#And I would like to make these as ergonomic as possible lol

[beloved-blaiddyd]

A/n: this drabble has been on my drafts since April 2023 apparently so might as well post it lol

Allying yourself with the Fatui would certainly earn you glares that were hateful, concerned, or perhaps a mixture of both. But of course, that uncomfortable feeling is amped up when the masses become aware of who you worked for. The man doesn't need to call your name. He doesn't need to treat you as an employer would.

He only needed to whistle.

"Coming, Lord Dottore!"

The second harbinger already garners quite the unwanted attention with his getup alone. Your master in particular donned a pink bowtie and a black-and-white mask. The latter in particular makes ergonomic designers raise an eyebrow at its lack of breathing room. Perhaps in the oxymoronic frigid nation of love, the people wouldn't mind if you were beckoned with a whistle. It's not the strangest thing in Snezhnaya— some fatuous were summoned with the sound of a whip.

But in places like your homeland, the old Mond? Chances are, he won't whistle because he craves your attention— no. He'd do it to show you off. You'd have your old neighbor Seamus Pegg himself praying to the Anemo Archon that your mind remains intact. Not that those prayers would work on those who linger with the heretic. You've likely lost your mind before you agreed to become his test subject.

Still, this Dottore is quite impatient compared to his predecessors. Be glad he has yet to tinker with your vessel to make it more akin to an actual dog. So don't test him.

"Hmm. At least with you, I see no issue when it comes to loyalty like that Krupp— whatever his name was," Dottore scoffed with blatant disinterest. "Still unimpressive, however. You're 0.0035 seconds late. Do better."

"Yes, Lord Harbinger."

His words are cold, but his half-mask hides the smirk that creeps on his face as he ruffles your hair. With enough conditioning, he'll have no need to reassemble your insides to make you as un-aesthetically pleasing to anyone but himself as possible. Your behavior and inflicted phobias would be enough to mark the mad scholar's claim.

Go on, little (Y/n), run. Aren't you afraid of what happens after the whistle?

[k9wa]

𑣲 IN WINTER, I COLLAPSE. ft haruchiyo sanzu.

⠀ — when an emotional tolerance reaches a whopping zero.

⚠︎ whats a vent fic lol idk wym. sad sack reader && sad themes and u get the idea. kantou!sanzu && gn reader (princess used once)

“let's go for a walk.”

sanzu watched, somewhat startled, as you sprung up from his bed. remaining lying on his back, he stared, missing the warmth that had been abruptly stolen from his chest. the look on his face would almost lead you to believe you had an extra head on your shoulders.

he peered to the clock on his bedside table.

“…it’s three in the morning.”

“so?”

“so let’s go at a normal fucking hour, i'm tired.”

he rolled over onto his side, fluffing a pillow to try and find a comfortable position. you only responded with a huff. when he didn’t feel your weight return to the mattress beside him, he turned (while suppressing a very dramatic groan) back around to see you shimmying on a pair of sweatpants.

“suit yourself, i'll be back in a little.” 

sanzu could have let his eyes roll back into the deepest part of his skull. before you could exit his bedroom, he brushed some hair out of his face, the hues of rose muddled by the lack of light, and propped himself up on his elbows.

“oi.”

you took a quick glance behind you.

“let me get dressed, i’ll drive us.”

“i wanna walk.”

“you’re gonna be too tired to walk back, i’m not listenin’ to yer cryin’ and moanin’.”

sanzu watched you cross your arms and turn back around. 

“i’m just gonna walk.” and leave.

you didn't hear the hasty footsteps behind you until you were halfway down the stairs to his apartment, and the cool february air was already biting your skin.

“will you fuckin’ slow down?”

any other day you’d without fail speed up to piss him off, but you halt.

“i never said i wouldn’t go.”

throughout your impromptu walk down the street, you bathed in silence. the overcast sky and grey clouds hiding the moon away were more than enough to make said silence feel heavier than it was.

your eyes, normally unfocused and flickering around to whatever catches their attention, were chained to your shoes. your hands, usually glued to his own, were locked away in the pockets of your his jacket. sanzu didn't like how…dejected you looked. 

“hey.” 

haruchiyo spoke up, his quiet voice resonating faintly through the deserted streets. you stopped on one foot, finally looking up and beside you. he grabbed you by your fingers and began pulling you along, towards a park you otherwise would have passed,

“come sit.”

 towards a barren swing set.

“you gonna tell me what’s goin’ on with you?” 

you were on the swing next to sanzu when he turned to look at you. he nearly missed your feeble shoulder shrug.

“dunno what you’re talking about.” you were speaking through pouted lips, once more refusing to make eye contact with him. you twisted and fiddled with a small ring on your baby finger, your cheek wedged between your teeth.

“tellin’ me you wanted to walk around in the freezing cold for fun?”

“your room was too warm.”

yeah, and that’s why you were clinging to him before leaving, right? sanzu shakes his head.

“at three in the morning?”

“no time like the present.

he clenched his jaw.

“you’re in slippers.”

“bad shoe ergonomics can cause terrible long term problems, haruchiyo.”

“cut the bullshit. talk to me.”

you didn’t.

once more, only the sporadic sound of a car passing the park could be heard for miles around. did you even want to speak? was venting the feelings swirling around in your brain worth the effort? was it worth the possibility of feeling worse after acknowledging them? did you have the strength, or even the innermost self-knowledge, to express your thoughts?

…it was worth a shot, right? to at least try and climb out of the black hole that was your brain? just this once?

“…i think something in my head is fundamentally broken.”

sanzu raised his head at your abrupt remark. he was waiting for you to go on, but you stopped.

“what makes you say that?”

you look up from the ground for only the second time since your departure. smoke is being produced out your nose from your breathing, and the rusted street light to your right is illuminating it.

“i don’t think i know how to just exist.”

sanzu wrinkles his brow.

“everyone else can do it. everyone else can just— can just be. i can’t do that. it’s not fair.”

your eyes fell to the mulch underneath your feet again. haruchiyo slowly nodded along.

“it’s so fucking exhausting, you know? to see everyone around you just live? while the whole time you’re watching, all you can think is: ‘why can’t i do that? is there something wrong with me?’”

your weight caused the rusty swing chains to creak.

it’s a me thing. it’ll always be a me thing. and it’s not like i can just rewire my brain to work right. something in it is just busted and it’ll always be like that.”

“hey.”

haruchiyo interrupted. he finally stood up from his swing– (unable to ignore just how cold his ass was from the melted snow on his pants–) and walked in front of you, placing both his hands on your shoulders. he bent to rub the back of your head as it dropped tiredly against his stomach, as if holding it up any longer was far too demanding.

“there’s nothin’ wrong with you. don’t say shit like that.”

your hands reached weakly for his waist, fingers pink and numb from the cold, trembling either from the weather or the effort your body was putting in to keep you from crying. how feebly you clung to him almost caused him to frown.

“i don’t wanna do it anymore. i’m tired.”

sanzu helped you to stand up so he could properly embrace you. he tucked your head protectively under his chin, his body heat bringing the warmth return to your frostbitten cheeks while he rubbed circles on your shoulder blades.

“i know, princess.” he hoped that the wet spot forming on his shirt was just more melted snow.

sanzu really did know. it wasn’t so much of an attempt at comfort as it was him truly saying he knew how you felt. after all, the strong aren’t always born noble. 

“the world is un-fuckin’-bearable sometimes,” he began, “the one thing you can’t let it do is eat you alive.

you’re not weak. you’ll be alright.”

you sniffled. “i think it’s fucking stupid.”

at that, he snorted, shaking his head and pulling you away from him. your cheeks were dried off by cold hands, and your red nose was kissed by even colder lips.

“thanks.” 

haruchiyo ruffled your hair.

“don’t try’n keep me out of your head next time. you know i’ll break my way in there if i hafta.” his arm perfectly encircled your shoulders as he drew you back to his side. your lips curved into a thin smile

“i'll try. no promises, though.”

he pinched your arm, earning a chuckle from you.

“cmon, let's go back to my place.”

the dull winter scenery was becoming a bit depressing. the realisation that you had to walk all the way back was the only thing more upsetting.

the walk back was much nicer, having felt like all the weights on your shoulders were left on the rickety kids swing.

on your journey, what no one could have expected was your groaning and complaining.

“holy shit it’s fucking freezing, why didn’t we take your bike?”

sanzu pushed you into a nearby snow bank.

⠀ 𑣲 MASTERLIST / GOT A REQUEST ?

[marnz]

some thoughts about life right now;

i've been on a really intense project since late July and let me tell you, i am tired! i'm one of the few people at my job that specialize in this type of work--we are excited to train more--but for now i am just hanging out here preparing to trade one high pressure project for another for the foreseeable future. which ultimately is fine! even though it can be stressful, I would rather be doing this type of work, which is interesting and super fulfilling and matters a lot to me, than other types of work, which do not feel fulfilling and are actually pretty boring.

it's a little confusing to find myself here because last year i went on medical leave for mental health reasons and prior to that i was doing a very different kind of work, and when i came back in january they started me off with this new kind of work (which i do prefer) with basically no training from my supervisor. which is fine, i am comfortable learning on the fly and/or teaching myself, and i have both a lot of experience doing this and a lot of experience in Complex Projects, albeit in a different practice area. then i moved onto this project in late july. so like again very little training in this specific type of work but i assure you, nothing is as stressful as my last job was. and i do love this project! even though it's stressful! i've since learned that this is just going to be my specialty! which like...i am happy with the outcome but i feel like i sort of tripped and fell into it in the least expected way possible.

while thinking about it, i think i thought i'd only make it to this kind of work, this kind of project, by working hard--and i had a specific idea of what working hard looked like, what striving looked like. but i have been working hard for the last year or so, healing, learning, growing, recovering, all of it. and that is hard work. and by taking time to tend to myself, and grow and change and learn and heal, i became ready for this kind of stressful work. and that's not the narrative we have around this. culturally we have a narrative of self sacrifice and unpaid overtime and being really fucking type A and having unhealthy work/life balance, but as soon as I stepped away and said actually, i've had enough, i will not burn my life out for you, i started down a road that led me to doing the type of work i want to do in a healthier and more prepared way. and that's fucking awesome!

for now i am just trying to make it to the end of this project in mid october. which means coping skills, baby! wish i could write but i don't have capacity for it rn, and that's fine. so my priorities are: maintenance days (cleaning/chores). reading. knitting. baking. yoga. hiking. i want to make life as easy and cozy for myself as possible right now.

i haven't knit for several months and I'm thinking of trying my first sweater--this gorgeous sweater called Mountain Mist. however i've never done colorwork before so the pattern suggests doing the same colorwork in a swatch hat (here) to practice. i am SO HYPE!!! this pattern is also admittedly deeply my aesthetic. i showed it to my partner and he laughed bc it's so typically me lol. i also checked out the first book in Tana French's Dublin Murders series on audiobook to listen too while knitting. spooky season means murder mysteries. 🥰

also my work office is being remodeled so i will be working from home for the next 6ish months, and we're preparing to overhaul my little work corner in our house so it is better/more ergonomic/has more storage/is cuter. also i am going to get a standing desk for my poor knees 😵‍💫 recently worked from 8:30 to 9:30 and my knees hurt sooooo bad 😩

it's nice to know that a year ago i wouldn't have been able to handle this project or really know how to slow down and prioritize self care and after a ton of hard work on my mental health i'm now i'm like, well, it is a bit stressful but we got this. progress 😌💖

[jbt7493]

trying to think of like. a system. for handles. to like. make a standardized way of integrating other tools or items into the handle of the machete. . so like im thinking maybe - and for gods sake not the hollow tube handle - im thinking maybe the handle has like. the initial tang. and then there’s some sort of a scaffolding structure that slides down the tang. (possibly: 3d printed? cellulose acetate? lost PLA cast aluminum?) obviously need to figure out what the geometry of these modules would be and the design of the compartments and whatnot. then, *wrapped* with micarta / offbrand before the resin/epoxy is already set, to totally cement the modules in place and make the handles snug, solid, and comfortable.

buuuuut obviously this concept assumes/requires A: a need or desire for this at all lol. B: that you’re going to be storing items with relatively similar dimensions that can ‘click’ in, or that you’ll modify everything you’re putting in there to match the dimensions of the standardized module. C: that you can even figure out a way to easily store and remove items through whatever the design is, without making the handles crap ergonomically, and with like, any storage capacity at all. and D: the manufacturing itself of this would suuuuuck if you’re going with the hypothesized wrapping the composite around the modules while it’s setting.

so idk. i feel like it might just be a case of ‘just put shit in a bag instead’ and just kind of a silly concept

[sysig]

Uh oh I’m crafting again

[thebrightness]

TMI NSFW BITCHIN UNDER THE CUT

my neck and shoulders have been ACHING THROBBING ACHING PAIN plus headache since like Thursday morning and I think it’s because I ate pussy for too long. like option 1: I fucked up my neck that bad just eating someone out in a non ergonomic position. I’m so annoyed because I finally am dating a person who I would like to have sex with ideally like all the time, but I also cannot put my body through this very often, which is a fucking bummer !!! And it’s so goddamn embarrassing to explain this to my physical therapist or doctors but like, for real, I need to so I can prevent it next time. I just want to have sex without having to figure out the logistics of not injuring my shitty body. doctors can you make it so I can eat puss without a care in the world Please.

OPTION 2 I HAVE COVID and my body aches are localized to my shoulders up??????????? I got tested today because a friend tested positive a week after I saw him last. Which is a bummer bc we’re all vaccinated and he works at the university so everyone there should be vaccinated so regardless if I test positive or not this has put breakthrough cases firmly in a Legitimate Current Threat position in my brain. No more bars or eating indoors for me. also if I do test positive, I definitely exposed the person I’m dating which feels horrible. and I’m going to miss a lot of class. even if I test neg I’m missing class tomorrow, because the test I just did has to be MAILED IN (didn’t realize this, just set up ANOTHER TEST tomorrow morning which is redundant but like I have to know ASAP and miss as little class as possible!!!!!)

fuck lol I know it’s terrible to say it but I almost wish I have COVID to explain away my neck pain... don’t want it to be because of having fun sex :[ also I don’t want to have covid :[ :[ :[

[soundrooms]

Soundrs: Adrien Cardenas

My name is Adrien Cardenas, from Houston Tx. U.S.A. I’ve been producing since 2002 and the current genre I’ve been working in is House. From deep and moody to Jackin funky vibes.

Why do you make music? 

For the same reason I paint. It’s a way for me to express myself without boundaries. I get into a state of creative flow. That’s a natural high for me.

What are your inspiration sources? 

I get inspired by all things. Usually it’ll be an idea that comes in a flash. I’ll record myself humming it into my phone and then explore the idea once I’m in my home studio.

Tell us something about your workflow. 

I use Maschine MK3 & jam to sketch out ideas and sample things that get my ideas flowing. Then I’ll bounce any ideas or grooves to Acid. Then work the track from there…

How would creative rituals benefit your workflow? 

I’m usually at my most creative when I wake up on the morning. I’ll have a glass of cold water and see what flows. I’m open to any “rituals” that work for other producers! Lol

How do you get in the zone? 

By keeping focus. Intentionally focusing on finding a groove. Once I get that groove locked in then all other ideas start popping… kind of like the track just writes itself. It’s a feeling for sure!

How do you start a track? 

Again, much like art. I have to be in my creative state of flow. I’ll focus on making the full on groove (four to sixteen bar loop) repeated. If I can create a vibe that moves me in that loop then I have my track.

Do you have a special template? 

Not really, but since it is house music the arrangements tend to be almost the same. Depends on the energy of the track itself.

What do you put on the master channel? 

I’ll put Izotope Ozone and use a simple four band master preset just to give it some loudness (mostly for my listening or for sharing online). When I send the track for a proper mastering session I don’t put anything on the master channel.

How do you arrange and finish a track? 

I build a four to sixteen bar loop (the main groove) then stretch it out to about six minutes. That way my track has an ending. I won’t get stuck in “loop mode.” I’ll then chip away bits making the intro, breaks, builds, and outro. This allows me to work quickly. Making more than one track in a session.

How do you deal with unfinished projects? 

I put them in a sub folder called IDEAS. Sometimes if a track I’m working on is missing something I’ll check that folder.

How do you store and organize your projects? 

I have one main WORKING folder. Inside my working folder each track has its own folder. I put samples cover art and anything else that has to do with that track in that folder.

How do you take care of studio ergonomics? 

I try to sit as straight as possible. I’ll get up and take a break about every hour as my wrist will get fatigued after a while.

Tell us something about your daily routine, how is your day structured, how do you make room for creativity? 

The bulk of my tracks are made early in the morning on my days off. Sometimes after work but that’s only to record a sample or fix something in a mix before bed.

Share a quick producing tip. 

Mix at lower volumes. I tend to keep my audio at about 55 to 60%. Your ears will thank you.

Share a link to an interesting website (doesn’t have to be music related). 

djforums.com

List ten sounds you are hearing right this moment : ) 

Co workers yapping about current events.  My breathing. The elevators. The air vents. The birds outside. Clicks of a computer keyboard. Unscrewing of a water bottle cap. The sound of styrofoam being squeezed. Office chair being rolled around… yes, I’m at work.

Thanks Adrien! The single ‘Storm Warning’ is out now on UltraBold Records.

Want to get featured next? Send a message here on tumblr or email soundrooms@icloud.com.

[tehrevving]

I do love the DMC boys content but I wonder what it would be like being quarantined with Iggy? Half of me thinks it would be freaking amazing and half of me thinks Iggy would NOT do well being shut up. Hm, I wonder what a gal can do to distract him~?

Omggg I am so late with this ask. I was actually sent this while I was under total house arrest for 2 weeks, so I know exactly how it feels. 

I think Ignis would be fine with isolating at first, it gives him a chance to clean up his apartment and catch up with the chores and things that he’s been putting off. He’s fine with it at first, but I definitely think he’d go a bit crazy after a while. 

If the situation is anything like it was in Australia back when this all first started, all of the supermarket shelves were empty and home delivery wasn’t running either. While Iggy would probably get some sort of preferential treatment given his job, I think he might get annoyed that he can’t get ingredients or supplies to cook the things he wants to, because we all know that Iggy’s not just making bread during his isolation, but making fancy artisinal sourdough with imported starter that’s 200 years old or something.  

I also think that Ignis doesn’t actually spend that much time at his own place, so it’s actually missing some of things that he’d use all the time, because he just uses the facilities at the Citadel. Give him a few days and you’ll find that he’s probably ordered gym equipment, a fancy ass ergonomic chair, stripper pole, and like a $10k+ coffee machine.

As far as the actual isolation, it’d definitely get to him after a while. He loses his favourite coffee mug a few days in, he has absolutely no idea what happened to it. .......You didn’t hide it from him just so that he might lose his cool….. Not at all. In real terms, if you’re isolating with Iggy, than it’s probably the most amount of time that you’ll have spent together. So prepare for it to possibly get a little bit hectic. It’ll all start with jokes and puns, but real talk - isolation can be pretty stressful and so sometimes it’s not gonna be all roses, but that’s okay too.  

And, as I’m sure many people can attest to, when you don’t really have anything else to do, things tends to get ‘dirty’ pretty quickly lol. Because it’s Ignis through and he isn’t really into quickies or doing things by halves, it probably doesn’t get as dirty as you would initially expect. Sure you fuck on basically every surface in this apartment within the first couple of weeks, but eventually it’ll all end up slowing down...... because the stains aren’t coming out of the sheets anymore, and the washing powder has run out 😂

[animiya]

I was crippled for the last 2 weeks and it was a thought-provoking experience. I want to remember the questions I’ve asked myself and the feelings I’ve felt during this time. My movement hasn’t returned to 100% but I am hopeful.

Some quick thoughts:

It’s hard to be an advocate for your healthcare when there is a language barrier - while in the ED, I sat across from 2 people who didn’t speak English. They clearly had questions and were worried about their outcomes. Over the 8 hours we spent in ED together, the sense of comradery radiant from a smile went a long way. 

Opening doors in a wheelchair without an accessibility button is fking impossible - I’ve always given those will mobility issues right of way but being on the receiving end for once highlighted how a simple gesture like holding a door for someone can go a long way.

Crutches will bruise your armpits because you may need to place your entire weight on them - I would have tipped over and fallen many times without them. Thank you to my crutches for coming in clutch many times. My father was un-approving that I used $55 of my own money to purchase these but I don’t care about your opinion; it was my money and it was well spent. 

Your workplace isn’t going to be toxic if you cannot work because of an injury - no matter how busy it is at work, your co-workers will be understanding and cover for you. There is no reason to be feel guilty about their increased work load due to your absence. You wouldn’t want your co-worker to work in pain and so you shouldn’t expect your co-workers to think any different. I was literally working in bed while lying down while crying in pain and FOR WHAT?? I got frustrated with how slow I was working and transitioned to a chair to continue working and exacerbated the pain which probably slowed my recovery. Seriously it’s not worth it. Just be honest next time and tell your boss you can’t work. I had this preconceived notion that there was pressure for my to work due to how crazy the COVID-19 pandemic was. There’s really no reason to push yourself. They will understand. They understood. They were accommodating. 

Invest in a comfortable office set-up. Many of us sit in front of a computer for the majority of the day. Might as well make as comfortable as possible. Thinking of buying that chair for $2000? I’ll hype you up. DO IT! 

If I could never walk again, would I be happy with what I’ve done in my life so far? The answer is no. After I fully recover, I’m taking every opportunity I have to go outside, play sports, travel and hang out with friends. I’ve haven’t left my house in 2.5 weeks other than to go to an ultrasound appointment. I’m not the type of person who likes to stay home and fk these past 2 weeks were hell. I wanna breathe FRESH AIR.  

It’s okay to rely on others for physical and emotional support. Family and friends who care about you will help you and worry about you. They are physical and emotional supports and reaching out to them for help with water, food, pillows, etc. is A-OK. Shout out to my homie for googling comfortable sitting positions and treatment plans while I was dying in pain and was being unreasonable. You’re a real one. 

Don’t ignore signals your body gives you. People who are really productive do the basics well like sleeping, eating and stretching. I don’t give a fk about what anybody says. You know your body the best. If you are hungry - you can eat. If you want to go outside - just go. Don’t change your sleep schedule for anybody you meet on the internet lol. People are going to judge you anyways - might as well do what you want to do. It’s okay to tell others that you are negating their opinions cause bitch I never asked for them in the first place. 

Reading shoujo manga makes you miss your so

I need drink more liquids especially after waking up in the morning - I might buy a tumbler since I like drinking through a reusable straw

I need to stop skipping breakfast - how was I even functioning on such few calories a day

I’m incapable of taking 5 shots of Soylent w/o this song playing in the background

Siting is the new smoking. Please remember to stretch daily and not be sedentary for too many hours at a time. Invest in solid ergonomic solutions for your height and body. Your health is priceless.

[unspeakablehorror]

I was tagged by @ajax-daughter-of-telamon to do this meme.

Five things you’ll find in my bag

Since the type of bag is never specified, I'm going to do a grocery bag (even though I don't think it's what was meant) because I love thinking about food and I think this gives me more possible answers to work with than other interpretations. Here are a few items commonly found in my grocery bag:

1. apples of various kinds

2. frozen brussells sprouts

3. teriyaki sauce

4. tempeh

5. frozen mixed vegetables without lima beans because I like to enjoy life just that little bit more

Wow, that even ended a little too fast. I could talk about this all day, haha. We didn't even get to sweets.

Five things you’ll find in my bedroom

1. books

2. electronics

3. a bed desk--I like to be ergonomic when I use my computer in bed (which is a lot). Also I understand it allows the computer to vent heat easier.

4. toolbox for various types of repairs

5. me (from time to time, lol)

Five things that make me happy

1. exploring things outdoors

2. learning new things about science and technology

3. discovering a new song or movie or game or book that I like

4. the sci-fi and fantasy genres

5. eating food I have cooked

Five things I’m currently into

1. Star Wars, especially the prequels era which I never would have guessed at the time the prequels aired because I was so disappointed in them I decided to mostly ignore them. Like the only prequels thing I recall buying not too long afterward was an Aayla Secura comic.

I remember I liked the parts with Palpatine and Grievous, and I enjoyed the special effects (awkward at times but reasonably solid). This was mostly overshadowed by what I didn't like.

On the other hand, while I still have many of the same issues with the prequels that I had when they aired, I'll say I largely enjoy them more now due to actually having read more of the expanded universe and also making my own AUs to play around in.

And I'm happy to grab things from any time period or continuity to use in my fic as long as I can find an angle for it.

My order of trilogy preference from most liked to least is therefore:

Original Trilogy, esp the version without Lucas's 'improvements'

Prequel Trilogy

Sequel Trilogy

I'm uncertain on whether I like TFA more than any of the prequels. I know it doesn't outshine the originals for me. I prefer the prequel series to TLJ for sure, though.

2. Legend of Zelda--easily my favorite gaming series right now. My favorite Zelda game is Skyward Sword because of it's my favorite Zelda storyline. I'm a huge fan of this game despite feeling that the imprisoned boss battles are too repetitive, certain areas are reused a bit too much, and that the structuring of the overworld made the game overly disjointed and feels overly small.

3. Rabbits. They are so fluffy. So fluffy and good.

4. Animorphs! Furry blue centaur aliens and evil space slugs and horrific morph sequences away!

5. Food collections. I enjoy collecting (and consuming) nonperishables like tea and spices and canned food.

Five things on my to-do list

1. cook food

2. eat food

3. sleep

4. write

5. read

Five people I’m tagging

Feel free to fill out or ignore as you please:

@0x35465c , @thelonghairedone, @darthbiscuits, @pixilatedpunk, @a-perplexing-puzzle

[ameerawritesstuff]

Do you like Star Trek alien anatomy redesigns? Do you have favorite design/s, Alien anatomy headcanonons, or artist/s? (Also: I hope you're having a productive and peaceful day!) RANDOM THOUGHT: Alien redesigns, esp. ones who are bipedal w/ digitigrade legs make me wonder, what would an ergonomic space chair/furniture design look like?! SPACE IKEA! (lol, still nigh-impossible for the average sapient being to assemble tho)

So I love the concept of redesigns and I support it so much but it’s not like a preference? With fanfic I really tend to keep everyone the same as Michael Westmore created since 1. he’s brilliant and 2. it’s easier for me to visualize. If I were a better artist I think I would play with them more.

Also, I do makeup work for films and tv so I’m a slut for sfx looks so I like things that are actually possible for humans to do with makeup, therefore humanoids...

BUT my absolute FANTASY for Star Trek would be for Jim Henson’s Creature Workshop to create some species for the series. I mean, can you imagine? Those puppets are so exquisite and sometimes so terrifyingly lifelike (Jim Henson’s Storyteller has some of my favorites) and it would be so great with the writing of Star Trek.

[fishylife]

If you want, you can help me come up with ideas for Christmas presents for my family because I've no idea what to get any of them! (Mid 50yo parents, 18yo brother!)

Let’s see what my brain can come up with :P

- I don’t know what your family’s hobbies are, but gifting something related to hobbies seems nice because they feel personalized. (My mom grows plants and one time I bought her a small pot of African violets for her birthday and they’re still alive so that’s cool XD)

- For my own parents, I tend to take them out for a nice meal rather than give them gifts (even for their birthdays), so that might be a possibility if there’s a fancy restaurant they’ve been dying to try. Also because I always default to getting food for my dad but I’m not going to get him a jar of peanuts for Christmas, okay. 

- I think for parents warm winter wear works too. Like my dad always wears caps so sometimes if I see a nice high quality and warm cap I might check it out. Maybe scarves, gloves, earmuffs, etc. could also be options? 

- I try to envision whether the gift recipient will actually use my gift and that sometimes helps.

- For your brother, does he use a computer a lot? If so, maybe something like an ergonomic mouse or a laptop bag/backpack might work. Or if he doesn’t use a computer that much, maybe more simple electronic accessories like nice headphones or a portable phone charger. Whenever I think “teenager” I think “electronic accessories” because I don’t know what else to get kids that are too old for toys. 

- For your brother, do you know what he plans to do in the coming years? Depending on his area of study, or what he plans to do, there might be something that would make a good gift? This is an extremely vague suggestion, I know lol.

- If you ever get stuck, I think food is always a good last resort for gifts haha. 

[ghostofasecretary]

so the pain feelings are probably the easiest and most grounded, let’s have those first 

it really, really annoys me that i have chronic pain. i mean, yes, chronic pain is annoying, but i am annoyed at the specifics of my chronic pain because fibromyalgia is a...complicated diagnosis at best, one i am not sure really exists at worst, and one i would rather throw myself into a fire than get slapped with again.

(possibly do not read this if you are diagnosed with fibro, i think your pain exists and effects your life but i don’t quite think mine is and have Feelings about fibro as a diagnosis that i can’t assess and in this post i make some statements that may be distressing. if you’re sensitive to people dismissing pain, even if it’s their own pain, uh, maybe just skip this one)

i think the pain of other people i real and my own is not, sometimes, which is really stupid and i don’t agree with it, but there the thought is, being a thought.

legitimate vs illegitimate pain is one that is often framed through the lens of sexism and while that is probably reasonable, it also makes me curl into a little ball of dysphoria. i don’t want to think i was effected by sexism while i ran the medical gauntlet, and even if i was i don’t...ugh. sorry. no. i don’t want to.

fibro is basically the diagnosis for “we don’t know what’s wrong with you and you’re probably crazy and/or whiny and/or Don’t Real.” i’m not even sure it’s better than no diagnosis. also i am crazy, it’s on my chart, i don’t...i don’t want another thing that makes me more likely to be dismissed.

in my junior year of high school (well, from August to...April? stuff tapered off around the end of February) i had headaches that ranged from irritating to extremely distracting and mildly painful every single day. i say “mildly“ painful because i have had several severe migraines in my life, and while the aggregate suffering of daily aura and varying forms of pain in my temples may have been equal to the multiple days where i would have to be lying down in a dark room that was quiet as we could possibly make it, but even that didn’t quite help because my heartbeat was too loud, the daily experience was...not that bad. i also had some other symptoms that sucked!

these may have made the aggregate That Bad, idk. i was also pretty suicidal at this point, which kind of clouds my memories.

i was really nauseous pretty much constantly. i had aura pretty much constantly. i got diagnosed with chronic daily migraines, although they were atypical.

my hips and knees hurt a lot. my back hurt, my neck hurt, my shoulders hurt. sometimes i didn’t feel like i could walk well at all and i limped. i sat down often. my hands hurt and writing got painful for the first time. i was very tired.

i did some really stressful things in junior year that were made a lot worse by having headaches constantly and being tired and in miscellaneous pain and feeling like i was going to throw up. i had a really bad night one time where everything in my body was pounding and i ached and cramped and felt like i was on fire and also had a migraine i would class as a Real Migraine, complete with high-key pain and horribly present nausea and blackouts and floating dots. it was really hard.

i had a bunch of tests done re: headaches, including an EEG and an MRI. i asked for a full panel of bloodwork because i did not know what was happening and whether there was a cause. (fibro does not have a known cause, although it is sometimes speculated to be “stress” or “mental illness.” thanks, medicine.) there was no detectable underlying cause, but i did get some helpful medication after a lot of trial and error and several months of waiting. by several months i mean about half a year, but, well. what can you do.

(also, i had SO MUCH ANXIETY about diagnosis and i both was terrified of having RA or lupus or cancer or something identifiable and i desperately wanted something fixable. i also had FUN FUN FUN ANXIETY about being a Bad Patient, about whether asking for bloodwork and being upset over not having an underlying cause made me look like a hypochondriac, about whether the fact that i didn’t exercise as much meant i was Destroying My Health even though exercise hurt like a motherfucker and made every part of daily life difficult, etc, etc)

senior year was much less bad, pain wise.

headache meds really helped my other symptoms! yay! it’s also possible i developed a better pain tolerance*? i did have noticeable and distracting pain while typing during senior year but a carpal tunnel diagnosis is not terribly useful and trying to get diagnosed and not getting anything would probably have crushed me.

going to a chiropractor was moderately helpful but also painful, so...eh?

exercise was really, really not. it’s supposed to be, although the studies used to support that are kind of sketchy, but it was not helpful. it might be helpful now but i would not bet on it.

(one time in junior year i tried to stand up and pace around for an hour, to see if i could do it. i wound up having to lie down in bed for four hours. lying down because of Pain sucks and it feels so stupid and shitty and boring, and i knew i probably shouldn’t have stood for that long while it was so uncomfortable but i wanted to see if i could. i could, barely, but it was not worth it. and it’s so stupid, i feel so petty, i stand up for seven hours every day now and i don’t hurt that much, why did i...? surely it couldn’t have been that bad, surely i was making it up.)

sleeping more did help a little.

* i don’t feel like i developed a better pain tolerance but it might be worth noting two things.

one, after a while i got incredibly fed up with noticing my pain and all the stuff on the net about fibro being psychosomatic and not having any reason to feel bad aside from my headaches which also didn’t have a Real ReasonTM, i decided to ignore pain. pain? what’s that? i don’t have that. banging my elbow makes me ache for days? lol, no it doesn’t. it...i mean, i think it helped. not thinking about my pain All The Time defnitely helped, although the Denial might be less than great.

two, even though i really do feel like i have a shit pain tolerance my feet were literally bleeding because of my shoes in DC and i did not take any action about this until K and R told me to. it hurt, but not, like, a lot.

possibly i have a better pain tolerance.

...

anyway. recently during my work as a barista, my hands and wrists and forearms have been quite annoying. my wrists keep sparking when i pick up milk cartons or shake whip cream and i have to do those things many times during the course of a day. it hurts to close my hands and they’re usually very stiff but probably not clinically stiff. my tendons seem...unhappy...but fuck if i know. i sleep in wrists braces every night and have for years, i ice my hands and wrists at least once a week, typing is still hella painful and i don’t draw or sew very much anymore and i cannot shake the conviction that there is Nothing To Be Done and also that i am feeling my nerves dying every day. which. uh. not great.

(and also - my ankles hurt all the time, i stand up for seven hours a day, what do you expect? my back hurts, so what, everyone’s back hurts. sometimes my knee wrenches but idk, man, it does that.)

i can’t tell what’s a reasonable, measured reaction, what’s abject denial, and what’s overwhelming anxiety and desperation to have anything that isn’t The Fake Special Snowflake Disease For Special Snowflake People.

according to the Mayo Clinic, “See your doctor if you have persistent signs and symptoms suggestive of carpal tunnel syndrome that interfere with your normal activities and sleep patterns. Permanent nerve and muscle damage can occur without treatment.” uhhhhhhhh

tingling and numbness have occurred for the past two and a half years, although they’ve gotten much worse recently. i haven’t been woken up because of it, but, like. if i woke up every time i was in pain i would be awake a lot. weakness hasn’t really happened yet. pain is, y’know, kind of a thing.

i’m vaguely worried that i could have more things ala tendinitis but no way am i going to think about that too hard.

options:

continue ignoring everything. this one looks very stupid but i am tempted. if i think i need carpal release surgery i could try to get it then, otherwise i’m pretty much doing okay on prevention and am doing decently at ergonomic support. if i get told to ice my wrists or something i will scream

go to a doctor. a diagnosis would probably make me feel better but also what if i don’t get one, and there isn’t much to be done anyway unless i need surgery which i do not think i do. if i have tendinitis i might get a steroid shot, but really, i don’t think i do? i don’t want to think about it, i am so tired of thinking about my shit body, i don’t want to

go to the chiropractor. this looks like a nice middle balance and i could ask about carpal tunnel in a less serious environment and it might help, but uggggh, why can’t i just...continue ignoring everything. “permanent nerve and muscle damage” sounds serious but not being able to stand without being in a fuckload of pain sounded serious to me in junior year and here we are, with awesome headache meds and a dubiously effective pain tolerance.

at what point does pain interfere with my life? when i notice it? when i start dropping things? when i can’t hold a pencil? idk, man. i d fucking k

oh, yeah, and another thing, my headaches have been..sort of a thing lately. at this point i’m going to have to get a freakin anti-headache earring like it’s a sigil to ward off a demon and/or i will have to get botox shots every three months like a soccer mom desperately sneaking in to the doctor’s office to make herself feel just a tiny bit better about her miserable life and wrinkles, because obviously a 40 year old showing signs of age is A Sin Against Beauty And An Affront To Nature

(note the increasingly bitter and jaded tone of this post. do i sound hysterical yet)

pain is very stupid and i am SO ANNOYED

....probably i should schedule a chiropractor appointment. i shall pester my mom about that now

[adelatur]

firste, make ye thine corsetrye, and lerne ye from mine mystakes

I needed a corset for various sewing projects which had both a Victorian silhouette and provided the regency ‘boobs on a shelf’ look, and so when I found a pattern which did just that, I was like ‘my sewing problems are over’. 

I was wrong, on so many levels, as I will endeavour to explain below.

I measured myself, found the corresponding pattern size, and traced it out. The pattern recommended making a practice corset in waste fabric to check the size, but I was like ‘lol aint nobody got time fo’ dat’, so I figured that I would just measure the width of the pattern pieces, subtract the seam allowances, and have a vague idea of what I was working towards. The circumference I got was about 25 cm (10”) too large, but I was like ‘lol I must have measured wrong, I’ll just forge ahead’.

So I cut out all the pieces, and started making the thing. The first step was to insert the busk at the front, and the grommets at the back. This required an awl for stabbing through the fabric. I did not have an awl. What I did, however, have was a blemish extractor thingy from a manicure kit, but it had a stabby end, so I went with that. It worked serviceably well.

The next thing I needed to do was sew a straight line next to the busk pieces so that they would stay put. This was apparently beyond my skillset.

^I mean what the fuck.

So I gave up and just stitched it by hand.

Next, it was time to hammer in the grommets. Still lacking an awl, which I needed in order to punch a large enough hole in the fabric to get a grommet through, I improvised, combining the stabby thing with a pencil, which I used to enlarge the hole I started with the stabby thing. Then came the hammering. It turned out that while the grommet kit I purchased contained a die to set the grommets, it did not come with instructions as to how to orient the pieces when using it. As such, I managed to line up the pieces upside down and hammer the grommet into the die, getting everything stuck, and causing me to inadvertently stab myself a few times as I tried to work it free.

This is why we can’t have nice things. And then I got blood on the corset as a result of my accidental stab wounds, which was annoying.

With that horror complete, it was time to start piecing it together. This was nice, easy, straight line sewing. And then I tried it on to check fit. As it turned out, I had not measured something wrong. It was about 28 cm (11”) too large. Or about five sizes. Not having the time or the fabric necessary to start again, I improvised, taking in every seam, and just sewing down the middle of some of the wider pieces to make them narrower. I got it to the right measurement, but it wasn’t a fun improvisation process. 2/10, would not recommend.

Once it fit, it was time to deal with the boning. I already knew that precut and capped corset boning was considerably more expensive than buying continuous lengths of boning and cutting and capping it yourself. We’re talking 20-25% price disparity. So I figured ‘lol it can’t be that hard, let’s just DIY it’. This was the wrong move. As it turns out, while it is theoretically (and indeed, as I have proven, physically) possible to cut the boning yourself with some jewellery pliers, it’s not a fun process. It’s not going to be a fun process unless you have access to bolt cutters, which I did not. And then there’s capping the little fuckers. As it turns out, capping spiral steel requires two sets of flat pliers, at least one of them being ridged for grip, and above average grip strength.

While I had both of those, it wasn’t a fun process, because jewellery pliers are designed for things like cutting dainty fine-gauge wire, and squishing crimp beads. What is an ergonomic design for those gentle pursuits is no longer ergonomic when you’re trying to snip through spring steel, or crush little reinforced steel caps.

Once the boning was in, it was just a matter of sewing some ribbon to bind the edges and hide their fraying horror from the world (yay more hand stitching! hooray for historical accuracy!), and then it was time to thread in the lacing. I had found a roll of astonishingly cheap ribbon ($3 for like 200m) which I was to use for the lacing. So I figured out how much I would need, cut the length, and threaded the back. Now as it turns out, when your ribbon is super cheap, there’s probably a reason for that. I discovered that reason, when it snapped in like three places as I tightened it when I tried it on. Apparently I was #TooStrong.

So I went to my friendly neighbourhood fabric store, and bought some nice, sturdy, moderately priced inch-wide double satin ribbon, and used that instead. And it gave a much better effect both when loose (see photo below), and when tightened. Worth it.

Moral of the story is probably DON’T TRY TO CUT COSTS WHEN CORSETMAKING. If the pattern recommends making a mock-up to check fit before starting on the actual fabric, MAKE A MOCK-UP TO CHECK FIT BEFORE STARTING ON THE ACTUAL FABRIC. Instead of mangling your hands trying to cut and cap boning yourself, ACCEPT THAT THE PRICE PREMIUM IS YOU PAYING FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF SOMEONE WITH MACHINERY DOING IT FOR YOU AND BE THANKFUL. If your ribbon seems suspiciously cheap, THERE’S PROBABLY A REASON. Learn from me. 

And now, hooray for boobies! Because I managed to get some photos while the shitty lacing was in, and I’m actually pretty happy with how it turned out.

Please excuse both my horrifically unwashed hair, and the fact that it’s a bathroom mirror selfie. I hate mirror selfies on a deep and spiritual level, but this was the only way to get a decent front view, because literally every other photo ended up like the one below, where I was just dicking around.

[soundrooms]

Soundrs: Sowfi

Hello, my name is Sofia Natália Ritter, I release my songs under the name Sowfi. I’m a brazilian beatmaker and I’m only one year truly involved with music creation (despite the fact that I play piano since nine). So even though I’ve already been involved in some projects, I have a long way to go to finally call myself a “producer.” I started getting involved with lo-fi, but lately I have been producing trap, R&B, and have started studying future bass.

What are your inspiration sources?

It is hard to think of a specific inspiration because since I was a child I always considered myself very eclectic. Sometimes I also get inspirations when I walk alone in the streets. I end up absorbing a good vibe, when I see BOOM a melody pops into my mind. But lately I’ve been listening to Vintage Culture, Clairo, Doja Cat, Heize, Epik High and Millic.

Tell us something about your workflow.

Usually a melody comes to my mind and I transfer it to my classic keyboard (very old I have to say), trying to fix some things before moving on to MIDI and building the whole thing. Also, before starting, I try to listen to songs of the genre that I intend to work to already fit the mood.

How would creative rituals benefit your workflow?

They help inspire me and relax because I sometimes get stressed because I can’t “bring my idea to life.”

How do you get in the zone?

I try to start listening to some songs, a quick meditation or try to have fun with the keyboard because sometimes a cool idea comes up.

“summer breeze” lofi hip hop chill mix by sowfi

How do you start a track?

I once read in an interview that any good melody should be possible to summarize on a simple keyboard or guitar. That’s why I don’t always start directly in MIDI. Sometimes I play my instruments (keyboard or guitar) until I can establish the main melody I want. Then I move to MIDI and try to find some cool sound to build everything else.

Do you have a special template?

I usually like to start with a simple melody (sometimes melancholic hahah), with a soft piano, bells or flutes and always guaranteed a good bass. However, every project I try to try something new.

What do you put on the master channel?

EQ: Not always, but sometimes I like to emphasize a few specific frequencies a little.

Compressor: Nothing too crazy, just to make it all sound cool and interesting together. Also, make the dynamic range more consistent.

How do you arrange and finish a track?

Make sure all the instruments are sounding cool together, structure the project depending on the genre or artist preference I am working on and ensure the effects will start on time.

How do you deal with unfinished projects?

I usually take a break and go to work on other projects, because I think when it’s not working out, if you push too hard it will end up giving a bad and forced result. There were times when I went back to work on a song (which I didn’t even remember anymore) and suddenly I thought “OMG I know now what I can do in this song!” So it takes time to get inspiration.

How do you store and organize your projects?

I have a big file where I organize all my plans, ideas, work (it’s like an online studio) and there I have a folder with projects separated by genres and collaborations. And I keep notes for every song I do with key scale and BPM information for example.

How do you take care of studio ergonomics?

I always try to keep the studio as clean as possible, but lately I am undergoing reform and I need to buy more updated equipment so I think I still can not send a photo (sorry ;-; ).

Tell us something about your daily routine, how is your day structured, how do you make room for creativity?

I’ve been decorating my room lately. If I am not making music I am probably studying about it, listening to or seeking inspiration from the outdoors. And I try to meditate to heal the mind before a new challenge.

Share a quick producing tip.

Many may already know this, but when mixing the kick and the 808s try to make sure they are not fighting for space (cuz sometimes they share certain frequency ranges and this can cause some noise). Separate them by accentuating each other’s frequency in a different range (use EQ) to avoid strange sounds coming from the low frequencies.

Share a link to an interesting website (doesn’t have to be music related).

➜ Webtoons (I’ve been reading a lot lately lol).

List ten sounds you are hearing right this moment : )

Cars, the wind hitting the trees, children crying, white noise, my mom opening the door, Millic album called “VIDA” in the background, keyboard typing, buzina, a random dog, nothing more ~sad.

➜ Sowfi’s Soundcloud 

➜ Sowfi’s Twitter

Thanks Sowfi! Who wants to get featured next? Send a message here on tumblr or email soundrooms@icloud.com.

[tinyreverie]

Implementing Minimalism!

I have done so much since the last post!! My new thing is decluttering. I am trying to downsize by 80-90%, which is actually a TON of work. Going through and trashing everything /sounds/ easy, but it's actually really physically exhausting. I think I'm finally building up my back muscles though! 💪 So... a list of things I am working on/ have done: 1. I finally read the book about the "konmari method" of decluttering and found it pretty inspiring! I've actually pretty much followed those rules without meaning to (no wonder people kept recommending that book to me!), but in the past, I'd just chuck things if I didn't use them, joy-bringing or not, which made me sad until I forgot about it. Now, it's about bringing joy into my life in everything I own. For example, I found a vintage muffin pan at a used bookstore today. Looking at it just makes me smile!Now, I'm free to get rid of my nasty old ones and the bad memories of the giver with them. :) 2. I am working on minimizing my spice collection. I already downsized, but holy Jesus I do not need to have a basket overflowing with spices. I cook for TWO-- really, ONE now with Damion off trucking, not 12. I was having trouble picking the ones I would keep, so I picked an arbitrary number of spices I would allow myself. So, I picked 10, not including salt/pepper. Then, I asked Damion to choose the 10... because I got all, "ohhh!! Curry!! I love Indian food!! Remember that one time I had... " etc, so I was just unable to make a rational decision. He picked: *garlic salt *lemon pepper *parsley *basil *oregano *nutmeg *paprika *cinnamon *cloves *ginger I felt that this list was pretty comprehensive, so I went out and bought little magnetic tins for those suckers ($3 a piece!!) so that in the tiny house I can stick them on a strip or the fridge. For now, they will live in the junk drawer (once I eliminate it:)). 3. I started a secret garden:3 but, what's new about my gardening philosophy is that I'm only growing the stuff I'll actually use (other than my flowers:>). Most of my space is in part shade, so I'm mostly doing herbs: basil, parsley... Basically, my goal is to get everything on the herb list above growing! I also got mint and chamomile cause I love those teas. 😍 I did run into a problem here though: while in the herb section, I found rosemary and cilantro. :/ I started remembering how delicious they are, and how we do use them frequently. Then, I saw lavender, which is my herb weakness. It just smells soooo good, and the flowers are so pretty! I don't use it though, which makes it a "clutter" purchase... and that freaked me out so bad, I put back my rosemary and cilantro too and left that area immediately! They are mentally "on hold" until I have decided what to do. I know I probably won't get the lavender (until I can find a legit reason to justify it), but idk if I'll add the two useful herbs to my 10 (making 12 total) or if I'll cut off paprika and some other spice. But, chiliiiii!! And, damion didn't even list chilli pepper already! I really suck at minimizing spices, obviously. The $3/ magnetic spice tin cost does help motivate me a little, though. :) 4. I have started downsizing, so my house is easier to clean. Above all, I am a lazy person. Less dishes = less doing dishes, so I tossed them all and am now using two each of my inheritance plates, bowls and serving bowls (also used as mixing bowls). I think of my wonderful grandma, RIP, each time I see them now, and so eating gives me the feels 💖 I think about her almost every day now and it makes me happy. :> I downgraded Damion's and my clothing (Damion participated via Skype). I already had downsized into about... 3/4 large drawers with no hanging items, but they were crammed in. I thought I was done, but then I had a thought: "Katrina. You are lazy. It's going to suck when you inevitably put off your laundry and have to do it all at once!" ... So, I posted a question in the minimalist group I'm a part of and decided on 3/4 loads of laundry total. That's the most laundry in a row I am willing to do, including sheets and pillowcases, towels and washcloths. So, I got rid of everything else. :> I went through my clothes konmari style and eliminated, motivated by easier cleaning. Dammit, I want to be the type of person who washes their sheets every week! So, I got rid of stuff, separating it into selling (via consignment), donate and trash piles. I downsized to a roughly 2 week supply of stuff. Together, including linens, I only have 3.5 loads of laundry:D! Perfect for lazy Katrina, especially with my mother in law's awesome fancy big wash machine;) I now have: Linens: *8 washcloths, for face washing and exfoliation. *1 microfiber cloth, in danger of being tossed, because I HATE the texture of microfiber but appreciate its usefulness *3 towels: 1 hugeeee, and the two softest towels *1 set of fitted/flat sheets, because I won't wash them if I have more than one. *8 pillowcases: 4 normal, gray everyday pillowcases and 2 normal blue ones, for if I had a guest, idk. Plus 2 purty ones. What can I say? They bring me joy. Typing this though, maybe I should downsize more though, 8 is a bit excessive for 2 people with 4 pillows 😂 Clothing: I'll have to post about later, because my method is so involved. But, basically, everything I have matches everything else. It's all color theory and flattering fits. I plan to have excessive amounts of undies, though, because I like to change them a lot :> But, I'm only keeping 4 bras. 1 t-shirt bra, 1 convertible fancy schmancy bra, 1 sessy sessy bra ;D and 1 sports bra comfy bra thing. I love bras, but I always default to two or three anyway. My "color scheme" thing for my undies (ONLY undies, my outside clothes have a much more defined pallet) is that my bras are pretty plain/neutral, but I can get whatever panties in whatever color I want. :3 So, I am still free to indulge my love of undies and still have order :3 Last thing on implementing minimalism: I am in progress of minimizing my cleaning supply collection. I realllllly want to be earth friendly, but my cleaning stuff does not reflect that. It's all super harsh chemicals, because in the past, I was messy. I AM messy, but now my house is halfway optimized for cleaning, so it's a LOT easier for messy Katrina to keep my (her? Lol) house not clean, but within-30-minutes-of-non-rushed-cleaning clean. :D Anyways, before I had to have the harsh stuff because when I cleaned, I REALLY felt that bleach/ harsh chemicals were necessary in order to make up for the month and a half of no cleaning (wish I were joking 😂). Now that my house is easier to clean, I don't need those crazy chemicals. Except bleach, because after all, I do own chickens. I'm looking into doing my own cleaning supplies mostly: nothing crazy or complicated (I still have to cater toward lazy Katrina), but just things like vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda... etc. I still have to come up with eco friendly replacements for two things though: disinfectant wipes and the toilet wand... thingy. For the disinfectant wipes, I know that I could make my own, but it does make more laundry, and more laundry lowers the success rate of keeping my house clean. Plus, how would I keep the rags secured in sanitizing fluid without it disintegrating the rags? Or does a regular, non-bleach formula not do that? No idea. Also, I'll need to figure out how many wipes I need for a two week period, which will be tough, because I don't clean every day consistently. The toilet wand solution is harder for me though, so input would be much appreciated. I CANNOT stand the normal toilet scrubber thingies. They just don't seem sanitary, even if you keep them in cleaning liquid. Plus, they just inspire me to use copious, embarrassing amounts of straight bleach in order to sanitize, which defeats the eco friendly purpose anyway. Anyway, I discovered those toilet wands about a year ago and I haven't gone back! The wands detach from the scrubby pad, and you toss the scrubby in the trash can (because the flushable wipes suck for hard cleaning), and that's IT. You keep the nice, clean wand and get another the next time. These are also really convenient (new xD) for scrubbing my bath tub, I have discovered recently. No ridiculous hand scrubber and bleach everywhere, just this presoaked scrubber that gets everything up. It doesn't even have a chance to hurt my back, it's so fast!! Obviously, though, this is hugely irresponsible for the earth, even if they are disgusting. :( I have come up with an idea to somehow get a reusable sponge attached to the end of one of those sticks, and dropping them immediately in some dirty cleaning items container (cause they would have to be separate from clothing/linens, other than possibly disinfectant wipes) so that they could later be sanitized. But, that sounds like a lot of work, and I already hate sponges. I threw mine away in favor of those ikea scrubbing brushes :> anyway, the only way I can think to impliment this idea is to use the scrubbing bubbles version of the wand (I have both already), which has a tong-like opening for its pads. But, I don't really care for that wand. The clorox one if much more ergonomic and very sturdy, which is critical for seldom-cleaning Katrina. Also, if I'm going to have to sanitize them anyway, doesn't that defeat the whole "earth friendly" purpose? Or, could I boil them, or would that ruin the material of both the disinfectant rags / scrubbers? And, the biggest question: would I actually do it? So, yeah, basically, I need a separable toilet cleaning brush, with an ergonomic handle and a sturdy brush-to-wand attachment, with a viable, super easy way of sanitizing the brush/scrubby bit, preferably something that could be done with the disinfectant wipes too at the same time. Is that too much to ask? XD I really would love to hear suggestions though. Anyway, that's basically where I'm at right now in minimizing. I'll leave you with something a Minimalism group member said to me, to address my regrets at filling the landfills with my unused junk: either way, the earth suffers. Keeping items you don't want/need in your house doesn't save them. The only solution is being mindful about what you buy and what you support to begin with. 🌎🌳💚 This quote has helped me tremendously, as I was pretty much unknowingly using my earth-friendly side to justify holding onto items that really needed to move on. And with that, ladies and gentlemen, thank you and good night! 😘