#Zoe healthy roots

[doll-princesse]

I washed and styled Zoe’s hair today. It was really fun playing hairdresser. I’m hoping to get the Curlpower kit soon :)

She enjoyed the spa day and new dress made by @timetravelingcourtney! We paired it with the Anne apron, Molly’s socks and shoes, and the Kwanzaa bracelet.

[desertdollranch]

Zoe has lots of ambitions and dreams for the future. This week, she decided she wants to be a librarian when she grows up, and share her love of books with everyone!

[box-full-of-dolls]

Healthy Roots Dolls Zoe (2022)

[agerefandomrambles]

hbh requests you say :3 - could you do a drabble about cg!quinni taking care of little!spider who hasn’t told anyone he regresses yet? (could be a classification au or not, up to you!)

I’m a sucker for the ‘cg is the only one aware little is little’ trope

Title: noise cancelling headphones

Word count: 903

Little! Spider

Cg! Quinni

Warnings: discription of sensory overload

Plot: Quinni finds out he regresses and tries to help.

The group are sat in their seats during SLT's after season 2.

Darren, Sasha, Missy and Quinni are sat at a table together. Harper and Amerie are sitting with Cash. Spider and Ant are sitting together and Zoe and her group are sitting together.

Ms Obia is talking at the front of the class about healthy stress relief and unhealthy stress relief.

Quinni is glancing around, not paying much attention to Ms Obia and instead she's observing the class. A frown quickly settles on her face when she notices spider squirming in his seat and his eyes darting around the room as if looking for an escape.

When his eyes land on her watchful ones, they instantly fill with silent tears. He buries his head in his arms and curls up into a ball as best he can on the desk.

Darren nudges her, pulling her out of her thoughts.

"Quinni?" Ms Obia questions, looking at her with a confused look.

"I um... I need to take spi- spencer to the office" quinni stutters. She doesn't give anyone a chance to question her, instead grabbing spider and pulling him out of the room.

She keeps walking to the drama room because she knows for a fact that noone will be there. Only once she has locked the door does she release her hold on spiders arm and look him in the eye.

Spider just shivers under her stare and sinks to the floor, chewing on his sleeve. Silent tears still stream freely down his face, making his eyes red and puffy. He rocks gently back and forth while he taps his chest with his free hand.

"Hey, kiddo, that's gross. Here, you can use that" Quinni says, quickly pulling out the spare paci she keeps in her bag.

"Dats for baby's" spiders says around his sleeve, glaring at the offending piece of plastic.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Quinni says, frown forming on her face as she realises this must be his first time regressing out of home. "You're still crying though Spider. What's wrong?"

Spider frowns at her but slowly takes his sleeve out of his mouth. "Was loud" he whimpers gesturing towards the classroom.

"Oh I see. Did the noise make you feel funny? Kind of fuzzy?" Quinni asks, while rooting through her bag

Spider just nods. He hasn't moved from his position on the floor but his tears are slowing and stopped chewing on his sleeve, glancing at the paci on the floor.

Quinni cries out with glee when she finally pulls a pair of headphones out of her bag, cringing when spider whimpers and draws further into himself.

"Sorry Spider, that was loud huh?" Quinni says, careful to lower her volume. Spider again just nods, letting out a low whine.

"You know how I'm autistic?" Quinni asks. Again, spider just nods. Quinni just notes the fact that he's non-speaking when regressed in the back of her mind and pulls out a set of communication cards with her small pile of gear.

"Well that means that I can struggle with input sometimes, like loud noises. I've got some stuff here that might help, do you want to try it?" She asks. In front of her she's pulled out a set of communication cards, noise cancelling headphones, a fidget cube, a weighted blanket, a marble fidget, a paci, a teether and a stuffed animal.

Spider glances at her and she nods encouragingly. He grins at her and wipes his eyes dry.

He crawls forward a little and grabs the noise cancelling headphones, the weighted blanket, the paci and the marble fidget.

Quinni smiles gently and helps him put the noise cancelling headphones on his head. As soon as the noise disappears, Spider lets a big sigh and some of the tension in his shoulders disappears.

They sort out the rest of the gear and sit together for some time. Quinni doesn't talk either for most of the time, choosing instead to play alongside him.

After a half hour, quinni grabs spiders attention by tapping him on the shoulder. He pulls the headphones aside slightly to listen to her. "We have to head back to class now bubs. I'll talk to the teacher and all you have to do is sit in the class. I'll make sure she doesn't call on you."

Spider looks up at her with wide scared eyes. Quinni just lets out a fond chuckle. "I've got you sweet boy, let go"

They gather the gear up together, putting the paci in the bag but keeping the headphones on, and walk back to class. Quinni opens the door and ushers Spider over to sit next to her.

"Quinni? What's going on? Why is the di-" Darren is quickly cut off by a piercing glare from Quinni. "Nevermind, I'll ask later" they say, turning back to Ms Obia.

Ater quinni makes sure that spider is situated, she turns to Ms Obia.

"Hi Ms, sorry for running out. Spider needed help. Please don't call on him, I think he had a sensory overload" quinni says, her tone matter-of-fact.

"Yeah that's fine quinni. Thanks for letting me know" Ms Obia replies. Quinni sits down next to Spider. She keeps an eye on him but he seems content to just zone out now that he has a pair of noise cancelling headphones on and he's next to someone who's keeping an eye out for him.

[fundielicious-simblr]

(Narrator)

It's christmas card season in this fundielicious sims world, and in an effort to include more side characters and go back to my roots, I decided to pose a few families for christmas cards. I also did the cliche thing of using said christmas cards to announce a few pregnancies. This will have the 3rd person narration of the families, the actual captions that they'll use on their simstagram post will come later with said simstagram post after this.

Maggie and Shane are not ones to miss putting out a yearly christmas card, ever since they got married almost 10 years ago it's been a tradition. Their first christmas card together was also Maggie's debut in pants on recorded media, hows that for a fun fact. They're enjoying life with their toddlers, both are working and have them in a christian daycare during the day. They're not going on their yearly ski trip with Reece and Stacie this year, so they'll be celebrating the holiday season with Shane's relatives so that they can get a city break. There's no pregnancy announcement from these guys, and honestly we can't be sure when the next one will be, though they do have one final child to add to the family before they'll consider it complete. Maybe once the kids start officially going to school and have more independence.

Our favourite political family are announcing a pregnancy this holiday season! Colton working as the districts conservative representative means that their lives are a lot more central to Windenburg, Brittany is homeschooling Nicole and apparently they thought now was the best time to have another child. Secretly (but no so secretly) almost everyone wants this baby to be a boy, it's always tied into talk about carrying on the family name and generational blessings and all that. Whilst Brittany just wants a healthy baby (and might want a boy a bit more than another girl), she can't forget the example of her cousin Adalynn. She and her husband Mason had 8 boys in a row before having a little baby girl, and Brittany is definitely not having that many children, so she's not letting herself get too hung up on what this baby will be.

Our resident reproducers are back at it again, this time with kid number 12. The pregnancy announcement isn't new to the family, but they decided to throw it in to announce it to the friends and family that live far away and. Their house is just controlled chaos at this point, and with each kid they just slot right in. So far their prayer point for the quarter is expanding their house (and i keep forgetting to plan out what those posts will look like) This new baby will make their appearance by Harvestfest, so Kyleigh is about to be pregnant through yet another summer - poor her. Not that it's ever bothered her enough to stop getting pregnant.

Zoe and her latin lover are steadily pumping out these children, they're going on four years of marriage and by their 4th anniversary will be on their way to 3 kids under 5. They've been enjoying Windenburg life, being able to see Zoe's sister Amira and her husband quite often as they live close by so they've created their own little routine. Along with seeing family when they visit WIndenburg or when they take small trips, they've really been enjoying life. For Christmas they're staying in Windenburg for their last winter there and Francisco's family will come visit.

Now we go back to our regularly scheduled programming!

[organicrosehipskin]

Nurturing Radiance: The Pinnacle of Australian Natural Skincare Brands

Australia, with its untamed landscapes and rich biodiversity, has become a cradle for natural skincare brands that embody the essence of purity and efficacy. In this exploration, we delve into the realm of Australian natural skincare brands, uncovering the brands that have harnessed the power of native botanicals to create a harmonious fusion of nature and skincare science.

1. Aesop: Botanical Elegance Redefined

Aesop, born in Melbourne, is synonymous with botanical elegance. With an unwavering commitment to quality and sustainability, Aesop's formulations feature Australian botanicals like Kakadu plum and lemon myrtle. The Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Serum is hailed for its ability to revitalize and protect the skin.

2. Sukin: Pure Australian Goodness

Sukin's journey began with a commitment to creating skincare that is not only effective but affordable. With a focus on natural ingredients, Sukin's Signature Range, featuring favorites like the Foaming Facial Cleanser, captures the essence of Australian botanicals, embodying the brand's dedication to clean beauty.

3. Dr Roebuck’s: Bondi-born Skincare Prowess

Founded by sisters Kim and Zoe Roebuck, Dr Roebuck’s draws inspiration from their Bondi Beach roots. With minimalist formulations and a reliance on natural ingredients like rosehip oil and tea tree oil, their products, such as the No Worries Hydrating Face Moisturizer, emphasize simplicity and effectiveness.

4. Go-To Skincare: A Game-Changer in Clean Beauty

Zoë Foster Blake's Go-To Skincare stands as a beacon of clean beauty. The brand's focus on gentle, cruelty-free formulations is evident in products like the Face Hero, a nourishing face oil. Go-To Skincare epitomizes the fusion of science and nature in the pursuit of healthy, radiant skin.

5. Jurlique: Nature's Alchemy in Every Bottle

Jurlique, with its biodynamic farms in the Adelaide Hills, epitomizes the marriage of nature and skincare. The Herbal Recovery Signature Serum, infused with potent botanicals, showcases Jurlique's commitment to harnessing the healing properties of Australian flora.

6. Kyn®: Indigenous Wisdom Meets Skincare Innovation

Kyn® embraces indigenous Australian ingredients, with a focus on Kakadu plum, quandong, and finger lime. The Kakadu Plum Vitamin C Face Serum is a testament to their dedication to sustainable, indigenous skincare that brings the rich heritage of Australia to the global stage.

7. Biologi: Single-Ingredient Skincare Mastery

Biologi pioneers a revolutionary approach with single-ingredient serums. Leveraging the potency of Australian native plants like finger lime and Davidson plum, Biologi's Bqk Radiance Face Serum represents a paradigm shift in skincare minimalism and efficacy.

8. Grown Alchemist: Science-Backed Organic Beauty

Grown Alchemist seamlessly blends advanced skincare technology with organic ingredients. The Hydra-Repair Day Cream and Detox Night Cream, featuring botanical extracts, encapsulate the brand's commitment to marrying science with nature for radiant, healthy skin.

9. Edible Beauty Australia: Holistic Beauty Nutrition

Edible Beauty Australia takes a holistic approach by combining skincare with wellness. The & Soothing Nectar Hydrating Gel is infused with Australian botanicals, showcasing the brand's commitment to both internal and external beauty.

10. Vanessa Megan: Artisanal Craftsmanship in Skincare

Vanessa Megan is a testament to the craftsmanship of natural skincare. The Nature's Elixir Face Oil, enriched with organic botanicals, exemplifies the brand's commitment to artisanal, handcrafted formulations.

Conclusion: Elevating Skincare with Australia's Natural Treasures

In the vast landscape of Australian natural skincare brands, these brands stand as pioneers, embracing the purity and potency of Australia's unique botanicals. As consumers worldwide seek clean, effective skincare, Australian brands lead the charge with a commitment to harnessing the power of nature. Elevate your skincare ritual with these Australian natural skincare brands, where every drop is a tribute to the untamed beauty of the Australian wilderness.

[libertyreads]

Book Review #135 of 2023--

The Ex-Mas Holidays by Zoe Allison. Rating: 2.75 stars.

Read from December 1st to 3rd.

I struggle to find a good way to describe this one. In a lot of ways, it should be a book I love. We follow Maya as she retreats to her hometown following a job loss and a break up. But soon after arriving home she finds out that her old boss is in dire straights and would love if she would return to her teenage job of teaching skiing to children. She accepts and runs into a blast from her past both on and off the slopes. Maya has changed a lot since her break up with Sam 8 years ago, but some wounds never heal. We get a second chance romance, some holiday cheer, family drama, and two mutual pining idiots. This should have knocked it out of the park for me. But it didn't.

Why? Well, I found that the author attempted to cover a lot of heavy topics in a healthy way, but ended up sounding like she swallowed the DSM-V. There are a lot of vocabulary words from therapy chucked in here that kind of threw me out of the story. I get that we want to discuss toxic relationships, emotionally abusive relationships, abandonment issues, and everything else and want to do it in a healthy way. Even modeling healthy behaviors and reactions via these characters. But these moments felt so stilted. Especially in comparison to the rest of the story. It was such a strange contrast that it was hard to focus on what was happening. I just don't think your readers need to be lectured in that way. I also found a lot of the family drama to feel contrived. It was so easy for everyone to get over their issues by the end that it makes you feel like they never actually cared about them to begin with.

For the most part, I really liked the characters. A few were irredeemable in my eyes and I think they're meant to come off a little Mustache Twirling Villain so it makes sense. I found Maya and Sam to be characters I could really root for. I also really enjoyed Sam's twin sister Liv. I'd probably enjoy a story about her and Sam's friend. Probably. I also enjoyed following the characters through this adorable settings. The ski lodge was so easy to picture in my head and felt so cozy. I also enjoyed the little town they lived in as well. Both of those settings felt so real to me.

Overall, I thought this was okay but didn't blow me away. I don't regret reading it and it did help to get me in the Christmas spirit a little bit.

[cozyaliensuperstar7]

...seasoning can be found at the Meijer(s) Rivertown Market in Detroit — AISLE SIX!

You can also found it at the Woodward Corner Market in Royal Oak.

7 Seasons is an all-natural product that promises to spice up your Taco Tuesday.

Aloshia is a graduate of Detroit Cass Tech class of 2006 and earned degrees from the University of Michigan and Wayne State University. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

@7seasonsspice

#BlackDetroiters #BlackDetroit #Detroit #7SeasonsSpice #CassTech #TacoTuedsay #DST #womenshistorymonth

...and launched her first Black doll Zoe in 2019. Her dolls hair is made of special fibers that can be washed and styled, helping young girls learn to style and care for their own hair. Healthy Roots Dolls are now on 1,200 shelves in Target stores and can be purchased at Healthyrootsdolls.com.

#Kenndance #Kenndance1 #womensHistoryMonth #YelitsaJeanCharles #Dance #Dancer #DreamandHustle #HealthyRootsDolls #Dancemoms #StayOnPointe

[dollterwhite]

doll sideblog of @motocompacto

he/him, 22, i like dolls so much

i also like designer/art toys, action figures, and diecast and model vehicles.

dolls i have:

Paulette Goodreau MiM hailey and taylor

Healthy Roots zoe

Tonner JCP Penney & Friends penney

Yvonne Richardson anne of green gables

Barbie Fashionistas #170

Alaskan Friends 9" porcelain doll

Little Debbie 30th anniversary porcelain doll

Armand Marseille bisque doll

Madame Alexander Miniature Showcase Vietnam and India dolls

dolls i really WANT to have:

Momoko Moonless Night, Hibari, Chocolate Cigarette, Black Panther... i love momoko dolls so much

Hasbro Lorifina

AG Ivy Ling

any 1/3 Azone, Volks, SmD, etc

bootlegs! knockoffs! any and all! i love weird strange offbrand dolls

[dolls-and-cats]

Zoe from Healthy Roots

I have officially used my stimulus check to buy a beautiful Zoe doll from healthyroots.com! My idea is that she will be Bessie Coulter from Evelyn Coleman's book Mystery of the Dark Tower, set in 1920s Harlem. So top of the list is making her a dress and cloche hat as in the cover illustration.

Aaaaand there's something in it for y'all. I have a “share with friends” coupon code that allows you to get 10% off your purchase at healthyroots.com! I don’t think they’d want me to post it publicly(?) and I can’t figure out how to restrict my post to people following my blog. But if you message me, I’ll send it to you.

@desertdollranch I remember you specifically said you're interested in Zoe.

[doll-princesse]

Zoe got her braided pigtails re-done into twintails. She feels refreshed and enjoyed the spa day.

She’s very happy, hanging out together with curlfriends, Gaïana and Marivel (officially Marisol) on my desk :)

[desertdollranch]

Zoe has been volunteering at Canyon Creek Guest Ranch in exchange for riding lessons. The horses love and trust her. She’s so gentle and playful with them. Today she took a leisurely ride in the hills with Horsefina.

She’s also appearing on my blog to show you how gorgeous her curls look today! Zoe is a Healthy Roots doll, made specifically to teach Black children how to care for and have fun with their hair. I love being able to give her all sorts of twists, braids, buns, puffs, and pigtails, but these tight and defined curls are such an iconic look on her. 

[helloiamrr]

Fanfiction ideas: (Criminal Case)

TW: Mentions of murder and death

-Emilio Fuller after murdering his father, Tony Marconi is sentenced to life in prison. He feels angry towards his father, and blames him for his current situation. An old friend of Marconi visits Emilio after hearing the tragedy. Ginger is a woman Marconi rescued from a gangster. She tells Emilio what kind of man Tony was, and what he did for her to Emilio. The reason why Tony became a convict in the first place. How will Emilio react?

-A conversation between Gloria and Jones. This takes place after Zoe’s death.

-For the original group of Ad Astra. A particular meeting planning their chaos. Takes place before S5.

(I want to portray their friendship as somewhat toxic. There is no way it was all positive and healthy. I have to put trigger warnings though.)

-What happens in the dome of DreamLife.

This will have different perspectives. Specifically, from employees we see. We will have Rupert’s first, then Philip Hoover’s, Barb Bellamy’s, Wendy Stokes’, Ernesto Vega’s, Shweta Noorani’s, Emilio Fuller’s and finally, Rozetta’s. It will portray what these characters are experiencing while they are under the dome. The dome is a place where many people are put under pressure, and I want to portray it as uncomfortable, tight, and tense. This atmosphere is because of Rozetta. No matter what she does to make the dome feel like home, there will still be some people who would be on the verge of breaking down. I would also like to add some details that aren’t really canon, but will add more to this fanfiction. For example, people like Rosie Summers who are employees in the dome becoming test subjects.

-The childhood of Cathy King/Turner.

I wanted to write the relationship between Cathy and Chief King. Donna King will also be featured of course.

-The backstories of the original Ad Astrans. This could take place in their university days. However, Rozetta’s roots of evil start at her childhood. I might write Christian Bateman’s and Rozetta Pierre’s backstories like that. As for Julia Brine, Joe Warren, and Louis Leroux, their roots could start at their college days.

-Tess Goodwin and Rozetta Pierre being classmates.

I saw a headcanon on Instagram that said Rozetta and Tess could have been classmates. I saw that they were both born in 1992, so there’s a huge possibility they could have been. I liked this idea a lot. I want to write Rozetta and Tess being best friends. Rozetta would see Tess as her equal, and Tess would too. Once Tess was murdered, I had this idea where Rozetta will feel genuinely sad. Cathy will also be present in this story, only as a side character though.

-Rachel Priest and Louis Leroux as co-workers at CNN.

This is the time where Louis applied for CNN. Rachel was the first one to greet him. When she was murdered, he had to temporarily take her place.

(This isn’t supposed to be romantic, I thought it would be cool to let them interact since somebody said Louis kind of parallels Rachel in Ace’s streams. Another reason that this story kind of make sense was because they have a one-year age gap. Louis would have been 28 in 2013, while Rachel was canonically 27 when she died.)

[bedbellyandbeyond]

Dinner at the Demers

(Story Post)

“Here we are,” Fay said pulling up the driveway. He parked and smiled to Theo. “Let me get your door.” “I got it,” Theo chuckled, opening his door and getting out himself. As his case worker, Fay had been helping Theo a lot with talking out his feelings around his pregnancy. The merman was more than friendly and Theo always felt comfortable around him, even when it came to very personal things like body dysmorphia or feelings of loneliness. Theo had found that he and Fay had a few things in common, like the fact that they'd both left home to pursue their careers. After just a few sessions with him, Theo liked to consider the merman his friend and was very happy to be invited over to his place for dinner. “Thanks for having me,” Theo said as he followed Fay to the front door. “I don't get out much, especially now.” “It's no problem,” Fay said. “Dari was glad to hear you were coming. He has a habit of taking group members in under his wing. Camilo's like a son to him now.”

“I'm pretty sure I'm older than Dari…” Theo said. “You're the same age actually,” Fay stated. Theo blinked. “He's thirty?!” “Looks can be deceiving,” Fay said. “He looks like he's twenty at most,” Theo stated. “Is he aging backwards?” “It's a little complicated but it isn't my place to explain,” Fay said. “Let's just say his body needs time to catch up.” “Okay, but, like…” Theo rubbed his neck. “I'm gonna have a hard time not thinking about that.” “If you get him in the right mood, Dari will tell you whatever,” Fay assured. “Anyway, we eat a lot of fish in this household, but I understand someone in your condition might prefer something safer so we also have chicken. What do you prefer?” “Oh, fish is fine,” Theo said. “Dr. Aias said there really isn't any diet restrictions for me, so long as I eat healthy for myself. I can smoke and drink if I want. The baby's not going anywhere. I don’t smoke. Haven’t really touched alcohol either… Still feels kinda wrong.” “Fair enough,” Fay unlocked the door and let them inside. “Oh, don't let the cat out.” “Huh?” Theo looked down to try and see if any animals were at his feet but he then realised he couldn't see his feet at all and a second later, a cat dashed out from under him and onto the porch. “Ah, sorry Theo, I wasn't thinking,” Fay said. He managed to catch the feline and pick her up. “This is Slippers. She's very curious and friendly.” Theo offered a hand to sniff and then pet the cat on the head. “She's very cute.” “I got her as a gift for Dari a while back,” Fay said. “He's very protective of her so even though we don't get much traffic out here, she's best as an indoor cat.” “Got it.” “Come meet the kids,” Fay said. “Twins should be down for a nap right now, but otherwise, trouble should be about.” It didn't take long until the first few heads popped out to see them. “Papa!” one child yelled, flinging themselves around Fay's waist. Another just stood there and pointed at Theo. “Baby belly!” Theo flushed red. “Uh, yeah...” “Otter, pointing is rude,” Fay said, pushing his son's hand down. “Apologise to my friend Theo.” “Sorry, my friend Theo,” Otter said, still just staring up at the man. “It's fine,” Theo assured. “Siv, mon poussain,” Fay said to the other boy, sliding a hand between his side and his son to pry him off. “Papa can't move if you're hugging so tight.” “I missed you,” Siv whined. “I missed you too,” Fay said, petting his son's head. “Where's Daddy?” “Green room,” Siv said, pointing to the back of the house. “Greenhouse. And your sisters?” “Um... Ari and Kat with Milo and Zoe with Daddy and the babies sleep.” “And do we remember the babies names?” Fay asked. “Um...” “I do!” Otter said quickly. “I know you do,” Fay said patting Otter's head. “I want Siv to remember. They're a little harder.” “Oh.” Siv racked his brain. “Uh, Anna and...” He looked at Otter who was signing to him. “Isa...belle?” “Annabelle and Isabelle, that's right,” Fay approved. “Next time, no cheating. Get your big brother and let's meet in the greenhouse, okay?” Siv looked at Otter and then grabbed his arm. “Specifics... Both of you get your eldest brother, understood?” Fay rephrased. “Yeah!” Otter said, letting go of his father and taking Siv's arm to go get Milo with him. Fay took Theo outside to the back of the house. Theo was immediately impressed by the spacious yard, with a pool as well as a relatively large greenhouse. Inside, there were rows and rows of vegetables and flowers growing. Dari was found between the leaves, dwarfed by his own six-foot-tall tomato plants. Zoe was toddling about at his feet and grabbing any ripe tomatoes she could get her little hands on. Dari looked upset when he heard Fay and Theo entering. “Zoe, tomatoes in the basket, bunny,” he instructed as he pulled off his gardening gloves. Zoe completely ignored him and just kept grabbing tomatoes, ripe or not and trying to put them in her mouth. “My love,” Fay said, stepping up to his husband and wrapping his arms around him. Dari took his sun hat off and wacked Fay over the arm with it. “You should've reminded me Theo was coming over! I would've started dinner early.” “I told you this morning. What more reminders do you need?” Fay asked. “And that's not a jab, I want you to know.” “...Maybe, an hour before you leave work,” Dari said. “It takes two hours to make dinner?” Fay asked. “It can!” Dari said. “It allows me time to prepare. Now a guest will have to wait with us.” Fay kissed his forehead. “I'll make dinner. You can do your thing. Hang out with Theo.” “Hi, Theo,” Dari finally said, acknowledging his guest. “I'm sorry about this.” “You really have nothing to apologise for,” Theo said. “I don't mind waiting to eat. I had a big lunch.” “Come here,” Dari waved Theo over. Theo obeyed, going over to Dari. “Your garden is amazing. I feel like you never have to get groceries.” “That’s the idea,” Dari said, nodding. He hovered a hand over Theo's stomach. “Can I touch?” “Sure. You're not the first.” Dari placed his hand on the protrusion and rubbed softly. “Aliens, right?” “That's right. Though, they’re not big enough to feel or anything…” “I'll go start dinner,” Fay said, leaving them be. “Were you abducted?” Dari asked. Theo shook his head. “No. Well, not really. Not in the traditional sense. I was...visited in my dreams.” “That's different...” Dari pondered. “Different?” Dari took his hand back and patted his own chest. “I was abducted. I had children for the aliens, each ripped from me the moment they were born. Or even before.” Theo frowned. “I'm so sorry... That's terrible.” Dari shrugged. “I don't really...feel anything from it anymore. It's like a part of my life I won't get back so why should I lend it any feelings?” “I mean, I guess that's good...” Theo considered. Dari suddenly lifted his own shirt, revealing his slightly distended and scarred stomach. “You see this ‘X’ scar? They implanted an artificial womb inside me and a ‘gamete converter’, which basically steals my DNA and turns it into egg cells... In a way, I stole it from them... I was able to make my children with it, so...it's like...not all bad.” “...Why are you telling me all this?” Theo asked. Dari pulled his shirt back down. “I don't do well in groups but when I heard your situation, I knew I had something in common and I feel like everyone needs people they can relate to for support. I want you to know that I'm here and, at least on the non-consensual alien pregnancy level, I understand more than most people will ever understand.” Theo smiled a bit. “Oh. Thank you. I guess you're right.” “If there's ever anything I can help you with, don't hesitate to contact me,” Dari said. “And don't for a second think you have to forgive them for doing this to you. I haven't.” Theo nodded slowly. “...Um, so Fay mentioned you and I are the same age?” Dari tilted his head. “Are you thirty?” Theo nodded. “You just... You look so young.” Dari put his hands on his hips. “Why, cause I'm short?” “No, well, um...” Dari looked away and started meddling with some cucumber. “I was abducted when I was fifteen. This thing inside me synthesised a chemical similar to estrogen so I didn't really have a chance to finish puberty until I got back... I'm on hormone therapy now. I was supposed to be, ever since I got back, but I couldn't really do it while pregnant five times, could I?” “Five times?” Theo asked. “I thought you have eight kids.” “Twins exist, Theo,” Dari said. “Fay carried Otter and Milo was born well before I got back to Earth.” “But, wouldn’t that—” Theo was cut off when a big red beast of a person came bounding outside carrying two little girls with him and with Siv and Otter at his heels. They came inside and the small children immediately dispersed to go look at the plants and pick anything that looked ripe enough to eat off the stem. The giant red man went directly to the adults and loomed over them, his head nearly brushing the ceiling. Theo was shocked beyond belief and froze up immediately. “Milo, my biggest boy!” Dari cooed wrapping his arms around his son's waist. He was two or three heads shorter than Milo and could barely see above his chest. “Milo, this is Theo. He's a friend.” Milo put the girls down and waved to Theo, before signing to his father. “Milo says he really likes your hair,” Dari said. “I think it's because it's a colour he can actually see well. He’s a bit colour blind.” “Oh, um. Tell him thanks for me?” Theo requested. “Tell him yourself. He can hear you, he just can't speak like us,” Dari explained, happily patting Milo's chest. “He's my big growly boy...” “Oh! Okay, thanks Milo,” Theo said, running a hand through his own hair. “I need to dye it again soon though.” Milo nodded, smiling and signed again. “He thinks you look cool with the roots,” Dari said. “It’s almost like Fay and Ari’s hair. You’re like an honorary merperson.” Theo smiled. “Thanks, but I think Fay pulls off two colours much better than I do. It’s not even blended.” Milo signed again to Dari but Dari didn’t translate and just signed back. Milo looked a little upset and then signed again. “Milo wants to compliment you on your pregnancy,” Dari said. “I told him it might not be appropriate but he insisted.” “That's cool. Thanks, Milo,” Theo said, trying to stay calm in front of the seven-foot-tall red man. “How um, how old is he?” “Twelve or thirteen, we think,” Dari said. “Hard to say.” “You don't know?” Theo asked. “Yeah, well... They weren't really handing out Earth calendars aboard the sex trafficking space ship, so I really don't know when he was born,” Dari said. “We use the day that he came home to us as his birthday.” “That's really... That's some crazy stuff that happened to you, Dari,” Theo said. “I'm so sorry.” “Don't be. It was years ago.” “But really, you talk about it so casually. You know, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to.” Dari patted Theo’s shoulder. “It happened. It was terrible. It's left me physically, mentally and emotionally scarred for life. But that's all it is. Scars. I can't do much about it. All you can really try to do with scars is put lotion on them or tattoo over them. I'm tired of doing that, so I just wear them. The nightmares come less and less. My physical scars don't hurt anymore. When I tell my story, I can detach myself from it. I don't let it bother me.” He patted Theo's cheek. “Oh, but if it bothers you, I won't talk about it.” “Oh, no, no. I don't mind,” Theo said. “Thank you for opening up.” Dari sighed and put his hands on his hips. “Of course, you don't have to share either if you don't want to. But I am curious... You weren't abducted, but you also don't strike me as the type of guy who hangs around alien bars. No, wait. You mentioned dreams? How does that work?” “It's kind of embarrassing...” Theo said. Dari lifted his own shirt and patted his stomach. “Looking four months pregnant for the rest of your life is embarrassing.” Theo proceeded to tell Dari everything, how the celestial apparently impregnated him in his dreams and how on the first day, he grew so rapidly. Dari listened intently and when he was done, offered up his sympathy and advice. Theo mentioned Henderson, but only as a friend helping him out. He didn't mention that they'd slept together because he still didn't know what it meant yet. They chatted a little more for a while until it was dinner time and they headed on inside. Theo enjoyed his time at the Demers house. The food was good and there was nothing but energy in the dining room as they ate. Siv took a liking to Theo in particular and spent most of the meal telling him about his favourite frog he found the other day. Fay later expressed to his guest how delighted he was to see Siv opening up so easily with Theo since he was apparently the shiest child. This made Theo feel quite a bit better about having to listen to ‘hop hop hop’ and ‘ribbitty ribbit’ over and over. At the end of the night, Fay drove him home. He welcomed Theo to their house any time and Fay would be happy to drive. Theo thanked him for hosting him and then got himself ready for bed. He was exhausted from just being around so many children at one time and was very glad that he would not be dealing with anything like that for himself any time soon.

[black-girls-wizdom]

Zoe is the first Healthy Roots doll and she is far from average. Zoe learned to love her after she did the big chop with her mom. Together they learned step by step, how to love every single one of her curls. Now she’s here to help other girls learn to love their curls.

Our Zoe doll’s hair is specially designed with curl power that allows it to be washed and styled in any way you can think of. You can use real products and try out countless styles from puffs to box braids.

She is the perfect companion with hair that is bigger than life.

SUPPORT BLACK OWNED♥️💚🖤✊🏾

[shemakesmusic-uk]

HARD FEELINGS, the new collaborative project of Hot Chip's Joe Goddard and Amy Douglas, have signed to Domino and unveiled their debut outing 'Holding On Too Long' which is teamed with a Katie Paul-directed video. Douglas says of their debut single, "'Holding On Too Long' is the common denominator of the entire musical union of Amy and Joe. In this "opera of sad bangers" here is its key aria, its "Un Bel Di" from Madame Butterfly or the "Mad Scene" from Lucia Di Lammermour, the unforgettable moment of the story wherein our heroine stands up defiantly and has her moment to wail, scream and cry her pain and fury centre stage to the world." HARD FEELINGS was formed after Goddard reached out to Douglas on Twitter after hearing her work, and simply asking: "Amy, can we make a thing?" [via Line Of Best Fit]

After recently announcing her debut album Flaw Flower is due June 25 via Illegal Data, London-based musician Harriet Zoe Pittard, aka Zoee, is sharing another slice of her multi-faceted art-pop sounds with her new single'Host'. Speaking about the track, Zoee said "‘Host’ describes the disconcertingly replicant-like nature of a once starry-eyed lover who becomes increasingly detached. The video is inspired by The Twilight Zone and was shot on location in a forest close to where I grew up in Berkshire."

Nashville-based songwriter Madi Diaz releases 'Nervous,' a new single about recognizing unhealthy coping mechanisms. The song’s frank lyrics are bellied by infectious guitar and Diaz’s buoyant voice: “I know why I lie to myself // I’m not really looking to get healthy // I have so many perspectives I’m losing perspective I make me nervous.” The accompanying video was shot in Nashville and directed by Jordan Bellamy. It was inspired by and includes an homage to the final scene of Andrei Tarkovsky's film The Stalker, a film that has always resonated with Diaz through its otherworldly nature, as well as its thoughtful and often anxiety inducing pace. “You know when you hold a mirror up to a mirror and you get an infinite amount of reflections from every angle? That’s what ‘Nervous’ is about,” says Diaz. “It’s when you’re in a loop of looking at yourself from every vantage point until you’re caught up in your own tangled web of bullshit. It’s about catching yourself acting out your crazy and you’re finally self-aware enough to see it, but you’re still out of your body enough and curious enough to watch yourself do it.”

Buzzy duo XVOTO have announced that their eagerly-awaited debut EP will be arriving on June 4 on One Two Many. Sharing new single ‘Friends’ alongside the news, Jazz Alonso explains that the track is rooted in “the people who have irreversibly changed you and then having to pretend you’re unphased by them when you’re in the same room. Meanwhile you’re trying to work out what your new boundaries are: can you talk about the past? Can you cry together? Can you show how much pain you’re in around them? ‘If you fish me, I’ll play dead’ means: if you make a move, I’ll pretend I’m dead inside and don’t want you back.” Accompanied by a new vid, Jazz adds, “For this video I always imagined an aquarium because of the fish lyrics and because I think looking at fish in a tank is a really nice symbol of looking back at a relationship: you’ll always have your take on it and feel you have control over that narrative cause it’s a memory, but the reality is that truth is fluid and moves. You’re not looking at an image, you’re looking at something that’s alive. Then the scenes of us getting tattooed on our backs are symbols for something beautiful that scars you - you might move on from something but it’ll still inform the way you move forward. In the video there’s some cheating, some reminiscing, some beauty and some pain.” [via DIY]

Ashe has released new cut 'Me Without You' as the latest singe off her debut album Ashlyn. It comes teamed with a Jason Lester-directed video. Ashe says of the new single, "'Me Without You' is my follow up to 'Moral Of The Story'. It's saying you thought that I needed you to be who I am. There is my past relationship...I had multiple people... You know, assumed that I needed them in my life to feel confident or to be me and "Me Without You" is just this record that's like, ‘Ooh, I am so good on my own'." [via Line Of Best Fit]

Mia Nicolai is a true internationalist. Born in Amsterdam to a Russian mother, she learned from a young age to move between languages and cultures, accepting them as equal. This all fuels her future-pop vision, a trans-genre approach laden with colour, one that picks from multiple sources. New single 'People Pleaser' is a surging, coherent, ultra-potent offering, a song that dwells on identity, and the processes by which it is defined. "This song is about the journey towards finding yourself," she explains. "It can be very difficult to be true to your inner values when all you do is please the people around you instead of your inner needs. I’ve always come across as a strong-minded person. But in reality, I’m capable of helping everyone BUT myself. At some point I felt so uncomfortable in my own skin that I couldn’t even breathe properly..." We're able to share the dazzling new video, directed by Isabelle Griffioen and produced by That’s What She Set. A surreal but completely engaging experience, it embodies everything Mia Nicolai sets out to do - put people on the back foot, and alert them to her presence. [via Clash]

Singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams has shared her poignant new single 'Mess It Up' and its accompanying video via Interscope Records. Directed by Matty Peacock, the video for 'Mess It Up' finds Abrams attempting to bake a cake and repeatedly dropping the gorgeously frosted final product on the ground. That bittersweet back-and-forth between determination and disappointment is a perfect match for Abrams’s incisive lyrics, which simultaneously convey a deep longing for forgiveness and an unshakable sense of frustration. Produced by and co-written with her frequent collaborator Blake Slatkin, the track’s stark guitar work and driving rhythms slowly take on a powerful momentum, ultimately building to a sweetly triumphant climax. [via Vacancy]

Vocalist and guitarist Maya Delilah shares the visuals for her new single 'Need A Word With Cupid'. The track unravels into a punchy number that gives you a hit of both dopamine and female empowerment. Written about realising your worth after a relationship breakup, Maya’s lyrics are little witty statements that we can all use to remind ourselves who the hell we are. “Last Tuesday morning I just realised you’re shit” – it’s the truth. The video sees her waiting in cupid’s reception ready to get her money back because, damn, this boy was not worth her energy. At. All. 'Need A Word With Cupid' is a brilliant narrative that’s not only relatable but also incredibly good. Brimming with smooth guitar tones and a catchy beat, this is a single that leaves you wanting so much more. A self-love anthem for the modern woman, 'Need A Word With Cupid' is an indie-pop bop. Maya says: “'Need A Word With Cupid' was written after my breakup when I felt a sudden hit of empowerment after the realisation that my ex was not worth another tear over. It’s an energetic and uplifting song with soul influences and of course a guitar solo to end.“ [via LOCK]

With her debut EP Digital Meadow arriving on May 28, Dora Jar is sharing the video for her single ‘Multiply’. “I am my truest form when I am changing shape, morphing sounds, and shifting my point of view,” she says of the forthcoming EP. “This project is an exploration of my impulse to shape-shift. That’s my ambition.” [via DIY]

Telenova's new-arriving single 'Tranquilize' makes it two-from-two for the band, deeper solidifying their rich blend of sounds while showing how it can move into further areas, taking on new energies - or emphasising other energies - as more songs come to light. 'Tranquillize', for example, has a heavier weighting on that live instrumentation, giving the song this more alt-pop-meets-R&B spin when combined with Angeline's brilliant-as-ever vocals. As she explains, the single was the first for Telenova, written on the day they began working with one another. "I was actually flicking through a thesaurus and the word ‘Tranquilize’ jumped out at me, it just rang so nicely on the tongue and was so inherently visceral," she says. "I was humming gibberish over the hypnotic Rhodes chords that Josh had laid down, and we heard what sounded like ‘Poseidon’s on the water’ - it was the first time in a writing session with Ed and Josh, and the first time I’d been in a writing session where a poetic, literary lyric idea like that wasn’t shunned and coined as ‘unrelatable’.  It resonated. We followed the thread, playing into Siren mythology as a metaphor for falling in love - the power of attraction to transfix and tranquillize you." The single also arrives with an official video clip, directed by Angeline - solidifying her multi-talented craft. "I wanted to capture the world of the song in a Lynchian-inspired dreamscape - starry-eyed and a little unhinged - but like, David Lynch meets Gucci," she says. [via Pilerats]

International superstar P!nk has more than two decades of experience topping the global pop charts, and she is here to continue her reign with the new single 'All I Know So Far'. 'All I Know So Far' was produced by pop mastermind Greg Kurstin and co-written with the songwriting duo Benj Pasek & Justin Paul. The single comes off of her upcoming album All I Know So Far: Setlist, due out on RCA Records on May 21. The accompanying video for 'All I Know So Far' tells Pink’s life story with help from Cher, Judith Light, and Carey Hart. The visuals, directed by longtime collaborator Dave Meyers, also features an appearance from her daughter Willow. The new album will feature live recordings from her 2019 'Beautiful Trauma World Tour' along with a recording of her highly-buzzed MTV Video Vanguard Award acceptance speech. P!nk’s daughter Willow will also make an appearance on the album with the song 'Cover Me in Sunshine', which the singer previously shared back in February. [via Consequence]