together (OT3 Lyrias date, OT5 sleepover before coronation ect ect...)

15. Your controversial take

Lyrias👏arc👏wasn't👏that👏good👏 it was quite boring in fact IM ENDING MY SILENCE

It will never be as good as the other arcs no matter how cool the winter aesthetic is and no matter how cute and fun the new characters are. The plot itself was ehhh and the pandemic and OT3 date was probably the most interesting thing that had happened there. It will never be Tanbarun or Bergatt arc and that's on that 💅

AND ANOTHER THING! omg I just remembered. Shirayuki leaving her patient in the Perfume arc just like that (girlie was traumatized and recovering still) and going with Obi and Eisetsu to rescue Ryuu and Kageya was quite pointless imo (and bit ooc for Shirayuki? Is it just me??) Like I understand it was about Ryuu so ofc she came but I don't think she played that crucial part in the rescuing (she noticed the secret msg from Ryuu and knew about the herbs effects so she was a good addition but I just can't get over 'leaving your sick and very traumatized patient moments after the accident' move) 🤷🏻‍♀️

16. Something that you had wished had happened

I wish we got to explore more of the characters pasts and backstories. AND BRING TOROU AND MIHAYA BACK! Torou could have been a great fuel for Obi and his character development....a missed opportunity man 😭 I think sensei makes the mistake of making interesting and appealing side characters just to forget about them later a lot (?), even when they are relevant to the plot or not. It's a shame, really. But I can't blame her I suppose.

Like you also mentioned before: wishing the separation arcs weren't as long. AMEN! OT5 should get more time to spend all together. That much of a separation was just ...??? uknow

23. Favorite fancontent that you've created

You guys should appreciate me for this masterpiece and I'm super proud of this one and this one from the early stages of my art :)

and this zenyuki cause I even suprised myself with that.

32. The best part of the fandom

yall my darlings <33 everyone in the discord server made my fandom experience so much more enjoyable so thanks yall for that <3

also ppl who are big fans of side characters are the real ones i know we've got quite lot of these. I also feel like we have so many talented writers, artists, editors and creators! and ppl who post ans news, manga panels and analysis are so amazing too!

Ohhh plus I think our fandom has a great attention to detail (just like sensei!) and just seeing ppl pinpoint stuff I otherwise wouldn't notice myself is pretty cool.

[charlesandmiranda]

Asakusa Adventures part one:

2/1 dinner with friends and 2/2 Senso-ji Temple

After leaving Ochanomizu, Charles and I took the train to Asakusa, our next stop in Tokyo. We had dinner plans to meet with a friend and her family that night, and we planned to explore the area the following day (which is yesterday, at the time of writing!)

Our friend, Penko, her husband As'maria, and two sons took us to Asakusa Ichimon, which is a super traditional restaurant. It was featured in the movie Shin Ultraman which came out in 2022, and Charles really wanted to visit it as a film location, but before we could even mention it to her, she was already suggesting that we should all go together, and so we did!

The interior was amazing, I wish we had taken more photos. Taking photos inside establishments can sometimes be difficult, privacy is much more significant of a cultural consideration than in the US and we don't want to take photos of other patrons. It was a lot of gorgeous, dark wood, short, low to the ground tables, tatami mats, and floor chairs. There was a super zen, indoor water feature too, which was pretty cool, to put it mildly.

I don't even begin to know how to describe how tasty the food was; there was a huge menu of sakes (Japanese style alcohol, think sort of like a "rice wine" even though that's not strictly accurate) and shochu (more like a liquor), almost all, if not all of which, we'd never seen before in the states. The entire meal was a like...5 course experience, starting with a small appetizer of fruit, tofu, fish egg and beans (in honor of the Setsubun holiday, which is today [2/3] at time of writing!) all the way to a hot pot of tuna, leek, mushrooms and more. Genuinely everything was like, beyond delicious, and it was sooooo much food, without ever making us feel like we were totally gonna pop (although it was close). There was also a beef dish mid meal that was the first beef Charles had eaten in close to two decades, and it was worth it.

It was also really really special to get to spend the time getting to know Penko and her family better; I first met her here on tumblr actually, maybe....gosh, I don't know, 8 years ago? give or take a year? through a mutual fandom (we were both fans of a specific pairing in a video game called Danganronpa, where she was a very popular fan-artist at the time). Since then, we've met her in Japan a few times on trips, and we've slowly gotten to know her family over the last few years. After our engagement, Penko actually drew some lovely art for us as a congratulations; if you were at our wedding, we had it displayed near our guestbook :P

The following day, we spent exploring around our Airbnb in Asakusa, as well as visiting Tokyo Skytree. Our stay was on the second floor, above a restaurant, right in the heart of the district.

We started the morning early at Cafe Royal, a super old-school Showa-era coffee shop built in the early 1960s. We had coffees and breakfast there, and their specialty Royal Coffee has to have been one of the best coffees I've ever had. It almost reminded me of dark chocolate in terms of its acidity and smoothness. It was truly awesome.

Afterwards, we spent some time shopping at Uniqlo, a Japanese clothing store (there are some in the states too, if you're curious!) My favorite pair of jeans ripped badly on the plane, and I wanted to replace them, so I bought a new pair at Uniqlo, as well as some of their warm layering clothing, which they're well known for, to stave off the February chill. Charles also got some warm winter wear, so we're both totally topped off for the rest of the trip with trendy heat-tech goodies.

We also wandered around the streets and streets and STREETS of Asakusa's extensive shopping and food district surrounding the massive, gorgeous Senso-ji temple. One thing I love about Japan is that these huge shopping districts often have covered roofs over the streets so even if it's raining or kinda crappy weather, you can still walk freely across blocks without too much trouble. We were mostly window shopping, but we definitely stopped for a few treats.

From there, we headed to Tokyo Skytree, stay tuned for our next post!

[lordterronus]

Big day incoming, people. Mark those calendars.

[josiahiswrite]

Retro Release Was Radical!

Last Saturday we hosted a book launch at our home. We wanted to do something to celebrate the release of The Paper Boy (buy your copy here) and knew it needed to center on our friends who have supported us throughout the years.

With the novel being set in the 90s and our garage being itself kind or set in the 90s we decide to host the party there. I hanks my good buddy Paul, we have three Arcade 1Ups, Terminator 2, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Final Fight. The walls are full of art on the theme and l added a bit more and of course the toys and collectibles everywhere.

For lunch we had Pizza Hut and the snacks included Gushers and Fruit By the Foot (thanks Costco!). We also had Yoo-Hoo, a favorite of mine after my paper route. Even the coolers were labeled in a 90s way, with Captain Planet on the cooler for water (probably ironically). Zen: Intergalactic Ninja protected the trash, by the way I made feature length documentary about Zen.

The event was an all day celebration, from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM with friends coming at their convenience. Frankly had everyone come at once, we could not have handled the rush of people and would not have been able to spend quality time with everyone, including friends we haven't seen in several years.

Activities included the afore mentioned games, Barbies (because of the Dream House was moved to a different place so it was now interesting), the Frozen Power Wheel, a small fan inflated fort, visiting neighbor dogs, and best of all a craft your own bookmark section. The kids made amazing stuff as did my friend and former roommate (twice over) Ian. Ian is a brilliant artist and created a super cool bookmark that is perfect for me and The Paper Boy.

Those are the details (well, the broad strokes) I'm humbled by my friends and neighbors, and the support they showed. It was beautiful. I'm grateful.

We were deeply hurt by someone we trusted, someone we love, with the purchase of this home. Strangely I held that against the house. Until the last few months. Saturday was a big part of why I love where we live. Why I know we were meant to be in this home, in this neighborhood at this time.

One final reminder, buy the book here. If you did, leave a review on Amazon. Also leave a review on Goodreads. Each of those help just as much, if not more than a purchase.

[eienoah]

May 24 - Kinkakuji

Today was an even shorter day compared to two days ago. We woke up kind of early. I think I can’t even remember all that well to be honest. I ended up taking a nap at around four till about eight thirty so I’m already forgetting some of the stuff we did today. Anyways, we visited Kinkakuji this morning on our first full bus expedition of the trip and probably our last. Taking a bus is actually a lot more convenient than trains in my opinion just because of the flat fare and how little people were actually on them. Anyways, we got to Kinkakuji relatively early but it still had plenty of people walking all around. There were so many tourists gathered to see it that the whole corridor for walking was pretty much full. The temple was cool but it felt almost more yellow than gold. I was talking to our guide who was explaining to me about how there was a different temple called Ginkakuji or the silver pavilion. I honestly would rather go see that just because I like places with less people and the sheer amount of tourists was crazy today. I stopped midway through the walk to buy a hello kitty charm and by the time I looked up everyone was gone. I had to essentially run through the place to catch up to everyone but it took a good ten minutes to find someone. Me and our guide got stuck talking to some foreigners about the ice cream vending machines but I think they thought I lived in Japan my whole life because they were asking me what Japan was like pre covid. After Kinkakuji was Daitokuji which was only a 20 minute walk away. It was complete opposites to Kinkakuji in the amount of people. I saw about 6 tourists throughout the whole thing and it was amazing. We got an explanation on some of the sekitei or rock gardens and got to sit and meditate for a while. It was amazing. I just wish I wasn’t coughing as much as I was today otherwise I would’ve had a better time. After we broke for the day the usual group headed to a place called The Burger which gave us all a little taste of home. I got an Oklahoma style burger which I’ve been craving for the past week. The whole restaurant was Texas/Vegas themed which was really funny to see in Japan but it was pretty good so I was super content. After getting back to the hotel via bus I promptly took a quick shower and passed out for one of the best naps I have taken in a long while and I’m about to go right back to bed now.

Academic connection

Learning about the burning and restoration of Kinkakuji had my expectations more gravitated towards a more slightly broken image in my head. In all reality the restoration was seamless and looked amazing. I would have never been able to tell the building had burned down had I not read about it. It was kind of astounding thinking of the context that the building had as a preface. It really did seem to draw people in with its lustrous golden figure which was a sight to behold on its own. I could see how it could even go to drive some crazy. Past that we see Daitokuji which is known for its sekitei and elements of zen buddhism. The sekitei were wonderful to see and the guide lady told us what each little garden was trying to express. My favorite was a piece that she completely skipped over which was a little rock fashioned almost in the shape of a bowl that was holding water. There were bugs that would occasionally pass by and land for a sip of water or something but it was interesting to say the least. The gardens felt incredibly peaceful especially in the time when everyone was just not speaking. There was also a little part of the tour where the guide was explaining what I think was a poem to us which expressed kanji in a way I have never seen before. Buddhist teachings really can be clever with their expressions.

[annieintheaair]

Wherever you are, I hope that you'll find me. Whenever it is, I hope we're meant to be. Oh, we've been searching for something so perfect. Just hold on, I know that you'll find me.

This past week at work has been really challenging, but I am so thankful for my amazing coworkers who make even the worst days not so bad.

Thursday morning I had to drop off my car at Volvo after work. Even though they typically don't do loaners for the 10k service, they let me have one so I could go home. I was so tired, as usual, and just wanted to sleep.

At home, I changed into yoga clothes, thinking I'd go to Fort Worth for my class but then decided I was too tired to go anywhere. Instead, I allowed myself to rest for the morning and then ran to Trader Joe's to get some groceries since I hadn't had food in my house in literally weeks. Unfortunately, it wasn't the most productive trip since I mainly bought dog treats and wine. I've been following this sommelier on Instagram and she does some really cool wine and Trader Joe's pairings. I tried to find one wine I liked before but TJ's was out of stock and another she suggested, they had the brand but not the same type. It was a pretty disappointing visit to TJ's.

I had a pretty lazy afternoon and then had to leave early for work to pick up my car before the dealership closed at 7pm. Since I didn't want to drive all the way home, I found a yoga class to go to near the airport. It was a yin class, which was super relaxing and the perfect way to start my evening. I was feeling pretty zen after that.

The yoga place was in a really cool area that I had never ventured out to before. Not only do I want to go to that yoga class again but I went online to look at apartments to see if maybe I'd like to move there instead of going back to my old town. Maybe something new and closer to the airport would be better for me?

That night I worked a trip to OKC, which was delayed until 12:30am on Friday morning. It was yet another long night with little sleep. I had a good crew, which made it a little better, but of course, still meant that Friday I would be exhausted.

Friday morning I napped before heading to yoga at noon. I will really miss Stephanie's class when I move. It is one of the only things that has helped me through this past year here. I had a relatively lazy afternoon and crawled into bed around 6pm to sleep until about 8pm so I'd be well rested.

Friday night was yet another delay. It has been the trend lately. Spring flying in DFW is always a nightmare. I did have a great crew though, which helped.

Saturday I was committed to yoga so I napped for maybe an hour before going to slow flow at 10:30am. I made a detour to Popshelf to get a few things and then picked up a Rebel from Dutch Bro's since I desperately needed it.

On my way home, I ended up grabbing a poké bowl for lunch since they were giving 20% off for Mother's Day.

I napped on my couch in the afternoon and had high hopes of going out and doing something until the weather started to get crappy and I chose to stay home and drink wine on my couch instead.

I ended up staying up late last night since I can never go to sleep early after working nights nearly every day. The storms were crazy all night. The thunder was so loud that my house literally shook. I read on Facebook that a house in the neighborhood behind mine got struck by lightning and I heard a ton of horns honking this morning and then lots of fire trucks and ambulances so it sounded like there was a car accident nearby.

I really wanted to go to church in Fort Worth this morning but the flooding was so bad that I decided to stay home and sleep in. Kirby woke me up early to go outside but I went back to bed right away. I didn't sleep well all night since I was having some seriously bad nightmares about my ex and his family.

I had every intention of calling out sick from work today but instead, my flight was canceled. No one called me all day to tell me until about an hour before sign in when my phone rang. I ignored it and they didn't leave a voicemail. I think they were trying to get me to work something else out of desperation but I was already sipping on an espresso martini so I was in for the night.

I started watching a new show called Expats tonight. I was enjoying it until one of the main characters jumped off of a boat and decided to swim under the boat and got stuck for a hot minute. My anxiety was so bad that I had to get up off my couch and walk away. I felt like I couldn't breathe. Between losing my car in the flood last year and losing Dan when he drowned in 2022, I've never been more afraid of water. That scene is what made me decide to make an espresso martini.

My friend Jackie sent me a video when she drove by the neighborhood I want to move to. It sucks that the move-ins have been delayed but it's looking really cute and I'm praying that works out if it's what's meant to be.

Tomorrow night I jump back into another busy week at work. Working a ton each week hasn't been that bad, aside from the delays. Once I see my paychecks after this, I might become addicted to working a ton. Add in a raise and some retro pay and maybe I'll actually be able to get my life back on track.

xoxo

Annie

[urban-spa-chennai]

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Treat yourself to some well-deserved relaxation with Swedish massage at Urbans Salon Spa. It's the perfect way to unwind, de-stress, and give yourself a little TLC. Book your appointment here and get ready to feel all the good vibes!

[ghostbustershq]

Let's Build the Fanhome Ecto-1: Issue 29 (Stages 107 through 110)

The build is back!

When Eaglemoss went under just about a year ago in July, I feared the worst for my subscription Ecto-1 build. The kit was a whole lot of fun. And, if you followed along with our builds on the Ghostbusters Interdimensional Crossrip podcast, Chris and I had a great chat every time we would sit and work on our models. It was a double-whammy to have lost the flow of subscription kits and to lose that amazing time with Chris. It sure seemed like a lot of us were going to be stuck with half (or less) built Ecto-1 models.

Enter the good folks at Fanhome, who have taken over the licenses from Eaglemoss and resurrected the subscriptions from the dead. You can now sign up to start from issue one, or pick up from where you may have left off with Eaglemoss and continue via Fanhome. Fanhome has made it super easy to pick which issue you need to begin with and their intuitive website and responsive customer service have been a breath of fresh air.

With the podcast having switched to a more infrequent model, I’ve decided to detail my builds here on the news blog hopefully as reference for those who may need it or for a quick overview for those of you who may be on the fence about joining the club. The model is amazing in quality, and Fanhome gives you all the tools that you need (with a few expendable exceptions like painters tape that I’ll get into a bit later here). If you’re a lot like me and you need 20-30 minutes of downtime to just follow instructions and enter a zen meditative state, this build is for you. It’s just challenging enough to make it fun without being frustrating and, as the end results start to come together, having your own faithful 1:8 scale Ecto sitting on shelf sure is cool as hell.

Fanhome was kind enough to send over a new initial kit, which we’ll be building here on the HQ in the future, but for now - I’m going to pick up with where I left off a year ago, with Issue 29 (Stages 107 through 110), which comprises parts of the left and right rear wheel wells, and the ‘59 Miller Meteor Ecto-1’s iconic red tail fins.

WIth that, let’s crack into it, eh?

When Issue 29 arrived, I cackled with glee. Again, not thinking that this model would ever see completion, getting a box in the mail from Fanhome was a treat. Fanhome sends your monthly subscription in a brilliant purple package, another step beyond the generic mailers that would come from Eaglemoss. The company is really making your monthly shipments a grand event, and it’s pretty cool.

The first thing you’ll notice with this issue’s shipment is that it includes a revised passenger front door. Eaglemoss had mistakenly sent out their kits with a passenger mirror recessed in the initial stage and had been promising a fixed door to those who waited. When it didn’t look like Eaglemoss was coming back, I went ahead and built out the door that I had been sent and attached it to the body of the car — so I’m not entirely sure what to do. Pulling the door off at this point would be a pretty dramatic overhaul. But if I’m going to do it, now’s going to be the chance. I set the revised door aside and… I’ll make that decision later. Worst case, I have an Ecto with a stem for a passenger mirror. Ha!

The door conundrum aside, Stage 107 is pretty straight-forward and a relative breeze. The right rear fender “crown” has just two steps. But key on this one is that the chrome trim at the top of the fin doesn’t attach permanently at this point in the build, so you have to be careful not to lose both it and the rear trim. If you plow through the whole issue, it isn’t that big of a deal. But if you pace yourself out and only do one stage at a time, don’t forget it’s another piece you need to set aside for later. Pro-tip: I have a gallon-sized Ziplock that I set aside which contains only the parts that you’ve set aside for later (things like the steering wheel, etc.). If I know I’m going to have to come back to it later, into the Ziploc it goes.

Stage 108, the Right Rear Reflector and Outer Light Lens is also pretty straightforward and cruises by in a snap. The one thing to look out for on this stage is that the outside inner lens is a very small clear piece that isn’t seated in the tray too well when you open it. Chances are, it will pop out when you open up the package and blends into its surroundings with relative ease. At first, I thought my kit was missing the lens but later discovered it floating in the tray.

Also a curious last step to this stage, you have to replace two screws on either side of the car’s body with flatter machine screws than what were initially installed. I’m thinking this was a course correct for an error that may have popped up earlier in the build. And, when you attach the whole completed part to the body of the car, it actually makes a lot of sense that you need a good flush connection to hold all the plastic pieces against the body of the car.

Stage 109 is where the challenge of this particular issue comes into play. The rear fins have two main pieces with two horizontally mirroring rear tail lights. And, while the assembly of the pieces in this stage isn’t the hardest of steps (that continues to be building the engine at the beginning of the build), the wiring to get the LED wires and bulbs into the tail lights is a bit tricky. You have to pull one of the wires marked R off of your assembled body and wire it into this piece. It took me a bit of trial and error but I found that bending the wire behind the bulb lens slightly to fish the bulb into the housing was a good first step. Then, using the flat back of the supplied tweezers, you can almost shoehorn the bulb into place. The bulb doesn’t seem to go ALL the way into the lens, but it does pop in enough that it won’t shake around or fall out of place.

Once you finally get the two LED bulbs plugged into the lenses, it becomes a matter of snapping everything together into place and then attaching it to the wheel well. This is one of those fun partworks stages where you wish that you had three hands: one to hold all the pieces together, another to push further down the part, and a third hand to be turning the screws to affix everything together. In some instances, a little painter’s tape helps. Or a clamp. But with a couple goes, I was able to snap this all together without additional assistance. Only minor hand cramping. I’m old. It happens. Ha!

With the whole piece assembled, here’s the fun part: attaching it to the main body of the car. Again, after staring at my poor Ecto-1 sitting on the shelf missing wheel wells and these red fins, boy-oh-boy was this gratifying to finally do. It felt like, after a long winter working on a 10,000 piece puzzle, finding the ONE piece that had been missing for months and dropping it into place. There’s quite a bit of hardware that goes into keeping this piece in place, and you have to be careful to thread the wires exactly as they’re shown in the diagram - because they need to snake all the way around the rear of the car and through the left side wheel well also. This is where I definitely recommend a little bit of painters tape to help act as that third hand for you to keep things in place, both during this stage and after. I dropped a little piece of painter’s tape under the cargo door to keep the two wires in place for the next couple stages. Also be sure that you’re using the red tab to keep the wires under the cargo door. Tuck those guys under before you affix the IM screw down.

After quite a bit of screw turning (there’s at least seven IM screws and four NP screws to this stage), I had to flip the body over to take a look and admire. It’s been a long time coming darlin’. You deserve this moment.

The final stage to this issue is a cakewalk. You’re basically prepping to work on the other side of the rear of the car by attaching the skirting to the left rear fending. It’s a quick and easy step that you can set the finished product aside and enjoy the rest of the awesome magazine contents and drop the booklet into your binder. Hopefully after all this time, you still have your binder and the prongs to attach the magazines to them.

All in all, this was a whole lot of fun. After a year and counting of not sitting down to work on the car, I had to shake out a little rust - and realized how over-caffeinated I was with my shaky hands. I’m just so glad to be getting monthly shipments again to finish off this car and finally have what will become one of the crown-jewels in the GBHQ collection.

Our thanks to the good folks at Fanhome for reviving the subscription build, sending us stages for review and for keeping the engine running for us all. If you’d like to start up your subscription, now is the time as they’re only offering new and continued subscriptions for a limited time… presumably because they’re dealing with the limited stock from the Eaglemoss days. So act now if you’re interested and happy building!

[zyannatea]

Matcha Made in Heaven: The Ultimate Guide to Green Tea Desserts

Matcha, the finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea, has not only captivated tea enthusiasts but dessert lovers as well! From ice cream to cookies, this Japanese gem has revolutionized the world of desserts. Wondering why? Let's dive into the delectable world of matcha desserts!

Introducing Matcha: The Heart of Green Tea Desserts

Origin and History

Have you ever wondered how this vivid green powder came to be? Well, it all started in Japan. Originating from the Heian period, matcha was an integral part of Zen Buddhist rituals. Fast forward to today, it has won hearts globally, offering a unique combination of earthy taste and wellness.

Health Benefits of Matcha

With matcha, pleasure meets health. Packed with antioxidants, it helps in boosting metabolism and slowing down aging. Plus, it provides a calm alertness without the jitteriness. Amazing, isn't it?

Incorporating Matcha in Desserts: A Delightful Adventure

Here's where the magic happens! Adding matcha to your desserts not only brings a stunning green hue but also a unique, delightful flavor.

Matcha Ice Cream: A Cool Refreshment

Imagine a sunny day and a scoop of creamy, refreshing matcha ice cream melting in your mouth. The best part? It's super easy to make at home. Want a tip? Use ceremonial-grade matcha for the richest flavor.

Matcha Cookies: A Crunchy Delight

These bite-sized wonders, infused with matcha, will make you the star of any get-together. The slight bitterness of matcha beautifully complements the sweetness of the cookie, creating a perfect balance.

Matcha Cheesecake: A Creamy Fantasy

A creamy, decadent matcha cheesecake will undoubtedly leave your guests in awe. This dessert showcases the versatility of matcha, blending seamlessly with the tangy cream cheese.

Matcha Smoothie Bowl: A Healthy Indulgence

For those seeking a healthier option, a matcha smoothie bowl is your match made in heaven! Topped with your favorite fruits and granola, it's a power-packed breakfast that's as delightful as a dessert.

Matcha Desserts: Tips and Tricks for the Best Result

Success in creating irresistible matcha desserts lies in the small details.

Choosing the Right Matcha

Always opt for high-quality, ceremonial-grade matcha. It's finely ground, has a vibrant color, and offers a superior taste, which is exactly what you need for your desserts.

Proper Storage of Matcha

To retain its freshness, always store your matcha in a cool, dark place. Proper storage enhances its shelf life and keeps the flavor intact.

Explore the Best Matcha at Zyanna.com

At Zyanna, we bring you the finest matcha directly sourced from Japan. Embrace the versatility of matcha and let your creativity run wild in the kitchen. Remember, a delicious dessert is best enjoyed with a cup of warm tea. Explore our range of exquisite teas and let us be part of your culinary journey!

Conclusion

From its rich history to the delightful desserts it can create, matcha indeed proves to be a treasure. So, whether you're a dessert aficionado, a health enthusiast, or a curious beginner, it's time to explore the vibrant world of matcha desserts.

FAQs

What kind of matcha is best for desserts?

For desserts, we recommend using ceremonial-grade matcha due to its superior quality and taste.

How should I store my matcha?

Always store your matcha in a cool, dark place, preferably in an airtight container.

Can I use matcha in other dishes apart from desserts?

Absolutely! Matcha is highly versatile and can be used in savory dishes, beverages, and more.

Where can I buy high-quality matcha?

You can explore and purchase our selection of premium, ceremonial-grade matcha at Zyanna.com.

Does matcha offer health benefits?

Yes, matcha is packed with antioxidants, and can boost metabolism, improve skin health, and promote a sense of calm alertness.

[lordterronus]

I never post so here's a pretty oc as a treat

His name is Mal and he's dumb

[tarasharmashow]

A v HAPPY NEW YEAR and wishes for all good things for us all this year and forever touch wood:)...And Yipee just saw my #TheTaraSharmaShow YouTube Channel is almost at 14 MILLION view all organically Please SUBSCRIBE

Hi Hi! My Dear Blogamily and once again apologies for another long hiatus between posts but as social media is the immediate and consistent medium that has us all in touch we are constantly connected! HAPPY NEW YEAR to us all! Here is to wishes for good health, joy, love, success, kindness, empathy, success and all other good things for us all forever touch wood:)!

How are all of you? Do write in with news.. Would love to hear.

Here is our annual HNY photo...same location as the last several years and same resistance from all to stand and pose even when promised it will only be a few seconds haaha! The teller of time is our kids’ heights. Zen taller than me Kai getting there. There are 3 dogs in this picture but one seems to be hidden in there somewhere haaha!

As always I am bursting with so much to share and a desire to hear back from all of you too, but alas, rushing between things and as happens in posts after a while, not sure where to start, so suffice to say I really will write more regularly and in fact as I am trying to write a new show / book / film, not sure what it will be, there will be lots more writing on here henceforth.

Last year saw a return to normalcy for us all after the 21ish months of covid lockdowns and more. Needless to say it had been a very strange time yet as an eternal optimist I did look for the silver linings and we all got through but being back to real normal things is and was fab! Prayers for those who went through very touch time and tragedy.

School for our kids, real, physical school topped the back to life list. Then gradually letting go of masking when safe to do so. The long awaited amazing family trips and holidays. Travel. Me back acting in a big film, The Archies. My standard joke that goes with that revelation - ‘I am not Betty, I am not Veronica, I am the Mother!’ Haahha, took me a while to accept playing the role of Archie’s Mum in the film, but they are young stylish cool Mums and a film directed by fab Zoya Akhtar with the super cast and crew it has, was an immediate yes for me, when I got picked post auditioning. Will reveal more about it nearer release but yes, good to be back on the big screen and I hope you all like my work and it is all a success touch wood:)!

Now onto creating new work. Have a few things up my sleeve and hoping to make them happen successfully touch wood:).

@roopaksaluja and #BANGBANG continue to work hard and as they do more in the production and content creation space with long form global content potential blockbusters in development I hope they succeed too touch wood:).

Football has become an even bigger part of our lives. It helped us loads in lockdown being a release and surprisingly exciting regular source of joy and fitness as our family played lots. Kai plays football for BARCA Elite now and Zen and him for school and us managing to go to Qatar for a #WorldCup match reiterates the joy sport and football brings to us all. 

#YogaWithTara that I began at the start of lockdown and unexpectedly continued bi weekly for over 2 yrs and in fact still do at least once a week helped keep me going too and is and was a super way to stay in touch with my communities. #SaturdayNoonLiveWithTara too.

Again, as this began as a HNY wish, I hadn’t  intended to ramble, but clearly I have, so will zip it now, but will say au revoire with a bit of exciting news that only just came to me... Our #TheTaraSharmaShow @youtube​ channel is at almost 14 MILLION VIEWS all organically!!! Thank you all. The amazing guests, sponsors, our kids Zen and Kai, for being the inspiration behind me starting teh show over 12 years ago now, our fab Team TSS and all of you, our viewers The episodes are timeless and listening to people like #RohitSharma #ViratKohli #SunilChhetri and other inspiring guests now, I am just as motivated and moved and hope you are too. So please do head to the channel, watch, subscribe and share and yes I hope to bring more seasons with more exciting guests on successfully soon touch wood:). Same goes for all my platforms, do please join me there too. As mentioned as I post regularly on insta, YT and FB, I am guilty as charged of sometimes neglecting my blog, but will try and be more regular. Here are my links:

https://www.instagram.com/tarasharmasaluja/

https://www.youtube.com/@tarasharmashow/featured

https://www.facebook.com/tarasharmashow

Ah and something brewing with #MixedThat’sUs.. watch this space to find out :)

Have a wonderful year and beyond all! 

And until we meet again, 

Tarataratara!!!