#my cousin told me it looked like wool :'D

[owlrolls]

Hate how it took me my entire lifespan until rn to realize i have curly hair and not overly frizzy wavy hair

#like YOU HAVE PICS OF YOU AS A KID WITH THE MOST LONG AND PRETTY CURLY HAIR YOUVE SEEN AND KEPT STRAIGHTENING IT FOR THE REST OF UR LIFE???? #ffs #now i cut it way too short :((((( #my cousin told me it looked like wool :'D

[shallyne]

Day 6:

The office was a mess. Every bookshelf was empty and all the books were strewn across every other surface in the room, stacked in organized piles. There wasn't a partivular reason why Rhys did this, he just woke up this morning with the urge to reorganize his bookshelves. Now he was only fifty books away from starting to shelf the books again.

"Rhys!" Mor chirped as she breezed into the room, not bothering to knock, and came to an abrupt stop before she crashed into an M pile. "Cauldron, what are you doing?"

"What does it look like?" Rhys countered, putting a book on the E pile. "I'm reorganizing my books."

Sighing, his cousin carefully stepped over piles, stumbling over box with wool and knitting needles, his latest project, and stopped at Rhys's side. "Why? Didn't you like how they were organized before?"

"They were were only organized by height and genre, it was chaos! Now I'm going to order them alphabetically by author and genre. Maybe height if possibe." he explained.

His cousin sighed again, this time more dramatically as she bent down and picked up an old tome and skimmed through it. "That seems like a peculiar task seeing the amount of books you own. Have you read every single one?"

"Of course I have."

A single piece of paper fell out of the tome Mor held. Rhys was about to grab it but Mor was faster, snatching it up. "Oh!" she shrieked, "How adorable! It's one of your poems–"

Rhys swiped the piece if paper out of Mor's hand and she cried out in protest, he tucked it away. "Hey!" she said, "I wanted to read that? By the way, are you still writing?"

"No." Rhys replied.

Mor frowned, "You're in a mood today. It would be more fun to talk with Amren about the meaning of life."

"She'd hate that." Rhys added another book to the U pile beside him.

"Exactly." Mor said, sitting down opposite of Rhys, crosslegged. He looked up from his books, watching her. She wore yellow wide-legged oants, typical for night court fashion, with a white sweater, her brown eyes taking in the room.

"Did you come here for a reason?" Rhys asked.

Mor gnawed on her lower lip, thinking about what to say. It went quiet for a few moments, only dull sound from behind the great wood doors of his office to hear. Then she turned her head to Rhys, speaking, "Feyre asked me if you are fine. She thought you seemed off this morning, I told her I'd talk to you." understanding found Mor's features, "You didn't do this for a few years now, Rhys. What happened?"

"I'm only reorganizing my bookshelf, I'm fine." he replied, but his words were missing the intended bite.

"It's not only the reorganizing, Rhys, I've paid attention, you know?" she pointed to the box with knitting supplies, the clubs 8n the corner and a look to the fishing rod near his desk. "You're trying to distract yourself."

Rhys didn't answer, averting his cousin's gaze as he cintinues to organize his books. Pile A, Pile H, Pile D....

"You can grief, Rhys. It's okay."

He stopped, looking at his hands. His voice was hoarse as he said, "If I let myself grief...I fear that I won't find my way back. I can't afford it to grief, I have a son to take care of now and we are in the middlenof rebuilding Velaris, there's no time."

"There is, Rhys. We will understand, Feyre will understand. Talk to her." Mor smiled softly, "You're not alone, cousin, even though you're hellbent on managing everyrhing on your own."

"I don't know what to say." Rhys admitted. Just thinking about explaining that the anniversary of his mother's amd sister's death neared had him feeling a lump in his throat.

"Talk from your heart." Mor said, "Feyre will understand." She repeated, getting up and extending her hand.

Tentatively, Rhys took it and she helped him up. "Thank you," he said.

"Of course," Mor flipped her head over her shoulder. "But Rhys, one more thing–"

He raised his brow, waiting.

"Why again? Do you have nightmares again?"

Rhys shrugged, walking to the doors of his office. "At this time of year, always." he stepped out, feeling surer about talking to Feyre. It wasn't that he didn't trust hery he trusted Feyre with his life, even feeling ashamed that he couldn't get himself to talk to her but the topic of his mother and sister still left him as raw as it was centuries ago.

Talking to Mor, though, it reminded me how lucky he was with the family he found along the way.

@officialrhysandweek

#acotar #a court of thorns and roses #Rhysandweek2023 #rhysand #rhys #high lord rhysand #rhysand archeron #rhys acotar #high lord of the night court #the morrigan #mor #mor acotar #morrigan #morrigan acotar #Mor and rhys #Rhys and mor #acotar fanfiction #acotar fan fiction #Acotar fanfic #acotar fic

[isolemnlyswearpevensie]

Paper Cut Part 2 | Edmund Pevensie x Reader Soulmate AU

Warnings: Making out/kissing

Time/Era: Modern AU but the Pevensies have been to Narnia. 

Word Count: 2.5k

Summary: Y/N confronts Edmund about the intense injuries she had received in the past. 

A/N: Here’s the second part to paper cut :) If you haven’t read the first part, link below! Please send requests :D Enjoy! 

Part 1 | Part 3 | masterlist | read on ao3

“Edmund, I think you have a lot of explaining to do.”

Edmund’s face was unreadable, almost as if it was made of stone. He stayed quiet; the only sounds that filled the air were the shuffling of the barista and the espresso machine. Y/N wished he would just say something. The silence was damning. 

“Edmund?” His gaze didn’t falter at his name but stayed glued to Y/N’s hand. His eyes traveled up her arm, taking mental notes of every scar, bruise, bump, or cut. Edmund stood up without a word, the chair making a painful screeching noise in his path, and walked out of the coffee shop. 

Meeting her soulmate had been completely different in her head; maybe they would fall into each other’s arms in the streets of London. He would sweep her off of her feet after noticing a small scar on her neck and say something disgustingly romantic. “I’ve been waiting for you, Y/N, you’re even more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.” Then, they would fall madly, deeply in love, and adopt a dog. Fall wedding perhaps? Maybe summer? But here Y/N sat, one hand on her stomach, the other gripping a foreign notebook. Before Y/N could process what was happening, Edmund was out of sight and she was left to her own thoughts. 

~

“Y/N! Wake up!” Y/N was startled by Y/B/F/N shaking her awake. “Don’t you have a final in like an hour?” 

That sentence felt like a bucket of ice water. Y/N sprung up from her warm bed and scrambled to get ready. The clock seemed to run dangerously fast and by the time she opened the door of her lecture hall, the test was being passed out. 

“You have three hours and because I’m in such a good mood, you may use your study guide.” The professor continued to pass the packets around the room. They looked thick and time-consuming. Time management had never been Y/N’s strong suit. 

When she was handed her paper, all she could do was take a deep breath. This professor was a harsh grader, so unless her answers were 100% correct, there was no way Y/N would pass. She took the unfamiliar notebook she received from Edmund out of her bag and opened it to his scribbled notes. 

His handwriting was somewhere in between messy and neat; some of the words ran into one another and they were all slanted to the right slightly, yet the letters were beautifully constructed and entirely intelligible. Edmund also took it upon himself to highlight passages he deemed important with a note at the beginning that read: my sister had to take o chem. I asked her what’s important. That was sweet, Y/N thought. 

It seemed as if Edmund knew what he was talking about, too. Each answer was answered completely with further background information to make it easy to understand. Why would you willingly take this? Seems like hell… was written in the margins next to one of the boxes of text. I could say the same about law, sweater boy. 

By the time Y/N had finished her final, the three hours had turned into 10 minutes. She was one of three students left in the classroom and the other two were looking beyond panicked. Most of the class seemed to have either blazed through it like it was an 8-year-old’s math homework or given up halfway through and accepted their loss. Y/N, however, had to pass this class so she triple-checked her answers, took a daydream break, then checked it again. She would be lying if she said her daydreams didn’t consist of Edmund. She wondered if he would ever text her again. 

The young girl hurriedly walked out of the classroom, happy to be done with the semester. She wrapped her jacket tightly around her and braced herself to brave the aggressive weather. 

“Hey,” A voice from her right called out. It was Edmund; he was leaning against the wall lazily. His nose was a bright pink, as were his cheeks, and his hands were pushed into his pockets for warmth.

“Edmund? What are you doing here? You must be freezing!” Y/N walked over to him and looked him once over. A simple long sleeve shirt, vest, and jeans. Y/N slung her wool scarf around his neck. 

“Oh, uh, thanks…” He pushed himself off of the wall with his shoulder. Damn, his shoulders were huge. 

“I’m sorry about the coffee shop, I didn’t mean to jump you like that,” Y/N apologized bashfully. He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. 

“No, I get it. I would have the same reaction. That’s, uh, why I’m here.” Edmund was awkward, looking anywhere but her eyes. Instead, he observed her freckles, eyebrows, and cheeks. “I was wondering if we could, uh, talk? Maybe somewhere private? Like my dorm?”

“Oh, so you want to take me, your newly discovered soulmate, back to your dorm?” Y/N had a hint of mischief in her eyes and a teasing smile on her lips. Edmund’s eyes grew wide and he started to sputter. 

“That’s not what I meant! I would never! I mean unless you wanted to, but no! I just meant to talk,” His cheeks are red again, but this time it wasn’t from the cold. 

“I’m just taking the piss, let’s go, vesty.”

~ 

Edmunds dorm was not what she was expecting. One side looked like it was hit by a tornado, but the other was very organized. Even on the floor, there was a distinct division between the two sides. The neat side, which appeared to be Edmund’s, was very plain. His bed was made with a red duvet and black pillows, his desk was blank besides a small pencil cup, and the cork board hanging above his desk had reminders and pictures. 

“Those are my siblings,” Edmund noticed Y/N’s wandering eyes. “They’re practically dying to meet you, Y/N.”

“How did you know my name? I never told you,” She crossed her arms and strained her neck to look back at him. 

“Ah, so I was right, you don’t remember me. We took a few classes together during first and second years. I always thought you were cute, so I guess it stuck.” Now it was Y/N’s turn to blush. 

“You think I’m cute?” Her arms uncrossed and turned so she was facing him head-on. 

“Well, yeah. You are my soulmate, after all, Y/N. Don’t be silly,” Edmund seemed to be growing more and more comfortable. He was enjoying watching her blush because of what he said; it made a sense of pride grow in his stomach. This was his person, and she was standing right in front of him. 

“Speaking of soulmates…” Y/N trailed off and looked towards the floor. Her hands grasp the zipper of her jacket and unzip it, before rolling up the bottom of her shirt. The jagged scar was on full display, a stark contrast against the skin of her abdomen. Edmund eyed it guiltily; he knew the exact pain she had to go through to get that scar. She had to go through that pain because of him. His own hands found the bottom seam of his own clothes and pulled it up to reveal a matching mark. 

“I can explain but you won’t believe me,” His honey-brown eyes met hers. 

“Try me, Pevensie.” 

He led her to sit on her bed and sat next to her. Y/N hastily kicked off her shoes so she could sit with her legs crossed on her bed. Her shoes tumbled to the ground with two thuds. Edmund, on the other hand, just bent one leg and let the other hang off the edge. He took her hands in his. 

“You have to promise me to listen to it all before you ask questions,” Edmund fidgeted nervously with a ring on Y/N’s fingers as they spoke. Y/N didn’t know if this was on purpose or a subconscious action, but it comforted her all the same.  

“Well, when I was young my parents sent my siblings and me to live away from home. When we were there, my little sister Lucy discovered a wardrobe in one of the spare rooms. Well, inside the wardrobe was this beautiful land called Narnia. It was gorgeous and huge! And when I say huge, I mean HUGE!” He caught himself rambling excitedly and reeled it back in. “Well, uh, anyway, there was this woman, we called her the White Witch and she manipulated me into basically selling my siblings out. The entire nation of Narnia got into a huge battle and the White Witch stabbed me.” 

“Did she lock you up somewhere cold?” Y/N asked, disregarding her promise to stay quiet. 

“Um, yeah. She locked me in this big ice cell. It wasn’t fun. I’m pretty sure I almost got frostbite but my body rejected it because I started warming up randomly.”

Y/N smiled. The paper towel. 

“But that scar on your stomach,” He took his hand away from yours and gently touched your stomach. “Is because she stabbed me. But again, my sister Lucy had this special liquid that could heal any injury.” 

Edmund seemed to smile at the memory. “Long story short, my siblings and I got crowned Kings and Queens of Narnia and ruled for a number of years. We then got sent back-”

“Wait, wait, wait, Kings, and Queens? Who are you? Alexander the Great?” Her tone was teasing and unbelieving. 

“Edmund the Just, actually. And I told you to listen!” His smile reached his eyes this time. “Well we came back to earth through the wardrobe and we were kids again! About a year later, we returned to Narnia and met our good friend Caspian. We had to fight Caspian’s home country. In the end, Aslan helped us and Caspian became a king as well.”

“Who’s Aslan?” Y/N was doing her best to keep up and believe the information, but it was quite hard. 

“He’s a big lion, he’s kind of like the ruler of Narnia. I guess you could say a God? I guess…”

“A big lion god? Edmund…”

“I know it sounds crazy, Y/N. I know but you have to believe me! I went one more time with Lucy and my cousin. We were on a big Naval ship with Caspian and we had to find a bunch of swords-”

“Edmund, love, just tell me the truth.” Y/N was sad that right off the bat her soulmate was lying to her. Edmund’s eyes seemed to lose their sparkle. 

“I would never lie to you, Y/N. Here, look.” He took off Y/N’s scarf and gently placed it on the bed before pulling his vest and shirt over his head. On his rips was a beautifully drawn tattoo of a lion that appeared to be roaring. And on his collarbone was a sword. Y/N delicately reached her hand out and ran her fingertips against the drawing of the weapon. It had insane detail and the way it was drawn made it look sharp. Y/N retracted her hand and sat back. 

“That’s one of the swords we found during my third trip. It was gifted to Caspian by the lord who owned it. And this is Aslan. His roar was the most powerful magic in all of Narnia.” Edmund searched Y/N’s face for any emotion she was feeling. Right now, she was staring at the sword with a pondering look on her face. 

“Okay, say you were a king-”

“I am a king.”

“Fine, you’re a king. What exactly did you do, ya know, as a ruler?”

“Well, me and my brother Peter ran the army and trained them for battle. Along with other things like managing trade and creating political policies.”

“So, fighting? You fight?”

“Yeah, I fought in many battles, big and small. I got stabbed, remember.” His smile was cheeky and he pulled his long sleeve back on. “Once I got good, I didn’t even use a shield. I fought with two swords.”

“TWO? Aren’t those things heavy?”

“Well, yes, but when you went through all of the training I did, it gets easier.” Edmund could tell he was starting to believe him. 

“Tell me more.”

~

The two spent the next few hours discussing the ins and outs of Narnia down to the floor plan of Cair Paravel. Y/N had decided that Edmund had way too much detail to be making it up, and even if he did, it was so magical that she wouldn’t even be mad. 

“Okay, vesty, I believe you.” Y/N says after Edmund gave a lengthy explanation about all the gifts his siblings received and what they do. He stopped mid-word and stared at her. 

“You believe me? Really?” 

Y/N smiled and nodded. “Yes, Edmund. I’m going to be spending my life with you, your highness, so I may as well get familiar with it.”

“Please don’t call me that,” Edmund scooted closer to her. “I hated it even when people in Narnia called me that. I don’t need people outside of Narnia calling me it. Especially not you.” 

She turned her head so she was staring right at him. “Why not me?” Y/N’s speech came out as a whisper. They were so close that she didn’t need to speak loudly. 

“Because if I really was your highness, it would be kind of weird for me to do this.”

Edmund placed a hand on Y/N’s jaw and leaned in. His lips barely brushed her lips before pressing firmly against them. Y/N’s eyes closed shut and she happily kissed back. 

When people described kissing their soulmate for the first time, they always explain it as an electric spark igniting throughout their entire body. They explain it as a firework show full of magnificent colors. Kissing Edmund didn’t feel like that. Kissing Edmund felt like home. She felt safe, secure, and loved as if kissing this boy was what she was meant to do for her entire life. The way he tasted, like peppermint and candy, was the best thing she had ever tasted. And they way he held her, one hand on her jaw and the other holding her close to him by her waist, felt like the warmth of a favorite blanket. The way he moved made her knees feel like jelly. 

As their lip lock continued, his fingertips danced across her back until it landed on the other side of her jaw. He pulled away from their kiss, pressing a quick peck against her nose and jaw before leaning against his headboard. 

“I’ve been wanting to do that for my entire life,” Y/N said, her voice gentle and soft. 

“Me too. The thought of kissing you, Y/N L/N, was the only thing that got me through some tough times. I had to make it to be able to feel what it was like.”

Y/N was silent for a long moment. 

“Edmund, love, do you think I will ever go to Narnia?”

Edmund looked at her for a long moment then smiled with half of his mouth. 

“I don’t know, darling, but anything is possible. Especially when it comes to Narnia.” 

#edmund pevensie #edmund pevensie x reader #edmund x reader #edmund pevensie fanfic #edmund pevensie fanfiction #the chronicles of narnia #the chronicles of narnia fanfic #the chronicles of narnia fanfiction #narnia

[whumpeeblog]

TW CHILD SLAVERY MENTION OF TORTURE MENTION OF DEATH PAIN WHUMP

“Don’t you touch her.”

S scrambled through the castle halls, K sprinting behind her.

“Come here you little wretch!” He grumbled as he gained on her. Nearly tripping, S rounded the corner into the throne room, where D stood, talking to a neighboring ambassador. In frantic panic, the girl ran to her master.

D’s blue eyes widened as he watched his prisoner throwing herself towards him. Shock struck him when K came trailing behind her.

S ducked behind D, squatting in a fetal position behind his tall legs, afraid to look towards the disaster she knew was on its way.

K slowed to a walk, his sword drawn.

“Come here, girl. I swear when I get my hands on you, your little body will burn with pain.”

D spoke up in order to protect his captive.

“Don’t you touch her.”

D’s deep command stopped K. However, hatred darkened in his eyes as he glared at the figure hiding behind his cousin and friend. He took a step closer, the thump of his boot causing the marred child to flinch in fear.

“K. Don’t. You. Dare. Touch. Her.” D repeated. “Now tell me what’s going on and maybe we can sort this out.” The ambassador beside him watched the scene unfold, the amusement on his face revealing his attempt not to laugh.

This wasn’t the first time this had happened, and D was accustomed to bringing K’s temper down while protecting S.

“She stole several items from me and it’s time the little thief learn to pay. In Galway, thieves lose their hands at best and their lives at worst,” K snarled.

“Put the sword away and I’ll deal with this.”

K placed the blade back in its sheath, yet the child still cowered in fear. She may have escaped K’s wrath, but now she needed to face the decision of her master.

“S,” Damian stated confidently. S scurried around to face Master D, as she called him, dropping to her knees and lowering her head. She knew she would be punished, but a small bit of relief crashed through her, acknowledging that D was usually much more merciful than K and wouldn’t torture her like K would. If K had caught her, he would have skinned her alive, literally. He’d done it to many others, and knew how to keep them alive as long as possible. He was the executioner, after all. He, as well as D, N, and almost every other prominent being in the small kingdom, knew how to push a victim to the brink of death, putting them in the most agonizing pain possible, yet keeping their heart beating.

“Look at me,” D commanded. S’s gaze reluctantly met his eyes, and she trembled. She searched his face for mercy; for any chance that he might not let K torture her.

She knew the rules. If a slave, prisoner, or other commoner was caught stealing from a lord, prince, or other high placed official, the king had the right to do whatever he pleased. This usually included severe torture and beheading. If a commoner was stolen from, they could take that person prisoner or slave, and do what they wished. If they were feeling generous, they could send the criminal to a local sheriff, and they would be given a “kind” death: hanging.

A chilly waterfall of horror flushed through S’s body as she searched her master’s eyes.

“Are these accusations true?” D asked sternly, concern and dominance hinted in his eyes. The girl’s face lowered as she nodded softly. She lifted her gaze, but was unable to read Damian’s face. “And may I ask as to what you stole and why you did?”

“I- it was just some food and a few weathered blankets, Master.”

“And why did you take these things when I provide you with what you need? Are you planning an escape attempt perhaps?” D interrogated the girl. Just as it wasn’t the first time she had stolen, he wouldn’t be surprised if she were plotting to run... again. She had been tormented mercilessly for many of her attempts, although there were several times he had allowed her to get away with it. S trembled and her eyes pleaded desperately for Damian to believe her.

“No, Master! I swear it wasn’t an escape attempt, Sir! Please! I was just hungry and cold...”

D questioned the child further, but he was already aware exactly why she had done it.

“If you were hungry or cold, you could have come to me or N and we would have provided you with warmth and a meal. You know this, so why didn’t you ask?” D raised an eyebrow and lifted his hand to his chin, almost as if he were deeply pondering the situation.

“I- I was afraid to ask, Master. I feared that if I became too much of a burden to you, you would take my head.” Her eyes lowered to stare at the cold, golden floor she kneeled upon. She trembled even more, one of the first signs of the panic attack she could feel rising into her heart. A tear slipped, and landed on the ground like the first raindrop of a terrifying storm.

“So you thought that by stealing from my executioner, you could get away with it. You didn’t think he would notice. After all, the less you eat, the smaller of a burden you are to me, correct?” D questioned. S nodded, still afraid to meet his eyes. “And even if you were caught, you hoped I would put you out of your misery quickly, rather than make you suffer as K here would.” D pitied the slave. She was just a teenager, and a traumatized one at that. He recognized the need to correct her habit, however.

“Let me have her, D,” K cut in. S glared at him, a cocktail of hatred and horror drowning her tears. D put up a hand to stop K as he lunged forward, fangs bared.

“Now,” D shifted his eyes to the girl between him and K, “It seems we have a problem, don’t we?”

“Yes, Master D.”

“Leave us,” D glanced at K and his ambassador. K growled resentfully, but walked toward the door. The ambassador followed, understanding that the meeting would be over for the next few hours.

It was now between the prisoner and her captor. She knew what she deserved, and she grimaced as visions of her possible punishments overcame her.

“Please have mercy, Master,” she pleaded tearfully, whimpering with tiny gasps. Thirty seconds of silence went by as D stared at S, deep in thought.

“Why were you so afraid to ask?”

S spoke up nasally, still trying to hide her sobs.

“If- if I eat too much you’ll kill me.”

D knew better. She was the spitting image of his deceased sister, and his last plan was to execute the child. Of course, if it came to the point where his only option were the sword, he’d do it, but not for a little nourishment. He still tortured her as needed. She wasn’t his sister after all. He often needed to be reminded that she was a slave, a prisoner of war and ally of the enemy.

D didn’t respond to S’s statement, proving in her mind that her fears would soon come to life. He decided that instead of severely punishing her as he had done many times before, he’d use a harmless fear tactic.

“On your feet.” His sunken tone struck fear and earned a flinch from S. She did as was told, and rose, staring up into his icy glare. “Against the wall.” Once again, S responded submissively, walking to face the wall. D sauntered to his throne, prolonging the process in order to teach a lesson of obedience. He reached for a strand of rope which hung on the wall behind the throne, part of a daunting collection of restraints and weapons.

S’s body jolted as she was forcefully shoved into the gold plated wall. Her arms were yanked behind her back. Her wrists over crossed each other, palms out. The rope brushed against soft skin, leaving a burning trail of red rash as it slithered its way around her wrists.

Fingers sliding over S’s shoulder, D turned her body and guided her forward.

Oh God he’s gonna kill me... no. worse. He’s gonna torture me.

Hyperventilation shook S’s frail body, but instead dragging her to one of the torture chambers, D pushed her towards the opposite side of the throne room. The door on that side led to a stone spiral staircase. These stairs went up to a winding maze of hallways with different suites belonging to each individual royal in the small kingdom. Each suite was like an apartment, and contained its own prison cells for the men’s prisoners. Few ever left the private dungeons. To the surprise of the child, however, D didn’t chain her to a wall in his dungeon. He didn’t beat her to a pulp with the agonizing cracks of a nine stranded whip. A harsh necklace of rope wasn't strung around her neck, nor her tendons cut to allow her to choke to death.

Instead he led her in the opposite direction and down the stairs to the section of the castle that was used as a public hangout. The lower floor was set up with a kitchen, living space, dining hall, music and entertainment room, and had a porch leading outside.

D unsheathed a knife. S only knew this thanks to the familiar metallic scrape of the object leaving its home. A shudder wracked through her, and she expected the worst. Her eyes squeezed shut, and she braced herself, but the pain never came. Instead, D’s knife sliced its way through the rope, and the broken bonds fluttered to the floor.

D walked towards the couch, and picked up a heavy wool blanket. He draped it around his terrified slave. Her body shuddered when the scratchy warm fabric danced on her skin, the only touch she was used to being some form of excruciating torture.

“Sit,” D pointed towards the couch. S timidly waddled over. She was still skeptical that he would hurt her, but D was often merciful to her too. There was no real way of knowing whether he would hurt her or not. When he did, she knew he tried to be lenient, and he only punished her when he felt he had to. Now was one of the times that he may have to, she thought.

Frightened eyes examined every detail of her master making his way about the kitchen at the other side of the room. D heated something in a pot on the stove, occasionally glancing over to assure that his prisoner hadn’t made another escape attempt. The figure huddled in the corner of the couch, afraid to move or make a sound. Even under the shadows of the blanket wrapped over her head and body, dark circles of sleep deprivation made themselves visible.

D walked over to the girl, carrying with him a tray of soup, bread, and water. He set it on the coffee table in front of the couch.

“Eat,” he instructed. S didn’t budge. D stared with concern. He cared about her, even if she was his slave. He genuinely didn’t want to hurt her, but she had been his enemy, and a prisoner. Either she was afraid that he poisoned the food, or she was trying to kill herself with starvation.

S cowered away when a steamy spoon of tomato broth met her lips.

“Open.” She did as told, but tears began to fall as she took the liquid in. Whimpers and shivering came with each spoonful.

After several spoonfuls, D seemed to have convinced the child that he hadn’t poisoned her meal. He slowly slid his way up the couch to sit behind her. Drowsiness conquered S’s frail body and she began sleep softly, laying her head across her master’s lap. D combed her brown hair with his fingers, not daring to move. The sedative had finally set in, and he didn’t need to change that.

#whump prompts #emotional whump #whumpblr #whump community #whump scenario #whump prompt #whump trope #whumper #slave #prisoner

[conradoneil]

Among all of the colorways to drop was the original colorway that was released for the first time since 2007.

Probably, by words of several online shops, their Nike shoes are authentic, while in fact, when you receive the shoes, you may be disappointed, for sometimes, those shoes in online shops are fake ones. Among all of the colorways to drop was the original colorway that was released for the first time since 2007. Then at once his spirits rose, and he would begin with childlike openness giving her a full account of his adventures with Josephine; he smiled and laughed, blessed Natasha, and praised her to the skies, and the evening ended happily and merrily.. It is a fire that BURNS TO THE LOWEST HELL!. Boeing revealed their new beautiful 787 10 Dreamliner in February. On the walls were priceless tapestries, ancient and much faded, depicting the glory of the Old Empire of Ghis. By the time I turned up at two o’clock in the afternoon the poor woman’s agonies of suspense had reached an extreme pitch. Ghost was closer than a friend. 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[elderkale]

all you have to do is breathe. but you could never do that right either, could you?

tell me we’ll never get used to it - all you have to do is breathe. but you could never do that right either, could you?

“Glospin?”

“Theta. How nice of you to join us.”

“Why’re the lights off, what’re you—”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, cousin dear.”

“Glospin, what—oh.”

“Back away, Theta.”

“Glospin, what did you—”

“Ow!”

“Glospin!”

“You’ve stabbed me! You stabbed me!”

“What the hell are you doing? Get up, he—shit.”

“Help! Somebody, help!”

“Stop it!”

“What’s going on?”

“Oh, my god.”

“She stabbed me! She killed him, and she stabbed—”

“I didn’t do this, I just found—”

“Fuck, I can’t feel my fingers—oh, god, I’m faint—”

“Shut up!”

“Get her away from me!”

“Quences, he—”

“It was him—”

“I can’t—”

“I didn’t do this!”

“Stop it!”

“Get her off—fuck!”

“What the hell’ve you done?!”

*

“Hello, Theta.” She glances up at the new man.

“Hello. I like your waistcoat.”

The doctor smooths the wrinkles in it as he sits, placing his notebook on his knee. “Thank you.”

“They won’t let me have a waistcoat,” she says. Her chin is in her hand, elbow propped up on the armrest. It’s an expensive chair—it feels like one, at any rate—and she’s half-afraid her arm will sink into the leather. “Or a suit, for that matter. I’ve asked for one, asked them to bring me one from home, but they keep saying no. Why do you suppose that is?”

“When you say they, are you referring to your family?”

“Lovely weather, isn’t it?” she says, cocking her head in her hand. It’s pouring buckets, and the window panes rattle with every fat droplet.

“I suppose it is,” says the doctor, “if you like the downpour.”

“Rain’s nice,” she says. “Rain’s brilliant.”

He chuckles. “No shortage of that in Cardiff.”

“Love a good rainstorm,” she says. “And there’s always the best puddles afterwards. Mud, too. Love mud. Bad rep.” She frowns. “Too bad.” She glances at him out of the corner of her eye. There’s something written at the top of the page, but she can’t make out what it is. Shorter than a note, longer than the date. “Are you going to tell me that that’s a metaphor?”

“Do you see it as a metaphor?”

She shrugs. “Don’t know. Sounds like something you’re supposed to say.” She drops her arm and rolls her head back, staring up at the ceiling. “Why’s it always got to be a metaphor? Can’t anything just be what it is? Though,” she says, tilting her head from side-to-side, letting it roll across the back of the might-be-be-expensive chair, “I guess things wouldn’t be as interesting, then.” She glances up. The doctor is looking at her, a look of amusement writ across his face. “Sorry, were you talking? Carry on.”

“I didn’t say anything,” he says, still smiling. It’s a bit condescending, that smile, like he’s talking to a child. She wants to smack him.

“You’re supposed to. Maybe. I don’t do this often.”

“These sessions are for us to speak to each other, and for you to help me understand.”

“Understand.”

“You. Your issues.”

“Ah, of course.” She grins. She’s sure it doesn’t reach her eyes. “My issues.”

“You don’t think you have any?”

“Oh, no, I have plenty.”

“Which are?”

“I’m delusional, I suppose,” she says. “Mad? I’m afraid I don’t know the terms. I mauled my cousin, and I’ve been told by various—” she picks at a loose string on the pocket of her jeans, “—irrefutable sources that I stabbed him and killed my great-uncle, too.”

“You don’t believe it.”

“Oh, no.” She smiles pleasantly. “I’m a pacifist, you see.”

“Oh?”

Theta makes a face and leans over the armrest. “Nice courtyard,” she says, peering out the window. “Bit bland, but nice. Cobblestone, very daring, especially in this economy. Are we allowed outside? I think some fresh air would be nice, don’t you? Very good for—” she mimes a deep breath, then twirls her finger beside her head. “You know, clearing the head?” The doctor opens his mouth and she cranes her neck a bit further. “Lovely flowers,” she says. “What are those, daisies? Chrysanthemums? Dianthus caryophyllus?”

“. . . Dandelions.”

All in all, it’s a fantastic waste of time.

*

The thing about time, see, is that it passes. Obviously.

It’s not something she normally has the time (ha) to dwell on. Better things, yeah?

The thing about being shoved into a box is that she fancies she can feel each and every individual second scraping by. It’s grating, the boredom, and she thinks that, if she hadn’t been mad before, she certainly is now.

She’s finished all the books by the second week. She’s exhausted all scenarios of revenge by the third. She’s had two lamps, a chair, and her curtains confiscated by the fourth, and cutlery privileges revoked three days later.

She bursts into hysterical giggles when they come back and search her bedframe and even the pack of cards she hasn’t touched, and gets sedated for her effort.

It’s the first time she’s laughed since Christmas.

*

“Still no Black Sabbath?” asks Manny-with-the-hair.

“Nope.” She grins up at him, strumming a G.

He shakes his head, and his hair flops around his shoulders. It’s a fascinating thing to see from upside-down. “Shameful,” he tuts. “What’s this, then?”

She plucks a D. “Brahms.”

He watches her swallow her medication, and she waves him off with a grin. She spits out the pill the second the door shuts, wrinkling her nose as she wipes her tongue on the back of her sleeve.

She unwinds the axe that night, and cuts through the paint on her window with the tip of the D string. She picks the lock with E and B, and swings to the ground with the help of her bedclothes and G. She leaves the body on her bed with a smiley face drawn in black marker below the bridge.

She doesn’t get far. But that’s not the point.

*

“You’ve escaped twice this past month, Theta.”

“I’ve been caught twice,” she corrects. “On an unrelated note, I’m playing at a pub in Riverside next Thursday, so don’t be too disappointed when I don’t show up for our appointment.”

He gives her an admonishing look. “Theta.”

“You’re right, you’re right,” she sighs. “I lied. It’s on Tuesday. Hey, you should stop by!”

“You haven’t been speaking with any other patients.”

“You’re not going to tell me that I’m antisocial, are you?”

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you, Theta.” He leans forward. “It’s not good, to isolate yourself.”

“It’s not good for me to be locked up,” she counters, “but you still do it anyway.”

He ignores her. “You’ve only got one person on your visitor’s list. Isn’t there anyone else you’d like to add?”

She shrugs. There’s a ragged part of the armrest where she’s been putting her elbow, and she picks at the cracking leather with her nail. “Not that I can think of.”

“The number of people you keep denying says otherwise.” She ignores him. She slides lower in her seat and glances out the window. It’s sunny, ridiculously so, and the light bounces off the window and back into her eyes, making her wince.

She rubs the edge of her jumper between her thumb and forefinger. The wool is worn and growing threadbare. “Don’t wanna see.”

He tilts his head. She sees him ready his pen. “They don’t want to see you? Or you don’t want to see them?”

“Bit socially awkward, me,” she says over him, twisting a loose curl of purple yarn around her finger. “Wouldn’t know what to say. Not much to talk about. I think I’d just—” She waves her hand. “Make a weird noise and drift off. No point in them making the trip for that.”

“That’s just an excuse, Theta, and I think you and I both know it.”

“Excuses are just reasons you don’t like.” She shrugs. “Anyways.”

“Yes?” She shrugs again. He switches tactics. “Tell me about your family.”

She raises an eyebrow. “I thought you were supposed to be subtle.”

“You don’t respond to subtlety,” he says frankly.

“Eh.”

“You don’t get on with them.”

“Gold star!” she proclaims. “That doctorate is well-earned, I see.”

“Your relationships are strained. How did that happen?” Silence. He tries again. “What sets you apart from them, Theta?”

She groans. “My grandfather made his fortune digging up rocks,” she says. “My brother made his carving them into octopi with boobs. My father wasted his on his woes and exotic cheese. Meanwhile, I live in a loony bin and have no money. Happy?”

“Not particularly.”

“Hm. Shame.”

*

She spreads the envelopes out in front of her like a puzzle. The edges and corners slot together, just, and she runs her fingers over the gaps in her mosaic of correspondence. The paper is rough, just enough to bump and drag against her skin, and she runs her fingertips along the scalloped edges of the stamps.

There’s quite a number of them—not as much as she’d thought, but still more than she’d expected. She sees a magazine she doesn’t remember taking out a subscription for, and a handful of letters addressed in a familiar cramped scrawl.

She relishes the dig of hard edges into her hand as she balls each one of them up and drops them in the bin.

*

“You can’t keep doing this, Theta.”

“I’m insane,” she says with a smile that was all teeth and no warmth. “I can do what I want.”

“You’re not, and you know it.”

Brax looks conspicuously out-of-place, washed-out and sickly, beneath the dingy fluorescent lighting. The maroon of his suit stands out like a sore thumb against the stained yellow of his seat.

Theta nudges a pawn forwards. “Really? I don’t know, everyone else seems pretty insistent on it.”

Brax barely spares the board a glance as he picks up his knight. He taps the base of the plastic piece against each square, and Theta scowls. “It’s this or prison, and—”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” She scowls, slamming another pawn down. Brax glances down his nose at it, and shifts it closer to the centre of the square. “My sincerest apologies. How selfish of me to forget about your reputation when there’s a murderer walking free.”

He captures her queen and places it on his side of the rickety table, lining it up with her other fallen pieces. She glares at the board for a moment, then moves a piece at random. Brax lets out a long-suffering sigh that makes her want to punch him, and corrects its course. “This is a situation, Theta, and, as usual, you’ve done nothing to help alleviate it.”

“Far be it for your best speeches to be wasted in a hospital sitting room.” She sinks lower into her seat and stretches out her legs. Her scuffed trainers bump against the polished toes of his shoes and he shoots her a look promising nothing short of bloody vengeance before moving them out of the way.

“Petulance won’t help you.”

“Oh, no,” she says monotonously. “My great plan has been foiled.”

“They’ve told me that you’ve been escaping.”

“It’s not that hard, after the first few times,” she says. She kicks the seat of his chair. Thump thump thump. His eye twitches. “You should try it sometime. I’m sure you’d look lovely in a straightjacket.”

“Theta.” She throws her hands into the air.

“I’m going mad, Irving,” she spits, “madder than usual, and this is not my fault! Fuck’s sake, I didn’t kill him!”

“I’d stop shouting, if I were you,” he says drily. There’s a nurse glaring at her from the corner, and she makes sure she sees her stick her tongue out at her before turning back to her brother.

Brax shifts a bishop forwards. Theta stares at it, then reluctantly moves a pawn into the empty space. The sleeves of the stolen jumper are just a bit too long and loose, covering her hands, and the dangling ends knock a piece over. Brax straightens it. “How are the elections?” she asks. He ignores her, and captures the pawn. “Oh, am I not allowed to ask? Or are those over? It’s just so hard to keep track of things in here.”

“Theta.”

She cocks her head. “What about the funeral?” He glowers at her.

“Which one?”

She raises an eyebrow. “Pardon?”

He lets out a hiss of annoyance. “Haven’t you read a single letter?”

She lets out a long, drawn-out sigh. “It’s just so hard, you know?” she says. “To hear about things and know I won’t be able to take part?” She flutters her eyelashes. He looks nauseous. “Solitary confinement’s considered a form of torture, you know.”

“Glospin’s dead.”

She blinks slowly. Then again. When she opens her eyes for the third time, she’s still watching him. She leans forward and captures a rook. His eyes flick down to the board for a fraction of a second, then back again. “My condolences,” she says slowly.

“And mine.” He sounds almost bitter.

“Open casket?” she asks innocently.

She thinks he might have cracked his bishop. “Cremation,” he says with a glare.

“Conservative.” She nods. “Nice. Were there cocktails at the reception?”

He slams his knight into check and stands, straightening his suit. “Koschei Oakdown wants to be put on your visitor’s list,” he says shortly, doing up the buttons of his jacket. “I’ve denied it for you.”

She twists the corner of the jumper. “Thanks.”

“Lovely seeing you. Don’t get well soon. And read the letters, will you?” He slings his coat over his shoulder and then he’s gone, the door slowly swinging shut behind him. Not quite as dramatic as she thinks he was aiming for, but they’re not allowed to have slamming doors.

Her captured pieces are neatly lined up across from her like an army of ghosts, the remaining ones pinpricks across a board dominated by black. Her handful of hostages are scattered across the table, sad and pitiful in comparison.

She grabs her king and hurls it to the ground.

The floor is carpeted. It lands without a sound.

#tmwnguti #god bless present tense #doctor who #dw #the doctor #thirteenth doctor #irving braxiatel #doctor who fanfiction #fanfiction #fanfiction update #au #glospin #lungbarrow

[sailorshadzter]

Prompt idea: since D&D never bothered, write about how RLJ affects Jon. Bonus if Sansa goes to the rescue of hyper broody Jon.

yet another great prompt request! thanks!!

send me prompts

The air is sharp, is aching in his chest.

But perhaps that is more heartbreak than cold.

He sits beneath the canopy of red weirwood leaves, the lightest of snows falling from the gray sky above. In truth, he's missed this; the ache of the cold, the sense of isolation that the godswood brings. He still remembers the last time he prayed beneath these trees... The night they had taken Winterfell back. Beneath the trees, he had listened for the whispers of his family's ghosts, wishing that his father would speak to him, to guide him. Now, his father was not who he had always thought him to be.

Now, even he was someone else entirely.

That night after reclaiming Winterfell, when he had sat in this very spot, he had wished for Ned Stark to tell him he was on the right path. That in the end, everything he was fighting for was worth it. That losing Rickon meant something, that losing nearly everyone he loved meant something. Ned Stark had never showed himself, had never spoken to him, but rather Sansa had come to him, proving to him yet again just what his purpose in life had become.

Much like that night, he hears the soft crunch of snow beneath her boots. He would know the sound of her footsteps anywhere. When he looks up, she stands there just out of reach, vivid red hair dusted with the falling snow, her cheeks pink from the cold. For a long moment, there is nothing but silence, but her eyes tell him everything. "Sam told you." He turns away, unable to face her. He can't take her pity. His eyes burn but they do not spill over, though there again is that ache in his chest.

"No," she says as she sinks to the ground beside him, a heap of black and gray wool skirts there in the white snow. "Bran did." She goes on, her gaze unwavering until he raises his solemn gray eyes to meet hers. "It doesn't change anything," she ventures on, the words thick in her throat. This revelation changes everything, but not in the way anyone else thinks. "You're still Jon, you're still my bro-" she stops, shaking her head before she reaches out to touch his hand. "You're still Jon." She clarifies and this time, a small smile flickers on his lips. "Targaryen, Stark, Snow... It doesn't matter because to me, you're always going to be Jon."

Her words mean everything to him. "Thank you, Sansa," he says quietly, slipping his hand into hers.

His mind is a whirlwind of moments; wrestling with Robb in the courtyard, Arya and Bran cheering on the sidelines. Then there's Sansa with baby Rickon in her arms, their hair matching shades of red. There's his father- for that's who Ned Stark was- telling him that their blood was one and the same, even if their names were not. Even Lady Stark is there, her severe face softening only when she once peered down at him in his sickbed. There's Sansa again, appearing through the gates of Castle Black hours after his revival, her face bruised and her soul broken. She's there over and over again, hundreds of little moments, like the warm touch of her hand or the soft glow of her smile. Maybe it was as Sansa said, all along he's been a Stark.

Maybe it was as she said, that nothing had to change.

Well, one thing has to change, he thinks as their eyes meet once again. All these months of cat and mouse, of fighting the feelings that grew between them... Suddenly, the one thing that kept them apart all this time was gone. "Sansa... I..." He begins, for what better time than now would be to tell her the truth of how he feels? They are days, no, hours, from the fight against the Night King and he knows as well as she does that either one of them could be dead when it was over. He wants her to know the truth of how he feels before then, just in case... "Sansa..." She's leaning in, so close he can feel the warmth of her breath against his skin when she exhales, her lower lip caught between her teeth. It's there on the tip of his tongue, it's there for him to say except....

"What are you doing?"

They spring apart and when they turn, its Arya they're facing. "Arya!" Sansa says, jumping to her feet, dusting her snow covered skirts off. "I told you not to sneak up on people like that!" Arya smirks but nods anyways, knowing she should honor her sister's wishes- even if she enjoyed frightening Sansa when she did. "We were just talking," Sansa goes on, looking down at Jon who still yet sits, clearly recovering from the shock of Arya appearing and catching them in a moment that they could not really explain. There was only one reason two people leaned in so close to one another and it was not a reason that two supposed half siblings should have had.

"Right, talking," Arya replies after a moment, suspicion in her dark colored eyes as they fall upon her older siblings. But she says nothing more on the subject- she's seen the looks Sansa and Jon have exchanged and she knows what those looks say. She only wishes they would be honest with her and honestly, with themselves. "White walkers were spotted," she changes the subject and that's when Jon finally snaps back to reality. "Just outside of Wintertown." When Jon is on his own feet, Arya offers him the quickest of smiles, a smile that says what her words are not. "I'll see you two at dinner," she raises her hand in a gesture of goodbye before she turns and heads back the way she must have come, her footsteps silent despite the snow beneath her feet.

"I don't know how to tell her," Jon says when she's long gone, though his stare follows the path she had once walked. Of all the Stark children, with the exception of Robb, he'd always been closest to Arya. But now... She was like a different person. He doesn't know what she'll say or how she'll react when he tells her the truth of his parentage. Again, he's full of doubt, and full of fear of what this new revelation will do to the family he's just barely begun to piece back together again.

"She loves you as much as I do," Sansa speaks quietly and Jon turns back to look at her, though she too is staring off at where Arya had once been walking. "You're her big brother, no matter what." Her gaze shifts and she smiles when their eyes meet. "Nothing will change for you two." That she knows for certain. Jon could have told Arya that he wasn't even their cousin and she would still love him the same. Jon sucks in a breath and nods, knowing she was right, as always. "We should go back... Before someone else sneaks up on us." They laugh and Jon offers her his arm, unable to help but to smile when she loops hers with his and they begin to make their way back towards Winterfell. "I mean it, you know..." She says as they walk, causing Jon to arch a brow at her, a silently posed question. "That you're always going to be Jon to me. It doesn't matter if your my brother or not, I'm always going to love you as I do." Her cheeks are two red blooms of color and he knows the color doesn't come from the cold.

He longs to say it, but he's lost his nerve, and so all he can do is lean in closer to her as they come up over the hill, her body warm against his. But he vows, before the battle begins, she'll hear the truth from his own lips.

#jonsa #prompt request #jon x sansa #my writing #i wrote this #send me prompts #eonweheraldodemanwe

[mariespeaksg-dsgrace]

Bible Study Wednesday

The Bible study Wednesday !!!!!!!!   Book of Matthew 3:1-6   John the Baptist (Honestly, he is one of my favorites in the Bible)

a. John The Baptist is in the wilderness  a1. calling for people to repent      a2. Prophecy for filled b. John The Baptist clothing c. John The Baptist diet d. John The Baptist at the Jordan River preforming Baptisms   d1. Those baptized confessed their sins

I can't honestly explain why I love John The Baptist so very much, but I do. I feel a calling to learn about him.  This calling is something I'm very excited to explore.

Me being a "baby Christian" and certainly new to actually Studying the Bible; I like to dig into almost every thing.....which leads to the following questions: Why was  The Baptist part of John's signature?  (I know should be obvious, but yet....I wondered). Who was the Prophet who spoke about "one crying out in the wilderness"? What other Prophecies did Isaiah speak?   In wondering these questions I looked up information and below is some of what I found:

Q:Who was the Prophet who spoke about "one crying out in the wilderness"? A: Isaiah https://www.biblestudytools.com/isaiah/40-3-compare.html Q:What other Prophecies did Isaiah speak?   A: I decided on this question I'm going to need to do more research and ready/study the book of Isaiah. Q:Why was  The Baptist part of John's signature? A: Well, the answer was just as I thought, because he baptized and there are many Johns in the Bible; so this was a to single out the correct John. https://www.biblehub.com/matthew/3-4.htm

SOOOOOOOooooo there yah have it.....ohh sometimes it honestly hurts to not know.

a. John The Baptist, calling people to (b)repent in the wilderness was for told by the (c)Prophet Isaiah. John the Baptist is the cousin of Yeshua. Which leads me to ask: as cousins didn't they grow up with each ohther?  Maybe becomes they grow up together this is how John of course knew his cousin Yeshua is the Messiah.  Maybe this is why when Yeshua came to the Jordan river to be Baptized John The Baptist was so surprised?  

Another writing I found interesting was the description of the clothing and diet of John the Baptist.  Soooo me being me I decided to look the items up. (b.)  camel hair clothing= Camels have two layers of hair. Top layer is the guard hair.  The under layer is the under coat.  Outer layer is for protection. The inner layer is soft and fine. (b.).  leather belt/leather girdle= this was or is a wide belt worn about the waist of Prophets.  This was an outside badge (so to speak).  This outside badge let others know that John was a Prophet of great importance. The leather belt was most likely made out of the camels skin. In either case; the fur, skin, and other parts of the camel were at these times and in fact still today considered luxury...high end...name brand. If one does a search of camel hair or skin clothing, one will find camel products are still sought after to this day. (c.) locust and wild honey diet= Now I fully admit I was like YUCK!.... no way....But this is why I had to look up this diet. (https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21847517), BBC.com states in Biblical times locust was considered a delicacy.  In fact, many would dread the eating of the crops when swarms of locust would come to the lands, but others would see the locust as a blessing.  Blessing?! Yes!!! Why? Well, red, yellow, spotted grey, and white locust are able to be consumed.  Locust is considered a Kosher snack, clean food, Leviticus (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+11&version=NRSV) states locust is within the dietary laws.  Even in present times farmers will catch these locust and sell a variety of this snack to include chocolate cover locust and or salted fried locust.  Amazing right!!! I would have never known if I hadn't looked up this information above.

So what I gather from the new knowledge above is: I was taught Yeshua and the disciples wore cotton or wooly clothes.  The only wool I really know is sheep, therefore I guess I assumed it was sleeps wool that was worn.  But no!  Yeshua and others who were of high importance wore amazing luxury items of clothing showing their importance and place in Gods kingdom.  Which lead me to wonder: Why I have I been taught dressing up is making "yourself an idle", "invoking the jezebel spirit", "making others lust after your hot bod"?  Why I have I been taught this. Made to be ashamed for just trying to look presentable?  

  Yeshua look presentable.  John the Baptist dressed in luxury.  So why are religious leaders teaching women and men that they are sinning if they dress up?  Should we walk around in rags?  Should we not take pride in our persons? Should we not take care of our person? Should we not watch what we eat, speak, act like/of, those who we surround ourselves with.....Isn't our outside badges supposed to represent our relationship with Yeshua, God, and the Holy Spirit?  Then why would one take pride in what God has provided for them.  I am not saying to dress provocative or in vanity, but I do believe God wants us to dress the part for what he has provided based off not only the seeds we have plants, but our relationship to him.  

 That being said .....If one is dressing in order to deceive or with the intention of created lust and or distractions...then yes I agree with the " jezebel spirit" invoking saying.  I guess its the intentions behind the presentation that one has; which sets out the meaning in this world and in the spiritual world. Example: If one were to wear a revealing outfit in order to try and get a discount at a store or auto body shop. (Don't even say it doesn't happen. I've seen and done this before....FYI...I repented....).  If one dressing up for a board meeting. professional.  If one wears extremest tight clothing in order to distract or create lust of the opposite sex. jezebel.  I think my point is made.  But think this also leans towards later teaching of how a man is to not dress and a woman, and I woman is to not dress like a man. But we shall see this later.

(d.). I also wonder why is the Jordan so very important.  Through out the Bible the Jordan is referenced several times.  This lead me to ask questions: Were there any other bodies of water near by?  The answer is debatable.  Some historians and geologist; say that 12 rivers or stream feed to and from the Jordan River.  When I heard the number 12...I immediately thought of the 12 tribes of Judea....God's people.  SOoooo naturally I wanted to learn some of the history of the Jordan River.  I was able to find this link (http://www.baptismsite.com/history-pre-jesus/) which had some much information. Check it out if you would like.

At the Jordan River,  John The Baptist is calling for people to repent. Many would travel from Jerusalem and all of Judea to baptized.  After confessing of their sins, John would baptize them.  I love this story. Coming cleaning, to be made clean, and one with God.

I wonder how for do we go to be loved and right with God? Do we go further than we do to be loved by man?  Do we repent with a full heart to our savior?  It's not like God doesn't know all that one has or hasn't been up to.  It's not like God does not know the times we have comprised, lied , deceived, gossiped, lived immorally, prostituted  ourselves for material comforts.  Its not like God doesn't know the times we could have spoken up or out, but choose to fear man instead of fearing God.  So why don't many repent?        I know there are many possible excuses...yes I said excuses.  I know many have their reasons, but I still wonder why not repent? The only reasons I can see why someone does not or might not repent are: They are not remorseful for the acts they have committed. They have no intention of getting right with God. They are fearful of man image. Or the saddest of them all (in my opinion) they are too scared to give up worldly ways or Godly ways.

Friends, Today I pray we to not be afraid of the world.  Today I pray we not be ashamed of our love for Christ.  Let us wrestle the worldly ways like Jacob wrestled an Angel.  Let us emerge from the fire not smelling of smoke.  Let us come boldly to the thrown, humble ourselves, confess our sins; and receive the cleansing of God's spirit.  Repent. allow ourselves to to be Baptized and move in the bossism of God.  Today, I pray we take up our resources and have an active part in learning of the Bible and and Godly spiritual ways.  I pray, we search out the questions we have of God.  I pray, we pray to God and ask him to answer any questions we may have.  I pray, we ask God to make it known to us Christian Educators who are truly of him.  I pray, we be sent those who are of God and will help us learn and grow in the Lord.  I pray, once we receive education of God at any level; if it God's will we take up this education and share the education to further God's kingdom here on Earth.  Let us not be afraid or embarrassed to Shout from the mountains tops,"I am a child of God! Yeshua Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins!  In his blood I am protected and made clean! I will not allow others to force me to hide my faith!  I will not submit to political corrects, that wants me to keep my relationship with God between four walls of the church. The church is with me, of me, where I stand; because I stand with and for the GREAT I AM!!!!!!!"

I pray this in the great name of Yeshua. Amen

   RECAP: I will be using my Second Edition Fully revised and expanded book: The Jewish Annotated New Testament. I purchased this book from Barnes and Noble a while back. I have provided the link below incase anyone is interested. No, Im not paid or sponsor by this book, editors, or writers, or Barnes and Noble, just sharing information. (Plus, as a side note I personally don't like it when information of where to look up reference with held when I am watching others on channels etc, so I try and provide the sources of which I am gathering information.) https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-jewish-annotated-new-testament-marc-z-brettler/1125563566 This is just me doing my part to share THE GOOD NEWS, from a study Bible new Christian study person view of the world, experiences, and study bible sorts. So I completely understand any others interpretations, but this is my blog so obviously that interpretations I write with my views and applications to my life, from my life. I pray this helps others. I pray I can help further God's kingdom here on Earth. I pray God be with us in our study and guide us to wisdom, knowledge, and discernment; for our souls shake. In Yeshua Jesus loving name. Amen.  I will be going through this study bible book by book, verse by verse. While comments are welcomed, any negative and evil comments will not be tolerated(towards myself or others) by me. I don't aim to divide, but bring us together as sisters and brothers in Christ. I can accept different points of view, but evil words will never be tolerated or welcomed. It is ok to disagree, but not to attack. It is ok to have a different view or interpretations, but not to curse(spiritual definition). And as always if others have information to add, or thoughts to be considered, please post in comments sections. Thank you friends and Christian family.

[wishingfornever]

12/8/17 – No Contact:  Pet Store Blues

It snowed last night.  In Houston.  What’s weird is that my dad predicted that it was going to get really cold.  Tried to encourage me to take my peacoat.  I like my peacoat but it’s wool and I doubt it’d get much use in Houston.  Admittedly, my fleece jacket isn’t enough to keep me warm anymore but I still have a leather jacket.

Not very vegetarian, but I already said I couldn’t go full vegan. Ignoring the times I’ve eaten meat since I got here. That said, I’m in the 240’s for my weight now.  I was concerned I’ve gained weight but I haven’t.  I’m still losing.  This is a lot of good news for me.  I’m glad.  I was concerned that I was gaining this week.  Seems I haven’t been.  Of course, my progress of which I’m losing weight may have been slowed down but that’s fine.  So long as I’m not gaining. Of course, that’s ignoring the fact that I might not hit my goal by the end of April but not the point.

I just checked my credit.  It’s bad.  Really bad.  My dad told me that I shouldn’t pay my old bills because, “What are they going to do?  Find you?”  Of course, he’s from a different age.  Today, we have this thing called “credit” and that follows you.  So, no. It’s far worse. Thing is, I had the money to pay the bills.  I could have paid all of them.  Instead, I paid most of them and decided not to pay one.  That was when he said, “Don’t pay.” So I didn’t.  And now it bit me in the ass. My dad likes to dramatically proclaim how right he is all the time and how it’s his burden to bear, watching people not listen to him and suffer for it.  I listened to him.  I suffered for it.  I tell my cousin not to listen to him.  I tell him for a reason. My dad screwed me over.  He didn’t mean to, but I was ignorant.  My brother is pretty aware of how the world works whereas my dad is just out of touch.  I really need to establish contact with him again. I’ve basically fallen off the face of the earth with a lot of my family.  Personally, I feel it’s better that way. I wonder if my poor credit will follow me into other nations.

So, Adela came home early because Max had to go to the vet.  I was all aboard until I realized that it’s in a pet store Esther and I went to earlier this year.  She just wanted to look around and we brought Max with us.  I was close to getting pretty emotional, so I asked Adela if I could wait in the car.

I was actually pretty happy when Esther was there.  She was happy too. She was excited to see all the animals and was just… uplifting.  We picked something up, I think for Max.  Canned dog food.  Yeah, that was it.  Because Adela was out and Max wasn’t eating.  He has a lot of mood swings for a dog. When we were about to check out, the cashier asked if we wanted to buy some cat food, which will be used for donations in a local shelter.  I asked a bit more about it and brought up my cat I had in Texas who was a stray so I bought a few of them.  Esther, who was quite supportive mind you, was super surprised.  She mentioned that my current cat was in California and we both looked at her and I told her that we weren’t taking the cat food.  The cat food was what is going to the shelters, not the money. She was like, “Oh,” and was perhaps a bit embarrassed. She was endearing.  I miss her.

I know why she doesn’t want to talk to me.  Because she thinks I’m a Narcissist, as mentioned before.  Like NPD narcissist.  I don’t blame her.  But fucking hell… Shane fucking betrayed me on that. Daniel was reporting everything to Dennis and Esther.  I had a dream that I was trying to explain that Shane was telling me that Dennis was saying all these horrible things about me.  I was telling this to both Dennis and Esther and when I said it, they both rolled their eyes.

Shane said he wasn’t talking to me while filling me with these dumb ideas.  He was filling them with dumb ideas but the thing is, I was the only one who was actually pushed into acting on these dumb ideas. I believed Shane.  Hell, I defended Shane. And Daniel… he chose his brother over me.  Which is understandable but it baffles me.  I’m still friendly with Daniel but I can’t trust him.  I revealed a conversation between Dennis and me earlier this year. About how Dennis was angry with Daniel and said that he would break a bottle over Daniel’s head.  I shared it because I wanted to joke with Daniel but he had no idea what I was saying.  I realized Dennis was lying and because I was upset, I decided to share it with Daniel. The thing is, Dennis was always like that with Daniel.  Like they were never that close.  That’s why it surprised me.  Esther told me that I was trying to turn Daniel against Dennis. No.  I thought Dennis was targeting me and literally gone crazy.  I legitimately thought Daniel was in danger. Dennis has never really said anything nice about Daniel.  Daniel, however, is a good brother.  He’s protecting Dennis.  Daniel deserves better, honestly, but that’s fine.  What bothers me is that Daniel never approached me.  Never told me I’m acting childish or petty.  Never corrected me. People don’t talk to me.  Those who do have their own agenda.

Whatever. Daniel is still a nice guy.  But… he can’t be trusted.  Not because he chose to reveal everything to Dennis but because he refused to tell me anything.  He’ll nod his head and say, “Sure thing!” and then blow me off.  If I discuss anything serious with him, he won’t tell me how he really feels.  If that serious topic is something that I’m legitimately concerned with, then there is a good chance that these concerns will fall on deaf ears.  I’ll get passed over for priorities. Daniel isn’t to be trusted but he can be tolerated.  Shane can’t be trusted either.  And now, I guess he won’t be tolerated.  He isolated himself now.  Maybe. Possible he’s talking to Dennis and Esther again, but I’m not sure. Not that it matters anymore. I have plenty of friends but I have few allies.

So, I was pretty concerned Ariel was angry at me.  Yesterday I pissed her off.  She was in a bad mood and my shitty joke made it worse.  Today, we hardly spoke but we’re speaking now.  Seems she drained her phone’s battery from 88% to 0.

She sent a selfie.  This makes me happy.  Helps after today.

Oh, I had meat again.  A torta.  It’s like a Mexican sandwich.  Has ham and stuff, was super good.  Had it with horchata.  There is a chance that Ariel may come to Houston.  I’ll talk to Adela about it.  As I was drinking, all I was thinking was “I can’t wait to share this with Ariel.”

I know, it seems like I have a love triangle with Esther and Ariel which is stereotypical for a narcissist, but I don’t.  Especially since Esther is having nothing to do with me.  And that Ariel was very important in our relationship anyways.  It’s complicated but it’s not to support my ego.

Messaged my sister earlier.  Was talking to her about credit.  We’re talking now and she’s saying I should get a credit card and it’ll help. Not a bad idea.  She suggests against getting a loan.  Credit card is best option.  Hrm...

Ariel might get a job that pays 10k Euro a month.  Holy fuck.  Like, HOLY fuck.  It’d be with Netflix.  Just has to translate English to Dutch for Netflix.  And she could translate English to Albanian.  And English to French.  Like, she’s quad-lingual.  I’m envious.  I have trouble with Spanish and my Spanish has gotten worse within recent years.

This is a great opportunity.  She has back trouble from a workplace injury.  Pieces of her spine are now titanium.  A job like that would be great for her.  This is exactly what she needs.  And 10k Euro is like 12k USD.  A month.  That’s triple digits a year.  Geez.  I hope I could have her as a sugar mama.  :D

Oof… I don’t want to sound like I’d leech off her.  I was hoping my books would sell and I could live comfortably off that.  But I haven’t worked on them in days.  Since Esther exploded and began yelling at me.  Through the phone.  But if Ariel could afford to come here on her own accord, that’d be easier for me in the long run. I’d make decent pay if I enlist.  I’d save up and use that to move out of the country.  Maybe she’ll still have that job when I’m out.  Then she and I can live together.  Then I could start writing my books again and things won’t turn to crap.  That’d be ideal…

I’m not sure I’m that lucky.  Not that Ariel would pay my way for everything, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to enlist.  And even then, for how long?  And Ariel would have to be willing to wait even longer afterwards.  Honestly, though… I hope she gets the job for at least herself.  I could vanish tomorrow but she’d still have to live with herself.  Hopefully, she can afford it.

And she needs a break.  She really needs it.  Life hasn’t been easy for her.  Life hasn’t been easy for a lot of people.  But if anyone needs a break, it’d be her.  And perhaps Esther.  But definitely Ariel. She’s in bed now.  I’m going to get ready for bed myself.  I have to wake up at about 6:30 in the FUCKING morning. Gotta leave at 7:40.  Not ideal, but that’s life.  Adela could drive me if I’m late.  I’m a little concerned that my attire won’t be warm enough.  My fleece jacket is blue but light.  Not really good for stopping the wind.  My leather jacket is warm and black but I will be wearing a lot of black.  I hate black.

Well, I guess it won’t matter.  Time to set an alarm for 6.  Later.

[themoneybuff-blog]

Buy it for life: Choosing quality over price

Note: This is a substantial re-write of an article I first published more than twelve years ago. (Yikes, I'm old!) I've opted to keep some of the older comments if they had good suggestions. Earlier this week, I wrote about my quest for quality pajamas. I recently paid $80 to purchase a pair from Filson, a company I trust for well-made goods. It's my hope that these will be the last pair of pajamas that I ever purchase. My goal was to buy it for life. This experience reminded me of two other companies that I love for their top-notch stuff. The first is a company called Best Made, which aims to make and sell the finest, most beautiful and useful products made by any company anywhere. And they do. Best Made offers an esoteric collection of clothing and household items, all of which offer quality reminiscent of your grandmother's era. The catch? The quality comes at a higher cost.Or there's the Portland-based Schoolhouse company (formerly Schoolhouse Electric), which makes and sells a variety of lighting, hardware, and furniture for the home. I've purchased a few things from Schoolhouse over the years, and I've been blown away by the quality. The items were expensive up front and I was hesitant to purchase them, but my reservations have vanished with time and usage. The blanket covering my feet at this very moment, for example, cost $250 (I think) but will last the rest of my life. Here's something I've learned over the past fifteen years: One way to practice financial prudence while living the good life is to buy quality products, products that are a pleasure to use, products that will last a lifetime (or at least a decade). Today, let's talk a little about choosing quality over price. Let's talk about the buy it for life philosophy.

How to Find the Good Stuff The first challenge is to figure out how to find the good stuff. When you're ready to make a purchase, how can you know which items are quality and which are run of the mill? Sometimes you'll know which company offers a high-quality version of whatever it is you need to buy, either from personal experience or from paying attention to friends and family. Or, if you don't know off the top of your head, you know whom to ask for more information. If I wanted to buy audio gear, for instance, I'd ask my brother. He's an audiophile and could steer me in the right direction. Most of the time, however, you'll have to do some research. When it comes time for me to make a major purchase, the first resource I turn to is Consumer Reports. I've been a CR subscriber on and off since I graduated from college in 1991. I trust their reviews, especially the comprehensive evaluations online. (The magazine doesn't have room to go into depth.) When Kim and I bought our country cottage, for instance, I used Consumer Reports to figure out which tools to purchase for the yard and garden. (I ended up choosing an EGO electric mower, along with the company's string trimmer and hedge trimmer.) For smaller items, I use Amazon to guide my decisions. Deciphering Amazon reviews is something of an art. I make sure to always read the one-star reviews in order to learn if there's anything drastically wrong with a product. I've also devised my own rough guide to parsing Amazon reviews: Five stars is equivalent to an A.Four and a half stars is the same as a B.Four stars is roughly a C. (From my experience, most Amazon items earn four stars.)Three and a half stars is a D. I try not to purchase anything rated this low but sometimes there's no alternative.Three stars and below is the same as an F. I never purchase products rated three stars or below. One final resource for finding quality products is the /r/BuyItForLife forum on Reddit. /r/BIFL allows users to share items they own that are durable, practical, proven, and built to last. Here's the /r/BIFL compilation of kitchen essentials, for instance. You can find more lists like that in the /r/BIFL sidebar. One GRS reader recently noted that choosing quality over price is a luxury reserved for the rich. People who are struggling to get by are often forced to take the cheapest option, even if it costs more in the long run. That's an interesting observation. Where to Buy It for Life Over the past decade or so, I've compiled a mental list of companies that I feel sell wonderful products. Below is a list of a few of my favorites. (Most of these are clothing companies, for some reason. Maybe because I buy clothes more often than, say, furniture?) Filson (Seattle, 1897, Might as well have the best) sells outdoor clothing, hats, bags, and accessories. I own two Filson hats, a Filson vest, a Filson jacket, Filson pajamas, and several Filson bags. Each piece was spendy but worth it. Filson makes high-quality products.Patagonia (California, 1965, Committed to the core) makes active outdoor clothing and gear. I own a couple of Patagonia jackets and a couple of travel shirts. They've served me well. (Sale items.)Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) (Seattle, 1938) is a outdoor gear co-op that's very popular in the Pacific Northwest. I own tons of REI gear, including my favorite travel backpack. They're one of my favorite companies. (Sale items.)Pendleton Woolen Mills (Portland, 1909, Good for life) makes and sells shirts and blankets. Before the damn dog ate it, I owned one Pendleton hat that I wore frequently. I've owned Pendleton shirts, and have always been impressed. (Sale items.)Stetson (complicated history) is best known for its hats and boots, but they offer offer other items as well. I own one Stetson oilcloth cap (no longer available) that I picked up in the Normandy region of France on a cold and windy afternoon. (Sale items.)Timberland (Boston, Make it better) makes footwear, it's true, but they offer a lot of other products too. In 2007, I bought a pair of Timberland hiking boots. I love them. I'm now nearing the end of my second pair. (Sale items.)Icebreaker (New Zealand, 1995) makes merino wool clothing. Long-time readers know that I'm an Icebreaker fan. I own a couple of their jackets, a cap, some socks, and probably 20 different t-shirts. (For real!) Just yesterday, I bought a long-sleeve button-down shirt from Icebreak for an upcoming winter trip to Austria and Hungary. (Sale items.)Birkenstock (Germany, 1897) makes quality footwear. In college, I started wearing the Milano sandals from Birkenstock. They're my go-to summer shoe. I bought my last pair in Key West, Florida during our RV trip. I'll need to get a new pair next year. (Sale items.)Land's End (Chicago, 1963) is a popular mail-order clothing supplier. When I was younger, I owned a lot of their stuff, but somehow forgot about them. I recently placed my first Land's End order in a long time. (Sale items.)Stickley (New York, 1900, Collector quality furniture since 1900) makes classic fine furniture. Much of the modern Get Rich Slowly has been written from a Stickley Morris recliner. During the depths of the Great Recession just after I sold this blog I purchased four Stickley pieces at deep discounts. I love them.Tom Bihn (Seattle, 1972) makes awesome bags and backpacks specifically designed for people who travel or who are on the go. I own The Maker's Bag and love it. Kim loves it too. In fact, I had to buy her one so that she would leave mine alone. (We also have their dog training bag.)Apple (California, 1976) has grown from a company with a cult-like following to a respected manufacturer of quality computers. I converted in the early 2000s, and I don't regret it. Their machines are expensive, but they're very well made. (And you know what? They run Windows too!) Most of my life is spent in front of a Mac screen. Sad but true. (Sale items.) This list isn't intended to be comprehensive. These are the companies I know and have used in the past. I'm sure I've left out plenty of fine places. If there's a firm you feel ought to be included in this list, let me know in the comments. I had lunch with my cousin yesterday. When I told him I was writing this article, he shared his experience looking for quality clothing. He recently lost a lot of weight and had to replace his entire wardrobe. I can afford to buy things new, Nick told me, but I don't like to pay that much. I've been shopping at thrift stores to find the same stuff for much less. And you know what? I really do think the famous name brands do tend to have better quality. (Nick is like the anti-consumer, so this observation means something coming from him.) See also: How to shop at thrift stores for quality clothing over at The Luxe Strategist. The Good Stuff (According to GRS Readers) As I was preparing this piece, it occurred to me that I ought to ask folks on Facebook and Twitter where they go to find the good stuff. When do they choose to buy it for life? I received a lot of responses!

Some people offered suggestions on how to buy it life. Here, from the GRS Facebook group, are three top tips:

Jacob from Early Retirement Extreme had some good advice for determining whether any given item is considered quality by the people who own it: Check eBay to see if it's retained its value.

I took the time to sift through the roughly one hundred replies I received on social media. While this was by no means a scientific survey, the responses were interesting. First, it's clear that people are willing to pay a premium for certain classes of products. I was shocked by the number of people praising footwear. We all want comfortable, quality shoes, and when we find them, we remain loyal to the companies who provide them. I love my Timberlands, for instance, but others are willing to pay extra for Dr. Martens or Merrell. Keen was the most-recommended shoe company in my survey. Some smaller shoe companies like Trask and Samuel Hubbard received rave reviews. (A few folks mentioned socks, specifically Bombas and Darn Tough.)Sleep is also important. Some people recommended pillows or sheets, but most focused on their mattress. Tempur-Pedic garnered the most mentions. (When we moved in together, Kim and I shopped for a high-quality mattress. I think we chose Tempur-Pedic also, but I'm not willing to strip the bedding to find out.)People are also willing to pay more to ease life in the kitchen. Several people raved about their Vitamix blenders. Mostly, though, folks mentioned their knives. I own (and love) a chef's knife from Shun, as do a couple of other readers. Others, like my ex-wife, prefer Henckel knives. Justin from Root of Good offered an awesome alternative. His family buys Kiwi knives from Thailand at $3 or $4 each. (They go for $9 on Amazon, which is still a great deal.) All knife lovers agree on one thing: The best way to make your life easier is to sharpen your blades!Several women, including my girlfriend, told me they're willing to pay a premium for high-quality cosmetics. But each person cited a different brand of cosmetics that they're loyal to. Because I'm a boy and know nothing about this stuff, I'm not going to link to any one company. (But you can in the comments below.)Lastly, outdoor gear proved popular in my poll. Many people like Arc'teryx (a brand I've never tried). Others praised Patagonia or REI or L.L. Bean. Some readers zeroed in on very specific items. Whitney Hansen, the Money Nerd, likes a particular adventure blanket. Long-time reader Tyler K says Benjamin Moore paints are so amazing that he'll never buy paint from a hardware store again. Another reader recommended Casio G-Shock watches. Several people were fans of Hydro Flask. (Me too! I own three of their water bottles and think they're amazing.) And a lot of people seem to think Otter Box phone cases are essential. But can you guess the number-one company that GRS readers turn to for quality products? It's the biggest tech company in the world: Apple. Apple didn't used to be known for quality. (In fact, their quality was crap twenty years ago.) Now, though, things have changed. Apple quality has won converts like me and you.

Finally, several people mentioned that they do their best to buy products with lifetime warranties. Then, if they break or something goes wrong, they can get a replacement. (Leah Ingram maintains a list of companies with lifetime warranties.) By purchasing items with a lifetime warranty, you're making certain that buy it for life is literal, not figurative! Quality Is Part of a Rich Life One follower on Twitter took me to task for tackling this topic. He believes that talking about spending more to purchase quality items is tantamount to encouraging consumerism. Like I said the other day, I do sometimes worry that this sort of thing crosses the line to lifestyle inflation. Most of the time, however, I think choosing quality is a smart financial decision. Meanwhile, Liz from Frugalwoods has written in the past that the buy it for life philosophy can be problematic. If you're buying the best of everything, that's an issue. You should only buy the best when thing your buying is an important part of your lifestyle. (Why spend a ton on something you rarely use?) And what about changing fashion and priorities? I believe that buying well-made things, things that spark joy when used, is part of living a Rich Life. Most of us don't aim to be ascetics. We're not frugal for the sake of frugality. We've scrimped and saved and worked hard to build wealth precisely so that we can spend money on products that make our lives easier and/or more enjoyable. There's nothing wrong with that.

Author: J.D. Roth In 2006, J.D. founded Get Rich Slowly to document his quest to get out of debt. Over time, he learned how to save and how to invest. Today, he's managed to reach early retirement! He wants to help you master your money and your life. No scams. No gimmicks. Just smart money advice to help you reach your goals. https://www.getrichslowly.org/buy-it-for-life/

[thegloober]

Buy it for life: Choosing quality over price

Earlier this week, I wrote about my quest for quality pajamas. I recently paid $80 to purchase a pair from Filson, a company I trust for well-made goods. It’s my hope that these will be the last pair of pajamas that I ever purchase. My goal was to “buy it for life”.

This experience reminded me of two other companies that I love for their top-notch stuff.

The first is a company called Best Made, which aims to make and sell “the finest, most beautiful and useful products made by any company anywhere”. And they do. Best Made offers an esoteric collection of clothing and household items, all of which offer quality reminiscent of your grandmother’s era. The catch? The quality comes at a higher cost.

Or there’s the Portland-based Schoolhouse company (formerly Schoolhouse Electric), which makes and sells a variety of lighting, hardware, and furniture for the home. I’ve purchased a few things from Schoolhouse over the years, and I’ve been blown away by the quality. The items were expensive up front and I was hesitant to purchase them, but my reservations have vanished with time and usage. The blanket covering my feet at this very moment, for example, cost $250 (I think) but will last the rest of my life.

Here’s something I’ve learned over the past fifteen years: One way to practice financial prudence while living the good life is to buy quality products, products that are a pleasure to use, products that will last a lifetime (or at least a decade).

Today, let’s talk a little about choosing quality over price. Let’s talk about the “buy it for life” philosophy.

How to Find the Good Stuff

The first challenge is to figure out how to find the good stuff. When you’re ready to make a purchase, how can you know which items are quality and which are run of the mill?

Sometimes you’ll know which company offers a high-quality version of whatever it is you need to buy, either from personal experience or from paying attention to friends and family. Or, if you don’t know off the top of your head, you know whom to ask for more information. If I wanted to buy audio gear, for instance, I’d ask my brother. He’s an audiophile and could steer me in the right direction.

Most of the time, however, you’ll have to do some research.

When it comes time for me to make a major purchase, the first resource I turn to is Consumer Reports. I’ve been a CR subscriber on and off since I graduated from college in 1991. I trust their reviews, especially the comprehensive evaluations online. (The magazine doesn’t have room to go into depth.)

When Kim and I bought our country cottage, for instance, I used Consumer Reports to figure out which tools to purchase for the yard and garden. (I ended up choosing an EGO electric mower, along with the company’s string trimmer and hedge trimmer.)

For smaller items, I use Amazon to guide my decisions. Deciphering Amazon reviews is something of an art. I make sure to always read the one-star reviews in order to learn if there’s anything drastically wrong with a product. I’ve also devised my own rough guide to parsing Amazon reviews:

Five stars is equivalent to an A.

Four and a half stars is the same as a B.

Four stars is roughly a C. (From my experience, most Amazon items earn four stars.)

Three and a half stars is a D. I try not to purchase anything rated this low but sometimes there’s no alternative.

Three stars and below is the same as an F. I never purchase products rated three stars or below.

One final resource for finding quality products is the /r/BuyItForLife forum on Reddit. /r/BIFL allows users to share items they own that are durable, practical, proven, and built to last. Here’s the /r/BIFL compilation of kitchen essentials, for instance. You can find more lists like that in the /r/BIFL sidebar.

One GRS reader recently noted that choosing quality over price is a luxury reserved for the rich. People who are struggling to get by are often forced to take the cheapest option, even if it costs more in the long run. That’s an interesting observation.

Where to Buy It for Life

Over the past decade or so, I’ve compiled a mental list of companies that I feel sell wonderful products. Below is a list of a few of my favorites. (Most of these are clothing companies, for some reason. Maybe because I buy clothes more often than, say, furniture?)

Filson (Seattle, 1897, “Might as well have the best”) sells outdoor clothing, hats, bags, and accessories. I own two Filson hats, a Filson vest, a Filson jacket, Filson pajamas, and several Filson bags. Each piece was spendy but worth it. Filson makes high-quality products.

Patagonia (California, 1965, “Committed to the core”) makes active outdoor clothing and gear. I own a couple of Patagonia jackets and a couple of travel shirts. They’ve served me well. (Sale items.)

Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) (Seattle, 1938) is a outdoor gear co-op that’s very popular in the Pacific Northwest. I own tons of REI gear, including my favorite travel backpack. They’re one of my favorite companies. (Sale items.)

Pendleton Woolen Mills (Portland, 1909, “Good for life”) makes and sells shirts and blankets. Before the damn dog ate it, I owned one Pendleton hat that I wore frequently. I’ve owned Pendleton shirts, and have always been impressed. (Sale items.)

Stetson (complicated history) is best known for its hats and boots, but they offer offer other items as well. I own one Stetson oilcloth cap (no longer available) that I picked up in the Normandy region of France on a cold and windy afternoon. (Sale items.)

Timberland (Boston, “Make it better”) makes footwear, it’s true, but they offer a lot of other products too. In 2007, I bought a pair of Timberland hiking boots. I love them. I’m now nearing the end of my second pair. (Sale items.)

Icebreaker (New Zealand, 1995) makes merino wool clothing. Long-time readers know that I’m an Icebreaker fan. I own a couple of their jackets, a cap, some socks, and probably 20 different t-shirts. (For real!) Just yesterday, I bought a long-sleeve button-down shirt from Icebreak for an upcoming winter trip to Austria and Hungary. (Sale items.)

Birkenstock (Germany, 1897) makes quality footwear. In college, I started wearing the Milano sandals from Birkenstock. They’re my go-to summer shoe. I bought my last pair in Key West, Florida during our RV trip. I’ll need to get a new pair next year. (Sale items.)

Land’s End (Chicago, 1963) is a popular mail-order clothing supplier. When I was younger, I owned a lot of their stuff, but somehow forgot about them. I recently placed my first Land’s End order in a long time. (Sale items.)

Stickley (New York, 1900, “Collector quality furniture since 1900”) makes classic fine furniture. Much of the modern Get Rich Slowly has been written from a Stickley Morris recliner. During the depths of the Great Recession — just after I sold this blog — I purchased four Stickley pieces at deep discounts. I love them.

Tom Bihn (Seattle, 1972) makes awesome bags and backpacks specifically designed for people who travel or who are on the go. I own The Maker’s Bag and love it. Kim loves it too. In fact, I had to buy her one so that she would leave mine alone. (We also have their dog training bag.)

Apple (California, 1976) has grown from a company with a cult-like following to a respected manufacturer of quality computers. I converted in the early 2000s, and I don’t regret it. Their machines are expensive, but they’re very well made. (And you know what? They run Windows too!) Most of my life is spent in front of a Mac screen. Sad but true. (Sale items.)

This list isn’t intended to be comprehensive. These are the companies I know and have used in the past. I’m sure I’ve left out plenty of fine places. If there’s a firm you feel ought to be included in this list, let me know in the comments.

I had lunch with my cousin yesterday. When I told him I was writing this article, he shared his experience looking for quality clothing. He recently lost a lot of weight and had to replace his entire wardrobe.

“I can afford to buy things new,” Nick told me, “but I don’t like to pay that much. I’ve been shopping at thrift stores to find the same stuff for much less. And you know what? I really do think the famous name brands do tend to have better quality.” (Nick is like the anti-consumer, so this observation means something coming from him.)

See also: How to shop at thrift stores for quality clothing over at The Luxe Strategist.

The Good Stuff (According to GRS Readers)

As I was preparing this piece, it occurred to me that I ought to ask folks on Facebook and Twitter where they go to find the good stuff. When do they choose to “buy it for life”? I received a lot of responses!

Some people offered suggestions on how to buy it life. Here, from the GRS Facebook group, are three top tips:

Jacob from Early Retirement Extreme had some good advice for determining whether any given item is considered quality by the people who own it: Check eBay to see if it’s retained its value.

I took the time to sift through the roughly one hundred replies I received on social media. While this was by no means a scientific survey, the responses were interesting.

First, it’s clear that people are willing to pay a premium for certain classes of products.

I was shocked by the number of people praising footwear. We all want comfortable, quality shoes, and when we find them, we remain loyal to the companies who provide them. I love my Timberlands, for instance, but others are willing to pay extra for Dr. Martens or Merrell. Keen was the most-recommended shoe company in my survey. Some smaller shoe companies like Trask and Samuel Hubbard received rave reviews. (A few folks mentioned socks, specifically Bombas and Darn Tough.)

Sleep is also important. Some people recommended pillows or sheets, but most focused on their mattress. Tempur-Pedic garnered the most mentions. (When we moved in together, Kim and I shopped for a high-quality mattress. I think we chose Tempur-Pedic also, but I’m not willing to strip the bedding to find out.)

People are also willing to pay more to ease life in the kitchen. Several people raved about their Vitamix blenders. Mostly, though, folks mentioned their knives. I own (and love) a chef’s knife from Shun, as do a couple of other readers. Others, like my ex-wife, prefer Henckel knives. Justin from Root of Good offered an awesome alternative. His family buys Kiwi knives from Thailand at $3 or $4 each. (They go for $9 on Amazon, which is still a great deal.) All knife lovers agree on one thing: The best way to make your life easier is to sharpen your blades!

Several women, including my girlfriend, told me they’re willing to pay a premium for high-quality cosmetics. But each person cited a different brand of cosmetics that they’re loyal to. Because I’m a boy and know nothing about this stuff, I’m not going to link to any one company. (But you can in the comments below.)

Lastly, outdoor gear proved popular in my poll. Many people like Arc’teryx (a brand I’ve never tried). Others praised Patagonia or REI or L.L. Bean.

Some readers zeroed in on very specific items.

Whitney Hansen, the Money Nerd, likes a particular “adventure blanket”. Long-time reader Tyler K says Benjamin Moore paints are so amazing that he’ll never buy paint from a hardware store again. Another reader recommended Casio G-Shock watches. Several people were fans of Hydro Flask. (Me too! I own three of their water bottles and think they’re amazing.) And a lot of people seem to think Otter Box phone cases are essential.

But can you guess the number-one company that GRS readers turn to for quality products? It’s the biggest tech company in the world: Apple. Apple didn’t used to be known for quality. (In fact, their quality was crap twenty years ago.) Now, though, things have changed. Apple quality has won converts like me — and you.

Finally, several people mentioned that they do their best to buy products with lifetime warranties. Then, if they break or something goes wrong, they can get a replacement. (Leah Ingram maintains a list of companies with lifetime warranties.) By purchasing items with a lifetime warranty, you’re making certain that “buy it for life” is literal, not figurative!

Quality Is Part of a Rich Life

One follower on Twitter took me to task for tackling this topic. He believes that talking about spending more to purchase quality items is tantamount to encouraging consumerism. Like I said the other day, I do sometimes worry that this sort of thing crosses the line to lifestyle inflation.

Most of the time, however, I think choosing quality is a smart financial decision.

Meanwhile, Liz from Frugalwoods has written in the past that the “buy it for life” philosophy can be problematic. If you’re buying the best of everything, that’s an issue. You should only buy the best when thing your buying is an important part of your lifestyle. (Why spend a ton on something you rarely use?) And what about changing fashion and priorities?

I believe that buying well-made things, things that “spark joy” when used, is part of living a Rich Life. Most of us don’t aim to be ascetics. We’re not frugal for the sake of frugality. We’ve scrimped and saved and worked hard to build wealth precisely so that we can spend money on products that make our lives easier and/or more enjoyable. There’s nothing wrong with that.

Note: This is a substantial re-write of an article I first published more than twelve years ago. (Yikes, I’m old!) I’ve opted to keep some of the older comments if they had good suggestions.

Source: https://bloghyped.com/buy-it-for-life-choosing-quality-over-price/

[themoneybuff-blog]

Buy it for life: Choosing quality over price

Note: This is a substantial re-write of an article I first published more than twelve years ago. (Yikes, I'm old!) I've opted to keep some of the older comments if they had good suggestions. Earlier this week, I wrote about my quest for quality pajamas. I recently paid $80 to purchase a pair from Filson, a company I trust for well-made goods. It's my hope that these will be the last pair of pajamas that I ever purchase. My goal was to buy it for life. This experience reminded me of two other companies that I love for their top-notch stuff. The first is a company called Best Made, which aims to make and sell the finest, most beautiful and useful products made by any company anywhere. And they do. Best Made offers an esoteric collection of clothing and household items, all of which offer quality reminiscent of your grandmother's era. The catch? The quality comes at a higher cost.Or there's the Portland-based Schoolhouse company (formerly Schoolhouse Electric), which makes and sells a variety of lighting, hardware, and furniture for the home. I've purchased a few things from Schoolhouse over the years, and I've been blown away by the quality. The items were expensive up front and I was hesitant to purchase them, but my reservations have vanished with time and usage. The blanket covering my feet at this very moment, for example, cost $250 (I think) but will last the rest of my life. Here's something I've learned over the past fifteen years: One way to practice financial prudence while living the good life is to buy quality products, products that are a pleasure to use, products that will last a lifetime (or at least a decade). Today, let's talk a little about choosing quality over price. Let's talk about the buy it for life philosophy.

How to Find the Good Stuff The first challenge is to figure out how to find the good stuff. When you're ready to make a purchase, how can you know which items are quality and which are run of the mill? Sometimes you'll know which company offers a high-quality version of whatever it is you need to buy, either from personal experience or from paying attention to friends and family. Or, if you don't know off the top of your head, you know whom to ask for more information. If I wanted to buy audio gear, for instance, I'd ask my brother. He's an audiophile and could steer me in the right direction. Most of the time, however, you'll have to do some research. When it comes time for me to make a major purchase, the first resource I turn to is Consumer Reports. I've been a CR subscriber on and off since I graduated from college in 1991. I trust their reviews, especially the comprehensive evaluations online. (The magazine doesn't have room to go into depth.) When Kim and I bought our country cottage, for instance, I used Consumer Reports to figure out which tools to purchase for the yard and garden. (I ended up choosing an EGO electric mower, along with the company's string trimmer and hedge trimmer.) For smaller items, I use Amazon to guide my decisions. Deciphering Amazon reviews is something of an art. I make sure to always read the one-star reviews in order to learn if there's anything drastically wrong with a product. I've also devised my own rough guide to parsing Amazon reviews: Five stars is equivalent to an A.Four and a half stars is the same as a B.Four stars is roughly a C. (From my experience, most Amazon items earn four stars.)Three and a half stars is a D. I try not to purchase anything rated this low but sometimes there's no alternative.Three stars and below is the same as an F. I never purchase products rated three stars or below. One final resource for finding quality products is the /r/BuyItForLife forum on Reddit. /r/BIFL allows users to share items they own that are durable, practical, proven, and built to last. Here's the /r/BIFL compilation of kitchen essentials, for instance. You can find more lists like that in the /r/BIFL sidebar. One GRS reader recently noted that choosing quality over price is a luxury reserved for the rich. People who are struggling to get by are often forced to take the cheapest option, even if it costs more in the long run. That's an interesting observation. Where to Buy It for Life Over the past decade or so, I've compiled a mental list of companies that I feel sell wonderful products. Below is a list of a few of my favorites. (Most of these are clothing companies, for some reason. Maybe because I buy clothes more often than, say, furniture?) Filson (Seattle, 1897, Might as well have the best) sells outdoor clothing, hats, bags, and accessories. I own two Filson hats, a Filson vest, a Filson jacket, Filson pajamas, and several Filson bags. Each piece was spendy but worth it. Filson makes high-quality products.Patagonia (California, 1965, Committed to the core) makes active outdoor clothing and gear. I own a couple of Patagonia jackets and a couple of travel shirts. They've served me well. (Sale items.)Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) (Seattle, 1938) is a outdoor gear co-op that's very popular in the Pacific Northwest. I own tons of REI gear, including my favorite travel backpack. They're one of my favorite companies. (Sale items.)Pendleton Woolen Mills (Portland, 1909, Good for life) makes and sells shirts and blankets. Before the damn dog ate it, I owned one Pendleton hat that I wore frequently. I've owned Pendleton shirts, and have always been impressed. (Sale items.)Stetson (complicated history) is best known for its hats and boots, but they offer offer other items as well. I own one Stetson oilcloth cap (no longer available) that I picked up in the Normandy region of France on a cold and windy afternoon. (Sale items.)Timberland (Boston, Make it better) makes footwear, it's true, but they offer a lot of other products too. In 2007, I bought a pair of Timberland hiking boots. I love them. I'm now nearing the end of my second pair. (Sale items.)Icebreaker (New Zealand, 1995) makes merino wool clothing. Long-time readers know that I'm an Icebreaker fan. I own a couple of their jackets, a cap, some socks, and probably 20 different t-shirts. (For real!) Just yesterday, I bought a long-sleeve button-down shirt from Icebreak for an upcoming winter trip to Austria and Hungary. (Sale items.)Birkenstock (Germany, 1897) makes quality footwear. In college, I started wearing the Milano sandals from Birkenstock. They're my go-to summer shoe. I bought my last pair in Key West, Florida during our RV trip. I'll need to get a new pair next year. (Sale items.)Land's End (Chicago, 1963) is a popular mail-order clothing supplier. When I was younger, I owned a lot of their stuff, but somehow forgot about them. I recently placed my first Land's End order in a long time. (Sale items.)Stickley (New York, 1900, Collector quality furniture since 1900) makes classic fine furniture. Much of the modern Get Rich Slowly has been written from a Stickley Morris recliner. During the depths of the Great Recession just after I sold this blog I purchased four Stickley pieces at deep discounts. I love them.Tom Bihn (Seattle, 1972) makes awesome bags and backpacks specifically designed for people who travel or who are on the go. I own The Maker's Bag and love it. Kim loves it too. In fact, I had to buy her one so that she would leave mine alone. (We also have their dog training bag.)Apple (California, 1976) has grown from a company with a cult-like following to a respected manufacturer of quality computers. I converted in the early 2000s, and I don't regret it. Their machines are expensive, but they're very well made. (And you know what? They run Windows too!) Most of my life is spent in front of a Mac screen. Sad but true. (Sale items.) This list isn't intended to be comprehensive. These are the companies I know and have used in the past. I'm sure I've left out plenty of fine places. If there's a firm you feel ought to be included in this list, let me know in the comments. I had lunch with my cousin yesterday. When I told him I was writing this article, he shared his experience looking for quality clothing. He recently lost a lot of weight and had to replace his entire wardrobe. I can afford to buy things new, Nick told me, but I don't like to pay that much. I've been shopping at thrift stores to find the same stuff for much less. And you know what? I really do think the famous name brands do tend to have better quality. (Nick is like the anti-consumer, so this observation means something coming from him.) See also: How to shop at thrift stores for quality clothing over at The Luxe Strategist. The Good Stuff (According to GRS Readers) As I was preparing this piece, it occurred to me that I ought to ask folks on Facebook and Twitter where they go to find the good stuff. When do they choose to buy it for life? I received a lot of responses!

Some people offered suggestions on how to buy it life. Here, from the GRS Facebook group, are three top tips:

Jacob from Early Retirement Extreme had some good advice for determining whether any given item is considered quality by the people who own it: Check eBay to see if it's retained its value.

I took the time to sift through the roughly one hundred replies I received on social media. While this was by no means a scientific survey, the responses were interesting. First, it's clear that people are willing to pay a premium for certain classes of products. I was shocked by the number of people praising footwear. We all want comfortable, quality shoes, and when we find them, we remain loyal to the companies who provide them. I love my Timberlands, for instance, but others are willing to pay extra for Dr. Martens or Merrell. Keen was the most-recommended shoe company in my survey. Some smaller shoe companies like Trask and Samuel Hubbard received rave reviews. (A few folks mentioned socks, specifically Bombas and Darn Tough.)Sleep is also important. Some people recommended pillows or sheets, but most focused on their mattress. Tempur-Pedic garnered the most mentions. (When we moved in together, Kim and I shopped for a high-quality mattress. I think we chose Tempur-Pedic also, but I'm not willing to strip the bedding to find out.)People are also willing to pay more to ease life in the kitchen. Several people raved about their Vitamix blenders. Mostly, though, folks mentioned their knives. I own (and love) a chef's knife from Shun, as do a couple of other readers. Others, like my ex-wife, prefer Henckel knives. Justin from Root of Good offered an awesome alternative. His family buys Kiwi knives from Thailand at $3 or $4 each. (They go for $9 on Amazon, which is still a great deal.) All knife lovers agree on one thing: The best way to make your life easier is to sharpen your blades!Several women, including my girlfriend, told me they're willing to pay a premium for high-quality cosmetics. But each person cited a different brand of cosmetics that they're loyal to. Because I'm a boy and know nothing about this stuff, I'm not going to link to any one company. (But you can in the comments below.)Lastly, outdoor gear proved popular in my poll. Many people like Arc'teryx (a brand I've never tried). Others praised Patagonia or REI or L.L. Bean. Some readers zeroed in on very specific items. Whitney Hansen, the Money Nerd, likes a particular adventure blanket. Long-time reader Tyler K says Benjamin Moore paints are so amazing that he'll never buy paint from a hardware store again. Another reader recommended Casio G-Shock watches. Several people were fans of Hydro Flask. (Me too! I own three of their water bottles and think they're amazing.) And a lot of people seem to think Otter Box phone cases are essential. But can you guess the number-one company that GRS readers turn to for quality products? It's the biggest tech company in the world: Apple. Apple didn't used to be known for quality. (In fact, their quality was crap twenty years ago.) Now, though, things have changed. Apple quality has won converts like me and you.

Finally, several people mentioned that they do their best to buy products with lifetime warranties. Then, if they break or something goes wrong, they can get a replacement. (Leah Ingram maintains a list of companies with lifetime warranties.) By purchasing items with a lifetime warranty, you're making certain that buy it for life is literal, not figurative! Quality Is Part of a Rich Life One follower on Twitter took me to task for tackling this topic. He believes that talking about spending more to purchase quality items is tantamount to encouraging consumerism. Like I said the other day, I do sometimes worry that this sort of thing crosses the line to lifestyle inflation. Most of the time, however, I think choosing quality is a smart financial decision. Meanwhile, Liz from Frugalwoods has written in the past that the buy it for life philosophy can be problematic. If you're buying the best of everything, that's an issue. You should only buy the best when thing your buying is an important part of your lifestyle. (Why spend a ton on something you rarely use?) And what about changing fashion and priorities? I believe that buying well-made things, things that spark joy when used, is part of living a Rich Life. Most of us don't aim to be ascetics. We're not frugal for the sake of frugality. We've scrimped and saved and worked hard to build wealth precisely so that we can spend money on products that make our lives easier and/or more enjoyable. There's nothing wrong with that.

Author: J.D. Roth In 2006, J.D. founded Get Rich Slowly to document his quest to get out of debt. Over time, he learned how to save and how to invest. Today, he's managed to reach early retirement! He wants to help you master your money and your life. No scams. No gimmicks. Just smart money advice to help you reach your goals. https://www.getrichslowly.org/buy-it-for-life/

[themoneybuff-blog]

Buy it for life: Choosing quality over price

Note: This is a substantial re-write of an article I first published more than twelve years ago. (Yikes, I'm old!) I've opted to keep some of the older comments if they had good suggestions. Earlier this week, I wrote about my quest for quality pajamas. I recently paid $80 to purchase a pair from Filson, a company I trust for well-made goods. It's my hope that these will be the last pair of pajamas that I ever purchase. My goal was to buy it for life. This experience reminded me of two other companies that I love for their top-notch stuff. The first is a company called Best Made, which aims to make and sell the finest, most beautiful and useful products made by any company anywhere. And they do. Best Made offers an esoteric collection of clothing and household items, all of which offer quality reminiscent of your grandmother's era. The catch? The quality comes at a higher cost.Or there's the Portland-based Schoolhouse company (formerly Schoolhouse Electric), which makes and sells a variety of lighting, hardware, and furniture for the home. I've purchased a few things from Schoolhouse over the years, and I've been blown away by the quality. The items were expensive up front and I was hesitant to purchase them, but my reservations have vanished with time and usage. The blanket covering my feet at this very moment, for example, cost $250 (I think) but will last the rest of my life. Here's something I've learned over the past fifteen years: One way to practice financial prudence while living the good life is to buy quality products, products that are a pleasure to use, products that will last a lifetime (or at least a decade). Today, let's talk a little about choosing quality over price. Let's talk about the buy it for life philosophy.

How to Find the Good Stuff The first challenge is to figure out how to find the good stuff. When you're ready to make a purchase, how can you know which items are quality and which are run of the mill? Sometimes you'll know which company offers a high-quality version of whatever it is you need to buy, either from personal experience or from paying attention to friends and family. Or, if you don't know off the top of your head, you know whom to ask for more information. If I wanted to buy audio gear, for instance, I'd ask my brother. He's an audiophile and could steer me in the right direction. Most of the time, however, you'll have to do some research. When it comes time for me to make a major purchase, the first resource I turn to is Consumer Reports. I've been a CR subscriber on and off since I graduated from college in 1991. I trust their reviews, especially the comprehensive evaluations online. (The magazine doesn't have room to go into depth.) When Kim and I bought our country cottage, for instance, I used Consumer Reports to figure out which tools to purchase for the yard and garden. (I ended up choosing an EGO electric mower, along with the company's string trimmer and hedge trimmer.) For smaller items, I use Amazon to guide my decisions. Deciphering Amazon reviews is something of an art. I make sure to always read the one-star reviews in order to learn if there's anything drastically wrong with a product. I've also devised my own rough guide to parsing Amazon reviews: Five stars is equivalent to an A.Four and a half stars is the same as a B.Four stars is roughly a C. (From my experience, most Amazon items earn four stars.)Three and a half stars is a D. I try not to purchase anything rated this low but sometimes there's no alternative.Three stars and below is the same as an F. I never purchase products rated three stars or below. One final resource for finding quality products is the /r/BuyItForLife forum on Reddit. /r/BIFL allows users to share items they own that are durable, practical, proven, and built to last. Here's the /r/BIFL compilation of kitchen essentials, for instance. You can find more lists like that in the /r/BIFL sidebar. One GRS reader recently noted that choosing quality over price is a luxury reserved for the rich. People who are struggling to get by are often forced to take the cheapest option, even if it costs more in the long run. That's an interesting observation. Where to Buy It for Life Over the past decade or so, I've compiled a mental list of companies that I feel sell wonderful products. Below is a list of a few of my favorites. (Most of these are clothing companies, for some reason. Maybe because I buy clothes more often than, say, furniture?) Filson (Seattle, 1897, Might as well have the best) sells outdoor clothing, hats, bags, and accessories. I own two Filson hats, a Filson vest, a Filson jacket, Filson pajamas, and several Filson bags. Each piece was spendy but worth it. Filson makes high-quality products.Patagonia (California, 1965, Committed to the core) makes active outdoor clothing and gear. I own a couple of Patagonia jackets and a couple of travel shirts. They've served me well. (Sale items.)Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) (Seattle, 1938) is a outdoor gear co-op that's very popular in the Pacific Northwest. I own tons of REI gear, including my favorite travel backpack. They're one of my favorite companies. (Sale items.)Pendleton Woolen Mills (Portland, 1909, Good for life) makes and sells shirts and blankets. Before the damn dog ate it, I owned one Pendleton hat that I wore frequently. I've owned Pendleton shirts, and have always been impressed. (Sale items.)Stetson (complicated history) is best known for its hats and boots, but they offer offer other items as well. I own one Stetson oilcloth cap (no longer available) that I picked up in the Normandy region of France on a cold and windy afternoon. (Sale items.)Timberland (Boston, Make it better) makes footwear, it's true, but they offer a lot of other products too. In 2007, I bought a pair of Timberland hiking boots. I love them. I'm now nearing the end of my second pair. (Sale items.)Icebreaker (New Zealand, 1995) makes merino wool clothing. Long-time readers know that I'm an Icebreaker fan. I own a couple of their jackets, a cap, some socks, and probably 20 different t-shirts. (For real!) Just yesterday, I bought a long-sleeve button-down shirt from Icebreak for an upcoming winter trip to Austria and Hungary. (Sale items.)Birkenstock (Germany, 1897) makes quality footwear. In college, I started wearing the Milano sandals from Birkenstock. They're my go-to summer shoe. I bought my last pair in Key West, Florida during our RV trip. I'll need to get a new pair next year. (Sale items.)Land's End (Chicago, 1963) is a popular mail-order clothing supplier. When I was younger, I owned a lot of their stuff, but somehow forgot about them. I recently placed my first Land's End order in a long time. (Sale items.)Stickley (New York, 1900, Collector quality furniture since 1900) makes classic fine furniture. Much of the modern Get Rich Slowly has been written from a Stickley Morris recliner. During the depths of the Great Recession just after I sold this blog I purchased four Stickley pieces at deep discounts. I love them.Tom Bihn (Seattle, 1972) makes awesome bags and backpacks specifically designed for people who travel or who are on the go. I own The Maker's Bag and love it. Kim loves it too. In fact, I had to buy her one so that she would leave mine alone. (We also have their dog training bag.)Apple (California, 1976) has grown from a company with a cult-like following to a respected manufacturer of quality computers. I converted in the early 2000s, and I don't regret it. Their machines are expensive, but they're very well made. (And you know what? They run Windows too!) Most of my life is spent in front of a Mac screen. Sad but true. (Sale items.) This list isn't intended to be comprehensive. These are the companies I know and have used in the past. I'm sure I've left out plenty of fine places. If there's a firm you feel ought to be included in this list, let me know in the comments. I had lunch with my cousin yesterday. When I told him I was writing this article, he shared his experience looking for quality clothing. He recently lost a lot of weight and had to replace his entire wardrobe. I can afford to buy things new, Nick told me, but I don't like to pay that much. I've been shopping at thrift stores to find the same stuff for much less. And you know what? I really do think the famous name brands do tend to have better quality. (Nick is like the anti-consumer, so this observation means something coming from him.) See also: How to shop at thrift stores for quality clothing over at The Luxe Strategist. The Good Stuff (According to GRS Readers) As I was preparing this piece, it occurred to me that I ought to ask folks on Facebook and Twitter where they go to find the good stuff. When do they choose to buy it for life? I received a lot of responses!

Some people offered suggestions on how to buy it life. Here, from the GRS Facebook group, are three top tips:

Jacob from Early Retirement Extreme had some good advice for determining whether any given item is considered quality by the people who own it: Check eBay to see if it's retained its value.

I took the time to sift through the roughly one hundred replies I received on social media. While this was by no means a scientific survey, the responses were interesting. First, it's clear that people are willing to pay a premium for certain classes of products. I was shocked by the number of people praising footwear. We all want comfortable, quality shoes, and when we find them, we remain loyal to the companies who provide them. I love my Timberlands, for instance, but others are willing to pay extra for Dr. Martens or Merrell. Keen was the most-recommended shoe company in my survey. Some smaller shoe companies like Trask and Samuel Hubbard received rave reviews. (A few folks mentioned socks, specifically Bombas and Darn Tough.)Sleep is also important. Some people recommended pillows or sheets, but most focused on their mattress. Tempur-Pedic garnered the most mentions. (When we moved in together, Kim and I shopped for a high-quality mattress. I think we chose Tempur-Pedic also, but I'm not willing to strip the bedding to find out.)People are also willing to pay more to ease life in the kitchen. Several people raved about their Vitamix blenders. Mostly, though, folks mentioned their knives. I own (and love) a chef's knife from Shun, as do a couple of other readers. Others, like my ex-wife, prefer Henckel knives. Justin from Root of Good offered an awesome alternative. His family buys Kiwi knives from Thailand at $3 or $4 each. (They go for $9 on Amazon, which is still a great deal.) All knife lovers agree on one thing: The best way to make your life easier is to sharpen your blades!Several women, including my girlfriend, told me they're willing to pay a premium for high-quality cosmetics. But each person cited a different brand of cosmetics that they're loyal to. Because I'm a boy and know nothing about this stuff, I'm not going to link to any one company. (But you can in the comments below.)Lastly, outdoor gear proved popular in my poll. Many people like Arc'teryx (a brand I've never tried). Others praised Patagonia or REI or L.L. Bean. Some readers zeroed in on very specific items. Whitney Hansen, the Money Nerd, likes a particular adventure blanket. Long-time reader Tyler K says Benjamin Moore paints are so amazing that he'll never buy paint from a hardware store again. Another reader recommended Casio G-Shock watches. Several people were fans of Hydro Flask. (Me too! I own three of their water bottles and think they're amazing.) And a lot of people seem to think Otter Box phone cases are essential. But can you guess the number-one company that GRS readers turn to for quality products? It's the biggest tech company in the world: Apple. Apple didn't used to be known for quality. (In fact, their quality was crap twenty years ago.) Now, though, things have changed. Apple quality has won converts like me and you.

Finally, several people mentioned that they do their best to buy products with lifetime warranties. Then, if they break or something goes wrong, they can get a replacement. (Leah Ingram maintains a list of companies with lifetime warranties.) By purchasing items with a lifetime warranty, you're making certain that buy it for life is literal, not figurative! Quality Is Part of a Rich Life One follower on Twitter took me to task for tackling this topic. He believes that talking about spending more to purchase quality items is tantamount to encouraging consumerism. Like I said the other day, I do sometimes worry that this sort of thing crosses the line to lifestyle inflation. Most of the time, however, I think choosing quality is a smart financial decision. Meanwhile, Liz from Frugalwoods has written in the past that the buy it for life philosophy can be problematic. If you're buying the best of everything, that's an issue. You should only buy the best when thing your buying is an important part of your lifestyle. (Why spend a ton on something you rarely use?) And what about changing fashion and priorities? I believe that buying well-made things, things that spark joy when used, is part of living a Rich Life. Most of us don't aim to be ascetics. We're not frugal for the sake of frugality. We've scrimped and saved and worked hard to build wealth precisely so that we can spend money on products that make our lives easier and/or more enjoyable. There's nothing wrong with that. https://www.getrichslowly.org/buy-it-for-life/

[themoneybuff-blog]

Buy it for life: Choosing quality over price

Note: This is a substantial re-write of an article I first published more than twelve years ago. (Yikes, I'm old!) I've opted to keep some of the older comments if they had good suggestions. Earlier this week, I wrote about my quest for quality pajamas. I recently paid $80 to purchase a pair from Filson, a company I trust for well-made goods. It's my hope that these will be the last pair of pajamas that I ever purchase. My goal was to buy it for life. This experience reminded me of two other companies that I love for their top-notch stuff. The first is a company called Best Made, which aims to make and sell the finest, most beautiful and useful products made by any company anywhere. And they do. Best Made offers an esoteric collection of clothing and household items, all of which offer quality reminiscent of your grandmother's era. The catch? The quality comes at a higher cost.Or there's the Portland-based Schoolhouse company (formerly Schoolhouse Electric), which makes and sells a variety of lighting, hardware, and furniture for the home. I've purchased a few things from Schoolhouse over the years, and I've been blown away by the quality. The items were expensive up front and I was hesitant to purchase them, but my reservations have vanished with time and usage. The blanket covering my feet at this very moment, for example, cost $250 (I think) but will last the rest of my life. Here's something I've learned over the past fifteen years: One way to practice financial prudence while living the good life is to buy quality products, products that are a pleasure to use, products that will last a lifetime (or at least a decade). Today, let's talk a little about choosing quality over price. Let's talk about the buy it for life philosophy.

How to Find the Good Stuff The first challenge is to figure out how to find the good stuff. When you're ready to make a purchase, how can you know which items are quality and which are run of the mill? Sometimes you'll know which company offers a high-quality version of whatever it is you need to buy, either from personal experience or from paying attention to friends and family. Or, if you don't know off the top of your head, you know whom to ask for more information. If I wanted to buy audio gear, for instance, I'd ask my brother. He's an audiophile and could steer me in the right direction. Most of the time, however, you'll have to do some research. When it comes time for me to make a major purchase, the first resource I turn to is Consumer Reports. I've been a CR subscriber on and off since I graduated from college in 1991. I trust their reviews, especially the comprehensive evaluations online. (The magazine doesn't have room to go into depth.) When Kim and I bought our country cottage, for instance, I used Consumer Reports to figure out which tools to purchase for the yard and garden. (I ended up choosing an EGO electric mower, along with the company's string trimmer and hedge trimmer.) For smaller items, I use Amazon to guide my decisions. Deciphering Amazon reviews is something of an art. I make sure to always read the one-star reviews in order to learn if there's anything drastically wrong with a product. I've also devised my own rough guide to parsing Amazon reviews: Five stars is equivalent to an A.Four and a half stars is the same as a B.Four stars is roughly a C. (From my experience, most Amazon items earn four stars.)Three and a half stars is a D. I try not to purchase anything rated this low but sometimes there's no alternative.Three stars and below is the same as an F. I never purchase products rated three stars or below. One final resource for finding quality products is the /r/BuyItForLife forum on Reddit. /r/BIFL allows users to share items they own that are durable, practical, proven, and built to last. Here's the /r/BIFL compilation of kitchen essentials, for instance. You can find more lists like that in the /r/BIFL sidebar. One GRS reader recently noted that choosing quality over price is a luxury reserved for the rich. People who are struggling to get by are often forced to take the cheapest option, even if it costs more in the long run. That's an interesting observation. Where to Buy It for Life Over the past decade or so, I've compiled a mental list of companies that I feel sell wonderful products. Below is a list of a few of my favorites. (Most of these are clothing companies, for some reason. Maybe because I buy clothes more often than, say, furniture?) Filson (Seattle, 1897, Might as well have the best) sells outdoor clothing, hats, bags, and accessories. I own two Filson hats, a Filson vest, a Filson jacket, Filson pajamas, and several Filson bags. Each piece was spendy but worth it. Filson makes high-quality products.Patagonia (California, 1965, Committed to the core) makes active outdoor clothing and gear. I own a couple of Patagonia jackets and a couple of travel shirts. They've served me well. (Sale items.)Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) (Seattle, 1938) is a outdoor gear co-op that's very popular in the Pacific Northwest. I own tons of REI gear, including my favorite travel backpack. They're one of my favorite companies. (Sale items.)Pendleton Woolen Mills (Portland, 1909, Good for life) makes and sells shirts and blankets. Before the damn dog ate it, I owned one Pendleton hat that I wore frequently. I've owned Pendleton shirts, and have always been impressed. (Sale items.)Stetson (complicated history) is best known for its hats and boots, but they offer offer other items as well. I own one Stetson oilcloth cap (no longer available) that I picked up in the Normandy region of France on a cold and windy afternoon. (Sale items.)Timberland (Boston, Make it better) makes footwear, it's true, but they offer a lot of other products too. In 2007, I bought a pair of Timberland hiking boots. I love them. I'm now nearing the end of my second pair. (Sale items.)Icebreaker (New Zealand, 1995) makes merino wool clothing. Long-time readers know that I'm an Icebreaker fan. I own a couple of their jackets, a cap, some socks, and probably 20 different t-shirts. (For real!) Just yesterday, I bought a long-sleeve button-down shirt from Icebreak for an upcoming winter trip to Austria and Hungary. (Sale items.)Birkenstock (Germany, 1897) makes quality footwear. In college, I started wearing the Milano sandals from Birkenstock. They're my go-to summer shoe. I bought my last pair in Key West, Florida during our RV trip. I'll need to get a new pair next year. (Sale items.)Land's End (Chicago, 1963) is a popular mail-order clothing supplier. When I was younger, I owned a lot of their stuff, but somehow forgot about them. I recently placed my first Land's End order in a long time. (Sale items.)Stickley (New York, 1900, Collector quality furniture since 1900) makes classic fine furniture. Much of the modern Get Rich Slowly has been written from a Stickley Morris recliner. During the depths of the Great Recession just after I sold this blog I purchased four Stickley pieces at deep discounts. I love them.Tom Bihn (Seattle, 1972) makes awesome bags and backpacks specifically designed for people who travel or who are on the go. I own The Maker's Bag and love it. Kim loves it too. In fact, I had to buy her one so that she would leave mine alone. (We also have their dog training bag.)Apple (California, 1976) has grown from a company with a cult-like following to a respected manufacturer of quality computers. I converted in the early 2000s, and I don't regret it. Their machines are expensive, but they're very well made. (And you know what? They run Windows too!) Most of my life is spent in front of a Mac screen. Sad but true. (Sale items.) This list isn't intended to be comprehensive. These are the companies I know and have used in the past. I'm sure I've left out plenty of fine places. If there's a firm you feel ought to be included in this list, let me know in the comments. I had lunch with my cousin yesterday. When I told him I was writing this article, he shared his experience looking for quality clothing. He recently lost a lot of weight and had to replace his entire wardrobe. I can afford to buy things new, Nick told me, but I don't like to pay that much. I've been shopping at thrift stores to find the same stuff for much less. And you know what? I really do think the famous name brands do tend to have better quality. (Nick is like the anti-consumer, so this observation means something coming from him.) See also: How to shop at thrift stores for quality clothing over at The Luxe Strategist. The Good Stuff (According to GRS Readers) As I was preparing this piece, it occurred to me that I ought to ask folks on Facebook and Twitter where they go to find the good stuff. When do they choose to buy it for life? I received a lot of responses!

Some people offered suggestions on how to buy it life. Here, from the GRS Facebook group, are three top tips:

Jacob from Early Retirement Extreme had some good advice for determining whether any given item is considered quality by the people who own it: Check eBay to see if it's retained its value.

I took the time to sift through the roughly one hundred replies I received on social media. While this was by no means a scientific survey, the responses were interesting. First, it's clear that people are willing to pay a premium for certain classes of products. I was shocked by the number of people praising footwear. We all want comfortable, quality shoes, and when we find them, we remain loyal to the companies who provide them. I love my Timberlands, for instance, but others are willing to pay extra for Dr. Martens or Merrell. Keen was the most-recommended shoe company in my survey. Some smaller shoe companies like Trask and Samuel Hubbard received rave reviews. (A few folks mentioned socks, specifically Bombas and Darn Tough.)Sleep is also important. Some people recommended pillows or sheets, but most focused on their mattress. Tempur-Pedic garnered the most mentions. (When we moved in together, Kim and I shopped for a high-quality mattress. I think we chose Tempur-Pedic also, but I'm not willing to strip the bedding to find out.)People are also willing to pay more to ease life in the kitchen. Several people raved about their Vitamix blenders. Mostly, though, folks mentioned their knives. I own (and love) a chef's knife from Shun, as do a couple of other readers. Others, like my ex-wife, prefer Henckel knives. Justin from Root of Good offered an awesome alternative. His family buys Kiwi knives from Thailand at $3 or $4 each. (They go for $9 on Amazon, which is still a great deal.) All knife lovers agree on one thing: The best way to make your life easier is to sharpen your blades!Several women, including my girlfriend, told me they're willing to pay a premium for high-quality cosmetics. But each person cited a different brand of cosmetics that they're loyal to. Because I'm a boy and know nothing about this stuff, I'm not going to link to any one company. (But you can in the comments below.)Lastly, outdoor gear proved popular in my poll. Many people like Arc'teryx (a brand I've never tried). Others praised Patagonia or REI or L.L. Bean. Some readers zeroed in on very specific items. Whitney Hansen, the Money Nerd, likes a particular adventure blanket. Long-time reader Tyler K says Benjamin Moore paints are so amazing that he'll never buy paint from a hardware store again. Another reader recommended Casio G-Shock watches. Several people were fans of Hydro Flask. (Me too! I own three of their water bottles and think they're amazing.) And a lot of people seem to think Otter Box phone cases are essential. But can you guess the number-one company that GRS readers turn to for quality products? It's the biggest tech company in the world: Apple. Apple didn't used to be known for quality. (In fact, their quality was crap twenty years ago.) Now, though, things have changed. Apple quality has won converts like me and you.

Finally, several people mentioned that they do their best to buy products with lifetime warranties. Then, if they break or something goes wrong, they can get a replacement. (Leah Ingram maintains a list of companies with lifetime warranties.) By purchasing items with a lifetime warranty, you're making certain that buy it for life is literal, not figurative! Quality Is Part of a Rich Life One follower on Twitter took me to task for tackling this topic. He believes that talking about spending more to purchase quality items is tantamount to encouraging consumerism. Like I said the other day, I do sometimes worry that this sort of thing crosses the line to lifestyle inflation. Most of the time, however, I think choosing quality is a smart financial decision. Meanwhile, Liz from Frugalwoods has written in the past that the buy it for life philosophy can be problematic. If you're buying the best of everything, that's an issue. You should only buy the best when thing your buying is an important part of your lifestyle. (Why spend a ton on something you rarely use?) And what about changing fashion and priorities? I believe that buying well-made things, things that spark joy when used, is part of living a Rich Life. Most of us don't aim to be ascetics. We're not frugal for the sake of frugality. We've scrimped and saved and worked hard to build wealth precisely so that we can spend money on products that make our lives easier and/or more enjoyable. There's nothing wrong with that. https://www.getrichslowly.org/buy-it-for-life/