Shannyn Weiler‚ a Utah-based interior designer‚ has caused a debate on TikTok after she urged people to use caution when displaying family photos in the home. The discussion started a debate over whether a home should be decorated for visitors or the family itself and if having a “shrine” dedicated to family members is tasteful.The video began with a stitch from a designer passionately saying that one should “never’ display “personal photos” in the living room.“So family photos can become a problem when they become what I refer to as the shrine‚” Weiler begins the video. She shared an example from her life‚ to make the case why family photos should be hung judiciously.“I got married when I was 21‚” she shares. “We were both in school‚ absolutely broke‚ we had $50 to buy a couch‚ so imagine what type of couch that was. We went to go decorate our first apartment and lo and behold‚ there’s no money for decoration. So we do what most newlyweds do‚ we use our wedding photos‚ because we’re so cute and we’re so in love and we just love our wedding day. Everywhere in our apartment was wedding photos… it felt like what I call ‘the shrine.’”“It’s very real. This also happens if you have one baby‚ and you might have baby photos taken and it’s the shrine to the one kid‚” she continues. “This also happens if you have one grandkid.” @shannynweiler Interior design art tips Art decor interior design Interior design 2024 art prints Interior design art trends 2024 interior design trends #hometips #homedecor #wallart #decortips #walldecor #interiordesign Weiler believes that people should hang artwork or photography about more than one subject.“They can’t just be on every wall with one subject‚” she says. “We need to mix it up. There needs to be a mirror in the space. We need some Etsy art prints or something like that. We just need to mix it together to get rid of that shrine feel.”The post bothered many who love having pictures of their family around the house. The vast majority of commenters were people who love having family photos strewn about their homes&;quot;The house is for us not company‚&;quot; Sarah Murdock‚ the most popular commenter‚ wrote. &;quot;I’d rather have pics of my kids and our life up than prints of random flowers and art‚&;quot; Ty Harman added.&;quot;I grew up in an interior design magazine and HATED that my mom never displayed any photos of my family. Felt like she cared more about material things‚&;quot; Alexandra DiGiovanni wrote.Others noted that people decorate their homes for themselves‚ not for guests.&;quot;OR we do what we want with the homes WE live in‚ not guests‚&;quot; Ergot wrote. &;quot;I like myself‚ I don't have a problem seeing myself everywhere. After all‚ I paid the bills‚&;quot; Gege Chic added.Some people agreed with the interior decorator and said that having too many family photos in a house looks tacky.&;quot;YES. Photographs of ourselves in my own house feel so weird to me. Narcissistic kind of Jamiecakes wrote. &;quot;I don't have a single photo of a person in my house. I think they look tacky‚&;quot; C wrote. &;quot;One friend's house comes to mind for me‚ it was tacky (for me) to see nothing but wedding pics. Like‚ do you have other interests&;#63; Just my opinion but also‚ they’re divorced now. Mixing in art helps‚&;quot; _sigred added.Even though the post received a pretty sizable backlash‚ Weiler’s opinion is widely accepted in design circles. “To us‚ having too many portraits of yourself on display in your home is kind of like having a tattoo of yourself on your own body. It can come off as vain and tacky‚” Sarah Han writes at Apartment Therapy.After her thoughts on family photos went viral‚ Weiler posted a follow-up video where she shared an example of a student changing their mind about home decor.“Sometimes in design‚ we hear the design ideas and go‚ 'Mmm nope‚ that's not for me.' Sometimes‚ we try those ideas and we still say‚ 'Nope‚ that's not for me.' But occasionally we try things and we go‚ 'Okay‚ I do kind of like that‚’” Weiler concluded her video. @shannynweiler reply to @Shannyn #homedecor #interiordesign #hometips #interiordesigntrends2024 #wall art This article originally appeared on 2.9.24

Kids‚ man. I'm not sure of the scientific way audacity is distributed‚ but kids have a lot of it and somehow make it cute. That audacity overload is especially interesting when you're the default parent—you know‚ the parent kids go to for literally everything as if there's not another fully capable adult in the house. Chances are if your children haven't sought you out while you were taking a shower so you could open up a pack of fruit snacks‚ then you're not the default parental unit. One parent captured exactly what it's like to be the default parent and shared it to TikTok‚ where the video has over 4 million views. Toniann Marchese went on a quick grocery run and *gasp* did not inform her children. Don't you fret‚ they're modern kids who know how to use modern means to get much-needed answers when mom is nowhere to be found. They went outside and rang the doorbell.Back when we were children‚ this would've done nothing but make the dogs bark‚ but for Marchese's kids‚ who are 3 and 6 years old‚ it's as good as a phone call. You may be questioning why this mom left her two young children home alone. She didn't. Their father was home‚ likely wondering why the children were playing so quietly. But. He. Was. Right. There. And the kids still bypassed him to talk to their mom through the Ring doorbell camera. It was pressing business‚ after all. &;quot;My tablet is dead‚&;quot; the 3-year-old said.The kids ignored Marchese's questions about where their dad was and continued to complain about their tablets. The entire situation is enough to make any default parent chuckle and maybe sob a little. Watch the urgent doorbell call below: @tinyann22 Moms can never get a minute of peace lol #momsoftiktok #momlife #ring #camera #kidsoftiktok And if you're skeptical that dad was within shouting distance‚ the mom of two uploaded a part two where dad comes into the frame. @tinyann22 Replying to @iustmerlp part 2… daddy was found&;#33; Lol #kidsoftiktok #momsoftiktok #parentsoftiktok #fyp #ring #prioritiesfirst This article originally appeared on 3.22.23

Airbnb defines its notorious cleaning fee as a “one-time charge” set by the host that helps them arrange anything from carpet shampoo to replenishing supplies to hiring an outside cleaning service—all in the name of ensuring guests have a “clean and tidy space.” But as many frustrated Airbnb customers will tell you‚ this feature is viewed as more of a nuisance than a convenience. According to NerdWallet‚ the general price for a cleaning fee is around $75‚ but can vary greatly between listings‚ with some units having cleaning fees that are higher than the nightly rate (all while sometimes still being asked to do certain chores before checking out). And often none of these fees show up in the total price until right before the booking confirmation‚ leaving many travelers feeling confused and taken advantage of.However‚ some hosts are opting to build cleaning fees into the overall price of their listings‚ mimicking the strategy of traditional hotels.Rachel Boice runs two Airbnb properties in Georgia with her husband Parker—one being this fancy glass plane tiny house (seen below) that promises a perfect glamping experience. @rachelrboice Welcome to The Tiny Glass House 🤎 #airbnbfinds #exploregeorgia #travelbucketlist #tinyhouse #glampingnotcamping #atlantageorgia #fyp ♬ Aesthetic - Tollan Kim Like most Airbnb hosts‚ the Boice’s listing showed a nightly rate and separate cleaning fee. According to her interview with Insider‚ the original prices broke down to $89 nightly‚ and $40 for the cleaning fee. But after noticing the negative response the separate fee got from potential customers‚ Rachel told Insider that she began charging a nightly rate that included the cleaning fee‚ totaling to $129 a night.It’s a marketing strategy that more and more hosts are attempting in order to generate more bookings (people do love feeling like they’re getting a great deal) but Boice argued that the trend will also become more mainstream since the current Airbnb model “doesn’t feel honest.” &;quot;We stay in Airbnbs a lot. I pretty much always pay a cleaning fee‚&;quot; Boice told Insider. &;quot;You're like: 'Why am I paying all of this money&;#63; This should just be built in for the cost.'&;quot; Since combining costs‚ Rachel began noticing another unexpected perk beyond customer satisfaction: guests actually left her property cleaner than before they were charged a cleaning fee. Her hypothesis was that they assumed she would be handling the cleaning herself.&;quot;I guess they're thinking‚ 'I'm not paying someone to clean this‚ so I'll leave it clean‚'&;quot; she said.This discovery echoes a similar anecdote given by another Airbnb host‚ who told NerdWallet guests who knew they were paying a cleaning fee would “sometimes leave the place looking like it’s been lived in and uncleaned for months.” So‚ it appears to be that being more transparent and lumping all fees into one overall price makes for a happier (and more considerate) customer.These days‚ it’s hard to not be embittered by deceptive junk fees‚ which can seem to appear anywhere without warning—surprise overdraft charges‚ surcharges on credit cards‚ the never convenience “convenience charge” when purchasing event tickets. Junk fees are so rampant that certain measures are being taken to try to eliminate them outright in favor of more honest business approaches.Speaking of a more honest approach—as of December 2022‚ AirBnb began updating its app and website so that guests can see a full price breakdown that shows a nightly rate‚ a cleaning fee‚ Airbnb service fee‚ discounts‚ and taxes before confirming their booking.Guests can also activate a toggle function before searching for a destination‚ so that full prices will appear in search results—avoiding unwanted financial surprises.This article originally appeared on 11.08.23

Ever wonder what an ideal date for a lemur would be&;#63; Or a lizard’s favorite Disney princess&;#63; Thanks to one YouTube poster with a passion for animals and an endearing sense of humor‚ all questions shall be answered. Well‚ maybe not all questions. But at the very least‚ you’ll have eight minutes of insanely cute footage. In a series titled “Tiny Mic Interviews‚” Maya Higa approaches little beasties with a microphone so small she has to hold it with just her thumb and forefinger. And yes‚ 99% of the animals try to eat it. There’s Ginger‚ the pig with a lot of stored up resentment toward the big bad wolf. She ain’t afraid to talk about it‚ either. Or so her passionate snorts would indicate.Then there’s Brazilian porcupine Boris (at least‚ I think that’s what Boris is after Googling‚ I’m no zoologist)‚ who is asked to name his favorite food. For the record‚ it’s corn. And no‚ you may not touch his snoot.Godzilla‚ the itsy bitsy turtle that fits into one hand‚ gets asked‚ ironically‚ “what’s it like being land’s fastest animal&;#63;” Though Godzilla remains stoically silent‚ an image of super cool speedster sunglasses gets superimposed onto his face‚ along with the words “I am speed.”The best part to me is a bird‚ aptly named Giggles‚ gloriously laughing at a cheesy joke. In fact‚ here’s a nod to all the birds with impeccable names in this video.Mordecai‚ Costello‚ Bartholomew (these include stars from Higa's first interview) … I’m looking at you.Though these critters provide some top notch entertainment‚ there’s plenty of valuable information being thrown into the mix as well.All the exotic “interviewees” are part of Zoo To You Conservation Ambassadors‚ a permitted facility in California‚ Higa informs her viewers. Rescued or surrendered from the illegal pet trade‚ or permanently injured‚ these animals receive permanent care and become a part of Zoo To You’s education program. Pretty sweet gig‚ right&;#63; Higa herself is a wildlife rehabilitator‚ falconer and streamer who focuses a lot of her content on conservation. Though her online persona veers toward the upbeat and positive‚ she isn’t afraid to shed light on some darker facts around certain threats many species face.&;quot;The natural world that these animals come from is being absolutely decimated‚” Higa states in another video. “The UN estimates that over one million plant and animal species face extinction today. Pollution‚ habitat loss‚ climate change‚ the wildlife trade‚ exploitation‚ general human intervention…is causing us to lose species at rates unprecedented in human history. We’re experiencing a mass extinction.”Wanting to be part of the solution‚ Higa has founded her own nonprofit organization called Alveus‚ which‚ like Zoo To You‚ acts as an exotic animal sanctuary and virtual education center.If you’d like to support Higa’s sanctuary‚ you can do so by donating to donate@alveussanctuary.org via PayPal.And if you’re already jonesing for more adorable “Tiny Mic Interviews‚” you’re in luck&;#33; You can find even more on Maya’s YouTube channel here.This article originally appeared on 09.02.22

Menstrual taboos are as old as time and found across cultures. They've been used to separate women from men physically — menstrual huts are still a thing — and socially‚ by creating the perception that a natural bodily function is a sign of weakness.Even in today's world women are deemed unfit for positions of power because some men actually believe they won't be able to handle stressful situations while mensurating.&;quot;Menstruation is an opening for attack: a mark of shame‚ a sign of weakness‚ an argument to keep women out of positions of power‚' Colin Schultz writes in Popular Science.The big problem with menstrual taboos is the way that males are educated on the subject leaves them with a patchwork of ideas that don't necessarily add up to the whole picture. First‚ there's the information they get from growing up with women in the house.Then‚ there are the cryptic descriptions of menstruation seen in advertising and the cold‚ scientific way the topic is taught in sex education.&;quot;Boys' early learning about menstruation is haphazard‚&;quot; a 2011 study published in the Journal of Family Issues reads. &;quot;The mysterious nature of what happens to girls contributes to a gap in boys' knowledge about female bodies and to some negative views about girls.&;quot;Unfortunately‚ the gaps in the average man's understanding of a complex female health issue can put women in a difficult position. Whether it's denying them positions of power or a failure to understand their discomfort.That's why it's so important for men to become better educated about menstruation.A group of women on TikTok are helping the men in their lives better understand the subject by showing them how tampons work on the inside of their bodies by dousing them in water. They call it the Boyfriend Challenge. Some of the guys' reactions are clearly over-the-top‚ but it's also obvious that many of them have no idea how tampons function.A video by the Demery family has gone viral attracting nearly eight million views. It's fun to watch‚ but it also shows men how tampons function and what women go through during their monthly cycle. @thedemeryfamily22 His reaction is priceless😂 #cutecouple #pregnant #prego #viral #InLove #couplegoals #trend #tampon ♬ original sound - Kolby&;Jas❤️ Rachel's man just uttered the phrase &;quot;vagina parachute.&;quot; @mrshillery829 Of course I had to make my husband do this&;#33; I will forever call tampons “vagina parachutes”&;#33; LMAO&;#33;&;#33; #tamponchallenge #husbandpranks #funny #fyp ♬ original sound - Rachel Hillery Paulina's man was completely flummoxed by the inner workings of a tampon. &;quot;You've been carrying this like‚ inside of you&;#63;&;quot; he asks. &;quot;The whole day&;#63;&;quot; @paulinat showing him how a tamp&;ocirc;n works😭 @fabioguerrrraa ♬ original sound - Pau Torres This guy thinks it's &;quot;like a butterfly.&;quot; @amanialzubi showing my boyfriend how a tampon works 🤣😳❤️ ( @originalisrael ) #comedy #couple #couplegoals #foryou #trend #tiktok ♬ original sound - amani Ryley just blew her BFF's mind. @thekelleyfamily lmaoooo why 😂😭 #tamponchallenge #trend #hilariouscomedy #couple #married #foryoupage #fyp #xyzbca ♬ Quirky - Oleg Kirilkov This guy was amazed by the absorbancy.Let's hope this challenge gave some men out there a better understanding of what women go through every month and a little more sympathy for the women in their lives.Hopefully it also makes them feel a little more comfortable around period products and inspires them to pick up the correct box of tampons next time they're at the grocery store.This article originally appeared on 01.27.21

Christopher Grady‚ a father and teacher from Toronto‚ was struggling with anxiety and depression. That's when he started drawing.He describes his early cartoons and illustrations as a journal where he'd chronicle everyday moments from his life as a husband‚ elementary school teacher‚ and father to two kids.&;quot;I needed a positive place to focus all my thoughts and found that when I was making comics I felt a little bit better‚&;quot; he says.He began putting a few of his comics online‚ not expecting much of a response. But he quickly learned that people were connecting with his work in a deep way.The comics series called Lunarbaboon was born‚ and the response to the first few was so powerful that Grady was inspired do more with his comics than just document his own experience.&;quot;I began getting messages from many people about how they connected to the comics and it gave them hope and strength as they went through their own dark times‚&;quot; he says. &;quot;When they look back…they probably won't remember what was said…or where you were when you said it. They may not remember any details of your time together. But they will remember that you were there…and that's what matters most.&;quot;&;quot;Usually the circle of people we can support‚ help‚ influence is limited to our families‚ friends‚ coworkers‚ random stranger at the bus stop‚ but with my comic I suddenly found my circle of power was much much larger‚&;quot; Grady explains. &;quot;I guess I decided to use this power for good.&;quot;Grady continued to draw‚ making a point to infuse the panels with his own special brand of positivity.&;quot;Kids are always watching adults and they look to the adults as role models‚&;quot; he says. &;quot;I try to show (my kids and students) that even with all my flaws and weaknesses I am still a good person and I can still make a positive change in the world.&;quot;Lunarbaboon comics tackle huge‚ important subjects with an effective‚ lighthearted touch that you can't help but smile at.Check out Grady's take on teaching his son about consent. (All images by Christopher Grady/Lunarbaboon‚ used with permission.)Here's one about parents being supportive of a gay son or daughter.On raising girls in a patriarchal world.And here's a sweet one about appreciating the heck out of his wife.Big topics. Important issues. Grady tackles them with humility and ease.As Lunarbaboon has continued to grow‚ Grady says the messages of support he gets have become increasingly powerful.He certainly doesn't claim to have all the answers to all the complexities of parenting‚ but he does say that &;quot;people like knowing they aren't alone in life's daily struggles. Most people who contact me just want to say thank you for putting something positive into the world.&;quot;Grady doesn't expect his Lunarbaboon comics to fix rape culture or end bigotry. He just hopes his message of love‚ inclusion‚ and positivity continues to spread.&;quot;My hope is that for the short time people read it they smile and feel good‚&;quot; he says. &;quot;Then I hope they take that good feeling and smile into the world and make it slightly brighter.&;quot;You can check out even more of Grady's awesome work over on his website or in his newly published book.This article was originally published on 11.30.17

Patrick Stewart often talks about his childhood and the torment his father put him and his mother through. However‚ how he answered this vulnerable and brave fan's question is one of the most eloquent‚ passionate responses about domestic violence I've ever seen. WARNING: At 2:40‚ he's going to break your heart a little.You can read more about Heather Skye's hug with Captain Picard at her blog.This article originally appeared on 06.26.13.

The beginning of the end. The post The R.E.M. album that Peter Buck called unlistenable: “A group of people so bored” first appeared on Far Out Magazine.