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cythieus · 3 years

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Mario/Peach Fic Rough Draft

Tasteful flower arrangements and buffets flanked by smaller round tables had transformed the palace courtyard from a spot for solitary reflection into somewhere guests were entertained. Clustered people engaged in conversation wherever room permitted, though no one had taken a seat yet. A semicircular bar guarded the southern side of the fountain, staffed by three Mushroom people. Servers used the bar as a kind of base, but spent most of their time flitting between guests and tables.

Most in attendance were Mushroom people or humans. There were a trio of Tostarenans noticeable because of their neon colored skull-like heads and short stature and a single Pianta with blue skin, his long nose jutting out from under the tree that grew from the top of his domed head. The ease with which Mario had become used to creatures that had no parallel on Earth was amazing, but everything on this side of the warp pipe was bit jarring.

If only he could get used to the reverent splendor of the Mushroom Kingdom and its Princess.

The kind of parties that Mario knew typically took place in cramped rent controlled apartments or the darkened spaces of Brooklyn bars that might have been built in repurposed alleyways. He never would have dreamed he would attend something hosted by royalty just a few short years ago.

You also didn’t think you would be breathing the same air as or get a kiss from an honest to God Princess, yet here we are.

His suit sleeves felt rigid and unnatural because of how he was holding his drink up near his chest. It had been some time since he last wore a suit and he felt the need to get a new one for this occasion. He considered letting his arm down to his side and pinching his fingers around the rim of the glass, but years of rooting around in muck as a plumber still made him cautious about the idea of touching a drink with his fingers right where he would be putting his mouth. It was different for food, he didn’t understand the strange quirk, but it was something that he didn’t think he would be able to alter anytime soon.

A chime of laughter broke through the monotony of the distant conversation and clanking dishes. Princess Peach stood on the middle landing of the wide grand staircase that led back into the castle with her head tossed back in enthused laugh. While most of the women in attendance styled their hair up in buns pinned in roll at the back of their head Peach wore her blonde hair down. It cascaded off her bare shoulders and down to the middle of her back.

The crown that she usually wore was accented by a ring of pastel flowers that stayed firmly in place even as she looked down at a pair of children. One of them was tugging on her dress and she turned to the side, her laughing turning into a smile as she addressed them. Mario couldn’t tell if she knew these children otherwise. It was hard to judge with Princess Peach—she had a way of making everyone feel welcome.

Peach stepped in close to the kids and sank down into a squat, presumable so she was at eye level with them. The dress she wore today wasn’t something Mario had seen before; a pink off the shoulder dress that has a much flatter, more ruffled skirt than usual and fell to the midway point between her knee and ankle. She rested her slender, pale arms over her lap (no gloves today) as she spoke to the children.

Though she was across the courtyard he could tell by her smile and the way she squinted her eyes until the skin at the sides of her nose crinkled that she was sharing some irreverent, endearing tidbit with the kids.

Mario lifted the cap off of his head, smoothed his hair back, and placed the hat soundly back into place. It would have felt wrong without something up there. The gray newsboy cap wasn’t quite the same, but it offered a kind of comfort.

Better not stare, someone might notice.

He glanced at a waiter passing with a tray propped up on the bulbous pileus of its head. Mario had come to learn that the Mushroom people’s heads and the patterns and spots on them had all kinds of meanings to them both superstitious and founded in hard fact.

Movement out of the corner of his eye caused Mario to glance in the direction that the waiter had headed. Daisy’s orange dress seemed like a flare in the middle of the pastel and floral print of the worn by everyone else at the party. The big floppy orange hat perched atop her hair bounced as she wove her way around obstacles and people in her bid to get to Mario.

Without slowing her pace, she spun, plucked a pair of champagnes from the tray and used the back of hand to push the sunglasses up the bridge of her nose. “I guess it’s sad boy hour over here,” Daisy said before downing one of the champagne flutes.

“Those white trays are for non alcoholic beverages.” Mario kept his eyes forward, not looking at her as he spoke.

Daisy tilted her head down over the glass, letting the liquid empty back into the glass. “This is the worst thing to ever happen to me. And I was kidnapped by fucking aliens once. Is Peaches tying to poison me?” She said as she poured the contents of both flutes into a bush just behind the raised dais where they stood.

“Maybe you could slow down? I can smell vodka on you from here,” Mario said.

“Oh, a bird shit on my dress and I used the vodka to clean it off. I wouldn’t drink that cheap bilge-water they’re serving over there.”

Daisy glanced around as if expecting to see someone. Mario already knew what the next thing out of her mouth was going to be”

“Where’s your sexy brother?”

That hadn’t been how he had thought she would phrase it. “You know how Luigi is about crowds.”

“Right. He’ll eventually turn up.”

Mario nodded.

“Why don’t you stop moping in the corner and go talk to her?”

“And say what?” Mario asked.

“Whatever you normal-types say to each other. She likes you. She claims you’re dating now and here you are hiding from her like one of those little fat ghosts with the nub hands,” Daisy said.

“They’re called Boos. You’ve spent time with several of them over the years; you’ve got one’s number in your cellphone.”

“Know what your problem is?” Daisy asked.

Mario didn’t have time to answer before she leaned in closer to him, the smell of alcohol mixed with floral perfume dominating the air around her.

“You’re hung up in the minutiae of every situation. Go try to put your arm around her while she chats with those children, maybe grab a drink and try to have a little fun? Who knows, maybe she’ll let you turn her guts inside out.“ She said the last part very quickly and before he could cut in or correct her she waved a hand at him.

“—I need to go find something to drink before I have to suck this vodka out of my dress. There is too many boring people out here for me to remain sober.” Daisy rushed off toward the bar in a frantic pace, leaving the glasses resting on the railing behind where she had been standing.

Mario lifted the glass to his lips and drank; the after being clutched in his hand for so long the liquid had warmed considerably, but he found it was often better to have something to take the edge off the things Daisy said.

She wasn’t wrong though.

It was rare that Daisy lied. He wasn’t sure that she had enough shame to know that she should really omit things in most cases. The lies she had told might have just been out of some sense of needing to conceal something for someone else or honest mistakes.

Daisy believed deep down that Mario was right for Peach and that her efforts in talking to him would help. Mario finished his drink and wandered near enough to the bar to exchange his glass for another. For a moment his reflection was visible in one of the decorations on the bar and he noticed his mustache looked a little frazzled. He reached inside of the breast pocket of his coat and plucked out a comb. Careful to tilt it just right to go with the grain of the hair he brushed down and away from his nose in clean, even strokes.

Peach leaned in beside him trying to rest her butt against the bar, but it was obvious that she connected to it with a bit more force than she intended and cause the whole thing to rock. One of the Mushroom People behind the bar grasped it to steady things.

“Oops! My apologies! Sorry, sorry!” Peach went to grab one of the glasses in a bid to keep it from falling over, but she bumped it onto its side instead. “Oh no, I am so sorry—this is my fault.”

A bushy eyebrowed Mushroom Person gave her a deep, close-lipped grin. “It’s fine Your Highness, we’re all used to your little accidents by now.”

Redness crept across the space on either side of Peach’s nose. While he had been admiring her with a kind of starstruck awe from across the room, being this close to her was like staring into the sun. Peach seemed to glow with more than just embarrassment as she pressed a slender hand to one cheek, the blue jeweled ring on her index finger catching the sunlight.

Right, the spill.

Mario tore his eyes away from her and spun to grab for a bar cloth. He pushed in close to Peach where the spill was and mopped it up. “Excuse me, Your Highness. I’ve got that,” he said hurriedly brushing the ice into his hand and depositing it into the glass.

The color in her cheeks faded as she turned to help. She took the glass and sat it behind the bar on the lower shelf before letting out a truncated giggle. Her blonde bangs had were pressed to one side, she seemed to notice at that same moment and used her fingers to fan them back out. She moved a tendril of hair away from her cheek, tucking it back over her ear.

“I haven’t seen you around here before.” She brought the hand that had been up by her ear down to rest against the side of her neck and her bright, blue eyes searched his face before nerves or something else got the best of her and she averted her gaze.

Somehow Peach was both graceful and awkward; he guessed that she fought to compose herself most of the time, but he had seen the woman trip over literally nothing while simply walking around. The only person he could think of less prone to accidents was Luigi.

“Very smooth, Your Highness,” Mario said with a smile. He left bar rag and took the time to remove his hat.

“You’re actually not allowed to call me that,” she said.

“Princess?”

“Uh-uh. It’s Peach, just Peach.” She shook closed her eyes and shook her head.

“Peaches?”

“Daisy only calls me that because when she was a little she had a speech impediment and couldn’t seem to say my name without messing it up. But I will be sure to let her know you’re making fun of her.”

“Don’t put me back in Daisy’s crosshairs…”

“Ha, you’re actually so scared of her! I won’t tell if you do me a favor and walk me around the back gardens.” Peach offered her elbow out to him as she often did when she wanted her to loop his arm through hers.

So he did.

“We hardly got to talk today so I’d—well I think I’d like that,” Mario said. Peach smelled like perfume, some scent that they didn’t seem to have on earth or if they did not one he could place, and sugar and flour from baking earlier.

“We haven’t had time together because you always seem to be as far from as this garden will allow.”

Now Mario was sure that there was some redness in his face. He moved to put his hat back on, hoping it would hide some of the color.

“Toadsworth!” Peach called to her steward.

Toadsworth was an older looked Mushroom Person with brown spots on the cap of his head, unlike most of the others of his race that part of his head was beige. He had a bushy mustache that concealed the bottom half of his face and when he spoke his words were always slightly muffled.

“Yes, Princess?” He said turning, his weight rested partially on a cane at his side.

“Can you watch things here for me? Mario is taking me on a romantic stroll.”

Mario swallowed. How even she shade from his cap’s brim wouldn’t hide the redness in his face. He could feel the heat bubbling up and a shiver shot through him.

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patrioticfloralarrangements-blog · 5 years

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Top Secret Information On Patriotic Floral Arrangements That Only The Experts Know Exist

Properly fall is just on the horizon here within the ozarks. Add stripes and the purple and blue shade to the fountain by winding patriotic streamers among the balloons. Fun and straightforward dog for kids and adults to make. For an office social gathering theme on labor day put up the purple tape, actually. Try these 50+ unique valentines day reward concepts for your husband, buddies, and kids. Create these designs on regular or plastic canvas, in true crimson, white, and blue spirit, and you may enhance your own home, your yard, and give great gifts to your mates, all with very little money. We provide wedding floral packages that Patriotic Floral Arrangements embrace: bride and attendant bouquets, essential bridal occasion flowers, corsages and boutonnieres, ceremony décor, candelabra flowers, garlands of flowers and foliage, in addition to all of your table centerpieces, flowers for the cake table, topiaries, and reception flowers, too. Send patriotic flowers for 4th of july.

Fun and easy to make doll mission for kids, preschoolers. The centerpiece sat as a show on the back of my piano for a few days before the get together, so i added a couple of extra purple, white, and blue equipment to Independence Day Flowers finish off the look. Cowl the highest half of the remaining can with blue tape, after which finish with off with red and white. To fill the box, i painted shells crimson and blue. Enjoyable paint stirrer craft tasks for teenagers and adults.

Make independence day even more special for someone you love by sending them some 4th of july flower decorations. In 1675, wallpaper as we know it's considered to have been invented by jean-michel papillon, a french engraver who was the Patriotic Centerpiece primary to print block designs in steady matching patterns. Loaded with vacation cheer, our double candle centerpiece includes a splendid assortment of vacation flowers to incorporate purple roses, pink carnations and plush christmas greens. No matter you select, ensure they're delivered no earlier than the day before so that they are as fresh and vibrant as will be while you present them off in your patio desk.

Christmas stocking stuffer craft concepts for youths, adults, youngsters, males, boyfriend. Cowl all of the tables with purple and or blue vinyl covers. Diy crafts using satin, paper, grosgrain, curling or wired ribbons. Nothing says 'merica like some crimson, white, and blue. I painted the front slats pink and blue with acrylic craft paint. The flowers seemed very wholesome and were Patriotic Table Centerpieces delivered on time. Tips: be certain to not paint crimson over any part of the blue paint. You may find paper plate craft ideas, brightly painted gourds and paper mache mission ideas, all with a rooster theme.

The pops of purple, white and blue on the funeral or memorial service may help company speak about their very own recollections of serving or discuss their family who are within the armed forces, helping to make the event more of a celebration of life, reasonably than a day of sadness. All reindeer crafts for kids, preschoolers, kindergarten, teens and adults. Probably the simplest patriotic planter to make is one with red, white & blue (or purple) flowers in a crimson, white or blue pot that you already have Flowers For Freedom available. Mumbai, aug 28 (ians) glittering decorations on roads and bylanes, rows of fairy lights, magnificent patriotic and social themes and an infectious spiritual fervour mark the beginning of the annual 11-day ganeshotsav competition that begins here friday.

Craft ideas for repurposing old wood pallets: wine rack, coffee table, wall artwork, bed, couch, indicators, and more. 4th of july t shirts are straightforward to color with customized designs. Description: each - red white and Flowers For July 4th blue cascading centerpiece measures 18 inches tall. Be sure the setting is dazzled in crimson, white, and blue decorations. Another enjoyable decoration youngsters might help with is making flags to show around the occasion.

Tags Patriotic Centerpiece Ideas, 4Th July Centerpiece Ideas, Patriotic Floral Centerpieces

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worldtravelingsisters · 6 years

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CUBA 5

Our second day in Cuba began with a tour of Old Havana, a UNESCO world heritage site. We began at the St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral and Square. Of all the cathedrals I have seen around the world, this one is the most decrepit. The walls are blackened by pollution and encrusted with mold. Its bells have been removed and are just sitting on the sidewalk blocking the front door. The interior is so dark and lacking any type of ornamentation. Today it is used as a concert hall, but certainly is not a very pleasant one. The other buildings around the square, however, are restored and quite lovely, especially the former stock exchange with Mercury’s statue on top. Now it’s a government building. Another is a former nobleman’s palace, now a government-run hotel. Enedis told us about the noble who created the square and donated the Carrera marble fountain that still graces it. Then we walked down a narrow street toward another square, but on the way, Enedis took us into a small utilitarian grocery to tell us about Cubans and food. She showed us ration books that all Cubans use to buy at low government-set prices staples like cooking oil, rice, beans, sugar, and flour. They are only able to buy a certain amount per person each week or month (or whenever products are available---she did say that sometimes they are not) in the neighborhood where they live. The coupons are neighborhood-specific. The ration allowed is not sufficient for the time it is supposed to cover so they must buy the rest in open markets at much higher prices. Cubans also must buy fruit and vegetables at little markets and stands seen all over the city and also buy pork, lamb, or chicken at carnicerias. They rarely can afford beef and seldom have fish or seafood in spite of being an island because most of that is exported and the rest is too expensive. It was a sobering look at a daily life very different from that of most Americans.

The Plaza de Armas is named for its origin as military headquarters, with lovely old buildings around it that once housed soldiers and military offices and have been repurposed by the government. Ironically, a former military site today has no military offices. One was once used as the American embassy and is now a museum, unfortunately for us closed on Monday. Another houses offices for the government’s historical preservation agency. Another is a college. We learned that education is compulsory through 16 and free right on through the university. In fact, Cuba “exports” professionals, especially doctors. Its primitive economy cannot use all those who earn college degrees. On a side street on our way to the next square we saw the filming of a historical soap opera, with costumed actors and old horse-drawn vehicles waiting for their scenes.

The Plaza de Catedral features a Spanish-style cathedral from the 1600s that is in relatively better shape than the rest, although it’s still very plain inside. We were told that the church was banned after the revolution because so many in the church had opposed Castro. Religion was not allowed again until the 1990s so few Cubans worship in church today. Thus, little is spent to maintain churches by either the government or individuals. This cathedral is treated more as a historical tourist attraction than a religious center. The other three sides of the Plaza are the former palaces of nobility and have been nicely restored as museums or a hotel. Next we got back on the bus for a trip to a handicrafts market in a old railroad facility marked by old locomotives standing outside the entrances. The building was an indoor flea market with narrow lanes lined with small booths of crafts. Everything was supposedly made in Cuba, and most items did seem authentic. Wood, leather, shells, yarns and fabric, and clay were used to create most of the crafts, which seemed all right. We didn’t see plastic or resin or china items which usually mean China or somewhere else in Asia. We had no luck finding our silver charms, but did buy carved onyx charms that the vendor insisted were symbols of the Santeria religion that thrives throughout the Caribbean. Enedis had pointed out women dressed head to toe in white and told us that they were followers of Santeria so we knew it did exist in Cuba and decided to take a chance.

Lunch was at a restaurant called El Carbon, a barbecue restaurant. Again we were served Mojitos, these tasty, and odd appetizers---tiny tacos filled with mushy vegetables, ceviche, and fried potato balls. The entrée was a selection of mahi-mahi, chicken, and lamb. Dessert was rice pudding. The most interesting part of the restaurant was its eclectic art collection, floor to ceiling, that ranged from prints of old masters to Picasso-style figures to band posters.

#One more Cuba episode to follow...

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poop4u · 4 years

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24 Must-Have Products for Dogs

#Poop4U

The post 24 Must-Have Products for Dogs by Dogster Admin appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Dog products. We’re passionate about them, and we’ve been writing about them, testing them and purchasing them for years. So, we’re really excited to bring back the Editors’ Choice awards that Dogster did for years (as Dog Fancy). With a trio of judges possessing more than 25 years of experience each, we’ve pawed and dug our way through more than 60 products in the categories of gear, toys, clothing, housewares, cleaning and tech to find the ones we believe are at the top of their game in originality, ease of use, attractiveness to both pet and human and usefulness. Here, in no particular order, are the winners.

Stumptown Jacket: The word “love” was thrown around by the judges when describing this dog jacket. Everyone was impressed with the design, durability, attractiveness, weight and the leash peephole for harnesses. It also includes a latch instead of a Velcro closure for a better fit. It’s water repellent, has a reflective trim, comes in two colors and six sizes. $64.95. Ruffwear; ruffwear.com

Restcyble Bed: The judges wagged about this sturdy dog bed that retains its shape and is made from recyclable materials — perfect for using in the house or outside on the porch. The remov- able, machine-washable, recycled micro-suede sleeping surface is soft and long-wearing with a built-in pillow topper. The foam is made from repurposed, post-manufac- turing closed cell foam. Comes in Cloudburst Gray or Huckleberry Blue. $99.95. Ruffwear; ruffwear.com

Impact Harness: The Impact Harness is built to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards created for child restraints. All the furry judges found the harness comfortable to wear, and their humans loved that it was crash tested and easily integrates into the cars’ seatbelt systems. Has four adjustment points and comes in S, M, L and XL. $84.99. Kurgo; kurgo.com

SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect: A clever product that works great for feeding pets that need frequent meals, say our human judges. This automatic feeder works for both wet and dry food, has an LED guide to help you portion food correctly and removable parts for easy cleaning. Get the Hub ($62), so the feeder connects to the Sure Petcare app, where you can monitor when and how much your dog eats. $179.99. Sure Petcare; surepetcare.com

LickiMat Soother & LickiMat Buddy: “Easy to use,” “easy to clean,” “works great” are words the judges used to describe these two boredom busters. These mats promote calm behavior by distracting your pet during a stressful time. Just spread a tasty treat on them and let the repetitive licking soothe your dog, releasing calming endorphins. Freeze for cold treats on hot days. $6 to $10.99. Hyper Pet LLC.; hyper-pet.com

Baxter Dog Backpack: Our furry judges wore these backpacks hiking and at the beach. Easy to put on, good fit and right size were used to describe it, and one human found it nice to have her dog carry some of her own stuff. This durable saddlebag has eight adjustment points, ergonomic spine support and perfect balance. Also has a large handle on the back. Comes in three colors and two sizes: the Baxter and the Big Baxter. $57.99. Kurgo; kurgo.com

PupRug Faux Fur Orthopedic Dog Bed: All dogs loved it right away, agree the judges. It’s filled with premium, long-lasting memory foam, and the soft faux fur cover is removable and washable. Has a non-skid bottom. Comes in two styles — curve white and rectangle gray — and three sizes — S/M, L/XL and Giant. $119-$199. Paw.com; paw.com

Evercare Stickey Roller Pet Collection: “These sticky rollers work great — better than any other roller I have tried when it comes to removing pet hair,” says one judge. And, although the judges sat up and begged for the entire collection, their favorites were the Evercare Giant Extra Sticky T-Handle Roller (70 layer) and the Evercare Mega Extra Sticky Roller (25 layer). The Giant worked great on furniture, and the Mega’s roller with the long handle was perfect for rugs. The whole collection has extra sticky adhesive and each sheet is razorcut, so it’s easy to tear. Available at Target. $4.49/Giant and $12.99/ Mega. Evercare; evercare.cleanerhomeliving.com Crazy Crew Toys: We tested both the Super Squeaking Deploraball and the Treat Dispensing Punky Ballster in this line of interactive and durable dog toys that roll, squeak, bounce and/or can be stuffed with goodies. Both received major tail wags from our judges — dogs and humans; the words “love them” and “tough” were used a lot. Available at amazon.com. $12.99/Punky Ballster and $6.99/Deploraball. Hyper Pet LLC; hyper-pet.com

Pet Driver’s License ID Tags: These customizable Pet ID tags look like real driver’s licenses. The collar tags are lightweight. The human judges thought they were fun and cute and great conversation starters about making sure your dog always has ID. Fill out the information and send in a photo, and the company sends you the license and three smaller versions for tags/keychains. Available for all U.S. states plus Canada. $19.95. MyPetDMV;mypetdmv.com

Car-Go Pop-Up Portable Kennel: Need comfortable, quick and safe containment in your home, car, hotel, RV or for waiting between dog events? You’ll love this popup kennel as much as the judges. It’s really easy to set up and take down. Just remove from the carrying case with its padded shoulder strap and give it a shake. Made to fit on the seats of most vehicles. Available in many sizes, shapes and a multitude of colors and prints. $110-$240. Sturdi Products Inc.; sturdiproducts.com

Everence Bracelet: What’s not to love about a handcrafted custom-beaded bracelet with semi-precious stones and sterling silver accents? And Everence takes it one step further — the bead is made from your pet’s DNA. Order the kit for your pet, and swab his mouth or order a kit to take DNA from your passed pet’s cremains. “I love the idea of carrying a little bit of my dog with me when I wear it,” says one judge. Customize the stones, bead colors and clasp styles. $129/one bead, $159/two beads and $199/three beads. Everence; everence.life

HPZ Pet Rover Prime Stroller & XL Stroller: Four paws up for these strollers. Great for daily use, plus they are wonderful for injured or senior dogs. Two of the judges had dogs with health issues and used the strollers so the dogs were still able to get outside for fresh air and mental stimulation. We loved the XL’s cup hold- er, expandable front and rear compart- ments, soft handles and how easy it is to put together. The Prime version has its own perk as a three-in-one product that also serves as a car seat and carrier. $196.86/XL and $209.86/Prime. HPZ; petroverusa.com

Petsafe Drinkwell 2-Gallon Pet Fountain: The judges loved how much fresh, flowing water the fountain held. All the dogs enjoyed it and, appar- ently, one of the cats, too! Another plus: There’s an adjustable flow control over the water stream where you can choose from nearly silent circulation on the lowest setting to a tranquil stream on the highest. $69.99. PetSafe; petsafe.com

Piddle Pads: Style, colors, usability, excellent, say our judges. Poured a whole glass of water on it to see if it would go through. It didn’t. Washes perfectly. Great if you have a puppy, an older dog or just want to protect furniture from a little leakage. Eco-friendly, the soft microfleece has an absor- bent middle layer that wicks mois- ture. 29 x 29 inches in size. $14.95. Dr. Judy Morgan Naturally Healthy Pets; drjudymorgan.com

Klimb Dog Training Platform: “I love this for training, and the dogs love it, too,” says one of our judges. “They jump on it because they have so much fun getting trained.” This platform is crafted to be just large enough for a dog. To remain perched on it, a dog must have “quiet feet,” which requires a focused mind for effective training. It’s easy to put together and can be used to train a variety of things — just watch the video that walks you through it. $159.95. Blue-9 Pet Products; blue-9.com

Blaze Cross Dog Shoes: These are some protective dog shoes — made of water-resistant, tightly woven nylon mesh and breathable synthetic leather upper, plus a sole designed to mimic the structure of the dog’s pads. They have a great fit due to the double closure around the ankle. Judges found them well-made, easy to put on and perfect for hiking long distance in rugged terrain. Sizes XS to XL. $63.99/set of four. Kurgo; kurgo.com

Andis Cordless Nail Grinder: The Cordless Nail Grinder has six different speeds to take on your dog’s nail job, no matter the size. It runs for three hours on a single charge. Comfortable and easy to use, the judges like that it was cordless, not too loud and makes doing nails at home so much easier. $54.99. Andis Company; andis.com

Up Country Collars: Great colors, patterns and fit — all the judges agree that Up Country’s collars are something to bark out loud about. The judges tested the Funky Fish, Pink Madras and Evil Genius patterns. All ribbon collars come in a variety of lengths and in three widths. Stain and fray resistant; the collar ribbons are designed to last a lifetime. $23. Up Country; upcountryinc.com

Spina Organics All-Natural Grooming Products: While our human and furry judges enjoyed Spina Organics’ whole line of grooming products, these three in particular wowed. The Miracolo Oil Hot Spot Treatment works great, and the judges loved that it was organic. The Fur Detangler Leave-In Conditioner was amazing in how it left the fur so smooth and smelling great. The Daily Facial Cleanse really cleaned plus was easy to use. $17.50/9 ounce and $3/2.2 ounce for Daily Facial Cleanse; $16/9 ounce and $3/2.2 ounce for Fur Detangler Leave-In Conditioner; $25/1-ounce Miracolo Oil Hot Spot Treatment. Spina Organics; spinaorganics.com

Metro Balls: “Held up well with our chewer,” describes one of our human judges. “Tough with a good bounce … Holds up to his constant chomping,” says another. Made with nontoxic felt, these fun and bright dog balls contain no toxic gas. Size is 21⁄2 inches and available colors are pink, orange, black, seafoam and yellow. (Mini balls at 2 inches for smaller dogs are also available). $12.99/pack of three. Metro Paws; metropaws.com

Dog Med Laser: The only home-use certified Low Level Laser that can be used on dogs (and cats) suffering from osteoarthri- tis, hip and elbow dysplasia, spinal disk conditions and patellar luxation. This laser does not burn, does not generate heat and there are no risks to the eyes. “After reading and fol- lowing the directions carefully, the laser was easy to use and my dog seemed to really enjoy the soothing motion of the brush while using the laser,” says one of the judges. $499. Remedia Laser Systems Ltd.; dogmedlaser.com

Honorable mentions …

Two products we loved enough to give them a special mention.

Bergan by Coastal Backpack Style Carrier Have you ever been on a long hike where your dog gets tired or perhaps he’s getting up in years and needs a little help? You’ve probably looked for a backpack just like this — with padded straps for comfortable carrying and mesh windows for your dog to look out and expandable pockets for all your pup’s stuff. Our judges liked it for its ease of portability and use, plus its soft, machine-washable base. Comes in one size and one color. $69.99. Coastal Pet Products, Inc.; coastalpet.com

The Pet Gazebo Looking for something pretty different to a traditional crate or kennel solution? The portable Pet Gazebo can fit into a home, outdoor entertaining area or even go camping. It comes with a neutral Earth Taupe canopy (although five additional canopy styles are available) and four sizes (3, 4, 5 or 8 foot). The canopy is also available in a reversible weather-resistant canopy. Judges liked that it was sturdy, attractive, easy to use and tall enough to go in and clean. $129-$459. The Pet Gazebo; petgazebo.com

Meet This Year’s Editors’ Choice Judges

Jill Breitner, an animal advocate and dog body language expert/dog trainer, has been helping people help their dogs for over 40 years. The opportunity to test these products with her companions offered delight for her and for them. Their thrill couldn’t be contained. Enrichment abounded with each package. What fun!

Melissa L. Kauffman has worked in the pet world for more than 25 years in a variety of magazines and websites from Pet Product News, Aquarium Fish, Ferrets, Rabbits and Bird Talk to Catster and Dogster. Her dogs Justice and Tampa have been modeling for said magazines since they were puppies and are amazing, experienced pet-product testers. Also, let’s give a shout-out to Boston Terrier Boomer, Morkie Karma and Cockapoo Baby for lending a paw testing out products, too.

Audrey Pavia is a former managing editor of Dog Fancy magazine and former senior editor of the American Kennel Club Gazette. A member of Dog Writers Association of America, she has written hundreds of articles on dogs for a variety of publications and is the author of The Labrador Retriever Handbook (Barrons). Audrey lives in Norco, California, with her rescue dogs Candy and Mookie, who had a great time testing this year’s fun and innovative products.

Poop4U Blog via www.Poop4U.com Dogster Admin, Khareem Sudlow

#cute dog #dogs of tumblr #puppy doggo #doglover #doggrooming #my doggo #dogmeme #poop4u #blog

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nhouvang-blog · 5 years

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Words from the Bride: Q1: Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette? Did you incorporate any cultural or religious traditions in any part of your day?

We had a secular and fusion wedding of American traditions and Bengali culture. Prior to our wedding day, a family friend hosted a Girls’ “Mehendi” (aka henna) Night and a local henna artist, Navya Sangam, from Little Elm applied a beautiful and intricate custom design for me. There is an omen that the darker the mehendi appears on your wedding day, the more the bride will help build a prosperous marriage. Integrating the Bengali cultural ceremony called the “rusmat” was really important to me. In this ceremony, the bride and groom are asked to say out loud what they view in the mirror so everyone can hear them describe the traits of their soon-to-be beloved spouse. In the traditional ceremony, the bride and groom say a single line of poetic prose such as “I see the moon” or “I see my life”. My husband and I repurposed and modernized the ceremony by exchanging heartfelt vows. The fashion was mostly South Asian. My husband dressed in a traditional South Asian groom’s wedding suit called a “sherwani” and then changed into a classic American white tuxedo after the ceremony to incorporate both South Asian and American fashion. The bridal dress was an Indowestern gown which was designed by an Indian designer. The dining we provided was a full Indian meal including samosas with chutney, chicken tikka masala, chicken tandoori, garlic naan, and white rice. The order of events and general organization for our wedding day was American-influenced for example the procession, the first dance, reception, and open bar. The signature cocktails were something I was really particular about because I am a home bartender. I was very happy with the final results and even happier to hear that our guests enjoyed our selections. The groom’s signature cocktail was a “Mint Julep” which fit him being from Mississippi. The bride’s signature cocktail was a “Blueberry Southside” which I chose to match my pink wedding gown and symbolize the “blushing bride”. The dessert we choose were s’mores and lemon blueberry macarons. The only reason behind our wedding dessert choice is the mere fact that neither I nor my husband care for cake; sometimes a decision is just that simple. Our wedding decor was inspired by Samuel Burgess Johnson’s album artwork for Ta-Ku; his artwork played a heavy artistic influence for our save the dates, invitations, wedding programs, florals, and color palette. We went with a lighter and brighter design instead of a dark and moody design because it matched our desired photography editing style and our beautiful open and airy venue.

Q2: Let’s talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?

Our venue, The Stonegate Mansion, had all the fireplaces lit as well as candles in every room so it made the entire place feel very warm and inviting. The curtain lights in main reception room made the room feel dreamy with all the twinkly fairy lights especially after sunset. I created our own wedding brochures from scratch which covered the order of events, the menu, the signature cocktails, our bridal party, explained the cultural “rusmat” ceremony, and a short and sweet thank you note from the me and my husband. My husband gifted me a set of fountain pens so that I can play around with calligraphy and was able to use that learned skill for our mailed invitations and the name place cards. My mother handcrafted the floral bridal shade, the centerpieces, as well as the bride & groom’s chairs at the sweetheart table which matched our wedding theme. I am both grateful and jealous of her craftiness.

Q3: What were the florals like in your wedding? Did you use flowers in any of your design elements like the bridal bouquets, centerpieces or ceremony backdrop? Did they play an important part in the overall style of your wedding?

Flowers were a huge inspiration for our wedding but our budget only allowed for so much. One solution was to print as much floral wedding paraphernalia to save us some money. I also searched far and wide for quality start-up wedding vendors who were looking to make a name for their business in the Dallas-Fort Worth marketplace and I was really impressed with the floral arrangements by Judy Fetzko at TCU Florist. She worked with me, our budget, and my vision to make our wedding day aesthetically pleasing. She understood that importance of the floral pieces to me especially the the bridal bouquet and our floral arch. The lush floral arch resembled a new-age altar which seemed very fitting for our secular ceremony and the arch elevated the lushness and beauty of the venue. The bridal bouquet matched the arch, it accentuated the elegance of my dress, and it was a lovely burst of color which contrasted my husband’s two outfits.

Q4: Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?

I picked out all the music from the pre-ceremony all the way up to the exit. I personalized everything for our MC who gave special shoutouts to all friends and family so they were recognized for traveling from a certain location or reminiscing about a certain memory that we shared together. It’s so hard to choose a favorite since the whole day really felt like such a dream. But if I absolutely had to, I would say these few moments: . Our first look was more emotional and more powerful than I anticipated. Chris and I had our civil ceremony mid-December 2018 so we didn’t expect to be so moved by just seeing each other and being together for our first look. I’m so happy we shared that intimate moment together before the ceremony and reception began. . when we were planning our exit and shared with my husband, “I wish we could have danced more.” We still had another 10 minutes and he took me by the hand and led me to the dancefloor, he requested a few of my favorite songs to dance to our DJ and partied until we had to leave. . when my husband was giving a speech and surprised me by thanking me for planning our wedding. . when my father’s eyes welled up with tears after he walked me down the aisle . dancing down the aisle after our ceremony to Ice Cube’s “It Was a Good Day”

Q5: Let’s talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look? Describe the looks in detail.

I was inspired by a blush pink and mauve gradient lehenga with upward cascading gold embellishments designed by Tarun Tahiliani but our budget did not accommodate a designer dress like that. Luckily, I was able to work with a local designer in Carrollton, Ruby Bhandari at Silk Threads. She saw my vision and helped me create my own bespoke dress at almost a third of the cost. I was insist on a few designs aspects such as the color, the cut, the portrait back, the type of fabric, and the stitched dupatta (South Asian shawl-like scarf) and she helped pick out exactly what I was looking for to make me feel beautiful.

Q6: How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.

We swiped right on Tinder! I was not optimistic about a long-distance relationship with a man in the military but as hard as I tried not, I could not help but fall totally head over heels for Chris and it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. He proposed in Ireland 12 hours before our flight back home. He asked me in the underneath the bell tower, the Campanile, at Trinity College in the heart of Dublin. That moment was private, intimate, and we will both cherish it forever.

Q7: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?

That the rain finally stopped an hour before taking photos! That alone, was a such a sweet surprise. My darling husband being by my side and sharing the whole day with him. The signature cocktails, the dancing, the processional and recessional music, surprising all our guests with a rehearsed first dance, and hearing how much our guests adored the decor and the venue.

Q8: Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?

The best advice I can give you is actually a rule my fiance-at-the-time set for us. Chris noticed how much anxiety and restlessness that wedding planning was causing me so he made sure I did not work on anything wedding related an hour before bed. The unwinding and relaxation before sleeping took a lot of weight of our shoulders and I was able to sleep soundly and peacefully. Other than that, make sure you and your significant other are on the same page. It is important to stay united as a couple, after all that’s exactly what your committing to for your marriage.

The post Chris + Najwa // Texas Stonegate Mansion Wedding Photography by Kimberly Harrell appeared first on South Asian Bride Magazine.

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chvrchesrp · 7 years

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Welcome to CHVRCHES’ eighth event!

This event is our third missive event, which means a little bit of what happens tonight will be assigned to your muse. Luckily, this time around we decided to give y’all a super chill event in light of finals, et cetera, so if your muse can’t make it to the event, it’s alright.

The date stamp for the event is Wednesday, April 26th. Assignments for this event are only considered game canon if you thread them (an exception to usual policies), though we still encourage tackling them in interesting ways. If you have an issue with an assignment, let us know!

A neutral space, Valencia Event Hall, was rented out for this excursion. Not too far from everyone’s home locales, the great room has been transformed into an art night with open doors to anyone. Meant to function as art therapy, Shibah booked the evening and provided all the accouterments: canvases, a variety of paints, brushes, and so forth—and wine, donated by Absolution, if needed.

Light snacks are available, including a chocolate fondue fountain with fruit and pound cake for dipping as well as cheese and charcuterie boards accented by olives and fresh bread. Participants are welcome to paint their feelings in whatever way calls to them. Shibah will be quite busy tending to the needs of the event and playing hostess, so if any moderation or interception is required, Cassiel is the one who has stepped into that role.

During the evening, attendants are encouraged to pick a number from a repurposed punch bowl and get randomly paired to talk about their feelings with strangers and acquaintances. Pamphlets around the punch bowl discuss empathy, nonviolent communication, and active listening skills. You are welcome to create threads other than those assigned below.

The pairings are as follows:

For anyone concerned with reading that ridiculously fine print courtesy of the random pairing site, haha, it’s:

Babylon/Satan

Raziel/Abaddon

Zoe/Noah

Adele/Grace

Kiara/Maria

Renee/Leviathan

Olivia/Kezia

Ethan/Naomi

Cassiel/Zack

Magda/Dominic

Belial/Donato

Isaiah/Crowley

#chvrchesrp #lsrpg #original rp #literate rp #bio rp #event #missive event #event 008

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cathrynstreich · 5 years

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8 Ideas That Will Transform Your Backyard Into an Oasis

With a little bit of effort, your backyard can actually become an extension of your inside space. Since summers don’t last as long as we’d like them to in Canada, it’s important to use our outside areas as much as possible.

Even if you don’t have a large yard, you can make even the smallest nook into a cozy, outdoor oasis where you can relax, unwind and enjoy a few beverages on a warm summer evening.

Have a look at these eight ideas that will turn your green space into a place you and your family will love to spend time.

Pergola with panache. If you’re lucky enough to have a pergola, adding some curtains to each corner will instantly create a feeling of luxury. Just make sure they’re UV resistant. They will also provide you with added privacy.

Tropical plants. Your normally-indoor tropical plants will love being outside in the summer and they will mesh well with your outdoor furniture and give your space added life.

A beachy twist. You can bring the beach to your backyard by adding a couple hammocks, sunbrellas, brightly coloured chairs and accessories like throw pillows.

Zentastic. Adding some succulents in square pots along with a soothing fountain, and accessories that are natural and neutral, will give you a lovely Zen-like meditative space. Some soothing, outdoor lighting will make it a place you can go in the evening, too.

A classy carpet. Nothing jazzes up an outdoor space more than the perfect indoor/outdoor rug, which can pull everything together and give your area texture and a burst of colour—not to mention it can feel great on bare feet.

Eclectic furniture. Have some fun redoing your backyard. Not everything has to match. In fact, repurposing some of your indoor pieces you were thinking of donating may be just what your space needs. You can turn that old side table into an outdoor bar area. With a little imagination, the sky’s the limit.

Add a little vine. Training a vine to frame an entrance or to highlight a fence is a pretty way to add detail without spending a fortune. Clematis will make the space pop with beautiful blooms that produce many buds all season long.

Outdoor art. There is nothing that says you can’t hang some of your favourite photos, paintings or prints outside. Prints behind plexiglass are great outdoors. Just keep the fine art pieces inside because you don’t want to risk damaging them.

The post 8 Ideas That Will Transform Your Backyard Into an Oasis appeared first on RISMedia.

8 Ideas That Will Transform Your Backyard Into an Oasis published first on https://thegardenresidences.tumblr.com/

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mrdonaldclark86 · 6 years

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10 Ways to Accent Your Log Cabin from the Inside Out

Your log cabin has so much charm and the right decor can bring out its best features. From the moment you step out of your car until you settle indoors, you can create that warm woodsy-chic feeling that attracted you to the style in the first place.

Consider these 10 decor ideas that can help to make a log cabin feel even more special indoors and outdoors.

Fancy faucets Whether you choose charming antique or shining steel faucets, these small touches get noticed because they are used all of the time. You want to select a style that matches the finishings in your bathroom or kitchen. For example, if you have brushed steel appliances, select a more modern metallic faucet.

Modern lighting Log cabins are naturally beautiful and a great way to make their best features shine is by adding hyper-modern lighting for contrast. Install geometric shaped chandeliers or polished steel sconces for a quick and easy decor upgrade that stands out.

Artful Antiques Log cabins may be the inspiration behind the rustic-chic home trend. Recently, designers have been repurposing old gardening tools, typewriters, and toys as artistic decor. Hang a few as art on a wall to add interest to a space. These decor touches can be useful as well. For instance, you can select antique iron rods to hold curtains or incandescent light bulbs to illuminate your dining area.

Weave in natural materials Continue the organic style of your log cabin with wool and cotton rugs, wall hangings, and throw blankets. You can bring a peaceful feeling to a space with neutral undyed tones or opt for pops of colour by finding a large woven art print for an empty wall or floor.

Solid rocks Add another element to your feng shui at home with stone feature walls. Extend the slate or brick beyond your fireplace mantle to fill the entire side of a room. In bathing areas, raw stone showers and sink basins naturally compliment the wood and water of the log cabin around them.

Firepits and chimineas Fireplaces inside log cabins are a natural match so why not continue that cozy ambiance outside? Firepits and chimineas (clay freestanding fireplaces) are easy to install and allow you to make use of your outdoor space beyond the summer season.

Water features Your log cabin blends into the environment with its wooden beams, adding water elements can bring that organic feeling to life. An easy addition is a decorative bird bath that will attract wildlife and music to your yard. Or, you can install a fountain or create a stream to allow the tranquility of flowing water to surround your home.

Pergolas These canopies provide shade in the summer and help to define an outdoor living area. Extend your log cabin’s charm by building one of these chic wooden structures over your patio. For an added natural effect, you can grow vines along the beams and watch them flower in the springtime.

Hanging lanterns Light the way from the driveway into your charming abode with the magical look of lanterns. Use them to brighten walkways and hang them on your patio for a more intimate ambiance at parties. Depending on your personal taste, there are string lights, Moroccan style lanterns, and even solar options available.

Handcrafted address plaques Artisans have been crafting, carving, and welding personalized signs for centuries. Some homeowners place an address plaque at the end of their driveway and others right on the home itself. Whether you select a carved wood sign to match your log cabin or a welded metal one that contrasts with it, you can make finding your home a beautiful experience right from the roadside.

When you start with a naturally beautiful log cabin, it’s easy to create enchanting spaces inside and out. A little bit of decor can compliment and contrast with the organic structure and bring out your own personal style.

If you’re looking for log cabin design examples or inspiration for building your own log or timber framed home you can visit our plans page or give us a call.

from Artisan Custom Log Homes https://ift.tt/2smrOUp

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clapyourhandsrec · 6 years

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Star Wars Man Cave

The inner nerd in all of us wants to deck out the home with our favorite games, movies, and anime. Unfortunately, not every wife allows a nerd living room, but a man cave circumvents that. By constructing your own man cave, you let your nerd decor run wild! One series in particular harbors a place in the hearts of nerds and geeks everywhere…Star Wars! As the first feature on nerd cave ideas, let’s look at some awesome Star Wars Man Cave ideas and pictures!

Star Wars Man Cave Ideas

As far as awesome nerd caves go, a Star Wars themed cave takes the cake. With a whole galaxy of themes to pick from, these geek cave ideas range from planet-specific decor to a franchise-wide celebration of the series. With so many different movies, games, novels, spin-offs, and otherwise, every Star Wars man cave looks different. However, capturing the unique tone of the Star Wars universe takes skill. So, use these guidelines to help you determine how to decorate your mantuary!

Franchise Theme

First, pick between a franchise theme or an in-universe setting theme. The franchise theme displays the Star Wars logo proudly throughout the cave. A black ceiling dotted with white stars (perhaps even LED stars!) populates the best man caves. Adding the word scroll from the start of the movie to important places catches the eye of any guests and creates a movie-watching mood. Displays dedicated to specific characters work well, although I suggest showing off at least three characters, so it avoids looking like a shrine to one dude in particular. Use nostalgic movie posters, collectable cups, and space-themed furniture and rugs to enhance the Star Wars feel.

Star Wars Dark Force Darth Vader Framed 3D Lenticular Picture

This cool lenticular design shows off the leading force of the dark side and his cronies. Because of the lenticular design, Darth Vader and his stormtroopers appear as a 3D image, despite its two-dimensional appearance. No special glasses required!

Buy from Amazon

Vandor 99089 Star Wars 13.5″ Cordless Wood Wall Clock

With a logo, the symbols of the Rebel Alliance and Galactic Empire, and classic art of the original protagonists, this clock reminds us of the golden times of Star Wars. In fact, it might cause some nostalgia overload!

Buy from Amazon

Setting Theme

On the other hand, a setting-based theme puts you right into a scene from the movie. The sandy wastes of Tattooine, the watery wonders of Naboo, and the icy plains of Hoth all evoke a Star Wars feel without resorting to logos and figurines everywhere. On top of that, picking a setting allows you to choose any type of man cave decor you want. Rustic looks match Tattooine—just throw in some extra lighting to make it more futuristic. A relaxing zen waterfall fountain both reminds everyone of Naboo and helps everyone chill out. Hoth proves a bit more difficult, but throw in some AT-AT walkers and you create a battle atmosphere. Some clever paint jobs also mimic frost.

Plenty of organizations make their appearance in the movies as well. By focusing on one in particular—be it the Galactic Empire, Galactic Republic, Rebel Army, Jedi warriors, or any other group—you create a unique setting that shows which ‘team’ to root for during the movies. After all, none of the conflicts in Star Wars are black and white!

Vinyl Evolution Star Wars Design Wall Clock

This repurposed vinyl record clock shows the major players in episodes IV-VI of Star Wars, plus it looks awesome and gives you the time. I suppose you could play it in a record player as well, but the missing sections would ruin the needle.

Buy from Amazon

Star Wars (Light/Dark Side) Light Switch Cover

Want a dramatic flair to entering the room? Simply flip the switch and declare your solidarity with the light side! Of course, a clever person can switch the alignment of the lights and ‘turn on’ the dark side. All up to you! The design also fits in well with other Star Wars decorations.

Buy from Amazon

Technical Theme

This technically counts as a setting theme, but in differs in its presentation. True Star Wars nerds know that a huge amount of supplemental material goes with each movie, novel, game, and spin-off. The engineering details of each ship, extensive maps of each planet, and galactic placement of each scene all provide the story behind the story. Along with that, they look awesome! Using these materials as your decorations creates a very unique man cave and works great…especially if you consider yourself a true fan of the series!

3D Illusion Platform Night Lighting LED Lamp

Like the lenticular image above, this display gives off the illusion of a 3D apparition. Of course, an optical illusion causes the 3D effect, but it still looks cool! It switches between several colors or stays set on a color of your choice.

Buy from Amazon

Nerd Man Cave Decor

Building a nerd cave, especially a Star Wars themed nerd cave, always dips a little into your wallet. The reason? Simply put, officially licensed products wear a collectable’s price tag. For nerd home decor DIY, flavor your own decorations by using an airbrush to match whatever look you want. White and silver look great for Star Wars man caves, in my personal opinion.

For Star Wars man caves that focus on the spectacular games that the franchise created—or gamer bedroom ideas—set up a stellar entertainment system…pun intended. Use furniture that hides your wires or integrate them into the sci-fi decor. As a fellow nerd, I’m sure you know a little bit about wire management! Star Wars comic book man cave ideas incorporate the unique style of the comics and use them to tell a narrative on the walls, furniture, and so on.

By using Star Wars art, prints, and posters in your cave, you immediately turn your room into something dedicated to Star Wars. Plenty of unique and modern posters exist on sites like Amazon and Etsy to find something perfect for any style of man cave. Custom frames that match some of the space ships in the series create a cool aesthetic!

Star Wars Han Solo 12L 3D Thermoelectric Cooler

I really hope you reached this point before shopping for refrigerators. Why? Because this fridge is the only one you will ever need. With Han Solo popping out of ‘carbonite’ on the front, it also works perfectly to store your favorite drinks. A Star Wars cave absolutely needs this! It holds up to eighteen cans and adjusts for other types of drinks as well.

Buy from Amazon

Ultimate Nerd Cave

Of course, man caves encompass far more than geeky goods. Gamer cave ideas center around electronics, but most man caves also contain a bar of some kind. Whether you use a fridge to store your beer or a full-fledged counter and wine rack setup, a Star Wars bar stool complements the bar with something matching your theme. You can also incorporate the Star Wars theme into your bar by recreating the Mos Eisley Cantina—the location of many famous Star Wars scenes. Okay, maybe just two. It’s topical, and that’s what counts!

The lighting of your man cave also easily complements your Star Wars theme. By setting up a futuristic lighting scheme, it immediately invokes the setting of the franchise. For something more thematic, custom lights that include characters, settings, or features of the series provide some eye candy for your visitors.

Star Wars Darth Vader Candy Holder

This silly little holder serves to provide little snacks or hold car keys when the drinks start flowing. What better way to tell your guests to stash their keys away than, ‘Give them to the dark side?’ If Vader’s not your best friend, perhaps Darth Maul, Yoda, a Stormtrooper, or a Jawa suit you more. And yes, they make them in each variety.

Buy from Amazon

Plasticolor Star Wars Logo Garage Stool

The Star Wars bar stool looks great for any man cave bar. They also make this cozy seat with a Darth Vader, Stormtrooper, or Boba Fett design. Compared to other bar stools, the price is very affordable, and matches Star Wars man caves perfectly.

Buy from Amazon

Epic Star Wars Man Cave Ideas

With all this geeky interior design to choose from, finding an idea should be no problem for you! However, picking just one for your cave proves difficult. Think deeply about what you love in the Star Wars universe. Is it the unique settings? What about the beautiful attention to detail? Or maybe you just love the nostalgia of partaking in the series. In any case, the wonder of Star Wars captures the imagination, and it’s up to you to build the perfect Star Wars man cave!

~Robert

The post Star Wars Man Cave appeared first on TrueManCave.

from TrueManCave https://www.truemancave.com/star-wars-man-cave/

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otomefantasy · 6 years

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Star Wars Man Cave

Star Wars Man Cave Ideas

Franchise Theme

Star Wars Dark Force Darth Vader Framed 3D Lenticular Picture

Buy from Amazon

Vandor 99089 Star Wars 13.5″ Cordless Wood Wall Clock

Buy from Amazon

Setting Theme

Vinyl Evolution Star Wars Design Wall Clock

Buy from Amazon

Star Wars (Light/Dark Side) Light Switch Cover

Buy from Amazon

Technical Theme

3D Illusion Platform Night Lighting LED Lamp

Buy from Amazon

Nerd Man Cave Decor

Star Wars Han Solo 12L 3D Thermoelectric Cooler

Buy from Amazon

Ultimate Nerd Cave

Star Wars Darth Vader Candy Holder

Buy from Amazon

Plasticolor Star Wars Logo Garage Stool

Buy from Amazon

Epic Star Wars Man Cave Ideas

~Robert

The post Star Wars Man Cave appeared first on TrueManCave.

from TrueManCave https://www.truemancave.com/star-wars-man-cave/

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joel-furniss-blog · 6 years

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Shock Art and Andres Serrano

Being edgy habits itself in the breaking of social taboos, the unspoken rules between people designed to keep interaction clean and not bring people any unnecessary feelings of horror or disgust. But if rules are made, even unspoken ones, it is almost inevitable that they will be broken.

But broken for what reason? Sometimes they are broken to bring attention to their outdated ideals, sometimes broke to make radical and overall important advances in ideas, and other times they are broken to bring attention. The latter example is where the genre of ‘shock art’ falls, art whose subject or visuals instantly instil elements of disgust or overwhelming confusion within the wider mainstream audience. The idea is to get publicity and become memorable within the public eye, which is an interesting point, these pieces are rarely meant to effect the closer artworld when the artworld already feels like it has seen everything. For example to the regular passer-by, a painting revealed to be made of an artist’s menstrual blood might be cause for serious disgust and questioning into their psychological state, but to me and many artists who have heard or seen these works multiple times, it loses it’s lustre around the second time. Those kinds of works are designed to get headlines from the Sun or Daily Mail, drawing direct attention to them with shocked headlines.

But I must realise I am being entirely too dismissive, often times there are intense messages that the artists must convey, it is just that when they use their shocking methods of creation, the motif of the piece can be lost behind the shock value. Often times the message is largely relatable rather than alienating, but the visual elements often seem hostile to viewers, with use of gore, infamous visages, over-sexualisation and general use of grotesque imagery often take away from the original idea rather than enhance it.

But once again I feel I am being too critical, there are many works that are considered shocking enough in their contemporary era as well as being considered classics of their time. One of the most famous examples of this is Michel Duchamp’s Fountain (1917), a repurposed urinal placed on its back. Duchamp used it to ask a question and gain an answer to the artworld’s tolerance to new and radical ideas, and as a result saw shock and controversy come his way. The idea behind the piece was simple at the time, a simple question of ‘What is art?’ but I believe that the actual object Duchamp used helped stir the controversy. The actual craftsmanship and shape of the urinal may be fairly soothing and unremarkable, the shocking white porcelain it’s made of paired with the shoddy signature adorning the side make it seem visually unappealing. But of course behind it there is the grotesque implication that the art object Duchamp displays is an object made for urinating in, not for a gallery space.

One particular artists who has maintained an element of shock and veritable command of the grotesque and disgusting is Andres Serrano, an American photographer and artist infamous for his breaking of taboos in his artworks, specifically with his confrontational and frankly harrowing photos of deceased bodies within a morgue, use of bodily fluids to create uniquely beautiful artworks, and challenging subjugations of heralded imagery. The latter of which is best represented through one of his most famous works, Immersion (Piss Christ) (1987), a piece labelled both blasphemous and beautiful due to its subject matter and visuals. The 150x100cm print shows a small and lightly detailed crucifix featuring the slumped body of Jesus Christ, however the entire sculpture is submerged in a yellow liquid. While at first glance it may simply appear as a very heavy sepia tone and film grain, the liquid is reportedly Serrano’s own urine. The piece obviously brings up many questions, mainly what Serrano (a Christian himself) intended to say with the piece, but instead of attributing an idea to his practice Serrano stresses ambiguity and that it was not an attempt to denounce religion, despite the implication. The photograph itself is strangely beautiful (despite the knowledge of its contents), the combination of the deep and murky crimson of the background paired with the glowing orange creeping up the shaft of the crucifix and finally ending with the vibrant yellow of where the light hits Christ’s sunken form forming a saturated yet fiery image, representative of the crucifixion scene itself and baptism by fire Christ had to face. The piece won multiple awards and was favourably received within the art community but also faced scandal due to its supposedly blasphemous subject matter and was even attacked multiple times, with angry protestors breaking the glass frame in an attempt to deface the print. Instead of Serrano replacing the frame and print, he decided to keep the broken glass at other exhibitions in the future.

One of Serrano’s taboo breaking series dealt with our relationship with death and the dead in The Morgue, a series of deeply confrontational photographs of cadavers within a morgue. Despite the morbid subject matter of the series, Serrano once again captures a sense of rare beauty in his subjects while also lending a window into the subtle and sometimes hideously chilling end to us. Using very stark and vibrant lighting against pitch black backgrounds, Serrano brings the subjects to the forefront but not as if he is shoving them in our face, they are often presented with beauty and respect. Serrano pays attention to specific body parts, hands, feet, fingers, torsos, legs, genitalia, and faces, but never shows the full model, always keeping the images tightly cropped in order to protect the anonymity of the corpses. It’s strange, when we see a corpses at a wake it is prepared by a mortician, designed to look almost alive out of respect for the former self, but with these images they are shown in their fullness, extremities purple, embalming fluid still wet, and dried blood on their skin yet still treated with a manner of respect and dignity. Serrano often uses fine, clean cloth to crop or cover the models features, often letting them drape and veil their faces, a visual reminiscent of classical Italian baroque paintings, especially paired with vivid lighting and the striking expressions permanently held on the subjects’ faces. The series directly plays with the grand taboo of death with a no-holds-barred attitude and produces stunning results, much like the previously discussed works, Serrano seems to be masterful at combining the physical beautiful and philosophical disgusting into one. Standouts of this series include: Fatal Meningitis I, Blood Transfusion resulting in AIDS, Child Abuse I, Killed By Four Great Danes.

Serrano’s pairing of the gorgeous and the gross is perhaps best represented in his Bodily Fluids body of work, specifically one piece Semen and Blood III. As the title suggests, the image is a combination of cow’s blood and Serrano’s own ejaculate compressed between two glass slides and photographed against a black background. Obviously the disgust comes from the two fluids, a natural inclination to be afraid and disgusted at the sight of blood and the social disgust we feel about semen, but combined in the context and format that we see, the capture of the two liquids melding under the glass is beautiful, reminiscent of the uncapturable beauty of a roaring fire. The details, tone and forms seen contained within the smoothly shaped borders of the liquids are almost unstudiable in their murky and flowing features, leaving significant time to view the image. It captures the viewer and invites them in, but the name pushes them away. I have a theory that all taboos are based within two factors, sexuality and death, and in this image we see two prime examples of these taboos. The sexuality aspect is obvious represented by the semen, a product of intercourse and a necessary part of reproduction, and the concept of death represented by the blood, the sight of which implies danger and injury possibly leading to death. In this case Serrano shows both the taboos in stark detail, mingling on a physical level but still maintaining that sense of visual appeal. The piece has also been represented within pop culture with Metallica using an edited version of the photograph for the cover art of their album Load which in turn led popular clothing brand and skateboarding shop Supreme to produce a skateboard deck and pair of hoodies baring the pieces design.

Shock art is difficult to pull off in a respectable manner, and even when it is it will often face backlash and criticism, but Andres Serrano has found a work around for that. He appeals to the viewer’s shallow side, the side that values the visual over the message and in that creates extreme emotional reactions. The edginess he displays has shot him to one of the most infamous contemporary artists, he uses it in passing and pairs it with exquisite visuals to masterfully elevate himself. Some say that he offends for the sake of offending, but I’m a firm believer in ‘if it works, it works’.

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juliandmouton30 · 7 years

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Jade Doskow's Lost Utopias photo series documents past World's Fairs sites

Photographer Jade Doskow has spent the last decade documenting crumbling and thriving World's Fair sites across North America and Europe for her Lost Utopias series.

Knoxville 1982 World's Fair, "Energy Turns the World", Sunsphere, 2009.

Once a display of the time's most pioneering ideas, these exposition sites now exist predominantly in a state of decline or dereliction.

The dystopian-style series has seen Doskow travel to and photograph the remaining art, architecture and landscaping at 27 of the World's Fairs sites across North America and Europe.

The images illustrate the urban sites in their recent states, having either been left victim to the elements like New York's 1964 State Pavilion, or revived and maintained as popular tourist attractions like Paris' Eiffel Tower.

Philadelphia 1876 World's Fair, "Centennial Exposition", Fair Washrooms, 2008.

The concept for the Lost Utopias project initially developed from a family trip to Seville in 2004, when New York-based Doskow came across the 1992 World's Exposition site.

"I was immediately captivated by the surreality of the situation and the seemingly hodgepodge use of the huge site," she explained.

"Canals were filled with tall grasses, a decorative fountain glistened with beer cans and algae, many structures were overgrown with weeds, yet several buildings were still in use, including for the RTVA radio station of Seville."

New York 1964 World's Fair, "Peace Through Understanding", Unisphere, 2009.

Following this experience, in 2006 Doskow began to plan her project of photographing numerous World's Fairs sites across the world, which took off a year later with the 1939 and 1964 New York sites, then moving on to locations in Chicago and Europe.

Doskow described the project as "a cross-disciplinary extravaganza encapsulating science, industry, art, architecture, as well as the historical and cultural frameworks in which each past fair had happened, which influenced the specific context in which everything was constructed and conceived in regards to technology, race, and design."

Seattle 1962 World’s Fair, “Century 21 Exposition", Science Center Arches at Night, 2014.

Not only was the history compelling, Doskow told Dezeen, but the different ways in which each city dealt with the sites after their closing also revealed a lot about the city itself and how it has approached historic preservation and urban planning.

Doskow devotes around three to five days to each place, researching their current condition and contemporary layout in comparison to the original fair maps. In doing so, she aims to capture images that "reflect the current use of the structures and landscaping as well as the emotional and metaphysical state of the place".

Seattle 1962 World’s Fair, "Century 21 Exposition", Monorail with Gehry-Designed EMP Museum, 2014.

Out of all the sites captured, Doskow said the "most successful metaphor" for the project was the 1964 New York State Pavilion in Queens.

Despite being situated in one of the world's most well-known cities, and built by the modern architect Philip Johnson, the site nonetheless exists in a half abandoned "limbo state", being too difficult and costly to be repurposed and yet too important to be demolished.

New York 1964 World's Fair, "Peace Through Understanding", New York State Pavilion, 2008.

Deserted sites like this stand in stark contrast to the various existing sites like Paris' Eiffel Tower, Trocadero, and Palais de Chaillot (all constructed for Paris' 1937 Exposition Internationale) which have been consistently used and improved upon.

Paris 1889 / 1937 World's Fairs, "Exposition Universelle/La Vie Moderne", Eiffel Tower, Trocadero, and Palais de Chaillot, 2007.

Taking a slower, more meditative approach to shooting the sites, Doskow uses a large-format camera for the project, similar to what would have been used by the photographic pioneers of the early World's Fairs.

After processing the film, she then "painstakingly perfects" the images using photoshop, sometimes taking up to a year to complete a final print.

Paris 1937 World’s Fair, "Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne", Graffiti, Palais de Tokyo, 2007.

"As any artist can tell you, it is important to sit with an image for quite a while and figure out if it works and if it makes sense in the greater context of the project," Doskow told Dezeen.

"Also photography and world's fairs had a direct and reciprocal relationship, as the first major photography exhibition was at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in Crystal Palace in London, so I appreciate being able to use similar tools as to what the early pioneers would have used."

Brussels 1958 World's Fair, "A World View: A New Humanism", Atomium at Night, 2008.

She finished photographing the North American sites in 2015, and by 2016 the first monograph of her work, Lost Utopias, was published by Black Dog London. She has since spent the last few years revisiting sites that have changed since she last shot them.

Following this decade-long project, Doskow now wishes to focus more on sites outside of America and Europe, and plans to base her photography in places like Japan, China, South Korea, and Australia over the next five years.

The post Jade Doskow's Lost Utopias photo series documents past World's Fairs sites appeared first on Dezeen.

from ifttt-furniture https://www.dezeen.com/2017/08/19/decade-long-photography-series-documents-lost-utopias-worlds-fairs-architecture-photography-jade-doskow/

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nofomoartworld · 7 years

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Timely London Gallery Show Is a Meditation on Saying Goodbye

The surprising outcome of the Brexit referendum in the UK, and its predicted massive cultural impact, has made it the exit on everyone's minds and lips in recent months, but Britain's decision to leave the European Union is by no means the first political departure to rock the world. Just as art can influence current events, large political changes can, in turn, affect the function and output of the art world. This sentiment was exemplified during the 1960s, when conceptual art went hand-in-hand with societal changes.

So despite its tantalizing name, Rodolphe Janssen Gallery's group show EXIT is not "The Brexit Show," at least according to curator Adam Carr. While some pieces in the exhibition directly address the referendum, many others were created in isolation. "I wanted to create a framework in which to reflect on the egress from a more conceptual, poetic, and perhaps poignant viewpoint," Carr tells Creators. "Where the idea of political departure could be one thing to consider, but also ideas of leaving, to be left, failure, and bureaucracy in general."

Amalia Pica Joy in Paperwork 50, 2015. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the artist, König Galerie, Berlin and rodolphe janssen, Brussels. Photo credit: Hugard & Vanoverschelde photography

On the topic of bureaucracy, a widely overlooked and pivotal part of all largely impactful political shifts, is a piece titled Joy in Paperwork by Argentinian multimedia artist Amalia Pica. This piece uses stamps collected from around the world on which due dates, paid confirmations, privacy notifications, and other official stamps decorate the paper. Dealing with official procedures that are necessary but often questionable, German artist Andreas Slominski offers his take on deportation in Untitled, a work from 1994 made by repurposing a painting he purchased at a flea market. The piece appears to separate from the nails on which it should be hung. Fragmentation comes into play in two works by Simon Fujiwara, a multimedia artist from England, which each depict a section of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's face. One thousand times an enlargement of its actual size, Masks (Merkel C4.1) and Masks (Merkel C4.2) were produced in collaboration with Merkel's personal makeup assistant and created with HD makeup.

Andreas Slominski Untitled, 1994-2017. Picture frame, nail. Courtesy of the artist and rodolphe janssen, Brussels. Photo credit: Hugard & Vanoverschelde photography.

The term exit can be taken literally, to leave a place. But it can also be interpreted as a break from tradition or deviation from the linear path, artists dismantling the status quo and discovering new creative tactics. As is so often the case, looking back can be so much easier than looking forward, and when it comes to art in a post-Brexit world, the future remains still unpredictable.

On the left, Simon Fujiwara Masks (Merkel C4.1) & Masks (Merkel C4.2), 2017. Make-up on canvas. Courtesy of the artist and rodolphe janssen, Brussels. Photo credit: Hugard & Vanoverschelde photography

"What will happen as a consequence of Brexit, as well as [...] Trump, to art is still yet to be seen," says Carr. "But of course artists are responding to the conditions of the world all of the time. So change will inevitably occur. This has already been felt in the commercial gallery system with a number of galleries changing the format of their business, or closing down completely due to changes in the economy and, in turn, the art market."

Torbjørn Rødland Comb Over, 2015-16. Chromogenic print on Kodak Endura paper. Courtesy the artist and rodolphe janssen, Brussels

Like "Parting is such sweet sorrow," and "When one door closes another door opens," cliched sayings about goodbyes are too numerous to count. But their abundance is for good reason. Endings cement great stories and political phases, and they are woven through our cultural consciousness. But it is not often we stop to think of the end, the exit, as more than just punctuating what came before it. Oftentimes, exoduses are ugly and complicated, dragging on for long periods of time and possessing none of the finality we hoped they would. But if you look close enough somewhere buried deep in the leaving there is a new beginning.

Nina Beier Allegory of Abundance (design for a fountain), 2015. Faucets, coins, resin, metal and wood. Courtesy of the artist, STANDARD (OSLO) and rodolphe janssen, Brussels. Photo credit: Hugard & Vanoverschelde photography

Adam McEwen Down Elevator, 2016. Graphite. Courtesy of the artist and rodolphe janssen, Brussels. Photo credit: Hugard & Vanoverschelde photography

Walead Beshty La ciudad en llamas (February 17 – March 1, 2015: Cerámica Suro Contemporánea, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico), 2015. Ceramica Suro slip cast remnants, glaze and firing plate. Courtesy of the artist and rodolphe janssen, Brussels. Photo credit: Hugard & Vanoverschelde photography

EXIT will run at Rodolphe Janssen gallery from June 22 to July 20. More information on the show can be found here.

This UK Passport Proposal Sums Up Brexit Perfectly

With Volcanic Rock, an Artist Takes the Heat Out of Brexit

Here's What Artists Are Saying About the Painful Brexit Decision

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