#Amazon Go Store Ribbon Cutting

[marywoodartdept]

More Photojournalism

This week, Julie, our #Photography blogger, shows us a collection of her Wood Word photographs over the past few weeks, ranging from a school dance, to a new Amazon Go Store on campus, to a religious gathering for students and spectators. #MarywoodArt

[gardenvarietycrafts]

I wanted to use up the rest of the clips I had so I have some clips already made next time someone asks me for them, so I whipped up the rest of what I had clips for!

[gothiccharmschool]

Goth DIY

It has become apparent that the gothy DIY knowledge of years past has not fluttered out to many folks. Here, let me give you some quick suggestions:

The Tights Thing: Get a pair of tights. (Which can often be found at dollar stores and thrift stores!) Cut out the crotch, and cut off the feet or make holes for your thumbs and fingers. Ta-da! A shirt!

Things To Do To Any Garment:

Safety pins: Get lots of safety pins (which can also be found at dollar stores), and use them to make designs on an item of clothing. (I've added safety pins in a line down seams on jackets.)

Paint pens: Draw on your clothes! Write song lyrics or quotes! (This also works with bleach pens.)

Appliques: You can sew or use safety pins to attach damn near anything you cut apart from another garment, a patch, or pieces of other fabric to something else.

Change the buttons. You can buy all sorts of interesting buttons from fabric stores, Amazon, eBay, Ali-Express ... you get the idea. Change the plain buttons on a shirt or jacket to interesting ones!

Add trim: Lace, ribbons, fringe, grommet tape ... hell, you can even sew chain onto things.

And finally, here's the Gothic Charm School post on Gothy DIY essentials! Go forth and alter your clothes!

[danielforshort]

Genshin Impact Cosplay Xiao's hanfu (2023)

For my hanfu for Xiao I made three pieces: the double tassel (faux) pearl necklace, the changshan (长衫), and the beizi (褙子, bèi zǐ). Here are all the nitty gritty details on how I went about this design, things I loved, and things I'd change up. You can find more photos and a story highlight of my process on my Instagram mushkin_changeling.

(Photo credit: Donald aka hustographyphoto on Instagram from Momocon 2023)

Reference Photos and Notes

Fashion and history and culture are all of great interest to me, and I knew that I wanted to start moving my cosplays towards hanfu designs and elements. You can read more about my internalized sinophobia and how that affected my cosplays in this Instagram post.

I spent so much time staring at Xiao's in game outfit trying to figure out what elements I was could translate into hanfu. Before this cosplay I had never worn hanfu. I was born in China but raised by white parents who did not dedicate much time or energy in ensuring I had access to knowledge about my culture.

The elements I picked at first for Xiao's hanfu were

His weird shoulder armor -> black yunjian (云肩) with gold enbroidery

Purple neck scarf (back) -> Yunjian ribbons

His necklace -> Chinese tassel necklace

Asymmetrical sleeve -> long flowing outer blue coat with gold embroidery

Pink tabbard/waist cloth -> a blue mamian with an embroidered pink design for the front

Looking at all of these elements I knew what I was going for was a hanfu ensemble from the Ming dynasty. I spent a lot of time looking at photos, reading pages, and educating myself on hanfu. I was even able to give a very introductory presentation about hanfu at Momocon 2023! You can read my slides at this link: Hanfu History 101 slides

I made a really ambitious plan for his hanfu that I had to cut back on due to energy and time constraints (did I mention that during the construction time I was moving, defending my thesis, and transitioning to my PhD program?!?)

Due to these constraints I ended up purchasing a mamian. I bought my mamian from Etsy (the store is OrientalBigbang and the link is here). I love my mamian. In fact I love it so much I wore it to my master's graduation ceremony!

It doesn't have the pink embroidery on it that i wanted but I knew going in that the level of customization I wanted would only be possibly from a commissioned mamian or if I made it myself. I was still very happy with how the mamian looked and felt.

Changshan (inner top)

Xiao's in game outfit is a weird tanktop with embroidery on it and a single detached sleeve. I decided to emulate this with a changshan. Most of the reference photos I found on DuckDuckGo showed asymmetrical changshan but a few were symmetrical, which I wanted. This is the photo I referenced most often.

(Photo credit: Newhanfu.com)

I ended up picking this kind of cream off white fabric (all of my fabrics were thrifted bedsheets). I bought these closures off of Amazon and really loved their color. (link here)

(Photo credit: Amazon)

Lots of the sides of a changshan are tied together rather than sewn which was fun and interesting. I ended up sewing a lot of small rectangular tubes for ties. I also didn't measure the armpit area quite right before cutting (measure twice, cut once, fuck up and make do) so that area is tied together rather than sewn.

Overall I really like the look and feel of the changshan. I didn't end of doing any embroidery. The collar didn't come out quite symmetrical which irritates me but I was pleased with the overall look and feel of it. I would go back and alter some of it to make it more polished or upgraded, but I don't hate it. I even felt confident enough in it to spend a lot of my con day wandering around in the changshan and mamian because Atlanta is hot goddamn.

Beizi (outer coat)

I actually made Xiao's game outfit in 2022, from scratch. My favourite bit was his singular sleeve which has a kind of swirling design on it. I hoped to capture that element with an embroidered beizi. I picked a light sort of cornflower blue for my beizi and a lilac for the collar (to emulate the purple neck scarf his in game outfit has).

(Photo credit: Donald aka hustographyphoto on Instagram from Momocon 2022)

I had big aspirations for the beizi's embroidery. I really wanted to design and embroider Peng (Chinese mythological fish bird). There are a few reference images from DuckDuckGo (very popular one is below) and I sketched a few ideas. The idea was to embroider the Peng on the left sleeve for Xiao's tattoo. This was another detail that I was excited about that I unfortunately had to ditch.

I was able to embroider some things though! I picked osmanthus flowers ("Osmanthus wine tastes the same as I remember, but where are those who share the memory?") and peonies, because they're symbolic in Chinese culture and also my favourite.

I loved the embroidery part of this cosplay the most. It was such a wonderful tactile craft that combined my love of sketching and sewing.

I also lined the beizi with a plain cotton sheet. I thought this was a good idea (I love how a lined costume looks and feels) but it actually made the beizi a little heavy. That was not fun in the Atlanta summer heat.

Twin Tassel Necklace

I found a strand of cream colored faux pearls at my local queer clothing swap and thought they were perfect for my twin tassel necklace. I mostly based it off of the below reference photo (photo credit: Nuwa Hanfu) and the general look of Xiao's in game necklace.

This is what I ended up with. I don't hate it but I also don't love it. This was the last thing I made in the cosplay so my energy and time were running short and I think that's apparent in the overall look of this piece.

(Photo credit: Donald aka hustographyphoto on Instagram from Momocon 2023)

Things I'd Change Up

I would change the beizi's colors to be pure white with decoration, instead of the sky blue I chose. I shied away from crisp whites for two reasons: they're hard to keep clean and I didn't want it to be a funeral outfit. After Momocon 2023 I realised that Xiao is literally Edge Boy Supreme and his story and character are steeped in mourning, death, and grief, so white would have been a perfect color.

I would have thrifted less bedsheets. The hanfu overall had very little texture because the fabrics I chose were plain cotton. In the future I'll aim for more texture (more common in curtain fabric) or I'll buy at a fabric store.

I would make a yunjian (云肩) like I had originally planned. I had wanted to hand embroider a cloud collar (black with gold thread) but ran out of energy and time before I got around to it. I would add that element to my next iteration of this costume because it reflects Xiao's in game outfit really well (he has this weird black shoulder/neck armor).

I would reconstruct the necklace entirely. Because I was working with one long strand that i looped to make two layers around my neck it never lay flat and looked a bit less put together. I would cut the strand and remake the necklace entirely next time. The necklace might even be unnecesarry with the yunjian, so I would probably more likely incorporate the beads into the yunjian.

I would dedicate more time to actually fulfill all of my embroidery dreams! I would embroider the Peng, add designs to the collar of the beizi, etc.

Ending Notes

I hope this doesn't sound dreary or like I'm disappointed in my cosplay. I am so incredibly proud of myself and this creation. I have been slowly finding my way back into my love of costumes and sewing and this is the project that helped. It is incredible to blend my love of history and research with my culture and cosplay.

I hope to return to this cosplay and make improvements! I hope to continue to branch out with my love of hanfu and apply it to some cosplays (I'm looking at you Baizhu). Thank you to everyone who told me they loved my cosplay, who attended my panel, and made my con and cosplay a wonderful experience.

[worldismyne]

Fixing Up Store-Bought Cosplay! (Miu)

I impulse bought this lot of DRV3 cosplays.

People on the DR amino voted for Miu to get fixed up first so I'm going to show you some tips on how to make this cosplay look a lil more like the spirites.

First the diagnosis...

Not great. The belts give me mad AoT cosplayer flashbacks. These things are cheap, sewn backwards and were already falling apart. Also don't understand why belts weren't just sewn to the costume???

So the first thing I did was buy actual leather harnesses and gloves. Amazon has belt harnesses that are clearly what informed her design without the anime physics involved. The new ones won't fall down.

Next was the sad tiny bow.

2.5 inch satin ribbon, I just stared at a Jojo Siwa bow until I could figure out to make the bow part bigger since the ribbon was the same width as the one I had. I wrapped the outter piece around nice and tight and did a few wip stiches to keep it in place. Anytime you're working with a ribbon, don't forget to use a lighter to melt the cut ends to keep them from fraying.

BIG

Next the goggles. I used spray glue and fabric to cover the lenses (I'll later put a layer of modge podge over it to give it some gloss.) Then hot glues gold rings to it. Always check remanent bins at craft stores for little things like this.

They're supposed to be little lenses, but it's all about the illusion. I found some gold buttons later to mimic hinges.

The wig I left braided and let bake in my car for a week (an easy way to heat set wigs in the desert). This trick might work with a steamer, but the goal is to let the braids (and positioning them in waves) to both curl the wig and keep them in those little tendril ropes. The bangs were completely unstyled, so i was able to cut and tease them in relation to my face shape <3

The socks were the easiest fix. Cut off the toes and turned them into leg warmers. They go down boots, so it doesn't matter if they're real socks. What matters is they scrunch up above the boots.

Here's the finished product! With the belts being adjustable, it made it easier to fit everything to my body. It also helped the costume look less baggy and let me shove the top of the skirt under the waist belt to make it look like a mini skirt without sewing! The arm belts art attached to the shirt with two whipstiches. That way, I can still easily remove it to wash the shirt.

I already owned the boots and they're in her color palette, so lil bit of artistic liberties there. I feel they work tho and I'm really trying not to buy anymore cosplay shoes (they're the most expensive and people rarely include them in pics at con.) Same for the necklaces. I have a few barbed wire necklaces on the way, but it might be too much now that the belts connect the neck like they're supposed to.

Overall I'm really happy, even if I went over budget thanks to the belts.

Retail, what I got from the cosplay lot for Miu would have been around $78 new (This includes the wig and goggles).

After buying new accessories, I spent a total of $69.32 So I consider that a win!

The next will be Kaede............ If you know, you know.

[adoodleintime]

OKAY I promised I'd do this so here we go:

How I Made my Vanessa Cosplay 101

What I used:

1 green zipper

Velcro

2 yds dark green fabric

3 yds medium green fabric (like that generic green you know what I'm talking about probably)

1 1/2 in. wide dark green ribbon

3/8 in. wide gold ribbon

1 pkg. large rhinestones

~1/2 yd. off-white felt

A crap ton of thread

Gold foam glitter paper

A hot glue gun

A petticoat

A plain green knee length sleeveless dress

Elbow length green gloves

A plain black headband

Plain black ribbon

Stuffing

Basically everything on this list can be obtained on Amazon and at your local craft/fabric store.

Confession: I cheated. I bought a green dress on Amazon to use as a base for the cosplay. But it's fine.

The first thing I did was draft a bunch of patterns, using newspaper. I used a blouse of mine as the base of the bodice pattern, and drafted a collar (essentially I cut a long rectangle out and curved the top and bottom.). For the puffed sleeves, I used the puff sleeve pattern from kirileecosplay (check her out on YouTube- she's got a great puff sleeve tutorial and a free pattern, as well as a bunch of super cool sewing tutorials and cosplays!). I then drafted a diamond pattern.

For the bodice, I highly recommend making a mockup to practice the puff sleeve attachment and make sure everything is going to fit right. Use an old sheet or pillow for this.

For the skirt, i cut a bunch of diamonds out of the dark green fabric (approximately 40) and sewed two together on three sides, then flipped the diamond inside out and stitched it closed. When i had done all the diamonds (about 10 total per side) I took the green dress I had purchased off Amazon and sewed the diamonds on that, making sure to leave a space about 2 1/2 inches wide about 5/6 of the way down the dress to stitch the dark green ribbon onto, all the way around.

Most of the bodice was pretty simple- I had one piece for the front and two pieces for the back, made out of the green fabric. I added the zipper to the back (any zipper you buy will probably have an attaching tutorial with it) and the sleeves to the sleeve holes things. Then I took two lengths of dark green ribbon, long enough to go around the base of the puff sleeve, and two lengths of gold ribbon, the same length. I sewed the gold ribbon onto the green ribbon and then sewed the ends of the green ribbon together to form one round. I hand stitched these sleeve caps onto the bottom of the puffed sleeves. The last step on the bodice was to hot glue a large gold rhinestone at the base of the neckline.

For the accessories, I started with the crown. I simply cut a small gold crown out of the foam paper and hot glued the ends together. Then I cut a slut on two opposite sides of the crown to put the headband through. The belt was also pretty simple. I cut a length of green ribbon long enough to go around my waist, hemmed the end, and added Velcro to secure it. Then I hot glued three gold rhinestones, about 2 inches apart, along the center of it. The choker was enough black ribbon to go around my throat, and a gold rhinestone hot glued in the middle. I tied it to secure it.

The final cosplay was a petticoat, the dress, the bodice, the belt, the choker, the crown, and plain black flats.

I hope this was helpful! Good luck to anyone who attempts this!

[kmmsthings]

Earth Day Craft Ideas for the Whole Family

Earth Day is a day the whole family can enjoy together. You can take advantage of this day to teach your children about caring for the earth. Also consider doing some pottery work together. I have come up with a few ideas that would be fun for all ages, and help bring the family together for one of the most important days of each year, for thinking about ways we can help Mother Earth. #1 Nature Walk/Art Project Go for a walk and have each family member collect five to ten items from nature. For example, they can pick up a leaf or a petal. Ask them to bring a bag so they can collect their belongings. Take them home and make a collage. You can use the collage to make place mats, wall art, or even a desk mat or mouse pad. What you also create gift cards using leaves as the design for the front of the card. I have a good friend who dries flowers from her yard and then applies them to the front of cardstock by gluing them. You will need: laminated sheets, card stock, scissors, clear glue or hot glue, and any other materials you have on hand. Be creative and have fun. Many of these items can be purchased at your local dollar store. If not, here are some options from Amazon - White Thick Paper Cardstock and Self Stick Laminating Sheets and Scotch 5" Soft Touch Blunt Tip Kids Scissors #2 Tie Dye Party Tie dyeing is fun! When natural food coloring is used, it becomes an eco-friendly activity. If you want to add some education to the project, talk to your kids about why you chose to use natural dye instead of chemical dye. Discuss how chemicals harm the planet. You can use carrots, beets, berries, turmeric and other natural products to make the dye. My family makes tie-dye for a living! You can check out all that they have to offer at https://jamminon.com/ #3 Stuffed Animals Make stuffed animals with materials you find everywhere in the house. For example, a black sock can be used to create the body of a penguin. Cut out the white t-shirt material and glue or sew it to make the belly. A few buttons for the eyes. A felt or foam triangle for the beak and legs. Kids and adults can also create fun monster animals. You can use old corduroy skirts or pants for the bodices. Buttons, ribbons and fiberfill take care of the rest. Each sample can be unique. Since you're using items you already have in your home, talk to your kids about why repurposing and repurposing items is good for the planet. #4 Bracelets or cuffs. Cuffs are in style right now, and old wool sweaters can make beautiful cuffs. Your children can have fun with this craft using buttons, flowers and old decorations. You can too! To make old wool sweaters work for this project, you'll want to 'feel' them. This means that you shrink them until the wool is thick. It won't come apart. Simply cut the yarn to size. Try it on your wrist. Secure it with Velcro, buttons, or even sew it closed. Add embellishments and you will have a beautiful fist. If you are a Taylor Swift fan? You can create friendship bracelets to wear in pride! #5 Can you garden? If you are a family of gardeners, start collecting cans. This is a recycling project and a garden project in one. Decide how you want to decorate the outside of the can. You can create your own labels using a computer, but you can also draw or paint them. Painting works well because you don't have to worry about water ruining the paper decorations. Yeah, If you are going to paint the cans, consider using a primer beforehand so that the paint adheres well to the can. You can also decorate it with stickers. Poke a few holes in the bottom of the clean can before decorating the outside. These holes are for drainage. Place some stones in the bottom of the can. Fill the can with potting soil and plant seeds or plants. Place in a sunny location. Your children will be able to see their plants grow. Note: If you each plant a different herb, you can create a herb garden on your windowsill. I would recommend herbs you know that you would use in your cooking overall. Basil, Cilantro, Oregano, Thyme, Parsley are the most common use daily. Once the herbs have grown, you can demonstrate how they are used to preparing dinner. This way, your children will also learn about the life cycle. Consider your children's age and attention span before choosing a craft. Earth Day is a day that can be both fun and educational. Help your children learn about caring for the earth in a fun way. Header Photo by Artem Podrez Read the full article

[novicehomemaker]

Ahhh...  or should I say yarr?  Another enjoyable theme party.  I really and truly enjoy making these parties for my friends.  I spend months ahead of time planning, perusing Pinterest, gathering supplies and making props.  This was one of my big parties for the year.  I do one every month, but some are more fun to create than others so they become “big” parties.  This one kept me busy.  I will usually take stuff I have on hand that could be used for whatever theme is coming up and add them to a party box and gather and gather until the party day.  Other stuff is handmade specifically for the party.  The jelly fish were really fun to make.  They are made out of soda bottles.  I cut the bottles, use a heat gun to shape tendrils and glue them back together along with ribbons and sequins.  They were moved into the “aquarium” for the actual party.  My back patio has a glass wall of sliders so it becomes the aquarium.  I made coral out of plumber’s foam and spray paint and gather up all my daughter’s stuffed/plush fish to use as props.  We purchased a backdrop from Amazon.  In the photo with the silver chalices you may notice a Kraken rum mini bottle.  I attached it to a necklace so I could carry and sip all night.  That was a fun costume piece.   I spent an absurd amount of time on the cannonball crate.  Having made it...I would do a bit more measuring and planning on the next one, but I like how it turned out.  I used the hard cardboard corner pieces that come in shipping boxes to protect the contents and a cardboard box along with letter stencils and paint.  I am not sure that you can see it in the pic, but Polly Parrot is pecking away at the cracker box trying to get a treat.  I put details into my parties that I think go unnoticed, but give me a chuckle anyway.  The pirate decanters were a rummage sale find from years ago, guns and swords were saved from when my boys were little.  ( I wonder if you can still buy such weapons at Disneyland now a days?)  I mixed and matched ideas from Pinterest to make the sails.  I think it was the stunner at the party.  I think it was the most expensive thing I have made for a party...it was about 25$.  I used a garden pot from Home Depot, pvc pipe, paint, dollar store twine, a gallon water jug filled with leftover playsand, a dollar store garden pot, a scrap of skull themed fleece and an old sheet.  It is all set up on my coffee table with a blue sheet over purple string lights.  Oh!  I threw in some old fish and whale toys into the blue “water”.  In one photo you may notice a little sailor doll.  I got him when I was three aboard a Princess Cruise.  He is about 45 years old.  My treasure chest is filled with a bunch of old costume jewelry as well as some fake pearl necklaces (which were given to guests for upcoming Downton Abbey party) and some purchased fake gems.  This party was really fun to put together.  I love it too much though and will probably have to reuse to do something like a Little Mermaid or Spongebob themed party next time.  

[mooneyvincent3]

Are you interested in learning about arts and crafts as a good way to spend some free time? Maybe you're looking for ideas that can help build a project that the entire family can partake in? It doesn't matter the reasons that brought you here, because the following article includes great suggestions for your arts and crafts, so continue reading!

One of the best places to find crafting materials is Amazon. By signing up for an Amazon Prime account, you can get free shipping for an entire year. Additionally, many of Amazon's sellers offer Free Super Shipping items. To qualify for Free Super Shipping you must spend at least $25 dollars in merchandise. When looking to save money on arts and crafts supplies, don't overlook national chain stores. While specialty stores will have the best selection, office supply and department stores will carry a lot of supplies you can use on your next project. Keep an eye out for Sunday circulars and online coupons from these stores to save big. Get organized. While you can store the things you need in a number of different ways, you need to find the one that suits you best. This will ensure that you can find the supplies you need, and it also helps you work faster. You will always be aware of which supplies are already on hand. Going to your local arts and crafts fairs are a great way to meet others who are into crafting. You may find people who like the same craft as you but express it in a totally new and unique way. You can also find out where they shop for supplies or where they get their great idea. To make your mosaic tiles lie evenly, put spacers between them to hold them in place while the mortar underneath them hardens. Without spacers, it is difficult to line them up correctly, because even the most eagle of eyes gets off line now and then, and you end up with a messy mosaic. Ornamentea offers crafters the perfect place to find all of their jewelry making supplies. Ornamentea offers a wide range of colors in their leather cording at an affordable price. You will also find a wide selection of tutorials to help you take your jewelry making to the next level. Save On Crafts is an online retailer offering a wide variety of crafting items at unbelievable prices. From ribbons and feathers to paper lanterns and Mason jars, you will find everything you need for your next crafting project. Although the items offered change often, this site offers such amazing prices that you need to visit them often to find the best deals. Doing arts and crafts products doesn't have to be expensive. There are several ways that you can cut costs if you are creative and recycle commonly used material you already own in your home. Don't buy an expensive art palette. Don't toss those egg cartons when they are empty because they'll make a great palette. Try to find ways to include recycled items into your crafting skills. Quilters may use discarded clothing to make quilting squares. Painters may find old frames that can be restored. There is an entire world of items that are about to be discarded that can be recycled into a beautiful new work of art. Price out what a project will cost before you get into the middle of it. Sometimes an arts and crafts project can take on a mind of its own. What you thought would be a few dollars to make turns into dozens of dollars. Don't fall into sticker shock. Sit down and map out the costs. Etsy is an amazing place for crafters online. You will be overwhelmed by the amount of crafts you can purchase there. You can also sell your creations on Etsy, if you like. Make sure you keep all of your craft supplies organized. You don't need things to go missing while you are working on a project. Some craft materials are safety hazards like knives and hot glue guns. You don't want someone to get hurt if they are in an area that they're not supposed to be. Try to keep everything in bins, organizers, shelves, containers, etc. As Balcony Decoration Ideas has shown, you can involve the entire family in crafting. Use the tips you've learned when you do your next art project, and be amazed at the finished product. Use these tips with your family while making crafts.

[towerbanana90]

Learn This To change The way you Book

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A helpful Web advertising and marketing tip is to verify your customers know that the ordering process from your web site is totally secure. People are involved about their privateness on-line, so your aim ought to be to make your clients know your web site and their info is safe. https://extremecraft.net/ By simply making statements without proof, individuals could dismiss you and what you are promoting. 10. Further Business - eBooks does not must be your only enterprise. Not glad: The truth Tv star and her ex-NFL star husband Jay Cutler have been concerned in an acrimonious cut up since last month. Compare statistics from month to month will be sure to see outcomes. In case you are believable, you will get them as excited as you might be. There are various infos about Amazon Kindle for you. There are some ways to get the knowledge of potential prospects, together with websites and the yellow pages. For writers, the Internet presents a myriad of how to publish your work on-line and for revenue. Black’s work reference the polemical nature of the US vs. If it is not going to be just right for you, do not spend money on it. Outsourcing the ebook design works offers you ample of free time to take a position for other enterprise features which demand your spherical-the-clock attention.

For the sales end and profitability, and so on. you possibly can follow the analytic strategy, however try to make use of creativity and inventiveness for the motivational, visual and design aspects. Can I borrow books on my Nook? Many newbie and established writers also tie up with eBook stores to advertise their books. These software program are absolutely free to use.What is the distinction between an audiobook and an eBook? Hiring a professional eBook conversion firm will definitely save your time, energy and cash and also it offers you high quality outcomes. If your organization site isn’t typically modified, you should add a blog. It is best to fill your site with helpful content that pursuits your visitors and helps websites find you. Be sure that your webpage has the information that visitors want. Your guests will read your articles if the grammar is right and if they are attention-grabbing. Proofing and revising your creation earlier than you market it is what's going to give it that extra one thing it needs.

All of the very best e-readers on the market have self-illuminated screens. It is in your greatest interest to attempt get your clients emotionally concerned with your service or product. Use your advertising and marketing supplies to encourage emotional attachments between your product and your customer. Are you able to simply navigate your website as a buyer? Make sure that to make the most of social media to develop your customer base. If you wish to make use of Flash, use it sparingly and ensure you have plenty of other keywords and navigational tools available. Use serps like Google and Yahoo and free Search engine optimization instruments to know the statistics. For example, when you love automobiles and would like to jot down about cars, you might want to know precisely what information would definitely curiosity your readers. If you’re going to take a position any cash, it's worthwhile to get what you’re pay for. As an illustration, if you’re making an attempt to sell electronics, the Amish crowd isn’t going to be your major goal. Where you are going to put up it.

[cosplayinamerica]

Alisaie from Final Fantasy XIV : newtcosplay // photo: hayliejensphotography 

I started really getting into cosplay in 2015, I had discovered cosplay from Youtube as I was really going into my anime phase in 2011. I fell in love with the idea of dressing up, but could never execute it properly unless it was Halloween. I would see CMVS on Youtube, and just DREAM of being apart of that some day.

In 2013/2014 I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, which sparked a desperate search for an outlet to escape. I had eventually switched from a regular high school at that time to an arts school, where I made a friend who took me to my first con, Anime Los Angeles!

I worked so so hard to earn money to get my first full cosplay. It was expensive! I didn’t even have money to take to the con at the time. Now I strive to take second hand pieces from thrift stores, and flip them into inexpensive cosplays!

Cosplaying isn’t the most environmentally friendly so using thrifted items really helps. Cosplay has really made me who I am today, and going to cons is how I bond with my boyfriend.

Sophie from Howl’s Moving Castle // photo: hayliejensphotography 

The crafting, and putting love into things you do. In high school my best friend and I would spend weekends together crafting cosplays at 3 am. Sometimes my boyfriend would cut patterns for me. Over time my mom grew to like what I created. It became a community for me at home. Since my area isn’t into the arts, cosplay became my source for that.

I was SO into Kill La Kill. I remember that being my first full cosplay, I bought Ryuko's cosplay on amazon since I didn’t have enough skill at the time to sew it. I didn’t even know how to style the wig or anything! I was just so excited to be able to throw it on and go. I even bought the scissor blades (wood) at a local anime shop, with birthday money. I had a Senketsu backpack at school. I LIVED for Kill la Kill.

Anime Los Angeles 2016 was my first con. It was when they moved to the Ontario convention center. I had NO money for it, and a friend took me. We wandered the dealers hall, though I couldn’t buy anything, I really developed my love for ribbon hunting! It was so surreal to be stopped for photos and talk to others. I remember after the con being so bummed I wasn’t in any CMVS! So silly!

Marnie from Pokemon // photo: hayliejensphotography 

[diabetesinsider]

Swiss Chard Dal

Dal/dahl - it’s an ingredient and the name of a type of Indian dish...always something new for me to learn daily.  The dal mix (pulses) used in this dish are all the dried and split version to speed in the cooking - time saving in my cooking is always a plus.  To make your own, mix together equal parts red lentils, yellow peas, green mung beans and black gram beans storing in a clean dry jar with a tight lid.  My local Asian/Indian grocers had this mix on hand (hing and fenugreek seeds, too) or order the mix from Amazon as Pancharatna Dal.  Use wiltable greens such as   - Swiss chard, spinach, collard greens - mustard greens are too tart/strong flavored.   Serve this on a bed of brown rice or on it’s own as a meal to eat on the go.  Cold summer melon is a nice addition to this meal.  My husband says my cooking is experimental, no truer words were ever spoken.

1/2 c. dal mix

2 c. water

2 c. wiltable greens, ribbon cut

1 med. tomato, diced small

2 T. oil

3/4 t. cumin

1/2 t. chili powder

1 t. ginger

slight dash hing - keep in a jar with a shaker top to control pouring

1/4 t. turmeric

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. fenugreek seeds

1 T. lemon juice

1 med. Granny Smith apple, cored, coarsely grated

In a large soup pot, mix all ingredients together.  Simmer covered 20 - 30 min. until the grains are tender, stirring often turning the beans and greens over one another.  

While the dal is on to simmer, I’m sewing cotton pocket aprons in all cotton funky fabrics for my online shop - www.amazon.com/handmade/topdrawerthreads and www.etsy.com/shop/topdrawerthreads .

Or I’m merrily hand knitting stocking caps from upcycled yarns for my other shop - www.etsy.com/shop/topdraweryarns .

My daughter’s have an online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/yesdesigns - where they design and sew cotton pocket knickers...cool, comfortable yet figure flattering with a handy cell pocket.

My older daughter has an online shop  - www.etsy.com/shop/wildwovenwomen - where she works upcycled yarns in bright stripes into cozy knit rainbow afghans.

My younger daughter has an online shop - www.facebook.com/shroombloombags - where she crochets fine cotton thread into miniature rainbow colors garland.

[razieltwelve]

Feed (Final Rose)

There was something very disturbing about watching an almost adorable miniature Ragnarok dismember and then eat an A Tier Grimm.

The Grimm in question was a hulking beast that used monomolecular claws that also secreted some kind of powerful corrosive agent. A team of relatively skilled huntsmen or huntresses would normally have been necessary to deal with it safely, but Diana had simply hurled herself at the creature with nary a care in the world.

The creature’s first slash had ground to a halt against the sub-dermal layer of armour that Diana had formed with her Semblance. Likewise, the corrosive agent was neutralised by the cocktail of substances that infused the thin layer of flesh above the armour. In the split-second it took the Grimm to realise that its opponent had not been split in two, Diana’s tail lashed out.

Lightning had seen Diana use that tail to cling onto Averia. She’d also seen her use it to eat popcorn while still keeping both of her hands on a video game controller. Instead of the strong but relatively harmless appendage she had grown used to, Diana’s tail shifted in mid-flight. It became thin, almost-ribbon-like, and its normally smooth edges were suddenly covered in microscopic saw teeth.

Diana’s tail wrapped around the Grimm’s front right leg, and then she pulled. The limb came loose in a shower of gore, and the creature gave a grunt of pain and surprise before it lashed out in a bid to knock Diana away. The blow would have reduced a bus to scrap, but Diana simply ignored it, the sub-dermal armour absorbing the force and redirecting it to a series of glowing organs that sprang to life along her tail.

A beam of plasma powered by the attack relieved the Grimm of another one of its limbs. As it tumbled to the ground, Diana hopped onto its back. Despite the gross disparity in size - Diana was only about three and a half-feet tall - whereas the Grimm was well over twenty feet in height, the monster still panicked. It was right to be concerned.

Diana’s tail, already several times her height, swung out again, latching onto another limb and cutting it loose as well. At the same time, her claws blurred forward, digging into the Grimm’s back and ripping loose chunks of flesh. Lightning managed to keep from wincing as her daughter simply gobbled the flesh down the way she would a particularly juicy hamburger.

A moment later, Diana’s claws shifted, adopting the same crystalline sheen as the Grimm’s before a faint glow surrounded them. No. It wasn’t a glow. Diana was already combining the monomolecular crystalline edges with another genetic template, something that allowed her to vibrate the claws at a tremendous rate, thereby increasing their apparent striking zone.

Within moments, the Grimm had been sliced to ribbons - and Diana was busy eating as much of it as she could.

“It is kind of freaky, isn’t it?” Vanille drawled.

Lightning turned to the Faunus. “I think that is an understatement. It’s like she’s visiting Gary Burger for the first time in months.”

“Well, direct consumption of the enemy does give her complete and immediate access to all of its genetic material, which she can then use to recreate and repurpose anything useful it can do.” Vanille shrugged. “Why do you think Fang took her hunting as soon as Diana got Ragnarok? The first thing she did was feed her some useful critters to ensure she had a nice foundation for the future.”

Diana lifted one of her newly modified claws up to examine it more closely. Seemingly dissatisfied with it, the limb began to shiver before becoming something closer to the scythe-like forearm of a praying mantis. Good grief. The amount of damage she could do with a monomolecular edge to her new claw would be insane. Along her body, ridges of crystalline material began to appear before shifting into a substance that Lightning didn’t recognise.

“Oh… that’s interesting,” Vanille murmured.

“What is it?” Lightning asked. She could have activated Saviour, but Vanille seemed to know what was going on.

“One of the issues with monomolecular material is that if it chips, the edge is lost, and chipping can be quite easy with such a narrow edge. The material Diana has on her body resembles some of the spines I’ve seen on certain species of sea urchin. In those species, the spines fragment after stabbing into anything attacking the sea urchin.”

“So when they break off after being struck, whoever hit Diana is going to find themselves riddled with shards of material that have been honed to a monomolecular edge?”

“Yep. It’d be like punching a grenade.”

“…” Lightning sighed. “I guess I know why Diana wanted to look for sea urchins the last time we went to the beach.” She frowned as the flesh on Diana’s back erupted outward. “That… is very odd.” Vast, feathery wings emerged, only for the feathers to change, becoming the same unusual substance that Vanille had just explained.

“Ah. Nice. Grimm typically have highly flexible biologies that are mostly compatible with each other. Diana’s already eaten a Nevermore, so she’s using its wing structure as a base and modifying it using the material she’s just created.”

“How much of this is instinctive?” Lightning asked.

“Most of it, at this stage, anyway. She knows what she wants, and her Semblance goes digging to see if it’s got anything that works for it. Diana thinks flying is cool, and being able to fly and shoot feathers that explode into monomolecular shrapnel is even cooler.”

“I’ll have to keep an eye on that.” Lightning watched as Diana’s tail shortened, shifting into something better suited for flight. “Diana,” she said. “No. We’re supposed to be going to the card store to pick up those Gary cards you ordered in fifteen minutes. Finish eating, or we’ll be late. No flying around.”

The miniature Ragnarok huffed but went back to eating the downed Grimm.

“Well, I suppose this does help keep the grocery bill down, and we are helping society,” Lightning said. “And you’re recording all of this, aren’t you?”

Vanille nodded. “Yep. I wasn’t able to study Fang’s Semblance at this age due to lack of equipment and knowledge, but I’m in a better position now.” Diana dripped what looked to be a copy of Grimm’s corrosive fluid onto some of the flesh. It was not affected. “Hmm… she’ll probably find a use for that somewhere.”

“I’m just glad she’s eating more neatly,” Lightning said with a sigh. “The first time she found something she really wanted to eat was… troubling.”

“I’ll say.” Vanille winced. Diana had basically transformed into a whirling ball of claws and teeth and basically blenderised the Grimm she’d wanted to eat. Apart from the sheer quantity of gore flying everywhere, it was one of the few times that Diana had abandoned anything even vaguely resembling a humanoid form. it was, in many ways, a disturbing reminder that although Ragnarok generally maintained a humanoid form there was no reason it had to. “Well, she’s just about done.”

And Diana was. There was very little of the Grimm left, and Diana finished off that last portion before transforming back into her usual self and skipping over to Lightning. “Can we get something to drink on the way home?” she asked. “I’m kind of thirsty, mom.”

Lightning patted Diana on the head and then sighed. Unlike Fang, Diana had yet to master the fine art of not shredding her clothing. Thankfully, Lightning always carried around spares. “We can get something on the way back from the card store. Here. Put on your spare clothes.”

X     X     X

Author’s Notes

Ragnarok can eat things to gather information that it can use to create or modify genetic templates. It’s become something of an inside joke in the family that some Grimm are so bad that ‘they’re not even worth eating’.

If you’re interested in my thoughts on writing and other topics, you can find those here.

You can find my original fiction on Amazon here.

[cchellacat]

Tears Make The Flowers Bloom

Wintershock AU, Bucky Barnes MD/ Darcy Lewis florist.

Bucky/Darcy

Drama ~ One Shot probably.

“You know you’re in love with her, right?”

Bucky stills at the flat tone, the barest hint of bitter accusation creeping in.  He turns away from the mirror and their eyes meet.

“Since when?”  He tries to shrug it off, attempts to pretend that she hasn’t just laid his soul bare for all the world to see.

“Since pretty much always, that’s why I’m breaking up with you.”

He wishes he could say something, anything to deny the calm acceptance she lays the words out with.  His eyes drift to the suitcase at her feet, the jacket slung over one arm and the white knuckled grip on the apartment keys before she throws them to him.  He catches them with a faint tinkle, mouth a grim line.

“Three years, and it’s over just like that?  I don’t get a say in this?”

“No, you don’t.  You should have told me…  no, that’s not fair.  You did tell me about her, I just didn’t realise, not till today.  It was my own mistake.  I wasn’t paying attention.”  Green eyes crinkle a little as she attempts to smile.  “I get it, you know?  She’s everything I’m not.  You did everything to forget her.  But she’s what you want.”

“Nat…  please don’t do this.  I love you, I never lied to you- “

“I know.”  She cuts him off, voice cracking a little. “But you’re not in love with me.  She’s in your blood. Seeing the two of you-“

“Nat, nothing happened, I swear, we-“

“I didn’t say it did. I know nothing happened because I followed you.  And yet for all the nothing that happened… “

“Tasha…”

She holds up a hand as he trails off, brushing a tear from her chin.

“When you looked at her, shared a smile…  you, both of you lit up.  You should have gone back a long time ago.  You were never going to forget her and she obviously never forgot you.  So I’m leaving and you should too.  Go back home to that little town and marry her, have a couple of babies and a yard with a dog in in it.”

He takes a faltering step towards her, but he stops before he reaches her, he can see in her eyes she means it.  That she’s not going to change her mind.

“Natasha, I’m sorry.”

“Me too, Bucky…  goodbye.”

He watches her go, listens as her heels click on the tiles of the kitchen and finally as the front door clicks closed with a soft snick.  

—————————————————————————————

The air was dry and the sun was dropping low on the horizon as he drove into town.  The glint of dying light on the shiny clean hood of the pickup irritating his eyes even through the darkness of his Ray-Bans.

He knows where she’ll be. He pulls up in front of the little store, nodding to a few people as he gets out of the truck and heads inside.

The smell of flowers hangs in the air, a heady bouquet of scent that he’s always associated with her. She spent everyday after school here, when her mother was alive and running the flower shop, whole summers when both of them would hole up in the back room listening to the radio and helping arrange flowers and ribbons, learning how to make crowns from the ones that would end up in the trash.  He can still see her even now, leaning back on her elbows, head back, laughing, with a crown of tulips in her hair, the sun streaming in through the open patio doors to the small courtyard.  He thinks that’s  when he really knew and understood what it was he felt for her.  Seventeen years old in the back of a flower shop with the girl he loved, her smile making the room blinding in it’s brightness.  Darcy’s laugh could light up the world, no one could feel sad when they heard her.  

He hears her before he sees her, the faint sound of music playing tinny and high from a set of speakers so old they probably shouldn’t work at all.  Her voice carries over, pure and simple in it’s fashion, but filled with emotion that couldn’t be bought.  He leans in the door jam.  Watching as she arranges long stems of white roses into a pretty arrangement as she sings, hips swaying to the music.  The sudden colourful stream of expletives burst over the room in a flurry of petals. He rushes forward, catching her hand in his before she can wipe the blood off on her jeans.

“Hey, let me see…”

It takes her a second in the sharp pain of the moment to register him there, to respond to the soft voice and gentle touch.  When she does, her heart wants to take off, beat right out of her chest as all the air seems to leave the room and her lungs void of all oxygen.  He wasn’t meant to be here, he was meant to be back in New York with his pretty supermodel girl friend and his six figure job, not here in her little flower shop in a kitschy little town on Georgia.

“Bucky…  what?”

He’d digging in his pocket, bringing out a pack of antiseptic wipes and a band aid as she frowns in confusion, only sparing her the briefest of glances through thick lashes, as he works, cleaning the deep cut where the thorn had stuck the pad of her finger and affixing the band aid with practiced ease.

“Never got out of the habit of carrying this shit around.  You were always sticking yourself with something.”  He goes for a smile, but it comes out half pained as her fingers curl around his with a familiarity that makes his heart sore.

Darcy, lets out an incredulous snort.

“You’re ridiculous.  I’m not that bad.”

He looks at her properly then, a genuine smile playing on his lips.

“This little incident says otherwise.  I’ve only been back two minutes and you’re bleeding all over the place.”

Butterflies fill her as he gives her that crooked grin.  The one she remembers he only ever gave to her.  The one that got him to third base in the back of his dad’s old pick up down by the lake one summer night back when they were in senior year.

“Yeah…  I was wondering about that.  Thought you’d be back in New York.”

“I went back…”  he trails off for a moment before letting out a sharp bark of unhappy laughter.  “Turns out I never really left this place though….  Or you.”  

The final confession has her grasping for something to say, anything to fill the suddenly awkward feeling at the reminder of them.  

She’d done so well before, when he’d been here for old Mr Rogers funeral last month.  She’d held it all in, ten years of pinning and loneliness as she had unconsciously waited for him to come back.  She thought she hadn’t let it show, how much she’d missed him, how badly she still wanted, no, needed him.  She doesn’t want to hope, but the way he’s looking at her, eyes soft and full of warmth and longing.  It makes her mouth dry and her eyes wet.

“But you did, you left…” accusation bleeds out in a whisper, she almost regrets the words, the way he flinches at them.

“I was an idiot… I was a lot of things back then…”  He bites his lip, the gesture so painfully familiar in this strange almost surreal situation she finds herself in, that it makes her want to reach out and catch his bottom lip with her thumb, the way she used to, kiss him slow and hard till he forgot whatever it was that made him broody and sad.

“I ah…  I wanted to drop by, let you know first.  I’m back, I’m taking over from Doctor Foster as the MD. He’s retiring in six months and, well. I’m planning to stay.  This was always my home, I should never have left the way I did and I’m sorry…  I just wanted to let you know.”

Darcy tries to make sense of the news, to process it all.  But all she can focus on is his hand still tightly holding hers and words like back and home and ….

“You’re staying?  What about your-“

“We broke up.”  He cuts her off, something tells her he’s not ready to talk about it, but another little piece of her heart feels a little less empty.

“Okay.”  She lets it out, chin up, meeting his eyes properly.

“Okay.”  He parrots it back, nodding as they smile tentatively at each other.

The stand there, hands gripping and lips curving in silly smiles for far longer than appropriate before Darcy seems to figure out she should say something or let go if his hand.

“Dinner…  We should.  I mean, have you ate?”

“No.  Dinner would be good.  The Grill?”

“The Grill.”  Darcy nods, her hand finally loosening from his. He rubs the back of her hand gently before letting go.

“So…  uh, I guess we should catch up.”  

“Yeah…  ten years, I mean…  “ she stops, throwing her hands up. “You’re back to stay?  You came back for me?”

She throws it out, all the little things he had and hadn’t said.

“Darce…”

“No.  Just…  It’s been ten years and I never got over you.  I still love you and I need to know what you want, because I can’t live like this with you here and not know why…”  she feels her panic rising as she gesticulates wildly, but then  his hands are holding her arms down, and he’s telling her to breath, before she’s pressed into his chest, his arms banding around her, grounding her, holding her to earth and him and she melts into him, tears suddenly springing into existence.

“I’m back for you. Because you are my home Darcy.  I don’t deserve a second chance but I want one. I want to start again.  I don’t expect to just go back to how it was, I know I’ve got a lot to make up for-“

“Stop… just, stop.”

“Darcy, please…”  He releases her as she pushes away, wiping the tears angrily from her eyes.

“There’s something I have to tell you.”

She’s wringing her hands now, she knows she has to tell him, can’t put it off, can’t pretend, now when he’s come back.  Ten years late, but….  God she should have told him back then, but he’d been in his last year of medical school, she hadn’t wanted to disrupt his exams and then he’d called, broke up with her over a phone call, told her he wanted to live in New York, that he knew she wouldn’t, didn’t want that and…  She had frozen, the words poised on her lips, ready to tell him, but she’d been so heartbroken and angry and…

“You have a daughter.”

@southerncross47  @omnomsauruswrites  @eurynome827  @loricameback  @spacemansam  @jobean12-blog  @book-dragon-13  @grimeysociety  @sarahbeniel  @amazon-belle  

[ahiddenpath]

My Favorite Writing Stuff

One of the best things about writing is that all you need is a pen and paper!  But we all have our favorite tools and luxuries, and I thought it might be fun to talk about mine below the cut.  Lotsa pics, long post.

Word Processors

Scrivener

The single writing item I use most is my word processor, Scrivener, by Literature and Latte.  At some point waaaaaay back in 2012, I found myself writing Growing Up with You in Microsoft Word...  And having to wait ten seconds for the screen to adjust and load new text as I scrolled.  It was just too danged long for the program to handle.  Just reading my manuscript was a nightmare, let alone copying and pasting to move text, shuffle paragraphs, etc.  Making a new doc for each chapter quickly became a clunky chore.

THEN I FOUND SCRIVENER, AND IT’S THE BEST.

Scrivener is... not very user friendly; there’s definitely a learning curve.  But it was immediately so much better for writing long fiction than Word that I bought a book on the program and read it from cover to cover, which...  I don’t think I’ve ever done before.  That’s how much of a game changer this was.

The feature I rely on most is the binder.

This is the binder for Four Years, which currently has...  Forty-eight chapters.  I corralled the chapters into two folders, one for the first year of college (1), and one for the second (2).  

If I click folder 1, all of the chapters appear, each snug in their own folder.  Once the Scrivener file loads, there is no further loading time.  Each folder can be moved by clicking and dragging, as can each text file inside each folder.  FREEDOM!

This feature alone was worth the price of the program.  They offer a free trial, so please check it out if you’re interested!

Portable Word Processors

I’ve mentioned these before, but I have two portable gadgets that allow me to write on the go, distraction free.

Alpha Smart Neo 2

This might look like the baby of a toddler’s toy computer and a keyboard, but it’s actually my baby.

Just kidding!  Sort of!  The Alpha Smart Neo 2 is a portable word processor that boots up in a second, is powered by three AA batteries for eons, and weighs about 2 pounds.  They are no longer in production (which is a crime), but there are oodles available on Ebay for about $20-30.  

(I used to own and talk about my Alpha Smart 3000.  The Alpha Smart Neo 2 is the latest model before the company shut down, and the keyboard is nicer; it’s quieter and easier on the fingers).

I honestly can’t say enough about this device.  I rarely draft on a computer anymore; it’s just too easy to find yourself surfing the web, falling down a research vortex, or even reading your manuscript instead of writing.  Alpha Smarts can remember what you wrote until you delete it.  That’s it.  That’s all they do.  It’s beautiful.

I write about 800 words/hr on a computer.  I write about 1,500 words/hr on an Alpha Smart.  Distractions are so, so real.

When you’re ready to port your writing from your Alpha Smart to your word processor, all you have to do is connect a printer cable to your Alpha Smart, then plug the usb end into your computer.  Open your word processor, turn on your Alpha Smart, select the file you want to transfer, and hit send.  If you forget any of this, it’s written on the back of the Alpha Smart.

I know that no one should blame their success or failure on their tools, but...  I wouldn’t be able to write nearly as much without my Alpha Smart.  And if you ever do writing meet ups, you’ll be the only person who isn’t fighting for a power outlet!  It also fits easily into a tote bag or backpack.

Oh, Alpha Smart Neo 2.  My partner and friend!

Freewrite

The Freewrite by Astrohaus is... um.  Well, it’s a lot like the Alpha Smart Neo 2, except that it’s waaaay more expensive, much harder to use, and has terrible firmware.

There are cool things about it, for sure!  For one, it has this weird...  Pseudo typewriter feel.  It’s much larger and heavier than an Alpha Smart, and I’m not sure that I actually consider it portable...  But the thick, angled base practically functions as a lap desk.  It’s comfortable to use and has a nice mechanical keyboard.

It has wifi capability, so you can send drafts directly to your dropbox/cloud/email, no cords or transfers needed.  The screen is an e-ink scree, like a Kindle Paperwhite, easy on the eyes and readable in the sun.  It’s also backlit, which is the one major win over the Alpha Smart.

I bought mine used off ebay for a fraction of the list price (this thing is NOT worth $600 on any planet, goodness gracious mercy dang!  I paid about $180), and, um...  I still don’t know if it was worth it, not when I can buy an Alpha Smart Neo 2 for $30 tops.  I mean, I like the e-ink and the backlit screen, but...  There’s a lag between typing and the words populating on the screen.  There are no arrows to fix a typo.  I had to send 10 emails back and forth to tech support to get it updated and working.  It was not broken, and I understood all the directions...  It’s just god awful firmware.  I also lost a draft because it wipes your device if you open their Sprinter program while using your Freewrite.  

I still use it, though!  The tactile sensation is really nice, the keys make a satisfying clickety clackety, the E-ink screen is lovely, I adore the option to write in a not-that-well-lit room, and the wifi transfer is faster than my Alpha Smart’s wired method.  But I still can’t recommend it as long as Alpha Smart Neo 2s are available, not unless you’re some combination of the following: a writing nut who writes so gosh dang much that these toys are worth it, someone who is big on tactile sensation, someone who likes hipster stuff, or someone who would love an Alpha Smart but can’t read the electronic screen well.  If this is you, make sure you also have a strong grasp on how to talk to and understand tech support, because you will need them.

Just never ever EVER open Sprinter...

Notebooks

Leuchtturm1917, hard cover, A5, dotted

MAY I INTRODUCE YOU TO MY LOVE, THE LEUCHTTURM NOTEBOOK.

WHERE DO I EVEN START.

The Leuchtturm is...  Just the best.  The hard cover takes abuse well, stickers hold onto it nicely, it has two ribbon bookmarks and an elastic closure, there’s a folder attached to the back inside cover...  The dot version is unobtrusive and encourages smaller writing, which helps the notebook last.  And it is available in a rainbow of colors!

The paper is lovely, the pages are numbered, and IT HAS AN INDEX.

I’m a scientist, and working in a Leuchtturm is just like working in a fancy, expensive lab notebook.  The set up is done already, man.  You just gotta jot down what pages contain what.  IT’S SO ORGANIZED, with almost zero effort!  Mi amor.

Sure, I could make an index page and number all of my pages manually...  But I’ve met myself.  I won’t do it.  When you combine all of these lovely features, you have one unbeatable notebook.

Plus, they’re easy to obtain in the states!  I order them off Amazon or buy them at my local Barnes & Nobles.

Midori MD Notebook, A5, grid

The Midori has even nicer quality paper than the Leuchtturm, but the cover can’t take abuse, and it lacks the nice features.  I truly appreciate the paper quality, but the other features bring me back to my Leuchtturms every time.

It’s a Japanese item and is more difficult to import to the states.  You can get them off Amazon, though!

Pens

I use Uni-ball Signo 207 gel pens.  They write comfortably, and using them feels satisfying.  They should be available in most Walmart/Target type stores, at least in the states!  

It should be noted that I’m just not a pen buff.  I tried fountain pens, and it was more trouble than it was worth for me.

Folios/Traveler’s Notebooks

Okay, so you found the perfect notebook!  Wanna make it SUPER DUPER FANCY PANTS?!  Well, you could try a traveler’s notebook.  

I only learned what a traveler’s notebook is about a year ago, so if you’re also in the dark...  It’s a leather cover that holds notebooks inside with elastic.  I own these chic sparrows, one for my Midori notebook (or whatever notebook I’m using at the time), and one for my journal.

My full name is etched into them, so please pardon my censorship XD

The chic sparrow traveler’s notebooks are so elegant and decadent and...  I won’t lie, I literally move one or both around the house with me, just so I can look at them.  

The one on the left is a Mr. Darcy deluxe, size A5, in the Wickham color.  The one on the right is an Enchanted Woods deluxe, size A5, in the Elderwood color.

They have lots of pockets on the inside, a pen loop, and elastics to hold multiple notebooks.  This one is strung with a Midori notebook.  I also have a smaller B6 one that I use as a wallet!  It holds a small notebook, so I can write down those ideas that always happen when I’m out and don’t have paper.  The pockets hold IDs, credit cards, and cash.

It’s just this... magical, opulent item.  While it’s likely the least practical thing on this list, it’s very special to me.

Lap Desks

I HAVE A HARRY POTTER RAVENCLAW STORAGE DESK FROM POTTERY BARN AND I FEEL LIKE A WITCH WHEN I USE IT.

Oh dear, I took a terrible picture, it looks so lovely in person.  

The top can slide in both directions, revealing enough storage for several A5 notebooks, pens, and more.  It’s a great way to cart your stuff into your favorite cozy nook for a writing session.  Plus, you’ll feel like a Hogwarts student!  It’s available in all four house designs, plus a Hogwarts crest version.

Pottery Barn puts these on sale occasionally.  I’d aim for 25% off before buying.

My Writing Bag

I decked out a tote bag in writing pins to carry my Alpha Smart, thesaurus, a notebook, and pens.  You can use any bag, as long as it accommodates what you need!  Here are my fave sources for writing-related pins:

Literary Emporium, who makes my favorite pin, “Still I Rise,” a Maya Angelou quote.  They have the most gorgeous pins.

When life gives you lemons, read them, advice for the ages

And fandom:

Digivice pin

My beloved Sailor Moon pin, the loveliest pin I’ve ever seen (not shown because it lives on my Sailor Moon jacket!).  All of the inner senshi are available!

THAT’S ALL, THAT WAS SO MUCH.  Please let me know if you try any of these out!

[its-chotime]

Groceries in the Time of COVID-19, Part 2

I’ve been hesitant to write this but because I still see a lot of people on my street and people sharing on Instagram all these ridiculous recipes that require a million ingredients that most people don’t have slash people going on FREQUENT jaunts outside (oh the audacity!), here I go.  In the words of my friend, “...and if we eat only pasta with black pepper, we’re still gonna make it.” Throw in a canned protein source but the point is this: you need less than you think to survive. Right now is not the time for every luxury you feel entitled to.  First off, read this comprehensive Food Safety and Coronavirus Guide by Kenji Lopez (author of The Food Lab). He’s a writer I trust and he explains how to reduce risk when grocery shopping, ordering deliveries, etc.  Next, here’s where I am getting food deliveries from in Paris.

*I will not promote Deliveroo, UberEats, or INSERT WHATEVER DELIVERY CORPORATION HERE right now. The delivery folks were exploited even before a pandemic and they are being exploited now. They are underpaid, have very little labor AND health protection, etc. Not to mention how these companies fuck restaurants with their high cuts. Don’t believe me? Read this (EATER) about what shit GrubHub is pulling in the US. Do what you think is best. 

IMPORTANT: I feel guilty from privilege when I think of the warehouse, delivery, grocery store folks, sanitation workers, etc. who are working tirelessly right now (often underpaid work). They truly are the ones keeping the world going right now. So do your part: don't go to the grocery store if you’re sick, abide by the “no contact” delivery rules, etc. Please put yourselves in their shoes.  1. KOREAN GROCERIES:

I’m living without my favorite Korean butcher cuts. It’s hard but I’ll be fine. Kmart and Ace is within the 2 km radius I’m allowed to roam freely with an attestation in but I will not put myself or others at risk. I’m using the packaged steaks I bought in lieu of other cuts but using sesame oil and jangs (Korean fermented pastes). It’s good enough. 

I bought some last minute Korean snacks and essentials from Coreewa. They delivery all over France via Choronpost Fresh in 2-3 days. I appreciate they they sell refrigerated, like kimchi, and frozen goods, like bibigo mandu. Delivery fees reasonable. 

Another option for those in Paris is Ace Mart Online Delivery. I used it and it was great!!! Delivery the next day except for the weekends for purchases over 80EUR. Website is available in French and Korean. 

2. AMERICAN GROCERIES

This is really my favorite secret but I am sharing because it’s a tough time and as an American away from home, I really know how important it is to have food that feels like home. US FOODZ is a Dutch company that has all your cravings: Hot Cheetos, Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing (they sell out fast!), Kraft Mac N Cheese, Reese’s, and more. 

I ordered like the week before the lockdown and got my box in 24 hrs. Orders only over 50EUR are accepted and start at 9EUR, free delivery starts at 75EUR. They also have super rare Japanese snacks, like funky Pringles and Kit Kat flavors. Gods are real, yes? 

My American Market isn’t my cup of tea. Don’t tell me, “there’s also My American Market.” I do my research and I am really good at using the Internet.  3. REGULAR GROCERIES 

I haven’t gone outside once other than to meet a delivery but I plan to go grocery shopping every 10-14 days if I’m feeling healthy. For those who are feeling sick, DO NOT go outside. Consider these grocery delivery services:

Monoprix

Amazon Prime Now with Naturalia, Monoprix, and Casino 

La Belle Vie (1 hour delivery and omg check out their Asian stuff!!!)

Frichti Super Marché (good meats and cheeses, more affordable than you would think)

Epicery (I have yet to use this service but great for those who are looking for specific things, like a roast chicken or stuff from an Italian epicure)

4. BREAD DELIVERY 

As soon as my chiffon pink Le Creuset dutch oven arrives, it’s gonna be fresh bread (no knead but also gonna try sourdough) but Circus Bakery has Flyin Circus. You can do same day afternoon delivery or preorder for the next day for those in “Paris Center.” In addition to most of their bread, they have their famous buns as bigger ribbons for 12EUR! 

5. DIRECT FROM PRODUCERS 

The amazing humans over Collège Culinare de France (an association that celebrates and promotes French cuisine, made up of artisans / producers and chefs / restaurants) have created a map that shows all their producers / artisans/ restaurants that are still open for pick up and deliveries. To order food online, from some of the best meat in France to cheese to  fresh  produce, check out the link here. I am looking forward to ordering some steaks! 

PRO TIP: Also check out their Instagram stories as they continually share amazing producers who have some lockdown DEALS. 

6. FRESH PRODUCE IN PARIS

I’ve never shopped here but this BELOVED maraîcher from Marché d'Aligre has set up a delivery system for his products. All details below:

<< Bonjour. Contenu des événements récents, nous vous proposons un SERVICE DE LIVRAISON À DOMICILE de Fruits et Légumes, Fruits Éxotiques et Volailles.

Vous nous avez laisser vos coordonnées sur notre stand « Gautier, Producteur » du marché d'Aligre. N’hésitez pas à communiquer ce mail à votre entourage. Nous livrons Paris et la petite couronne.

Tarif des livraisons : Paris rive Gauche 5 euros Paris rive Droite 8 euros Petite couronne 10 euros

En pièce jointe, le document « MERCURIALE PRODUIT » à remplir absolument. Veuillez remplir la totalité des informations afin de faciliter la logistique et notre travail.

Je reste à votre entière disposition pour plus d’information. N’hésitez pas à me contacter avec les coordonnées ci-dessous.

Dorian Gautier, Gérant Producteur de Fruits et Légumes de saison - BIO LA POMME DE PARIS Le tuffeau 72500 LA BRUERE SUR LOIR Tel : 0776340774 >>

I’ve uploaded their price list and delivery form here.

Lastly, if you’re having a difficult time coming up with ideas on how to eat under lockdown, feel free to contact me (eileenc92@gmail.com). I can help brainstorm ideas and would be more than happy to write out recipes using what you have for you. Konbini Food also has been sharing simple recipe tutorials using pantry staples since the beginning of the lockdown.

Stay safe and stay home, my friends!