#proplifting

[prince-liest]

The roots grew roots, so it's time to plant! I can't wait to have a giant monster of a sweet mint bush in like two months.

I, uh, may have just proplifted this sprig off of a mint plant at Home Depot when I went to buy some basil a week ago. I can't tell if the fact that this mint has only been in the water for a week speaks to the characteristics of mint, or the efficiency of water propagation with fertilizer in the water, but either way, it sprouted roots real quick!

[druggonaut]

Would you mind writing up a guide or sharing existing resources re: anarchogardening? Thanks!

SUPER LONG POST!

A NOVEL REALLY.

I'M SO SORRY, I'M AUTISTIC AND I LITERALLY TEXT IN HUGE PARAGRAPHS EVEN. MY FRIENDS HATE ME FOR IT

Ok so Honestly there's no real guide I could give. But, Well, ok so story time ! This isn't really a guide but I guess it's my origin story:

I just started out with these Bee bombs you can get from gardening centres, they're small clay pellets full of native bee favourite flowers. I'd throw them down any place I thought could use some beautiful flowers. So this whole damn country really. That's arguably where I started. No intentions except to help our comrades (the bees 🐝)

Some time After that I realised all the many, many plants I have grown in my house and in my garden (especially the ones not doing very well) could probably do with being relocated as a last hurrah attempt since they were near death anyway and I needed room for more plants. A constant issue of mine.

Outside my local library there's this corner that backs onto the playing fields round back. This corner had benches in a sort of maze shape and was surrounded by various unique bushes and lavender, marigolds and a few other plants clearly put there by a gardener to make a nice natural area.

After the council shut down my beloved library I would walk past it still when I walk my dogs. Sometimes picking some flowers from the now neglected area for my herbal smoking blends and sometimes throwing down handfuls of various seeds I kinda collect. Just to see if I can add to this area.

Most of them took and bloomed in the spring, getting out of hand actually. Growing and taking on a life of their own. This was pretty cool. Then I saw the trellis up the wall. I need a trellis for my morning glories mostly. But I can't just Steal a 10×12ft terrace, but my climbers were falling over themselves. Plus at one point I had morning glories on my windowsill and they grew around my curtain pole. Not very practical but wow they looked very cool. So I took them down to that library trellised wall and just half buried the pots in the ground and wove them in and out of the trellis fully expecting them not to survive. (I've transplanted them once before From my room to my garden but those morning glories didn't recover from the shock) But these ones did! They covered this trellis. It was beautiful. They went to seed and I collected many seeds and since then I've planted them and ransom other plants everywhere really, in 3 cities. I've never been back to check on them unfortunately. I did most of those when I was homeless and jumping trains to random places with 2 friends I was made homeless around the same time they were with (I don't recommend jumping trains unless you need to btw. And if you do , DON'T get off at Reading Central (UK). Not unless you want to be fined £879.10! An amount I'll never forget)

I moved a bunch of plants from my room in pots onto the easily accessible roof of the library too but that was stupid and very exposed, they didn't last a week! Stolen, removed by the police idk. Lost some cool blood grass and passion flower that way. Still bitter about it

Anyway, I have a habit of taking cuttings and runners from my plants and repotting them. (Infinite plant glitch) Which is how I've ended up with so many ornamental pineapple plants, Hops, Mints (including a chocolate mint flavoured one! Smells exactly like mint chocolate ice cream!) oh and I have way too many cacti and succulents from this way too.

So what do you do when you have too many plants? You go and replant them any place you can! Especially in abandoned building sites! That's where my succulents in particular have really taken over. Nature will always take back what's hers, I only assisted her. As her Seed Thrawl if you will.

Ok so now I'm going to admit to a variety of crimes. So , this anonymous grocery store has this garden centre small shed like building near me that they obviously lock all the plants in at night but it was open one night . At like 2am so some employee fucked up but won't be coming back. Man, I stole so many fruit trees it's not even funny. I was drunk (ok on other drugs too) and I loaded up a large trolley and just fucking ran across the car park like Harry Fucking Potter at platform 9 3/4, and was gone. I got a lil paranoid of getting caught with my hoard of plants the next day. So I just went around (in the dead of night) and planted most of the redcurrants and blackberries and raspberries and apricot and goji berry and something called Aronia (some kind of berry thing, ooh and blueberry plants too!) in every place I thought might be suitable for the plants to grow, but also rather inconspicuous too. So the blackberry bramble bushes I planted among already established bushes of the same type on a main road for example. The blueberry bushes in the acidic soil on this patch of nature surrounding one of those electrical boxes etc

Man, I kept tabs on these plants when I walked my dogs and I started seeing local kids picking the berries and also Nepalese families especially doing the same (spoke to many of them, they used to go foraging in Nepal their whole lives and were happy to find all these strange fruit plants growing everywhere. I really wanted to reveal that it was me who did it but I didn't need the clout or the risk of doing so)

At first I was a little annoyed because I didn't mind people taking the fruit but I thought everyone was exhausting the fruit which meant no seeds and future die off. But wow, even the kids knew to only take some and wait for more to grow. That's probably when it hit me that people weren't greedy really, and nobody that didn't want or need them were taking any. Just regular people, being happy, taking what they need, teaching their kids to forage. Naturally I became a vaguely illegal plant planter.

So I started prop lifting from garden centres to grow roots on the leaves I was propagating (was doing it before this but I REALLY went hard on it now)

I met this girl who told me how to get away with taking cuttings from botanical gardens (the prestigious places with rare plants and overpriced ones in the gift shop). I was planning to go to Kew gardens with family soon anyway. Idec, I stole cuttings of some rare and beautiful plants and didn't damage the host plants. Conservation in mind. Such a rush. Ugh . You don't know true ecstasy until you smuggle dragon fruit seeds out of a botanical garden's security checkpoint.

I kept some of these, planted some others. I won't go into details about how I stole from those botanical gardens for obvious reasons. As a seasoned shoplifter and with the aid of that girl's tips and genuinely preparing like a bank heist, all I'll say is it was easy if you wear a small bag full of certain tools and room for small plants under your hoody.

Now the grafting. I learned how to graft genetically similar plants together like a botanical Frankenstein from a YouTube channel called Jsacadura. I thought it was so cool and I practiced on my mum's two different apple trees. I was so excited! It worked!! I later read on some book from ZLibrary (I can't remember which book, sorry. I've downloaded over 1500 books from there onto a dedicated tablet because I apparently hoard everything) and in this book I learned that you can graft the rootstock of a cannabis plant onto the above ground vine of a Hops plant. I had both of these. Both for smoking. I hated beheading my 2 foot tall baby cannabis plant and was so worried! But it took a long while to heal and I couldn't tell if it worked until it continued growing or shriveled up to die. But it fucking lived! The thing about this hops plant with cannabis roots... Was it looked like a legal normal hops vine... BUT IT NOW HAD CANNABINOIDS IN THE FLOWERS!! actual magic. Can't even believe it but sure hops and cannabis are closely related. And this alchemist shit worked out! Bit of a tangent but it's crucial to understand how and why I got into grafting. Now there's some apple trees down my local park...

I was going to air layer one of my mum's apple trees because it got root rot. She had them in pots with no drainage holes 🙄 (to air layer you shave off bark at soil level of the trunk revealing that light brown inner Cambrian layer that is like the tree's vascular system. You always graft onto this layer btw) . After it's shaved you can tie a bag or container like a plastic takeaway container around it full of dirt. A big ol' dirt bandaid if you will. It'll grow roots from the part you shaved after a couple weeks. OH WRAP THE CONTAINER IN TINFOIL OR SOMETHING. ROOTS LIKE DARK AND DO NOT LIKE SUNLIGHT. Then you cut the original rotten irrelevant roots away with a saw , below your new roots and BOOM. new tree basically, from a single branch of a dying one. Yeah! Science bitch!

It should be noted that you can only really graft in the spring when the sap is flowing and the plant is actively growing. If you can't easily peel the bark from a branch then chances are it's not ready.

Over time I got a few small trees from this method. All clones genetically because they all came from one plant originally. Not a seed made by two parents.

So I started my clone army, didn't execute order 66 or anything but I did have enough now to warrant risking some being a loss by grafting them onto those park apple trees. There's a chance it won't work even if you do everything right. I really thought someone would peel off the graft sight coverings/bandages/grafting tape but lichen grew all up the tree and covered the tape so maybe it helped camouflage it. I did all this in the dead of night again, using a quick flash of my phone light to see what I'm doing and quickly turning it off again and working from memory. No idea lf this is illegal but most things I enjoy doing is so idk. Precautions. These grafts all survived but 2. So 5/7. Some cunt later knocked one of the trees down crashing into it on his dirt bike , the bastard tore up the field too. It's bad enough the dirt bike cunts keep me awake often ugh. One down though I guess, I see it as the tree taking HIM out as a thank you to me for the new bioprosthetic ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

These events seem close and linear from how I write but this all started just before and then during the pandemic. So ~5 years (jfc time sure is a thing that just continues to go on huh)

It's kinda how I stayed sane really during the height of COVID. I've toned it down a bit but sInce I started this I still kinda plant random cuttings everywhere, just for fun and idk help get fruit to anyone that would be delighted to be able to gather fresh fruit when they want without the expense of grocery store fruit. Also no pesticides etc. I just like doing it tbh, I'm not really thinking I'm feeding the homeless or anything. Just an added bonus. I give everyone I meet a cactus or pineapple plant because they keep reacting so well to cuttings being taken and/or asexually reproducing anyway. People think I'm quirky and being nice but I just need to offload my Frankenstein children to make and buy new ones.

I think that's about the jist of it. I currently have a few projects in the works. Frustrating things really. Like trying to get my lychee seeds to grow and my Syrian Rue for the harmala alkaloids. Hawaiian baby woodrose seeds too for the Lysergic Acid Amides. But wrong climate in the UK :( . Oh but I've grown two avocado trees from seed now! They're both maybe 3 foot tall. I have a new plastic greenhouse now and they love it in there. I also have so many physalis plants that I get fruit from. Idk how but there's two varieties and they just keep growing all over the place. I swear I put some seeds in one pot and they haven't flowered, fruited AND seeded AND spread to germinate. They're not even that old. But I'll plant them at that library plant corner maybe. Haven't checked on all these plants in a while, so I probably should.

So that's my story, I haven't told anyone any of this before. I hope you and anyone else can take something valuable from this!

I honestly have no books or resources on Anarchogardening ! I checked ZLibrary but shockingly found nothing. You can try though (singlelogin.re) [DON'T GO ON ANY OTHER SITE CLAIMING TO BE ZLIBRARY. THOSE SITES ARE SCAM SITES TRYING TO GET MONEY OUT OF YOU. ONLY SINGLELOGIN.RE)

Or if you wanted to use TOR the .onion site is:

http://loginzlib2vrak5zzpcocc3ouizykn6k5qecgj2tzlnab5wcbqhembyd.onion/

[sarahgrows]

New leaf update! I currently have new leaves sprouting or have sprouted recently.

First my Pink Princess, the lady that got me into Philodendrons in the first place. Her last leaf was just a tiny bit off from a half moon. I don't think this next one looks as pink, which will actually be good considering I want to prop her top!

Next, my Philodendron Birkin. This one came two plants in a pot so I separated them. This one is pushing out it's first new growth!

My Dark Cardinal Philodendron is also two in one pot. I need to split her up because I do feel it is affecting one of the plants' growth. This one however is happy as can be with this new leaf!

This White Wizard was a rescue from Walmart. This is the first new leaf since I've brought it home. There seems to be plenty of white on it! Besides the torn leaves it has been doing really well. One day hope to make her a mother plant as well.

My Prince of Orange is my most sentimental plant. I picked it up from an Ace Hardware when I was on a date day with my son. This is its third new leaf since I've brought it home. I love the orange!

You might be wondering about the condition of this swiss plant. I honestly don't know if it's a monstera or a Philodendron. BUT it was a proplift from a Lowe's 😬 I won't be doing that again but I am super happy that I've been able to get her to grow!

So those are my current leaf updates! What plants do you have growing new leaves? Which leaves are your favorites?

[powdersalt]

lil proplifts

[sweaters-and-vertigo]

i’ve been doing this years…… over 25% of my plants have been rescued from plant shop floors :)

[uncanny-tranny]

Another bonus to learning a fiber art is being able to speak to others in a Lovecraftian language that nobody else understands...

...and also being able to read things like THIS:

[seabeck]

I got a couple of baby bunny belly inch plant cuttings and they’re taking root

[deep-sea-scholar]

Well I mean, the way I see it you’re helping to clean the gardening department, so the only theft going on is the store not paying you for temp work.

I’m totally gonna do it

[prince-liest]

YES MY ECHEVARIA SERAPHINA LEAF PROP IS GROWING A PLANTLET

I wasn't able to buy this plant because the big box store I found it at doesn't take mobile pay so I proplifted a couple leaves, and then when I came back next week there were none left so this is my only chance qq

[demon-birate]

Fascinating to me that there are signs at a local plant nursery near me that says "proplifting IS stealing" like ok man. Mad that I can make a plant grow from a leaf are we

[proton-wobbler]

Proplifting is great but please do not damage plants in order to get your own. Some types of succulents Do NOT reproduce this way (moonstones!), and you are ruining a perfectly good plant when there are likely plenty of leaves around the pots themselves. Just take leaves that were already broken off.

Alternatively, source your leaf from a friend's plant (WITH THEIR PERMISSION)

[haunted-calathea]

Favorite part of being a gardener is taking seeds from nearby plants that don't belong to you

Theres this beautiful hosta by my apt building and I got some seeds from her today so I can grow my own!!!

Also my other seeds are starting to grow!!!! And i've been giving them EXCLUSIVELY mosquito bit tea because I am not letting those wretched creatures take another seedling from me

[powdersalt]

thanksgiving cactus reveal

[aftgficrec]

Anonymous said: Hi! Thank you so much for your work. I'm looking for long finished fics, it can be canon or not AND I'm also looking for fics focused on Kevin and Neil friendship

From Ravens angst to food wars there’s a lot of Kevin and Neil here for you to enjoy. Readers, find the long complete fics portion of this ask here. -A

previous recs

Kevin & Neil here

Kevin & Neil friendship here

BFFs Neil & Kevin, physically affectionate here

Neil & Kevin as bffs/brothers + Kev/Neil here 

‘To All my friends’ here

‘on thin ice’ here

‘Exit Wound’ here 

‘Necessary Losses,’ ‘Remember! Proplifting is Shoplifting!,’ and ‘CVS’ (completed) here

‘don't be suspicious, don't be suspicious’ here

‘I have a Prom-Posal’ here (updated)

‘The Manga is Way Better (Save me from the Fangirls)’ here

‘Homecoming King’ here 

‘The One Where Everyone Finds Out’ here

‘How to outrun the mafia, an essay by Neil Josten’ here

‘my friends and I, we got a lot of problems’ and ‘please, carry me, carry me, carry me home’ here

‘I can see the stars though the tears in my skin’ here

‘Odd Eye’ here

‘Carrots’ here

‘You Can't Take the Sky from Me’ here 

‘Something Crazy About It’ and ‘The one where Andriel get Cats’ here

‘Dear Advice Guy,’ ‘a little bit special,’ and ‘quicksand’ here

‘Slow Parade’ and ‘Bad Habits’ here

‘Technique is Important’ here

‘venus as a boy’ here (completed)

‘Light a Match’ and ‘stupid, normal teenagers’ here

‘"There's blood on my/your hands."’ here

‘Neil Josten Is a Lucky Man’ here

‘Two worlds collide’ and ‘Fear & Loathing’ here

‘Father’s Day, ‘08’ here

‘Point Nemo’ here

‘Extra thermador on the side’ ch 14 & 15 here

‘Gimme a Kiss and I'll Kiss You Right Back’ here

‘North Star’ and ‘it's my first and perhaps last time (aka the Exy World Cup Fic)’ here

‘my one, my dear’ here

‘I’m too young to feel numb…’ here

‘The Sickness Was Forever,’ ‘Whatever it takes,’ and ‘It's Just You and Me, Just Us, and Y(our) Friend Kevin’ here 

‘Different Roads’ and ‘I Was Ruined From The Start’ here

‘Spun Sugar Truths’ here

‘But man, I can hate you sometimes’ here

‘Remember Me, Love, When I'm Reborn…’ and ‘The Suit Universe’ series (updated) here

‘Through our memories, we live’ here (completed)

‘Die Free or Die a Failure’ here (completed)

‘A Falling Star’ series here

you may also like

andreil & Kevin here

more kevineil here

Andrew & Kevin here

to whom it may aggravate by knoxout [Rated G, 1931 Words, Complete, 2022]

to: njosten@denverbulldogs.com from: kevinday@seattlestingrays.com ARE YOU FUCKING STUPID????? Kindest regards, Kevin Day

Strike That (from the record) by Mercey [Rated M, 1393 Words, Complete, 2023]

Kevin and Neil decide to read fanfiction about themselves on their podcast. Shenanigans ensue.

Medicated rabbits don't run as fast by AllTheSpadesAndAces [Not Rated, 8690 Words, Incomplete, Updated Nov 2023]

Neil Josten has his mother to thank for an addiction to painkillers, but he won't speak (that) ill of the dead. He's stayed on the run after her death. He never hits the same AA or NA meeting more than once. Usually only going once in every city he passes though. Maybe he should have remembered not to stray too close to Raven territory. After all, he knows what that place can drive people to do. OR Neil meets Kevin at an AA meeting.

tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: drug addiction, tw: alcohol abuse/alcoholism

Your eyes can’t fool me by maia_m03 [Rate G, 3533 Words, Complete, 2022]

There’s something familiar about this kid and Kevin can’t quite place it. Until he does. (A ‘Kevin recognises Neil at Millport’ AU)

neil josten vs vegetables (aka kevin) by orangejuice9 [Rated T, 3138 Words, Complete, 2023]

Three times Kevin tries to put vegetables in Neil's food, and one time Neil gets his revenge.

this is [home], this is hell by straycrow [Rated M, 1402 Words, Complete, 2022]

The day Kevin left the Nest and Neil behind.

tw: violence, tw: abuse

What the fuck did I do in the end? (Just to not be yours) by allfortheBoyds [Rated M, 2305 Words, Incomplete, Updated April 2023]

Kevin goes back to the nest so that Neil can run

no rest for the mischievous by tropicalblend [Rated G, 1681 Words, Complete, 2023]

Kevin forgets an essential piece of Neil's food order so Neil must enact revenge, he must.

frying pans by aknosde [Rated G, 1078 Words, Complete, 2023]

When Kevin trudges down the stairs and into the kitchen Saturday morning it's to the smell of frying sausage and a headache the likes of which he hasn’t seen in years. The fact that the former makes him want to throw up considerably more than the latter lets him know what kind of day it’s going to be. (Or: Neil cooks Kevin breakfast)

tw: implied disordered eating

i want to hold your hand by gay_irl [Rated T, 3481 Words, Complete, 2023]

Neil starts to notice that Andrew occasionally exchanges casual touches with Kevin. He feels something about it but he's not sure what. He talks to Andrew and starts to realize the value of non-sexual intimacy. He decides to try it out.

tw: implied/referenced child abuse

why am I like this? by chronically_peach [Rated G, 1744 Words, Complete, 2023]

Kevin doesn’t believe in loneliness. He doesn’t believe in friendship or the need for people around. He spent his entire life never being alone but never having a friend. Loneliness didn’t affect Kevin. Or so he thought. One night Kevin breaks down during late night practice while alone at the court. When he doesn’t come home Andrew and Neil go looking for him

In the Blooms by KaijuusAndKryptids [Rated G, 1273 Words, Complete, Aftg Spring Exchange 2022, Locked]

Kevin works on sobriety, and needs something to fill the time to distract him from needing a drink. He falls into gardening incidentally, but more and more often he finds that he wants to garden for gardening's sake and not to complete another objective.

Proof of Life by mostly_maudlin [Rated T, 2132 Words, Complete, 2022]

Realistically, Kevin knows he is safe now. No one is after him anymore. No one is plotting to drag him down into the hole he's clawed out of. He has people who will fight to keep it this way.

Kevin? Aaron? Together? My life can't get any worse than this by Artificiosus [Rated T, 2129 Words, Complete, 2022]

He takes a deep breath in. "Where?" "Where what- oh," Kevin replies. "Where?" Neil repeats, his heart rate is speeding up, he feels frozen to the spot. Dread? Fear? Whatever it is, it's locked him down. Kevin gulps.  ~~~~~ Kevin tells Neil that he and Aaron slept together.

Hey Look Neil, You Made It! by alexis_needs_sleep [Not Rated, 2224 Words, Complete, 2022]

7 years after Kevin agreed to teach Neil how to play Exy, Kevin shows up on Neil's doorstep with a long overdue gift.

Sticking with our Losers by Webaqoof [Rated T, 1647 Words, Complete, 2022, Locked]

Kevin dragged his ass from the front porch steps where he was laying down, ready to enter the house. He furrowed his eyebrows to find it still closed, because he clearly heard Neil ringing the doorbell. “Why is the door not open?” Neil brought his hand to his chin in a thinking posture. Which was funny because he never really thought anything. “I think it’s because one of the people in the house doesn’t like me much.”

Could Have Been Me by thornilee013 [Rated T, 1843 Words, Complete, AFTG Mixtape Exchange 2024]

Kevin finally voices a question that's been bothering him.

i should hate you, i feel stupid. by hynjinnnniee [Rated T, 3391 Words, Complete, 2024]

kevin experiences some complicated feelings after riko dies, and the monsters help him through it.

Naked-Fruit Chiffon Cake, one box by riri_a [Rated T, 2579 Words, Complete, 2023]

Kevin Day was having a very boring morning. Some might say his life was boring in general. Everything changes when a homeless guy with blue eyes decides to rob his workplace. Kevin thinks he's incompetent.

Tell Me the Truth by birthdaycandles774 [Rated T, 1948 Words, Complete, 2023]

The Foxes were staying at the winter banquet for both days, how boring. Andrew had gone to get ice for his drunk brother and cousin when he noticed two Ravens. So far from their nest, strange. He never expected to make a deal with the unannounced member of the 'Perfect Court' who only wanted him to protect Kevin Day. He definitely didn't expect to want the mysterious Raven to stay. The one where Neil was caught by the Moriyamas and is the one to get Kevin out of the Nest.

Kevin Day is keeping Celeste series by Twolipsliterature [Rated G/T, Collection, Incomplete, Updated Feb 2023]

Part 1: What never belonged to angels, Had never belonged to men [T, 1837 Words, Complete] Neil, Andrew, and Kevin are in Columbia for the summer following Riko's death. Needless to say, Kevin is not handling it well. When a breakup leads to a breakdown, Neil and Andrew must learn what it is to be a friend and how to help peice someone back together instead of being the one to break them apart

tw: alcohol abuse/alcoholism

Part 2: If I let you perceive me, do you promise to love me? [T, 11037 Words, Incomplete, Updated Feb 2023] The last thing Kevin expected to do after a messy breakup was immediately fall for someone. Yet, here he is, smitten and cursing himself for it. With more baggage and trauma than he can hide under his bed, Kevin is hesitant to open up to someone. How can anyone get to know him when he barely knows himself? Lucky for him, Celeste is very good at piecing things together. OR: Despite his best efforts, Kevin falls in love.

Part 3: A Lesson In Loving You, A Lesson In Being Loved [G, 4966 Words, Complete]

After months of sneaking around, Neil decides its high time Kevin introduce the foxes to his not-so-secret girlfriend. When it finally happens, he can't shake the feeling that there's something more to her that Kevin is missing...

A Collection of my varying AFTG short stories… by BasiliskCrane [Rated M, Collection, Updated July 2021]

Chapter 6: "your an idiot... " (G, 438 Words)

You Gave Me A Key And Called It Home by vinesse [Collection, Rated T, Complete, 2019]

Chapter 31: Scared, Me? (466 Words)

A Series of H/C One-Shots For All For The Game by carefulren [Rated T, Collection, Updated 2018]

Chapter 1: Neil Downplays How Sick He's Feeling, and the Foxes Step In Chapter 4: sick and problematic kevin trying to keep the team away from him, but the team ignores him

Art

kevneil arguing dynamic comic by @wuzeio

quality bonding time animation by @broresteia

weekly call comic by @bleepbloops

tramp stamps instead of face tattoos art by @koihoi

AU where Kevin meets Neil on the run art by @lucky-slice

[xulme]

One of my proplifted succulent leaves looks like it's successfully growing a baby. >:3

[mr-nicegirl]

any miniscule tiny curly crusty lil white dog looks like it was spliced off of my dog btw. looks like they snipped a piece of his fur and grew that little beast in a petri dish trying to recreate him thru asexual plant science/cloning im to dumb to joke about. r/proplifting how to grow your own crusty white dog from a benny toenail clipping. or something

he's basically the blue print, baby