Thursday, May 28, 2020

Happy Things, Because Wow Do We Need Happy Things Today

This was supposed to be a post about practical ways to reduce anxiety, but ironically I was feeling  too scattered yesterday to finish writing it. I really do try to keep Epbot as our sweet geeky bubble insulated from the ickiness of the real world, but I have to admit, that world is getting to me at the moment. I bet it's getting to some of you, too.

So instead of practical advice, here come a few things that have made me smile through my fear, laugh through my anger, and reminded me there is still good and beauty out there.

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Rowena Meadows is a photographer in Australia who roped her family into the most colorful quarantine project I've seen yet - and the longer you look, the better these get:
 
 



 Their prop choices are perfection.

Bahaha! The dad looking at the baby doll cracks me up every time.

This makes me want to do my own series, but just with toys and art and random objects from around the house. That would be such a fun project, right?

But first head to Rowena's IG post to see the rest of her family's color portraits, 'cuz they are so, so worth it.

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Some of you know the DoubleClicks, the sibling duo nerdy music group that gives the BEST live concerts. Obviously they can't do in-person concerts right now,  though, so they put together a virtual one... in Animal Crossing, New Horizons.

Prepare to smile a whole lot:

 
SO CUTE.

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About a month ago Weird Secondhand Finds (one of my favorite Facebook groups) had a trend where everyone was posting their collection photos. I LOVE COLLECTION PHOTOS. They're so satisfying, they make me so happy.  I saved a few of my favorites to show you:


(Click to embiggen)

This is MAGICAL. Omigosh. And those perfectly spaced brackets are so satisfying.




Hit the link to see some close-ups.

I'm always thrilled to see "girl's" toy collections, since they seem kinda rare, which is a shame. Why should it be more acceptable to display Star Wars figures as an adult, than, say, Polly Pocket or My Little Pony? They're all toys! So hey, DISPLAY WHAT YOU LOVE, make pew pew! noises at the haters. 


Donna's hanging keys:


 I love this idea for a display. In fact I think I saw someone else make a window valance out of keys like this - in which case I'd add some hanging crystals for sparkle.


And finally, Tina's mid-century glass:

Every one of these photos is heaven for my eyeballs.

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 I recently discovered Rangoli art through the FB page My Modern Met, and oh my sweet velvety color goodness:

 
 Get this: it's made of sand.

Best of all, it has to be the most soothing and beautiful art to watch come together:



I went looking for more videos, so now I follow Rangoli Colors and Designs by Keerthi
on Facebook (she's the one in this video) and also RangoliColors on Instagram.


Both are stunning, and provide perfect little 3-minute mental breaks during my day.

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This next find is an older one from last year, but deserves more attention: A couple had a Harry Potter themed sex-reveal party, and I can't stop grinning:


Ready? 

Set?

PULL!


WHEEEE! Happy Hufflepuffs! 
And they're even wearing earmuffs, omigosh. This is the cutest.

Of course they served mandrake cupcakes, too:

 
Finally some edible baby cakes I can get behind.
I hope we see more themed sex-reveals in the future, I love it when geeks get creative! Head over to The Common Room to see the original post and the rest of their decorations.

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Can you remember the last time something in the news made you laugh? Like, in a happy way?

If not, I got you:

"Astrophysicist gets magnets stuck up nose while inventing coronavirus device"


Stick with this article, my friends, because it is comedy gold.

"...things went downhill pretty quickly when I clipped the magnets to my other nostril.”

“My partner took me to the hospital that she works in because she wanted all her colleagues to laugh at me."

I could go on, but you should really just read the whole thing here.

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And finally,  I asked John to send me the cutest thing he's seen all week, and while he missed a PRIMO opportunity to send me a photo of myself, he still delivered:


For me? from r/aww

The fluffy little paws!! Eeee!


I hope these made you smile and laugh and took your mind off the world a bit today. Remember, the fight for good and right will always be there, and it's OK to take a break sometimes to heal up. When the darkness feels too great, stop to bask in the light of the people who love you (like me!) and the things that strengthen you. Read a comic, watch a show, sit in stillness and color or craft for a while. Surround yourself with as much beauty and light as you can find - and when that's not working, surround someone you love with as much beauty and light as you can find.

Brene Brown said something last month that's stuck with me. She said we're not supposed to help ourselves, we're supposed to help each other. I've always found that to be true. I know that writing this post - which I hope helps some of you - has definitely helped me. So if you're struggling right now, if you can't find the helpers, maybe look for a small way you can be one this week.

Also remember you are loved, and that this - yes, even this - will get better. I promise.

::squishy internet hugs::

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Just a reminder that we have an Epbot t-shirt shop, since I often forget myself. :D  Let me know which design John should make next! I'm thinking... Potter 'Bot? Or would you rather the 'Bot in Mickey Ears?


26 comments:

  1. That article about the magnets was just the pick-me-up I needed today. Thanks, Jen!

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  2. Potter or Mickey ears would be my choice...love all the happies in today's post.

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  3. I have spent this month feeling very much like the cabbage man. (I've got all my cabbages in my cart! yea! Oh crap! more family with health issues? Sure. why not?) Thank you for your pick me ups! They really do help.

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  4. That magnets article has been circulating among all the physics academics and students I know. It's absolutely hilarious. I thought it wasn't going to get better than the headline and I was so wrong.

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    1. I thought the same thing! But the headline IS ONLY THE BEGINNING, haha.

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  5. My favorite of the collections posts was the person who had the jars of old school Fisher Price Little People. If you didn't see that one, I highly recommend searching for it. It was incredibly impressive.

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    1. I remember that one! For some reason I didn't save it, or else I'd have included it here; that was another fantastic collection.

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  6. People who collect hanging keys or mid-century glass do not have cats. I have one cat who would be testing gravity with every single piece of glass. And then tear down the keys. I do love the lanterns.

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  7. "Denies further magnets". That's where I completely lost it! X'-D

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  8. I'd love a Potter 'bot shirt! I just got a standard Epbot shirt in a fuschia color :)

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    1. Yay! Tag me when you wear it some time, I'd love to see!

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  9. :: hugs right back atcha ::

    Glad we Australians could provide you with some amusement today.
    (Dr Dan's predicament made national morning and evening news over here at the time, lucky boy.)

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  10. You know what's always been a mystery to me? How people are able to figure out a really nice way to display their collections on their shelves. I assume magic is involved, personally I just shuffle things around for forever in the hopes of finding just the right placement for everything (Spoiler alert, it hasn't happened yet!)

    For t-shirt ideas, how about some inspiration from the Epbot movie nights? So Back to the Future, Goonies, Princess Bride, etc.

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    1. I'm always hesitant to make a nice display of anything because what if I get another one?!?!?

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    2. Groups of odd numbers, by similar color,types or designs, vary heights, and I like to add in bits of greenery/flowers. However that does not work for all collections. I collect rabbits mostly ceramic, hence greenery makes sense.

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  11. Have you heard the parable of the long spoons? In hell the people starved but in heaven they fed each other.

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    1. I have, that's a beautiful analogy. <3

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  12. "At this point I ran out of magnets." I am bent over laughing at this article. THANK YOU for finding and sharing this!

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  13. Thanks, I really enjoyed the animal crossing video. As for collections. I haven't worked out how to properly display all my lego yet, and I'm always buying more.

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  14. I hope the geek community in particular will actively speak up for Christian Cooper, who broke barriers within Marvel and Star Trek. I know it's hard, but to honor people in our community, we need to really name the "ickiness" that's going on - it's racism, and it's killing people and causing them unbelievable suffering.

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  15. Thank you Jen: a dose of happy is always good, and right now? I think it's essential.

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  16. Re. the colour portraits: I have some friends who have been doing these during lockdown, by basically finding every single thing in their house that's the specified colour and taking artfully arranged pictures surrounded by all the stuff. So that's definitely a way to approach it that will work quite spectacularly. I bet you two could put together some impressive displays.

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  17. Love those color photos! I may have to try that with things around the house.

    Thanks as always for sharing such fun finds! And virtual hugs to you just for being you. =-)

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  18. Jen, thank you for sending happiness in the world when you're able to do so. When you're not, know that you and John are so loved and appreciated. <3

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  19. Oh my god! I love that mandrake reveal so much!

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