#take a layer multi pot

[all-purpose-dish-soap]

TF141 reactions to "want me to paint your nails?"

PRICE has never been asked that question before

knee-jerk reaction is no. because he is a man.

but he knows better than that, too; it's just an assumption he was raised with and he's lived too long and seen too much to care about other people's judgement.

he leans over and watches you paint yours. seems harmless enough.

he allows you to paint one (1) pinky nail.

you do as neat a job as you can. very deliberate strokes. sliding one of your unpainted nails around the edge of his cuticle to catch a smudge.

you say "there you go :)"

he nods, seems pretty unaffected by the whole thing. just indulging you, it's a good captain thing to do. fun is allowed sometimes as a little treat.

if you catch him looking down at that one painted pinky nail in thought, in meetings, running his thumb over it in thought, no you didn't.

GHOST balks. acts like that's a stupid question. this is a lie.

even if you shrug and say okay, your loss, he feels kinda tingly about it in the stomach for a minute.

but if you were to just... maybe reach over and pull his hand in anyway, he wouldn't stop you.

he just lets you paint his nails. all of them. just sits there like it's not happening.

activates the monkey grooming part of his brain. not only are you doing a nice thing for him for no reason, you're touching him.

like, you're holding his hand almost. that shit is intimate.

his touch-starved ass starts having pavlovian reactions to the smell of nail polish after that.

GAZ says yeah. asks you to show him.

you lean in and show him the hand you're working on.

when you pull his hand over to do his, he pulls an uno reverse. flips your hand over in his.

plucks the nail polish brush out of your hand and starts painting the thumbnail of your non-dominant hand.

he's just doing it as an excuse to have your hand in his. he does not deny it when you point this out. no, he's not letting go.

his grip is secure. you protest and he counters by asking you how long it takes to dry. how many layers. if this is your favorite color. how to clean up that dot he just made on your fingertip.

he is so coolheaded about it that he flusters you the more you try to argue. you eventually have to just shut up and let him work. and answer his questions.

he is smirking.

after that, he makes a point to grab your hand whenever you're not wearing gloves and check your nails. if they're chipped, he quips it's time for him to fill you in.

SOAP says sure >:)

do not trust him. this is a mistake.

the minute you scoot over to pick his hand up, he yanks you over and wrestles you to the floor.

pot of nail polish? spilled. your freshly painted nails? ruined. done for.

you should've known. like this is seriously your fault. you know him.

he gets your nail polish on his fingers by accident. then happily smudges it wherever he can reach. 

he loves wrestling :) and playing too rough on purpose

eventually he will apologize for ruining your manicure.

helps you repaint them. you're awed when he does a better job than you could.

he has steady hands. part of his demo skillset. and he likes sketching, so

you don't have to clean up any of the nails he paints.

he even uses your detail brush to draw a little something on your accent nail to remind you of him. you think it's just something to make up for his bullshit, but now whenever he sees it (and that thumbprint of nail polish he left on the back of your shoulder and didn't tell you) he feels like he signed you <3

...

more multi-141 and poly 141 / masterlist tag

[random-remzy]

Fun Fact!

i actually do not give two flying fucks what you choose to draw, wether its deep and symbolic like a blooming flower in a cracked pot out in the rain, or a headcanon you have about your favorite character or just straight up nasty style furry porn.

as long as YOU draw it.

Dont turn to tracing. (i mean, dont post it as your own if you did trace, tracing can help with general improvements)

Dont turn to plagairism

and do NOT turn to fucking AI!

No one is born perfect at something, Ed Sheeran once shared a recording of his singing before he started practicing music continously, Christiano Ronaldo said that "Talent without work is nothing"

"Oh I use AI because I cant draw :("

Then learn.

for some people it takes a few months, for some (like me) it can take years.

But we got better didn't we? We picked up a pencil or a stylus and we thought, 'Let's start somewhere'

It started with mothers day cards and birthday drawings and then to tracing things off the laptop screen to understand, then to drawing tutorials for animals, then to landscaped drawings and objects, and digital art and learning about layers and acrylic painting and learning to shade and little fruits and characters from shows and learning anatomy off of pinterest drawing templates and watercolor and multi medium works and color theory and drawing your own characters in detail and human proportions.

It starts anywhere but please just start!

[where-fading-princesses-live]

Monsters, Inc./ Monsters University Analysis- Pt. 1

(WARNING: LONG POST)

-> Part 1/ ?

[Part 2]

[Part 3]

[Part 4]

Y’all this happening on only the first week of pride 😭😭

I’m sorry i’m about to be a menace to everyone i know….. I don’t even know where to begin because I love these movies SO MUCH I was so obsessed like 10000% I used to eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner when I was a kid, no joke.  I was five when the first movie came out but I have so many fond memories…….

Call me delusional but I think Monsters, Inc. is Pixar’s greatest film, to date (as much as I love Toy Story, Wall-E, A Bug’s Life and Finding Nemo…. MI always takes the cake with the cherry on top….. it is a masterpiece). It was my main obsession in 2001, and it still is. It’s such a well-structured, multi-layered story with so many deep, dark themes that went way over my head as a kid, but I appreciate it that much more now as an adult…

We can’t forget Monsters University… it’s one of the greatest Pixar sequel/ prequels, just as good as if not better than the first film…… dare I say better than the Toy Story sequels, which I liked well enough but haven’t watched since they came out…. But MU? You wanna know how many times I’ve watched this BEAST since I first saw it on the big screen??? I can’t believe it came out in 2013, it feels like only yesterday. I must’ve gone to see it in theaters five times in a row because it was THAT good. I wanna go back in time and watch it for the first time all over again.

I’m not putting SPOILER ALERTS cuz this ain’t your standard review and I assume everybody’s seen it already, I mean the first movie is 23 years old! There’s no excuse if you haven’t seen it already! With the assumption that everyone’s seen it, I’m gonna just be combining my thoughts on both movies… cuz reasons… and I’ll try real hard to organize my thoughts because they’re all over the place……….

Without further ado………….

Let’s spill some tea, shall we?

Boy, have I got news for you, buddy.

We ain’t got just tea but the whole tea pot lol 🫖

It’s Pride Month, y’all! These monsters be comin’ out of the closet, you know what I mean?

!!THE STAR-STUDDED CAST

Before I jump into characters, let’s talk about how they absolutely COOKED with this casting.

John Goodman as James P. Sullivan—Broadway Legend and Coen Brothers Royalty. Wait, you mean Roseanne Legend, right? Right???? Hahaha. No, that was not a typo. Yes, you heard me right. BROADWAY legend. I’m talking the Tony-Award winning Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn at La Jolla Playhouse in 1984 and on Broadway in 1985. Won the Tony for Best Musical. Goodman originated the role of Huck Finn’s abusive alcoholic father, Pap Finn, and his villain song (‘’Guv’ment’’) totally slaps. Nobody could’ve played Pap like Goodman…… Goodman being a Missouri native and all with strong ties to the Ozarks, born and raised in Affton, in south St. Louis County, brought up Southern Baptist……..he’s a literal Beverly Hillbilly, for a lack of a better word, and with Huck Finn being synonymous with Missouri, he was born to play the part.

Why is this relevant to Monsters, Inc.? It’s not. It’s just a super cool piece of trivia for Theatre Kids anyone who cares. I may have outed myself as a Theatre Kid….oops.

Quick story: I remember watching the 74th Academy Awards in March 2002 and seeing John Goodman perform live the Oscar-winning Mike and Sulley classic Broadway showtune love duet, ‘’If I Didn’t Have You’’ from the movie with songwriter Randy Newman singing Mike’s part because Billy was MIA for some reason and my mom said, ‘’Wow he sings really good I didn’t know he could sing!’’ like mom???? Hello??? This man got his start on Broadway, he’s a classically trained singer, OF COURSE he can sing =____=

But even now I’m surprised that so many people don’t know that………. Esp. cuz he sings in other movies and TV shows…… was everybody sleeping on this man????? This National Treasure??????…… but yes, he was the perfect choice to play Sulley based on that hidden talent…… plus his deep, grizzly bear drawl (I heard someone say, he doesn’t attempt to lose his Midwestern accent but lays it on thicker when he needs to, almost as a manipulation tactic when he wants to try and pull the “simple ol’ southern pastor” wool over someone’s eyes. He needs to talk like he is from Montgomery with Molasses oozin outta his mouth.)

ANYWAY, this man has a God-given, rich operatic baritone, can sing circles around bluegrass, country, gospel…..like………..Triple Threat.

Like…….. not to be weird or gross, but he can top me…….with that voice. Present tense mind u ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Seriously he may be SUPERMEGAFOXYAWESOMEHOT but I fall in love with him because of his voice :)

(And I secretly wish MI was made into a quasi-musical like the Disney Renaissance movies because Billy Crystal and John Goodman sure got some serious pipes, don’t they? Wigs were snatched.)

Even cooler trivia………Sulley’s original name was Johnson……. djjfjfhf my god.

I’m glad they changed it to Sulley…. So much cuter, right? Sulley was, in fact, named after Ed Sullivan of The Ed Sullivan Show. So, for anyone who knows the ‘’Ed Sullivan’’ song from Bye Bye Birdie? Yeah, *that* song. Paul Lynde. Pride Month, y’all.

Billy Crystal as Mike Wazowski—Broadway AND Hollywood Legend. Yes, another one of THOSE. 700 Sundays. Mr. Saturday Night and his showstopping self-aware fake Yiddish scat routine at the 75th 2022 Tonys that literally brought down the house! Yiddishists need not despair. You had ONE job, sir…. And you nailed it. A real traditional song-and-dance man. He’s a TITAN of musical theatre. My lovey dovey Manhattan-born, Bronx, Long Beach, and Long Island-reared Jew. I want to talk more about him later and why he was so perfect for Mike. But it needs its own post.  

(King Billy with the rainbow????? And why did he turn into Stephen Sondheim??? lord take me now)

Mike MIGHT be my favorite character deadass. Yeah 😅my character preferences are. they sure are predictable lmao

The fact that Mike was never *supposed* to be part of the original story, like that is MADNESS because I cannot even imagine the story working as well without Mike. He is the heart and soul of the franchise. He is the CINAMMON ROLL……and the rest of them are frosting. IS ANYONE GONNA TALK ABOUT HOW HE LOOKS ODDLY ENOUGH LIKE A WALKING TALKING MI COMPANY LOGO OR?????

…………………………………………………………………. OR WE WERE SUPPOSED TO FIND OUT THAT OUT FOR OURSELVES????

Em. Eye. It’s literally……..just an ‘’M’’. With an eye………. Like……… ‘’M’’ for Mike but………….if you just flipped the ‘’M’’….it would be a ‘’W’’…….. for ‘’Wazowski’’………… Coincidence? I think not.

So does that mean Mike is the unofficial mascot for the MI franchise????? am i hallucinating????????

So anyway, luckily they created a (Boy)Friend for Sulley…… but…….

The fact that they had the NERVE to consider Eddie Murphy for the part, like c’mon………….he was a good Mushu and a Donkey, but his voice does NOT fit Mike. Crystal was made for Mike………. With a name like ‘’Wazowski’’ he *had* to be voiced by a Jew, preferably a New York-accented Jew, and I’m not sorry.  (The only alternative to Crystal was *maybe* Nathan Lane, with his witty gay sass (Timon!!! My Love!!!)…….but Mike would not have worked as well if he was played by a non-Jew, and that’s just my opinion, my maternal grandfather was a Yiddish-speaking Ashkenazi German-Jew, so it’s just something I need to get out of my system about why I love Mike—and Billy Crystal!!!!!—so much…….I’ll talk more about why later because it’s a big part of his character…….it was definitely a choice…..Billy Crystal understood the assignment.)

Of course, everyone already knows the story how he was the original choice for Buzz Lightyear…… Buzz’s early animation test used a sound clip from the famous ‘’THIS STUPID WAGON WHEEL ROY ROGERS GARAGE SALE COFFEE TABLE!!!!!’’ scene from When Harry Met Sally (1989). It’s funny as hell but……….

His voice honestly did not fit Buzz, bless his heart. It was just that Buzz worked better with a deeper tone, like Tim Allen………so Crystal politely declined, later regretting his choice when Toy Story became a smash hit (but he made the right choice, it be like that sometimes.) Well, they promised they’d find him a better part……………..

…………………………………and the rest is history.

~THE BIG WAZOWSKI~

Btw, what the hell is a ‘’Wazowski’’???? It’s funny, because Boo has a nickname for Sulley…. ‘’Kitty’’……. His real name isn’t hard to remember or pronounce; she must hear Mike calling him ‘’Sulley’’ but she always calls him ‘’Kitty’’ because that’s what kids usually do…….. but then the great irony of it all is she has no special pet name for Mike. She can perfectly pronounce ‘’Mike Wazowski’’ without missing a beat! It’s just funny, because it’s not like an easy to pronounce, easy to spell generic name like ‘’John Smith’’ esp. for a kid who’s still learning to talk, it’s like the most longest, most sing-song name you can possibly come up with, like it’s a mouthful……. BUT it wouldn’t be funny if Mike had a simple John Doe name. ‘’Wazowski’’ is just funny to say. And everybody in the movie wears it thin, stretching it to its last syllable……to a point that NONE of the kids in the audience watching this movie for the first time were EVER gonna forget *that* name. I remember in grade school all the kids chanting Boo’s ‘’Mike Wazowski! Mike Wazowski!’’ down the hallways in perfect unison, just a chorus of little kindergarteners starting their own Monsters, Inc. fanclub on the playground, like…… the animators knew what they were doing. They brainwashed us.

My ten-year-old cousin LOVES this movie to death and Mike of course is her favorite character (bitch, me too, the fuck!). Yep, it was love at first sight for me, too, kiddo. She’s going through the phase! With a name like that, how can you NOT?

When this movie first came out, my older cousins and I were so obsessed that we would re-enact every scene from the movie, we took turns playing all the characters of course. We used a baby doll for Boo. But our favorite game was the ‘’Wazowski Game’’. My older cousins and I used to imitate Randall insulting Mike, like literally *all* the time…………… we used to call each other’s houses and purposedly not pick up the phone so we could leave insulting voice mails. Our answering machines were literally full with all kinds of messages like: ‘’SHUT UP, WAZOWSKI!’’ ‘’CAN IT, WAZOWSKI!’’ ‘’YOU’RE KILLING ME, WAZOWSKI!’’ ‘’KISS MY LIZARD BUTT, WAZOWSKI!’’ ‘’IS THIS SOME KIND OF JOKE, WAZOWSKI???’’ ‘’DO YOU THINK I’M STUPID, WAZOWSKI???????????’’ ‘’DID YOU EAT MY SANDWHICH, WAZOWSKI??????????????’’ ‘’IS IT BECAUSE I’M FAT, WAZOWSKI????????????????????????’’ ‘’FUDGE YOU, WAZOWSKI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’’ in our best Steve Buscemi impression (it wasn’t very good, but it was fun to do……. Like, go home, Randall, you’re drunk. =__=

Cut us some slack, we were only five for Pete’s sake……… of course we drove our parents bonkers).

So why give Mike an ethnic Polish name like ‘’Wazowski’’ and not something like ‘’Crawford’’ or ‘’Davis’’?

Mike's name was inspired by Frank Oz's Dutch-Polish-Jewish father Isadore "Mike" Oznowicz…….. Frank Oz of course was the famous puppeteer who voiced Miss Piggy in The Muppets, and he provided the voice of Randall’s assistant, Jeff Fungus.

‘’Wazowski’’ sounds like ‘’Wachowski’’ a Polish surname originating from the village of Wachów, Poland. It also sounds like ‘’Warszawski’’ from Warsaw.

And naturally, ‘’Wazowski’’ rhymes with ‘’Jeffery Lebowski’’ from the Coen Bros movie The Big Lebowski (1998) and it was no accident (the movie stars both John Goodman and Steve Buscemi in a small part)…… ‘’Lebowski’’ like ‘’Wazowski’’ is of Polish origin, probably derives from ‘’Lebow," a town in Poland. The two main characters in The Big Lebowski were hinted to be Polish-Americans in a beach side town (John Goodman’s character, Walter Sobchak (from Sobczak), was a Vietnam vet, originally Polish Catholic, but converted to Judaism when he married his wife, then divorced wifey, and decided to stay as a Jewish convert and took his religion very seriously, hence hilarity ensues).

Interestingly enough, ‘’Wazowski’’ isn’t terribly common in America OR Poland. There are fewer than 100 people in all of Poland with this surname. That’s Wild. The actual pronunciation, of course, is NOT ‘’ Wuh-ZAW-ski.’’ That’s just the anglicized pronunciation of the Polish version, pronounced like ‘’Vasovski’’ because the ‘’w’’ in Polish sounds like a ‘’v’’ (just like German). there’s also no “wow” sound in “-owski.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UisQy0LFyK4&t=390s

Anyway. There’s an episode called ‘’The Big Wazowskis’’ in Monsters at Work, so………… Pixar knew what they were doing. Oh, they knew EXACTLY what they were doing……….👀

You see what happens, Larry? You see what happens when you find a stranger in the alps?!

Sorry, I couldn’t resist. XD

Steve Buscemi as Randall Boggs—Hollywood Legend. Coen Brothers Royalty. Star of Boardwalk Empire (2010-2014). Born and bred Sicilian-American Brooklynite. Also reared in East New York and Long Island and attended school in Manhattan.

(Of course he's not just a versatile character actor, but he's also done a lot of behind-the-scenes work. He's a brilliant filmmaker too who's written and directed some highly-acclaimed Indie film festival darlings like Trees Lounge; 1996 and Animal Factory; 2000.)

I know he's type casted in gangster flicks and he plays pretty convincing villains, but he's actually a genuinely nice, sweet and down to earth person off-camera (which made him the perfect pushover Nice Guy for College!Randall... a nice change of pace for him I'm sure). It's a wonder he turned out so nice cuz he grew up in a pretty tough working-class neighborhood in Brooklyn infested with gang violence.... once as a kid he had his bike stolen from him... while he was riding it! 😭 Once he even stopped a drunken brawl between two guys in a bar and got stabbed in the process.... and ended up in the hospital.... like he was always the Nice Guy peacemaker in a world fraught with turmoil, like he is too good for this world.... 😭 But Buscemi is something of a local hero, too.... a month before Monsters, Inc. was released in theatres in November, the sad tragedy of 9/11 occurred.... Buscemi was a former firefighter before he became an actor and he was one of the volunteer firefighters that helped rescue survivors from the wreckage.... well naturally the event traumatized him and he developed PTSD that he battled for years, but this man literally threw himself in the line of fire and laid down his life to help his fellow citizens and the city he loved... like this man played Randall Boggs for crying out loud, who's supposed to be the villain.... but in real life, he's a Hero, a National Treasure. Thank you for your service. 🫡

Billy Crystal is of course the eldest of the three, nine years older than Buscemi……. Goodman’s the middle……Buscemi’s the baby between the three of them, but I think it’s funny that Crystal and Buscemi were fellow countrymen on the same side (or similar side) of the tracks here, both being native New Yorkers.

Well, By Golly Gosh! So was Mike and Randall within the context of the story………….. (they were roomies) doesn’t it make sense they both have Cawfee Tawk dialects????????? (I can’t explain Sulley’s Inland North St. Louis twang, but there it is…. Wouldn’t it be funny if that was just part of Sulley’s species? In general?)

Do you think it’s funny that both Mike and Randall have thick Noo Yawk accents? Cuz I do. Like, why are monsters speaking like New Yorkers with New York City English? I know there's not one single, monolithic NYC accent but Randall sounds like an Italian mobster…… and he even did the Italian hand gesture 🤌 when he was interrogating Mike with the third degree…. ‘’Get the picture? Are you screwing with me? Che vuoi? Capice? Leave the gun take the cannoli! Fuhgeddaboudit!’’ Like I can’t even.  😂

“Now listen here Mikey, we’re gonna make this guy a fuckin pizza, and it’s gonna be the best God damn pizza he’s ever had! Or so help me God Mikey, oh! so help me God I’ll just whack ya myself! Now get ya fat ass in the kitchen and figure out how to use that fuckin pizza oven!”

🤣🤣🤣

(someone at Pixar was definitely watching Goodfellas…. If they couldn’t get Buscemi to voice Randall, Joe Pesci would’ve been the next best thing, imo…. They should’ve made Randall Italian once Buscemi was casted, what a missed opportunity… I mean wtf is even a ‘’Boggs’’? Give him a Sicilian name for crying out loud… I mean if Mike can be Polish, then Randall better be Italian, specifically Sicilian cuz that’s the ‘’don’t f*ck with me’’ Italian…. Can ‘’Cc'è la luna n menzu ô mari’’ otherwise known as the ‘’Che La Luna’’ TikTok trend please be his official theme song? Things that just makes sense?? This is seriously taking me out.)

Actually, it makes perfect sense that Mike and Randall talk like New Yorkers and Randall was obviously based on mobster stereotypes because Monsters, Inc. was named after the 1960 gangster flick, Murder, Inc. which starred Academy Award nominated pre-Columbo Bronx-born Peter Falk as the real-life Jewish mobster Abe "Kid Twist" Reles. The movie is based on the real-life Murder Incorporated, an organized crime outfit which included both Italian and Jewish mobsters that operated in Brooklyn, NY between 1929 and 1941…... Like you can’t make this shit up. That explains SO much about the setting of Monsters, Inc…. and the overall post-WWII vintage neo-Noir feel. And why Randy Newman went with 30s-40s Big Band/ Swing era jazz music for the score, like-

Now if only they had a Humphrey Bogart-esque Maltese Falcoln detective in the movie, privately investigating the corruption within the MI power plant at the same time that Roz is working as an undercover agent, it would have been GOATED.

But yeah seriously, it was no accident that Mike and Randall were voiced by a Jewish-American and an Italian-American, from NY of all places... since the movie title is literally based on Jewish/ Italian mobsters.... like....... NOTHING in this movie was an accident. Every little tiny detail was meticulously planned by Pixar, it's brilliant storytelling and doesn't get enough credit.

But I love the diversity in Monstropolis…… with all the different American regional dialects, it mirrors the human world because they’re all different species and it’s brilliant, like gee, Monsters aren’t that different from Humans.

As an extra cool piece of trivia, John Goodman pushed for Buscemi to get the part of Randall. They were developing Monsters, Inc. as early as 1996, the year Fargo came out, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, which starred Buscemi, of course, in a career defining role. Goodman and Buscemi have a track record of appearing in more Coen Bros. movies than any other actor, and they shared the screen together in The Big Lebowski in 1998, just a year or two before they were casted in Monsters, Inc.

Though the Pixar people were fanboys of the Coen Bros. (obviously, with all the easter egg references to their filmography), John Goodman was surprisingly not the first choice for Sulley. Bill Murray, was in fact, the first choice, but he never returned the call after testing for the part, so they went with John Goodman as the next best thing, mainly because David Silverman (one of the co-directors) saw Goodman in other Coen Bros. flicks, Raising Arizona in 1987 and Barton Fink in 1991. They also knew his work on Roseanne and Big Lebowski was playing in theaters at the time they were casting MI.

So, once Goodman was casted, they were having apparent trouble finding a good Randall, and Goodman happened to suggest  ‘’a guy I worked with on another movie.’’ Goodman and Buscemi became casual friends after shooting The Big Lebowski so Goodman recommended they go watch said movie (The Big Lebowski) and Fargo if they hadn’t already. ‘’I think you’ll find your Randall.’’ So, they did………..and sure enough, they found him in Fargo. (Not Fargo TV series btw…. Original Fargo).

(LET RANDALL SAY ‘’F*CK’’.)

…………..and then you get the door shredder/ wood chipper inside joke that only people who saw Fargo will understand (SPOILER ALERT: Buscemi’s character, Carl Showalter, personally gets put through the shredder at the end of the movie.) That’s what they *should* have done with Randall, but that’s……….

………………..moving on.

!!THE ROLE REVERSAL

.....it was interesting that, in Monsters University, there was the total role reversal between Mike and Sulley, where Mike was less the comic relief character like he was in Monsters, Inc. and actually he played the straight man in the prequel and became, in Sulley's own words ''the heart and soul of the team''.

Actually I just love the Role Reversal between the three lead characters. Like I said in another post, I love how Sulley and Mike go from being enemies to friends and how Mike and Randall go from being friends to enemies... like it's more interesting than just repeating the same dynamic they had from the first movie. We know how their story ends so it's interesting to see where it begins and how it's going to become the familiar relationships we know. Sulley is the protagonist in the first movie; Mike his loyal sidekick; Randall the obvious villain.... but MU said, ''Nah forget everything you know about these characters'' and they flip it on its head. Our heroic Gentle Giant Sulley from the first movie is basically the antagonist at the beginning of the new story...more extroverted than the introverted humble guy we saw as the Top Scarer but even though he's a douchebag for 90% of it (a facade to mask his inner fears) he becomes something like an anti-hero and slowly transforms into the Sulley we know and love. Mike of course is our central character, more introverted here than his extroverted older self...and Randall becomes his sidekick for the first half (and much more timid as well)........... it's completely unexpected in a good way.

one of my favorite things about their dynamic is that Sulley finds Mike’s goofiness and dumb (affectionate) remarks genuinely endearing and charming as opposed to annoying…. Like yeah, Sulley could get it.

Mike and Sulley are #FRIENDSHIPGOALS.

Mike and Sulley are #POWERCOUPLE.

🎵 Our friendship goes beyond Your average kind of bond

But not because we're gay

No, not because we're gay

We're close, but not that way The only man that I love is my dad

Well anyway! 🎵

(don’t mind me dropping references nobody knows)

How to talk to short people: MU edition!!!!!!

I LOVE how Sulley the Stud Muffin leans down to talk to Short King Mike like I AM NOT NORMAL ABOUT THEM OK

stopppppppp this is so vile…… screaming crying throwing up…..

Jesus Christ what type of yaoi cocaine are they giving these writers?????? And can I have some???????? i'll have what they're having!!!!! I'm pretty sure Dan Scanlon took one look at the script and went "holdup, we can make it gayer!" give them MORE save me doomed yaoi save me toxic doomed yaoi I'M BEING FED THAT'S FOR SURE

Move over, GELPHIE, this is my OTP right here…. These freaks…….first off it's about the Themes™/dynamics/potential……. They make me go insane I love them so much, ugh…… they’re Pixar’s answer to Timon and Pumbaa…… the Jew and Gentile (Boy)Friends. *giggles over them…….dying inside* Happy Pride Month to these babies! 💙💚 Blue goes good with green, or no?

They’re married, your honor!

Oi. They absolutely wrecked me…The amount of delusion coursing through my bloodstream at the moment...

Do y’all see the vision??????

MICHAEL ‘’MIKE’’ WAZOWSKI

(Bright eyed, bushy tailed….. ready to conquer the world…… Someone serious…Someone lawyerly……Someone who wears black when nobody's dead! Cuz college is for boring, ugly, serious people! And you, Button, are none of those things!)

MIKE WAZOWSKI THE ICON THAT YOU ARE

MY BEAUTIFUL DARLING BOY WHO HAS DONE NO WRONG

AISUDJEANS OMNG OMG IT’S HIM IT’S MY BOY AKHSIDJNDJUBDIJ

I LOVE HIM SO

I MISSED

HOIMALKNDOIDHOIWNSLKNDOKENOAKNDOKFNOKENA

IM LOVE THIS

MAKEOKNDOJENKJWBSKJBDIJBDUFHBYGFUYFGGUSKJAJNJNKNAAUAAFGGGGGHAAUUUUHGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH

gjkgopdhrjiosod why is Mike so flippin’ cute I literally can’t stand him ugh he’s so darn squishy like a jellybean and would you look at his little retainer??????? you can’t do this to me, PIXAR, you can’t! Mike has NO BUSINESS being this mf cute!!!!

My son!!! <3 <3 <3

*heavy breathing*

(Mikey’s backpack being twice his size is making me laugh idk why alfkskfkdk)

Forgive me im going to be insufferable…..

Mike is the most misunderstood character in MI but people aren’t ready for that conversation……….

I can’t believe Mike INVENTED Pixar and no I will not be taking questions at this time.

I feel like Mike in the first movie is the right amount of goofy, he’s so endearing but not to the point of being overly annoying and obnoxious. Maybe he’s a lovable jerk but he does grow as a person. In the second movie, Mike is played completely straight and serious in MU, he's more quiet and reserved than the extroverted personality he becomes later... he’s a competent hero who stands up to his oppressors who are twice his size….them showing Mike’s softer/more vulnerable side and using his sarcasm as a defense mechanism versus the first movie just making him snarky for the sake of comic relief has to be one of the BEST changes they’ve made for the films…..

Billy Crystal’s line delivery won 10 Oscars in my house like if it’d been anyone else in this part it would have come across insincere, but I feel like Billy Crystal found a perfect balance of being genuine while staying true to how Mike leans into comedy when he feels vulnerable……………. Like Billy is the perfect actor to juggle comedy and drama, like he’s very disciplined when it comes to finding the sweet spot between the two, he’s not just funny he can be incredibly sad when the story needs to take us on an emotional roller coaster…….It reinforces what I thought of Crystal’s performance in these movies, especially in MU; that he delivered the comedy with nuance and a knowing sense of more going on beneath the Mike Wazowski artifice. This line reading is just his nailing that perfect balance again. he absolutely ATE 🔥🤌😭😖❤️‍🩹 (is this enough emojis to show how I feel ?!)

I’ll talk more about it later, but here, he's the same Mike, but with more intelligence, subtlety, and restraint than what we saw in the first film, and even for a college freshman, he's very mature and reflective, in fact he's the most mature member of Oozma Kappa. He’s focused on his goals. He’s organized. He’s a bit of a workaholic. He’s a born leader. He’s also very young and impressionable and naïve and easily affected. He's a very deep and three-dimensional character here. I mean there was so much to unpack in that little one-eyed beach ball, who probably weighs 90 pounds soaking wet...

You’re not scary my darlin’ Mikey Wikey not even a little bit but LOVE the optimism

(!!!!!! That big doe eye of his…. IM DEAD)

OK, Captain Obvious, your job here is done.

I said it before in another post, but Mike is one of Pixar’s greatest protagonists, imho. But what really makes Mike SO great of a character is the opposing characters he faces throughout both movies.

Sulley may be the central protagonist of the first film, but Randall is his only main character foil. Sulley pretty much has an easy, laid-back, retiring personality that makes him well-liked and popular with his superiors and co-workers. He’s a big softie. Of course, Boo causes a conflict between him and Mike in the second act, but it’s quickly resolved. In the second movie, he has more conflict with the dean, Mike, and Johnny Worthington, president of RΩR, the premiere campus fraternity, but otherwise, his conflict with these characters is not nearly at the same magnitude as the conflict Mike faces head on. Basically, he’s got Main Character Syndrome. He’s the Golden Child who can do wrong.

Mike, even though he’s the secondary deuteragonist, he’s the one which the character foils mainly bounce off of. Where Sulley compromises with the other characters (even Randall, who he tries to be polite with if nothing else), Mike creates conflict in almost every interaction with the other characters. Mike does not compromise. He confronts and challenges them. For example, Roz, the receptionist and key master and administrator for Scare Floor F… Randall, naturally. Even his girlfriend, Celia, poses a minor conflict. He tries to smooth talk his way out of trouble and it usually backfires….In Monsters University, Mike doesn’t just confront and challenge his enemies; he bargains with them. He sets the bar so damn high, that not even a ten-foot giant can jump clear over him. For example, he bargains with Dean Hardscrabble that if he wins the Scare Games, he can be accepted back into the Scare Program, under one condition; if he loses the tournament, he must voluntarily drop out of college altogether, which has potential long-term implications for career prospects and financial well-being…… like did Mike shoot himself in the foot or does he drive a hard bargain? He’s got some serious balls, I’ll say, well I guess cuz he *is* one…. Giant ball… but that’s beside the point…….. I mean champion negotiator over here; he should’ve moved his ass to the debate team! Ran for office or something, Idk……..and in MU he has to jump over even more hurdles with a whole village of character foils……. Which brings me to my next point.

(I have so much more to say about Mike, but we’ll come back to him in another post, I promise……………)

!!THE VILLAINS

Yes I know. People have always loved villains. I feel like writers know a good villain when we see one. People love a good antagonist. Psychos are fun sometimes. These are FACTS.

Villains make the heroes heroic. If your villainous character can't either make you love to hate him, or make you hate to love him, your heroes won't be much. That's why some of the best characters in fiction are villains…….

And MI is populated with great antagonists.

This is so weird and cringe but yeah, sure, MI has not one… but two villains. One's a red herring, and one's a ''twist villain.'' Don’t @ me, they were doing it before it was cool.

RANDALL ‘’RANDY’’ BOGGS

Randall is the obvious villain from the moment he pops up on screen...

(lol it always bugs me that Mike is looking around long after Randall already revealed himself like Homeboy are you farsighted??? maybe yes cuz he wears a giant contact lens... oh Randy and Mikey, the two blind mice ;-; they make one helluva pair and that's where the comedy comes in)

Like, Randall has an insane Face Card.

Like…….. he is specially designed to be LETHAL.

Like………. How is Mike’s bisexual ass surviving? Mike is NOT leaving that room in one piece.

Someone’s lying.

Not to be that person, but…..sexual tension being an elephant in the room makes it soooooooooooo........... uhm sorry i forgot what was i going for mid-sentence

You’re not wrong…..

I’m jk……. But like……… no, they were roommates you cowards……….. which makes this scene (and *every* scene they have in this movie) that much more sexually tense…….. cuz they were (ex)BoyFriends……. Like, wouldn’t you strap your ex to a chair too and torture them to death????????? Just me?????? Okay then……..

……….if this is not a satire then I might have to drown myself………… if i had to see this so will you……

Am I weird for thinking that Randall is proud and probably gets off of the idea of "scaring Mike straight" and doing it in public in front of his best friend to humiliate him? or am I too woke? Be real.

no such thing as ‘’too woke’’. you can always be woker…..

Guess we’ll find out in this drama we call life…..

Ahem.

Back to the point. Though I think MI is written exceptionally well, and is better than the average family flick, Disney/ Pixar is very formulaic in how you can tell right off the bat who are the Heroes and who are the Villains even before they open their mouths to speak. Well, keep in mind, these movies are targeted for children, even if they can be enjoyed by adults and contain loads of adult humor… but character types are not thinly disguised…… they pretty much spell it out for us. The villains always have this clear-cut design that you can spot a mile away… beady eyes, sinister smile… a darker, shadier coloring… certain voice inflections… like gee, that’s definitely NOT the bad guy.

Now, wouldn’t it be funny if Mike… who’s a brightly phosphorescent green googly-eyed avocado, turned out to be a villain? Or Sulley, who looks like a jumbo, life-sized huggable lovable fluffy cotton candy panda bear? No, of course not! It’s obviously Lizard Boy. Sleazy, slimy, stereotypical reptile…. Wdym oversized garden gecko who looks like a cross between an iguana and a chameleon is actually a real piece of work? No, I bet he’s a Big Misunderstood Softie underneath all that sly, stealthy, cunning secrecy. I bet he’s got a sobbing tragic backstory that explains why he’s so- Yeah, no, it’s def. that guy……………

Now, if they gave Randall the nerdy, adorkable Harold Lloyd horn-rimmed glasses he wears as a twinkie teenager, it would have made him far less obvious… he could’ve easily blended into the background, making us think he was some sweet, shy, techy twink nerd who was the smallest monster on the Scare Floor and not nearly half the Scarer Sulley was but loved his job just for the hell of it whether he was good at it or not………. Actually, maybe he loves his job *too* much….And maybe kissed Waternoose’s ass once in a while, maybe let people walk all over him like a doormat, but otherwise was never gonna be anybody’s idea of Teacher’s Pet or Employee of the Month, because he’s just another face in the crowd, content to be where he is…. With a total lack of ambition or ego……Would never be more noticed than he ever was before…… not a Superstar like Sulley….a smart little cookie, maybe a genius whose talents go unrecognized because he's……invisible. Literally and metaphorically speaking. Nothing special. Just the Average Joe……sure, maybe in another life……… or another movie. (I never liked Surprise!Villains anyway…… classic Disney villains are more entertaining. I like Randall cuz he’s an evil little shit and he doesn’t hide the fact that he is. No surprise there. 🤣… tho he doesn’t have a tragic backstory, he did start off as a *nice guy* so that was a little bit of a surprise.)

!!!!!look at his squishy jellybean face look at those big green bambi eyes jesus christ……

Like when your mom dresses you and tells you what a handsome boy you are………..HES SO CUTE !!!! ;-; I love College!Randall btw…Randy has me gagged! Fuck ass glasses and a dream! Mad respect.

Wait………………….

He looks like somebody I know…….

dork ass glasses ����You can’t tell me that Harold Lloyd’s ‘’Glass’’ character wouldn’t make a convincing live-action Randall. Watch THE FRESHMAN (1925) and you’ll see why.

Like wow omg ur soooo cool and ironic and jaded YAWN

There he is. Mike’s first (Boy)Friend! The Cupcake Monster! The giant Florida Dog. A good scale boy. This is.... the sweetest dangerous boy.... ever.... is this Mike’s ex???? It cannot be smiling...can it???

Because this is deeply unserious…….. Now if only he came into kid’s bedrooms looking like THAT, ‘’Hi kids I baked some cupcakes! Be my friend! I love you!’’- then Boo would’ve been his number one fan instead of…… the creep ass kiddie napper we got….. like how did he go from loving everybody and wanting to be everybody’s ‘’best chum’’ to the psychotic freakshow kidnapping / experimenting on/ and suffocating innocent children to death with a literal torture device and spitting on the whole world and wanting to kill Mike and Sulley for petty, self-serving reasons??? How did he go from Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeer to neo-Nazi killing machine??? How does it get worse???? And why the fuck does he look like Strawberry Shortcake!? This is a hate crime! 😭How could they massacre my baby like this?? I am going to strap a bomb to my chest, holy shit PIXAR.

(*stares but not in a gay way* be my doll, you say? What the hell sure.)

This Randy can carry a tray of pastries without spilling a single-

you'll never work at Hooters again....

Like……. This is NOT the same guy. Not Dino Boy. Why is he so damn happy all the time??? Is it normal to be *that* happy?? That whole aura of absolute contentment is GOALS. My man, you have nothing to smile about in your sad pathetic life……… baby boi, what happened to you? Why did you become so evil???? WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU PIXAR ?????? ohhh im jumping off a cliff

Can I just say he is the absolute most perfect character, jokes aside. He looks genuinely terrifying in MI and yet we’re supposed to believe this is the same character???? The child kidnapper???? The cradle robber???????? The baby killer?????????????????? The Phantom of the Freakin’ Factory?????????????????????????? He’s our problematic fave for a reason, he’s a hot mess…………………………………………………………………

 I just can’t picture how they were able to make such a sweet innocent looking bespectacled little swamp puppy into the complete prehistoric Jurassic Park dinosaur Randall becomes. Can we not domesticate the apex predator? Huge well done to the Pixar animation team, and to Steve Buscemi for kindly lending his vocal chops and embodying him so perfectly! The voice is so different as Randy, did anyone notice? You can literally hear him *smiling* through the microphone, he’s so boyish sounding and positive and upbeat? It’s not the thin, reedy, bitter snarl he uses in MI????? Like……….the voice and everything is different??????? whyyyyy Pixar whyyyyyyyyy????? I’m clenching my fists and frothing at the mouth and hyperventilating oooooooh my gooooooddddd screaming and crying

In an alternate universe, he could’ve been some kind of Elphaba Thropp, who’s wrongfully accused of wickedness just by the mere fact of good deeds gone bad…….. like maybe he really *did* believe in the good of the company, and didn’t want to *really* harm children, but he ended up doing all the wrong things for the right reasons…….. morally righteous reasons??? No Good Deed Goes Unpunished reasons?????

Like what if Randall’s entire character arc is how nothing he can do as a social outcast/ marginalized monster in his society is good enough btw??? So he embraces his label as the wicked witch??? Like he fails everyone he loves and every action he takes and every inaction, regardless of his intent or his trying to be good, was seen as wicked no matter the outcome??????????????????????????

……..but no, unfortunately, Randall is not a Misunderstood Villain, he’s just a Draco Malfoy/ Death Eater ghoul, plain and simple. Nothing morally grey about him………..He’s the quintessential Wicked Bitch of the East and his intentions are NOT good. He *may* believe he’s doing a morally good thing for the company during the Energy Crisis *maybe* by proposing a New Energy Plan aimed at transitioning to a more sustainable and renewable energy system by investing in renewable energy sources, reducing reliance on manual scream fuels, replacing monsters with machines, and promoting energy efficiency, and lowering energy costs……..

… like it makes him that much more scary, because he honestly believes this is a *good* thing or a *necessary* thing for the monster world to continue to survive…. Desperate times call for desperate measures….Like, he really thinks this is noble and heroic. Like this is genius. Yeah, on paper that sounds great, Randall. IN THEORY. But the way in which he approaches aforementioned plan is anything *but* moral. His Scream Extractor is a brutal and radical social engineering experiment. His ideology of racial supremacy of monsters harvesting the inferior species of human children for their screams and his aggressive pursuit of industrial expansion will lead to widespread death and destruction. His reasons for abducting these children and human trafficking and torturing these children to death by slow and painful Asphyxiation is a politically motivated execution. It’s genocide. That’s evil work. That’s Nazi shit! (why yes, when you put it that way, children have *every* reason to fear the bogeyman in the closet… irrational fears? NOPE. This movie gave me *nightmares* when I was a kid…. Randall scared me so much I had to sleep with the light on for weeks, lol I thought he was gonna come out of the closet and smother me to death with a vacuum hose)

 He’s a Slytherin cobra! And he has no real, deep, dark backstory to explain his decline… if you can call MU a backstory. but at least it confirms he *was* originally a nice guy! And he and Mike *did* like each other at one time so it makes their scenes in MI that much more intense… and sad actually….. Randy seemed to be the *last* monster on earth that would ever end up wanting to harm children OR his former friends for his own personal gain….. like I’m going to blow up and kill everyone in this room. Shit just got real!

~RANDY + SULLEY= WORLD BURN~

It’s not a deep backstory by a longshot. It was *one* instance of Sulley the Herry Muppet beating his puny beanstalk ass at the Scare Games, literally the *only* time they ever interact in college…

(sdfjkhsdhfjkskhjf this will never not be funny what the FUCK)

…..and we’re supposed to believe he’s such a Sensitive Snowflake, that he forever holds that lifelong grudge against James P. Sullivan, Number One For Too Long, like a bloke he never once batted an eye at or even said so much as a friendly ‘’hello’’ like Sulley and Randall don’t even know each other yet!!!!! They’re only acquaintances through Mike, they literally never speak a single solid word to one another in college they don’t even know each other on a first name basis…

yeah, I know, it wasn’t *just* losing the Scare Games to Sullivan…. It was the fact that he was publicly humiliated in front of his Roar Omega Roar fraternity brothers and stripped of his position within the hellish social hierarchical ranks of the Kool Kids Klub…. And probably ostracized by his peers for the remainder of his studies…….and never accepted back into the brotherhood….. and made to be some kind of loser in their eyes……… but he holds it against Sullivan, who was not directly responsible………he doesn’t even know Randall exists!

………..but yeah, basically, that’s all there is to it.

I wanna say there’s an underscore of Freudian self-loathing or something, but there’s not enough backstory to go on. We can sit here and speculate but Pixar gave us nothing. I guess that’s what fanfiction’s for. His loss at the Scare Games doesn’t necessarily explain why or how he became so unapologetically evil, or why he harbors such a deep-seated murderous, revenge-driven hatred for Sulley apart from being rivals on the Scare Floor, like it’s such a big leap from the last time we see him in university to the first time we see him on the Scare Floor…. There must’ve been something in-between, some slow descent into madness…… like, maybe after he’s discarded like chopped liver by his frat bros, he’s once again the underdog who has to prove his worth, except he no longer has a friend like Mike to encourage him and stroke his ego, that he can fall back on and depend on and is basically left all alone without a fraternity or the common peer pressure to make him feel more important than he really is….. no, we never see what happens to Randall after he loses to Sulley, like…….

🎵 Steppin’ to the bad side, Gonna take a mean ride The smile I had has gone away Those that steal are gonna pay Steppin’ to the bad side today 🎵

We know Johnny, the mega asshole that he is, most likely kicked Randall out of his ruling campus clique but like……. did he continue his studies????? Did he stay a Scare Major??? Did he go into mechanical engineering as a minor???? Which helped him gain the skills and knowledge to build the Scream Extractor??? Did he ever regret giving up his friendship with Mike?????? Is he actually *jealous* of what Mike and Sulley have??? Like is it more than just being jealous of Sulley’s Superstar Status, but is he actually *jealous* of their friendship? Like ‘’it should’ve been US, bro’’????? Like ‘’you chose him over ME are you kidding?????’’ ‘’like out of everyone in the world and Mike chose this... SULLIVAN over ME??? BOY that's rock bottom.’’ Because Mike turned out to answer his true calling of being one hell of a trainer and if Randy had stayed with him and joined Oozma Kappa, for better or for worse, would Mike have been *his* personal trainer and made *him* the Shining Star of the Scare Floor????? WOULD THEY STILL HAVE BEEN ROOMMATES??????? OR BOYFRIENDS??????????????

Asking the real questions…..but Pixar doesn’t leave much to the imagination……. It just is what it is…… they never go too deep into Randall’s motivations or his transformation from Hero’s Sidekick to Super Villain……but there it is……. This was probably not the single greatest character defining moment that convinced him to step into the dark side, but it was probably the first moment in a series of unfortunate events….. I bet a lot of Randy’s transformation happened off-screen, in later years, but we never see it….

Home boy is having a mental and emotional breakdown on the daily love him so bad…

(He was* supposed* to have a redemption arc in the unproduced, scrapped sequel Lost in Scaradise…. But is he beyond redemption at this point???? Will he ever bake cupcakes again??????????)

oh Randy… you could’ve had it all , babe…… 💔

Randall will forever revisit this moment, he will become *obsessed* with this moment, rewinding this moment over and over again like a movie in his mind, it will literally fuel his motivations to destroy and obliterate Sullivan… he will visit the stain like it’s a Civil War site……….. like Randall, dude… it wasn’t *that* deep, like get over it.

Brother no. You gotta fight your battles lmaoo don’t project, bitch. Seems like such an extreme reaction to an almost nothing moment, that was so insignificant that Sulley just completely forgot about it and it obviously didn’t phase him in the slightest…….. like five seconds later, he was so unbothered.

I can imagine, off-screen, that Randy flipped on full Regina George mode:

🎵 Sullivan, time to watch your back Sullivan, time to turn and cough Because you took me down But you didn't finish me off …

And in case you're keeping score Sullivan may have won the battle But I will win the war

… I wanna watch the world burn I got the gasoline 🎵

………

There is no heterosexual explanation for this.

Randall is obsessed I mean ‘’loathing’’ Sulley.

Get therapy, Jesus fucking Christ. Or a padded cell.

No, for real though……I kinda wanna hug Randy here…. But then later I want to kill him. Specifically strangle him. Not Randy. Randall.

Look, Randy. I can tell that you will have a lot to fight for in this wild ass world, so I just want to give a lil for your journey :) I hope all ur pillows are cold and ur sheets make u wanna rub ur legs like a cricket they’re so cozy, the rest of ur days……..

~TO DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM~

I know he’s a college kid……….. kids always think stuff like this is the end of the world as they know it. Kids don’t think that far ahead. They don’t think they have their whole lives, their whole futures ahead of them……… they think their whole college career is going to determine who they become as adults….one failure in school, and it’s like……. Kill me now. I know. I’ve been there, don’t that……. But like, literally nobody cares about college frats outside the Ivy League campuses, and I doubt anyone in the *real* world gives worth a damn about the Scare Games… it’s a self-contained championship that only Scare Majors care about. Who you are (or aren’t) in college does not shape your success in the real, grown-up, corporate world. There’s always room for improvement, Randall! Look at Mike…….. he never took it lying down. He would’ve lost the games had Sulley not rigged it, and even still, he didn’t give up…….. Sure, the Scare Program was preparing these kids for the Big Leagues in the factories, but literally………………….

People can go from being the Prom Queen in High School, right……. But when you put in an application for Walmart, the hiring manager is not going to give a shit! No one is going to care if you were in the Art Club or if you were a Jock. Or if you were a Band Geek or a Computer Nerd. They don’t care if you were popular or if you were a loser……….. Employers care more about your skills, if anything. A diploma or degree only gets you so far, but what’s important is letting them see a window into your world. You want to tell a story, and your story gives them a sense of who you are as a three-dimensional person—beyond what your high school GPA, test scores, education, and internship experience can reflect. Sulley and Mike were permanently expelled from school, had to start in the mail room, work their way from the bottom up………. Pull themselves up by their own bootstraps…..I mean, that’s how the real-world works. They took the alternative route…. And they still achieved their dreams it just took a little longer for them to get there because they didn't take a direct path to success... and you don't HAVE to in order to be successful.... that was the whole moral of the movie...

And it's pretty deep for a college movie. Pixar wasn't saying to kids, ''Hey drop out of school you'll be fine,'' sure Mike and Sulley don't get their B.A. but what they're saying is... no yeah, absolutely stay in school if it's for you but college isn't for everyone and it's not the *only* way to be successful.... and if you do decide to go to college, your major or your initial goal may not be what you end up doing for the rest of your life. AND THAT'S OK.

Real quick, look at Audrey Hepbrun as a real-life example. She wanted to be a professional ballet dancer... that was her childhood dream! but no matter how hard she studied and trained to perfect her craft, her dance instructor told her the cold, hard truth.... that she just didn't have what it took to be a prima ballerina! But her instructor encouraged her to explore other avenues... to consider becoming a dance teacher, that way she was still exercising her passion...... or to find other talents. Well, even though it broke her heart to never dance ballet, little did she know that she was gifted in other areas of performing arts.... she used her beauty to break in as a model... and though she never had former acting lessons, she had a real knack for it when she began testing for movie roles and she ended up becoming one of the greatest actresses of Old Hollywood! And to think she may never have done that if she stayed in ballet school and pursued something she wasn't very good at.... she had a hidden talent she didn't even know and all because she made the difficult decision to give up dance. To give up her dream to pursue another dream.

Mike is like Audrey Hepburn... he begins this childhood dream of becoming a Top Scarer at Monsters, Inc. But like Audrey he has to realize that, no matter how hard he tries, he's just not a scary monster.... he's too cute and little to be scary. But darn tootin' doesn't he know all the Scare Theories, and the techniques to be a good Scarer? Yes, but he's unable to perform those tasks in a way that impresses Dean Hardscrabble or convinces her that he has what it takes. Some got it, some don't. It takes Mike half the movie to realize this as he continues to pursue an unattainable goal... the impossible dream... because he doesn't want to let himself down, no matter how inspired (or uninspired) he is on his Hero's Journey.... well, Sulley makes him realize that maybe he wasn't meant to be a Scarer after all....but he has a SUPERPOWER he's totally unaware of....... he's a damn good teacher. He sure as shit can take any ol' bumpkin and train him and groom him to be a Star. He helped Oozma Kappa bring out the best in themselves and become Scare Majors.... he knows how to form a team of people together and be good players. He could've been a coach for the NFL! So Mike realized his true calling.... and though he didn't get to do the one thing he wanted to do most.... he ended up finding something better! And he still got to do something he loved.

And that's it. That's the message. Sometimes life doesn't work out how we plan...... but taking the road less traveled by can be just as rewarding.

No goal is truly impossible if you put in the work! Even if Mike and Sulley did not cheat their way through the Scare Games and stayed in the undergrad program and finished school with a bachelor’s or whatever, Sulley’s celebrity status was something he had to *earn* in the factory, it wasn’t simply rewarded to him just because he bears the name ‘’Sullivan.’’ He just happened to get into Waternoose’s good graces with pure work ethic and happened to train hard to get where he was……….. HE WORKED FOR IT.

Randall…….. it’s like he thinks the world owes him something. It’s not that he doesn’t work hard, but he always comes in second best behind Sulley…….. AND he thinks that actually matters because it doesn’t. But he wants to be the Big Dog on the Scare Floor. He’s a sore loser cuz he wants to win. Not some of the time. But 11/10, he wants to win. But he ends losing 99.9% of the time because he’s blind with envy…..instead of being humble about his losses, and trying to learn from his mistakes, he lets the power and greed corrupt him….. he isn’t even a terrible performer…….he’s *one* of the best……. But he wants to be THE Best. He thinks there’s not enough room on the Scare Floor for both he and Sulley…. It has to be one or the other…. And either way, it’s never enough. He’s never satisfied. He could easily settle for second best, like his numbers aren’t *that* bad. But it’s never good enough for Randall. Because he wants to be the cream of the crop. He always blames that loss at the Scare Games on the one person who succeeded where he failed. Like, dude…… even if you beat Sulley at the Scare Games, it doesn’t necessarily mean you were gonna ace it on the Scare Floor…….he had to keep working his ass off to beat the Scare Record and stay on top of the game. But that’s Randall’s mindset, clearly. Like, if only he’d kept his status in college, maybe he too, could’ve been a Rockstar. He wants to rule the world……..like any teenager, I guess.

But now he’s an adult…….so………… I’m less forgiving of him being stuck in this teenage mindset. Imagine letting another person send you into depression/ spiral into insanity knowing you’re a GROWN ASS MAN MR. BOGGS😭Learn to control your emotions you nutsy lizard lmfao

What a jerk. Is that too kind? He’s not just a jerk. He’s a hardcore sociopath. (More on that later)

~HIS DESIGN~

But as I’ve said before in another post, Randall’s got a pretty SICK design, all things considered. Silver Medal Olympics Scarer. The other monsters just roar and use their teeth, claws, and immense size for intimidation and what not, but this freak of nature is insanely talented and unusually skilled……. Because he doesn’t have what the other monsters have. He isn’t the biggest beast on the floor….. in fact, he’s smaller than the other monsters (MU finally explains why…. He and Mike were in the same league, not born to be Scarers), but he does use his small size to his advantage…… he can use his whole body like a weapon…… and the only reason he was accepted by Johnny’s group was because of his rare abilities, despite his smallness, cuz he’s the smallest ROR member (five feet tall and appx. 220 pounds which is nowhere near Sulley’s colossal 7’8’’, 795 pounds)…..on the surface, he doesn’t appear as threatening as some of the other Scarers, so why would anyone find this seemingly harmless garden gecko a menace? He doesn’t have claws or fangs… his rows of sharp teeth are more for aesthetic purposes than any real monstrosity. Sure, every monster uses their own strengths to their advantage. Some look cuddly buggly like George Sanderson….. so it’s safe to say that even a smaller than average Scarer like Randall could still be frightening in a dark bedroom, esp. if he’s coming out of the closet in the middle of the night. I mean, even a rattle snake is frightening when it sneaks up on you. It doesn’t have to be a 500-pound gator to be malignant and fearsome.

But Randall is no ordinary monster.

He’s got literal superpowers.

Okay. Yeah. It’s just ‘’camouflage’’. Big whoop. The vast majority of animals, including insects, reptiles, fish, and mammals, utilize some form of camouflage, you say. Making it a very widespread phenomenon, you say. Yeah, Randall is a giant lizard, you say. Not nearly as creative as some of the other monster designs, you say. Because he’s just a more advanced version of an already existing earthly species, you say!!!!

Yes, and no. Yes, Randall is an upgraded lizard-thing. He’s based on reality, more than some of the other monsters, who are a combination of things==pure imagination, real-life animals, and Greek and Roman mythology (in the case of Mike and Celia… Cyclopes of Homer's Odyssey, with a mix of Medusa in the case of the latter). But like………… here’s the thing.

Randall doesn’t *just* change colors. He doesn’t have the physical limitations of a real-life animal because he’s NOT a real animal, he’s a fantastical beast in an alternate reality. He literally disappears. Like if he was wearing the cloak of invisibility. Yes, he can match his body color to its background or to other characters and their patterns, so it makes him *look* invisible when he really isn’t…. He can even mimic other objects, like in MU where he disguises his body into the shape of a lamp to avoid detection during a round of the Scare Games.

 His skills are predatory in nature because it allows him to ambush prey (Boo…. And later, Mike). But the guy can literally almost become seemingly INVISIBLE. He basically surpasses Griffin in H.G. Wells’ The Invisible Man. Because he doesn’t need a serum to disappear. It’s literally his biology. That’s spooky. That’s like…… some Twilight Zone shit. That’s a big cup of NOPE. I lack the cojones to even think about the possibility of a giant lizard predator in my closet in the middle of the night... Boo, I get you, homegirl….

And Mike was the one who helped him realize said talent because-

HOLD.

THE.

MOTHERFLIPPIN’.

PHONE.

Mike created the Monster!

He pulled a Colin Clive/ Dr. Frankenstein and brought this thing to life!

Mike is basically responsible for the Monster we’re familiar with as the main antagonist in the first film.

He recognizes Randall’s talent…. Randy who bullies himself into a corner and constantly shrinks his shoulders to make himself appear small….. who lacks the confidence to be himself…… it was even part of his original backstory that his Disappearing Act is seen as something of a curse rather than a blessing, in that as a child he was not able to control his abilities because he disappears when it’s unwarranted or at the most inopportune times, like when he’s scared or nervous, like so:

Mike was probably the first person who did not see Randy’s abilities as an inconvenience, and tells him as much. Imagine that Randall was told his whole life that his disappearing thing was a nuisance, or a burden, or a problem he needed to learn to regulate or manage or restrain. Randall be like:

DON’T TALK ABOUT ME

DON’T LOOK AT ME EITHER

IF ANYONE ASKS, YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF ME

PUSH MY EXISTENCE FROM YOUR MIND AND ALLOW ME TO REVEL IN ANONYMITY

Not Mike.

Mike literally sings his praises like ‘’DAWG, COOL BEANS, AWESOME SAUCE……. But lose the glasses. It gives it away.’’

And Randy goes, ‘’By George, you’re right!’’

And Mike be like, ‘’Homies help Homies. Always. Always.’’

And Randy be like, ‘’ 🎵 But if you really see me If you like me for me and nothing else Well, that's all that I've wanted for longer that you could possibly know! 🎵’’

And well, that’s how they (almost) fell in love I mean became (almost) best friends…. bestie idk if we're getting past this one….. the winds are strong but so are you…….. the winds are changing…… Mike and Randall be waving through a window……. But nobody can hear….

😭😭😭

(Meanwhile, Randall *always* out here shushing people & Mike be like, ‘’don’t f*ckin SHUSH me, b*tch’’ they act like an old divorced gay couple XD)

----

To Be Continued……….

[love-kurdt]

The Life of Us We Can't Get Back (byler): December 21, 1990

word count: 2,103

My father‘s attitude was that this was but an inevitable phase of my growing up and he affected to take it lightly. But beneath his jocular, boys-together air, he was at a loss, he was frightened. Perhaps he had supposed that my growing up would bring us closer together— whereas now that he was trying to find out something about me, I was in full flight from him. I did not want him to know me. I did not want anyone to know me. And then, again, I was undergoing with my father what the very young inevitably undergo with their elders: I was beginning to judge him. And the very harshness of this judgment, which broke my heart, revealed, though I could not have said it then, how much I had loved him, how that love, along with my innocence, was dying.

The screams of the tea kettle startled Mike out of his place in “Giovanni’s Room,” by James Baldwin. He hadn’t gotten very far— he was only on page sixteen— but was already beginning to relate to the tortured yet compelling musings of the protagonist, David. He had already found and ended things with his “Hella,”— multiple Hellas— and his “Giovanni,” was out, working at the local coffee shop. The coffee shop where he still worked with his ex-boyfriend, Matt Winters. According to Will, their most recent breakup was mutual, but they were still friendly with one another, which… if Mike was being totally honest, bothered him just a little bit. Although, he’d be a total hypocrite if he were to ask Will to distance himself from Matt, because Mike still considered Wyatt Bowman to be one of his best friends. In fact, he was the first person Mike called when he and Will got together. He was pretty sure he’d called Wyatt from the foot of the bed, being sure to whisper the news quietly while Will slept.

The tea kettle obviously wasn’t going to stop on its own, so Mike stuck the dilapidated post-it with Will’s phone number in Joyce’s handwriting on the page he was reading and sat up from his position on the couch. He shuffled over to the stove on the balls of his fuzzy sock-covered feet (Mike wasn’t actually sure if the fuzzy socks he wore belonged to him or to Will), and removed the pot from the scorching surface. He grabbed a mug and a tea bag from the cupboard that he’d grown to become quite familiar with over the past week, dunking it in a few times in hopes that the tea would steep. He got a spoon from the drawer beside him and pushed the bag against the edge of the mug.

Everything was moving at either turtle or lightning speed these days. Mike could blame himself for that. He made the decision to drive to Chicago in seconds, he and Will reconciled and proceeded to have sex multiple times within the span of an hour of arriving at his house, and now… Mike was getting unnecessarily worked up over making his tea steep faster. Why the hell was he so anxious all of a sudden?

Mike knew damn well where his anxiety had come from; he’d been procrastinating calling his mother for days. He’d promised to let her know about his plans for Christmas, but never gathered enough courage to pick up the phone. For all he knew, she’d been calling his apartment back in Indianapolis the whole time he'd been gone. But Mike knew calling her would come with a plethora of problems, the first one being having to break the news that he’d failed out of college. The second one took root in the fact that he was currently staying in a different apartment (different from the one his dad had been shelling out money towards), not to mention an entirely different state, and with Will. And the third… well, the third problem was that Will and Mike were dating now, so he wasn’t sure if Christmas was even on the table.

Of course, Will had been pushing Mike to call Karen all week, claiming that she would probably understand Mike's multi-layered problems to an extent, but he knew (and told Will so) that their mothers were very different people, and that she wouldn’t understand. Not on the level that Joyce probably would, anyway. Mike checked the wall clock, reading 6:24pm. Will was due to come home around 6:30, which was when the two of them had planned to start packing their things to return to Hawkins. And that probably meant Will would bug Mike about calling his mom again, so… time to bite the bullet.

He headed into Will’s— their, Mike was still getting used to saying it— room, and sat down on the edge of the bed, glancing over at the nightstand. There it was. The Phone™. The phone that Will used when he— no. They were fine now. Mike was quite literally living with Will at the moment. Everything was great. So why did his heart pang with sadness every time he looked in the direction of Will’s phone? Mike decided he couldn’t think about this, not right now. He leaned over to pick up the phone, placing it next to him on the bed and dialing his parents’ phone number.

The line picked up within two rings. Classic.

“Wheeler residence, this is Karen!” Mike heard his mom say in her usual cheerful tone, and he sucked in a breath.

“Hey, Mom,” he eventually exhaled, his shaky fingertips finding the cord on impulse and fiddling with the spirals.

“Michael? Is that you?” she sounded surprised. Shocked, even.

Mike's heart sank with guilt. “Yeah. Yeah, it’s me.”

“Gosh, honey, I haven’t heard from you in so long!”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, I know you’re busy. How are you?” How was he? That was a simple question with a very complicated answer. He’d been doing better than he had in the past year and a half, and it was all because Will loved him. But he couldn’t tell her that. Not over the phone.

“Good, I’m good,” Mike kept it vague, “I just wanted to check in, let you know that I’m still alive and all.” After driving drunk across state lines and having a near-death experience involving a tractor trailer and "Should I Stay or Should I Go," by The Clash.

“Well, that's a relief! I’ve been— we’ve all been worried about you.” Meaning… she was worried about him. Mike wished she didn’t feel the need to give him hope that his dad might actually care about his well-being. “Are you doing alright in school?”

“That’s something I wanted to talk about over… over Christmas, if you’ll still have me,” Mike replied, his voice trembling a little too much for his liking. Too emotional.

“Of course!” Karen told him, and he bit his lip to prevent it from quivering. “Michael, you are always welcome back home. I thought you knew that.”

“No, I know,” Mike shook his head, gripping the phone tighter. “Just… it’s a long story. But I was also wondering if I could bring a guest this year?” There. He said it. Kind of.

“A guest?” He could hear the excitement creep into her voice, and he shut his eyes tightly. “Things must be going really well if you’re coming home with a girlfriend!” Girlfriend. Girlfriend. Girlfriend. Fuck.

“… Haha, yeah, it’s going great,” Mike suddenly wanted this conversation to be over and done with so he could let the guilt eat him alive in peace. “Uh, so, I’ll see you on…” he trailed off.

“You can come home as early as you want and stay for as long as you need,” she told him. “Believe it or not, we actually miss you around here. It’s… quiet.”

“Thanks, Mom,” he said. “I miss you too. So… is tomorrow okay? Me and…” Fuck, Mike forgot it was Will he was bringing home with him. Think fast, Wheeler— “We wanted to make the drive a little earlier before the real holiday traffic hits.”

“Whatever works best for you, hon! I’ve gotta head to book club, but please tell Mystery Girl that we can’t wait to meet her!” Right. Mystery Girl. Mystery Will. Jesus Christ, this was going to end horribly, wasn’t it?

“Okay…! See you soon, then. Love you.”

“I love you too, Michael,” Karen said softly, and Mike knew that she really meant it.

“Bye.”

“Was that who I think it was?” Mike heard from behind him, and he turned to see Will standing in the doorway with two cups of coffee in his hands. Bless him. Mike set the phone back on the surface of the nightstand and shifted over a bit, patting the space next to him. Will smiled, taking a few steps to cross the room and set the coffees down next to the phone. Will turned so he could hold Mike's face in his hands, his thumbs running against his cheekbones. Mike cast his gaze off to the side as he muttered, “If you mean my mother, then… yeah.”

Will sat next to Mike then, a lighthearted laugh leaving his gorgeous mouth. Mike felt a blush rise to his cheeks. His laugh. His fucking laugh. How was he supposed to function when Will laughed like that? And how the hell did he go so long without it? “Really?” Will teased. “You’re not messing with me? You actually took my suggestion, for once?”

Mike smirked, reaching up to brush a piece of overgrown hair out of his boyfriend’s eyes. “Don’t let it get to your head, Byers. I called her and told her we’re coming for Christmas.”

Will’s eyes went wide at that. “Wait, you talked about me?”

“Well, no,” Mike admitted. “I wanted to.” He reached out to hold Will’s hand in a feeble attempt to convince him that he wasn’t being a coward, that he was just… fucking terrified of the idea of coming out to his parents. “Believe me, love, I wanted to. But… I couldn’t. I just told her I was bringing someone home.” He looked down at the ground, unable to bring himself to look at Will.

“I totally understand, it’s a big step!” Will exclaimed, bringing a hand up to Mike's jaw and lifting his face up so their eyes met. “C’mere.”

Will wrapped an arm around Mike's waist and pulled him close, and Mike let out a deep sigh as he leaned into Will's touch, bending his torso at a strange angle in order for his head to meet Will's shoulder; uncomfortable, but did the job. “It’s going to work out,” Will reassured him. “Whatever happens, I’ll be here.”

“To pick up the pieces after everything goes to shit,” Mike said under his breath, and he felt Will’s hand begin to rub slow circles up and down his back.

“Don’t think like that, baby. You’re gonna be okay. We’re gonna be okay.”

“I don’t deserve you, Will,” Mike sighed, and he felt the low rumble of Will’s voice in his chest as he disagreed. This had become a common occurrence throughout the past week: he’d tell Will that he didn’t deserve him, and he’d remind Mike—

“Yes, you do.”

“God,” Mike rubbed his palms across his face in frustration, “What’s gonna happen when they open the door and see us together? What are they gonna think? Or what if I… I don’t know, chicken out and make up some elaborate lie like… trying to bring back our Chrismukkah tradition or some shit?”

“You wouldn’t be wrong. I’ve kinda missed Chrismukkah,” Will chuckled. Mike silently envied his optimism. He wished it was that easy.

“Me, too.”

Will grabbed Mike's hand then, interlacing their fingers, and it suddenly felt like the world wasn’t going to implode. “We’ll have to make up for lost time.”

Mike nodded, gulping far too loudly. “Yeah.”

A beat of silence followed, and Mike's eyes trailed up from their joined hands to Will's lips. Will's lips that were saying all the right things. The lips that were actively talking Mike off the ledge. The lips that Mike wanted to kiss right off his perfect face.

“Hey, Will?”

“Yeah, Mike?”

“Kiss me?”

And he did. Will did kiss him. In an instant, all of Mike's worries floated into the recesses of his mind to be dealt with later. He busied himself with the feeling of Will’s lips coaxing his mouth open, falling down onto the mattress, and letting his boyfriend hold him, take him apart, and put him back together, piece by piece.

-

next part

homepage

[ayanegooding]

ayané date night routine

allure youtube video

16m views

promoting malcom and marie

posted december 2024

shower routine

dry brush (before)

“i recently found this step and i do feel a difference”

skinfix body scrub

coco butter dove soap bar

heretic scandalwood body wash

“my body wash from my perfume collection that had skin care properties just as much as the sandalwood scent .”

post shower body routine

vs pink vanilla body oil

“i do it right after the shower while water is still on me to get in my skin the scent much longer.”

L'Occitane Almond Smoothing and Beautifying Milk Concentrate

fenty beauty toasted marshmallow body butter

“love this body butter, i love this scent. use it too much and perfect for layering gourmand scents. “

skin care routine

la roche-posay cleanser

tirtir milk skin toner

beekman 182 milk drops

tirtir moisturizer

lancôme spf

makeup routine

“i have a very important makeup routine. i have a lot of makeup so i do change it up a bit sometimes but its almost always the same steps, i just change the brand.”

nyx plump right back primer

rem beauty pot concealer

“i use this for small color correction under the eye. i was hit the the indian eyes but i do like them so i don’t do too much, just lighten them.”

elf soap brow and nyx brow pencil

“i have pretty thick brows and i just got the done and usually i just stick the up with the soap brow and use the pensil for a bit more fillings in and not to much. i don’t line them with concealer because i like the really natural look around the brows.”

about face foundation

milani cream blush in blushing berry

abh cream bronzer

rem beauty concealer

charlotte tilberry press powder

pat mcgrath blush in cherish

danessa myricks multi poder balm as bronzer

danessa myricks loose powder

dior eyeshow pallotte

elf all night setting spray

urban decay setting spray

charlotte tilbury setting spray

fenty beauty diamond bomb

makeup forever lipliner

“i use this in my lips and to also as my beauty marks back on my face.”

rem beauty lipstick in drive in movie

outfit:

dress

shoes

bag

earrings

hair

ayané moved to the camera looking at the finished result. “okay i’m going to finish it with a jacket cuz its kinda cold but i’m taking this off when i get out the car for sure.”

she put everything together looking herself over the. realized something and put her hands towards the camera “and i just got the nails done. something simple but i did want long nails this time. yes the cut ties nails are gone, sadly.” she joked. she then pointed to various rings on her fingers and started with her middle finger, “no idea, my boo got me that one, this is david yurman.” she moved to her other middle finger.” she pointed to her right ring finger “and this is suzanne kalan.”

“i’m going to use my perfume in dirty vanilla.”

“that was my full date night routine, thank you so much for watching and thank you allure. go see malcom and marie this christmas with your lover if your secure in the relationship.” she blew a kiss to the camera and waved.

[swamp-chicken]

I have FINISHED bdubs' limited life POV and here are my takeaways:

the clockers have truly the best team lore to ever evolve in this game. their family was complicated and sometimes scar and bdubs said "let's shoot mom" but at the end of it all they loved each other so much :((((((

the structure of this game was not my favorite. the last two episodes especially were so chaotic and exhausting to watch, with the multi-layer skynets and people taking constant pot shots and tnt minecarts dropping left and right. I think the season really suffered from all of the lives given by the 24-hour conceit. there was no tension and everyone was losing lives like it meant nothing.

bdubs decided to contribute to other people's plots bc he wasn't uploading his own POV and it was.... meh. he spent most of his time helping cleo and scar with their own tasks and didn't take the initiative to start any plots of his own. the one thruline he did push was a delicious toxic dynamic with Etho where his misplaced undying loyalty would inevitably end with him being killed/betrayed by etho

and then he ended the season on cleo saying etho killed bdubs (which didn't even happen) but wrapped up his plotline with a nice bow!

this list is devolving into ethubs derangement it's just. bdubs decided this. he decided he was going to ally with the clockers but have this weird thing with etho on the side and he would kind of undermine etho but would get in between etho and scar once scar started swinging and he would play up his slavish loyalty knowing all the time that etho (hopefully!) would try to kill him

he's a freak. he loves this dynamic. he loves misplaced loyalty. he loves etho using him. he loves being used

[bumblebeeappletree]

Millie’s garden is ambitious, in a relatively small space she is trying to grow food and flowers, create a multi-use functional outdoor space for people and offer habitat to the wild visitors. One of the simplest ways to do this is to add water. Just like we include a diversity of plant species, offering a diversity of water points will cater for different visitors.  

WATER POINT ONE: 

In a small garden bed near the backdoor, Millie wants to set up a simple water pot. I am using an old copper pot, which in my experience works well as a low-maintenance pond. A small amount of copper dissolves in the water, preventing algae growth and disrupting the lifecycle of mosquito larvae. The copper means it is not suitable for fish or frogs but works well as a bath and drinking point for birds. It also offers a great little microclimate for a range of water plants.  

To set up a water pot:

- Pick a position that gets at least 6 hours of sun and ensure it I relatively level  

- Put a shallow layer of gravel in the base 

- Place a few bricks and rocks to act as planting shelves and landing perches 

- Fill with water.

NOTE If you are planning to add fish, wait at least 24 hours to ensure contained chemicals such as chlorine can evaporate, or add a water conditioner.

When it comes to plants, those that like water are as diverse as those on land, with some preferring to be fully submerged, and others just liking wet feet. In many cases, aquatic plants grow well in small pots, as they can access water and nutrients from the water around them.

All can be potted in a similar manner –

- Use a heavy sandy loam, not lightweight, bark-based potting mix.  You don’t want loads of nutrients in the mix either, as they will just dissolve into the water.

- Position the plant quite low in the container and cover the mix with a layer of clean sand and a layer of gravel.  This holds everything in place when plants are submerged.

- Add a stick to ensure safe passage in and out of the water for any small birds.  

WATER POINT TWO:  

As well as the ground-level water pot, Millie is keen to take her habitat game to new heights!  The boundary fence is made of ironbark posts and steel mesh, and from the window, she has observed stacks of birds use it to stop and survey the surrounding garden. That indicates it will also be a great spot to safely provide water for them, out of reach of predators.

- She attaches 2 galvanised steel brackets to a post and sits a large terracotta saucer on top.  Some silicone is used to hold the saucer lightly in position, and rocks are added to balance the bath and offer a route in and out of the bath.

- As a shallow elevated bath, this will need constant filling, so to ensure a consistent supply she installs some dripper to an irrigation timer.

- This runs 1-2 times a day to flush the bath with clean water and ensure the birds can set their watch to it.

The fence line is already heavily planted, with climbing native and exotic clematis, espaliered feijoas and even a callistemon.  But there is always space for more!  Under the drip of the baths Millie plants a native groundcover, austral bugle.

WATER POINT THREE :

The last water point offer is down low, a saucer of water placed on the ground near a habitat pipe installed for reptiles. To make the offering even more enticing, Millie plants some ruby saltbush.

We all spend a lot of spend a lot of time thinking about the garden.  Carefully planning plantings and displays, timing vegie sowing for each season, and even planning garden parties!  But the moments that fill the garden heart with joy are when those unexpected wild visitors pop in.  And there are so many ways you can ensure they have an open invitation.    

Featured Plants:

NARDOO - Marsilea drummondii 

SWAMP GOODENIA - Goodenia humilis 

AUSTRAL BUGLE  - Ajuga australis 

RUBY SALTBUSH - Enchylaena tomentosa 

[digitalgowth]

Why Choosing the Right Camping Gear Makes All the Difference

Camping isn’t just about picking a spot in the woods and sleeping under the stars. It’s about being prepared and having the right camping equipment to make your trip safe, fun, and hassle-free. Whether you're camping by a lake or deep in the forest, what you pack plays a huge role in your experience.

Let’s break down why your gear really matters—and how to choose it smartly.

Your Tent Is More Than Just Shelter

A tent does more than keep you dry. It gives you a sense of security. A poorly built one might leak, flap in the wind, or be tricky to set up. The key is finding camping equipment that’s built for your weather and terrain.

If you're camping somewhere cold or rainy, make sure your tent is waterproof and has a sturdy frame. For warmer areas, focus on ventilation. The right tent can be a game-changer.

Don’t Underestimate Sleeping Gear

A good night’s sleep outdoors depends on more than just tiredness. Your sleeping bag and mat are two of the most important parts of your camping equipment. If you get too cold, or the ground is lumpy and hard, you’ll feel it the next day.

Choose a sleeping bag rated for the temperatures you expect. An inflatable or foam mat adds that little cushion that makes a big difference.

Keep Your Food Game Simple and Tasty

There’s something great about cooking outside—but it only works well with the right tools. A small camp stove, a pot, and a lighter can go a long way. And don't forget utensils.

Your camping equipment for cooking should be compact and easy to clean. Also, pack food that’s simple to prepare—like noodles, canned meals, or ready-to-eat packs. The less cleanup, the better.

Water Is a Must-Have, Not an Afterthought

You need water to cook, drink, and clean. Lugging bottles is okay for short trips, but filters or water purification tablets are better long-term solutions. Include these in your camping equipment if there’s a natural water source nearby.

A collapsible bottle or hydration pack saves space and keeps you hydrated without adding bulk.

Lighting Keeps the Camp Alive

Once the sun goes down, you’ll want more than your phone’s flashlight. A headlamp or small lantern helps with everything from cooking dinner to late-night bathroom trips. These items don’t take up much space but make a huge difference.

Lighting is often overlooked, but it's a crucial part of your camping equipment checklist.

Think Ahead With Safety Items

A basic first aid kit should always be with you. Accidents happen—even small ones like a blister or a scraped knee. Toss in painkillers, band-aids, antiseptic wipes, and maybe bug repellent too.

Safety gear is part of your essential camping equipment, even if you hope not to use it.

Tools That Pull Double Duty

A knife, rope, duct tape, or a multi-tool might not seem exciting, but they can be total lifesavers. A multi-tool alone can help you open cans, fix gear, or even start a fire.

When picking your camping equipment, look for gear that serves more than one purpose. It saves space and effort.

Clothes Built for the Outdoors

What you wear matters. Bring layers so you can add or remove based on the weather. A waterproof jacket, warm hoodie, and moisture-wicking shirts usually cover your bases.

Shoes are part of your core camping equipment too. A good pair of trail shoes or hiking boots will protect your feet and keep you comfortable during long walks.

Pack Out What You Pack In

Don’t leave trash behind. Pack a small trash bag and clean up after meals. Keep animals away by storing food in sealed bags or containers.

Clean-up gear might not be the first thing you think about when buying camping equipment, but it’s just as important as the flashy stuff.

Add Small Comforts

You don’t need to rough it to have a good time. A fold-up chair, a card game, or even a hammock can take the chill level up. These aren’t “essentials” but still belong in your camping equipment list if you’ve got room.

Camping’s supposed to be fun—there’s no harm in bringing something that makes it feel special.

Final Word: Choose Smart, Not Just Heavy

You don’t have to buy every item in the store. Good camping equipment is about balance: the right weight, right size, and right purpose. Go for items that are tried and tested, and only bring what you really need.

When your gear works well, you can focus on what really matters—spending time outside and enjoying every minute of it.

[aggressiveviking]

cabbage stew the way i make it

If you ask me why am making this a huge post with pictures, i don't have an answer 😂 just want to share it with a friend

So we start off with the cabbage, obviously. For this I can use fresh or fermented/pickled cabbage. in this picture im using fermented cabbage. Cut it up any way you like it (also I remove the middle stem but it's edible even if u leave it in). This is how I do it.

You get your pot. I usually fill half of it with cabbage, or a lil bit over half cause u don't want it to overflow when it starts to cook. Like so.

If your cabbage is fresh then this amount would shrink up to at least half. As this one is fermented its already shriveled up and it's as much as it would be by the end.

Then you can put some pork, chopped in pieces. You can choose how much or even if you want meat in it. Its still nice even without meat.

It nicer to put in fattier meat because cabbage cause more flavor. I make like 1 layer of it over the cabbage - that's for measurement more than being important for the cooking process.

This is how a chop it and how much I put in.

After that is the onion and the garlic. One big onion would be enough, but if u don't have that size mix and match a few depending on how big they are. I did one medium and one small for this batch, cause it looked right to me 😂 For the garlic 3 or 4 cloves, depending on how big they are. slice them. for some reason i feel like its better than leaving them whole, have flavor everywhere,

chop them up like this and i spread them over the meat, because for some reason i believe onion on top of the meat would make the meat softer.

For tomato I usually use tomato paste. when its this concentrated kind i used like 2 spoonfuls, this much. Prefer to mix that with a little water, like so and i pour it over everything.

Sprinkle some sweet red pepper, enough to cover the whole thing on top but not too much cause its gonna taste powdery 😂 and a few shakes of black pepper, just to have it in there.

Add some vegetable oil. I use sunflower oil but any regular oil would do as long as it doesn't have a strong taste. I usually add around maybe 4 or 5 big spoons. Don't really measure it. Cabbage can take a lot of oil anyway, but too much gets too heavy in my opinion.

and lastly add some bay leaf. very important, wouldn't taste the same without it. I put around 3 average sized bay leaves. 4 if they're really small. 2 if they're big. again just go with what feels right.

i then cook this in a multi-cooker (rice cooker) on STEW setting for 40 minutes, but you can do the same on a stove top. I think 40 min would be enough as well. I mean it's cabbage. you just cook it until its soft.

You don't need to add water to it cause the cabbage has a lot of water in it and it's gonna come out when u cook it on its own. If u start to see it burning in the bottom tho u can add a lil water

When it's done just stir it all up.

Either eat it as is, like a stew or lay it out on a pan/tray and bake it some in the oven.

It's like the best winter meal, especially when u put a lil chili in. I actually ate it today with sambal. Usually just use chili flakes or a chili pepper on the side that u just bite into. Mixed half a spoonful of sambal with my plate and it was so nice.

[calypsonightingale]

A Complied List of My Stardew Valley Mods

I’ve recently gotten back into playing Stardew on both my switch and my laptop and it’s so fun! So I thought I’d give a complete list of all the current mods I use in my gameplay <3

Note: These are PC mods. It’s not possible to mod on the switch port and only a few are compatible with android, but none are apple compatible.

Smapi is not included in this list, but is 100% required! These mods will not work without it!

𝓯𝓻𝓪𝓶𝓮𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓴 𝓶𝓸𝓭𝓼 💻

Content Patcher

Content Patcher Animations

Custom NPC Exclusions

Expanded Preconditions Utility

Extra Map Layers

Farm Type Manager (FTM)

Json Assets

SAAT - Audio API and Toolkit

Shop Tile Framework

SpaceCore

NPC Adventures

Event Repeater

Generic Mod Config Menu

Joja Cola Restock

AtraCore

Alternative Textures

DaisyNiko’s TileSheets

Lumisteria Tilesheets (Indoor and Outdoor)

Artisanal Soda Makers

The Grampleton Maker’s Market

Anti-Social NPCs

Better Artisan Good Icons

BugNet

Bush Bloom Mod

PyTK Lite

Champagne Wishes

Child to NPC

Custom Companions

Custom Fixed Dialogue

Custom Furniture

Custom Gift Dialogue

Custom Kissing Mod

Custom Music

Custom NPC Exclusions

Custom NPC Fixes

Destroyable Bushes

Fizzy Drinks

Ginger Island Mainland Adjustments

GNM Tokens

Help For Hire

Happy Birthday Content Pack

Huckleberry Season

Mail Framework Mod

More Mead

More Grass

Multi Yield Crops

Producer Framework Mod

Quest Framework Mod

Shop Tile Framework

Show Birthdays

Sprites in Detail

Stardew Hack

Stardust Core

TMX Loader

Dwarf Expansion

Boarding House

𝓔𝔁𝓹𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓜𝓸𝓭𝓼 🪴

Stardew Valley Expanded

Ridgeside Village

East Scarp

Love Festival

Emyn’s Pride March

Emyn’s Queer Dialogue Expansion

Canon-Friendly Dialogue Expansion

Emyn’s Diverse Ginger Island

Immersive Festival Dialogue

𝓟𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓽 𝓜𝓸𝓭𝓼 ☀️

Seasonal Diverse Stardew Valley

Diverse Stardew Valley Expanded

Ridgeside Village Seasonal Outfits

East Scarp Seasonal Outfits

𝓐𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓽𝓲𝓬 𝓜𝓸𝓭𝓼 🩷

Stardew Foliage Redone

DaisyNiko’s Earthy Recolor

Way Back Pelican Town

Mushroom Mailbox

Idalda’s Gothic Buildings

Idalda’s Furniture Recolor

Idalda’s Craftables

Idalda’s Flooring and Paths

Idalda’s Wallpapers and Floors

Idalda’s Witchy Scarecrows

Aesthetic Garbage

Seasonal Bouquets

Cute / Seasonal Crab Pots

Seasonal Fences

Custom Menu Background

Elle’s Cat Replacements

Elle’s Dog Replacements

Elle’s New Barn Animals

Elle’s New Coop Animals

Elle’s New Horses

Elle’s Town Animals

Hot Spring Farm Cave

Industrial Furniture Set

Industrial Kitchen and Interior

Kelly’s Flower Dance Attire

Lavender Dreams UI Recolor

Rustic Country Town Interior

Seasonal Floral Bus

Seasonal Garden Farmhouse V2

Skell’s Flowery Tools

Skell’s Flowery Weapons

Replacements for Artifacts

Wildflower Grass Field

Calendar Anniversary

Mi and Magimatica Country Furniture

Warm Cozy Fireplace

Winter Grass

𝓝𝓟𝓒 𝓜𝓸𝓭𝓼 🌙

Always Raining in the Valley

Shiko

Juna

Leilani

Jade

Juliet & Jessie

Nonbinary They/Them Maddie

Aspen

Isla

Professor Jasper Thomas

Riley

𝓖𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓹𝓵𝓪𝔂 𝓜𝓸𝓭𝓼 🌈

UI Info Suite 2

NPC Map Locations

Look Up Anything

Gift Taste Helper

Chests Anywhere

Tractor Mod

Better Ranching

Birthday Mod

Ellie’s Ideal Greenhouse

The Love of Cooking

Robin Sells Hardwood

More Rings

Immersive Spouses

Immersive Family

Mail Services Mod

Part of the Community

Yet Another Harvest With Scythe Mod

Capstone Professions

Please Remember My Birthday

Please Remember My Marriage

Babies Take After Spouse

Colored Seeds

Customizable Baby and Children

Don’t Enable Pam

Gender Neutrality Mod

Gender-Neutral Ridgeside Village

Lumisteria Letters from Parents

Lumisteria Villagers React to Marriage

Shane’s New Job

Bigger Backpack

Child Age Up

Community Center Helper

Family Planning

Helpful Spouses

Personal Anvil

Running Late

Social Page Order Button

Town School Mod

Willy Has a Room

𝓡𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓜𝓸𝓭𝓼 💙

Ridgeside Rival Hearts — Sam and Alissa

Ridgeside Rival Hearts — Jeric and Alex

Date Night

Free Love

Romanceable Rasmodius / Rasmodia

Bolier’s Sam and Sebastian Rival Heart Events

Expanded Proposal Options

MissCoriel’s NPC Unique Courtship Response

Custom Spouse Nicknames

Hugs and Kisses

Platonic Partners and Friendships

Platonic Relationships

Pregnancy Role

𝓞𝓫𝓳𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓼 𝓜𝓸𝓭𝓼 🍒

Farmer to Florist

Kawaii Valley

Witchy Valley

Fresh Meat

Fantasy Crops

Artisan Valley

Even More Recipes

Mizu’s Flowers

Alex’s Frozen Treats

Pride Pastries

Chocolatier

Shaved Ice and Frozen Treats

Christmas Sweets

Fruits and Veggies

More Recipes

More Trees

Starbrew Valley

Khadija’s Recipe Shop

Animal Husbandry Mod

Bonster’s Fruit & Veggies

Bonster’s Trees

Winter Crops

Wildflour’s Faerie Garden

𝓒𝓾𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓶𝓲𝔃𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓜𝓸𝓭𝓼 🫶

Fashion Sense

Rural Outfitters

Asta Cute Rainy Season Outfit

Asta Slumber Party

Starkissed Skin Tones

Coii’s Hair Sets Pack

Coii’s Hats Pack

Hats Won’t Mess Up Hair

Idalda’s Shirts

Cozy Scarves

The Coquette Collection

Wabi’s Wardrobe

Witchy Rustic Looks

Seasonal Hats

Customize Wedding Attire

Paisley’s Bridal Boutique

[wedezine]

Creative Interior Design Solutions for Personalizing Your Rental Space by WeDezine

Renting a home or apartment often brings certain limitations—restricted design flexibility, structural constraints, and a lack of true ownership. However, just because you’re renting doesn’t mean your space can’t feel like home. Personalizing a rental is all about infusing your unique style within the boundaries set by your lease.

At WeDezine, we know how important it is to make every space feel special, even if it’s not owned. Here, we share creative interior design solutions that allow you to transform your rental into a stylish and inviting home without any major renovations.

1. Add Color with Accessories

Although many rentals don’t allow painting, you can still bring a vibrant palette into your home through accessories. Use pillows, rugs, curtains, and artwork to introduce colors and create a cohesive look. A bold color scheme or a single-color palette with accents adds personality to any space.

WeDezine Tip: Try removable wallpaper or peel-and-stick decals for an easy, non-damaging way to add patterns and color.

2. Switch Up Lighting

Lighting is key to setting the mood in a room. Swap out standard fixtures for stylish pendant lights, chic floor lamps, or cozy string lights. You’ll instantly change the ambiance and make the space feel more tailored to your tastes.

WeDezine Suggestion: Choose adjustable or portable lighting options that are easy to pack up and take with you if you move.

3. Bring Texture into the Space

Textures make a room feel cozy and personalized. Use fabrics like velvet, linen, or cotton in throws, pillows, and blankets to layer your furniture. Rugs are another excellent way to introduce texture while also defining your living areas.

Pro Tip: A statement rug can anchor the room’s decor, adding warmth and depth to your rental space.

4. Choose Versatile Furniture

Rental spaces often come with restrictions that make it hard to find the perfect furniture fit. Opt for versatile, easy-to-move pieces like foldable tables, modular sofas, or stackable chairs. These items adapt easily to layout changes, giving you flexibility over time.

WeDezine Suggestion: Select furniture with built-in storage to maximize space and reduce clutter, especially in smaller apartments.

5. Use Vertical Space

If floor space is tight, use the vertical space instead. Floating shelves, wall-mounted hooks, and vertical storage are great options for displaying decor or storing items without taking up precious square footage.

Creative Ideas: Try adding a floating desk or wall-mounted storage for functionality and style without cluttering the floor.

6. Add Indoor Plants

Plants bring any space to life. Whether you go for a few potted plants, hanging planters, or a larger statement plant, greenery makes your home feel warm and inviting. Plants also improve air quality and create a calming atmosphere.

WeDezine Tip: Choose low-maintenance plants like succulents, snake plants, or pothos, which are easy to care for and thrive in various lighting conditions.

7. Display Temporary Wall Art

Blank walls don’t have to stay bare. Add personality to your rental with removable or temporary wall art, such as framed prints, canvas paintings, or fabric tapestries. These pieces add style without the worry of permanent damage.

Pro Tip: Use command strips or adhesive hooks to hang art without damaging walls, so your decor can come down easily when it’s time to move.

8. Include Personal Touches

Your rental should reflect who you are. Incorporate personal items, like family heirlooms, travel souvenirs, or DIY projects, to make the space feel uniquely yours. Thoughtfully curated items bring warmth and a sense of familiarity to your rental.

WeDezine Insight: Consider a gallery wall of framed photos or custom art prints to add character and personality.

9. Opt for Multi-Functional Furniture

Multi-purpose furniture is a game-changer in rentals where space is at a premium. Choose pieces that serve dual functions, like sofa beds, storage ottomans, or desks that double as dining tables. These items provide both style and utility, maximizing limited space.

WeDezine Tip: Multi-functional furniture will improve the flow and efficiency of your rental space while also adding your personal style.

10. Stay Organized with Stylish Storage

Organization is key to personalizing any space. Stylish storage solutions like baskets, trays, and decorative boxes are functional yet aesthetically pleasing. Decluttering your space will make it feel larger, more comfortable, and more peaceful.

Conclusion

Personalizing a rental space can be a rewarding experience with the right design solutions. Adding color, embracing functional furniture, incorporating personal touches, and using creative decor options can help you turn your rental into a space that truly feels like home.

At WeDezine, we’re passionate about creating beautiful, personalized spaces. If you need assistance with designing a rental that feels unique to you, reach out to our team. Let’s work together to transform your rental into a stylish and functional home that reflects your taste—without compromising on design flexibility!

[songoftrillium]

[image id]

Long-form multi-image Screenshot of a Reddit Thread. Transcribed below.

/r/EatCheapAndHealthy

/u/doxiepowder

There is a whole wide world of different beans and legumes, from the humble navy bean stewed down to maximum heartiness to the elegant black lentil tossed in a lemon and dill vinaigrette topped with poached salmon. Unfortunately I see a ton of people just dumping some beans out of a can onto a plate and wondering why their McDonald’s cued palates can’t stand them. My dudes, beans are a staple in nearly every culture and they didn’t get that way by unseasoned tinny chalk balls. Here’s how to bean.

Selecting Beans

Beyond skipping over the canned when you can, not all dried beans are created equal. While they have a super long shelf life in regards to safety and not inculcating anything that would give us a food born illness they have a shelf life of about one year max in terms of quality. This means that the dusty bag on the bottom of the shelf in a suburban grocery store full of non bean eaters might do you wrong unexpectedly. Cooking will take longer, they may never actually get creamy, you may have a lot of withered “floaters” that never soften. Your best bet (in the USA) is to hit up stores that cater to Hispanic populations or vegetarians. Bulk bins are a great sign but not 100% necessary. A Mexican grocery store near me has bulk bins of pinto, black beans, and occasionally mayocoba as well as fresh(!) chickpeas on occasion. A trip to whole foods or a natural food store will net me cannelini beans or great northern beans and a whole rainbow of lentils that even when buying fancy pants organic are still cheaper than almost any other food staple. Have an Indian or Ethiopian grocery store near you? Stock the heck up, and grab spices while you are there. More on that later. The only beans I really buy at big box supermarkets are ones that have them stocked near the middle height of the shelf (spots reserved for higher turnover items) and bags of 15 Bean Soup.

Bean Prep

Once you have your beans look them over a bit before you cook them. A quick rinse in a large bowl of water to get any dust or dirt off, make sure there are no small stones mixed in, and toss any withered up floaters you see.

I have taken a lot of J. Kenji Lopez-Alt's great research and food science to heart and he and Daniel Gritzer have a pretty exhaustive bean guide up on Serious Eats if you want the chemistry but the short take away is you only need to soak thicker skinned beans, soaking can take away some of the quality variability if you don’t know if the beans are fresh, soaking can leach away flavor and nutrients of thin skinned beans like black beans, and you should cook your beans with salt.

If you are soaking you want to put your beans in a large container like a bowl or a Cambro, and cover them with cold water that is about twice their height. If you have an inch-thick layer of beans you want two inches of water above them. Let them sit 8 to 24 hours then cook them up.

Don't add acid until after cooking, and if your tap water has a low pH to where you find beans don't seem to get tender you should cook them with a smidge of baking soda. Start off with half a teaspoon per pound of beans in order to not effect the flavor too much, and adjust as needed to figure out hour much you need depending on how hard or soft your water is. (Most people will not have to adjust their water pH though, this is just outlier troubleshooting.)

Bean Cooking Methods

My Granny knew what was up with pressure cookers. And now that they are improved so much with new model stove top ones and electric ones like the Instant Pot where the risk of blowing beans into your ceiling is negligible it’s one of the best investments for any home cook, even outside of the bean diet. If you don’t want to get one though you will need a large pot with a lid on the stove or a dutch oven in a 250F oven with the lid slightly offset.

Pressure cooking lets you skip soaking without consequence more than any other method, even with older beans. You don’t have to worry about evaporation while cooking. It gives you the maillard reaction throughout the liquid unlike a dutch oven which only accomplishes it on the perimeter (and not at all with the slow cooker), and it’s fast. With an electric one you automate the entire process as well.

Pressure cookers allow less evaporation so you will want your bean to water ratio to be less than other methods but soaking comes into play. I’m about 900 feet above sea level. For soaked beans I cover them with one inch of water above the level of the beans, for unsoaked I cover with two inches of water. If you are at a higher altitude unsoaked beans might require more water. For pots and dutch ovens two inches over soaked beans and three inches over unsoaked will be adequate.

Timing will depend on the bean and the method. Smaller beans cook faster, soaked beans cook faster. They’re done when they are creamy inside and firm outside with few exceptions such as red lentils. THe best way is to just check the package or google what type of bean for which method you are using.

Bean Seasoning

Here’s the real rub for me and my real inspiration for writing this. Y’all under season your beans. Entire wars weren’t fought for spice trade routes just so people could forget what a bay leaf was. Your basic template for flavors is going to be Aromatic + Cooking Liquid + Acid. I know it sounds like a lot going on, but frequently one ingredient can cover multiple elements and just two our of three elements will take you far.

Aromatics

Charred onions or caramelized onions

Mirepoix or trinity

Minced garlic and/or ginger

Fennel

Herbs such as bay leaves, rosemary sprigs, thyme sprigs, sage, cilantro, parsley, oregano, epazote, tarragon

Spices such as cumin, cloves, cardamom, turmeric

Spice blends such as garam masala, Cajun seasoning, Indian curry powder blends, BBQ rubs, Berebere

Chilis. Jalapeno, serrano, dried guajillo, canned chipotles in adobo, hatch chilies, canned diced green chilies. Just chilies.

Cooking Liquid

Stock or broth is bare minimum. Get Better than Bouillon or a similar concentrated stock paste if you don’t want to make your own but if you ever buy a rotisserie chicken you should really try making your own. I’ve used miso paste before when I had nothing else on hand.

A few shakes of Liquid Smoke.

Canned diced tomatoes (with or without chilies)

Some shakes of Fish Sauce AKA Nam Pla

A bit of Worcestershire

A glug of wine

Some beer (maintenance mode)

Acid

Once it’s finished cooking a little acid can go a long way. A splash of vinegar, a squeeze of lime or lemon, hot sauce, buffalo sauce, and suddenly the dish has new heights and depths.

Bonus

A bit of chorizo. Nduja. Some thick smoked ham, or even a bone from a smoked ham. A few sausages. A smoked turkey leg. Tasso. Andouille. A few slices of diced bacon. If it’s meaty and salty and you don’t have enough to make a meal of it use it as a flavoring agent in beans.

Storing Cooked Beans

Fridge ‘em for 5 or 6 days without issue in a covered container or freeze them. Beans freeze wonderfully and you can bulk cook these, put some in a quart ziplock bags and freeze them up to 6 months. This is a great way to cycle through different flavors or types if you are getting burnt out.

Bean Flavor Combos

Black beans + bell peppers, onions, garlic + bay leaves

Black beans + onions + orange peel + all spice

Black Beans + cumin and onion + cilantro + lime

Pinto beans + onion and jalapeno + cumin and epazote

Pinto beans + bacon + canned green chilies

Pinto beans + chorizo + cilantro

Pinto beans + dried chilies + tomatoes + unsweetened cocoa powder + cumin + smoked meat

Pinto beans + dried guajillio peppers + leftover smoked meat + apple cider vinegar

Pinto beans + bacon, onion, serrano + can of diced tomatoes + bay leaf, cilantro

French lentils + garlic, onion, celery + herbes de provence

French lentils + caramelized onions and bay leaves + white wine vinegar

French Lentils + dill and tarragon + lemon juice

Red beans + Cajun seasoning + fish sauce

Red beans + trinity + bay leaves + tabasco

Red beans + Cajun sausage + collard greens + vinegar

Great Northern beans + diced tomatoes + oregano and basil

Great Northern beans + Italian sausage + apple cider vinegar

Great Northern beans + mirepoix and garlic + chicken thighs + parsley, bay leaf, cloves + bacon

Great Northern beans cooked with oregano and fish sauce, drained and mixed with olives, artichoke hearts, lemon juice

Great Northern beans + diced tomatoes + dill, parsley, oregano, hint of cinnamon

Chickpeas + diced tomatoes + fish sauce + liquid smoke

Chickpeas + diced tomatoes + curry powder + ginger and garlic

Chickpeas + bacon + dried chilies + lime juice

Chickpeas + garlic and cumin + tahini + lemon juice

15 bean soup + Old Bay + sausages + spinach + lemon juice

Red lentils + cumin, ginger, and garlic

Red lentils + diced tomatoes + cumin, garlic, and cilantro

Red lentils + onion, cumin, turmeric + serrano pepper

Red lentils + onion + curry powder

Green or brown lentils + jalapeno + turmeric, garlic, ginger + diced tomatoes

Green or brown lentils + mirepoix + berbere + lemon juice

Green or brown lentils + berbere + ginger and garlic + fish sauce

Green or brown lentils + mustard powder + diced tomatoes with chilies + lemon juice

Mung beans + mirepoix + ginger, cumin, jalapeno + lime

Mung beans + diced tomatoes + trinity + kale

Navy beans + ham bone + bay leaf and onion

Go forth and bean.

[/id]

[when-the-spagheddie-hits-the-fan]

Awhile ago, someone, on one of the servers, basically asked, 'Do you think Eddie prefers doing the dishes by hand or by using the dishwasher?' I wasn't adding anything to the convo 'cause like *shrugging and mumbling* "Idon'tknow". If I recall correctly, the overall thought was that Eddie would choose handwashing (and get on Richie's case every time he uses the dishwasher), and I was like surb, whatever-whatever, and I moved on.

------ ------ ------

(You can skip my rambles) But for like month(s??😬{whatthefuck??}) the question kept popping up in my head so freakin' randomly, and every time it felt like my brain would seal it in a void bubble where my subconscious could vaguely take a crack at it. And I guess they solved it 'cause the other day the answer popped in my head, and I paused dinner to tell my Spouse, and then I moved on-OH wait! No I didn't because why the fuck am I typing this then?! GAAAHHHHH!!!! (Rambles done)

------ ------ ------

I don't think the answer is a one and done. I, like Eddie, am a picky bitch, and have my own way of cleaning everything. I think he would use the dishwasher for most things but then hand wash the other stuff that should not go in the dishwasher, like pots and pans, tupperware, things made of plastic or wood, knives with wooden handles, can openers, scissors, any other complicated multi-layered utensils, chopsticks, and anything else he deems unsuitable for the machine. When it comes to dishes, and I say this with so much love for my Spouse because they are so very capable and smart and sexy and funny and my world, but if Richie is anything like them, then he should only be responsible for putting the dishes away, because what if he puts the cups on the divider and not between the divider, or puts the plates facing outward instead of inward, or he puts the silverware all willy-nilly in the silverware basket, or, good god!, what if he put the spatula in there and now the spatula is a lighter color when it's dry???? For-for like random examples... Besides dishes, I think it would be nice and most helpful if Eddie took care of big picture stuff and Richie helps him with the little details. (Helps your brain and feels this)

[emdaddigitalhub]

Amazon Prime Day 2025: Your Guide to 4 Days of Unbeatable Deals (July 8-11)

Amazon Prime Day 2025: Get Ready for 4 Days of Massive Savings!

The most anticipated shopping event for Prime members is here! Amazon Prime Day 2025 is officially happening from July 8th to July 11th, offering four full days of incredible deals and discounts. Get ready to snag some of the year's lowest prices on millions of products across every category imaginable. Whether you're looking to upgrade your tech, refresh your home, revamp your wardrobe, or stock up on everyday essentials, Prime Day 2025 is your golden opportunity to save big.

For years, Amazon Prime Day has evolved from a 24-hour flash sale into a multi-day extravaganza, and this year, it's extending to a full four days, giving you even more time to browse, compare, and secure those coveted deals. This exclusive event is Amazon's way of celebrating its loyal Prime members, providing access to special offers that are often unparalleled throughout the rest of the year, even surpassing some Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts. What to Expect from Amazon Prime Day 2025 This year's Prime Day is shaping up to be bigger than ever. Amazon has hinted at millions of deals, with discounts reaching up to 50% off on select products from a vast array of popular brands. You can anticipate deep price cuts on: - Amazon Devices: Expect significant savings on Fire TV Sticks, Echo devices, Kindles, Ring doorbells, and more. These are often some of the best deals available during Prime Day. - Electronics: From laptops and headphones to smartwatches and gaming accessories, tech enthusiasts will find a treasure trove of discounted gadgets. Look out for deals on major brands like Samsung, Sony, Bose, and Apple. - Home & Kitchen: Upgrade your living space with deals on kitchen appliances (air fryers, blenders, coffee makers), smart home devices, furniture, and home decor. Brands like Ninja, Shark, and Instant Pot are frequently featured. - Fashion & Apparel: Refresh your wardrobe with discounts on clothing, shoes, and accessories for the whole family. Many popular apparel brands participate with substantial markdowns. - Beauty & Personal Care: Stock up on your favorite skincare, makeup, haircare products, and personal grooming devices. - Toys & Games: Get a head start on holiday shopping or find the perfect gift for kids with deals on a wide range of toys and games. - Everyday Essentials: Don't forget about the deals on pantry staples, cleaning supplies, and other household necessities.

Beyond the general discounts, keep an eye out for "Lightning Deals" – time-sensitive offers that appear and disappear quickly – and "Deal of the Day" promotions, which offer significant savings on specific products for a limited time. Amazon is also introducing "Today's Big Deals" for 2025, featuring brand-specific sales that will launch at midnight each day and last until the deal runs out. These themed drops from brands like Samsung, Kiehl's, and Levi's will add an exciting new layer to the Prime Day experience. Why Prime Membership is Your Key to Savings It's crucial to remember that Amazon Prime Day is an exclusive event for Amazon Prime members. If you're not already a member, now is the perfect time to sign up for a free 30-day trial to take full advantage of these limited-time offers. A Prime membership offers a multitude of benefits beyond Prime Day deals, including: - Free Two-Day Shipping: Get your purchases delivered quickly and without extra cost on eligible items. - Prime Video: Access a vast library of movies, TV shows, and Amazon Originals. - Amazon Music Prime: Enjoy ad-free access to millions of songs. - Prime Reading: A rotating selection of free eBooks, magazines, and comics. - Whole Foods Market Discounts: Exclusive savings and 5% back on eligible purchases for Prime members. - Prime Gaming: Free games, in-game content, and a free Twitch channel subscription. These benefits alone often justify the membership cost, but when combined with the unparalleled savings of Prime Day, it becomes an indispensable tool for savvy shoppers. Tips for Maximizing Your Prime Day Savings To make the most of Amazon Prime Day 2025, consider these strategies: - Become a Prime Member: This is non-negotiable for accessing Prime Day deals. Sign up for a free trial if you're new. - Create a Wish List: Start Browse Amazon now and add items you're interested in to your wish list. This makes it easier to track price drops during the event. - Download the Amazon App: The app allows you to get notifications for deals on items on your wish list and track Lightning Deals in real-time. - Compare Prices: While Prime Day offers excellent discounts, it's always wise to do a quick price comparison with other retailers before making a purchase. - Set Deal Alerts: Amazon often allows you to set up alerts for specific products, notifying you when they go on sale. - Utilize Amazon Assistant: This browser extension can help you compare prices and see historical price data. - Explore Different Categories: Don't limit yourself to just electronics. Prime Day covers a vast range of products, so explore different categories for unexpected gems. - Read Reviews: Always check product reviews before purchasing, especially for higher-priced items.

Fast, free delivery

Unlimited streaming

Exclusive deals & savings Emdad Digital Hub: Your Source for Prime Day Insights At Emdad Digital Hub, we are committed to helping you navigate the exciting world of online shopping and get the best value for your money. We will be continuously monitoring Amazon Prime Day 2025 to highlight the most compelling deals and provide insights to help you make informed purchasing decisions. Bookmark our website and check back frequently for updates, curated deal lists, and expert recommendations throughout the Prime Day event. Our goal is to cut through the noise and present you with genuinely remarkable offers that align with your needs and budget. We understand that navigating millions of deals can be overwhelming, so we're here to simplify the process and ensure you don't miss out on the savings you deserve. Don't wait! Amazon Prime Day 2025 runs from July 8th to July 11th. Get ready to click, save, and enjoy the incredible benefits of being an Amazon Prime member!

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[philiproy1]

Beyond the Aesthetics: How Smart Kitchen Remodeling in Tucson Solves Daily Frustrations

For many Tucson homeowners, the kitchen is more than just a place to cook—it’s the heartbeat of the home. It’s where meals are made, conversations happen, and memories are shared. But when that space no longer meets your needs, even the most beautiful finishes can’t mask everyday frustrations. A smart kitchen remodel goes beyond visual upgrades. It transforms how the space works for your lifestyle, improving functionality, flow, and comfort.

At BP Remodeling, we understand that real value lies in creating kitchens that support how you live every day. Whether it’s limited counter space, poor lighting, or awkward layouts, these common issues can be resolved with thoughtful design and strategic remodeling solutions.

Identifying the Frustrations That Hold You Back

Before launching into a kitchen remodel, it’s important to pinpoint the daily pain points that make your space inefficient or difficult to use. Some of the most common challenges Tucson homeowners face include:

Poor Layout and Workflow

A dysfunctional kitchen layout can turn even simple cooking tasks into a hassle. If your refrigerator, sink, and stove aren’t arranged in a functional triangle—or if cabinets block walkways or appliances—workflow becomes disjointed. A remodel gives you the opportunity to improve the space’s ergonomics and flow.

Insufficient Counter Space

When there’s not enough room to prepare meals, unload groceries, or accommodate family gatherings, your kitchen feels cramped. Expanding countertops, adding an island, or reconfiguring cabinetry can maximize workspace and make multitasking easier.

Limited Storage

Cluttered countertops and overflowing drawers are a sign that your kitchen lacks proper storage. A smart remodel includes custom cabinetry, pull-out shelving, and creative storage solutions that help keep everything organized and within reach.

Outdated or Inefficient Appliances

Old appliances not only look dated—they consume more energy and may not meet the demands of your household. Replacing them with modern, energy-efficient models can make your kitchen more functional and environmentally responsible.

Poor Lighting

Many Tucson kitchens suffer from inadequate or improperly placed lighting, making it hard to cook, clean, or entertain. Integrating layers of lighting—ambient, task, and accent—brightens the space and improves visibility, mood, and efficiency.

Tucson-Specific Design Considerations

Tucson’s climate and architectural style offer unique opportunities for functional design. Homeowners often want kitchens that blend traditional Southwestern charm with modern convenience. At BP Remodeling, we help clients incorporate materials and design elements that are both practical and regionally appropriate.

Durable Materials for Desert Living

Heat, dust, and dry air impact material selection. Quartz countertops, ceramic tile backsplashes, and sealed hardwoods hold up well in Tucson’s conditions and offer timeless appeal. We recommend finishes that stand up to both frequent use and seasonal changes.

Bringing in Natural Light

Tucson is known for its sunshine, and your kitchen remodel can take advantage of it. Enlarging windows, adding skylights, or using reflective surfaces helps brighten your kitchen naturally and reduces the need for artificial lighting during the day.

Practical Kitchen Design Solutions That Make a Difference

When remodeling a kitchen, it’s important to think beyond color palettes and hardware. Thoughtful upgrades can relieve the stress of everyday use and improve your home’s livability for years to come.

Multi-Zone Layouts

Creating distinct zones for prepping, cooking, cleaning, and gathering can streamline activity and keep the kitchen functional even when multiple people are using it. Islands, breakfast bars, and strategically placed storage can support these zones.

Smart Storage Features

Features like deep drawers for pots and pans, pull-out spice racks, lazy Susans, and vertical tray storage help homeowners make the most of every inch. We tailor storage to your lifestyle—whether you love to cook, entertain, or simply need a more organized space.

Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Connections

For Tucson homeowners who love to entertain or dine al fresco, kitchen layouts that flow naturally into outdoor living areas are highly desirable. We can design pass-through windows, sliding glass doors, or outdoor-friendly finishes that support this lifestyle.

Balancing Function and Style

At BP Remodeling, we believe you don’t have to sacrifice style for practicality. With smart planning, you can have both. We work closely with Tucson homeowners to design kitchens that reflect personal taste while solving functional challenges.

Whether your dream kitchen includes sleek contemporary lines, rustic desert charm, or timeless traditional details, we guide you through every step—from layout planning to material selection to final construction. Our goal is to deliver a remodel that looks great and works better.

Transform Your Kitchen into a Space That Works for You

If your kitchen is causing more stress than joy, it’s time for a change. Remodeling your Tucson kitchen isn’t just about making it prettier—it’s about creating a space that supports your everyday life. When designed with intention, a smart kitchen remodel can solve frustrations, boost home value, and dramatically improve your quality of living.

Call BP Remodeling today at 520-760-8771 and discover how our team can turn your outdated kitchen into a space that truly works for you. From design to construction, we bring years of experience and a commitment to quality craftsmanship—so you can love where you live again.

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Boho Wall Art: Free-Spirited Trimmings to Pimp Up Your Place.

Bohemian style, many people call it boho, is a free expression of style and nature and a combination of earthy tones with bright patterns. It is an art of decoration which flaunts the convention to the tune. Boho art is at the foundation of this aesthetic and it is a type of aesthetic that adds warmth, personality, and creative spirit to any area you furnish in your home. This is running riot in contemporary houses as the trend stretches from the wall décor of boho style to abstract boho art.

Still crazy about some exotic patterns, natural materials, or symbols of spirituality? Bohemian artwork is your heart-on-the-wall style.

What is Boho Art?

Boho art is a mixture of other cultures and art styles. Mandalas, tribal design, earth earthy colors, dream catchers, feathers, and multi-layering. Boho is all about adding on, as opposed to minimalism. It goes beyond praises and worships inconsistencies, craft nature, and international notions.

A boho painting is normally characterized by abstract designs, natural influence or shapes, and moderate and flowing brushstrokes. Both detailed and minimalist, each element brings a sort of relaxed and earthy atmosphere to your surroundings.

Benefits of Having Boho Artwork at Your Home.

On the one hand, boho interiors are welcoming, warm and classic. This is in case you are the kind of person who chooses to be creative over conventional, boho works of art may be just what you need to fill your walls. Here’s why:

Multifunctional: It does not matter whether your house is country-style, retro, or contemporary, the boho wall art decor will suit perfectly.

Calm: The neutral colors with accents of color form a comfortable yet relaxed atmosphere.

Cultural & Personal: Boho items are usually inspired by world cultures, which makes your interior more interesting.

Variations of Boho Wall Art to Know More about

The world of boho wall decor has a lot of different variations and styles. So what are they? Let us take them one at a time:

1. Boho art painting

The images in a boho art painting tend to be hand-painted or digitally created with an uncivilized, in-your-own-skin kind of essence. There are abstract figures, sinuous lines, floral designs, and tribal patterns. They are ideal in bedrooms, reading corners, and living rooms.

2. Abstract Bohemian Art

When you are more inclined to a more modern style, you can apply abstract boho art. The fusion of modern abstract styles and bohemian looks makes up these pieces with an even art twist. Perfect among the individuals loving to combine the simplicity and soul.

3. Boho Chic Wall Decoration

Would you like to do something a little more refined? Boho chic wall hangings bring a little swish to the traditional boho. It is usually characterized by cleaner lines, gold elements, and exquisite color schemes without killing the bohemian spirit.

Application of Boho Wall Art Decoration

Boho is not strict and adheres to following the rules, sensible placement complements its impact. The following are some of the ideas:

Living Room: statement boho painting over a sofa.

Bedroom: Gentle, hued boho art painting beside the bed or as an art gallery wall.

Entrance/ Hall: A warm gesture in a bohemian wall art decor framed in natural colors and bound-free design.

Office or Studio: Be creative with colorful and carefree painting boho styles.

Boho Style Wall Decor: Not Only Art

In addition to the paintings, the boho style of wall decor is also reflected in woven wall hangings, macramé, hanging baskets, or carved wood panels. Paint your boho on these to create a multi-dimensional aesthetic. Mix in pot plants, woven wools, and rustic ceramics to finish the feeling.

Final Thoughts

Naturally living in a world that emphasizes clean-cut lines and an overly symmetrical aesthetic, boho art in its form gives you the liberation of painting who you are. Its color-blending culture, creativity, and comfort indulge you in decorating more intuitively, not merely to the eye but also to the soul.