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mxvladdy · 4 years

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A Break

Part Duo. Some fluff, some plot. I guess? I just like writing this one.

Chapters: 1-2-3-4

Two

Hanzo left later that evening with a chaste kiss and a promise to call when he could. You watch him go, waving him off from your little balcony stopping only when he became lost in the sea of people below. The gold of his ribbon disappearing in the blur of faces and colors. Alone again you flop down onto your bed staring watery-eyed up at your ceiling fan. The quiet around you no longer the comforting kind, his soft-spoken presence a larger comfort then you thought. Already you missed the feel of him draped over you in bed, his gentle snoring in your ear.

Glancing at your alarm clock you debate whether it was worth it to get up and do something with your evening or just call it an early night. Fuck it. You were gloriously sore and sleeping sounded amazing right now. Work could wait for tomorrow. Laziness winning over you rose kicking off your leggings slipping under the covers of the freshly made bed, courtesy of Hanzo. Stretching out on his side of the mattress you reach out to your bedside table, fingers ideally pulling Hanzo's latest gift to you.

The metal of the pendant was cool to the touch. The light silver chain of the necklace shone brightly from the twilight outside. Thumbing over the tiny owl impression on the drachma you smile longingly. Slipping it over your head you tuck the coin under your shirt.

Greece. What an adventure.

You wished he could have stayed longer this time to talk about his travels. Greece had been a place you dreamed of going when you were younger, but gave it up to get your career off the ground. That was your life now, bookkeeping and payroll. Our business needed you more than you needed to travel. Perhaps one day you could feel confident enough to leave the shop for a world tour. Or maybe even a romantic getaway with Hanzo, see if you were really compatible.

Admittedly your romance had been a whirlwind from the start. A drunken kiss with a handsome stranger that should have led to nowhere but a musty motel room followed by an awkward goodbye. But instead, you woke up with his number and a promise of an actual date. Half a year later Hanzo had a drawer of clothes and a toothbrush in the bathroom. Snuggling in deeper under the sheets you yawn clicking off your lamp drifting off with your phone clutched in your hand. You sleep peacefully wrapped in your boyfriend's warm floral scent till a light buzzing wakes you. Your phone vibrates, the light blinding you when you unlock it. Not that you care.

Hanzo (3:14am):

Shuttle just landed. Be safe for me.

You (3:14am):

Always will :*

And you too please! I find myself rather attached…

Hanzo (3:16am):

Ha. I will try not to freeze to death.

Hanzo (3:16am):

Perhaps you could warm me up next time?

You snort wrinkling your nose at his flirting.

You (3:16am):

Yes sir! But it’ll cost you

Hanzo(3:20am):

A price I will willingly pay.

Hanzo(3:22am):

I must go, I’ll call when I get the chance.

You (3:23am):

Goodnight! Miss you already

You wake late the next morning groggy but warm, tangled in the sheets. Alarm screaming obnoxiously close to your face. Blindly, you swipe at the phone silencing the noise and rise. Waddling groggily you head to the bathroom to get ready for the day. You arrive an hour late grinning ear to ear. Your friends and employees glancing up smirking at your poor excuse for calling in sick yesterday. You let them work heading to the back to get your workload started for the day. Setting up in the back of the store in your favorite corner you look over your new assortment of dried leaves, flowers, and fruits.

The background noise of the shop and quiet music overhead lulling you into a comfortable trance. You hum under your breath pulling your scale closer to you blatantly ignoring Tabatha. She circles you like a hawk, keen eyes looking for any opening to start grilling you. The heat of her gaze latching on to the blemishes and love bites you didn’t even bother hiding. Placing your pestle down you sigh turning to her. “Ok. Ok. Lay it on me girl.”

Tabatha moved in fast plopping down next to you grabbing your pile of dried lemon rinds. “In all the time I have known you I’ve never seen this.” She starts shaving the rinds down smaller. “You skipped work, unannounced. During peak season!” She rounds on you dumping the shavings into their allotted jar. “I’m so proud!” You laugh tension you hadn’t noticed you were carrying in your shoulders dissipating. “I’m serious!” She continues. “All this time and I’ve never seen you finally blow off some steam till he showed up.” Tabatha smiles and leans closer flicking a soft curl ticking your ear. “You know you have to bring him around for drinks and leftovers sweets. Shit, the rest of the team wants to meet him too! Your pictures don’t do him justice.” You nod promising to ask next time he came to visit.

The rest of the day moved on from there at breakneck speed, the front portion of the shop bursting with patrons. The back with employees running about, fresh herbs, pastries, and coffee carafes in hand. The din of your business running smoothly a comfort to your frazzled mind. You finish your newest blend with a flourish, sprinkling dried ginger into the jar closing it with a satisfying ‘snap’.

“Yo Boss! Can you cover the front while I take my break?” Switching places you wish your employee a good break. Perching at the register you make small talk with a few regulars as the evening lull hits. Greeting a cluster of teenagers as they entered you pause mid conversation taking in the new customers coming in behind them.

Oh. Well, this was rare. Omnics came in from time to time sure that wasn’t unusual. You make it a point to welcome everyone equally, as did your employees. But omnics always came in with human companions or solo to pick up an order or gift. And they most certainly never glowed. You eye the two curiously. The green one wandering aimlessly picking up different jars of teas and homemade jams before being over a display case of brightly colored macaroons. The other taller one was dressed in baggy pants merely looked at the counter before making eye contact.

“Ahh~ greetings.” He spoke. His voice, while naturally monotone it held an underlying tone of levity. “I wish to inquire about your tea selections. I have heard you have a unique variety.”

“Oh course!” You blush embarrassed that you were caught staring. “We have a small selection of in house blends, but the bulk of our products are sourced from fair trade shops from India, China, Japan, and Africa.” You recite by heart pulling out your display tray. The omnic looked down at the cards reading each selection as you described them nodding along patiently.

“What a peculiar name?” He picked up your latest custom blend. Southern Dragon. “How do you come up with the names?”

“I let my staff pick and vote on names. But this one-” You smile softly popping the tin open. “I named after someone.” The tea itself didn’t look like anything fancy sure. The blend of reddish-brown sticks looked like something someone could scoop up outside, Tabatha had joked about it often. “ Hojicha, roasted in house with dried ginger and imported nashi pear. This is the first season we are caring it as I like to buy fruits only when in season. It isn’t one of our most popular yet, but many customers have appreciated the mild caramel flavor and slight sweetness of the peaches and gentle tang of the ginger.”

“I see, that sounds very pleasant. I would like a bag of that and perhaps the sharp lemon for my pupil.” You nod scooping out the desired amounts into two small bags weighing them swiftly.

“And anything for you?” You smile less genuinely at the smaller omnic as they all but swaggered over. You had felt his gaze the whole time you had been chatting.

“Hmm.” They leaned on your counter visor not leaving you, long metal fingers clicking on the marble counter top. “I’d take a small shortcake and a three-pack of macaroons, the matcha ones; if they come with your number.”

You freeze choking on your smile, even the other omnic seemed surprised.

“Genji-”

“We have our business number on the bottom of our boxes and bags, and a popular online storefront.” You ring him up quickly handing him his order.

“Mmm. I was hoping for something more...personal.” They continued voice dropping low into a slightly clipped purr.

“No.” You cut them off quickly, smile gone. “I have a boyfriend.”

They gasp in mock shock. If they had lips you were positive they would be stretched into a shit eating grin. “What a lucky man.” They tip heavily turning without another word to the door, phone out texting animatedly. You look blankly at their abandoned companion waving a hand uselessly at the door.

“I apologize. He sometimes forgets himself. I hope my pupil didn’t offend? I would like to return at a later date.” They bow low in compensation. “I will have him apologize properly when we meet again.”

Meet again… You jerk your head awkwardly still processing what in the world just happened.

“Woooow,” Tabatha drawls wrapping an arm around you watching the two take their leave, the taller one levitating the moment they were outside. “ Wow . Popular with all types huh? Thought I was gonna need to come in here an’ knock heads.”

“Please,” You scoff recovering to wipe down the counter. “That has to be one for the books, right next to that time I fell in the school fountain at graduation. All white- like a dumb ass.” Tabatha howls with laughter already walking back to your shared office.

“A beautiful day in history. But damn that green one was mighty pleased to hear you were taken.”

“Ha-ya.” You frown rubbing your arm. Now that you think about it it was kinda weird. Perhaps they were a friend of Hanzo’s. He never spoke of omnics, cowboys and old vets, but you would think highlighter green would stick out.

Tabatha came back talking to the last of your closing staff noticing you were still looking out the window. “Hey- you ok?”

“Yea-yea. Just thinking about it now.” Your friend frowns discarding her armload to lead you back into your office dropping you in your chair.

“I’m sure it’s nothing. But how ‘bout you get started on the paperwork, and I’ll cover the front in case they come back.” You agree already pulling a stack of orders to you booting up your computer. You get a few hours of work done in peace as your employees filter out for the night, bidding you and Tabatha a good night. With a huff she collapses to the couch watching you work for a moment.

“You forgot didn’t you.” Hmm? Tabatha meets your blank stare dark brows raised into her hairline prompting you. Blinking you try slyly to look at your calendar. Was it someone's birthday? Anniversary? “ Gurl ." She jokes. "Dick that good you forgot whine and cheese night?” Oh. Oops.

Whine and cheese night had been a tradition since grad school, then when you went into business together. Every last Sunday of the month you two had a few too many drinks and bitched about anything that came to mind that month. Tabatha chortled grabbing your keys and turning off your monitor. “Good thing I remember. I got some new vintages and some fancy cheeses I stole from my girl’s fridge.” She leads you out of the shop locking up the building pushing you out into the brisk night air. You walk the short distance to your flat listening to her talk rapidly about her upcoming trip with her girlfriend to France. “Handsome take you anywhere yet?” She asks finally taking a breath at your front door.

“Does the city fair count?” You ask flipping on the lights to your kitchen. You glaze at your friend's face. Clearly it did not. “He isn’t around often enough to do something like that. Not that I mind,” You add quickly trying to get your piece in before she decides to cut in, her frown growing. “We had plans to rent a beach house for a weekend but he had an emergency at work. After that, we just do stay in dates or stuff around town.”

“What, he always on call or something?” Tabby flops hard onto your floor pillow kicking off her shoes. “Or like too afraid to tell his boss off?”

You snort passing your lounging friend an overfilled glass of zinfandel. “Bit late for the background check ain’t it?” She accepts the wine gracefully wiggling deeper into the cushions stealing your remotes. “Besides, I like just having lazy days here. He travels a lot for work so I’m sure that gets exhausting. I doubt a road trip would be relaxing for him. I like just having him here even if it is to just sleep.”

“Rrrriiiggghhtt. ‘Sleep’ .” She snorts looking wholly unconvinced as you settle into your favorite recliner sticking your tongue out teasingly. The two of you get lost in your favorite show then, talking on and off between mouthfuls of pizza and chips. “So-” Tabatha rises a few hours later popping her back. Eyes going to the liquor cabinet dramatically. “Wanna bring out the good shit and tell me all about your impromptu to vacation day?” She wiggles her brows, popping the cork out of your favorite gin bottle pouring you way too much. Downing your first glass in one you hunker down for a long night.

For the second night in a row, buzzing wakes you. The vibrations sharp and rhythmic against your thigh. Groggy from booze and gossip you dig around your chair. “‘Ello?” You mumble wiping drool from your cheek.

“Ah. My apologies-I forgot about time zones. Would you like me to call you back.” Hanzo. You perk up a little stumbling over your passed out friend to your bedroom door.

“No-no. I wouldn’t want to miss this.” You beam rubbing the sleep from your eyes clicking your door closed softly. The haze of the day prior leaving you with his smooth voice, his soft chuckle in your ear made him feel like he was there. The warm presence on your back instead of your sweat-soaked tank clinging to your frame.

“The same can be said for me- but I really should let you sleep. I merely wanted to hear your voice before my… shift started.” Faintly you could hear the sounds of laughter and clinks of plates in the background.

“Where are you?” You ask beyond curious, hoping for a satisfying answer. He paused again, the sound of merriment and chattering fading into the background. “Breakfast and a shift change. It was my turn to cook along with a friend. He had an idea for a 'traditional American breakfast'. It is very hearty, the others are excited. I expect I'll have heartburn for the next week now.”

“Aww! You’ve never made me breakfast!” Ah shit. “Not that that’s a problem!” You backpedal. “Life is hectic and we both have hard schedules.” Silence. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”

Hanzo shushed you gently over the phone. “No, you are more than within your right. I do not do all that I would like with you, yet you set aside time for me every time you can.” You snort into dead air. It wasn’t that hard for you, Tabatha all but forced you to take weekends off from work.

“It’s ok. Don’t make it feel like a duty, love. I just… wish we could do more couple like stuff you know?” You twine your fingers feeling childish for even complaining.

“I understand that feeling, I have been neglectful. Allow me to make it up to you?” You hum faking thinking hard on your answer. “ Darling.” Your chuckle behind you hand practically hearing the pout on his elegant face. He continues with a huff. “After this assignment I’ll ask for personal leave. A few weeks perhaps? We can do whatever.”

“I like the sound of that.”

#overwatch #hanzo shimada #hanzo x reader #overwatch fanfic

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womenofcolor15 · 4 years

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Cardi B Nabs 1st VOGUE Cover (With Kulture)! Explains Why She Took Offset Back After Cheating & Why Social Media Drives Her Insane

Cardi B lands her very first VOGUE cover and she posed it up with her adorable daughter Kulture. In the cover story, the “Press” rapper explains why she decided to take Offset back after cheating (multiple times), why social media now drives her insane (although that’s how she got discovered), how she pushes through the balancing act of wearing so many hats and more. Get it all inside…

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A post shared by TheYBF (@theybf_daily) on Dec 9, 2019 at 6:16am PST

Cardi B is closing out 2019 lighting up the magazine circuit! The “Press” rapper landed her first VOGUE magazine cover, which is the 4th and final cover of the January 2020 issue that features fearless moms. The Grammy Award winner tapped her 16-month-old daughter Kulture Cephus to join her in matching Michael Kors and Oscar de la Renta looks for the issue. Bardi also rocked some Zac Posen threads in her solo editorials. Swipe left, above to see them.

Inside, the “Clout” rapper opened up for the first time about why she decided to take her husband Offset back after cheating…multiple times. As you know, Offset embarrassed Bardi a few times with infidelity antics. Before they were married, video footage of the Migos rapper laid up in a hotel room with another woman leaked online after his phone was allegedly hacked in 2017.

Just 15-months after tying the knot, the “Be Careful” rapper hopped on Instagram and announced she was “single” a week before Offset released his debut album, FATHER OF 4. Days before her breakup announcement, alleged text messages leaked showing a friend of rapper Cuban Doll trying to set up a threesome with Offset, who was trying to fly them out.

Most recently, Tekashi 69's girlfriend Jade - the bartender who is suing Cardi for allegedly jumping her and her sis at work because the rapper thought Offset was cheating with her – shared a video of Offset hopping in her DMs on Instagram saying he missed her. The Cephuses then got on Instagram claiming his account was hacked and all.

Through it all, Cardi has remained a “ride or die” for Offset. The reason? She told VOGUE all relationships have issues and their marriage isn’t perfect.

“My thing is, everybody on social media acts like relationships is perfect,” Cardi explained. “And that’s crazy to me. I’m around so many women, and there’s always a woman talking about how she loves her man, but her man is not financially stable, or she has a problem with his mom, or the sex is not as good anymore. Everybody has issues.”

The Bronx native said she and the Atlanta rapper prayed about it and eventually came to a mutual understanding.

”I believe in forgiveness. I prayed on it. Me and my husband, we prayed on it. We had priests come to us. And we just came to an understanding like, bro, it’s really us against the world. He has my back for everything, I have his back for everything, so when you cheat, you’re betraying the person that has your back the most. Why would you do that? We have come to a clear understanding. For me, monogamy is the only way. I’ll beat your ass if you cheat on me.”

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Thank you

A post shared by Iamcardib (@iamcardib) on Jul 21, 2019 at 8:29pm PDT

The “Bodak Yellow” rapper opened up about the social media scrutiny she received after taking her husband back so many times after publicly cheating on her.

“When me and my husband got into our issues—you know, he cheated and everything—and I decided to stay with him and work together with him, a lot of people were so mad at me; a lot of women felt disappointed in me,” she said.

“But it’s real-life shit. If you love somebody and you stop being with them, and you’re depressed and social media is telling you not to talk to that person because he cheated, you’re not really happy on the inside until you have the conversation. Then, if you get back with them, it’s like, how could you? You let all of us down. People that be in marriages for years, when they say till death do us part, they not talking about little arguments like if you leave the fridge open. That’s including everything."

The “Clout” rapper even explained why she decided to start a family with the Migos rapper even though he already had three kids by three different women.

”When I was pregnant with Kulture, a lot of people was like, oh, he has three kids already; why would you have a kid with somebody that have three kids? And it’s like, how is that such a bad thing? My dad has eight kids, and we all get along, and it feels better, fuller. And with Offset, I feel like his kids just bring a pop of fun to life when they’re in his house. I actually love it. It brings out a different side of him that I like to see, and I love to see my baby interacting with her siblings. The more the merrier.”

Whatever floats your boat.

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A post shared by Vogue (@voguemagazine) on Dec 9, 2019 at 9:56am PST

Being a rapper, mom, wife, sister and daughter is a lot on Cardi, but she’s learning how to balance it all – although it’s not an easy task. Her husband Offset spoke to the publication about how she’s managing it all.

“It’s not an easy thing,” the Migos rapper said. “We both have our own households. But you grow. We’re way better now with communication. She’s balancing a lot. She feels like she can’t be absent a lot, and our jobs are crazy. But I think motherhood got her more focused. I always tell her, don’t follow the comments. But she’s been outspoken on things since before she was making music—she’s not ever putting on, she’s not ever being cool. At the end of the day, she’s still going to rap about the same shit, which is what it’s like being a woman.”

Cardi added, “Being a mom—how can I say it? Things are a little bit harder to balance, but it’s good for the mental. Like, if I’m playing with my daughter, I forget about the issues.”

As you know, Cardi B’s rise to fame came even before she starred on “Love & Hip Hop.” She had over 1 million followers on Instagram due to her infectious personality. Now, social media seems to be more of a burden for her these days.

“Social media really made me,” she says. “Before I got on Love & Hip Hop, I had millions of followers just off the way I speak. Just me talking. And that’s how I got discovered. But now social media makes everything hard.”

Bardi said she likes to surround herself with family and friends to keep her mind off social media.

“When I’m there [in her New Jersey apartment] by myself, a lot of thoughts go to my head, and when the thoughts go to my head, it just overwhelms me, and it puts me down, and it puts me on social media, and that drives me insane. So I just like to be where there’s a lot of people so I won’t be watching my phone.”

Not only is she feeling pressure from social media, she’s also feeling anxiety about her sophomore album, which she’s currently working on.

“The first time it was just me being myself,” she said. “I didn’t even care if people was gonna like it or not. When I found out I did so good, I’m like, is this a big number? Everybody was like, yes, this is a huge number. So it’s scary because it’s like, now you got to top your first album, and then it’s like, damn. I wonder if people are gonna relate to the new things, to the new life, to the new shit that I gotta talk about now. Music is changing. I feel like people just wanna hear twerk-twerk music, but it’s like, is that just a phase? I probably need a sexy song. I need a lot of turn-up songs. I need a slow song, a personal song. And those are harder for me—I always need help when it comes to talking about my feelings. It’s hard for me to be soft, period. So it’s a lot of thoughts, a lot of pressure. It’s really like a job.”

Welcome to the real entertainment world Cardi! The Sophomore curse is real, but push thru!

You can read her full VOGUE interview here.

In case you missed, peep Cardi’s 73 questions with VOGUE below:

youtube

Photo: Getty

[Read More ...] source http://theybf.com/2019/12/09/cardi-b-nabs-1st-vogue-cover-with-kulture-explains-why-she-took-offset-back-after-cheatin

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blackvail22 · 3 years

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13 february 2021

5:08am - tomorrow’s valentine’s day. what a shame, i guess.

it’s always been one of my favorite holidays. i remember the feeling i had on valentines day last year, though. i was... i was honestly really sad, but i didn’t mind it. it was the first (and last) year me and jenna stopped trying to hide our relationship so much. i wanted to get something for her, but i never did. wait, no... i did. i made her something. i dont know. i did get a really good photo of myself out of that day though lmao

valentines day is a day of love, and love is the only thing i’ve wanted but never have gotten, so. i mean. it’s a yearly reminder of that.

4:07pm - luxury items don’t excuse emotional torment

3:16am (14/02/21) - i played with one of the most entertaining guys ive ever met today. i met him through a friend, and he’s a few years younger than me (by school grades, i dont know his age). both his friend (zion) and him (jay jay) are younger than me. im wording this very confusing so i’ll just stop now, lol. im going to go to sleep now :P

oh, they’re guys, and theyre internet friends. jay jay is the one that came up with the “prank” a few weeks ago. while playing with them, though, zion has a mic, and every time i played really well or i was playing in a lobby full of everyone’s friends, he would talk abt how they just all got killed by a girl. yeah, i get it, i guess, and he did say that it didnt really matter afterward but... ehh... this is just the first encounter ive had with someone that knows im a girl and thinks i play well and hasnt said that i was faking my identity, harassed me, belittled my talent after i played well against them, and/or asked me for nudes soo... im glad it went well. and zion was really funny, and his voice reminded me of someone i haven’t seen in awhile, so it was nice. hopefully i play with that group more often. i have to be weary playing with them during the day because my mom is awake and home, and she reacts negatively when i talk to others online because of me talking to you and multiple others when i was 9&10. now, look, i get the others. one of them pressured me into something i didnt want to, and the other tried to make me do the same thing. on the other hand, you arent bad. i wish she could see that for herself. wooooow, it is true people open up when theyre tired. lmaooo, okay, i think im *actually* gonna sleep now.

4:12am (14/02/21) - i still want to talk to someone but i dont know what to talk about :(

i miss having the company of someone. just a simple video call while we’re both doing what we want to would be fine. or even having a long conversation over the phone. i remember the ones i had with jenna. i liked them. i liked the ones we had when it was late at night, and i was at her house. i wish i could talk to her more. maybe when i can go back to in-person school i will, as much as i dread it. i’ll have to at some point because my mom refuses to homeschool me. she knows why i hate school so much (ive been bullied since my 2nd year in school) but she doesnt want my social skills to disappear. they’re already gone. i have social anxiety. plus, i’ll (probably) get a job soon anyway. im thinking about working at the same place as emily and possibly the same hours (if possible) so i have someone familiar. i dont think id make it if i didnt have someone familiar near me. maaaaan, i miss emily so much, but my mom hates her. whenever she sees her, all she can think about is emily’s sex life and calling her rude names and its just... its not her place nor her business. it’s also just rude. i used to talk poorly about emily, though, which i regret. i apologized to her for it multiple times, and i still feel sorry. i want to keep apologizing, but i think she knows that i’m sorry. i wish i could take back the things i said about her. two of my friends were at conflict (one being emily) and i didnt know what to do. i also blamed her for a lot of things that were my fault to begin with. i think there was a point where i lost myself in her. i can see that happening a little with b, but it’s not as bad. with emily, i couldnt find my own identity if it didnt involve some part of her. i still have no clue who i am because i am constantly changing, but...

im oversharing

wtf

im gonna stop

how long have i been ranting?

ehh 14 minutes isn’t bad. i need to stop talking for now. it’s 4:30am. sleeeeeeppppp

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elizabetskaya · 4 years

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$758

Life sometimes gives you lemons. Sometimes challenges. Sometimes both.

For me, quarantine had not been experienced in full. Until today.

Starting mid-March Europe, USA and a lot of other countries started imposing strict rules for their citizens to fight the pandemic. When I had to go to Russia in the beginning of March due to health reasons [not Covid], I escaped the US where the process had just started. Whilst I was having my time during those 2 weeks in Russia, where there were no signs of the upcoming disaster at that time at all, America was doing a complete home lockdown. It felt as it was a pure luck because by the time I had to go back to the US, American government started to lift up some of the hard-core anti-pandemic measures as the first peak was behind. And I remember when I landed in Los Angeles on March 27th, everyone seemed to be already pretty chilled about the situation. Yes, there were significantly less people in the streets and no cafes open, but at least you were allowed to go outside – in contrast to Russia, where people were forced to sit at home and allowed to leave their homes only twice a week to buy essentials like medicine and groceries.

I felt lucky again. In LA I could freely go running in the mornings, then work during the day, and see my ‘already-quarantined’ friends later in the evening to enjoy walks by the beach. I felt jealous of myself, you know. Los Angeles seemed like the best option to spend quarantine in, in contrast to the rest of the world.

But not me.

* * *

Today is Sunday. June 14th. And I’m not in Los Angeles. I’m in… Hawaii.

And unfortunately it is not a kind of a trip I’ve imagined it would be. I mean, Hawaii still looks beautiful to me – to the extent that I can enjoy views of Hawaii from my hotel room, which I am not allowed to leave for the next 12 hours.  Oh yes, one more thing: my flight back to LA is in12 hours. Sounds confusing, isn’t it?

Welcome to Hawaii fucking real quarantine, baby.

* * *

Six days ago it was Monday. And I was in Los Angeles.

That Monday a lot of things have happened: I successfully submitted one project, surprisingly got fired from another…

Well, not fired. It was a an agreed mutual decision but it still felt horrible like I was used..

And not only this. The main ‘trigger’ of me buying tickets to Hawaii was a conversation with my mum I had that night: same old ‘mummy/daddy issues’ that, as a result, undermine your value, question your existence in general, make you feel like a complete garbage and, most importantly, MAKE YOU DO SOME IMPULSIVE SHIT THAT YOU HAVEN’T REALLY THOUGHT THROUGH.

I am not trying to blame it on anyone here. Actually… there’s nothing to regret about at all! Life is an experience, and every failure is a lesson.

So how I ended up in Hawaii. [ To be more precise, being stuck in a hotel room in Hawaii. ]

In short, I’d put it this way: I read a right book, saw a sign from above, got completely lost, and couldn’t wait anymore.  In long…

1. By the book I mean Julia Cameron’s ‘Artist Way’, and I called it ‘right’ in a sense that this book found me in a right place in a right time. My boss, who fired me – asshole, said that I might be confusing two things: “being creative with just being able to executive someone else’s creativity in a professional form”. Basically, he called me “not creative enough”. And for a person who’s been always drawn to art in its various shapes and forms, that felt like a painful punch right in my face and, most importantly, my heart. Looking ahead, it turned out that he’s а rogue who used me, my skills and my time, and left me with just £179 for 3 weeks of intense work instead of £600 (the sum which, in my head, was supposed to be spent on any sort of a short well-deserved vacation), but that’s a whole different story. So, when I found myself in a situation that someone tried to diminish my self-worth as a creator, I had to find a way to make sure that I can still be considering myself as a creative person and that I have actually never lost this title at all (as it can never be taken away ;). So I opened my notes with books to read and the name ‘Artist’s Way’ immediately caught my attention. I am not sure who has recommended it to me but I just instantly felt it is the answer to my dilemma of self-identification. Most of the exercises in the book focus on bringing our hidden subconscious thoughts to the surface so we could take them into account when trying to make our mind on different things. As I was reading through and doing all exercises with all my heart, I saw one thing coming up over and over again – Hawaii. When I had to choose one childhood dream that I haven’t fulfilled yet, that was Hawaii. When I had to visualize a quiet place where I could mentally go to right now, that was Hawaii. When I had to think of at least one thing that could definitely make me happy at that moment, the first thing that came to my mind (and I guess would be for most people too) was a completely change of a scenery and surrounding environment – and, once again, that was Hawaii.

2. A ‘vivid sign’ was a moment when I went to check new job listings on the Russian (!) website which I used regularly, and the first thing I see is a ‘helicopter supervisor in Hawaii’. It could not be any more random, you know…

3. Me being ‘lost’ refers to the frustration I had after losing a job, AND my mum’s heart-breaking comment that ‘I was the biggest disappointment in her and dad’s life’. 1). The irony is that she said it not knowing that I’ve lost my job. 2). Now we have talked through this situation with her and it appears that I misinterpreted her words that day. Well…

4. And four. ‘I couldn’t wait anymore’. I couldn’t wait for any sort of a miracle to come to me. In the given circumstances, I truly believed I needed to DO something, to FEEL something, in order not to fall into the deepest depression since 2016. I had to create this life-saving life-changing miracle myself.

And I did.

* * *

Friday June 12th 2020. 8:16am. LAX. I am at Hawaiian Airlines’ baggage drop-off. They take my passport, they take my luggage and go: ‘Well, you know that you’d have to self-isolate where you’re planning to stay for 14 consecutive days as a part of quarantine measures, right?’. And the only thing I could say – so I don’t look likeSOME STUPID SHIT WHO HAS BASICALLY JUST WASTED $758 - ‘yes, I know’.

Long story short – I arrive to Hawaii, go straight to my hotel, do check-in and close the door of the room n1105 behind me for 4 consecutive days. Apparently, the State of Hawaii extended mandatory out-of-state visitor 14-day quarantine policy for another month on the day I purchased my tickets. And non of the booking websites ever mentioned that…

You know, at least now I can legitimately say that I’ve been through a REAL quarantine. I am not allowed to use hotel’s swimming pool, room service or any other activity that involves human interaction or me physically touching any hotel’s surface apart from my room’s.

I obviously DID read the news (when I arrived), and the reason why I am not planning to violate Hawaiian anti-rona regulations is that it looks like these guys are taking it way more seriously, and they do arrest people who do not obey the law. The State Department of Transport called directly to my hotel room yesterday at 9am in the morning to make sure that I am aware of mandatory quarantine, and that I am staying in.

YES, I’M FUCKING STAYING IN, guys. Because I don’t have extra $5,000 if you catch me chilling at the Waikiki beach. And I also do not want to have my first appearance on a news cover it being a mugshot and my name under it (cos I really doubt they’ll provide me with a full make up service before taking a picture).

* * *

They say, be careful what you wish for, son.

I wished for an escape.

I wished I could delete all of my social media (which I did) and become completely non-existent for most people for half a week.

I wished for an experience which would somehow push me out of my comfort zone, make me re-evaluate current state of things in my life and probably become that ‘restart button’ which I definitely was in the need of.

But most importantly, I wished to finally see the place of my childhood dreams. Nobody told me it would be limited to me exploring Hawaii from the hotel room balcony.

P.S. There’s actually a little addition to this story but I do not want to get in trouble with Hawaiian law (if you know what I mean) so I will leave it here and tell the rest to my closest friends in person... hehe

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squky · 7 years

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Mystic Messenger Another Story ー Day 4 Phone Call Choices

Note: Due to the HG cost of outgoing calls to Ray and V, and of loading your game, I am only going to go through one call tree for Ray+V and incoming calls per playthrough of the day. My choices will be marked with a ✔ incase the conversation choices branches when you make your answer decisions.

Jumin, Incoming call, Day 4, after 12:16 I always sleep late ~ ✔ Apology accepted since it's you... ✔ I use a scientific mattress. ✔ I sleep on the floor. Nice, sturdy floor. ✔ Jade mat. Looks like that's how you're programmed. ✔ You're such a regular person. ✔ Maybe you'll remember after you get some rest. You'd like to see V, perhaps? ✔ That's sometimes happens. It's not something rare. ✔

707, Outgoing call, Day 4, after 12:16am Huff ~ Huff ~ ...Seven? Beep ~ beep ~ beep ~ Seven, I'm scared. Ghost stories! I love them! Same here! Kyaaaaaa!! And then...? What? Come on, say it! But I don't think that's somethign easy to mistake for ... Or maybe that thign was already in the seat right next to you... Don't you think you were mistaken? What? I don't want to hear it! Kya! Dust Kya! I'm scared! What...? That's so lame. Seven, can't you stay with me for the night?

Yoosung, Outgoing call, after 12:16am, Day 4 Yoosung? I wanna break into your base... That's what I call addiction to game. I wish you would focus on me like that. Try orchestrating me... I'm sure you'll do great when you get used it it. I thought you were going to take a break...? Run, warrior! Run out there! Fight! Win! Crush'em!! Go fight the forces of evil, Price Yoosung!

Ray, Outgoing call, after 12:16am, Day 4 What are you doing at this hour? ✔ I mostly think about my menu tomorrow. Mostly I think about myself. Mostly I think about you. ✔ Of course. ✔ I'm not sure. I perfer the AIs. Yes, I can fel how you feel more than enough. Easier said than done. Ok, then let's start with the stripping first. ✔

V, outgoing call, Day 4, after 12:16am Are you hitting on me right now? ✔ I like talking to you, too. You're so sweet and inncocent, V! Maybe the one for him was someone else. What does it mean? ✔ I think you're going too far with that... It's beautiful. ✔ Now let me see your love. ✔ (y’all, don’t answer with the one. It sucks) I'm sure she already knows. Could you please stop talking about another woman?

Zen, Incoming call, after 2:34am, Day 4 Couldn't you care a little more about the cat? ✔ I think Seven is a naughty kid. ✔ Someday you will find a role made just for you. ✔ Don't you think your expectations are too high? ✔

I'm sure you'll get a chance soon. ✔ Why don't you write scripts yourself? ✔ 1.What about the story on the RFA members? ✔ 2. Not really.

Would you like help with that? ✔ I'd like to be your lady on the stage, Zen. ✔

Jumin, Outgoing call, after 2:34am, Day 4

Jumin, why are you staying up late at this hour? Hehe, were you waiting for me? I can't imagine what kind of pain you were during an interview... No wonder it's tricky. It's a final interview. If I make it to the recruitment, can I marry you? I think I will someday reach my goals if I work hard without giving up. I think luck is important. I don't know. I don't have a goal. I don't know. Swing by your place, maybe? My day starts now. I'm going to bed now.

Jaehee, Outgoing call, after 8:15am, Day 4

Who's Chairman Han? Jaehee, It's me... [your MC's name here]... I'd like to know what an assistant does! You're so professional! You rock! What is their preferences are completely different? How about a snack bar on the road? That's no fun. I wanna be like you! Whoa... That must be such a toll...

Zen, Outgoing call, after 8:15am, Day 4 Good morning to you too, Zen~ How did you do last night, O Zen the Gorgeous? Um... You didn't just get your Internet, did you? I don't use them a lot, either. I'll show the entire world who my man is. I don't really show it. What about you, Zen? Special delivery you you ~ ! I wanna see those sex fibers composing your back. I'd hate to hang up... Good luck!

Ray, Outgoing call, after 8:15am, Day 4 (This phonecall was blah-ish) Good morning ~ I feel good hearing you so early.. ✔ Attention... I need attention. What are you doing now, Ray? ✔ Do you have a cheat? So far so good. Hey, could you give me a tip on this? ✔ You sound so confident. ✔ Thanks for the tip. I'm going to do whatever I want. I'll keep that in mind. Let's go somewhere with me after I'm done wit this game. ✔

Jaehee, Incoming call, after 10:22am, Day 4 Why would you ask me that? You mean he's not at his work right now? ✔ Why won't he pick up? You should do the same to him. It must be tough for you, Jaehee. ✔ That's what work is like. Think about Zen and fins peace. I'll be your bamboo forest. ✔ 1. Jaehee, you gotta do better than that! ✔ 2. So Jumin likes stripes!

Jumin, Outgoing call, after 10:22am, Day 4 You can look forward to it. Not at all. I'm not sure. I'll do the best I can. Party is all you think about, Jumin. I want to be reborn as V in my next life. Maybe V is working really really hard. Jumin, you're very fond of V. I'll replace V and stay with you. You're a good friend, Jumin. You can leave V with a cutie - me!

Yoosung, outgoing call, after 10:22am, Day 4 Yep. How do you feel? I'd more than like to stalk you. Are you off to class? You said you're off to class. Yoosung... Your memories are failing you already...? Why don't you take a gap year and play nonstop? You souldn't play too much. I think you need a lesson, Yoosung.

Jaehee, outgoing call, after 12:00pm, Day 4 Wow - it's Jaehee! Working hard today as well? A girl only cries three times in her life. I cry every day. You scolded her because she cleaned your desk? Why didn't you cry together? She shouldn't have done that. You have so much work to do, Jaehee. Bad Mr. Han!

V, outgoing call, after 12:00pm, Day 4 How are you doing, V? Are you having your meals? ✔ Well... Sort of. I'm doing great! ✔ No. Yes, a lot. ✔ I like Mr. Han! I like Zen! I like Jaehee and Yoosung! I like God7! You are my favorite! ✔ 1. I was saying that I like you as a person. Don't get me wrong. ✔ 2. A goal is meant to be achieved. I'll take care of this. Let's get married first, V. I feel so safe thanks to you. ✔

Yoosung, Incoming call, after 2:41pm, Day 4 Didn't you just say you're off to class? ✔ Then you should just skip! That's a good professor. Don't you think he's neglecting his students too much? ✔ Jaehee. Seven. V. ✔ Zen. Jumin.

V, Incoming call, after 5:36pm, Day 4 Yes, of course. ✔ No, I'm busy. V! I love you! V! You're stupid! ✔ Yes, I can! Yes, I can year you!!! ✔ I'm not deaf ~ Please take care of him. ✔ You can keep talking to me, can't you? You should take this opportunity to get a new phone. Intelligence team...? ✔ No, not really.

707, Outgoing call, after 5:36pm, Day 4 Seven? Please don't cry. Let's talk things out slowly. Seven...? What are you talking about?

707, Incoming call, after 6:42pm, Day 4 Not yet ~ ✔ I did. What about you. Why do you sound like that? Ice cream is for kids. I like soft ice cream. The one you get on a cone. I like to chew on my popsicle. ✔ Nobody asked you to tell me that. Who did you share it with? Next time, share it with me! ✔

Jumin, outgoing call, after 6:42pm, Day 4 Yo, it's me. Jumin, what are you up to? Yes, of course. No. I guess you gotta make strit preparations with the interview. Oh... Are you gonna show them what you're made of? That's so cool. What did you talk about?

V, Outgoing call, after 6:42pm, Day 4 V, what are you doing? Have a nice chat with me, if it's okay with you. ✔ I'm about to plan what midnight snack I'll have tonight. ✔ I'm talking to you. V, what is love to you? V, what is a sexy guy to you?* ✔ V, what am I to you? V, what is friendship to you? V, what kid of person are you? Do you have some kind of fetish with questions? ✔ I'll ask you later when I have a question ~

* (I was laughing SO FREKIN HARD when I picked this answer!!)

Ray, Outgoing call, after 6:42pm, Day 4 I merely wanted to make a call. Nothing more...! You don't need to tell me. ✔ These AIs have lots of problems. They're more fun than I thought. ✔ I need something better than this. I'll look forward to it. ✔ So what is this something that might be completely different?

707, Outgoing call, after 8:10pm, Day 4 (THIS IS MY FAVORITE PHONECALL OF THE ROUTE!!)(Spoil at your own risk) But it's not my birthday. Seven, are you okay...? I'd like to have you as my birthday gift. What does methal health have to do with a delicacy...? You can't leave me out when you're eating. Mint! Chocolate. Wasabi desune. A sexy flavor.* Strawberry or vanilla.**

A human brain needs sugar! You should learn other ways to use ice cream. 1. You can ask your girlfriend later on.*** 2. I can't say anymore. For the sake of underage players. I'll keep that in mind if I'm on a diet. (2nd best answer)

* (I fucking LOST IT when i read this answer!! As well as lost it through Seven answering my answer) ** (He sounds so ENTHUSIASTIC when answering this answer. Oh god, my heart...~) *** (fucking LOST IT AGAIN while reading this answer. I literally had to stop and BREATHE for a minute before I could start typing these choices out.)

Jaehee, Outgoing call, after 8:10pm, Day 4 Jaehee! I need your help! 1.Hehe, just kidding! 2.I'm so hungry... No, I'm just calling. Are you interested in V? Jumin is the real leader. I'd like you to please not poke your nose. Yes, I will.

Ray, Incoming call, after 9:53pm, Day 4 And what are we doing? I was playing. ✔ I miss you, too. ✔ You're listening to an automated speaker, Please leave your message after the beep. Beep. What is it? ✔ I don't care about the taste. Anything's good as long as it's food. I'm good with bitter stuff! I can drink coffe without sugar! Sweet is the best. Best are the desserts! ✔ But Ray, is your headache better? ✔ Thanks for the call.

Zen, outgoing call, after 9:53pm, Day 4 I seek your teachings, o master! Aww, I wonder what made you excited again...! I did hear that you were a genius actor. You're happy you got a compliment from a kid? He's so cute! Can you call me cute, too? I'm always rooting for you.

Yoosung, outgoing call after 9:53pm, Day 4 When are you going to bed? Yoosung, you're playing games, right? It's fine as long as your don't play too hard. No player in the world can match me at games. Nah. I don't like the fanatics ~ Do you like it that much? What are your, some believer in LOLOL-ism? Give it a try. What about your studies...?

#Mystic messenger #MysMes #Another Story #Day 4 #Phone calls #Phone call choices #phone call trees #Jumin #Zen #707 #Jaehee #Yoosung #Ray #V #Mystic Messenger Resource

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mylatesttrending-blog · 5 years

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A British Photographer Takes Honest Wedding Photos, and You Might Regret You Didn’t Invite Him to Your Celebration

Ian Weldon says that he is not a wedding photographer, but a person who takes photos of ceremonies without any untruths. You won’t see brides and grooms posing, the fake smiles of relatives, or guests who are all doing the same poses in his photos. Weldon prefers other types of photos: awkward dancing, the preparatory bustle, kids making funny faces, and the newlyweds trying to finally eat something. They all look natural, funny, and a little bit crazy. Today Ian is invited by people from around the world in order to capture one of the happiest days of their life. We at Bright Side like this alternative take on wedding photography a lot and we tried to choose Ian’s brightest and liveliest works. Sometimes preparing for the ceremony can be as interesting as the wedding itself.

www.ianweldon.com View this post on Instagram Martin Parr @martinparrstudio presents this very special episode of Outerfocus. Yes, you read that right. With my exhibition, I Am Not A Wedding Photographer, opening today - 26th June 2019 - we thought it fitting I be interviewed for an episode of Outerfocus. And, as @martinparrfdn are hosting the exhibition and have co-published my book with @rrbphotobooks we thought it fitting Martin be the host. Link in bio at @outerfocuspodcast While I was in Bristol last week installing the exhibition (mostly pointing and drinking tea) we sat down and discussed how the work came about. I wasn’t nervous at all. For your listening pleasure, Outerfocus presents - Martin Parr in conversation with, Ian Weldon. The exhibition, I Am Not A Wedding Photographer runs at the Foundation from 16th June to 10th August 2019 . Visit the Martin Parr Foundation, Bristol - Wednesday to Saturday, 11am to 6pm - to see the first exhibition of Wedding Photography in the UK within an art photography context. SaveTheDate / 16 JUL 2019 join the Martin Parr Foundation, Bristol, for I Am Not A Wedding Photographer, the Wedding Party! The event will be held at the Foundation on 16 JUL from 6.30pm, and is sponsored by our friends and neighbours Lost and Grounded Brewers. The evening will include a cake, wedding music, and maybe even a first dance with Ian Weldon and MartinParr. Dress code - we’ll be wearing our wedding attire, please join us. If you would like to attend the wedding party please RSVP to [email protected] before 12 JUL 2019. #ianweldon #outerfocuspodcast #photographypodcast #iamnotaweddingphotographer #documentaryphotography #martinparr #martinparrfoundation #weddingphotography #wedding #photographyexhibition #photographyhistory A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Jun 26, 2019 at 2:58am PDT View this post on Instagram #ianweldon #wedding #hairandmakeup A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Nov 27, 2018 at 1:43pm PST View this post on Instagram #ianweldon #wedding A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Oct 10, 2018 at 3:39am PDT

A wedding always has a wide range of emotions from happiness to a slight sadness.

View this post on Instagram #ianweldon #wedding #dancing A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Nov 27, 2018 at 7:33am PST View this post on Instagram #ianweldon #wedding #gran #ninetynine A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Nov 12, 2018 at 9:06am PST View this post on Instagram #ianweldon #wedding #lager #groomsmen #shades A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Jan 15, 2019 at 7:45am PST Ian calls his working method “democratic photography” and says that each person and object is important in every frame. View this post on Instagram 9am refreshments 🍻 #ianweldon #iamnotaweddingphotographer #stellaartois #wedding #groomsmen #groom #weddingprep A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Sep 4, 2018 at 3:34am PDT View this post on Instagram #ianweldon #wedding #morningprep #tidy A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Feb 20, 2019 at 9:54am PST Instead of the standard group shots, where everyone stands in one row, the photographer takes spontaneous shots and documents everything. View this post on Instagram The next exhibition at the Martin Parr Foundation (@martinparrfdn) will be I Am Not A Wedding Photographer, on display 26 JUN to 10 AUG 2019. The Foundation and Ian Weldon – photographer and author of the @outerfocuspodcast – present the first exhibition of wedding photography in the UK within an art photography context. On 16th July 2019 join us for the, I Am Not A Wedding Photographer - the Wedding Party. Think first dance, wedding cake… More details to follow shortly……. #ianweldon #iamnotaweddingphotographer #martinparr #martinparrfoundation #bristol #weddingphotography #wedding #documentaryphotography #groupshot #buffet A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Jun 7, 2019 at 1:54am PDT View this post on Instagram Pow! Right in the kisser. #ianweldon #iamnotaweddingphotographer #wedding #confetti A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Sep 16, 2018 at 8:43am PDT View this post on Instagram #ianweldon #wedding #speeches A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Jan 7, 2019 at 12:43pm PST Many moments get lost in the whirlpool of events, but nothing stays unnoticed thanks to Ian. View this post on Instagram A photograph a day for a week from a selected wedding. Some unseen and maybe even some wedding-y photographs. Week 5 - Megan & Richard, Durham 2019 #ianweldon #wedding #bride #groom #weddingphotographer #weddingphotographerdurham #iamnotaweddingphotographer #martinparr #martinparrfoundation #photographyexhibition #documentaryphotography A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Jul 13, 2019 at 3:36am PDT View this post on Instagram #ianweldon #wedding #bridesmaid #flowergirl A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Dec 26, 2018 at 1:57am PST View this post on Instagram #ianweldon #wedding #bride #groom #weddingceremony #church A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Feb 25, 2019 at 1:27am PST View this post on Instagram Rock n Roll night, The Clav, Dunston - 05/2019 #ianweldon #documentaryphotography #downtheclub #gateshead #workingmensclub #rocknroll A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on May 26, 2019 at 7:58am PDT Kids make photos especially nice and funny.

View this post on Instagram A photograph every day for a week from a selected wedding. Some unseen and maybe even some wedding-y kind of photographs. Week-2, Claire & Sam. North Yorkshire 2015 #ianweldon #weddingphotography #iamnotaweddingphotographer #bride #groom #wedding #richmond #northyorkshire #yorkshirewedding #martinparr #martinparrfoundation A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Jun 24, 2019 at 1:04am PDT View this post on Instagram #ianweldon #wedding #weddingreception A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Jan 21, 2019 at 5:08am PST View this post on Instagram #ianweldon #wedding #weddingprep #stare #food #breakfast A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Feb 26, 2019 at 5:34am PST View this post on Instagram #ianweldon #wedding A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Dec 20, 2018 at 12:04am PST Of course, brides do too. View this post on Instagram A photograph every day for a week from a selected wedding. Some unseen and maybe even some wedding-y kind of photographs. 🤷🏼‍♂️ Week 1 - Nat & Tim, London 2016. #ianweldon #wedding #weddingceremony #bride #groom #londonwedding #weddingpreps #weddingcake A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Jun 20, 2019 at 7:03am PDT View this post on Instagram #ianweldon #bride #wedding #veil A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Jan 16, 2019 at 3:16am PST View this post on Instagram A photograph every day for a week from a selected wedding. Some unseen and maybe even some wedding-y kind of photographs. 🤷🏼‍♂️ Week 1 - Nat & Tim, London 2016. #ianweldon #wedding #weddingceremony #bride #groom #londonwedding #weddingpreps A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Jun 19, 2019 at 1:15am PDT View this post on Instagram A photograph every day for a week from a selected wedding. Some unseen and maybe even some wedding-y kind of photographs. 🤷🏼‍♂️ Week 1 - Nat & Tim, London 2016. #ianweldon #wedding #weddingceremony #bride #groom #londonwedding #weddingpreps A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Jun 19, 2019 at 1:15am PDT Celebrations can be pretty tiring, and some of the guests get really exhausted. Why not capture these emotions too? View this post on Instagram A photograph every day for a week from a selected wedding. Some unseen and maybe even some wedding-y kind of photographs. Week-3, Theresa & Fillipo, Naples - 2017 #ianweldon #weddingphotography #iamnotaweddingphotographer #bride #groom #wedding #italy #naples #italywedding #italianwedding #martinparr #martinparrfoundation A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Jul 4, 2019 at 12:59am PDT View this post on Instagram #ianweldon #wedding A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on Dec 21, 2018 at 5:48am PST That’s the photographer himself. Recently he had an exhibition called ‘I Am Not A Wedding Photographer’ at the Martin Parr Foundation in London. He has also published a book with the same name, published by RRB Photobooks. View this post on Instagram Just to remind myself that I’m always watching #ianweldon #onlyiphone #hotel #mirrorselfie A post shared by Ian Weldon (@ianjweldon) on May 6, 2018 at 2:45am PDT Read the full article

#british #Photographer #Wedding

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milk-shy · 7 years

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incoming: dump of emotionally overwrought writing in reverse chronological order

mission update: shanghai

oh my god this is grim. i take back everything i said about heathrow being a hole. like ok i could maybe cop it if i’d had a proper night’s sleep but as it is…….nope. 4:16am GMT oh dear lord help. like i’m actually suffering— and what the fuck is this lack of wifi like legit utter shit what am i doing here

also like contrary to popular (read: tristan’s) belief that i am 100% a certified self-hating racist i really do try not to be but when you’ve just spent 11 hours on a plane full of the most revoltingly stereotypical mainland Chinese people it is really fucking difficult like oh lord manspreading and spitting and obnoxiously loud conversations to the nth degree

and this kiwi group ew i fucking hate people can i just go back to oxford and bury myself in its satisfyingly insular intellectual ivory tower forever i am a child of gentrification and over-education and indie pretentiousness thank you very much

actually miss oxford sm already it’s fucking ridiculous like??? ugh it is admittedly only one weird little pocket of the country that i’ve actually gotten to know but i have nevertheless gotten to know it, and while it’s a crazy tourist-town Saussurian simulation of a place, and not remotely representative of england or of student life or of (normal) academia or of anything at all, it is inevitably my conception of all those things, and while i’ve only really spent about seven months there at most it can’t help but be formative, and i have lived so much more of an actual life there than anywhere else. and yet at the same time it’s only ever a rushed overworked 8/9-week pitstop every time, drop in and tire yourself out and then leave, and sometimes it’s like no time has passed at all.

i miss all the fuckin chain stores, that’s the first thing everywhere i go, i have a chain café/grocery store based understanding of national geography. sure there’s raoul’s and the missing bean and vaults & garden but like nah hit me up with the depressingly understocked familiarity of the walton st co-op pls.

wow this is— genuinely, really fucking weird, i’ve never felt quite like this before— i always had some sense that i was going home before but it doesn’t feel like that at all now— of course i will get used to it again no doubt but i don’t… want to right now. i’ve just gotten so immersed in my little enclave of tristan and the various concentric circles of the #squad and that whole familiar rhythm of being in college (i mean, seismic shock of the Teresa Walsh Terror notwithstanding)— i don’t want to go home, what the fuck have i ever really had at home except strained familial relations and new zealand’s climate fucking up my skin (eternal intercontinental tradeoff between clear skin and drinkable tap water tbh)?

it’s just a thing i’m saying right now and i know it’s going to pass but i don’t like auckland anymore, maybe it’s just the way i lived there, i don’t know, but i’ve never had more than a distant impersonal relationship with it— that’s the problem with seeing it out of a car window 99% of the time, you don’t get the grudging familiarity of the walks to libraries, and late-night supermarket runs, and the v specific touristy cornmarket st miasma of lush and shitty coffee and buskers of varying skill

i mean, you’ve got to make memories in a place, and then you start to love it, right? i have no memories of any sort from auckland. just things that have become familiar from sheer weight of repetition. but i never loved it really--?

look, it’s just that you spend hours and hours on a flight with no human contact and you start to believe everyone is like dead or something. just be rational about this-- you will arrive and you will check your phone and amy will be making ‘lets get shitfaced’ plans and tristan will be all primed to message you requesting nudes and various group chats will be arguing about something or other and your mother will be irate about the delay-- nobody has fucking died. and also he probably still likes you. i mean seeing as you spent half the flight crying to leonard cohen that is probably a bit of a relief.

and auckland isn’t really a shithole, come on. like alright it’s conveniently a bit grim in july-september but genuinely i’m convinced that your one day of a glasgow ‘summer’ was much worse than auckland winters can ever get. just keep yourself busy. go shopping for some clothes. run a bit. familiarity isn’t always bad. the place gets trendier by the day and you love that shit.

i just feel like i’m only now, over the last year-ish, starting to learn how to (at least pretend to) be a functional adult, and i don’t know how to exist as anything other than a vague overgrown teenage malingerer in auckland. like how can i really explain the feeling that i’ve never really lived there? like there are places i know, sure, but— it just feels to me like a bit of a relic i’ve outgrown. i mean i want to move, in any case, i certainly don’t want to live there after i graduate. sorry mum but you can fuck right off with that whole idea. i just could not do it i’m sorry. flee to wellington at the very least.

Ok this is dumb and melodramatic but I'm 35000 feet above the Ural Mountains and sort of not in my rational mind right now and I think genuinely I'm a bit drunk lmao fuck me

FUCK this is so shit I can't fucking be alone like this I can't do this I can't do this I can't do this-- people aren't supposed to fucking be alone!! I'm going to have to go on a goddamn fuckton of late night drives listening to Billy Joel and wandering down remote beaches chain-smoking and crying out of weight of sheer loneliness--

On that note I am truly alarmed by how much I'm craving a menthol oh dear me

lets just be clear I do not want to actually become a smoker that would be Very Bad and also almost certainly result in your mother disembowelling you to the tune of her ear-splitting harpy shrieks

pre-departure taylors is becoming a depressing sort of ritual isn’t it— except it’s sort of just me this time. i have no energy for reflections. just want to say in my defence it wasn’t all bad. in bits and pieces it has been lovely. i think i have learned to some extent to be okay with this. that i have things i struggle with (another term, another failed effort to get a diagnosis) and that doesn’t mean necessarily that i am sad. that i am a sad person. there is just a force that acts on me. it’s not me. i don’t deserve to have all this self-hatred directed at myself. like climate and weather, right? it is not me, it’s not my fault, that it is sometimes inclement. and i have had a lot of sunny days.

what are you going to do then? back on the weight-loss train. churn out that novel, i believe in you. get good at smiling and being aggressively polite and making tea. plough through that reading list. write the best troilus & criseyde essay annie will ever have seen. volunteer somewhere. play some jazz piano. get back into drawing. possibly be an intoxicated hoodlum loitering downtown every now and again. don’t worry. it’s chill.

#winter17 #writing

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kyliesessay-blog · 5 years

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#4: Leverage

August 2, 2019, Friday, 1:16AM

Still jetlagged from the travel, felt so drowsy at 3:00PM so I slept until 7:00PM. Now I can't sleep.

Had a serious conversation over dinner with my uncle, tita, mom and dad about my "plans" here in the US. But the question is, do I have one already?

Actually, I don't.

I'm still trying to adjust and figure everything out, for God's sake. The life here seems nice if you ask me: simple, straightforward, strictly regulated by rules. But the thing is, that wasn't how it is back in the Philippines. Everything that is ideal is here, but what I've known all my life, no matter how poor the system is, is how it is in the Philippines. So please, understand that it will take me time to adjust. I promise to do my part, just give me the time I need.

I have a goal, but I don't know how to get to there. The path to it seems so complicated and I am completely clueless on how and when to start. Even after reading numerous experiences and questioned some of my friends about it, I still feel at lost on what to do. Will I survive here? Will I get accustomed to this culture? Will I succeed? Will I reach my goal?

I've heard numerous stories of Filipinos coming in to try their luck here in the US. Some don't even have thousands of pesos when they left the Philippines, but still pushed their chances in hopes for a better life. Looking where they are now, they have used all their resources and turned them to opportunities. Some can't even read, or write. My uncle told me his story - how he came here, with nothing but one gym bag, $300.00, and his intergrity. His achievements now? A retired navy. A former manager at a large hospital. A present manager in 3 different hospitals.

So to be honest, the most painful part is not knowing what to do. The most painful part is knowing that I have all the sources I need to be the best I can be - a beautiful home, a comfortable space, a supportive family, financial support, my uncle who could land me a job, numerous opportunities waiting for me - but I do not know how to use them for my advantage. I'm scared that I may not succeed. I'm scared that I may fail those who believe in me. I'm scared to fail myself.

If I work hard, will I make it?

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thisisawarning · 5 months

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Tentative, incomplete

November 24 was very happy and feeling inspired and productive and then suddenly felt cranky

1:00:17 bec i felt convicted by the post after viewing the video next to it; i was feeling impatient and annoyed prior looking at the post as if it read me; i think it was at this time when i peed and noticed a bit of brown color on the tissue after i wiped which made me think that i'm gonna have my period today or soon

1:36:59 God has read my mind again 🙇🏻‍♀️❤

1:40:11 typo on previous while typing emojis and undoing

3:33:10 jh after sitting on the bed and when i was about to unplug other phone; jf peeing and saw a brown color on tissue after wiping which i think is blood

4:16:45 initially saw 4:16:44; jh to see 4:16am PHT on old phone when i was about to turn it off

10:30:28 jh after lying on the bed; jf peeing and washing my feet (specifically right foot) which had been dropped with menstrual blood when i got up before wiping my pee; KINDA PISSED THAT I SAW A MAN WITH A SHIRT MASK AND A YELLOW UMBRELLA ON THE ROOF OF OUR NEIGHBOR FIXING SOMETHING which made me sort of think he's a pervert but then i feel bad because he might just be really repairing something; also, I did officially have my menstrual period today; I'M 7 DAYS EARLY

10:45:50 WHY ARE ALL OF THE POSTS TODAY FEEL LIKE IT'S ABOUT ME AND MY FEELINGS; as always, God really does work in mysterious ways 🙇🏻‍♀️❤

God is the only One who is capable of reading our thoughts and feelings and everything

He always takes care of me even when I thought He has already given up on me 😭

God, how did You know what I'm going through right now? You're so quick. 🙇🏻‍♀️

When I say quick, like really fast! ⚡

These posts, man. It feels like God is consoling me before something happens. He knows. He really knows. 🤣

Thank You for the heads up/warning. I love You. We were just talking and having an awesome conversation and then I suddenly felt sad and cranky and impatient and all the negative feelings, but then **I found out** You never really left ❤

God knows me more than I know myself.

11:07:44 because of "71"

1:11:25 i jh to see the time after sitting on the toilet to poop; initially saw 1:11:24 but the time immediately changed after i successfully pressed the screenshot buttons; also took another screenshot at 1:11:43 when i checked my world clock; i jwu, fell asleep but woke up with stomachache; i immediately prayed: "NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME AND MY FAMILY SHALL PROSPER. IN JESUS' NAME I PRAY, AMEN."

My tummy hurts but all I say now is: "JESUS ONLY."

1:23:44 i jh to see the time after singing (in my head) or when I was about to search the song: "THE ENEMY CAN'T HAVE ME OR MY FAMILY, THIS IS AN EVICTION NOTICE TO THE ENEMY. THE CHAIN-BREAKER IS IN THE ROOM. BREAK BREAK BREAK." Aslo, prior searching for the song, I watched this video suggested on my Instagram Explorer

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joshua T Giles (@joshuagilesfirebrand)

instagram

1:29:24 bec i saw that there are 72,666 plays for Black Voices Movement's "Xhain Breaker (Spontaneous) – Live"

1:30:12 initially 1:30:11; paused at the @1:09 timestamp

1:48:14 when i was about to wash my butthole but then i decided to update the Poop Tracker app

1:49:45 jf updating Poop Tracker, 7% battery

1:53:07 battery depleted; just turned on my phone and placed it down to let it get juice; was bored so i chose to pick a youtube video to watch on my tv; so many suggested videos i'm not interested in

1:59:11 jh after waiting a while for phone to get juice

2:01:47 i just wanted to see what timestamp i'll get

youtube

Me: "They're making noises again at 2:12pm PHT (and 2:23pm PHT). My TV volume is high, but I can hear my dad's (?) plate and utensils."

My inner voice: "I know, Jovy. I know. Just ignore them."

2:15:09 out of spite 🤣

3:58:04 heard a water hose noise (i think my brother-in-law is cleaning his cars again) at 3:57pm or 3:56pm; also heard noises below at the tenant while i'm making this which they also made a noise prior at 3:30pm or 3:31pm which made me annoyed and stomped at my bedroom floor

4:02:18 after sitting on the toilet; was aware when people downstairs kept on making noises at around 3:55pm PHT onwards; i wasn't supposed to but my tummy ached again at around 4:01pm PHT and i had to get up from my swivel chair after eating two chocolate chip cookies and use the toilet; i think i do have diarrhea 💩

Why does every time I'm inspired to do my laundry, something weird happens? I just soaked my dirty laundry at around 4:30pm PHT YESTERDAY and was about to handwash it at past midnight before transferring it to the washing machine for a final wash

*pre-soak

I'll finish it today. I hate it when I get stinky laundry 😓

*separated the dark and light clothes and then pre-soaked 😆🧺

RANDOM NOTE: typo at 1:40:11am PHT was CF which apparently accdg to Google is "comparison"

Is God telling me to stop comparing myself to others? 🤔

#Instagram #Youtube

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booksbroadwaybbc · 6 years

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Lets Transform Ourselves Day 17 My birthday ! (pics on /r/dailyprogression) via /r/selfimprovement

Lets Transform Ourselves Day 17 My birthday ! (pics on /r/dailyprogression)

Background information:

I'm a 20 year old Middle-eastern guy who's very figgity, impulsive and really only thinks about the short term benefits of everything. I used to be addicted to Gaming, but ever since i became 18 years old i decided to leave that part of me behind. I live in a lower-class home, we live off of welfare and I've had the fortune of being born with an above average-IQ which has led to me being able to go to university with a loan.

Last year 2017 December 17th I quit university, broke up with my girlfriend (whom i lived with for 4 months), ditched all my junky friends and moved back to my hometown.

So this is what I'll be doing every single day.

Waking up in the morning at 7:30 AM

Meditate for 10 minutes

Practise a skill/craft in my case Programming for 2 hours (not currently bec of holiday)

Walk for 2 hours per day

Do 60 Pushups + 240 Situps

Read a book (Currently : 4-Hour work week) for 2 Hours

Go cycling for 1 hour (not currently bec of holiday)

Be hygienic

Eat clean and track the calories that i'm taking

Log of 21th of August 2018 - Current time 23:45AM :

Stay calm, it's my birthday ! WOOOOHOOO !! I'm finally an adult. and one year closer to my end ! :D I can't believe i've survived 21 years, I'm the biggest clumsy person that you'll ever meet. It happened and there's no denying that I've got many more years to live, unless a meteor strikes us all right now.(o.o) You could imagine that today wasn't the most productive day of my life, my goal was litterly to enjoy the day and relax. I didn't put any pressure on myself to get anything done aside from the pushups + situps and staying hygienic.

Today started with me waking up from a very realistic dream, it was about me marrying a person that I hated for the vast majority that I knew her. It was awful. In the current apartment that we are staying in (in Tirana, Albania) there's a rooster that makes chuckle noises in the morning and that's litterly what woke me up, absolutely amazing. Now this apartment that we stay in is super huge, there's a room for my sister, brother and mom and the rooms themselves are very spacious. Yesterday night i couldn't see the beauty of Tirana, but when i woke up and walked outside I was mesmerized with its beauty.

Enough of the scenery, today was my birthday and yes I did do some productive things. Lets start of with the walking bit. Today was time for sightseeing, we went around the city center and looked at the most beautiful buildings you could find in Tirana, the temperature was averaging at about 35 degrees celsius and it was just Great weather, lots of wind and sun a little bit of thunder here and there but all in all super. I walked for at least 3 hours today and I managed to lose about 900 calories just by doing that. What I noticed here in eastern europe is that the women look waaaay more beautiful than the ones we got in the Netherlands, it's a significant difference. Where you'd average about a 6 for girls in holland you'd easily get a 7 + in Albania, but not only that they also seem pretty interested when you come close to one of them. They make lots of eye contact and show interest in conversations, probably because of the fact that they're not very wealthy and are looking for westerners to "breed" with(lmao). My legs are all sore now thought, so I guess that's the side-effect of walking too long.

Beyond walking there's my push-ups and sit-ups bit, after we came back from the sightseeing and taking millions of pictures I took my shit off made my pictures of the day and started doing the push-ups and sit-ups. I used to do 15x4 for my pushups well now I'm doing 20x3, it's a big improvement and I hope to be able to do 25x3 in the future. I've recorded myself doing some of these pushups and will be uploading it for the heck of it. (/r/dailyprogression). For the sit-ups I did 240 situps and not 45 seconds of planking but 60 seconds. yes 1 whole minute of standing still in a very very painful position. The situps are the easy part, I HATE planking but it's the most effective way to train your Abs and side muscles.

I did't do any meditation today just because I was lazy and didn't really think about doing it, I was super super excited and happy throughout the day that I didn't even need the meditation session at all. I will be doing it from tomorrow onwards since i don't have an excuse to ditch the meditation session. As for eating and drinking I really went out, i'll show you my daily caloric intake and it's just absolutely horiffic I went overboard at about 3400 calories today, this includes junkfood like ice cream, fastfood and chocolade cake AND lots of soda. I'll also ditch those foods for a really long time else i won't be losing any weight which would be bad. Today I also discussed about taking a soft form of steroids and growth hormones just for the acceleration of fat burning and muscle growth, and I might start doing that at the start of the new year.

All in all, today was a very great day I enjoyed it a lot I became 21 years old and still managed to do my pushups and situps even though I didn't have any reason to do so since it's my birthday and i'm on holidays. I hope you enjoyed reading this and have faith in me that i will be able to get back on my daily routines after this. All the pictures of my body and daily progress will be found on : /r/dailyprogression

Submitted August 22, 2018 at 01:16AM by AttackPrince via reddit https://ift.tt/2Bzdgrm

#IFTTT #reddit

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minnievirizarry · 6 years

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14 Ways to Outsmart the Instagram Algorithm

If you’ve been on Instagram recently, you’ll notice you probably haven’t received as many likes or comments as you did a year ago. When the Instagram algorithm was adjusted from chronological to algorithmic, many people worried engagement rates would drop.

Instagram’s own press release talked about favoring the moments you care about most, much like how Facebook’s algorithm operates.

So how does your brand stay present in users’ feeds without having to rely on ads? Luckily, there are some work arounds to get your Instagram posts visible.

Here are 14 ways you can make the Instagram algorithm work in your favor:

1. Invest in a Photographer or Videographer

Quality reigns supreme on Instagram. When most of the app’s real estate is taken up by visual media, it makes sense to hire a professional if you need one. Your photography needs to be eye-catching and designed for storytelling.

Instagram video posts are now on auto-play. Using videos gives you a slight leg up in grabbing those who are browsing their feed.

Playing bobarista this morning 🤗 Don't know if you guys know…but I love chia!! So when I saw @bobaguys video post on chia matcha latte with @oatly …I had to sketch it out and turned it to a mini animation😍🎥 @bobaguysnyc . . . . . . . . #bobaguys #bobabae #stopmotion #stopmotionanimation #stopmotionvideo #coffeecakescafe #eatersf #eater #matcha #matchalatte #boba #oatly #illustration #illustratorsofinstagram #foodart

A post shared by COFFEECAKESCAFE (@coffeecakescafe) on Oct 10, 2017 at 7:16am PDT

Coffeecakescafe enjoys using a mix of illustrated photo and video posts. Her style is unique and the videos are always fun to watch.

2. Frequently Post Instagram Stories

One way to get around the decrease in post engagement is to expand your posting in another area. Instagram Stories offer a variety of engagement opportunities, including the newest Poll feature. The algorithm takes into account all actions of engagement like replying to a Story or sending a Story to someone. The more engagement, the likelier your posts will show up in the feed.

Mammoth Espresso demonstrates a fun way to use the Poll feature in Instagram Stories. It’s timely and relevant to their customers in New Orleans.

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3. Use Live Video

Much like the previous suggestion, Instagram Live videos are another way of engaging with your followers. The video is bumped up in the Stories feed and your followers might also receive a notification if they opted in.

4. Run a Contest

One surefire way of increasing your engagement is to run an Instagram contest on a regular basis. Consumers love free items and it creates a little goodwill in your fan community. The frequency and rewards can vary, but the idea is to increase engagement and brand awareness.

TUESDAY GIVEAWAY!! Can’t make it to the fair? We’ve got your funnel cake needs covered; Like this, follow us, & tag 3 friends for a chance to win 10 DOZEN powdered sugar hot minis!! Winner announced tomorrow @ 5pm!

A post shared by Sola Coffee Cafe (@solacoffee) on Oct 17, 2017 at 1:42pm PDT

Sola Coffee used Instagram Stories and a post to advertise their donut giveaway. You can see on its standard post that they’ve received a lot of comments already. The Story they posted only encourages more entries.

5. Post Engaging Captions

Captions that ask questions or provide a call to action can help start some conversations with your followers. But don’t stop at asking the question. Be sure to reply to comments and continue the conversation, otherwise, your followers might stop engaging.

What's your favorite place to catch the sunset? #TravelTuesday . . . Cuál es tu favorito lugar para mirar la puesta del sol? . . . #sunset #explorecanada #visitnovascotia #capebreton #latina #blogger #wanderlust #travel

A post shared by Stephanie Be | TravelBreak (@stephbetravel) on Aug 22, 2017 at 6:58pm PDT

Stephanie Be travels often and likes to engage her audience. The questions are often relevant to their interests and helps boost her engagement rate.

6. Offer Free Advice or Information

Consumer education is one of the slower but more effective ways of building your brand. Offering information that’s useful for your fans can eventually turn them into paying customers. The advice can be posted on social media in small bites, in a blog post format and even in a newsletter.

Morning! Time for some fun with my new L|M Lightroom Preset Collection! You can get them via the link in profile, and I wanted to show what they can do. Swipe left to see some of the different presets in action as well as to see the unedited out of camera photo at the end. Ps. This dope mug is by my friend @notary__ceramics 😘 . . . Here are the presets used in order of image: 1. LM Cool Bright 2. LM Aqua 3. LM Contrast 4. LM Dark 5. LM Earthy Bright 6. LM Fade 7. LM Warm 8. LM Film Bright 9. LM Super Dark 10. Unedited photo! Outlet and all 🙈 . . Sorry to say my presets won't take out outlets for you, but other than that nothing else was done to this photo other than a) apply the preset and b) use a brush to slightly lift the shadows on the waffles (because everyone's waffles should glow, amirite?? 😅) If you want to take your game further than Presets and learn photography, styling, and editing then check out our January Ecourse (also via link in profile!) There's still time today to use the code INSTAGRAM15 for 15% off of the presets (sorry, doesn't apply to ecourse!)…but the code expires this evening! We're sending out a new discount to our blog subscribers this afternoon so you can join at localmilkblog.com to get a code if you miss this one! And stay tuned for the travel collection and food collection to be released in the coming weeks! #livemoremagic #morningslikethese #localmilkfilter . . . . #foodphotographer #foodblogger #foodstyling #inspiremyinstagram #beautifulcuisines #feedfeed #f52grams #theartofslowliving #pursuepretty #thekitchn #waffles #photographylife #lightroom #gatheringslikethese #dslooking #nothingisordinary #habitandhome #theeverydayproject #yahoofood #buzzfeast #huffposttaste

A post shared by BETH KIRBY (@local_milk) on Oct 17, 2017 at 8:14am PDT

This is a good example of giving information on how their photo processing works. Beth Kirby’s editing and photography style is distinctive. In her caption above, she goes into detail on what went into the editing process. She also released some Adobe Lightroom presets, which the post clearly illustrates.

If you consistently post educational content, you’ll begin to build up trust and engagement with your followers.

7. Jump on Trends

Whether they are fleeting hashtag trends or making holiday posts, timeliness is an important factor in the Instagram algorithm. This is not to encourage you to participate in every viral meme. Instead, choose the ones that are most applicable to your brand and test a post out with it.

The Pokémon Go mobile game was a trend last year that took over social media. Brands offered Pokémon-themed deals, posted about catching a rare one and even advertised if they were near a gym. The trend was massive and was a great opportunity for brands to attract new customers.

This is #halloween this is halloween, #pumpkins #scream in the #dead of #night 🎃💀👻 A hand carved #jackolantern and some #trickortreat #nails for @evangelinedemuro

A post shared by Alec Cole Hinz (@yaaas_get_nailed) on Oct 16, 2017 at 5:47pm PDT

In the holiday trend, nail art is shown off not only in #halloween hashtag but also in the more specific #halloweennails hashtag. This post works to both remind their followers about prepping for Halloween and to showcase their creative skills.

8. Post During Active Hours

To increase your chances of higher engagement, schedule posts when your followers are most active. If you don’t have an idea yet, you can take a look at our post for best times to post on Instagram.

If you have a business account, you can see which days and times have the most engagement. Since brands differ, it may not be the same as our chart above. Using Sprout Social to schedule your Instagram posts makes it easy to post at the optimal time.

Stick to the schedule that works best for you and drives the most engagement to beat the Instagram algorithm!

9. Join an Instagram Pod

This one may take a little more searching and organizing. The idea of an Instagram Pod is to let everyone in your group know when you’ve posted. Then ideally, everyone visits the post and likes it. The post receives a bump in engagement in the first hour it’s online and is interpreted as a good post by the algorithm.

To do this effectively, you’ll need to find some like-minded individuals, hopefully in your industry or with a similar follower base. Everyone also needs to be committed to the pod so all the accounts are receiving their due attention.

10. Incorporate Instagram Ads

The downside of algorithmic timelines is that you need to boost your posts when they’re time sensitive. If you have an event you’re promoting or a product that you want to talk about at a certain time, Instagram Ads are the way to go.

Ads now offer a wide variety of goals and targeting options. You can learn more in our helpful guide to Instagram Ads.

Keds used a video to announce a collaboration between their company and Rifle Paper Co. Rifle is known for their eye-catching floral designs, so the fast-forwarded video animation with floral illustrations was a great way of announcing the new product.

11. Consider Influencer Marketing

If done right, influencer marketing on Instagram can help you with brand awareness, sales and new customers. The best influencers collaborate with brands but still manage to stay authentic to their personality.

Just launched a video with @prada and @gq! Check it out for a peek into #MyPeakMoment. #GQInsider #PradaLunaRossa

A post shared by Patrick Janelle (@aguynamedpatrick) on Oct 17, 2017 at 7:37am PDT

This video collaboration tells a story of a product in a way that still fits Patrick’s personal brand. It also reaches an audience that the brands may not have direct access to.

12. Get Personal

We all see glossed-up and styled product images on Instagram. When you offer a behind-the-scenes look or write honest captions, your followers are more likely to engage. Authenticity is a word that’s thrown around a lot. At the most basic understanding, you don’t want every caption or image to be 80% advertising words.

The struggle is real. Still in development. . . #ktandpaul #art #screenprint #printmaking #serigrafia

A post shared by ktandpaul (@ktandpaul) on Feb 5, 2018 at 4:56pm PST

Paul demonstrate hand screen printing on silk in this video. It shows a dedication to their craft and the work that goes into each piece.

13. Develop a Strong Visual Brand

Create a photo editing and taking style that is distinctive to your brand. When you develop a strong visual brand, your customers are able to identify you from your photos and subliminally begin to associate you with certain visual attributes.

Our giant ball pit has 2 photo booths installed in the ceiling so you can get overhead shots! (📷: @spencerkboyd) #colorfactoryco

A post shared by Color Factory (@colorfactoryco) on Sep 12, 2017 at 9:06am PDT

The Color Factory popped up in San Francisco in a burst of rainbows. Every room was deliberately designed for maximum color and photo taking. Their Instagram feed is filled with images of the rainbow ribbon curtain, yellow ball pit and other areas. If you’ve followed them for a few weeks, you can identify the brand solely from this image.

14. Plan Out Your Profile Page

Part of the Instagram algorithm calculations takes into account the content that you’re most interested in. This includes the searches you perform or the clicks you take to profile pages. If you spend time to map out what your page looks like, your followers will begin to get used to it and eventually start clicking over to see what’s new.

Beyoncé’s Instagram page has been very active recently with a fun mix of videos, photo galleries and collage. It’s clear that each post in the row is visually related to the next.

In Conclusion

Instagram is constantly receiving adjustments in its algorithm, so it takes a little patience and flexibility to see what works best for you. We recommend using Instagram analytics and reports to easily summarize what’s working for you and what’s not.

Our Instagram reports come with handy statistics like your top influencers engaged and details on your top performing posts. The less you have to think about in compiling a report, the more time you have to dedicate to strategy.

Have any tips for engaging users on Instagram to beat the algorithm? Leave a comment below!

This post 14 Ways to Outsmart the Instagram Algorithm originally appeared on Sprout Social.

from SM Tips By Minnie https://sproutsocial.com/insights/instagram-algorithm/

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