Fun fact: back in 2012, on this very blog, I made a post about American Girl dolls I’d like to see. One included a Black girl growing up during the civil rights movement and listening to Motown music. So yes, I’d love to take credit for Melody. But her actual creation goes back to a tweet someone made that I can’t find a link to right now. AG and the civil rights/motown era is SUCH a natural match, it’s kind of baffling it took until 2016 for Melody to finally come out. Being that she was a part of the “BeForever” line, it’s beyond infuriating that she only got two books.
THE GOOD NEWS IS BeForever was kind of a disaster for AG and they’ve done away with the brand. Claudie was released with Meet Claudie and her next book is Travels with Claudie so she definitely looks like she’s returning to the six book format. I doubt that the other girls released under the BeForever line (Nanea, Maryellen and Courtney) will get their full six books, which makes me so angry. I mean, given that Nanea is kind of specific to JUST pearl harbor, I can sooort of understand her having just two (even though I DEFINITELY think she should have gotten six. Hawaiian history and culture deserve a full six books). Given that Courtney is in the 80s, and a lot of what was controversial in the 80s is still controversial today, I can see how AG would be very very very hesitant to seriously dig into 80s history and politics, although six books in which Ronald Reagan and The Moral Majority are the bad guys would fucking rule. But for Maryellen and Melody it is bullshit of the highest order that they only got 2 books, especially when you consider that Maryellen’s big story is super bland bullshit about her struggling to stand out in her big family and not so much about confronting the sexist and racist cultural bullshit of the 50s. BUT she gets massive bonus points for covering the Salk vaccine (a major turning-point in history that doesn’t get NEARLY the amount of love and attention it deserves) and for having an amazing collection.
Melody being only two books is unforgivable. COMPLETELY UNFORGIVABLE. You cannot fit the enormity of civil rights and Motown and the 60s in general into just two books. All that being said, however, the two books they gave her seem to do a massive job with the tiny bit of space they were given. First of all, the advisory board for Melody is STACKED. Secondly, the trailer for Melody: Love Has to Win is the shit of Ron DeSantis’s nightmares:
A LITTLE BLACK GIRL REFUSING THE SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND SAYING THAT AMERICA IS UNJUST?! That’s the sound of millions of pearls being clutched all across the nation. I’m honestly shocked Moms for Liberty weren’t burning Melody’s books in the streets. I am hereby a Melody stan now and forever. I still SINCERELY hope she gets a re-release with her full six books and a much bigger collection. Because for real Melody may be my new favorite doll (although that could change depending on what kind of collection Claudie gets).
moleskine = bad
Here are 3 mobility exercises that actually improved my day-to-day function
It's a bit particular to me, but I still tried to pick exercises that broadly cover:
-back mobility -front mobility -side mobility
There are other great mobility exercises out there like standing pancakes and pigeon pose - I just don't end up using them as often.
i thought given the influx of aromantic and/or asexual characters within asian dramas this the past year (and by that i mean like 3 but that’s better than none) i would share a link to my aromantic and asexual characters list as a reference or resource for members of both communities looking for more rep within the asian drama space.
WHAT THE LIST INCLUDES:
what drama it is
the character’s name and whether they’re a main or support character
where they fall on the asexual or aromantic spectrums
the type of rep it is (word used, definition used, etc)
notes on the representation (i.e. usually my own opinions on the rep like if i think it’s harmful or not or just other information i think would be useful)
DISCLAIMER: this list only consists of dramas i’ve seen feel free to comment on the list with dramas that you’ve seen with canon ace and/or aro characters if i haven’t listed them. The list will continue to be added to once I discover more aro/ace characters.
FIND THE LIST HERE
I miss the days when, no matter how slow your internet was, if you paused any video and let it buffer long enough, you could watch it uninterrupted
I made a spreadsheet to compare all of out alphabet's colors! If you have colors for letters, chose a row and add your alphabet in. This is entirely non-scientific, it's just fun to see all the colors!
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1k49odT3L986otANtsX73VQY6cNc9940b0IJp_NuVjb4/edit?usp=sharing
Everyone post ur favorite alphonse elric i’ll start:
Alphonse, 1 year old
positivity ask game to share —
sunsets: favourite part of your day
clouds: a dream of yours that has come true
daisies: a happy memory you often think of
oceans: a quote you live by
water lilies: a place you would wish to visit
lavender: a passion you want people to know about
herbal tea: an achievement of yours you are proud of
fine china: hopes for your future self
hummingbirds: your favourite season and why
forests: a place you find happiness from
rose water: an aspect of yourself you have worked on
full moon: star sign
poppy seeds: something you are looking forward to happening
sun-rays: something you admire in someone
lemonade: advice you’d give your younger self
meadows: an aspect of yourself you like
doves: a dream job of yours
cherry blossom: three words to describe yourself
paint brushes: a colour that speaks to you
night jasmine: a place you can truly be yourself
honey suckle: recommend a book/tv series
blue skies: your favourite cuisine
candles: a favourite scent
citrus: the film that always lifts your mood
shooting stars: the period of time which interests you most
gems: something you wish to achieve next year
fairy lights: a thought which comforts you when necessary
vanilla: your most prized possession
day dreams: a song that’s stuck in your head at the moment
rainbows: something you couldn’t live without
bluebells: three things you are thankful for