#What Exercises Are Best to Improve Posture?

[freeonlineworkouts]

What Exercises Are Best to Improve Posture?

[4theitgirls]

2025 series: my goals and plans to execute them

goal #1: improve skin

drink more water (60-84 oz daily)

consistent skincare routine

face masks 1-2x weekly

gua sha & jade roller

body & face moisturizer nightly

goal #2: improve hair

hair gloss every 4-6 weeks

trim every 2-4 months as needed

stop habit of touching hair and scalp

goal #3: improve overall health

exercise at least 4x per week (to start)

cut down on sugar intake ; replace excess sugar with whole foods

aim for 9 hours per night ; develop evening routine

improve posture through mindful correction when sitting and exercising

goal #4: read more often

make specific reading goals

replace mindless scrolling with reading

goal #5: improve overall mental health & peace

meditate at least 4x per week to start, gradually moving to daily

full day of social media detox once a week

prioritize actions and thoughts that bring happiness

goal #6: improve self confidence

experiment with hair, makeup, and clothing to find what suits me best

prioritize self care and acts of self love (taking time to myself, setting boundaries, protecting my peace)

[ins4nebxtch]

ultimate IT girl guide

a guide to looking effortlessly perfect

"You’ve got the false narrative of a girl who spends 30 seconds on her appearance, when, in fact, you probably spent hours.”

1. basic hygiene:

having clean teeth and good breath

smelling good 24/7. i highly recommend finding a signature scent as a scent is associated with memory, id suggest something sweet yet not too overpowering like vanilla.

being clean in general. regularly shaving and exfoliating your skin to get rid of bodily hair and dirt that accumulates on your skin to make your skin glow.

clean nails. having clean and maintained nails (with a simple design if you wish) looks better than having acrylics that are wayyy too long and appear tacky.

2. hair :

having smooth healthy hair looks much better than dry and damaged hair. take care of your hair by finding the best products for your natural hair. get rid of your split ends as they make the hair appear really damaged.

in my opinion, loose waves look the most effortless yet pretty. but don’t ruin your natural hair by applying too much heat! you can try heatless styling methods to achieve this look.

3. diet and exercise :

being toned is the way to go to fit this aesthetic

avoid oily foods or sugary foods that damage your skin. don’t completely get rid of these as we all have our cravings, but try your best to avoid it

find a workout plan that works best for you, keeps you healthy but doesn’t burn you out! moreover exercise releases endorphins that improve your mood.

4. makeup and skin care :

natural makeup on clear skin fits this effortless aesthetic perfectly!

take care of your skin by finding a routine that fits you the best, consult with a dermatologist for the best results.

having smooth, blended makeup creates an illusion that you aren’t wearing any at all! this appears much effortless than a full face. also try to avoid those really huge false lashes that make you look tacky.

maintain your eyebrows and find a shape that fits you best!

5. outfits :

having a signature style which suits your body type is essential. experiment until you can find what suits you best! you can use a body analysis app for this.

wearing outfits you’re confident in, hot but not too revealing goes a long way. confidence is key. wearing overly revealing clothing might seem like one is trying too hard, but if you can carry it with confidence then that’s great!

jewellery : having dainty, signature pieces is key! find out which suits you better (gold or silver) through an ai analysis and invest in timeless pieces. personally, i think minimalistic pieces such as solitaires, simple pendants, classic hoops etc. look much more effortless.

6. personality :

don’t be too judgemental towards anyone as you don’t know what they’re going through and this makes you seem unapproachable

don’t talk too much or overshare! this creates a mysterious aura which draws people to you more

confidence is key! posture is very important too, carry yourself with confidence and walk with your head held up high.

7. examples and references :

serena van der woodsen (gossip girl)

mia thermopolis (the princess diaries)

cher (clueless)

elle woods (legally blonde)

rory gilmore (gilmore girls)

robin scherbatsky (how i met your mother)

gigi hadid

[hellsquills]

Do you think Ford knew how old he was when he came back? Because I don't think so.

He's been all around the multiverse, in places that definitely didn't follow the laws of physics of his home dimension. Time works differently depending on the place he lands on, and he never gets used to any of them because he knows he'll have to leave sooner or later.

So time passes. He can feel himself age, of course, but he doesn't know how long it's been since he fell through the portal. When he looks at himself in the mirror, he can see wrinkles paired with new scars, and his hair is getting grayer, but that could simply be a sign of stress. And sure, his body hurts when he wakes up, but he's constantly on the move and sleeping anywhere he can, obviously he's not going to be in the best shape! All things considered, he's a pretty fit man for any age, and whatever years he's been alive for is not his priority right now.

When he comes back home, after his first encounter with Stan, he finally gets a moment to think about his new and old family. His brother looks older, obviously, and certainly different from what he imagined (not that he thought about him often, of course not). His hair is whiter than his own, and he has even more wrinkles than him! Just how badly was he taking care of himself in the... how many years... wait, did he say 30?!

I don't think Ford was necessarily thinking of a higher or lower number. I don't think he expected anything more or less: the way he sees it, it could've been anywhere from 10 to 1000 years. Time was meaningless between dimensions. I think that the sole reminder that time still passed was what got to him.

That shock came full force after Weirdmageddon, when he realized that Stan was his same age, despite the differences in their physiques. It was the fact that they were both around 60 years old, and they had been apart for 40 years. Two whole thirds of their lives. They were supposed to grow old together, maybe not in the same house (or boat), but close to each other. That, paired with how old and worn down Stan looks, Ford can't help but feel like he's now years younger than him, and he hates thinking about it because with the way Stan had been living for the last 40 years, just how much longer- no, stop, don't think about it.

Ford's paranoia turns into hypochondria, but towards his brother. This translates as Ford desperately trying to cut Stan's bad habits (such as alcohol and smoking), making sure he eats well (Ford can't cook for shit) and semi-forcing him to do some exercise. Stan is not on board with these measures, and he lets his brother know just that because he's being bossy and annoying and he would like to enjoy his amnesia in peace please. Ford is as stubborn as a mule, but eventually he gives up and just begs Stan to please consider some of his suggestions because he wants him to be better. Stan still refuses, but every once in a while Ford catches him doing some exercise by himself or ordering a non alcoholic drink, and it makes him happy.

When they return to Gravity Falls, the twins look the most identical they've looked since they were like 10: Stan's eyes have a shine that Soos had never seen before, and his new and improved posture makes him look taller, like the weight of the world had been lifted off of him. Ford, on the other hand, has a fuller face and body, his expression is now softer and somewhat kinder, and he walks much more carelessly, like he's strolling instead of marching.

Ford doesn't care how old he is anymore, because now he's growing old next to his brother.

[gladiatorcunt]

- GUESS | XIII.

you wanna guess the color of my underwear, you wanna know what i got going on down there

cw: kinktober prompt (ass worship), yoga trainer!oikawa, fem reader, rimming, body hair, scent & piss mentions, light implied yandere, public sex (?), hinted possibly one sided iwazumi x reader, light dub con, mentions of fisting, implied that oikawa’s been into reader from the start, semi obsessive behavior, porno plot, self degradation, food play mention

please do not repost, translate, or feed this work to ai

kinktober 2024

“Mmh, just like that cutie, lift those hips up for me.”

You’ve been coming to the new yoga class that just opened up at the gym for a while now, a couple months a few times a week, you’re a bit of a homebody otherwise and yoga is the one physical exercise you don’t mind doing often. You like being flexible, able to bend your body in shapes and ways another person would have a harder time doing. And you’re not having sex, so any physically strenuous activity that leaves you sore until you’re put back together by your healing body does wonders for you.

Plus you like the way the leggings hug your well endowed assets, so do a lot of the men in the gym. You wear the form fitting workout clothes for yourself first and foremost, but you can’t lie that a little attention from afar (sometimes too close up by one of the trainer’s usually steps in to help you) boosts your ego. If there’s one thing in life you have to be proud of, at least you have your ass. Squishy and round, jiggles when you walk and never disappoints you unlike everything else in your life.

The same ass that’s raised high in the air in front of your yoga trainer, a more than handsome man in his late 20’s with wavy milk chocolate colored brown hair and a smug twinkle in his eye that’s connected to his smarmy always on his face (even when he seems pissed) grin. You’ll never forget the confidence in his posture, standing tall at the front of the class and introducing himself. Tooru Oikawa, just moved here from japan, his best friend owns the place so it wasn’t too much trouble to get hired, and SO excited to start this journey with you all!

You’ve stayed at the back since then, anxiety swirling in your belly when he’d make the rounds to correct your forms and check on you all. But he’d only pass by with a brisk touch to your back and a ‘good job’, maybe a semi solid pat if you were one of only ones who had a good form, and not to brag, but that’s been the case on more than one occasion.

Now you’re undergoing a little one on one session, he asked you to hang back, noticing you’ve been holding yourself back. You’ve never made much of an effort to talk to him and despite the fact that you’ve never needed this kind of focused attention, he’s been feeling a bit bad that you keep to yourself so much. He doesn’t bite you know, not unless you want him too.

It’s an odd flirtation, something you’ve noticed he never does with anyone else in the class. Oikawa’s attractive enough that you’d balk at him abusing his privilege to drown himself in quickies in the gym’s showers, as off putting as it’d be. But he’s very professional, chuckling at one of the older women making a pass at him and politely turning her down.

So you got in your own head and knew that since there was always room for improvement, surely there must be something he could help you with. So here you are, going through basic poses first before he pushes you into the more advanced ones. You told him that other than increasing your flexibility, you weren’t really sure what other areas would be best for you to get better at.

Oikawa smiled and squeezed your shoulder, no worries, he’ll walk you through a little assesment mini program. Since you mentioned not having done yoga seriously until now, there could easily be something you didn’t even realize needed to be attended to!

“Remember, we want to really feel that stretch, arch your back and lower your head. Breathe in, breathe out.” He instructs, settling a wide palm on your lower back. “That’s it, good girl.”

He’s so close, if you backed up to regain your footing your ass would press up against his bulge. Not that you can tell if he has one right now, but you’re kind of hoping he does. It’s just another part of the fantasy, that’s all this is, you tell yourself. You’re going to soak up the attention, make more small talk as you gather your things and leave, and sit at home suffocating your vibrator until your legs turn into jelly.

“Am I doing this right? My legs feel stiff.” You shift your weight from side to side, your hips gently sway, you could be too in your own head but having Oikawa’s pretty eyes scrutinizing every detail of your body is fucking with your confidence.

He hums, a trail of heat sizzles down your back as he slides his palm down to cup your hip. “If something seems off then it probably is, just widen your stance and put your feet further apart, loosen up your hips. You’re definitely a little tense, cutie.”

Okay so he’s definitely flirting with you, but you don’t startle and shoot back up so you can get out of here. Instead you internally cringe at the squeaks your yoga mat produces, adjusting your ankles to line up more with your shoulders. You keep breathing, in and out, letting your energy flow through your limbs as you maneuver them into the different positions.

Oikawa Tooru burns like a furnace in hell, you realize. Despite having a firm grip on your hip, he’s standing a respectable distance away from you as you bend over. You can still feel the heat radiating from him, his sleeveless muscle tank and his black shorts.

“I think that’s better. Sorry, it's hard for me to relax, I guess.”

“No worries, I totally get it, you do seem like the type to be wound up but that just means we get to unspool your thread and unravel you so we can get to the start and rebuild.” His free hand curls around your other hip, his thumbs absentmindedly stroke the crease where they disappear into your thigh.

This private coaching session is steadily becoming what you’re afraid of, and so horny for you could shoot off into the sky like a soda bottle chocked full of mentos. You didn’t notice when Oikawa got even closer, his blunt hip bones cradling your ass in between them. Could he just be weirdly, and grossly in most people’s eyes, friendly? Does he even see what he’s doing as being the tentative first step into fucking you in a public gym yoga studio?

“Um, yeah, thank you by the way. I’ve felt so much better since I’ve started taking your class, you’re a lifesaver even if I still have a lot to learn.”

“Oh, we all do, including me, believe it or not. I remember you from back then you know, so shy and fidgety, like a baby bunny.”

“You’ve really filled out too. Excuse me for saying this but I know this ass wasn’t always like this, so pretty and plump.” Toned hands drag over the swell of your cheeks, not digging in and kneading the globes, only ghosting their touch along the clothed flesh.

You subconsciously wiggle your hips, Oikawa’s breath hitches behind you, and that is perhaps the most monumental thing you could have achieved today. Flustering the man who gets hit on a billion times per day and gives it back tenfold, a competition of who can keep their cool, that’s how he operates in most things you guess. Like he’s always competing against somebody even if they don’t know, and he just has to win or it’ll be an ugly spot on his record. A record only he keeps and only he sees, but you sense that that’s more important to him than anything else.

“Oh, thank you. I just do a lot of squats every morning and every night after class, nothing crazy. Yoga’s the only other kind of workout I do consistently, anyway.” You're still in what feels like a perverted version of downward dog, briefly taking stock of the strain in your legs now trying to hold the position.

Oikawa makes a surprised sound, “Really? You have such a great body, I’m shocked you’re not a gym rat like me and all my buddies. Some people are just lucky, huh cutie?”

He says it, humble and charming, like he doesn’t also consider himself one of those people. Your cheeks heat up at the idea of a musclehead like Oikawa complimenting your curves, your chubby gathering of fat even in places some people would find ugly, your wideset bones and plush tummy.

A pin drops, “Alright. I think you’ve been in that position long enough, why don’t you go ahead and lower your knees into the table top pose, bring your head up slowly and remember to breathe. In, out, good girl.”

His hands guide your hips down, he steps back to let you settle your knees on the mat. You hear the foam sink behind you, he’s sort of kneeling too, halfway sitting on his legs, the backs of his feet facing the ceiling. Oikawa looms over you like this too, he has a presence you can be lost in before you actually see him, which you definitely can in the wall to wall mirror in front of you. The yoga class was a dance studio before Iwa decided it didn’t fit with his vision, you remember Oikawa telling you all on his first day.

He must feel your wide eyed stare, because he looks up too and suddenly you’re locked in a charged moment.

Neither of you says anything as his feather light touches on your ass become firmer, he’s outright groping you and pulling you back to be flush against his crotch.

He grinds his half hard bulge against you, keeping eye contact with you through the mirror.

“I can’t believe it’s taken you this long to notice me, cutie. Been wanting to do this for so long, you have no fucking idea.” He huffs, adjusting his clothed cock to rest between your cheeks. “You’re so hot, every time I saw you bend over I wanted to cancel class and take you right then and there.”

You gasp and rock back into him, shaking your hips and digging your knees into the mat. You have half a mind to look around the room for the camera and porn filming crew but reality is clearly stranger than fiction, your hot yoga trainer’s stiff cock is sandwiched in your ass crack.

He takes his sweet time dragging his length up and down, the tip catches in the divot of your leggings where your hole is, you’re a little disappointed that he’s not humping you like a rutting dog but you suspect that that’s part of the fun. Oikawa knows you want him so bad that he’ll restrain his urge to fuck you through the floor all the way to the center of the Earth just so you can endure some teasing. You’re so shy and withdrawn but those girls are usually the best kinds of freaks, all he’s doing is bringing it out of you, call it another one of his famous coaching methods.

The door’s locked, so if Iwazumi catches on to what’s happening and tries to rain on your parade, he’ll have to listen to a symphony of moans and slick sounds of bare sweaty flesh slapping against bare sweaty flesh. Oikawa laughs and tells you that Iwa’s been eyeing you too, when you check in at the front desk, when you’re getting water, when you head into the changing rooms to get ready for his class, it’d be helplessly cute if you weren’t already taken. Or, you’re gonna be, at the very least.

“When we’re done, I'll clean you up with my tongue and we can go on a little date. I can take you out properly this weekend but I'd hate for you to think that I was just trying to hit and quit it. I’m not the type to pump and dump, not anymore.” He speaks into the divide of your ass cheeks, having sunk to floor fully and doing some bending over of his own to be at eye level with your lower half.

You bite your lip when he starts nipping at you through your leggings, he smiles into the fabric and bites down harder, soothing the sting with slow licks. Oikawa kisses all over the swell of your behind, sniffing the scent of your perspiration and your body oil in between, medicinal vanilla and natural musk. You can see him hump the mint green yoga mat as he reaches up to hurriedly tug your leggings down enough to expose your ass. Your black thong frames it perfectly, but Oikawa pulls them off too and stuffs them under the waistband of his shorts.

He groans at the sight of your bare skin as it bounces free to say hello, taking a handful of each cheek and squeezing the life out of them, the thick flesh bulges between his fingers so he swiftly smacks each one, for tempting him and making his cock so hard it could explode into a blood filled mess of cum and sticky pubes in his pants. You cry out, rocking forward only to be immediately pulled back so he can keep kissing your ass.

He dotes on it like he would your face or mouth, almost giggling before and after quick pecks that develop into long slurps at your rim. He runs the tip of his nose over the hair on your crack, wetting it in messy swipes of his tongue.

“You taste so fucking good, baby, better than pastry i’ve ever had, and believe me, you don’t even want to know how much money i spend at the bakery across the street from my apartment. You’d love it.” He moans, saying hello to your winking hole by dotting barely there kisses right in the center before toying with you, dipping the tiniest bit of his tongue in your walls, then dragging his saliva all over your pucker. “It’d be fun to eat something off you, we could make a date out of it. Go up to the counter and pick which ones would taste the best when I eat it off your fat ass, but I think they’d all be amazing, don’t you?”

You nod rapidly and throw your ass back on his tongue, burning in shame with every smug laugh and grunt as Oikawa beats around the bush so to speak, doing everything under the sun with your ass but properly eating it. You wish you were in your shitty apartment, sitting on his face and drowning out the sound of your arguing neighbors with your slutty moans. He looks up from behind you to check on how you’re doing, and thank heavens because he finally buries his face in your ass and slurps at your puckered hole.

You lose yourself to the experience, feeling his wet tongue fuck into your ass hole and carve out little pieces of you for himself. He pays zero attention to your pussy, which is why it’s so wet and dripping onto the mat beneath you, it’s like he’s too obsessed with your thick globes to even notice, but you don’t hate it. It’s hot to have a guy be eye socket deep in your ass but also have him neglect where you really need his attention, there’s a dichotomy between being the mousey way you’ve gone about your life and the whorish behavior this man is urging you to consider.

You looked fucked out already, hair all over the place from how much you’ve messed with it and lips dropping open on drawn out squeals and whines. Oikawa is eating your ass out like it’s his main job, the one he puts in overtime for and goes above and beyond to be employee of the month at. He thrusts his tongue a few more times before apparently deciding that’s not enough and slipping in one of his absurdly long fingers alongside it.

You whimper, clenching around both as you just sit there in that damn table top pose and let a man you barely know play your ass like a well oiled fiddle. He shakes your cheek in his hand as he digs his tongue into you, delicately fingering your hole until it goes slack enough for him to insert another. You’re impossibly tight, as much as your clit is howling for it you know perfectly well that any serious penetration isn’t possible. From the impressions you got, Oikawa’s packing enough to tear you until you bleed if you don’t use lube or prep thoroughly beforehand, which you’d do anyways but it’s a shame.

Your clit throbs painfully but Oikawa pulls back with a gulp of air to level you with a warning look in the mirror, which only gets you wetter, you twitch again because he’s one of those. There’s a brief flicker of defiance, you could pout and touch yourself anyway, you don’t owe this ridiculously attractive man anything and he’s the one motorboating your ass cheeks and not the other way around, so shouldn’t you be the one in charge?

Then his eyes darken, you get another sharp smack and you table the discussion for some far off occasion.

Oikawa smiles, gently kissing the apple shaped swell of both of your cheeks, “See, I know from your time here that you can be such a good listener, you’re so sweet for me, I know it. You can’t hide that from me just because you want to throw a fit, I said we’d get to know each other afterwards, didn’t I?”

You scoot your ass back in apology, silently begging him to get back to it. He must really be horny too because he dives straight back in, groaning into your rim and french kissing your hole. The hand not doing its best to push its entirety into you kneads your fleshy ass cheek, molding it like dough and separating it from its twin, giving him easier access to your pucker. He ‘tsks’ not even a second later, crooking his two fingers and letting go off your cheek, humming in contentment when it bounces against his face and he’s smothered again.

He wonders if you’ll let him fist you, give you a unique one of a kind rose to swoon over and keep tucked away inside you later, the perfect first date gift from your future boyfriend.

You can even do couples yoga in the morning after your first night together!

“Let’s see if you can cum just from getting your ass played with.” Punctuated by a fourth finger sliding into the knuckle in your ass, he scissors his fingers to stretch you out and playfully acts like he’s gonna sink his whole fist in, pulling out his fingers to curl them into a ball.

The barest hint of blunt pressure on your hole sends a flood of your juices down his arm, smelling somewhat pissy which gives Oikawa truly the most impish grin imaginable.

[elicathebunny]

HEALTH SHOULD ALWAYS COME FIRST! PRIORITISING HEALTH BEFORE EVERYTHING ELSE TO LOOK GOOD + FEEL GOOD.

People always leave out the basics when it comes to trying to improve their looks. Prioritising health is so important before going in and tempering with your body. Your base is what you work with and you can definitely level up with what you've got naturally.

DIET

Your diet also depends on what your goals are. Someone who wants to build muscle will obviously eat differently from someone who just eats relatively healthy. So identify what your goals are and work your meals around that.

Here are some videos to give you a better insight: HOW I LOSE FAT AND KEEP IT OFF MEANS, WORKOUTS + EVERYTHING ELSE PROTEIN EXPLAINED, STRENGTH, MUSCLES, FAT LOSS & ENDURANCE HOW METABOLISM WORKS

Diet not only makes you feel better from the inside, but it also reflects on your outside. Your skin is a huge display of how you eat.

When you consume junk food, it can show up on your skin as breakouts or dullness. Your skin is one massive organ which soaks up everything put onto it and reflects everything you put inside your body. Fix the problem from the inside before getting confused about why your skincare routine isn't working.

FITNESS

Again, your fitness will differentiate from your goals. So work out your goals and make a plan around that. There are so many forms of fitness, some more intense than others and with different results. Working out in general is good for you, our bodies are meant to move. So even if you don't have a goal, staying active is always recommended.

HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT WORKOUT PLAN

THE BEST WAY TO GAIN MUSCLE, SCIENCE EXPLAINED SIMPLY

Low-intensity workouts:

Yoga: Focuses on flexibility, strength, and relaxation through various poses and breathing techniques.

Pilates: A low-impact exercise method that strengthens muscles, improves flexibility, and enhances posture.

Walking: Simple yet effective, walking is a great way to improve cardiovascular health and boost mood without high impact.

Swimming: Provides a full-body workout with minimal stress on joints, making it ideal for people with joint issues or injuries.

High-intensity workouts:

HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training): Alternates between short bursts of intense exercise and brief recovery periods to maximize calorie burn and improve cardiovascular fitness.

CrossFit: Combines elements of weightlifting, interval training, gymnastics, and other exercises to build strength, endurance, and overall fitness.

Sprinting: Short, explosive bursts of running at maximum effort, often performed in intervals for cardiovascular conditioning and leg muscle strength.

Circuit Training: Involves moving through a series of exercises targeting different muscle groups with minimal rest in between, combining strength training and cardiovascular exercise.

These are just a few examples, but there are plenty of other workout styles out there to explore depending on your preferences and fitness goals. Walking every day is just a simple way to stay toned.

SLEEP

Sleeping is important for rest and recovery after workouts and energy-consuming activities. Sleep is needed for the brain to function, mood regulation and performance + productivity. Lack of sleep deprives you of all of these things, so getting your beauty sleep is absolutely needed.

School-age children (6-13 years): 9-11 hours per day.

Teenagers (14-17 years): 8-10 hours per day.

Young adults (18-25 years): 7-9 hours per day.

Adults (26-64 years): 7-9 hours per day.

HYGIENE

Upkeeping good hygiene is always needed anyway. Making sure you are clean (smelling good is a plus). Make sure you always wash your hands and take daily showers to remove any dirt on your body (clean those feet and your back well, don't forget them!). Taking care of your oral health must not be forgotten. Oil pulling and brushing your tongue for a healthy mouth. Make sure your hair is also getting the attention to keep it as healthy as you possibly can make it (this also depends on diet). Doing the extra things like spending time on your nails (making sure there isn't that stuff underneath them), making them pretty.

BODY CARE ROUTINE | FOR SMOOTH & GLOWING SKIN, TREATING KERATOSIS PILARIS, SHOWER ROUTINE

ENVIRONMENT

Having a stress-free environment is obviously the best to thrive in. But clearly not even being lucky enough to live like that constantly. So make sure you have that space to be on your own and have some alone time to really recharge. Keeping your space clean for a clear mind. Surround yourself with like-minded people and really set boundaries for those who prey on your mental clarity (energy vampires). Spending time in nature is one of the best ways to detach, rest time should not equal spending time on your devices. Let go and truly let yourself decompress. Mental health will improve how you carry yourself.

EMBODY YOUR POTENTIAL.

[cepheustarot]

Random facts about your future spouse

Attention! This reading is for entertainment purposes only. This tarot reading does not give a 100% guarantee that all the described situations will occur or being ultimate truth. You build your own life and destiny and only you know yourself best.

✧ Masterlist ✧ Paid readings

Pick a pile. Choose one or more pictures. Trust your intuition.

Pile 1: Your future spouse is younger than you, but by nature very responsible and mature, quite reasonable and soberly looks at life, objective and honest, not one of those who hides the truth, can sometimes be too straightforward. They may look harsh, cold and unapproachable, but next to you they are very gentle, romantic and caring. This person is very fond of arranging romantic surprises, and in general tends to devote a lot of time and attention to lover. They can often arrange dates or give you gifts, talk a lot of tenderness. They also take great care of their figure, they probably have an athletic physique and they can often exercise and monitor their diet to maintain their figure. Their profession or occupation is closely related to a managerial position, they can work in the field of law, research, in the field of exact sciences, in particular physics and mathematics, in the field of medicine. They are quite educated and constantly improve their skills, in their free time they prefer reading books or listening to lectures or videos on a narrow specialized topic. They may be from a conservative and religious family. They also don't really like stability, they like to change something in their lives, for example, they can often rearrange rooms, they can experiment with style, or they can often get out of the house and do something they like, because they don't like to stay at home for a long time.

Pile 2: Your future spouse is quite an intelligent, erudite person, when talking to them, you may get the impression that your spouse knows everything and can answer any of your questions — and they really understand many topics. Perhaps their line of work is closely related to writing texts, they may be interested in journalism, writing, philosophy, and like to watch documentaries. By their nature, they are very calm, they can be slow, they have a relaxed speech, posture, facial expression and in general they are very relaxed in life, they are probably one of those who do not worry about trifles and live one day. They are quite responsive, kind, talkative and like to chat a lot, but they also like to listen to others. Perhaps in the past they were fond of horse riding or they dream of trying to do it! They are also fond of gardening, perhaps their family has its own farm or a house outside the city with its own vegetable garden. They are not afraid of competition, on the contrary, competition only motivates them, adds excitement. This applies to everything, even games are taken seriously and can perceive games not as entertainment, but as competition, to win at any cost.

Pile 3: Your future spouse is a calm and reasonable person, they cannot be called conflicted, but if make them angry, they always know what to say so that they close their mouth to the interlocutor and that their opponent feels ashamed and regrets that he even started arguing. They have a stable job and a stable income, it's hard to say that they are striving for promotion, they are satisfied with what they have now, they are completely satisfied with their career. They can do charity work, volunteer from time to time, or work in animal shelters. Although they are calm for the most part, they tend to worry about their future from time to time, they can also have a lot of fears and they can panic too much when something does not go according to plan or when they face the slightest setback. By themselves, they are quite detached, they like to be alone, they are thoughtful and carefully choose their words before saying something and think a lot before doing anything. In terms of relationships, they are hardly romantic, but they are very loyal and will be with their loved one until the end, they respect their partner and support him in any decisions. The union with such a person is very strong and long.

Thank you for reading! I will be glad of any feedback 💕

[bloomzone]

Wonyoung : Inspired Full Workout Routine

If you’ve ever admired Jang Wonyoung’s long, toned figure and effortless stage presence, you’re not alone cuz same . As one of the most well-known K-pop idols, she maintains a lean yet strong physique while performing intense choreography and balancing a busy schedule. While Wonyoung hasn’t publicly shared her full workout routine, we can get a good idea of what she likely does by looking at the types of training that help idols stay fit in some shows

This workout is inspired by a mix of dance, strength training, and flexibility exercises focusing on toning the body while keeping things light and graceful. If you want to flexibility ... this routine will help you build endurance, improve posture, and tone your body without gaining excessive muscle !

first here are two workout video u can start with:

first | second

ㅤ۪ㅤ۫ ꪆ୧ Warm-up (10 minutes) – wake up ur body!

Before getting into the main workout, a proper warm-up is essential to prevent injuries and improve performance. This warm-up gets your blood flowing and preps your muscles for movement.

1. Jumping Jacks (2 minutes)

Start with classic jumping jacks to get your heart rate up.

Move your arms fully overhead for a full-body effect.

2. Dynamic Stretching (5 minutes)

Leg Swings – Hold onto a chair or wall and swing one leg forward and backward (10 reps each leg).

Arm Circles – Extend your arms to the sides and make small circles, gradually increasing their size.

Hip Rotations – Rotate your hips in circular motions (30 seconds in each direction).

3. High Knees (1 minute)

March or jog in place while bringing your knees as high as possible.

Engage your core for better balance and coordination.

4. Torso Twists (2 minutes)

Stand with feet slightly apart and twist your torso left and right.

This helps loosen up your spine and waist.

ㅤ۪ㅤ۫ ꪆ୧ Cardio & Dance (20 minutes)

Dance is one of the best full-body workouts, and since Wonyoung is constantly performing, we can assume dance training is a big part of her fitness routine. This section will help improve stamina, coordination, and agility.

1. Dance Routine (15 minutes)

Pick a K-pop choreography ( anti fragile by lesserafim or super shy by nwjns are great choices as a start 💀 ).

Focus on full-body engagement, precise movements, and fluidity.

Repeat the chorus multiple times to increase endurance.

2. Jump Rope (5 minutes)

Grab a jump rope and go for steady jumps to burn calories and improve footwork.

If you don’t have a rope, mimic the movement in place.

ㅤ۪ㅤ۫ ꪆ୧ Strength Training (25 minutes)

Wonyoung has a slim yet toned body, which suggests she does low-impact strength exercises that emphasize definition rather than muscle bulk.

1. Squats (4 sets of 15 reps)

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and squat down as if sitting in a chair.

Engage your core and push through your heels.

2. Lunges (3 sets of 12 reps per leg)

Step forward into a deep lunge, making sure your knee doesn’t go past your toes.

This helps tone your thighs and improve balance.

3. Push-ups (3 sets of 10-15 reps)

Keep your core tight and lower your body in a controlled motion.

Modify with knee push-ups if needed.

4. Plank (3 sets, hold for 30 seconds to 1 minute)

Keep your body straight and avoid letting your hips drop.

This strengthens your core and improves posture.

5. Leg Raises (3 sets of 15 reps)

Lie on your back and raise your legs without touching the ground.

Engage your abs to keep your movements controlled.

6. Bicep Curls (3 sets of 12 reps)

Use light dumbbells or water bottles.

Slowly lift and lower your arms for a controlled workout.

ㅤ۪ㅤ۫ ꪆ୧ Flexibility & Cool-down (10 minutes)

Idols like Wonyoung need flexibility for fluid dance movements. Stretching helps prevent stiffness and promotes long, lean muscles.

1. Standing Hamstring Stretch (1 minute per leg)

Extend one leg forward with your heel on the ground and lean in.

2. Quadriceps Stretch (1 minute per leg)

Grab your ankle and pull it toward your glutes for a deep stretch.

3. Hip Flexor Stretch (1 minute per leg)

Step forward into a lunge and push your hips forward.

4. Upper Back & Shoulder Stretch (1 minute per side)

Interlace your fingers and push your hands forward to round your back.

5. Cobra Stretch (1 minute)

Lie on your stomach and push your upper body up with your hands.

6. Child’s Pose (2 minutes)

Sit back on your heels with arms extended forward for full-body relaxation.

ㅤ۪ㅤ۫ ꪆ୧Final Tips for wonyoung fitness routine

Hydration is key! Drink water throughout your workout.

Don’t overtrain. Wonyoung’s routine likely includes proper rest days.

Consistency is everything. Do this workout 3-4 times a week.

Pair it with a balanced diet. Nourish your body with protein and healthy carbs.

@bloomzone !🍀

[swanwonyoung]

ATTITUDE

𝔦'𝔪 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔞𝔱𝔱𝔦𝔱𝔲𝔡𝔢 — how to embody this energy ?

1. What Is "Attitude" and Why Does It Matter?

"Attitude" is not just about how you look; it’s about the energy you carry. It’s the aura of confidence, effortless charm, and self-assurance. Think of idols like Wonyoung, Yujin, Gaeul Rei, Liz and Leeseo—they don’t just walk into a room; they own it. This energy makes people gravitate toward them, and you can cultivate it too.

Why? well, who doesn't want to feel better about themselves ? Who doesn't want to change their realities and be a better version of themselves than before? Like waking up on a random day and feeling like you own the world even if we all own it at the same time ? having confidence is a very good feeling and cultivating it is very important.

2. How to Embody This Energy?

— I will be analyzing the response given by chatGPT.

Posture & Expression: Stand tall, shoulders back, maintain a soft but confident gaze. Your expressions should be intentional, never over-exaggerated but captivating.

My analysis on this point: Since I started doing this, everyone started to notice how much I've changed, and if I already received a lot of compliments before? Now I receive even more and it's actually true, which further improves this point.

Aesthetic & Fashion: Always look put together, even in casual outfits. Hair, nails, and accessories matter—think "effortless elegance."

My Analysis : that's actually so true, you don't need to do a lot if you don't want to, if you take good care of your nails (you don't need to paint or design them), take care of your hair, keep your clothes clean and iron them before leaving your house, It already has a huge result, after I started paying more attention to it, even my mother praised my dedication to it.

Mindset: You are the prize. You don’t seek validation; you attract admiration effortlessly. No over-explaining, no unnecessary apologies—just pure confidence.

My analysis : I have always looked for validation from everyone, and that never did me any good, but the moment I started caring more about myself and didn't accept people putting me down, many turned against me! and that's not even a bad thing, removing bad and fake people from my life helped me a lot and that made me open my eyes and see that I MATTER A LOT.

Behavior: Move with grace, speak calmly, and never seem rushed. Confidence is about control, not arrogance.

My analysis : i'm actually hyperactive (ADHD) so sometimes i speak too fast, I move a lot and without stopping, and if that tires me, imagine all the people who talk to me? So I started to control myself a little, and that not only helped me, but it made people understand me better.

3. "Attitude Routine" – Inspired by IVE & the Song Lyrics

Written by AI, This routine is designed to align with the confidence and mindset of IVE members while capturing the essence of the song.

☀️ Morning:

Wake up at a time that makes you feel refreshed, not rushed.

– if you have school, college or work, sleeping early is recommended.

Skincare + subtle, glowing makeup to look naturally flawless.

– a 3 basic steps routine (washing your face, moisturizer & sunscreen) already gives a boost to your appearance.

Wear something that makes you feel confident, even at home.

– i stay at home most of the time, so i personally recommend this one.

Listen to empowering music (If you're a dive, IVE’s discography is a must).

🌟 Afternoon:

Engage in activities that boost your self-esteem (exercise, stretching, practicing good posture).

– if you stretch, watch hinafit's video "wonyoung pilates", i do this one often and it's easy but makes me feel refreshed and ready for the day.

Study or work on something that enhances your skills—knowledge is confidence.

– i love studying so this one is perfect for me, if you want to start doing this, i recommend it 100%.

Take mirror selfies, practice your best angles, and refine your body language. (Optional)

🌙 Evening:

A luxurious shower or bath to end the day on a high note.

– or at any time you want fr.

Skincare + haircare to maintain that glow.

– as i keep saying, basic works ! less IS MORE. quality over quantity. you don't need a lot of products to look nice, that's totally optional (+if you actually have money for all that).

Journaling: Reflect on your progress and write down affirmations.

– my fav habit, it's so good for my mental health.

Plan the next day—organized people radiate power and poise.

– you don't need to write a whole essay, if you write just the 3 main goals for the day, it's already good.

[dreamdolldiary]

My reset ♡

i took 2 weeks off from work to do a reset on life and heal. i'm going back next week.

here was my schedule that improved my life:

wake up at 5am to pray and exercise

i am researching/studying 6+ hours

i have better posture

i am getting 10k steps everyday

i finished 2 books. i started a reading journal with notes of what i learned

i am spending more time with my dog

i have cooked so much, learning new yummy recipes

i am starting ballet for the first time ever in the fall!

i was going through a hard time but by being there for myself 100%, setting goals and sticking to it has built me a better relationship with life and myself. it's important to be there for yourself and i was. this will change once i work my long hours at work but i made a schedule to fit almost everything i am striving for and i won't stop. ever. because i will always try to be the best version of myself than i was yesterday.

i am interested in coding, i don't go to college (even though i wish i could), i am working a full time minimum wage job. if i can do it, so can you.

i am hard on myself, thinking i'm not good enough, sometimes i think i'm too old and too dumb just because i'm not good at math... but guess what? i am still working towards my goals! nothing is out of your reach. i am ambitious and nothing can beat that.

you can't progress if you never even start.

[mellosdrawings]

What do you use to draw with? Like what device and drawing app? I finally graduated high school and want to get back to drawing and maybe start posting it but I wanted some advice

Hi~

I'm just gonna go and give you my full setup (plus health advices coz trust me they're important).

These days I use an IPad Pro 11" and Procreate. My friend has the bigger version but I hurt my elbow using it because it made my moves too big, so I settled for the littler version. I suggest you chose based on your feelings for that. If you want a bigger screen to see more of your work, it's perfectly valid.

If you do take those two, I suggest you also take the ICloud save. (I have the 200Go save and that's only 3€ a month, but the 50Go save in free!) Should your IPad eventually break, you'll be able to retrieve ALL your art files from the Cloud, which is a huge lifesaver!

(I used to use a simple computer plus graphic tablet plus Adobe Photoshop, but it kept crashing so much that I had one too many rage quits. Plus it's super expensive since it's subscription based, and nowadays they take your art from the Adobe Cloud to feed their AI, so I can't really recommend that. Photoshop is an excellent tool but the direction Adobe is taking does NOT suit me.)

For brushes I just use the default Procreate Pencil. For the eraser I use Syrup, which is found in the default Inking Brush set.

My base canvases are 4000x4000px with a DPI of 300 (I suggest you improve the DPI if you do illustrations or really precise work. I only do little fanarts and comics with that DPI). For posting online please be careful to chose an RGB color profile (I use the default Display D3). If you ever want to print though, you should chose a CMYK color profile (I use the Generic CMYK Profile then).

Now back to the real world! I'm going to strongly suggest you make sure your paper/computer/screen is at least at an angle, at best right in front of your face. The least pressure you have to put on your neck (bending), the better it will be. If you do traditional art, I'll suggest actual art tables that you can adjust in size and angle. Here's mine.

To prevent any pain in my thumb I use one of those hold-helpers thingies kids use to hold their pens properly! It increases the size of the grip which prevents from holding the pen too tight (trust me, it's important). You can also find special tape to roll around your pen if you need an even bigger grip.

I wish I had a proper desk and chair because that will also be very important for your posture and health, but rn I'm not in my own flat so eh. What I'll encourage you to do instead are stretches and exercises BEFORE and AFTER an art session. Fingers, wrist, elbow, shoulder, back, neck. If you want to avoid medical costs (masseur, kine, osteopath) you need to take great care of your body. You can also find little self-massaging gadgets in sports shops to help with your muscles.

(Talking from experience there. I'm only 25 and I already had to undergo surgery on my writing wrist because I f*ed up. Your health is important!)

I'm aware most of those are extremely expensive to get (it took me half a year of intense working and savings just to get the IPad) but I've found that they were 100% worth it in the end. It's alright to get things little by little if you feel they are going to be important for you. I strongly suggest you invest in your health first though!

Once you have decided on your preferred setup, I guess the only thing left to do is train, experiment and have fun!

I think that's all? If you need more advices on setups or art or whatever, I'd be happy to help, my DMs are always open!

Also congrats on graduating highschool!

[trophy-girl]

How to Start Working Out & Actually Stay Consistent

So you want to start working out but don’t know where to begin? Maybe you’ve tried before, but consistency just isn’t sticking? Trust me, we’ve all been there. The secret? Start small, keep it fun, and stay accountable. Here’s your ultimate beginner’s guide to making fitness a lifestyle (without hating it).

Set Realistic & Clear Goals

Before jumping into workouts, define what you want to achieve. This will help guide your workout plan and keep you motivated.

Examples of realistic goals:

• Short-term (1-3 months): Work out 3x a week, improve flexibility, or walk 5,000 steps daily.

• Mid-term (3-6 months): Be able to do 10 push-ups, jog for 10 minutes without stopping, or improve muscle tone.

• Long-term (6-12 months+): Lose or gain a certain amount of weight, lift heavier weights, run a 5K, or gain visible muscle definition.

Pick a Workout Schedule & Stick to It

Choose 2-4 days per week for workouts to start. Mark it in your calendar as a commitment just like any other appointment.

Best times to work out

• Morning workouts can boost energy and set a positive tone for the day.

• Afternoon/evening workouts may feel easier if you have more energy later in the day.

• The best time is whenever you can realistically stick to it consistently!

Start with 30-minute workouts, then gradually increase time as you build endurance.

Choose Beginner-Friendly Workouts

If you’re new to working out, you don’t need fancy gym equipment—bodyweight exercises and light cardio are great for building a foundation.

Basic Beginner Workout Routine (Full Body - No Equipment)

Warm-up (5 minutes)

• Arm circles (30 sec)

• Leg swings (30 sec each leg)

• March in place (1 min)

• Dynamic stretches (2 min)

Workout (Repeat 2-3 rounds)

• Squats (15 reps)

• Push-ups (10 reps; modify by doing on knees if needed)

• Lunges (10 reps per leg)

• Plank (30 sec)

• Jumping jacks (30 sec)

Cool-down (5 minutes)

• Stretching for flexibility and muscle recovery

• Deep breathing exercises

Alternative Workouts:

• Walking or jogging: Aim for 20-30 minutes, 3-4x per week.

• Dance workouts: Fun way to stay active! Try YouTube dance workout videos.

• Yoga or Pilates: Great for flexibility, core strength, and relaxation.

Track Your Progress & Celebrate Small Wins

Tracking your workouts will help you stay motivated and see improvements over time.

Ways to track progress:

• Write down your workouts in a notebook.

• Use a fitness app to log steps, workouts, and progress photos.

• Track non-scale victories like better endurance, improved posture, or fitting into clothes better.

Celebrate small wins like completing a full workout week or lifting heavier weights—it keeps you inspired!

Stay Accountable & Motivated

Accountability can make or break your consistency. Here are ways to stay on track:

• Workout buddy: Find a friend or gym partner to keep each other motivated.

• Join a community: Pretty & Paid Discord has a fitness accountability group!

• Hire a trainer: If possible, work with a coach for personalized guidance.

• Remind yourself of your “why”: Write down why you started and revisit it when motivation dips.

Prioritize Rest & Recovery

Beginners often think they need to work out daily, but rest is crucial for muscle recovery and avoiding burnout.

• Start with 3-4 workout days per week.

• Listen to your body. If you’re sore, take an active recovery day (light stretching, yoga, or walking).

• Get enough sleep. Your body recovers while you rest. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep.

Fuel Your Workouts with Proper Nutrition

Your energy levels and performance will depend on what you eat.

Pre-workout meal/snack (30-60 min before workout):

• Banana with peanut butter

• Greek yogurt with fruit

• Oatmeal with almonds

Post-workout meal/snack (within 1 hour after workout):

• Protein shake or smoothie

• Chicken, rice, and veggies

• Eggs with whole-grain toast

Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water before, during, and after workouts.

Overcome Common Challenges

If you’re struggling to stay consistent, identify what’s holding you back:

“I don’t have time.”

• Shorten workouts to 15-20 minutes

• Try home workouts to save time on commuting

“I feel too sore.”

• Do light stretching and drink plenty of water

• Allow muscles to recover (work different muscle groups on different days)

“I get bored easily.”

• Try different workout styles like boxing, cycling, or dance workouts

• Listen to music or podcasts while working out

Stay Consistent & Make Fitness a Habit

Building a habit takes at least 21 days, so be patient with yourself. The key is progress, not perfection.

• Start small and be consistent. Even 10-15 minutes is better than skipping a workout.

• Make workouts non-negotiable, just like brushing your teeth.

• If you miss a workout, don’t quit—just start again the next day!

Stay patient and be kind to yourself. Consistency is key!

[kakao-lovey]

It girl resources: Wonyoungism 101

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ✦ ‧₊˚ ⋅ No problem, I don't care. You are you, I am me. What on Earth is wonyoungism? Wonyoungism is an online movement promoting self-love, self-care and healthy habits. Although inspired by IVE's Jang Wonyoung, the movement has since grown its own wings and become a safe space for everyone, not just K-pop fans. Is wonyoungism an aesthetic? No, it is not. Although there is an aesthetic that comes along with it (As with everything online), that is not wonyoungism in itself, that is the wonyoungism aesthetic; heavily inspired by the 'That girl', 'Pink Pilates princess' and 'Coquette' aesthetics, and not far removed from being a copy. Who can join wonyoungism? Contrary to logic, wonyoungism is not a K-pop thing. I myself have been following it for years, and cannot name another IVE member. It is also not exclusive to white girls. Wonyoungism can be masculine, as, again, it is not about Wonyoung herself as much as it is about you.

୨ৎ First steps

Educate yourself. Wonyoungism places a heavy emphasis on mental and physical health, so make sure everything is in check. See Research checklist.

2. Do a life refresh if you need to: block old contacts or toxic friends, unfollow toxic creators, declutter your space, clean out your handbag, etc. (Make a list) Every beautiful picture starts with a clean slate.

3. Slowly start implementing healthier habits into your life that will benefit you in the long run. Here are some ideas: ~ Prioritising nutrients over dopamine in food: Eat more plant-based foods, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and drink your water. ~ Spending time with yourself: Do five minutes of meditation, start a journal (Or blog!), make expressionistic art and music, watch the sun set or rise, go on walks. ~ Taking care of your body: do core workouts to improve your posture, show up to the gym, stretch 2x daily, take your meds, use hypoallergenic soap, drink your green juice.

4. Develop a daily routine: build your ideal habits into your schedule, and hang it up on your closet door. Example: 7:00 - Wake up, make bed and have a glass of water 7:10 - fifteen minutes of sunlight ++ herbal tea of choice 7:25 - Wash face, put on a cute outfit, do your skincare ++ SPF 8:00 - Start studying

5. Go with the flow, find what works best for you, and trash what doesn't!

୨ৎ Research / journal checklist

Beauty:

What is my skin type? What is my acne type? What active ingredients can use to target [skin concern]?

What is my hair porosity level? What is my scalp type? What curl pattern do I have? What active ingredients can I use to target [hair concern]? How do I prevent hair damage?

What is my make-up archetype? What is my face shape? What is my eye shape / eyelid type? What is my seasonal colour palette? Am I warm, neutral or cool toned?

Health:

What does my ideal diet look like? What vitamins / nutrients could I use some more of? What in my diet could be damaging my body?

What exercise style suits me? What sports activities are available in my area that I haven't tried out? How is my arm, leg and core strength? How is my endurance? How can I build exercise into my daily routine?

What specialist psychiatrists are in my area that can treat any potential side-effects of neurodiversity?

What specialist doctors are in my area that can treat any potential chronic illness I suffer from?

How is my posture?

Am I sleeping enough? How do I fall asleep quicker? Mindset / Mental health:

Do I have any memories that bother me to this day?

How is my relationship with the people around me?

Who do I want to become?

Is my mood stable?

Do I agree with most of the thoughts that pop into my head?

How often do I 'zone out'?

Extra resources:

[iztea]

Iztea I need your help💔💔 I'm genuinely trying to find my art style but I'm not very good at art in the first place, I'm a beginner and I just don't feel motivated to draw anymore because I'm not good at it,, can you pls link your tutorials so I can try to follow them the best I can..😓 I genuinely love your art and your a huge inspiration but I can't draw for shit. A lot of the tutorials on YouTube don't actually help me as much as they do for other people so I'm lowkey putting my faith in you to try and help me lmao, I just can't get the proportions of anything right, like I can't draw a body or head,, and when I trace things it just feels like cheating in art like ugghhjjnn,, can you help me😓☹️

If you struggle with proportions, then drawing over the reference photo (which you should totally have, btw) to get a feel for the distance between things is a great starting point. I also think you should have simplified anatomy references, as well as references from other artists. Basically, everything I mentioned here i don't want to repeat the same points

Tracing is not "cheating" if you're using it to learn. It can be very distasteful if it's used for finished art, where it is obviously meant to replace actual skill, or if it's traced from another artist. If you're using it to study and as a stepping stone to improve your skills, then it's totally fine and even encouraged (it's like doing assisted pull-ups at the gym). But you gotta to play it smart—tracing the actual outline without engaging in critical thought leads to ugly, mediocre, commercialized art that we don't want because we're cool based and always striving to improve ourselves

Okay anyways "But how exactly do I trace references in a smart way, iztea?" Well, like I said, you can lower the opacity of your reference photo and draw over it. Use the general shapes and volume of the body as your guide until you learn to draw without them. Don't follow the outline exactly—exaggerate or stylize the limbs to your liking. For example, I like drawing small wrists and long, slim necks because I think it looks more appealing. So whenever I'm using a reference, I (subconsciously most of the time) slim these body parts down, elongate the fingers, and so on. If you're still not sure what your style is, that's fine too. Use this exercise to find out what your hand naturally leans into

I'm not the cleanest sketcher, and it's been a while since I've done this sort of approach, so excuse the messiness but I wanted to show an example of how I'd tackle this technique. If you look closely, you'll see that I didn't exactly draw over the body parts, especially in the neck and arm area. I exaggerated the posture by adding more gestures—I made the shoulders rounder, the skull bigger, and the arms and neck longer and slimmer. I didn't focus on details like the face or fingers because that's not the point

The next important step after creating your guidelines is to redraw the lines from scratch on a separate layer, but this time without the reference. Set the reference aside and focus on copying your own guidelines. Afterward, compare the two drawings to check if your proportions are accurate. If they're off, take note of any recurring mistakes and correct them. For example, I have a tendency to draw the mouth too far down on the face, so it's something I am always aware of whenever I'm drawing. Other times, I draw the eyebrows too high from the eyes and so on. Another important thing to point out is that not all references are created equal—there are such things as bad or poor references. If the body’s silhouette looks like a blob or the limbs are heavily foreshortened, you'll find it much harder to draw so for practice, I recommend choosing poses that are fluid, clear, and expressive, with good lighting and features you can exaggerate. This will make it easier to understand the form and you'll have more fun in general I've provided a little comparison below. I'm not saying the 2nd pose is terrible and impossible to draw, it's obviously not, you can draw anything you want howeveerrr if you're just starting out, painting the 2nd one can be much more challenging due to it not being very clear in shape, value range, pose, gesture etc. So what I'm trying to say is to choose your poses wisely too

I don't remember doing any tutorials outside that hair one unless you consider my rambling sessions tutorials (i don't) but you can also scroll through the #ask iztea: art talk hashtag for whatever art-related question I might have answered I'm too lazy to link everything so YOU put the work and stalk my page

anyways yeah idk this is how i'd start.... so to summarize:

pull up references, from both real-life people, simplified anatomy sheets, and artists you like

draw over your reference photo and treat it as your training wheels

close the og reference, and use the newly traced, much more simplified outline as your new reference, and now draw the pose again, but "freehand" this time

compare the traced and the freehand version, take notice of your proportions and try to correct them

choose good, readable, easy to draw refs

never give up never what

[pianistbynight]

What are your top study strategies with piano? I'm a self-taught pianist that most started because of my love for your lie in April and how music moved people so I am always trying to improve!!!

hi! first of all, i'm sorry this took a while, i wanted to make sure i had as complete a list as possible without being too overwhelming! also not sure what level you're at, so i'm going to assume you're just starting out and you're looking to play classical music. 🙂 also this is more of a "do as i say, not as i do" bc i really struggle to do some of these consistently 🙈

try to learn some basic music theory as soon as you can. just enough to be able to read sheet music (how to read treble and bass clefs, accidentals, time signatures, basic rhythm, and key signatures) if you haven't already. that's something i regret not doing at the beginning bc the vast majority of music and all of classical music are written in sheet music and you get so much more info from it than you can from the best of synthesia videos. beyond that, knowing music theory -> pattern recognition, so it can help with sight reading and memorization. this is the youtube series i learned the basics from. it's pretty comprehensive although i find he's sometimes hard to hear and goes off on a tangent. at the very least, you can use it as a guide for what to type into the search box to get a more concise explanation as there are lots online!

familiarize yourself with the basic technical exercises (scales, arpeggios, triads, etc.) in every key bc those patterns and fingerings appear all the time in classical music.

practice sight reading. (yes, i know it hurts the brain, it hurts mine too, but it will really really speed up the learning process when learning new repertoire so we can focus on the more fun aspects of music! 😆😅)

practice every day! and not just moving your fingers, your mind needs to be present and your ears need to be listening (e.g. are you playing with the right dynamics? are you moving in a way that will get the right tone? how is your posture?). sometimes it's a lot to be thinking about as you're playing, so it helps to record yourself and listen back. once you feel yourself losing focus or making the same mistakes over and over again, maybe it's time to take a little break bc practice makes permanent and you don't wanna injure yourself 🙂

on that note, playing an instrument is kind of like playing a sport in that you need to make sure you use proper form so you don't injure yourself (using bigger muscle groups like your arm and gravity rather than forcing the sound through blocky fingers)! if you play on a digital, the keys will generally be lighter than on an acoustic (highly recommend trying to play on both to compare!), so making a conscious effort to play the way you would be forced to on an acoustic is all the more important.

i hope this helps! my ask box is always open if you have any more questions or just wanna talk music 🎶💗 i'm really excited for you! expressing yourself through music and sharing it with others is so fulfilling 😊

[cerseimikaelson]

Episode 2: Wakeup Call [AO3]

Athena wasn't just a morning person.

She was the morning person.

While the passage of time wasn't technically important to immortals, not even they could afford to entirely dismiss the importance of a structured routine.

Athena had that down to the T.

Wake up at dawn. Exercise. Bathe. Get ready. Eat protein and drink fluids. Check on the news. Read her to do list again to make sure she didn't forget to write anything down.

The goddess of wisdom loved the quiet atmosphere of the morning, particularly those rare times the palace wasn't filled with the sound of steps and shouts from her fellow deities. It was the best time to work peacefully, and Athena took advantage of it to the fullest.

Out of all the challenges Athena considered would come with having a roommate (even if said roommate was her wayward daughter) a clash of routines just hadn't occurred to her.

Her first mistake. 

There. Athena admitted it. 

Viola just. Wouldn't. Wake. Up. 

Athena was seriously starting to think the girl was physically incapable of getting up before 8AM. 

Even though such a thing was impossible.

Living with Viola was a test to her sanity. 

Now, the first time it had happened, Athena had honestly thought the girl was ill. What other reasons would a person have for staying in bed this late? 

When the clock had struck 10AM, Athena had walked into the girl's room. Not to check on her, mind you, but she supposed ensuring Viola was breathing and hadn't chocked or something fell under the whole "rebuilding the relationships between Olympus and Faerie" thing.

Or whatever the terms of the treaty that they still wouldn't let her read were. The audacity of some people.

The Fair Folk were serious about their contracts. Athena was almost impressed.

Back to the demon.

So imagine her surprise when Athena had walked in to find Viola sprawled on the four poster like a star fish, dead to the world and not even stirring when Athena had cleared her throat.

Thrice!!

Eventually, she had to resort to more drastic measures.

Apologies to the startled servants that her furious yelling might have unsettled a bit.

"Wow, wow, easy!" Ares had walked in just as Athena was preparing to refill the bucket of water. 

Viola, who looked like a drowned cat with strands of auburn hair plastered on her face, bristled.

"What are you doing here?" Athena asked disdainfully, mind still focused on the task at hand.

"You do realize they can hear you on the other side of Olympus, right?" Ares raised a brow. "Zeus sent me to make sure you weren't murdering the girl. Apparently the Fae will be less than pleased. Try not to start a war over a wakeup call, will ya?"

His shit eating grin told Athena he was enjoying this. 

Athena tossed the bucket at this head (he caught it) and stalked out of the room, ignoring the girl's furious protests about her wet nightclothes. 

Which brought us to today. Three full weeks after that mortifying incident.

Things were... gradually improving. 

The same way snails gradually moved.

Athena had woken up at 5AM as per usual, gone for a run because there was absolutely no one on the streets of Olympus except a trio of bleary-eyed partygoers that didn't even notice her, gone through three chapters of her book and eaten breakfast in the community hall of the pantheon.

Enough was enough.

With a determined set to her jaw, Athena dabbed her lips, straightened her posture and got up from the table. 

"Where are you going in such a hurry?" Hermes asked Athena as she stalked past him. The messenger god was looking rather windswept already, as if he had spent several hours cloud hopping in his winged sandals- or just skipped his morning Starbucks.

"I have to go wake up my demon." Athena responded briskly without even bothering to slow down. 

Hermes, to his credit, didn't even blink. Then again, of all the animals in the cosmos he could have chosen as his pets, Hermes had chosen the talking, sentient, perpetually hungry snakes. He had seen some shit.

"Good luck with that." He didn't outright scoff, but it was a close thing. "Try to tone the yelling down this time, okay? We don't need the sentries thinking we're being attacked and raising another alarm."

No, they really didn't. It had taken forever for Athena to explain there was no need for evacuation, surrender or a strike back against whoever imaginary foe.

"I'll do my best."

"Don't pour another bucket of icy water on her either."

"Well, so far she's stayed true to her name. I might exorcise her."

If it got the demon child out of bed, Athena was willing to forgo the minor detail about it being a Christian technique. 

Gods above, her life was unravelling.

Predictably, when Athena got to her own private palace, it was silent as a tomb.

"Have you heard anything from the Lady Viola this morning?" Athena asked a servant who was dutifully dusting the bookshelves.

The nymph glanced at the clock and turned to her with a raised brow as if the question was utterly ridiculous.

"I am afraid not, my Lady." 

The nymph wasn't quite smiling, but her cornflower blue eyes twinkled with a hint of amusement.

"Of course not." Athena muttered under her breath. "Thank you, you may go back to work now." 

If the nymph put on a pair of earplugs as Athena was leaving the room, it was discreet enough that the goddess could pretend not to notice. 

Steeling herself, she gave an experimental knock on the girl's door, just in case she was awake and still getting dressed. 

No such luck.

Athena walked in. The room was pitch black and smelled faintly of the cookie dough aroma that seemed to follow the girl everywhere. Viola was buried underneath a veritable mountain of blankets, wrapped like a burrito or a homeless kitten.

Athena took a deep breath, preparing her vocal cords.

She should invest in a honk.

"Get your hide out of bed lazybones, it's already 9AM!" she shouted.

Viola reached blindly for the nearest pillow and threw it in the general direction of her voice. Athena avoided the projectile with ease. 

"Viola!" she barked. "Get up this instant!" 

The motionless lump on the bed then proceeded to tug the covers above a mass of tangled auburn hair. 

Athena felt her eye twitch. 

"You have duties and studies to attend to! If you think you can laze about in bed languishing the day away under my roof you are very much mistaken!" she shouted.

"Geez, you woke up today and chose violence, huh?" Viola's groggy voice reached her ears, still rough with sleep. 

Athena mentally counted to five.

"I have little time or patience for your theatrics. It's bad enough I have to waste precious time to get you out of bed every morning."

"Then go away and leave me be. Problem solved." Viola finally cracked a grey eye open, glaring at Athena.

"I don't think so. I expect you to adhere by my rules while staying under my roof."

Viola huffed at that grumbling something akin to "as if I want to be under your roof".

One, two, three, four, five.

"If you don't get up this instant-"

"Jesus Christ, don't get your feathers in a twist!" Viola shouted, rubbing her eyes and finally tossing the covers off her. "I am up, okay?" 

Athena watched with an unreadable expression as the girl attempted to collect herself. She didn't bother with a robe or slippers (if those feathery heeled things could even be called that) but made a beeline for the fancy coffee machine stashed in the corner of the room, jumping over a pile of clothes on the way.

"First item on the agenda is to clean up in here. You've turned this room into a battlefield." Athena wrinkled her nose.

"Your closets are fucking tiny. They only fit about half my stuff!" Viola protested as she punched buttons on the machine.

That actually made Athena pause.

The closet was the same size as the one she had in her own room, and Athena was pretty sure some of her own selves were empty despite putting all her garments in the same closet regardless of season.

"Are you serious?" she asked incredulously. "How many clothes do you own?"

Viola shook her head at her. 

"Not all of us are content to go out in 1730s fashion. When was the last time you went shopping?" 

Athena opened her mouth to deliver a scratching retort (something about at least not dressing like she belonged in a Moulin Rouge production) but it suddenly felt too loaded. 

Viola, evidently pleased that she had gotten the last word, (or so she thought) poured herself a generous cup of coffee, reaching for the packaged sugar.

At the fourth one, Athena raised an inquisitive eyebrow. 

The girl seemed to sense it. 

"Say something about my caffeine intake and I will test your immortality." she growled, hackles raised. 

The eyebrow went higher, but Athena wisely refrained from commenting. 

"Duly noted." she said drily. "How do you expect to be a productive member of this household if you can't set a manageable sleeping schedule?" 

"A: Who said I have to be productive? B: Some people are night owls." Viola cackled at the pun.

"A: I did. B: Hilarious." Athena said, unimpressed to a fault.

"Whatever, Feathers." Viola rolled her eyes. Athena's own (and they were bloody identical, damn it all to the Fields of Punishment) twitched again. This insolent child would be the reason she developed anger issues.

Viola took another sip of coffee that must have scalded her throat. 

"So, is there a particular reason you dragged me out of bed first thing in the morning? Have special tortures planned for me?"

"You're acting as though I am a slave driver." Athena rolled her own eyes at the dramatics. "Wash up, get dressed, then join me for training." 

Viola looked up at that.

"I am training with you?" 

"Did you think I was going to let you frolic about the entire year?" 

"Frolic." Viola mouthed to herself, then shook her head. "But you seriously want to train with me?" 

"What did I just say?" 

"No, I heard. What happens when I win?"

Athena actually laughed out loud at that.

"The Underworld freezes over. Because you won't win."

The girl's eyes flashed with a competitive glimmer Athena knew all too well. 

"You do realize I trained with the Court's knights back in Faerie, right? The elite squads that protect the royals. Those guys' whole brand is that they can kick anyone's ass." Viola said. 

"You do realize I am the goddess of wisdom, war tactics and strategical thinking, right?" Athena retorted in the same tone. 

"You can still go down." Viola looked definitely awake now. "As long as someone finds your weak spot."

"Even if that were the case, that someone won't be you."

Viola smirked, slow and devilish.

"Game on, Feathers." 

See you for next week's Episode 3: Period Cravings

Tagging so nobody gets left behind: @sarnai4, @firinniee, @greekmythstan, @rhmis-user-2020,

@i-ship-bullshit-2020, @mushroom-the-trauma, @saint-michael-the-archangel