YALL THE AMISH CAME OUT ❤️❤️❤️

I was corrected on Twitter by someone from the community — they’re actually Old Order Mennonites! Although they follow that ‘plain living’ doctrine that the Amish do, they also carefully allow technology into their communities. Televisions are one of the few pieces of modern tech that’s allowed in certain Mennonite sects. The Mennonites and Quakers are no nonsense when it comes to oppression of any kind. Google more about them and you’ll quickly find out that it’s no surprise they showed up. They always show up.

after hurricane sandy, mennonites came through Far Rockaway, NY and rebuilt houses and Black churches that were devastated for free, the ones i’ve met have always been down to do real work for the cause

Steampunk Bathroom [1080x1350] ©Nas Studio

Tip if you live with room mates or parents:

Make your bedroom your SANCTUARY. Make a place you want to go to at the end of the day to relax, having a dirty room is so stressful. And I get it, you sit there and stare at it, but don’t tackle the clutter because it’s overwhelming. My advice, just start somewhere. Even if it takes you a few days. GET RID OF STUFF YOU DON’T NEED. Minimize your belongings. (Read DO LESS by Rachel Jonat. It has seriously changed my view on organization and clutter and has opened my habits and my mind to minimalism) I donate all of my unused but salvageable goods to thrift stores, because keeping them around to try and sell them can cause you to continue to be overwhelmed. Then, once you’re room is cleaned, let your bed be your bed. It’s for sleeping and lounging only. Try to get a good desk for homework and study. Then for decorations GET COZY SHEETS, CANDLES, FAIRY LIGHTS, drape tulle or tapestries along your walls or ceilings with push pins or command hooks. (Small Holes in walls are easy to fix by yourself btw, just do a quick google search.) Get a cozy comforter and comfy pillows. If you have an uncomfortable mattress, get a comfy foam mattress topper (@ target for $12) to help. Keep a little tray that you can lay your night time goodies on. Mine has a lavender pillow spray, a wide tooth comb, water bottle, Vaseline (I put it on my lips, lashes and brows before bed), and my notebook in case I have any wild ideas I want to jot down during the night. Keep a catch all try by your door. Lay your keys, sunglasses, watch, etc. there, so you know where they are when you’re rushing out the door. Also, have a place to put your purse. If you can’t put a hook on the wall to hang it up, get an over the door hook hanger from Walmart. (I love this thing because I keep my purse, school bag, fave Nike hat and umbrella there, and I always know where I put them. Use things like white boards, calendars, and pin boards to keep yourself organized, and design yourself a motivational vision board. ORGANIZE YOUR DRESSER. Keep socks, undies, bras, tights in the top drawer, then shirts, then pants. But if you can, hang up tips that you know will get wrinkles easy. Put a cozy rug in your room to keep your feet warm, but don’t forget to clean it, because if you have pets it will start to stink. Keep clutter off your bed and DIRTY CLOTHES IN THE HAMPER. I don’t care if you need 3 hampers, idc if you need 3 hampers for dirty clothes and 2 for clean clothes, just KEEP THEM OFF THE FLOOR. Play some chill music while you just hanging out. Light your candles, sit back, and enjoy your beautiful chill room.

LIGHTS OF DOWNTOWN Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis @ Night

Downtown Minneapolis through the Lowry Bridge #LoveWins

Minnehaha Falls, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Peak fall colors in downtown Minneapolis!

Home - Trailer 

WARNING: I KNOW THIS ISN’T A DISNEY MOVIE AND THIS IS A DISNEY-CENTRIC BLOG BUT I JUST HAD TO GET THIS OUT BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF FEELINGS

I was just watching this trailer and I just wanted to say wonderful I think this is. Looking at it as a film, it looks like it’l have it’s fair share of typical humor that’s always included in animated films, but looks like it might have some tender moments. But other wise what I really want to talk about is Tip. Or rather what Tip means for me at least.

I remember when the Princess and the Frog trailer came out and I was so hyped. I was just so happy that Disney was bringing back 2D animation, but also that there was a black character in the lead, and a black woman at that! I copied the trailer off of youtube, uploaded it to my iPod and watched it almost everyday until the movie came out. I also bought the art book and took it with me when the movie came out. Obviously, the movie meant a lot to me. It still does, despite the issues it has. For a 19 year old animation student, seeing a major animated film feature a black woman as the main character was amazing.

This movie is a lot like that. Just looking at the trailer made me tear up. It’s honestly so rare to see characters of color treated like characters and not tokens, or background fodder. Not to mention that her role in the story isn’t dependent on her race! Other than foreign films, I have never seen a movie where an alien ever initially interacted with anyone who wasn’t white. This is seriously so wonderful to me, you do not even know…

I remember when this post was going around about how it was unfortunate that Tiana couldn’t have been animated with natural hair. Folks used every excuse in the book to explain away the reason’s why the animator’s could not animate natural black hair on Tiana (it’s seriously not that hard; any competent animator working at a professional level who understands form, shape, weight, and timing could do it). And then this movie come along and shows that it in fact can be done competently done despite people trying to say it would be some kind of Herculean effort on the part of the animators.

While I was originally going to pass on this because of the teaser in front of Mr. Peabody and Sherman, this is one I will see on principal.

-pik

I think pik said it all! When I saw this trailer, I was just…I felt like I did when I saw the new Annie trailer, thinking “Holy crap. That’s a black girl in the lead. She’s a character, not a caricature. This is awesome!” The girl also looks like she’ll be fun, endearing, lovable…I love her already just looking at the this. And I bet I’m gonna love her friendship with Oh.

The one thing bugging me is, and I know this is probably inconsequential…but how old is she supposed to be? She drives and has a mature voice, so I expect she’s a teenager, like 16 or so but honestly, she looks like a kid. I’m not sure if that’s a style thing or not but it just bugs me that someone, especially a female, who’s supposed to be older looks so child-like.

But that’s about it. I look forward to seeing this on the big screen!

-K

I’m not as excited as the others are about this project, but I recognize and agree with everything they are saying in regards to Tip being appreciated as a fully actualized character and not another caricature of ‘urban’ (i.e. PoC) youth. Her character design is cute and dynamic, I love the texture of her hair, though it’s still kind of that curly/bouncy acceptably “not too black” of hair… unlike a coarser grade of hair (like mine, for instance). Tip is obviously a PoC, but I wonder if the choices to make the character a lighter shade of brown, give her cutely curled hair, and have her be voiced by crossover sensation Rihanna were made to keep the character and film palatable to ‘mainstream’ audiences.

I’m excited that a WoC is going to be a main character in an animated major motion picture. I love the character designs and it looks like it’s going to be cute and fun with a nice message… but I’m not enraptured or excited the way I was about TPATF or Lilo and Stitch (that OTHER movie about WoC and Aliens growing and learning together).

I think it’s a step in the right direction, and I’ll definitely end up seeing it… but as far as the story is concerned, I’m not too particularly enthused about it. Not right now, anyway. I hope it does well, though, if only to open the door to more opportunities for POC in the future. 

-Ren

THE ANCESTORS RESIDE IN OUR DNA: “Pour one to the homies” The act of pouring liquid (usually an alcoholic beverage) on the ground as a sign of reverence for friends or relatives that have passed away. Libation is an ancient way of prayer. A petition is made while pouring water or alcohol to the Creator and to the passed over ancestors, for their assistance with our human affairs. The libation is symbolic of invoking these energies, it is at this point where the prayer is stated plus giving thanks and appreciation for the guidance and blessings received. Libation is also carried out funerals and to commemorate loved ones