Death Is a Collective Grief That Brings Families Together

Grandma is dying; there’s no way around it. She’s already 94 years old, so no one is surprised, and we’ve all been preparing for it in our own ways for a long time. Still, when the doctor said she had less than a month, putting a definite deadline on something we were too scared to think about, it made us realize that it’s really happening and not just some arbitrary prediction anymore.

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My New Super Simple Weekly Planning Setup

So, I tried bullet journaling in 2022 and then evolved into my own system mixing both analog and digital tools. But this year? I fell off the planning wagon hard. Like, barely-planned-a-thing hard. Here are the lessons I learned from my epic planning fail: Too much on my plate: Digital tools let me add infinite tasks, which is a recipe for overload. Guilt trip: Seeing unfinished tasks made me feel paralyzed.

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My New Super Simple Weekly Planning Setup

So, I tried bullet journaling in 2022 and then evolved into my own system mixing both analog and digital tools. But this year? I fell off the planning wagon hard. Like, barely-planned-a-thing hard. Here are the lessons I learned from my epic planning fail: Too much on my plate: Digital tools let me add infinite tasks, which is a recipe for overload. Guilt trip: Seeing unfinished tasks made me feel paralyzed.

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The Log 00003-Lessons from Two Months of Daily Lettering

Hi! I’m Ning. If you’ve been following me, you might have come across some, or hopefully all, of my lettering pieces over the past two months. Long story short, I kicked off my lettering journey in April with almost zero knowledge of design and lettering—just a pure love for typography. I assigned myself daily lyrics lettering in May and daily LGBTQIA+ character name lettering last month. Here's what I've learned after two months: Lettering is More Than Letters: It's the whole graphic design process.

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A Family Affair, 2024 - ★★★½

Family Affair turned out to be a pleasant surprise for me. The characters were all likable; they made me care about each one, even the supporting cast. It’s mostly cute, and while there weren’t many laugh-out-loud scenes—surprising given the premise—I actually prefer it this way. What really stood out to me was the focus on character development for every character. This made the movie feel more well-rounded and authentic compared to other romantic comedies I’ve seen recently.

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The Pride Month Lettering 00030-Amy from Faking It

One of the most nerve-wracking things in life is falling in love with your best friend. The heartache of unrequited love is tough, but trying to salvage the friendship afterward? That's on a whole other level of difficulty. Yet somehow, Amy managed to do it, even if she hit a few bumps along the way. Her feelings for Karma are like a rollercoaster—authentic, complex, and sometimes leaving you with your heart in your throat.

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📧 Just a quick heads up—my iCloud storage was full, and as a result, all the emails I received this month bounced back. 🤦‍♀️ I’ve sorted out the issue now, so if anyone sent me an email recently, could you please resend it? Apologies for the inconvenience; I promise I’ll read it this time. 💌🤞

The Pride Month Lettering 00029-Lauren from Faking It

I wouldn't have learned about intersex if I hadn't watched "Faking It." This show features some of the most inclusive LGBTQIA+ characters in the most welcoming environment I've ever seen. It flips the script of high school stereotypes by making the "cool kids" LGBTQIA+, showing that being true to yourself is what really matters. Sadly, this is quite the opposite of the real world we live in. As one of TV's first intersex main characters, Lauren's journey is groundbreaking.

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The Pride Month Lettering 00028-Sam from Gap and Neung from Blank

If you’re into Girl’s Love stories, definitely give the Thai dramas “Gap” and “Blank” a watch. These two shows are set in the same universe, and the main characters are sisters. Their names—Neung, Song, and Sam—literally mean 1, 2, 3 in Thai. What a lazy way to name your kids. 😂 These dramas tackle controversial relationship topics like status, age, and gender with a refreshing twist.

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The Pride Month Lettering 00027-Albus Dumbledore

What could possibly be worse than having to fight someone you love for the fate of humanity? Honestly, nothing comes to mind. It's a nightmare scenario no one wants to face, but Albus Dumbledore found himself right in the middle of it. Not only did he sacrifice his own happiness, but he also handled everything with such grace. Despite a tragic history with Grindelwald, Dumbledore rises like a phoenix (pun intended) as a beacon of guidance and support for young wizards, using his magical abilities to fight against dark forces.

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The Bikeriders, 2023 - ★★★½

The Bikeriders… Wow, talk about a talent wasteland! You've got three of the best actors of our time, and you decided to frame their characters like they're social distancing from the plot. But guess what? These actors still managed to carry the whole movie on their backs because, let's be real, there wasn't much else going on. I mean, I enjoyed witnessing the cultural and generational shifts in the story, but it felt more like a long montage than a coherent storyline.

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The Pride Month Lettering 00026-Crowley and Aziraphael from Good Omens

Crowley and Aziraphale from "Good Omens" is the ultimate slow-burn love story that’s been simmering since the dawn of humanity. Seriously, talk about taking it slow—these two redefine the term! 😂 I’ve never seen characters complement each other so well; they’re like the perfect embodiment of yin and yang, perfectly balancing each other out. Separately, they’re intriguing; together, they’re downright magical. What sets their relationship apart is the pure, non-sexual love they share.

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The Pride Month Lettering 00025-Blaine and Kurt from Glee

"Klaine"—the ship of Kurt and Blaine's relationship on "Glee"—was nothing short of iconic. They were one of the first gay teen couples on TV to be portrayed as a genuine, multi-layered relationship. Fans were all aboard the Klaine train, swooning over their undeniable chemistry and cheering for their happily ever after. But let's be real—it wasn't all rainbows and unicorns for these two; their journey was a rollercoaster. Kurt, with his compassionate heart and depth that went far beyond his sexuality, was a breath of fresh air, challenging stereotypes.

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The Pride Month Lettering 00024-Santana from Glee

Remember “Glee”? That gloriously over-the-top show that had us all singing in the shower and believing high school was one big musical number? Well, I firmly believe it paved the way for the teen LGBTQIA+ community back in the day. Seriously, it was like a rainbow-colored beacon of hope. It was the first time I realized that figuring out your identity is a process, and it’s okay not to have all the answers right now.

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The Pride Month Lettering 00023-Elena from One Day at a Time

“One Day at a Time” is a show that effortlessly weaves humor with heart, engaging viewers in a genuine and impactful way. The characters feel like old friends you can't help but root for. The way they navigate complex issues like mental illness, immigration, racism, and the complexities of identity through the lens of a Cuban-American family—with wit and warmth—is nothing short of captivating. What’s truly spectacular is how One Day at a Time showcases the intersectionality of Elena's identity.

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The Pride Month Lettering 00022-Quentin from The Magicians

Quentin Coldwater from The Magicians is such a complex character that you can’t help but be drawn to his journey. His transformation from a lost, depressed, and troubled soul to someone who finds purpose and fulfillment in helping others is truly inspiring. His ability to mend small objects can be seen as a metaphor for his healing process, where he tries to mend the broken pieces of his own life.

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Inside Out 2, 2024 - ★★★★

Watched on Friday June 21, 2024.

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The Pride Month Lettering 00021-Eliot from The Magicians

"The Magicians" is one of my all-time favorite series, and out of all the amazing characters, Eliot Waugh stands out the most for me. He is a complex puzzle, with his genius magic skills and a dark history of trauma and depression. Eliot is a flawed and real character, which makes him so captivating. The show started like a darker version of Harry Potter, with troubled characters trying to find their place in a magic school.

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The Pride Month Lettering 00020-Negative Man from Doom Patrol

Larry Trainor, aka Negative Man, is a crucial character in the Doom Patrol TV series, where his storyline revolves around self-acceptance and overcoming internalized homophobia. Starting as a closeted gay man in the 1950s, Larry struggled to hide his true identity due to societal pressures and homophobia. His relationships, especially with John Bowers, were kept secret, causing him to feel guilty, ashamed, and isolated. The accident that merges him with the Negative Spirit only adds to his struggles, forcing him to confront his identity and self-hatred like never before.

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The Pride Month Lettering 00019-Queen Maeve from The Boys

It’s always a punch to the gut when you see how the media loves to cash in on someone’s gender and sexuality. And “The Boys” doesn’t just take a jab at this issue—it delivers a full-on roundhouse kick. If you’ve tuned in, you’d know how Margaret “Maggie” Shaw, aka Queen Maeve, gets exploited left, right, and center by her dad, Vought, and Homelander. One thing that hit me like a ton of bricks is how Vought takes Maeve’s queerness, tosses her bisexuality out the window, and slaps a “lesbian” label on her for marketing purposes.

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