It's interesting to read how charmie came out of the fan fiction realm. And while keeping it in fan spaces is essential, the original poster has expressed that their opinions on charmie were openly spoken about in spaces like data lounge. So while T may not have read your fiction, the ideas within that world were widely shared out of the fan realm and that's where it starts to affect people's lives. (Even if you're not directly tagging.)

Well, I doubt he reads datalounge either 😂. And Tim, armie and Luca to an extent all kinda "baited" fans during promo. "Tongue wrestling partner", as Tim called armie in an awards speech, with a cheeky grin. Of course they knew what mainstream media was writing about them and hinting at, "big fat smooches" and "frolicking in Italy" included. It was a game. I doubt they were aware of the monster they created but to a certain extent they played with the innuendo and their chemistry. And we writers picked it up and ran with it.

The problem is not fic, it's mentally ill "fans" running amok with an imagined relationship. All shippers and writers I'm still friendly with never behaved like that, never inserted themselves into these real people's lives, never harassed their friends and family, and most never even truly believed anything was going on between these two, but enjoyed the fantasy as a fantasy.

This is as old as people enacting romances, and it happens with straight and gay media alike. It's also done mostly by women, which might be explained with the lack of mainstream media catering to what a female audience wants. So we make it up - and sometimes there are individuals that can't handle or tell apart fantasy from reality.

But it's not our fault mentally ill people believed things that were simply not real. There's no defense against that, there's nothing anyone can do about it.

We as fan creators can't control fellow fans. Tim can't that either. The crazy fan has been part and parcel of celebrity culture forever, sometimes with fatal effects. Us not writing fic or drawing art won't change that.

And up until the true nature of armie was revealed, you could still have chalked all this up as the annoying and embarrassing delusion of some horny fans. But now what's left of charmie is defending a sexual predetor and is actively attacking his victims. That's a whole new level of atrocious behavior. Believing 2 men fucking is rather harmless compared to trying to enable a sex offender and to interfere with legal proceedings.

This is so utterly deranged and vile and dangerous that it makes me truly speechless. It also exposes the extent of mental issues these people have.

And I'm sure the horrible things his co-star did in real life shocked Tim way more than me writing fiction about them having fucking each other in the butt.

We should all be much more concerned with fellow fans openly calling the victims of sexual assault "lying attention seeking whores" on Twitter while tagging law enforcement and major news outlets, than with a handful of people who wrote some now mostly deleted smutty stories on a fan website 3 years ago.

Does Cor ever get his explanation for the way the KG reacted before they showed up? And does anyone ever try to warn Cor that he’s in danger from the Glaive, and/or some old granny warning about being stolen away only for her equally old neighbor to start snapping back about it being a fine old tradition eventually tips him off about fey wives. Child soldier Cor asks Clarus for details but all distracted Clarus says is kidnap marriages illegal. Which, not help? Amissa, halp, need tactical info

Anonymous said: How protect royals from never heard of fey things? Just, the terrible irony of Amissa, who *has got* to have been to worlds where Fey Exist, having actual wards and defenses she whips out, and Galahad warding the Citadel and the royal family against Fey influences while the rest of Lucis is convinced that they are fey. And that Doesn’t Help, what are the scary people protecting against? And it turns out some *work* against daemons. Couples with the ‘hiding from monsters’ Glaive/kid convo...

Me: This is all INCREDIBLY hilarious thank you. To answer your question, if you mean the “hissing, snarling, Treed yeeting himself onto a lamppost” thing ... not for a long time no. They politely ignore his confused look and he’s not QUITE sure how to bring up the “yeah why were you glaives losing your minds at civilians for random hand gestures?” thing. He might TRY to question it but he just gets shifty-eyed looks and a vague “It’s a Galahdian thing” answer that really doesn't help (They don’t quite trust Cor yet, don’t want to give the game away but also don’t want to run him off so...).

So, no one who knows who Cor is is going to warn him away from the Glaives, because he’s COR THE IMMORTAL. If he wants to flirt with death by interacting with them then if anyone can get away with it it’s him. But other people who just see a nice young man being led around by a woman that seems to appear and disappear from/into thin air....

One of the old servants or something TOTALLY tries to warn him about being stolen away. Or if there’s a moment Amissa lets go of his hand and ducks away for a minute, a granny might flag him down and warm him about being careful lest he be “stolen away as a feyling husband”, but then another granny cackles that he is CLEARLY looking to get snatched so let the boy have his fun, to which a third retorts that it is NO LAUGHING MATTER and what if he gets snatched by a Darkling rather than a Higher Fey and by the time Amissa returns Cor has discreetly escaped the cluster of screeching grandmothers all arguing over something he doesn’t quite understand beyond apparently there are groups of people out STEALING other people for marriage purposes? Or maybe not people but some kind of creature? Are they daemons? He must investigate.

He asks Clarus and Clarus immediately dismisses the notion of fey and tells Cor that kidnapping marriages are illegal. This doesn’t help, because Cor threw hands with Gilgamesh. If anyone is willing to believe that fey exist and kidnap handsome/powerful men for husbands it’s him.

So after careful consideration, he TOTALLY DOES approach Amissa and the glaive for help warding against Fey, because these are wild Jungle People, if anyone knows about the Old Ways and Old Creatures it will be them. Amissa was unaware that Fey were a Thing in this universe, but she’s been in enough weird (and yes, fey-inhabited) universes to roll with it and she breaks out the wards she used around the camp when they were kiddos in the jungle and the glaives break out the ones their parents taught them before the Fall and soon the glaives can be glimpsed EVERYWHERE in the Citadel, slapping ornate paper tags high up on things and leaving little braided ropes along window sills and there’s a point where Regis happens to glance up (read: roll his eyes) during a council meeting and.... there is Titus. Solemnly lurking on the ceiling painting arcane symbols in what MIGHT BE BLOOD on his ceiling??? (it’s not blood, it’s a special blessed red dye mixed with the ground up dust of those magic-holding stones near Havens, the dye is meant to ward off monsters/daemons of Ill Intent while attracting good spirits of blessing and health and it actually works on the daemon front, Titus knows from experience).

Regis dismisses his council rather abruptly, then when he’s alone with Clarus and Titus-on-the-ceiling he asks (a touch shrilly) WHY Titus is painting arcane symbols on his ceiling and Titus innocently explains that these are anti-daemon wards and that they were ordered to put up warding measures by Marshal Cor.

Regis thinks of all the extra whispering the servants have been doing lately, the little braided and dyed ropes that are on the window-sills of ALL the windows now and the tiny paper tags way high up on doors/pillars/furniture and ... sighs. Heavily.

Cor refuses to back down from his stance of letting the Galahdians set up their wards and Clarus REGRETS not paying more attention to Cor’s “fey that steal husbands” questions because now Cor has the bit in his teeth and a literal army of enablers. There’s no stopping this.

The servants know without being snarled at by the glaives to NOT TOUCH THE WARDS. They clean around them, very, very carefully. The rumors vary from “we’re all gonna die” to “there must be ANOTHER FEY CLAN out there in Insomnia now and the Galahdians are warding their chosen territory to keep them out”. Those who agree with the second rumor often wonder ... how much WORSE is this other fey clan that the Marshal and the King are allowing the Galahdians to set up these defensive measures??? Should everyone panicc????

when i’m sad oh god i’m sad pt. 1

link to pt. 2

follows a very similar timeline to @tearxofink‘s fic Rules for a Functioning Alcoholic but will prob have differences (such as no established relationships) and takes place in @illogicallyinclined‘s hockey au after the mention of Remus possibly having undiagnosed bipolar disorder

update:��i think its important to acknowledge roughly where this takes place in the big timeline bc D doesn’t really drink past freshman yr in this AU because of self preservation and trauma, alcoholism was more an issue before then in high school (when remus and d were Rowdy Boys) but the stress of Logan’s concussion lead to some heavy drinking that was caught quickly by Virgil because Remus Cannot Keep Secrets. 

summary: Remus has undiagnosed Bipolar Disorder and is dealing with a severe depressive episode in the aftermath of realizing that binge drinking with D wasn’t just his own search to Feel Something, but was also D’s relapse into alcoholism. Remus comes to the realization of lost time during manic episodes and refuses help.

tw: graphic descriptions of a depressive episode, self harm (burning),  suicidal thoughts, and suicidal intent (but not attempt). unhealthy coping mechanisms, alcohol abuse, mentioned alcoholism, undiagnosed mental illness, miscommunications on shared trauma, ask to tag if i missed any.

--

Remus doesn’t think he’s ever felt happy in his life. 

But that can’t be true. He’s sure it wasn't even two months ago he swore he’d never felt sad before in his life and he knows that one wasn’t true either.

Though, right now the younger Prince twin couldn’t even be certain he feels sad right now. He can identify some feelings, like dizziness (he stumbles through the lobby doors, it’s too bright out its giving him a headache that better not be a hangover), guilt (“Do you even think about anyone but yourself?” No, Virgil, you know Remus better than that. “You know how hard getting sober was the first time, D suddenly taking you out to the bar during the week didn’t raise any flags?” It didn’t, Remus is too self absorbed), and most importantly something he can’t quite label that came in through his lungs smoother than the cheap cigarettes he hates (but uses as an excuse to turn himself into a human ashtray) and settled deep inside him just under a month ago (weeks before D suggested goiung to the club on w Tuesday evening for the first time in almost a year) and it's getting heavier and heavier every day. Possibly, relief was felt when he was greeted by a totally empty apartment instead of a holier-than-thou brother trying to enforce ‘responsibility’ and his first real friend whom he recently enabled in a relapse. 

The normally obnoxious and loud man silently rides the elevator to their floor, tripping over his own feet as he exits not even offering a head bop to the cheesy elevator music. He enters the apartment and slams the door harder than necessary but can’t bring himself to feel bad. There's no elegance or emotion to closing his door, landing on his bed full clothed after barely kicking off his shoes and grabbing the controller to turn on Netflix and select the first Saw movie.

--

It’s halfway through the second movie when he hears someone return home and make what is probably lunch before leaving again. He takes a moment to wonder if his professors or classmates notice his absence or if they’re just thankful for it. He’s sober and he feels the burns on his ankles and arms throb in time with his black eye. God he wishes he wasn’t, but pissed off his last more-than-a-little-sketchy friend and he doesn’t have the energy to find the stash he knows D hid in the apartment somewhere.

--

Just as Saw II ends and the third begins, he opens his window and lights up a cigarette with a lighter he knows he stole from someone. The smoke coats his throat and the terrible burning taste of nicotine sticks to the roof of his mouth, the headrush barely makes it worth it. Remus considers maybe he needs something stronger, Virgil seems like the type to secretly smoke weed. Wandering minds think about the movie he just watched and the classic needle pit, he certainly isn’t afraid of needles. He slams his head into the glass of his window and takes another drag. The reality of that thought would be a bigger issue than many things he’s done, it’s not often that he rejects things his brain throws at him. He stares out the window and a group of students pass and he sees the exact moment they smell his shitty cigarettes as they look around and glare when they see him. He realizes how often people look at him like that and it feels like the first time that it bothers him. He puts the cigarette out in his lower calf and holds it there until the darkened skin and burning pain is all he can think about

--

The fifth movie ends marking around 10 hours of blankly staring at the screen. He’s only wearing boxers and the ratty t-shirt he’s been wearing for days. Both roommates are home. The group chat is going off Remus briefly saw a few messages, a reminder about practice Thursday morning, Patton looking for baking suggestions, Virgil asked if anyone heard from Remus because they didn’t finish their discussion.

Remus mutes the chat for the first time and when his phone falls off the bed, doesn't bother reaching for it.

--

The eighth movie ends. It’s been darkout for awhile, though he isn’t sure quite how long. Remus really feels as if his body has melted and merged with the bed. He hopes he’s dying. He eats stale chips he had hidden in his nightstand and can’t even get out of bed to smoke half a cigarette and put it out on his exposed thigh.

He falls asleep after silencing his brain as best as he can right now.

--

The next time he wakes up the sun is either setting or rising. He doesn’t really care. The hockey player doesn’t really know if he's stayed still this long, almost ever. If he thinks about it though he is pretty sure he did this last spring. He’s also pretty sure no one noticed last time either. Sleeping seemed to have helped a little and he figured he could probably make a trip to the bathroom and maybe the kitchen if he’s lucky, he noticed that pizza box under his bed is smelling pretty terrible. It’s been four days since he was home spoke to anyone, and no one has checked in on him. He hasn’t left his room since his return, the gatorade bottle of piss is evidence of such. And miraculously, he actually manages to throw out the pizza, steal a ziplock bag full of Roman’s cereal, and use the bathroom. While washing his hands he stares at the shower and decides it’s waited four days, it can wait one more. Just before heading back to his room, Remus swipes the mickey of vodka he saw behind the flour. 

He watched the sun rise through his half open blinds and doesn’t remember the last time he saw the sun rise. Remus had yet to touch the vodka, mostly because it hit the floor hours ago and he’s pretty sure he can deal for a few more hours. Today marks day five in a world without Remus Prince opening his fucking mouth to say some dumb shit that probably hurt someone and he didnt even notice. Remus can’t bring himself to care. He can’t stop thinking about how no one has asked about him since. He read the groupchat, Remus knows he’s a nosey bitch, no one has asked about him since a halfhearted response from Roman implying he hadn’t been gone long enough to worry. This sparks a kind of exhausted anger and Remus feels no amount of guilt for stealing his brothers vodka. The smoke weighing him down from inside lulls him back into the bone deep fatigue with no release.

--

It’s night again, likely early in the morning. Remus’s head is a deep echoing cave of different ways he could die if he just got out of bed. He’s been thinking about the hunting knife he swiped at someone’s house party months ago, for a few hours maybe. He’s had many thoughts like this before, about how fragile human skin is, about how fun it could be to slice open, how warm his own blood would be as it flowed out and he could reach in and feel his final breath. 

God, does he want that. His hand reaches out and grabs his chest pulling on any skin he can grip onto as tight as he could. He’s never been good at anything, he knows he has never been a good person, he can’t stop circling around what Roman could possibly mean that Remus hasn’t been gone for long enough to worry when he’s so sure he’s never been gone more than three days. His phone though, if he goes back far enough in his phone, he thinks Roman is right. Google Maps places him in places he doesn’t recognize in cities he’s never been to. His chest seizing up in a way he’s only seen on others. 

He’s always been able to hold onto even if his parents didn’t love him, even if no one ever liked him or missed him, that Remus Prince was never fake, he never played nice, he never pretended to be someone he wasn’t he never hid his feelings about anything. If anyone asked him, he’d tell them and it’s their fault if it hurt their feelings. But, how can that be true now? Who is he on these days he doesn’t remember. 

Forgetting where he was or getting distracted midway through a task or conversation were always normal for him, the ADHD if he had to guess; but the realization it wasn’t minutes or even hours that he forgot upsets him in a way he didn’t think he could recognize. Remus thinks that this might be the closest he would ever get to understanding how so many people fear him. and he does not like it at all.

The knife is so close. He lights a cigarette. No one else is awake yet. No one has realized he’s even at home. How long would it take to find him? Days? Weeks? How long is he usually gone? Would the smell be what finally pulled someone into to check on him? He puts the cigarette out on his leg. He knows the knife is in the bottom drawer of his desk under old notebooks and packs of pens dumped loosely inside. It’s less than five feet away. He wants it.

He sits up, swings his legs numbly off the side of the bed and stands up. It feels like the hardest thing he’s ever had to do. In a mere three steps forward he sits down on the ground behind his desk chair to wretch open the drawer and sees just how messy it is. His phone goes off and he pulls it by the wire to check, a reminder for practice at 6am. He shoots Coach an apology text for missing practice for the first time in his hockey career and throws his phone back towards the bed. His body feels so heavy as he shoves a hand roughly into the drawer to search for the knife, frustration when he can’t immediately find it leads to him slamming his head into the wooden desk leg before letting it fall onto the chair cushion as his hand wiggles around for a few moments, each second filling him with aimless anger. The drawer slams shut and he flops onto the floor. 

He can’t even find the energy to kill himself. Pathetic. He glares at the desk from his place on the cool floor until the fatigue brings him back to sleep. 

A bit about L’yhta Mahre

PLACE IN SOCIETY

✖ FINANCIAL – wealthy  / moderate / poor / in poverty

L’yhta is quite well-off thanks to her inheritance from her mentors, the sale of items she finds during adventures, and the rewards from levequests. That said, she has essentially no control over her finances, which are handled by the Tower’s majordomo, Volkido, nor does she particularly desire grand luxury. As such, she doesn’t typically have access to, nor employs, these assets, and instead lives a lifestyle of moderate means.

✖ MEDICAL – fit / moderate / sickly / disabled / disadvantaged / deceased

L’yhta naturally has a very fast metabolism, and she’s also a professional adventurer; as such, she gets a lot of exercise that keeps her quite fit. She also tends to run around a lot, even when she could just as easily walk.

✖ CLASS OR CASTE – upper / lower / middle / working / unsure

“I’m used to being feared and. Having people keep away from me.” Powerful practicing thaumaturges can parley their status into considerable class if they want to do; she has no interest in such things (and indeed tends to find class structures abhorrent due to what they’ve done to people she cares about), so in practice, she ends up being an anomaly that those who care about social class aren’t quite sure what to do about.

✖ EDUCATION – qualified / unqualified / studying

An arguably abusive training regimen, followed by the fact that magic is effectively her entire life, has given this woman broad-spanning knowledge across a variety of topics.

FAMILY

✖ MARITAL STATUS – married, happily / married, unhappily / engaged  / partnered / divorced / widow or widower / separated / single / it’s complicated

"My personal life is a, what do they call it? A trash fire, you know?” L’yhta’s current romantic situation is as a member of a poly pod, though she isn’t romantically involved with everyone in it. However, she also holds a flame for the auri girlfriend she rarely sees and the miqo’te bard that she’s not entirely sure how she feels about (and never has been). She was also briefly married, but that relationship fell apart due to disputes over her polyamorous inclinations.

✖ CHILDREN – has children / no children / wants children / adopted children

L’yhta doesn’t currently want children. Beyond the fact that she feels awkward around them, she feels children are incompatible with the life of an adventurer. She is also increasingly of the opinion that she’s incapable of having children at all, due to an ill-advised experiment in magic years ago.

✖ FAMILY – close with sibling / not close with siblings / has no siblings / siblings are deceased / it’s complicated

As she came from a tribal background, she has several siblings -- five sisters and a brother. Her brother is currently the nunh of that tribe; her sisters view her with anything from naked contempt for abandoning the tribe to benign distaste for "not being useful.” That her skill in magic obviates the need to be skilled at hunting with a bow or chopping down trees is lost on them, or perhaps they’re just jealous.

✖ AFFILIATION – orphaned / adopted / disowned / raised by both parents / other

L’yhta was raised within a tribe, and she looked up her father with considerable hero worship. Unfortunately, he died shortly after the Calamity (at the hands of her older brother, no less), and her mother perished a few years later. She’s collected father figures since then -- most notably her mentor in magic, Robert Fletcher, and the Voice of the Tower, Eamont Desormaux.

TRAITS & TENDENCIES

✖ disorganized / organised / in between

Her lab area and notes, and indeed anything involving magic, are meticulously organized. As for the rest of her world -- well, there’s a reason Volkido has a maid clean her apartment daily, and as of yet her partners have yet to complain too vociferously about smallclothes and plates lying in random places around the house.

✖ close-minded / open-minded / in between

L’yhta can be extremely close-minded about certain things (religious zealotry, nobility, class structures, and harming others), but outside of those areas, she’s quite open-minded and accepting of other approaches and ways of life.

✖ cautious / reckless / in between

If there’s a ruin to be scaled or a cave to be plumbed, she’ll already be up or down it before anyone can voice opposition. She does show caution in some instances, in which case you know she’s pretty scared.

✖ patient / impatient / in between

The longer she has to wait for people to plan a course of action, the more fidgety she gets. This is a mage who thrives on action and doesn’t want to wait! She can be patient when it comes to things that require patience (such as alchemy), but she’ll be jumping to something else to stay occupied while the time passes.

✖ outspoken / reserved / in between

While she’s gotten better at holding her tongue over the years, L’yhta is a Big, Open Personality who largely isn’t afraid to speak her mind (unless she’s afraid it’ll wreck one of her relationships).

✖ leader / follower / in between

As much as she proclaims that she’s a terrible leader and she should never be followed, her knowledge combined with her personality put her at the forefront of most situations, and she’s always ready to take charge.

✖ sympathetic / unsympathetic / in between

“Ever since I have known you, you have never lived for yourself.” One could say that L’yhta suffers the Curse of Empathy -- she cares deeply about everyone’s feelings, even that of the world as a whole, and will readily shove any issues she has aside to take care of others.

✖ optimistic / pessimistic / in between

L’yhta is optimistic about the world as a whole; she truly believes that Good will ultimately triumph over Evil, that there will always be Lights in the Darkness, and that Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Love will win the day. That said, she’s deeply pessimistic about herself and her life, largely feeling like she’s a walking disaster that ruins everything she’s near and that she’s never strong enough, never smart enough, never fast enough, and never wise enough to be a positive in others’ lives.

✖ hardworking / lazy / in between

Throwing herself into her work is one of L’yhta’s primary coping mechanisms for stress and her constant depression and inferiority complex, but even outside of that, she’s driven to improve the state of the Art.

✖ cultured / uncultured / in between

"Oh! And I’m her uncultured ijin girlfriend, you know? It’s great to meet you!” L’yhta has never found much value in “high culture.” This is not the miqo’te to ask about which spoon to use or how best to greet a Hingan noble.

✖ loyal / disloyal / in between

When she feels she has let someone down, L’yhta beats herself up about it. She’s tremendously loyal to everyone she knows, or at least tries to be; when she fails to live up to that ideal in any way, she tends to spiral into self-hatred.

✖ faithful / unfaithful / in between

Romantically, L’yhta has been unfaithful before, and it’s a sore spot that she flagellates herself now and then. She takes great pains now to be exceedingly careful about anything that might even be perceived as being unfaithful, to the extent that her partners sometimes think she’s too cautious.

Religiously, she has a deep devotion to her conception of the Mothercrystal, which to her represents the source of the Lifestream and all aether in the world. For her, protecting the children of the Crystal is a duty -- one she takes on gladly.

SEXUALITY & ROMANTIC INCLINATION

✖ SEXUALITY – heterosexual / homosexual / bisexual / asexual / pansexual / omnisexual / demisexual

L’yhta identifies as bisexual, but in reality, she’s closer to polysexual.

✖ SEX – sex repulsed / sex neutral / sex favorable

✖ ROMANCE – romance repulsed / romance neutral / romance favorable

✖ SEXUALLY – sexually adventurous / sex experienced / naive / inexperienced / curious / uninterested

L’yhta really enjoys sex, yes, but she also heavily compartmentalizes. As such, if her mind isn’t on fooling around, she typically will appear entirely uninterested and not even pick up on innuendo. More than once she’s been talking about magic theory and entirely ignoring the obvious Fuck Me Eyes she’s getting.

ABILITIES

✖ COMBAT SKILLS – excellent / good / moderate / poor / none

While she’s not especially dangerous in melee, L’yhta is an extremely talented and experienced combat mage and adventurer with a keen eye for small group tactics.

✖ LITERACY SKILLS – excellent / good / moderate / poor / none

L’yhta will be the first to say that she’s not especially talented at linguistics, despite being conversationally capable in Hingan, Doman, Belah’dian, and Mhachi; being able to read Nymian and Amdaporian; and being marginally skilled at translating Allagan. It’s probably more fair to say that outside of learning languages well enough to be able to use them for magic or singing, her linguistic skills are iffy at best, and that’s mostly because she’s easily distracted from exercising them.

✖ ARTISTIC SKILLS – excellent / good / moderate / poor / none

L’yhta can sing and dance (ballet and ballroom) with reasonable amateur competency. She can also draw circles and other arcane geometries freehand, though she doesn’t consider this an artistic skill so much as a magickal one that every arcanist or esoterica researcher must be able to do.

✖ TECHNICAL SKILLS – excellent / good / moderate / poor / none

Within the area of magic, L’yhta has incredibly advanced technical skills that enable her to create new spells and cheat reality (and the Reaper). Outside of that area, her skills are laughably poor. She can barely turn on magitek devices, can only cook a few simple dishes, and doesn’t really understand the principles of teknology.

Tagged by: @mercermachines​, thank you! :)

Tagging: Anyone who wants to do it! I’m late to this particular party, I know.

Life as a single dad prepared me for running a business during COVID-19

Jez Proctor, UK managing director of global full service digital consultancy  Appnovation, became a single parent two years ago and is now the primary carer for two children, one of whom has Down’s Syndrome. He shares how his family life has helped him deal with the threat of coronavirus in his business role…  Nothing can truly prepare a company for the scale of issues that coronavirus has unleashed, but my own personal circumstances have, at least, enabled me to develop some life hacks that have been hugely helpful in the current crisis. I’ve had to find ways of working flexibly and collaboratively, but this hasn't always been easy and it requires support from colleagues, clients (and sometimes even the children). But the end result is that I’ve found a way to provide a stable home life for my kids without impacting on business growth.

Set realistic expectations

At my office, we have a flexible work culture which allows people to regularly work remotely if needed. One of the first things the senior team recognised is that the current crisis does not represent ‘working from home’ as normal: children, pets, partners are home too, and some employees are home alone. Parents, grandparents or loved ones might get ill, tech infrastructure is not always great, and personal and professional anxiety is going to be high. We understand and communicate regularly with the team that productivity will not be at the same levels as normal - and this is okay. We trust our team to do the best they can in the circumstances and it’s clear from how everyone is performing that the trust is well placed. Lockdown has reinforced that my children and I need to work as a team too. While not being at school is a definite upside from my kids’ point of view, they also find the situation scary and surreal. They are unable to go out as normal and see their friends and have to step up and help more around the house so that I can work. In parallel with my approach to teams at work, I’m learning to trust them to do the best they can.

Draw up boundaries

Many of us enjoyed an empathetic giggle at the clip of Professor Robert Kelly, the Korea expert being interrupted by his young children during a BBC interview. As the parent of slightly older kids, one of the key take-outs from that episode is the importance of establishing boundaries. And also communicating when it’s okay for those boundaries to be breached. Sometimes, your kids can be in the room while you work, other times you need to lock the door or put a note on it. If it’s the latter, you need to be clear about when it’s okay for them to ignore the note on the door (e.g. emergencies). This flexibility within a framework continues to be relevant during COVID-19, when life patterns have been turned upside down – school, hobbies, friends, everything. My family has learned the importance of relaxing some of the rules that we used to abide by especially around screen time. Applying this thinking to the business context, it’s about recognising that if people are permitted to work on their own terms, they still need to adhere to the group ethos. If they are unavailable for a group video call and they weren’t ill, did they interact and engage in the way you'd expect them to? Did they just disappear for 12 hours or did they suggest a solution to their manager and team? I believe that flexibility can improve productivity. But the quid pro quo for trust-based relationships is increased personal responsibility. Respect peoples' anxieties Given the twin challenges of single parenting and running a business, it can be tempting to pull rank both at home and work by using that immortal expression “because I said so”. The current COVID-19 is a great leveller, we really are all in this together and both at home and at work we need to work as a team to get through it. What this means in practice is that no-one’s problems or anxieties are more important than anyone else’s. At home when tensions are running high, I’ve found taking 10 minutes for a group therapy session with my kids much more effective than shutting them down. We all take turns to express what’s bothering us and during that time my kids’ concerns about whose turn it is on the PS4 are not less important than my worries about a deadline. Meanwhile, at work, our regional teams have regular bi-weekly 'Happy Hours' where we share not just work updates but what’s going on in other areas of our lives, including how our families are doing. While in quarantine, this rare window into our colleagues’ personal worlds allows us to check that everyone is safe and help keep each other’s spirits up. Beyond Covid-19, it’s a way of making sure everyone is aware of the pressure points in people’s lives that might require flexibility or consideration. Be prepared to 'tag team' on work Many executives struggle with delegation. Some worry that their colleagues aren't up to the challenge. Others fear that they’ll be too good, and end up replacing them. My circumstances have demanded that I learn how to share responsibilities, and I quickly realised there is a powerful business advantage in people learning about my role. In the midst of COVID-19, it’s clearer to me than ever that the ability to tag-team provides a failsafe mechanism, making sure there is no interruption in the service provided to clients. The benefits of delegation stretch beyond my particular situation or the current crisis. It means that when people get promoted, they immediately understand the implications of their new role. Offering latitude and autonomy can also lead to better retention rates among talented staff. I also think there is a benefit in terms of managing client expectations. Instead of the client only ever wanting to deal with one person, having delegation in your company’s DNA means that it is the company that is indispensable to them – not a specific individual. Read the full article

Hi! Multiples of 4 for Edmund on the headcanon ask??? Thank you so much!❤️

Thank you!!! I know I never shut up about my boy, thank you for continuing to enable me. This is gonna be really, really long I can’t wait…

I’ll tag @princess-of-france too :)

4. What would they do if they needed to make dinner but the kitchen was busy?

I don’t really feel like Edmund cooks. He’s practical but he’s also rich and has better things to do, so I imagine his diet is like 50% black coffee and energy bars he keeps stashed around the house and 50% super expensive meals he manages to make other people pay for. So in that case he’d probably just eat one of the aforementioned energy bars (or ask some even-richer woman out to dinner for the night, cause he’s like that).

8. Favorite indulgence and feelings surrounding indulging

Oh man. Sex. SO much sex. To the point where it’s a legitimate problem, even though he doesn’t see it as one. The thing is, I don’t think he’s super pro-indulgence as a rule – in fact, he probably looks down on people who don’t have good self-control, especially when it comes to things that are proven to be bad, like over-eating or smoking or things like that. But sex doesn’t fall into that category for him, all the reasons he’s been told to avoid it he sees as moralist bullshit, and it’s fun and it’s not hurting anyone so fuck you, why shouldn’t he do it? The issue is deep down sex is also a huge coping mechanism for him, and the only way he knows how to deal with his intense obsession with affection without just 100% repressing it all the time or, worse, being emotionally vulnerable. But I don’t think he realizes how much it’s become a psychological need for him, and how hard it would be to stop. It’s not that he couldn’t stop, he’d say. It’s just that stopping is exactly what all those moralist assholes he hates would want him to do, so why should he?

12. Favorite book genre?

Edgy social commentary probs. I don’t picture Edmund really being the type to read much fiction, but at the same time, I think certain books mean a lot to him. He’s spent his whole life concealing his controversial views on religion, fate, society, sex, basically everything from Gloucester (and to a lesser extent Edgar) in favor of putting on the guise of a perfect traditionally moral son so I think being able to deal with all those hidden ideas through reading about then would really help. He’s probably got a whole hidden stash somewhere in his room he knows his father will never find.

16. Biggest and smallest long term goal?

His biggest long term goal is just to rise to the top as much as he can. I don’t think he’s the kind of person who likes to set limits on his own ambition – he looks at opportunities one step at a time, but if the doors keep opening, who is he to stop? If he can be Gloucester’s heir? Great. If he can overthrow Gloucester entirely? Better. If he can become king? Best of all, but hell, even then he might not stop. Smallest? Ummm idk maybe get his space totally organized. I feel like he’s the kind of person whose organization never quite catches up with his work, and he always says he’s got better things to do than shuffle papers around, but it secretly kind of drives him crazy so he’d like to be totally neat someday.

20. Childhood illnesses? Any interesting stories behind them?

I imagine Edmund has always been pretty robust and healthy (unlike Edgar, probably) and never really got sick that often, even as a kid. That said, on the rare occasion that he did, I think it was a really bad time for him. Cause like I’ve talked about a million times I think Edmund is very driven by his constant deep need for affection, but it’s the kind of thing he can usually repress on a day-to-day basis as long as all his inhibitions are intact. When they aren’t intact, 9 times out of 10 it’s because he’s drunk/high, which is almost always in some kind of party setting, which means he’s pretty much guaranteed to be able to find someone to at least make out with for a bit to make those feelings go away. But if he’s sick enough to be feverish, it’s pretty much the only time he’s both emotionally uninhibited and unable to use sex as a coping mechanism, and it doesn’t go well. Plus with Edgar being more fragile (and, in my headcanon, his mother dying from sickness at an early age too) Gloucester pretty much keeps all members of the family away from him for fear of anything spreading, so he’s pretty much all alone and left with all that unadulterated loneliness he’s not used to feeling half this much and it’s bad. It’s really bad. He tries not to think about it.

24. Is there one subject of study that they excel at? Or do they even care about intellectual pursuits at all?

He’s honestly ahead of the curve in pretty much every subject. He’s a brilliant silver-tongued wordsmith, he’s a super logic and evidence-driven thinker which I think would make him great at math and science, he’s athletic too, and just generally sharp and good at picking up new things. The only thing I think he’d be bad at is any interpretation of art (and to a lesser extent literature) because I think he’d get too frustratingly literal about it – it’s just lines on a page, dammit, it doesn’t mean anything, people will try to find patterns out of anything but the real world is meaningless and there’s nothing really there. In terms of what interests him the most though, it’s politics, which is what drives him insane because that’s the one thing he’ll never be allowed to pursue.

28. Who do they see as their best friend? Their worst enemy?

Depends on the era of his life. I don’t think he has anyone he considers even a real friend, let alone a best friend, when we see him in the play. When he was younger he would have said Edgar, but that ship sailed a long time ago. Now, he doesn’t really do genuine friendship. There are people he likes, but no one he wouldn’t throw under the bus in a heartbeat if that’s what it took. Similarly, I think he tries not to see anyone as his worst enemy. It’s the world that’s his enemy, and society, and it’s a matter of a lot more than taking down one person to beat that. But really, I think it’s Gloucester he hates more than anyone. That part of the plan is more personal than he’d probably admit.

32. Thoughts on material possessions in general?

He’s not big on them…until they become something he can’t have. Like he’s certainly not the overly-sentimental type to hang onto things he doesn’t need, and I think he sees a lot of material wealth and status symbols as really inherently shallow. But the second those shallow wealth and status symbols are denied him, or used to mark him as lesser, then he’ll be damned if he’s not getting his hands on them if it’s the last thing he does.

36. What makes them feel guilty?

People actually loving and respecting him on their own, not because he manipulated them or did them favors or somehow cheated to get their approval. So much of how he justifies everything he does is the fact that, as a bastard, he thinks he’ll never have half a shot at the advantages everyone else gets, so if he wants anyone to approve of him or admire him or show him affection he has to manipulate the hell out of them (or the situation in general) to get it. He’s convinced himself it’s the only way, so when that’s proven wrong, it rocks his world. There’s a reason “Yet Edmund was belov’d” comes the line before finally changes his mind and tries to do something good.

40. Would you say that they have a superiority-complex? Inferiority-complex? Neither?

Both? One? Or neither? Neither can be en- just kidding it’s BOTH and it’s a problem. He’s been looked down on his entire life for being a bastard and that cuts deep, it always has, no matter how hard he tries to shrug it off. He’ll never really get rid of the idea that he’s lesser, or at least everyone considers him lesser, so he has to claw his way to every bit of advantage and approval he can get. But he also really believes that birth means nothing, that merit and intelligence and survival of the fittest should determine who rises to the top, and in that respect…he maybe overcompensated. Because he also manages to be a raging narcissist who thinks he’s smarter than everyone around him (to be fair, he mostly is) and is entitled to anything he can win for himself.

44. Religion?

MY EDGY ATHEIST KING. I think he’s super anti-religion, and anti-spirituality even more so – just anything that involves people blaming their fates or their decisions on forces out of their control or pretending like anything is just “meant to be” makes him incredibly angry. That does fall under the category of things he won’t admit to preserve his image though, he’ll grit his teeth through whatever religious proceedings are required of him if it’s to his advantage.

48. How do they express love?

Ummm badly? He craves other people’s love constantly, but him actually being the one feeling Real Love isn’t something he’s really prepared to deal with, and it kind of makes him freak out. By the time he’s really headed down the road of executing his plans, I think the main way he expresses love is by trying to get the people he loves far, far away from him and this world and his path of destruction. On a more general note though like I said in that post I made a while ago I think his main love language is physical touch, so when he’s not in such a dark place that either results in lots of hugs or lots of sex depending on the person.

And Still I Will Live Here: Chapter 5

Fandom: Doctor Who Rating: Teen Ship: Tenth Doctor/Rose Tyler, Metacrisis Tenth Doctor/Rose Tyler Characters: Tenth Doctor, Rose Tyler, Jackie Tyler, Pete Tyler, Tony Tyler Series: And We’re Not Out of the Tunnel Word Count (Chapter): 2,484 Other Tags: Pete’s World, Pete’s World Torchwood, Angst, Chronic Illness, Disability, Disabled Character Read on AO3 / Read in order

Summary: Rose has been tired for a couple years now. She thinks it’s from working so hard on the dimension cannon without a break, but then she gets a break and she doesn’t quite recover. Finally, she starts going to doctors, but they’re no help. At least John (the metacrisis Doctor) is with her every step of the way.

(Fic is COMPLETE with chapters posting Tuesdays and Fridays!)

NOTES: posting early again because i am very very tired. just like rose! also my knees hurt. just like rose.

the phrase "my second heart" in this fic is based on a concept from @giovanni-bottesini's teegarden gallifreyan, which is an absurdly comprehensive conlang of gallifreyan. also i stole the idea of tentoo using it for rose from @mouserat-vevo. thank you to discord friends for enabling me every day <3 and thank you to the wldw server for allowing for idea communism

next chapter is the last one!

The wedding is a month out, then two weeks, then a day. It’s going to be a relatively small affair, an August wedding in the Tylers’ backyard, but that doesn’t mean Jackie hasn’t gone all out with the decorations and the catering and everything else. They’re going to put the altar in front of a fountain, using an existing footpath as an aisle. Tony is going to be the ring bearer, a task he’s taking extremely seriously, and Pete’s agreed to give Rose away. She’s decided to walk: she can manage a short distance, and she trusts her dad and John to support her if she needs it. And they’re not inviting anyone who won’t understand if she needs to sit down mid-ceremony.

On the day of the wedding, she wakes up with John in the Tyler mansion— they’re not doing the thing where they don’t see each other on the wedding day. Maybe, in yet another universe, where the two of them are guaranteed a lifetime together, they could waste the hours before their wedding: but in this universe, all they are guaranteed is today. So they wake up together and get ready in the same room, John looking dashing in his tuxedo. Jackie’s hired someone to do Rose’s hair and makeup, her veil pinned to a complicated nest of braids and curls, her eyes dusted with gold. And as promised, Jackie decorates the chair, winding white tulle and leafy garlands around the handles and arms, weaving ribbon through the wheels’ spokes. When Rose looks in the mirror, extending delicately gloved hands to touch the wheels, she sees herself as the beautiful bride she never quite thought she’d be, and for a moment, happiness bubbles up in her chest.

And then it’s time for the ceremony. Rose, hidden away in a little tent at the back of the yard, stays in her chair until the very last second: the only way she’ll be able to stand later is if she conserves her energy now. Her dad’s back there with her, and Tony, holding two rings tied with ribbon to a pillow, standing straight up in his tiny little suit. He’s determined to do the ring bearer position justice, and Rose is nothing but grateful.

They don’t have a wedding party— they thought about it, but decided that the simpler the ceremony was, the easier it would be on Rose. So when the music starts, Tony walks out first, the pillow held out in front of him, and Pete helps Rose to her feet. She’s lucky: today’s a good day. The kind of day where she can stay on her feet for longer than a few minutes. The kind of day where she can take her father’s arm and follow her little brother out onto the path.

She squints, her eyes adjusting to the afternoon light. Friends and family are seated in folding chairs on either side of the cobblestone footpath, cousins and friends and coworkers all together. She can see her mum up at the front, twisted around in her chair with baby Gabriel in her arms, and straight out in front of her, at the end of the line, is John, his eyes locked to hers. And it’s like everything around them has frozen, and the only things in the world are John, standing at the altar in his tuxedo, and Rose, taking step after step to get to him.

Her breath catches as she thinks about the married life she and John could’ve had, in another timeline— they could’ve kept working together, lived in a nice little house, even had kids, maybe. The tears start to fall. She spares a passing thought to her makeup, glad the artist thought to use waterproof mascara.

Pete lets go of her as they approach the altar, and Rose takes the last few steps on her own, reaching out for John. He keeps his hands on her upper arms, not supporting her weight so much as reassuring her that he won’t let her fall. When she looks up at him, she sees that he’s crying too, tears tracking down his face. It’s as much a funeral as a wedding.

Their officiant starts his script, welcoming everyone to the ceremony, introducing John and Rose. Rose is barely listening. The only thing in her life, at this moment, is John, standing in front of her with his beautifully open face and his perfectly tailored tux.

They’ve written their own vows. John’s are first.

“Rose Tyler,” he says, his eyes never leaving hers. Everything is in his voice: every emotion, every bit of himself. “My second heart. I love you, and I will always love you. No matter how far apart we are, in this universe or any other. It is my honor and my privilege to give myself to you, every single day. I will be proud to be your husband.” He’s really crying now, and so is Rose. She doesn’t know why she decided to stand for this— the crying is making her dizzy.

It’s her turn.

“John,” she says, groping for the words she wrote down weeks ago and committed to memory. “I can’t imagine myself spending my life with anyone but you. I love that I get to wake up next to you. I love that I get to work with you. I love that everything I go through, I get to go through with you. I love you, John.” She manages to smile through her tears as she parrots his own words back to him. “In this universe, or any other. I am so, so happy to call myself your wife.”

Both of them, now, are sobbing uncontrollably. Rose is holding on to John’s forearms for dear life, and he’s supporting her, and their officiant is looking a little uncomfortable.

“Erm.” He adjusts his glasses. “Do you, John Noble, take this woman, Rose Marion Tyler, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to keep and to love, for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.”

Rose’s grip on John’s arms tightens.

“Do you, Rose Marion Tyler, take this man, John Noble, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to keep and to love, for as long as you both shall live?”

Rose looks at John. Love fills her chest and her stomach, radiating out, mixing with the sadness that has consumed her ever since they realized what they had to do. All she is, it seems, is wrapped up in these emotions. “I do.”

“It is now time for the exchange of rings.” The officiant keeps talking, and once again Rose isn’t listening. Tony’s come up to them now, proudly holding the pillow above his head, and Rose can’t help but smile down at him, even through all the tears. At the officiant’s signal, John bends down to untie Rose’s ring, a thin silver band, and slips it onto her finger, where it perfectly complements the one he gave her upon their engagement. And then Rose unties John’s— his is a thicker band, with an indent running all the way around the middle. The rings fit together: the indent in John’s is just the size of Rose’s band. Rose slides it onto John’s finger, and something seems to slide into place within her. This is how it’s supposed to be: her and John, bound together forever.

“By the power vested in me,” the officiant says, “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” And then, after a too-long pause, “You may kiss the bride.”

The second their lips touch, Rose is overwhelmed. She clings to John, trying to hold every single piece of this perfect moment in her mind: she’ll need the memory down the line. This is all she’s wanted for years now— and it won’t last. She won’t be able to stay. But it’s still worth every second.

The officiant presents them to the crowd as Mr. and Mrs. Tyler-Noble— they’ve decided to hyphenate, so each of them will always have a piece of the other. And then they walk back down the aisle, John’s arm around Rose’s waist. It takes too long, Rose becoming dizzier with every step, but she makes it back to the tent and her chair without falling or fainting. She closes her eyes for a second, trying to readjust, and when she opens them, John is kneeling next to her.

“How are you doing?” he asks quietly.

Rose hesitates, trying to evaluate. She’s still a bit dizzy, and her legs hurt from standing for so long, and of course she’s more tired than she’d like to be, but— “I’m all right,” she says. She looks at John, her husband, and leans in to kiss him. “I’m glad we did this.”

“Me, too.” John gives her a small smile. “Ready to go back out there?”

Rose nods. He pushes her back onto the footpath, and they make their way over to the tent that’s been set up on a wide expanse of grass. Jackie had the foresight to put in a false wood floor so Rose can use her chair: John only has to get her across a few yards of grass before her wheels are rolling on the smooth material.

The guests cheer for them as they make their way to the head table, and once they’re there, Jackie and Pete and Tony descend upon them with hugs and congratulations. Jackie’s given Gabe to the babysitter to put to bed, but Tony’s been determined old enough for the party. He climbs right onto Rose’s lap, ignoring any and all protests, and Rose laughs, adjusting him so he’s sitting securely on her thigh. There’s a space left chairless for her at the table, and John wheels her right up, taking his seat next to her. He takes her hand, and she squeezes. She doesn’t dare let go.

Jackie, as the mastermind behind the whole affair, welcomes the guests to the reception. She’s remarkably composed, but Rose can see tears in her eyes. She ends on a toast— “To my beautiful daughter, and her wonderful husband. May their love last.” Rose lifts her glass, clinking it with John’s and Pete’s and Jackie’s. Tony, feeling left out, squirms over the side of Rose’s chair and runs around the table to get to his seat and join in the fun, and Rose reaches her glass to his, too.

And then the caterers start bringing out the food. They’re only doing two courses and dessert, again with Rose’s stamina in mind— the more food there is, the harder it will be for her to eat. It turns out not to really matter, though. Between the conversations with her family, the people coming up to congratulate her, and her hand still resolutely clasped in John’s, she barely gets a chance to try the food. Somewhere in the middle, she manages to forget all the sadness, everything that’s coming next, and she finds herself grinning ear to ear, losing herself in the joy of being married to John.

The meal rushes by. It’s too quick, really. One minute, Rose is dipping her spoon into a full bowl of soup, and the next, she’s finished with her plate of chicken. And suddenly the DJ is walking over, asking Rose and John if they’re ready for the first dance.

This is the only other part of the night Rose has decided to stand for. It’s only a few minutes, and a slow dance means John can support her. Her body will hurt tomorrow, but today, this is what she wants. So as the music starts, she lets John pull her to her feet, reaching up to wrap her arms around his neck. He holds her by the waist, and they step out onto the dance floor, moving in time to the slow strains of violins.

The song is only three minutes long, but it seems to last forever, Rose’s head nestled against John’s chest, his arms solid around her waist. They step in circles around the dance floor, and Rose is vaguely aware of all the people watching them, but every cell in her body is dedicated to knowing how wonderful it is to be in John’s arms, dancing at their wedding, relishing their love. She can feel his single heartbeat against her ear, and she closes her eyes, allowing herself to be totally enveloped.

The music fades away, replaced with something faster, and the DJ invites everyone to come onto the floor. Rose and John stay for a few more moments, still lost in each other, but as the floor gets crowded, Rose’s legs start to shake, and she pulls away slightly. John understands immediately, and he holds her up, his arm around her waist, as they move back to the table.

The evening progresses as planned: they watch the dancers, cut the cake, and eventually move back out on the dance floor, mostly motivated by Tony pulling at Rose’s arm until she wheels herself out there. She dances with him, holding his tiny hands, moving her upper body, and spinning herself in circles, until Jackie swoops in and tells him it’s time to go to bed. He whines about it, but Rose is sure he’ll fall asleep the second he gets inside.

Finally, the party is over, the guests coming over to give Rose and John their congratulations as they trickle out, leaving the tent empty but for Jackie, Pete, Rose, and John.

“What a beautiful night,” Jackie says, falling into a chair.

“Couldn’t have done it without you,” John says. He’s still holding Rose’s hand, his thumb drawing circles on her palm.

Rose nods her agreement. “Thanks, Mum. It was amazing.” She yawns.

“We’d better get you home.” John’s looking at her with worry in his eyes. It sort of annoys Rose, to have everyone acting like she’s so delicate, except that she is rather delicate, these days. And she is tired. The late night is well worth it, but she’s going to be making up for it for the next few days at least.

Jackie and Pete come with Rose and John to the car, sending them off with cheers and well-wishes, and John drives them home. There’s a warm silence to the world right now, Rose notes, staring out the window. Everything is dark, but every so often, she can see an orange light in someone’s window, a sign that the world is still alive, even when it sleeps.

She manages to keep her eyes open the whole way back to their flat, but when she gets there, she’s just about ready to keel over, metaphorically speaking. She lets John help her out of her dress, and then she sinks into the mattress, closing her eyes. She’s vaguely aware of John joining her, his body surrounding her, as she falls asleep.

[VKM Spec] Slogging Through VKM 11

Whelp, VKM 11 has arrived and it was...underwhelming, to say the least. There are a few tidbits of interest which I’ll be covering below. If you’re looking for indepth analyses on the parallels and intricacies of Haruka and Juri and Kaien please check out @soulisthirsty​‘s post which covers the specifics of that trio in more depth. 

I despise all levels of the Kuran incest family shenanigans and prefer to spend as little time analyzing them as possible to keep my blood pressure down. ;) Ancient obasans have to watch out for these things, you know!

In the meantime, for anyone who hasn’t read the translations or seen the spoilers, please check them out on @alldempretties​‘s blog before proceeding to read below. =)

This post has been tagged anti cross kaien and anti ky for anyone who would like to blacklist it from the tags. Fair warning: I won’t be using any visuals because this chapter isn’t up to snuff panel-wise. Hino got a bit lazy with this one. 

On Present Kaien - Melodrama Ridiculous

Why Hino decided to dedicate a full 40 pages to Kaien is...quite beyond my ken. Regardless, here we are. 

As many perhaps are aware, Kaien is one of my most detested characters, and this chapter does little to fix this. He’s no better than the noble vampires, running around worshipping his purebloods at the expense of common sense. But we’ll get to that in a minute. For now I’d like to focus on the present and how ridiculous this whole set up is.

Hino makes a big hairy deal about Kaien’s reaction to the doctor’s news (the doctor is absolutely preposterous and unprofessional), and then she drags out Kaien’s long memory sequence about his loved ones. A larger deal is made out of Kaien’s “illness” than Yori’s funeral! Sometimes Hino’s lack of common sense is stunning.

Kaien plays up his illness in order to manipulate Yuuki into giving him a whole host of things she wouldn’t ordinarily give him. Dates to the park with Ai (I noticed Kaien didn’t invite Zero to these), old massage coupons, photo album sorting, great screenings with everyone important assembled. For a guy who’s dying, he sure has a lot of unfinished business. 

It’s hard to know if Hino actually intends to kill him off or if this whole scenario was created in order to give Yuuki a reason to be sorting photos and creating this screening for Kaien. Zero seems to be under the impression that it’s much ado about nothing, which I’m inclined to agree with, much as it pains me. 

I find it interesting that Kaien still calls Zero “Kiryuu-kun” while he calls Yuuki “Yuuki” and Kaname “Kaname-kun.” It’s clear he’s still on the pro-Kaname boat and the anti-Zero boat as far as Yuuki is concerned, as is fitting for his Kuran-obsessed character. He’s always placed Kaname and Yuuki above Zero, even though Zero was entrusted to his care. 

Sadly, I doubt he’ll be dying anytime soon. I was really hoping to get rid of one of the detestable characters, but no, Hino only commits to killing off the decent ones. Thanks for spoiling my fun, Zero. ;)

On Past Kaien - A Long Life with Little to Show for It

My current theory on why Hino insisted on rehashing old exposition of Kaien’s past (Kaien takes photos, Juri wields anti-vampire weapons, Kaien was friends with Haruka and Juri, Kaien started the school for Juri, Kaien was in love with Juri) is to remind the readers of all these things that occurred over the course of the original series. If I don’t think of it this way, I’ll want to tear my hair out over having to reread the same old information again.

Regardless, we do clarify a few things. Kaien gets inspired by Isaya to take photos. Isaya’s words about capturing happy times of your loved ones are probably meant to echo into the future to Zero and Yuuki during their happy times (and to reflect upon the present as an unhappy time despite appearances). 

We also find out that Kaien’s become exhausted with his illustrious career as the Ten Thousand Slayer. He’s more like a pureblood than a human, and his comrades begin to pull away from him thanks to that. Kaien also begins to sympathize more with the purebloods than he does with the hunters. 

The academy is an idea he cooked up to help create a better world for Juri. Unfortunately it isn’t something she can take advantage of--she’s an adult woman who finished her school days long ago. But the focus is on the idea of a bright future and her encouragement of his plan.

It’s interesting that he admits the results weren’t all that great, even though he did manage to plant a bit of a seed toward that future. His academy was an abysmal failure and his methods brought no peace at all, but he did provide the environment for the next generation to begin building on the ruins of what he’d attempted. It will not be his generation who saves the future, but Zero’s, Aidou’s, and Yuuki’s. Out with the old, in with the new. 

Though his accomplishments are meager, he seems content with them, and that’s probably as good as he deserves. 

On Kaien vs. Kaname Anti-Mirrors - Interference vs. Acceptance

A few interesting similarities between Kaien and Kaname cropped up this chapter. The similarities weren’t too intense, but they were there.

Kaien, like Kaname, began to see life as dull and gray and ashen. He, like Kaname, wanted to do away with himself. Like Kaname, he was saved by the bright personality of a Kuran woman. 

However, the two men differ in a very significant way which the chapter highlights. Kaien watched Haruka and Juri, and although he wished for Juri’s love, instead of choosing to interfere between them, he chose to search for a way he could help both of them be happy and free them of their burdens.

Kaname, on the other hand, watched Zero and Yuuki together and tried to take what Yuuki gave freely to Zero for himself. He interfered with Zero and Yuuki’s natural trajectory and did everything in his power to derail it from its inevitable course. He chose to add to their suffering, and even in his final moments he wasn’t able to truly free either of them. Kaname is in this sense much closer to Rido than to Kaien, despite him and Kaien having similar beginnings.

On Kaien vs. Zero Anti-Mirrors - The Failed Savior vs. The Vampire Knight

Now this was an incredibly pleasant surprise! For a chapter with so little substance, to find this nugget was a real pleasure.

Throughout the chapter, Hino places small hints that Kaien’s and Zero’s trajectories are meant to be compared. They’re not parallel trajectories because Zero corrects Kaien’s mistakes and is meant to succeed where Kaien failed.

In the chapter, it’s made clear that Kaien falls under the spell of the pureblood lifestyle and forgets himself. He loses touch with what’s important to the hunters, and loses their confidence. They grow distant from him and no longer connect with him. 

Then we switch to the present and we see the exact opposite going on with Zero. Zero has not forgotten who he is and what he stands for--although he tolerates and accepts vampires, he is still first and foremost focused on the good of humanity. His hunters respect him and joke with him--a sign of a good superior is when subordinates feel they can tease them. Although Zero himself is a vampire and is dating a pureblood, his subordinates are not suspicious of where his loyalties lie, unlike Kaien. Zero is a healthier person than Kaien, in spite of all his losses in life, and this more grounded nature of his enables him to succeed within both the hunter and vampire circles.

Moreover, in the past Kaien has a significant scene where he watches Haruka and Juri and compares them to birds drenched in the rain who have lost something important. His heart goes out to them, and he recognizes in them the same loneliness he has in himself. He decides he wants to save them from their burdens. Unfortunately, Kaien fails because Haruka and Juri die long before his academy can bear any fruit. His purpose and meaning and the people he wanted to save vanish at the same time, leaving him unable to save anyone. Hino highlights this with the color spread--Kaien is outside the deep dark forest, trying to reach in to his friends. They both look at him, but ultimately cannot join him. 

This was such a great find for me, because it implies that Zero will succeed where Kaname failed. I’ve reiterated several times that I believe Zero failed as the Vampire Knight in the original series. He was meant to save his birds who forgot the song of happiness--Kaname and Yuuki. But he failed thanks to not recognizing his duty soon enough and to Yuuki’s memory wipe. As such, his burden to save the two of them has been shifted to VKM. Unlike Kaien, though, Zero wants to make a better world for Ai, not just Yuuki. Zero is working for the future deliberately, not for the present. This is a completely different perspective than Kaien’s, and it will allow Zero to flourish and to achieve his goals where Kaien couldn’t. 

I firmly believe by the end of the story Zero will succeed where Kaien failed and save not only Yuuki and the world at large but also Kaname. Zero is the seed Kaien planted without knowing it, and the one who--through assisting with the cure, encouraging cooperation between the vampires and hunters, never forgetting himself or his duty, making the world a better place for Ai, and leaving his fragment to help Yuuki with Kaname--will bring forth the “bright future” Juri wished for her daughter and shine a light on the deep dark forest at last. Only Zero can do this, and I have faith in him to take on the responsibility at last!

On Haruka & Juri - The Birds Whose Happiness Went Extinct

I won’t dwell on the parallels between Haruka/Juri and the pairings. I’m honestly in the camp that believes the real Haruka and Juri were more akin to Kaname and Yuuki, and that the idealized Haruka and Juri that Yuuki wished for are what’s akin to Zero and Yuuki. But I really have no stake in the game, so whatever floats people’s boats.

However, there are some callbacks and interesting points I’d like to explore with these two.

For one, there’s a lot of emphasis placed on how purebloods lose their ability to find happiness as they age and as the duties placed on them increase. Honestly, I’m of the opinion that this is thanks to purebloods refusing to accept their duties and constantly running away from their responsibilities, but Hino wants us to pity them, so pity them we shall by god. I’ve never in my life felt bad for her purebloods--they’re all rich, wealthy, and beautiful. They all create their own destruction because they’re selfish beings who don’t know how to do good in the world. Honestly, a great majority of their suffering is of their own making. 

Regardless, Hino uses Haruka and Juri to remind us of a couple of callbacks to Kaname and Yuuki. On the cover page of the chapter, she’s placed Haruka and Juri deep within the gnarled trees of the deep dark forest. Haruka and Juri, like Kaname and Yuuki after them, fell into the deep dark forest. Further, Haruka and Juri are compared to drenched birds clinging to each other in the rain, an image very similar to the “birds who have forgotten the song of happiness” Hino used for Kaname and Yuuki back in Night 91′s title. She goes further with Haruka and Juri to indicate that something has gone extinct within them--likely the love of life and the appreciation of its possibilities.

This all hints that Haruka and Juri’s “happiness” is the facade of two lonely people whose love isn’t enough to overcome their long lives and their responsibilities. My personal opinion has always been that this is because Juri doesn’t actually love Haruka--he was just the best of two bad options. After centuries together, she grew fond enough of him that he helps ease her loneliness, but I doubt he was her true love. (I don’t think any of her options were her true love, but that’s beside the point.)

I also found it interesting that Haruka and Juri do not seem to be placing Kaname’s happiness as a priority. Instead all their focus is on Yuuki. This places an extra meta burden on Yuuki as a character--she now has to find happiness not only for herself, but for her parents as well. She is their hope, and they died for that hope. It’s now even more imperative that she find her happiness with the man she chose--Zero. Baby steps!

What I find interesting is that Haruka and Juri’s wish for Yuuki led her directly to Zero, not Kaname. Their method for helping her find happiness delivered her right to just the right man for her. That cannot be a coincidence.

Interestingly, Kaien seems to have tried to subvert the true wish of Haruka and Juri--for Yuuki to find her own happiness--by trying to substitute Kaname and Yuuki for Haruka and Juri in his life. This may explain why he pushed Yuuki to Kaname and supported their reunions at the expense of Yuuki’s mental health and wellbeing and even preferences. It also explains why he wasn’t too keen on Zero and Yuuki as a couple. Kaien was invested in seeing Yuuki and Kaname find the happiness Haruka and Juri weren’t able to, but that wasn’t what Haruka and Juri wished for Yuuki. They wanted her to find a happiness and a bright future that could only be had within Kaien’s academy. A future with Kaname was not that future--a future with Kaname would have ended up the same way Haruka’s and Juri’s did. They didn’t wish a pureblood life of misery upon their daughter--they wished a life of light and joy. 

On Ichiou - Evil or Misunderstood?

Poor Ichiou. Hino wants us to hate him so badly she makes Haruka act all hostile to him, but the guy really doesn’t do anything bad this chapter. All he does is remind Haruka of the duties he’s shirking in order to play with Juri at things he shouldn’t be doing. I honestly feel for Ichiou; can you imagine how many unruly purebloods he has to deal with all the darn time? It’s no wonder he gets power hungry later--his job’s thankless!

I’m not the type to hate characters just because other characters hate them. I usually get suspicious when characters are painted as too over-the-top evil. No one is entirely evil. Ichiou probably got just tired of the purebloods and their childish ways and wanted at least a little something for his trouble. Bless the poor man. 

On the Screening - What the Future Holds

I suspect Kaien’s going to die before they can host the screening in his lifetime. I think that’s going to be something Yuuki picks up throughout the 900 years of her life, and she’ll add photos of everyone--including her happy life with Zero, Ai, and Ren. Likely Kaname will be the one who gets to watch this compilation of all his loved ones’ lives, maybe toward the end of the story after he’s come to terms with all he lost and never had and is ready to heal and move forward. 

Since Isaya mentioned that it’s good to have photos of your loved ones from happy times, this is an indicator that we’ll be getting a significant portion of our photos from the Zero/Ren/Ai days. It also implies that we’re not in the happy times yet, because no one’s been taking photos. (This also ties back to the very first cover from VKM 1, which was a huge stack of photos from the past.)

It would also be nice if we did get to have that amusement park date with Kaien, only Zero goes along and Kaien finally admits to himself that he was wrong to push Yuuki with Kaname--that she’d already found the perfect person for her. =P It’d be nice to see him recognize that Zero is the one who brings the joy out in Yuuki the way Haruka brought it out in Juri, since Kaien can’t seem to attach to anyone unless they remind him of Haruka and Juri. *sigh*

On Zero & Yuuki - The Return of the Public Masks

The time lapse between VKM 10 and 11 appears to be about a week or two. We have no idea what went down during that time, but clearly Zero and Yuuki haven’t broken up and are still together.

This chapter has some striking similarities to Night 50 from the original series. In that chapter, after the small 6-month time skip, we skipped ahead another 6 months to see Yuuki, Aidou, Kaname, and Aidou’s father have a small meeting. Yuuki and Kaname are pleasant to each other, showing none of the difficulties they have behind closed doors. Zero and Yuuki in VKM 11 remind me of that, though in a healthier way (Zero’s not encouraging Yuuki to kiss him or put on a show of affection for the guests). 

Still, I think it’s fairly clear that Zero and Yuuki in this chapter are in “public mode.” They’ve just gone around announcing to the world that they’re dating, so they need to keep up appearances, regardless of how things may or may not be proceeding behind closed doors. 

The preview for August’s chapter indicates there’s trouble in paradise as expected. Zero and Yuuki are good at hiding their true feelings in public, but this also may be a case where their genuine concern for Kaien makes them both “forget” their problems temporarily and allows their relationship to return to its natural flow when they’re not putting their issues in the foreground. 

Either way, it was truly a treasure to see them bickering cutely and acting like an old married couple. Zero chewing out his hunter boys was adorable too. It was a nice break from the storm that’s sure to come this way soon.

On Aidou - The Rising Winds

Hino makes sure to remind us at the tail end of the chapter that trouble is on the horizon. 

We now know Aidou hasn’t had a chance to test his Kaien theory yet. Whether he’ll get to or not remains a mystery, but next chapter’s preview implies Zero’s going to get involved in the research soon. All is proceeding according to plan for the Zero/Ren cure theories. ;D

Hino ending the chapter on a sad note is to prep us, I think, for what’s to come. Aidou’s going to be throwing himself into work, and likely Zero will be joining him as Yuuki finds more and more excuses to escape the demands of the relationship through the photo sorting for Kaien. 

It would be incredibly nice for Aidou to unload on Zero all the complaints us Zeki critics have with Zero and Yuuki’s progress. ;) If Aidou did that, I think I at least would feel much better about where Zero and Yuuki are currently as a couple. When the narrative faces the problems squarely, it’s easier to sit back and just enjoy the ride. 

It would be nice if next chapter could take us back into the future with Kaname. I’m still waiting to find out if my Zero fragment theory is even remotely possible, lol. Guess I have no choice but to keep waiting. In the meantime, full speed ahead with the Zero/Ren cures! Until next time!

tagged in some memes

Tagging anyone who wants to do any of these memes!

I - tagged by @gendryxaryatrash​

-> What made you sign up to Tumblr? I used to get into gif wars with my college roommates so I needed to be able to gather.

-> What did your blog start off as being? My old blog used to be a hodgepodge of stuff I liked.  When I rebuilt I put all ASOIAF content on this sideblog and my main is still a hodgepodge of stuff I like minus ASOIAF.

-> Have you ever received any creepy asks, and if so, what did they say? Not really.

-> Have you ever had a bad experience on tumblr? Yes, several, but I try not to dwell on it because at this point it was years ago and letting it still take up a lot of my thoughts is not worth it.

-> If you had to pick a favourite English monarch, who would you pick? ...I’m not sure I care enough.  I guess Elizabeth I because she is one I kinda know things about?

-> Do you prefer hot or cold? Cold

-> Do you have a special skill or talent? Writing.  I’m a decent singer. I can whistle through my teeth in a nonstandard whistly way.

-> Do you have a phobia of anything? Heights.

-> If you had to pick a favourite real life villain from history, who would you pick? Honestly most of the evils I see in the world are usually perpetrated by more than one person/not a person at all, so I’m not sure I know how to answer this.  Like individuals who do bad is less fascinating than societal ills and how they are enabled if that makes sense.

-> Do you have any dark traits? Probably.  Don’t we all?

-> If you could do anything, literally anything, like fly on a unicorn or something, what would it be? Apparating.

-> What is the scale of the worst argument you’ve ever had? IDK.  I like debating, so I wouldn’t call arguments a bad thing.  Fights can be brutal but fights and arguments aren’t the same in my brain.

-> What is your favourite slush flavour? I don’t think I’ve eaten enough of this to know.

-> If you could bring back any food or drink from your childhood that has been discontinued, what would it be? IDK what they’re called, but there was a strawberry candy I ate a lot that came in a tin and I can’t find it anywhere now D:

-> What is your favourite and most vivid childhood memory? When my dad was driving me and my brother in the rain and we rolled the windows down and stuck our heads out the window and my dad would drive into puddles to splash us. 

-> If you could bring anyone back from the dead who would it be? Max or Rachel.  

-> If you could go back to any time period and live there for a week, which period would it be and why? Nah.  I have no desire to live in the past.  I’d rather think about a future in which things are better than they’ve been in the past.

-> If you could visit any abandoned place to take pictures, where would it be? Not really sure.  I hope it’s mountainous though.

-> Do you have any particular, peculiar interests? Bulgarian folk music counts probably

-> Do you have a creepy/scary experience that has happened to you, and what was it? Not really

-> Do you like/read creepypasta stories? If so, what’s your favourite story? Not really sure what defines creepypasta tbh.  

-> If you were in the Wars of the Roses, would you be a Lancastrian, or a Yorkist? I....am not enough of an Anglophile when it comes to history to care.  It’s all fun to watch on TV but I can’t think about it without my historian cap on my head and I just don’t really have enough knowledge to pick a side here.

-> What is your recurring nightmare? I don’t have recurring dreams.

-> Have you ever had a lucid dream? I think so?  I’ve at least had a dream where I keep trying to wake up and then wake up but it’s still a dream and then I realize it’s a dream and try to wake up.  It was really jarring.

-> If you could go to another planet, which would it be? Mars would be cool.  I feel like Venus would be too warm for me.

->What is your religion, if any? I’m Jewish.

-> Have you ever got so drunk, that you did something really embarrassing, and if so, what did you do? I once vomited in one of the main auditoriums at my college during a drunken halloween concert.  I became that which I scorned my freshman year.  

-> Mike, Dustin, Lucas, or Will? Who??

-> Do you like Marina and the Diamonds? I’ve not aware of who/what this is.

-> Charli XCX? Ditto

-> Tag a blog that you’ve seen, and you love their posts, but have never told them, and would like to talk to them. Oof I’m not sure.  I’m slow to follow people, so usually when I do it’s because I feel comfortable talking to them already--or would feel comfortable just being like “Hi I wanna talk to you.”

-> Pick one thing you like/love from the 80s. Hopscotch

-> What year were you born, and name something cool from that year. 1991 - The Fall of the Soviet Union

-> What was your blog name originally? (If you had another blog name) I went by ​@crossingwinter​ for a long time because that’s my ao3 handle (I now use it as a fic archive and reblog all my fics over there) on my old main blog.  This sideblog used to be @thegoldofwinterfell​ after I did my rebuild.  

-> Do you follow any blogs that you know the user in real life? Yes.  Quite a few, actually.  Thank fuck I moved most of my fandom participation over here because they don’t see it haha.

-> If you are in the ST fandom, which is your favourite song off the ST soundtrack? No.

-> Finally, give your opinion on the person who tagged you! ✨ @gendryxaryatrash​ is always so supportive and honestly sometimes I feel like I am spitting things into a void so I’m really grateful to have you as someone who’s always enjoying the things I make since that’s why I make it :D

II - tagged by @savannsahstark​

Nickname: Some folks have called me Ceels, but it’s not that frequent.

Zodiac sign: Cancer

Height: 5'5″

Gender: female

Time right now: 11:35 a.m.

Last thing I googled: Double checking that the Soviet Union did in fact dissolve in 1991 (I get it confused with 1989 and the Berlin wall sometimes) (I’m an embarrasment to all historians who’ve studied communism :shame:)

Favourite music artist(s): the Bulgarian State Women’s Vocal Ensemble, Kitka, Jamila Woods, Chance the Rapper, undoubtedly more i can’t think of right now.

Song stuck in my head: This god help me

Last movie I watched: Sense and Sensibility

What are you wearing right now: an old Red Sox t-shirt that definitely is my brother’s and not mine but was in my drawer of clothes in NY so

Last TV show I watched: ....I can’t remember.  The Good Place maybe?

What do you post: ASOIAF over here.  GOT but more...curatedly.

Hogwarts House: Hufflepuff/Gryffindor

Pokémon team: Valor

Why did you choose your URL: "Not me," the Lady of Barrowton confessed, "but the rest, yes. Old Whoresbane is only here because the Freys hold the Greatjon captive. And do you imagine the Hornwood men have forgotten the Bastard's last marriage, and how his lady wife was left to starve, chewing her own fingers? What do you think passes through their heads when they hear the new bride weeping? Valiant Ned's precious little girl."

When you created this blog: 2015

Do you get asks regularly: I find that it’s either floodgates or nothing.  probably because a lot of anons pile on about my responses to other anons.  I think also not necessarily taking anon fic prompts slows stuff down too.

Do you have any other blogs: this question is a fucking callout is what it is.

Religious or Spiritual: Oh boy I won’t bore you all with my Thoughts about my relationship with music and Judiasm and constantly interrogating what both mean to my life.

Favourite colour: Purple

Average hours of sleep: I aim for 8.  My fitbit shows that it’s more flexible than that.

Lucky number: Not sure.

Favourite character(s): Donna Moss, Leia Organa, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark (lol Sav I’m just keeping yours because Accurate)

Following: 419.  Most of those are inactive.

How many blankets do you sleep with: My comforter

Dream job: Writer.  I’m feeling pretty fulfilled doing some inclusion stuff at my current job though so that’s nice.

III - tagged by @baratheons​

Relationship Status: Single and hunting

Lipstick or Chapstick: Chapstick

Last Song I Listened to:  “Go” by the Civil Wars

Last Movie I Watched: Sense & Sensibility

Top Three Characters: Arya, Sansa, Bran.  It varies from day to day what the order is.

Top Three Ships: Arya x Gendry, SanSan, and lately Jon x Dany, but I’d say that third slot revolves a lot based on my mood.  The first two have been pretty solidly there for years and are unlikely to change any time soon.

Best Smart Light Bulbs of 2020

Best Overall

Philips Hue White A19 Smartbulb

Read Review

Excellent light quality

Robust mobile app

Excellent light quality

Robust mobile app

View on Amazon

Read Review

Budget Pick

Cree Connected LED Bulb

Read Review

Cheap price tag

Easy setup

Cheap price tag

Easy setup

View on Amazon

Read Review

Wi-Fi Pick

LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb

Read Review

No hub needed

IFTTT compatible

No hub needed

IFTTT compatible

View on Amazon

Read Review

Best Color Options

Philips Dimmable Smart Bulb

Read Review

16 million colors

Programmable settings

16 million colors

Programmable settings

View on Amazon

Read Review

Best Splurge

Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Kit

Read Review

Fun design

Mood and music settings

Fun design

Mood and music settings

View on Amazon

Read Review

Last Updated: A day ago

We added updated product and pricing information.

We rated the best smart light bulbs based on price, energy savings, features, and compatibility with other home automation products. Whether you’re a home automation pro or just getting started, smart lighting is one of the best ways to add smarts—and security—to your home.

Here Are the Best Smart Light Bulbs of 2020

Philips Hue White Smartbulb: Best Overall

Cree Connected LED Bulb: Budget Pick

Lifx Mini White Smart Bulb: Wi-Fi Pick

Philips Dimmable Smart Bulb: Best Color

Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Kit: Best Splurge

Compare the Best Smart Light Bulbs

Smart Bulb Price Control Compatibility Learn More

Best Overall

Budget Pick

Wi-Fi Pick

Best Color Options

Best Splurge

Philips Hue White A19 Smartbulb Cree Connected LED 60W Soft White Bulb LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb Philips Hue White and Color Dimmable LED Smart Bulb Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Smarter Kit $69.97 $4.02 $26.99 $49.95 $249.99 Mobile app Voice Mobile app Voice Mobile app Voice Mobile app Mobile app Voice Amazon Alexa Apple HomeKit Google Assistant Nest SmartThings Amazon Alexa Wink WeMo SmartThings Amazon Alexa Apple HomeKit Google Assistant Nest SmartThings Amazon Alexa Apple HomeKit Google Assistant Nest SmartThings Amazon Alexa View on Amazon View on Amazon View on Amazon View on Amazon View on Amazon

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Amazon.com List Price as of 12/18/19 11:24 a.m. MST. (Full disclaimer)

Best Smart Light Bulbs Reviews

Philips Hue White A19 Smartbulb

Best Overall

View on Amazon

Philips Hue bulbs are the industry standard. These smart light bulbs fit standard fixtures, work with popular smart home products like Amazon Alexa and Nest, and last up to five years. Hue bulbs are going to cost you more than your average incandescent light bulb, but we think the longevity, convenience, and energy savings more than make up for the initial investment.

Pros

Voice control with Amazon Alexa

Superior light quality

Ability to connect with up to 50 lights

Free mobile app

Convenient starter kit, with Hue Bridge included

Cons

Spendy price tag

Required Philips Hue Bridge

Cree Connected LED 60W Soft White Bulb

Budget Pick

View on Amazon

You can’t beat the Cree Connected smart light bulb for price or brightness. This is one of the brightest lights we found, and it doesn’t gouge your pocketbook. If you’re not sure that smart lighting is for you, the Cree smart bulb is an affordable way give it a test run. And best of all, you don’t need a special hub. Cree is compatible with any ZigBee-enabled hub out there. So if you have an Amazon Echo or Nest hub, you’re ready to go.

Pros

Cheap price tag

Compatibility with multiple hubs and platforms

Easy setup

Cons

Harsher light

Slower response time

Inconsistent quality

LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb

Best Wi-Fi Only Bulb

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Most smart light bulbs require you to purchase the bulbs and a hub or bridge to connect them to your Wi-Fi network. With the LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb, all you need to do is buy the bulb, screw it into a lamp or other lighting fixture, and download the LIFX app. We like how simple and easy LIFX makes smart home lighting. If you don’t want to hassle with extra devices and connections, these smartbulbs are the way to go.

Pros

No hub needed

Affordable cost

Free mobile app

IFTTT smart home compatibility

Multiple color options

Cons

Some Android issues

Tricky setup for some users

Connectivity issues

Pro Tip

Add LIFX bulbs to ceiling fans that have separate controls for the fan and the light—no more mistakes, reaching, or frustration. Now all you have to control manually is the fan.

Philips Hue White and Color Dimmable LED Smart Bulb

Best Color Option

View on Amazon

We already talked about how much we like the Philips Hue white bulbs, and this smartbulb delivers all the same great features but with a brilliant array of up to 16 million (yes, that’s MILLION!) color options. These bulbs really deliver the best of all worlds—fun light displays along with energy efficiency and security applications. Once again, you’ll pay a pretty penny for these smart light bulbs (and you need to add the Hue Bridge to access all features), but if you’re into mood lighting, we say go for it!

Pros

16 million colors

Easy setup and control

Programmable settings you can save

Free mobile app

Compatibility with Hue Dimmer, Hue Tap, and Hue Motion Sensor

Cons

Hue Bridge required to access all features

Lower brightness than other smart light bulbs

Big price tag

Pro Tip

Use Philip Hue’s pre-programmed light settings to relax, improve focus for studying, get energized, and more.

Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Smarter Kit

Best Splurge

View on Amazon

If you’re more interested in playing with your smart lights than saving money or adding security to your home, then the Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Smarter Kit is your smart lighting match. These fun tiles can be configured into numerous designs to turn any room into an artsy display of LED technological magic. Set the mood for a house party or a quiet night in, with just the touch of a button.

Pros

Fun design

Multiple configurations

No extra hub needed

Programmable patterns for different events, moods

Ability to dance to your favorite tunes

Cons

Expensive price

No real security application

Challenging installation

Things to Consider about Smart Light Bulbs

How much should I spend on smart light bulbs?

The easy answer is as much as you want to. But because most of us don’t have piles of money to burn, let’s look at the difference between more expensive smart light bulbs and cheaper ones. All smart lighting solutions are more costly than regular incandescent or LED bulbs, but smartbulbs deliver extra convenience, ambiance, and security.

Philips Hue smartbulbs are the industry standard, and they aren’t cheap (the starter kit we recommend comes with two bulbs and the Philips Hue Hub for around $70).

They do offer a good track record, though—and these bulbs should last about five years. If you want lights that can be controlled remotely and integrated with a security system, then we recommend ponying up the extra cash for Philips Hue bulbs.

If all you want is extra convenience, then you’ll be happy with less expensive (and less feature-rich bulbs) like the Cree smart light bulb (starting around $15 per bulb).

Why do I want 16 million color options?

At first glance, it’s easy to wonder, “Why in the world would anyone want 16 million colors?” In fact, I asked that very question. After digging into this highly important topic, I came up with some reasons that 16 million colors may just make sense after all.

In addition to being a whole lot of fun, Philips Hue’s color light bulbs cash in on scientific proof about how color can influence your mood.¹ If you want to use these smartbulbs to hack your mind and emotions, here’s a color guide to help you get started (but the Hue app already provides pre-set scenes to help you create the mood you’re looking for).

Pump up with red. The vibrant shade is said to boost excitement and strength.

Get creative with green. Set your bulbs to a greenish hue to get those creative juices flowing.

Zen out with blue and purple. These colors invoke calm, peaceful, spiritual feelings.

Don’t read to yellow. This happy color makes your eyes tired, so skip it when you curl up with a book.

Warm up with brown. The color of chocolate evokes feelings of warmth, security, and comfort.

What are the benefits of voice controlled smartbulbs?

Voice control assistants like Amazon Alexa are the new Clapper. Instead of clapping your lamp on, now you can tell it what to do. Not only is this fun and convenient, but for people with physical limitations or those recovering from illness or injury, voice control can actually improve quality of life.

What is a hub and why do I need one for smart light bulbs?

One of the caveats of smartbulbs is that to make many of them work, you have to do more than simply screw in the bulb. And you often have to buy extra equipment, like a hub. A hub, or bridge, helps the smartbulb connect to the internet. That connection lets you control the smartbulb with a mobile app.

It also allows the smartbulb to “talk” to other smart devices, which lets you set up different routines for different scenarios. For example, if you have a doorbell camera, the camera can trigger the porch light when motion is detected. Not all smartbulbs require a hub, and some are compatible with hubs you may already use with other smart products.

Will smart light bulbs really save me money?

The US Department of Energy recommends using LED light bulbs that work with timers and dimmers to help save energy and money.² Because smart light bulbs are dimmable and can be controlled either remotely or with schedules, they fit the DOE’s prescription. Plus, most smart light bulbs are designed to last between five and fifteen years, which means you’ll spend less money replacing burned out bulbs.

How to Take Smart Light Bulbs to the Next Level

Kasa Smart Wi-Fi LED Light Switch Dimmer

View on Amazon

Dims both smart and “dumb” lights

Gives remote control to any light fixture

Features Gentle Off setting to help kids (and grownups) drift off to sleep

Philips Hue Motion Sensor for Smart Lighting

View on Amazon

Adds extra security with motion detection

Has night setting that won’t blind you as you head to the bathroom

Saves energy with extra daylight sensor

Nexlux LED Strip Lights

View on Amazon

Brings lights to life

Has settings for all times of year and holidays

Adds safety to stairways and hallways

Related Tips and Resources on SafeWise

Home Automation Guide for Beginners

Take a Tour of Today’s Affordable Automated Home

Best Smart Outlets

Best Smart Home Automation Systems

Our Approach

To find the best smart light bulbs on the market, we read hundreds of customer reviews, dug into industry standards and research, scoured products’ specs and reviews, and did some hands-on testing of our own. Learn more about how we rate products on our Rankings and Reviews page.

16 hours researched

12 products considered

500+ customer reviews read

6 coffees consumed

Sources:

Psychology Today, The Surprising Effect of Color on Your Mind and Mood”

Energy.gov, “Lighting Choices to Save You Money”

Disclaimer

Amazon.com list price as of 12/18/19 11:24 a.m. MST. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

Error: Please add at least one "Anchor" component

2019 Best Home Security Systems

Vivint

Best Home Automation

View Plans

ADT

Best Monitoring

View Plans

Frontpoint

Best Customer Service

View Plans

Protect America

Budget Pick

View Plans

Link Interactive

Best Basic Plans

View Plans

The post Best Smart Light Bulbs of 2020 appeared first on SafeWise.

Best Smart Light Bulbs of 2020 published first on https://kluisbrandkastblog.tumblr.com/

Best Smart Light Bulbs of 2020

Best Overall

Philips Hue White A19 Smartbulb

Read Review

Excellent light quality

Robust mobile app

Excellent light quality

Robust mobile app

View on Amazon

Read Review

Budget Pick

Cree Connected LED Bulb

Read Review

Cheap price tag

Easy setup

Cheap price tag

Easy setup

View on Amazon

Read Review

Wi-Fi Pick

LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb

Read Review

No hub needed

IFTTT compatible

No hub needed

IFTTT compatible

View on Amazon

Read Review

Best Color Options

Philips Dimmable Smart Bulb

Read Review

16 million colors

Programmable settings

16 million colors

Programmable settings

View on Amazon

Read Review

Best Splurge

Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Kit

Read Review

Fun design

Mood and music settings

Fun design

Mood and music settings

View on Amazon

Read Review

Last Updated: A day ago

We added updated product and pricing information.

We rated the best smart light bulbs based on price, energy savings, features, and compatibility with other home automation products. Whether you’re a home automation pro or just getting started, smart lighting is one of the best ways to add smarts—and security—to your home.

Here Are the Best Smart Light Bulbs of 2020

Philips Hue White Smartbulb: Best Overall

Cree Connected LED Bulb: Budget Pick

Lifx Mini White Smart Bulb: Wi-Fi Pick

Philips Dimmable Smart Bulb: Best Color

Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Kit: Best Splurge

Compare the Best Smart Light Bulbs

Smart Bulb Price Control Compatibility Learn More

Best Overall

Budget Pick

Wi-Fi Pick

Best Color Options

Best Splurge

Philips Hue White A19 Smartbulb Cree Connected LED 60W Soft White Bulb LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb Philips Hue White and Color Dimmable LED Smart Bulb Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Smarter Kit $69.97 $4.02 $26.99 $49.95 $249.99 Mobile app Voice Mobile app Voice Mobile app Voice Mobile app Mobile app Voice Amazon Alexa Apple HomeKit Google Assistant Nest SmartThings Amazon Alexa Wink WeMo SmartThings Amazon Alexa Apple HomeKit Google Assistant Nest SmartThings Amazon Alexa Apple HomeKit Google Assistant Nest SmartThings Amazon Alexa View on Amazon View on Amazon View on Amazon View on Amazon View on Amazon

{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Table", "about": "" }

Amazon.com List Price as of 12/18/19 11:24 a.m. MST. (Full disclaimer)

Best Smart Light Bulbs Reviews

Philips Hue White A19 Smartbulb

Best Overall

View on Amazon

Philips Hue bulbs are the industry standard. These smart light bulbs fit standard fixtures, work with popular smart home products like Amazon Alexa and Nest, and last up to five years. Hue bulbs are going to cost you more than your average incandescent light bulb, but we think the longevity, convenience, and energy savings more than make up for the initial investment.

Pros

Voice control with Amazon Alexa

Superior light quality

Ability to connect with up to 50 lights

Free mobile app

Convenient starter kit, with Hue Bridge included

Cons

Spendy price tag

Required Philips Hue Bridge

Cree Connected LED 60W Soft White Bulb

Budget Pick

View on Amazon

You can’t beat the Cree Connected smart light bulb for price or brightness. This is one of the brightest lights we found, and it doesn’t gouge your pocketbook. If you’re not sure that smart lighting is for you, the Cree smart bulb is an affordable way give it a test run. And best of all, you don’t need a special hub. Cree is compatible with any ZigBee-enabled hub out there. So if you have an Amazon Echo or Nest hub, you’re ready to go.

Pros

Cheap price tag

Compatibility with multiple hubs and platforms

Easy setup

Cons

Harsher light

Slower response time

Inconsistent quality

LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb

Best Wi-Fi Only Bulb

View on Amazon

Most smart light bulbs require you to purchase the bulbs and a hub or bridge to connect them to your Wi-Fi network. With the LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb, all you need to do is buy the bulb, screw it into a lamp or other lighting fixture, and download the LIFX app. We like how simple and easy LIFX makes smart home lighting. If you don’t want to hassle with extra devices and connections, these smartbulbs are the way to go.

Pros

No hub needed

Affordable cost

Free mobile app

IFTTT smart home compatibility

Multiple color options

Cons

Some Android issues

Tricky setup for some users

Connectivity issues

Pro Tip

Add LIFX bulbs to ceiling fans that have separate controls for the fan and the light—no more mistakes, reaching, or frustration. Now all you have to control manually is the fan.

Philips Hue White and Color Dimmable LED Smart Bulb

Best Color Option

View on Amazon

We already talked about how much we like the Philips Hue white bulbs, and this smartbulb delivers all the same great features but with a brilliant array of up to 16 million (yes, that’s MILLION!) color options. These bulbs really deliver the best of all worlds—fun light displays along with energy efficiency and security applications. Once again, you’ll pay a pretty penny for these smart light bulbs (and you need to add the Hue Bridge to access all features), but if you’re into mood lighting, we say go for it!

Pros

16 million colors

Easy setup and control

Programmable settings you can save

Free mobile app

Compatibility with Hue Dimmer, Hue Tap, and Hue Motion Sensor

Cons

Hue Bridge required to access all features

Lower brightness than other smart light bulbs

Big price tag

Pro Tip

Use Philip Hue’s pre-programmed light settings to relax, improve focus for studying, get energized, and more.

Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Smarter Kit

Best Splurge

View on Amazon

If you’re more interested in playing with your smart lights than saving money or adding security to your home, then the Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Smarter Kit is your smart lighting match. These fun tiles can be configured into numerous designs to turn any room into an artsy display of LED technological magic. Set the mood for a house party or a quiet night in, with just the touch of a button.

Pros

Fun design

Multiple configurations

No extra hub needed

Programmable patterns for different events, moods

Ability to dance to your favorite tunes

Cons

Expensive price

No real security application

Challenging installation

Things to Consider about Smart Light Bulbs

How much should I spend on smart light bulbs?

The easy answer is as much as you want to. But because most of us don’t have piles of money to burn, let’s look at the difference between more expensive smart light bulbs and cheaper ones. All smart lighting solutions are more costly than regular incandescent or LED bulbs, but smartbulbs deliver extra convenience, ambiance, and security.

Philips Hue smartbulbs are the industry standard, and they aren’t cheap (the starter kit we recommend comes with two bulbs and the Philips Hue Hub for around $70).

They do offer a good track record, though—and these bulbs should last about five years. If you want lights that can be controlled remotely and integrated with a security system, then we recommend ponying up the extra cash for Philips Hue bulbs.

If all you want is extra convenience, then you’ll be happy with less expensive (and less feature-rich bulbs) like the Cree smart light bulb (starting around $15 per bulb).

Why do I want 16 million color options?

At first glance, it’s easy to wonder, “Why in the world would anyone want 16 million colors?” In fact, I asked that very question. After digging into this highly important topic, I came up with some reasons that 16 million colors may just make sense after all.

In addition to being a whole lot of fun, Philips Hue’s color light bulbs cash in on scientific proof about how color can influence your mood.¹ If you want to use these smartbulbs to hack your mind and emotions, here’s a color guide to help you get started (but the Hue app already provides pre-set scenes to help you create the mood you’re looking for).

Pump up with red. The vibrant shade is said to boost excitement and strength.

Get creative with green. Set your bulbs to a greenish hue to get those creative juices flowing.

Zen out with blue and purple. These colors invoke calm, peaceful, spiritual feelings.

Don’t read to yellow. This happy color makes your eyes tired, so skip it when you curl up with a book.

Warm up with brown. The color of chocolate evokes feelings of warmth, security, and comfort.

What are the benefits of voice controlled smartbulbs?

Voice control assistants like Amazon Alexa are the new Clapper. Instead of clapping your lamp on, now you can tell it what to do. Not only is this fun and convenient, but for people with physical limitations or those recovering from illness or injury, voice control can actually improve quality of life.

What is a hub and why do I need one for smart light bulbs?

One of the caveats of smartbulbs is that to make many of them work, you have to do more than simply screw in the bulb. And you often have to buy extra equipment, like a hub. A hub, or bridge, helps the smartbulb connect to the internet. That connection lets you control the smartbulb with a mobile app.

It also allows the smartbulb to “talk” to other smart devices, which lets you set up different routines for different scenarios. For example, if you have a doorbell camera, the camera can trigger the porch light when motion is detected. Not all smartbulbs require a hub, and some are compatible with hubs you may already use with other smart products.

Will smart light bulbs really save me money?

The US Department of Energy recommends using LED light bulbs that work with timers and dimmers to help save energy and money.² Because smart light bulbs are dimmable and can be controlled either remotely or with schedules, they fit the DOE’s prescription. Plus, most smart light bulbs are designed to last between five and fifteen years, which means you’ll spend less money replacing burned out bulbs.

How to Take Smart Light Bulbs to the Next Level

Kasa Smart Wi-Fi LED Light Switch Dimmer

View on Amazon

Dims both smart and “dumb” lights

Gives remote control to any light fixture

Features Gentle Off setting to help kids (and grownups) drift off to sleep

Philips Hue Motion Sensor for Smart Lighting

View on Amazon

Adds extra security with motion detection

Has night setting that won’t blind you as you head to the bathroom

Saves energy with extra daylight sensor

Nexlux LED Strip Lights

View on Amazon

Brings lights to life

Has settings for all times of year and holidays

Adds safety to stairways and hallways

Related Tips and Resources on SafeWise

Home Automation Guide for Beginners

Take a Tour of Today’s Affordable Automated Home

Best Smart Outlets

Best Smart Home Automation Systems

Our Approach

To find the best smart light bulbs on the market, we read hundreds of customer reviews, dug into industry standards and research, scoured products’ specs and reviews, and did some hands-on testing of our own. Learn more about how we rate products on our Rankings and Reviews page.

16 hours researched

12 products considered

500+ customer reviews read

6 coffees consumed

Sources:

Psychology Today, The Surprising Effect of Color on Your Mind and Mood”

Energy.gov, “Lighting Choices to Save You Money”

Disclaimer

Amazon.com list price as of 12/18/19 11:24 a.m. MST. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

Error: Please add at least one "Anchor" component

2019 Best Home Security Systems

Vivint

Best Home Automation

View Plans

ADT

Best Monitoring

View Plans

Frontpoint

Best Customer Service

View Plans

Protect America

Budget Pick

View Plans

Link Interactive

Best Basic Plans

View Plans

The post Best Smart Light Bulbs of 2020 appeared first on SafeWise.

Article source here: Best Smart Light Bulbs of 2020

Best Smart Light Bulbs of 2020

Best Overall

Philips Hue White A19 Smartbulb

Read Review

Excellent light quality

Robust mobile app

Excellent light quality

Robust mobile app

View on Amazon

Read Review

Budget Pick

Cree Connected LED Bulb

Read Review

Cheap price tag

Easy setup

Cheap price tag

Easy setup

View on Amazon

Read Review

Wi-Fi Pick

LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb

Read Review

No hub needed

IFTTT compatible

No hub needed

IFTTT compatible

View on Amazon

Read Review

Best Color Options

Philips Dimmable Smart Bulb

Read Review

16 million colors

Programmable settings

16 million colors

Programmable settings

View on Amazon

Read Review

Best Splurge

Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Kit

Read Review

Fun design

Mood and music settings

Fun design

Mood and music settings

View on Amazon

Read Review

Last Updated: A day ago

We added updated product and pricing information.

We rated the best smart light bulbs based on price, energy savings, features, and compatibility with other home automation products. Whether you’re a home automation pro or just getting started, smart lighting is one of the best ways to add smarts—and security—to your home.

Here Are the Best Smart Light Bulbs of 2020

Philips Hue White Smartbulb: Best Overall

Cree Connected LED Bulb: Budget Pick

Lifx Mini White Smart Bulb: Wi-Fi Pick

Philips Dimmable Smart Bulb: Best Color

Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Kit: Best Splurge

Compare the Best Smart Light Bulbs

Smart Bulb Price Control Compatibility Learn More

Best Overall

Budget Pick

Wi-Fi Pick

Best Color Options

Best Splurge

Philips Hue White A19 Smartbulb Cree Connected LED 60W Soft White Bulb LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb Philips Hue White and Color Dimmable LED Smart Bulb Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Smarter Kit $69.97 $4.02 $26.99 $49.95 $249.99 Mobile app Voice Mobile app Voice Mobile app Voice Mobile app Mobile app Voice Amazon Alexa Apple HomeKit Google Assistant Nest SmartThings Amazon Alexa Wink WeMo SmartThings Amazon Alexa Apple HomeKit Google Assistant Nest SmartThings Amazon Alexa Apple HomeKit Google Assistant Nest SmartThings Amazon Alexa View on Amazon View on Amazon View on Amazon View on Amazon View on Amazon

{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Table", "about": "" }

Amazon.com List Price as of 12/18/19 11:24 a.m. MST. (Full disclaimer)

Best Smart Light Bulbs Reviews

Philips Hue White A19 Smartbulb

Best Overall

View on Amazon

Philips Hue bulbs are the industry standard. These smart light bulbs fit standard fixtures, work with popular smart home products like Amazon Alexa and Nest, and last up to five years. Hue bulbs are going to cost you more than your average incandescent light bulb, but we think the longevity, convenience, and energy savings more than make up for the initial investment.

Pros

Voice control with Amazon Alexa

Superior light quality

Ability to connect with up to 50 lights

Free mobile app

Convenient starter kit, with Hue Bridge included

Cons

Spendy price tag

Required Philips Hue Bridge

Cree Connected LED 60W Soft White Bulb

Budget Pick

View on Amazon

You can’t beat the Cree Connected smart light bulb for price or brightness. This is one of the brightest lights we found, and it doesn’t gouge your pocketbook. If you’re not sure that smart lighting is for you, the Cree smart bulb is an affordable way give it a test run. And best of all, you don’t need a special hub. Cree is compatible with any ZigBee-enabled hub out there. So if you have an Amazon Echo or Nest hub, you’re ready to go.

Pros

Cheap price tag

Compatibility with multiple hubs and platforms

Easy setup

Cons

Harsher light

Slower response time

Inconsistent quality

LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb

Best Wi-Fi Only Bulb

View on Amazon

Most smart light bulbs require you to purchase the bulbs and a hub or bridge to connect them to your Wi-Fi network. With the LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb, all you need to do is buy the bulb, screw it into a lamp or other lighting fixture, and download the LIFX app. We like how simple and easy LIFX makes smart home lighting. If you don’t want to hassle with extra devices and connections, these smartbulbs are the way to go.

Pros

No hub needed

Affordable cost

Free mobile app

IFTTT smart home compatibility

Multiple color options

Cons

Some Android issues

Tricky setup for some users

Connectivity issues

Pro Tip

Add LIFX bulbs to ceiling fans that have separate controls for the fan and the light—no more mistakes, reaching, or frustration. Now all you have to control manually is the fan.

Philips Hue White and Color Dimmable LED Smart Bulb

Best Color Option

View on Amazon

We already talked about how much we like the Philips Hue white bulbs, and this smartbulb delivers all the same great features but with a brilliant array of up to 16 million (yes, that’s MILLION!) color options. These bulbs really deliver the best of all worlds—fun light displays along with energy efficiency and security applications. Once again, you’ll pay a pretty penny for these smart light bulbs (and you need to add the Hue Bridge to access all features), but if you’re into mood lighting, we say go for it!

Pros

16 million colors

Easy setup and control

Programmable settings you can save

Free mobile app

Compatibility with Hue Dimmer, Hue Tap, and Hue Motion Sensor

Cons

Hue Bridge required to access all features

Lower brightness than other smart light bulbs

Big price tag

Pro Tip

Use Philip Hue’s pre-programmed light settings to relax, improve focus for studying, get energized, and more.

Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Smarter Kit

Best Splurge

View on Amazon

If you’re more interested in playing with your smart lights than saving money or adding security to your home, then the Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Smarter Kit is your smart lighting match. These fun tiles can be configured into numerous designs to turn any room into an artsy display of LED technological magic. Set the mood for a house party or a quiet night in, with just the touch of a button.

Pros

Fun design

Multiple configurations

No extra hub needed

Programmable patterns for different events, moods

Ability to dance to your favorite tunes

Cons

Expensive price

No real security application

Challenging installation

Things to Consider about Smart Light Bulbs

How much should I spend on smart light bulbs?

The easy answer is as much as you want to. But because most of us don’t have piles of money to burn, let’s look at the difference between more expensive smart light bulbs and cheaper ones. All smart lighting solutions are more costly than regular incandescent or LED bulbs, but smartbulbs deliver extra convenience, ambiance, and security.

Philips Hue smartbulbs are the industry standard, and they aren’t cheap (the starter kit we recommend comes with two bulbs and the Philips Hue Hub for around $70).

They do offer a good track record, though—and these bulbs should last about five years. If you want lights that can be controlled remotely and integrated with a security system, then we recommend ponying up the extra cash for Philips Hue bulbs.

If all you want is extra convenience, then you’ll be happy with less expensive (and less feature-rich bulbs) like the Cree smart light bulb (starting around $15 per bulb).

Why do I want 16 million color options?

At first glance, it’s easy to wonder, “Why in the world would anyone want 16 million colors?” In fact, I asked that very question. After digging into this highly important topic, I came up with some reasons that 16 million colors may just make sense after all.

In addition to being a whole lot of fun, Philips Hue’s color light bulbs cash in on scientific proof about how color can influence your mood.¹ If you want to use these smartbulbs to hack your mind and emotions, here’s a color guide to help you get started (but the Hue app already provides pre-set scenes to help you create the mood you’re looking for).

Pump up with red. The vibrant shade is said to boost excitement and strength.

Get creative with green. Set your bulbs to a greenish hue to get those creative juices flowing.

Zen out with blue and purple. These colors invoke calm, peaceful, spiritual feelings.

Don’t read to yellow. This happy color makes your eyes tired, so skip it when you curl up with a book.

Warm up with brown. The color of chocolate evokes feelings of warmth, security, and comfort.

What are the benefits of voice controlled smartbulbs?

Voice control assistants like Amazon Alexa are the new Clapper. Instead of clapping your lamp on, now you can tell it what to do. Not only is this fun and convenient, but for people with physical limitations or those recovering from illness or injury, voice control can actually improve quality of life.

What is a hub and why do I need one for smart light bulbs?

One of the caveats of smartbulbs is that to make many of them work, you have to do more than simply screw in the bulb. And you often have to buy extra equipment, like a hub. A hub, or bridge, helps the smartbulb connect to the internet. That connection lets you control the smartbulb with a mobile app.

It also allows the smartbulb to “talk” to other smart devices, which lets you set up different routines for different scenarios. For example, if you have a doorbell camera, the camera can trigger the porch light when motion is detected. Not all smartbulbs require a hub, and some are compatible with hubs you may already use with other smart products.

Will smart light bulbs really save me money?

The US Department of Energy recommends using LED light bulbs that work with timers and dimmers to help save energy and money.² Because smart light bulbs are dimmable and can be controlled either remotely or with schedules, they fit the DOE’s prescription. Plus, most smart light bulbs are designed to last between five and fifteen years, which means you’ll spend less money replacing burned out bulbs.

How to Take Smart Light Bulbs to the Next Level

Kasa Smart Wi-Fi LED Light Switch Dimmer

View on Amazon

Dims both smart and “dumb” lights

Gives remote control to any light fixture

Features Gentle Off setting to help kids (and grownups) drift off to sleep

Philips Hue Motion Sensor for Smart Lighting

View on Amazon

Adds extra security with motion detection

Has night setting that won’t blind you as you head to the bathroom

Saves energy with extra daylight sensor

Nexlux LED Strip Lights

View on Amazon

Brings lights to life

Has settings for all times of year and holidays

Adds safety to stairways and hallways

Related Tips and Resources on SafeWise

Home Automation Guide for Beginners

Take a Tour of Today’s Affordable Automated Home

Best Smart Outlets

Best Smart Home Automation Systems

Our Approach

To find the best smart light bulbs on the market, we read hundreds of customer reviews, dug into industry standards and research, scoured products’ specs and reviews, and did some hands-on testing of our own. Learn more about how we rate products on our Rankings and Reviews page.

16 hours researched

12 products considered

500+ customer reviews read

6 coffees consumed

Sources:

Psychology Today, The Surprising Effect of Color on Your Mind and Mood”

Energy.gov, “Lighting Choices to Save You Money”

Disclaimer

Amazon.com list price as of 12/18/19 11:24 a.m. MST. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

Error: Please add at least one "Anchor" component

2019 Best Home Security Systems

Vivint

Best Home Automation

View Plans

ADT

Best Monitoring

View Plans

Frontpoint

Best Customer Service

View Plans

Protect America

Budget Pick

View Plans

Link Interactive

Best Basic Plans

View Plans

The post Best Smart Light Bulbs of 2020 appeared first on SafeWise.

Aricle source here: Best Smart Light Bulbs of 2020

Best Smart Light Bulbs of 2020

Best Overall

Philips Hue White A19 Smartbulb

Read Review

Excellent light quality

Robust mobile app

Excellent light quality

Robust mobile app

View on Amazon

Read Review

Budget Pick

Cree Connected LED Bulb

Read Review

Cheap price tag

Easy setup

Cheap price tag

Easy setup

View on Amazon

Read Review

Wi-Fi Pick

LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb

Read Review

No hub needed

IFTTT compatible

No hub needed

IFTTT compatible

View on Amazon

Read Review

Best Color Options

Philips Dimmable Smart Bulb

Read Review

16 million colors

Programmable settings

16 million colors

Programmable settings

View on Amazon

Read Review

Best Splurge

Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Kit

Read Review

Fun design

Mood and music settings

Fun design

Mood and music settings

View on Amazon

Read Review

Last Updated: A day ago

We added updated product and pricing information.

We rated the best smart light bulbs based on price, energy savings, features, and compatibility with other home automation products. Whether you’re a home automation pro or just getting started, smart lighting is one of the best ways to add smarts—and security—to your home.

Here Are the Best Smart Light Bulbs of 2020

Philips Hue White Smartbulb: Best Overall

Cree Connected LED Bulb: Budget Pick

Lifx Mini White Smart Bulb: Wi-Fi Pick

Philips Dimmable Smart Bulb: Best Color

Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Kit: Best Splurge

Compare the Best Smart Light Bulbs

Smart Bulb Price Control Compatibility Learn More

Best Overall

Budget Pick

Wi-Fi Pick

Best Color Options

Best Splurge

Philips Hue White A19 Smartbulb Cree Connected LED 60W Soft White Bulb LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb Philips Hue White and Color Dimmable LED Smart Bulb Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Smarter Kit $69.97 $4.02 $26.99 $49.95 $249.99 Mobile app Voice Mobile app Voice Mobile app Voice Mobile app Mobile app Voice Amazon Alexa Apple HomeKit Google Assistant Nest SmartThings Amazon Alexa Wink WeMo SmartThings Amazon Alexa Apple HomeKit Google Assistant Nest SmartThings Amazon Alexa Apple HomeKit Google Assistant Nest SmartThings Amazon Alexa View on Amazon View on Amazon View on Amazon View on Amazon View on Amazon

{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Table", "about": "" }

Amazon.com List Price as of 12/18/19 11:24 a.m. MST. (Full disclaimer)

Best Smart Light Bulbs Reviews

Philips Hue White A19 Smartbulb

Best Overall

View on Amazon

Philips Hue bulbs are the industry standard. These smart light bulbs fit standard fixtures, work with popular smart home products like Amazon Alexa and Nest, and last up to five years. Hue bulbs are going to cost you more than your average incandescent light bulb, but we think the longevity, convenience, and energy savings more than make up for the initial investment.

Pros

Voice control with Amazon Alexa

Superior light quality

Ability to connect with up to 50 lights

Free mobile app

Convenient starter kit, with Hue Bridge included

Cons

Spendy price tag

Required Philips Hue Bridge

Cree Connected LED 60W Soft White Bulb

Budget Pick

View on Amazon

You can’t beat the Cree Connected smart light bulb for price or brightness. This is one of the brightest lights we found, and it doesn’t gouge your pocketbook. If you’re not sure that smart lighting is for you, the Cree smart bulb is an affordable way give it a test run. And best of all, you don’t need a special hub. Cree is compatible with any ZigBee-enabled hub out there. So if you have an Amazon Echo or Nest hub, you’re ready to go.

Pros

Cheap price tag

Compatibility with multiple hubs and platforms

Easy setup

Cons

Harsher light

Slower response time

Inconsistent quality

LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb

Best Wi-Fi Only Bulb

View on Amazon

Most smart light bulbs require you to purchase the bulbs and a hub or bridge to connect them to your Wi-Fi network. With the LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb, all you need to do is buy the bulb, screw it into a lamp or other lighting fixture, and download the LIFX app. We like how simple and easy LIFX makes smart home lighting. If you don’t want to hassle with extra devices and connections, these smartbulbs are the way to go.

Pros

No hub needed

Affordable cost

Free mobile app

IFTTT smart home compatibility

Multiple color options

Cons

Some Android issues

Tricky setup for some users

Connectivity issues

Pro Tip

Add LIFX bulbs to ceiling fans that have separate controls for the fan and the light—no more mistakes, reaching, or frustration. Now all you have to control manually is the fan.

Philips Hue White and Color Dimmable LED Smart Bulb

Best Color Option

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We already talked about how much we like the Philips Hue white bulbs, and this smartbulb delivers all the same great features but with a brilliant array of up to 16 million (yes, that’s MILLION!) color options. These bulbs really deliver the best of all worlds—fun light displays along with energy efficiency and security applications. Once again, you’ll pay a pretty penny for these smart light bulbs (and you need to add the Hue Bridge to access all features), but if you��re into mood lighting, we say go for it!

Pros

16 million colors

Easy setup and control

Programmable settings you can save

Free mobile app

Compatibility with Hue Dimmer, Hue Tap, and Hue Motion Sensor

Cons

Hue Bridge required to access all features

Lower brightness than other smart light bulbs

Big price tag

Pro Tip

Use Philip Hue’s pre-programmed light settings to relax, improve focus for studying, get energized, and more.

Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Smarter Kit

Best Splurge

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If you’re more interested in playing with your smart lights than saving money or adding security to your home, then the Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Smarter Kit is your smart lighting match. These fun tiles can be configured into numerous designs to turn any room into an artsy display of LED technological magic. Set the mood for a house party or a quiet night in, with just the touch of a button.

Pros

Fun design

Multiple configurations

No extra hub needed

Programmable patterns for different events, moods

Ability to dance to your favorite tunes

Cons

Expensive price

No real security application

Challenging installation

Things to Consider about Smart Light Bulbs

How much should I spend on smart light bulbs?

The easy answer is as much as you want to. But because most of us don’t have piles of money to burn, let’s look at the difference between more expensive smart light bulbs and cheaper ones. All smart lighting solutions are more costly than regular incandescent or LED bulbs, but smartbulbs deliver extra convenience, ambiance, and security.

Philips Hue smartbulbs are the industry standard, and they aren’t cheap (the starter kit we recommend comes with two bulbs and the Philips Hue Hub for around $70).

They do offer a good track record, though—and these bulbs should last about five years. If you want lights that can be controlled remotely and integrated with a security system, then we recommend ponying up the extra cash for Philips Hue bulbs.

If all you want is extra convenience, then you’ll be happy with less expensive (and less feature-rich bulbs) like the Cree smart light bulb (starting around $15 per bulb).

Why do I want 16 million color options?

At first glance, it’s easy to wonder, “Why in the world would anyone want 16 million colors?” In fact, I asked that very question. After digging into this highly important topic, I came up with some reasons that 16 million colors may just make sense after all.

In addition to being a whole lot of fun, Philips Hue’s color light bulbs cash in on scientific proof about how color can influence your mood.¹ If you want to use these smartbulbs to hack your mind and emotions, here’s a color guide to help you get started (but the Hue app already provides pre-set scenes to help you create the mood you’re looking for).

Pump up with red. The vibrant shade is said to boost excitement and strength.

Get creative with green. Set your bulbs to a greenish hue to get those creative juices flowing.

Zen out with blue and purple. These colors invoke calm, peaceful, spiritual feelings.

Don’t read to yellow. This happy color makes your eyes tired, so skip it when you curl up with a book.

Warm up with brown. The color of chocolate evokes feelings of warmth, security, and comfort.

What are the benefits of voice controlled smartbulbs?

Voice control assistants like Amazon Alexa are the new Clapper. Instead of clapping your lamp on, now you can tell it what to do. Not only is this fun and convenient, but for people with physical limitations or those recovering from illness or injury, voice control can actually improve quality of life.

What is a hub and why do I need one for smart light bulbs?

One of the caveats of smartbulbs is that to make many of them work, you have to do more than simply screw in the bulb. And you often have to buy extra equipment, like a hub. A hub, or bridge, helps the smartbulb connect to the internet. That connection lets you control the smartbulb with a mobile app.

It also allows the smartbulb to “talk” to other smart devices, which lets you set up different routines for different scenarios. For example, if you have a doorbell camera, the camera can trigger the porch light when motion is detected. Not all smartbulbs require a hub, and some are compatible with hubs you may already use with other smart products.

Will smart light bulbs really save me money?

The US Department of Energy recommends using LED light bulbs that work with timers and dimmers to help save energy and money.² Because smart light bulbs are dimmable and can be controlled either remotely or with schedules, they fit the DOE’s prescription. Plus, most smart light bulbs are designed to last between five and fifteen years, which means you’ll spend less money replacing burned out bulbs.

How to Take Smart Light Bulbs to the Next Level

Kasa Smart Wi-Fi LED Light Switch Dimmer

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Dims both smart and “dumb” lights

Gives remote control to any light fixture

Features Gentle Off setting to help kids (and grownups) drift off to sleep

Philips Hue Motion Sensor for Smart Lighting

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Adds extra security with motion detection

Has night setting that won’t blind you as you head to the bathroom

Saves energy with extra daylight sensor

Nexlux LED Strip Lights

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Brings lights to life

Has settings for all times of year and holidays

Adds safety to stairways and hallways

Related Tips and Resources on SafeWise

Home Automation Guide for Beginners

Take a Tour of Today’s Affordable Automated Home

Best Smart Outlets

Best Smart Home Automation Systems

Our Approach

To find the best smart light bulbs on the market, we read hundreds of customer reviews, dug into industry standards and research, scoured products’ specs and reviews, and did some hands-on testing of our own. Learn more about how we rate products on our Rankings and Reviews page.

16 hours researched

12 products considered

500+ customer reviews read

6 coffees consumed

Sources:

Psychology Today, The Surprising Effect of Color on Your Mind and Mood”

Energy.gov, “Lighting Choices to Save You Money”

Disclaimer

Amazon.com list price as of 12/18/19 11:24 a.m. MST. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

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For many people the onset of old age, or illnesses and conditions that render walking a chore, can limit mobility. For use getting from one place to another you can buy an affordable mobility scooter, one that will enable you to go to the shops, visit friends or attend social events with ease. These come in many shapes and sizes, with different levels of performance, and there is bound to be one for you that offers the ability you require at a price you can afford.

For getting around at home, however, or perhaps a trip to the shops, you might want to be on your own two feet, and that is where the rollator – also known as a wheel-walker – comes into the picture. You will have seen these devices – they take their cue from walking frames and have a metal frame with wheels attached, plus handles and usually a seat or padded section. They are used for support and mobility, and are very versatile and a great help for many people who would otherwise be limited in their scope to move around.

Rollators are clever yet simple devices that generally fit a basic design, yet there are some clever touches to some of these that may make particular models more interesting than others. They also cover quite a wide range of prices, so you can find one to suit your budget, too. To help you find the one that is best for your needs, we reviewed ten of the most impressive wheel-walkers around, but before we go into detail about individual models, let’s have a look at what you need to consider when buying one of these.

What to Look For

What do you need to consider when buying a rollator? The basic theme is the same – it’s to support you and enable you to move safely – but there are some features that you should look for if you are to get the best out of your purchase. Here’s a quick guide that will help you choose.

Lightweight

No matter the model you choose, you need to look for one that is as light as possible. This will make it much easier to use when on the move, as well as to carry around if you will be transporting it to other places for use, perhaps in a car. The lighter the frame the better, and you will find that most of those we have reviewed offer suitably light frames that are designed for the purpose.

Wheels

All rollators have wheels, but some have different numbers; you can find them, usually, with four or three wheels, and it is up to you to choose which suits you best. We suggest you try a few of the various configurations before buying, so you can get a good idea of which feels right to you.

Brakes

Your wheel-walker simply must have effective brakes; these re used not just to stop you, but more usually to lock the device into place when at a standstill. This can be very important in security and safety terms, so make sure yours has the required level of braking power for such a device. Our reviews include details on the braking system on each one, so make sure you check them carefully.

Seat and Rest

Anyone who uses a wheel-walker is going to need to take a rest once in a while, and this is best done sitting down – or at least resting against something sturdy. Many of the rollators on the market have a padded seat and additional padded rest bar so you can lock the brakes and take a rest wherever you may be, without the chance of it moving under you. This is a very important feature, so make sure you read our reviews for the best versions.

Load Capacity

You want to be able to load your shopping into your rollator, or carry other items from place to place, so you will find that most have a handy basket as part of the design. You can also get bags that attach to the frame for added load capacity, and these are affordable and worth checking out.

Compactness

When not in use, you want to be able to fold your wheel-walker into a compact package, so it does not take up too much space. Some of the models here require the basket to be removed before folding, others can be folded with the basket in place. It is up to you which you prefer, but our reviews will help you choose the best one for you.

Comfort

Not everyone is the same shape, size or height, so you need a rollator that offers adjustable hand grips in order to make sure you have the most comfortable position when using it. This is an essential feature, so don’t buy without checking for it first.

Price

You will have a budget that determines how much you can spend, so make sure you use the information provided to compare not only specifications, but also the price. There will be a rollator within your budget among our chosen models.

That’s our brief guide to what to consider when buying one of these, not let’s take a closer look at the best models on the market, and see if we can help you find your ideal choice.

The Best Rollators

Here we have picked the very best rollators on the market so that you can make an informed choice. Let’s have a closer look at them all.

Drive DeVilbiss R8 Rollator

We picked this as our first example as it is not only typical of the breed, but it comes from a maker with a strong reputation for producing a wide range of mobility goods and accessories. The R8 is finished in neat blue aluminium, and is cleverly designed with a large capacity bag that sits under the padded seat. This is a great space-saving idea that we like very much.

It has a padded rest bar on the frame, too, so you can take a rest comfortably whenever you wish, and the handles are designed to be anatomically comfortable. It is a four-wheeled model for ease of use, comes with clever yet simple and effective loop-cable breaks that require little maintenance and, perhaps most impressive of all, weighs just 7kg. It is height adjustable across a wide range, and can easily be folded flat for transport. At around £50 it is also very sensibly priced, so is definitely one for the shortlist.

Pros: brand, lightweight, clever design, good brakes, plenty capacity, price

Cons: none that we can see

  Days Lightweight Rollator

This is another very typical model from a maker with a large range of mobility products, and it comes with many fine attributes. One thing we should highlight is that this sort of product may qualify for VAT relief in the UK, so it is worth checking out if you qualify before you make your choice. This is a four-wheel model – we think these are best for stability – with a nice padded seat and the under-seat bag storage as above. It comes with a range of height adjustments so you should be able to find your ideal position.

The padded seat and convenient rest bar are ideally located, the handles are designed for ease of use, and the brakes are the simple design as usual for locking the walker in position. It is made from lightweight yet durable aluminium, and as it weighs in at a remarkable 6kg, is surprisingly light. It can also be folded away to a very small flat package, and with a price tag of around £50 is right in the ball park where cost is concerned.

Pros: price, neat design, very light, folds cleanly, good seat

Cons: difficult to fault

  Days Lightweight Three-Wheel Rollator

There are certain benefits to the three-wheel variety, as this model – another from the Days brand – shows. The most prominent of these is perhaps the weight; this model weighs in at just 5kg, which is extremely light when compared to most rivals with four wheels. For some people, however, the added stability of the extra wheel is preferable, while for others, the compactness and ease of use of a 3-wheel model is preferable.

This one is fully height adjustable and comes with ergonomically designed handlebars so you can fine-tune it to your own preferences, plus it has easy to use and effective brakes. It does have a large-capacity bag – 3-wheel walkers are designed with shopping in mind – but you do not get the padded seat and rest that you do with bigger models, so it’s best for short runs. If none of this bothers you then at about £50 it’s not expensive, but we do feel there are certain things lacking that others feature.

Pros: light, compact, folds down neatly, brakes, choice of colours

Cons: 3-wheels, no seat, no backrest, no cheaper than a 4-wheel model

  Homecraft 4-Wheel Rollator

This model comes from another brand with a string reputation for excellent products in the mobility world, and is a very neatly designed rollator that has many fine features. It is made from durable yet light aluminium – it weighs in at less than 7kg which is about right for one of these – and is designed to be used in and out of doors. It comes with basket – but no bag, as others do – and is easy to fold down with the basket clipped to the front.

You get the usual loop-brakes that are easy to use and lock on with one single action, and they hold the walker very well. It is height adjustable and comes with cleverly designed very comfortable handles, and it has the required padded seat and backrest for comfort stops. We do like the hidden zip pocket underneath the seat that is perfect for small items that need to be locked away. This is a good wheel-walker, but at close to £70 we found we were looking for something to justify the extra cost over some of the others here.

Pros – durable, light, quality, comfort, adjustability, four wheels

Cons – basket but no bag, costly in comparison to some

  Days Deluxe Lightweight

There are some rollators that are a little bit different, and this is one of them. Another from Days, who specialise in quality and lightweight mobility equipment, this one is clearly designed for maximum mobility, if not for carrying large amounts of goods. It comes equipped with a net carrying bag and a walking stick attachment, and is a 4-wheel model, but differs in design to the norm. This is because it is intended for easy use in difficult spaces, as it can be folded inwards when in use for passage in tight spaces.

It weighs the standard 7kg and is built from quality materials, has excellent brakes and the required cushioned seat and back rest, is very compact and simple to use and is fully height-adjustable. It is perfect, therefore, for anyone who needs to carry a portable wheel-walker in a car for use when they get to the destination. While this is a very clever design, and one from a top maker with credentials, at more than £90 it appears expensive in comparison to some, but for the purpose it may be difficult to match.

Pros – very compact, folds flat easily, great brand, 4-wheels, adjustable

Cons – small bag capacity, price

  Ability Superstore Blue Jay Lightweight

Back to the typical 4-wheel design with this one, from the Ability brand, which is finished in a nice blue colour, and is made from high-quality steel. Although this puts a premium on weight when compared to aluminium, this model weighs not much more than 8kg, so is still acceptably light in weight. It’s a standard design with the usual four-wheel frame, loop brakes that lock in one move, and easy folding so it can be carried around in the car boot.

You do get a basket but no bag – that might be a clincher for some although bags can be bought and attached as accessories – and it does have the usual padded seat and back-rest for those much-needed pauses when shopping, so it ticks all the boxes there. It is adjustable for height, too, and has nicely made handles that are designed for people with poor grip. Remember, like all of these, this one is available with VAT relief, and at around £50 we think it is good value.

Pros – steel frame, great colour, adjustable, padded seat, price

Cons – no bag, just a basket

  Aidapt Tri-Walker

The major benefit of the three-wheeled variety – of which this is one – lies in the fact it is more compact and can be used in tighter spaces than its 4-wheeled cousin, and also that it is designed to be easy to fold flat. This one wins on both of these counts, and will fit easily in the boot of even a small car. It is well made – the maker has a wide range of mobility goods – and is neatly designed to be easy to use, so comes with ticks there.

The adjustable height means comfort is guaranteed, and the ergonomic handles are for those with limited grip. It is ideal for use both indoors and out, and comes with a large capacity bag that is perfect for those shopping trips. Brakes are the loop-cable variety and are easy to lock in one movement, but as with most of the 3-wheel variety, you don’t get the padded seat or backrest. If short shopping runs or getting about the house are what you need one for, this rollator could be good value at around £50.

Pros – neat design, very compact, easy to fold, adjustable, large bag

Cons – 3-wheels, no seat or rest

  X-Cruise Lightweight Rollator

Sometimes manufacturers try to improve on a tried and tested design, and that’s what has happened here with this very clever rollator. Does it work? There are, as always, things we like and those we don’t, but we can’t deny it does have some very clever attributes and features. For a start, it is a very compact model for a 4-wheel design. The brakes are easy to use and lock – and efficient – and the handles are adjustable for height so you get perfect comfort. It also has a clever step feature, so it can get up kerbs more easily.

However, in order to cut down on weight this one features not a padded seat and backrest, but canvas versions; this is clever, but for some people with back problems may not be enough. It also comes with a large bag that is suitable for shopping or carrying other goods, and is easy to use. Is it worth the extra effort that has gone into the design? In some ways it does improve on the standard, but to be fair, at £100 it should do, as there are others that are half that price that do the same job.

Pros – neat and clever design, very light and compact, adjustable and easy to use

Cons – expensive in comparison, only canvas seat and rest

  Days 09 Lightweight

This is another very typical model from a maker with a large range of mobility products, and it comes with many fine attributes. One thing we should highlight is that this sort of product may qualify for VAT relief in the UK, so it is worth checking out if you qualify before you make your choice. This is a four-wheel model – we think these are best for stability – with a nice padded seat and the under-seat bag storage as above. It comes with a range of height adjustments so you should be able to find your ideal position.

The padded seat and convenient rest bar are ideally located, the handles are designed for ease of use, and the brakes are the simple design as usual for locking the walker in position. It is made from lightweight yet durable aluminium, and as it weighs in at a very decent 7kg, is on the ball. It can also be folded away to a very small flat package, and with a price tag of around £60 is not the cheapest here, but is a brand name and a quality item.

Pros: price, neat design, very light, folds cleanly, good seat

Cons: not the cheapest, but not expensive

  Fenetic Wellbeing Folding Rollator

Our final model, another of the standard 4-wheel designs, is mainly intended for use indoors, as it features a tray for carrying meals, and a basket but no bag. It is well-made and does the job it is intended for, and also adjustable for height and comfort, but the seat that it does offer is only lightly padded, and there is no backrest.

Brakes are the standard loop-cable variety with simple locking and easy maintenance, the handles are designed for those with limited grip, and it comes with anti-puncture runner wheels for a good ride and reliability. It folds flat for carrying in the boot of even a small car and is easy to reassemble, and it weighs a little less than 10kg, which is not the lightest. However, it’s perfectly good, and at around £50 is not bad value.

Pros – robust, fitted tray, seat, puncture-proof wheels, good price

Cons – basket but no bag, no back rest

  That’s our list of the ten best wheel-walkers or rollators on the market, and we reckon you will find one among them that is right for you. Which you choose is a personal choice, but we tend to prefer the four-wheel versions for stability and carrying capacity – as well as the comfort of the padded seat and backrest that most (but not all) of them feature. The prices covered here range from a little under £50 to around £100, so there is also something for all budgets. We recommend you check our reviews and then have a detailed look at the manufacturer specifications, as this will give you the best idea of which wheel-walker is the one for you.

We are all on the same path, just at different stages...

This is also a reminder so I can look back and remember what I learnt as I grew through this current moment.

Right now I’m holding on to a person very special to me, but whilst also embracing those surrounding me at the same time.

Unfortunately yes, I suffer from PTSD, but it’s times like these I need to remember who I am.

I am a kind, loving caring person.

Yep, and this is why I’m holding on for this person. Dunno how long they're going to be in this stage, I gather not long but I’d wait forever if I’d have to because theyre important to me.

Also another reason to write it all down in a blog format.

Not for just other to learn from my journey, but also for me to look back and go. wow… Yeah I did that" and embrace that I did.

“you can do anything you set your mind to man” - Eminem 8 mile tunage (loose yourself) ✌️🙃👍👌🤘💪😀😉

So there we go.

Often I have quotes come to me, and also songs that come to me like it’s a sign for my movement forward in my journey.

For instance I’ve been doing alot of these hash tags on my Instagram (@marli4)

#liveforthemoment #liveforthejourney #enjoytheride #enjoytheride

Now this just came to me this morning…

Litrelly had to write this down on my note pad too. This is word for word exactly spot on.

“remember who you are!

You need to remember you can say no.

But I’m holding close the people that understand my well being and health comes first. I’d only say no to people using me to benefit themselves and not know they’re doing it.

” we are all on the same path.“ "some of us are just starting out” “others are further down the road” “no matter where we are, being kind, compassionate,, and accepting of one another enables us to grow.”

Embrace the moment and live for the movement, live for the ride.

Then… Enjoy the ride…

(Then I’ve repeated those quotes but in a different way)

#embracethemoment #embracethemovement #embracetheride #enjoytheride

It’s amazing how I’ve been constantly and consistently growing. It’s awesome.

My brain gets a bit muffled when I think of going back to work at the moment.

Anyone suffering with mental illness know that yep… At times something won’t make sense then later you realise you remember that moment and embrace the fact you remembered that little thing you couldn’t understand at the time. But now you do understand.

Story of my life haha… No on a serious note I am a sufferer of PTSD and I will write a post in the near future about the traumatic event I had witnessed but not tonight.

At a better time lol

As it’s noww… 00:56AM haha…

It’s funny how I can have barely any sleep yet still be full of energy.

Guess I just know my body well. I really like geckos… Weird that just come to mind but maybe I’ll read back and see that comment and know why I said it haha 😂

Random… I know but you’ve gotta laugh.

Life can be too serious and stressful to not laugh and we all need a good laugh every now and then.

Anyways if you’ve made it this far then hi 👋🙃

Haha… And that’s it for tonight!

Wish you all the good blessings in the world and hope you can take something from this post.

Thanks to my friends and family for always believing in me and my sponsor @logangarments for always supporting everything I do. #blessed

#letsdothis #gratitude #growth #liveforthejourney #liveforthemoment #livefortheride #enjoytheride #alwaysbethehardestworkerintheroom #blessed #letsaveit #gratitude #greatful #happytimes #diamondarepeople #PeopleAreTooValuableToNotCareAbout #Love @logangarments #tennis #teamtalent #lgfam #Tennistime #growth #progression #justbeingme

Ways To Aid Your Online Promotion Efforts

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You need your links to become as diverse as you possibly can for example groups of links to all sorts of different sites like social websites sites, blogs, and message forums. Also be careful of going overboard with reciprocal links. Applying these tactics above will certainly help your website to be found. It's vital that you remember, a web site that is certainly not focusing on SEO, will ultimately fall and collapse to the back pages. You can avoid this fate by utilizing these guidelines consider getting started today to enable you to enhance your rankings. Reputation Management Lacking? Try Using These Pointers! Never lose your cool with customers on social media marketing forums. Even though you disagree by using a customer, will not attack or act rudely towards customer. Try to assist the customer as best that you can and move ahead. Always act professionally since you do not want to create a poor history of your enterprise. 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Bloggers post stories to supply others their expertise, and quite often they are happy to respond to an individual request (especially a request that includes a hint of flattery). Make sure to be specific with your questions. Website marketing starts with possessing a good web design. Even though your site is just one single page, should it be setup well and loaded with the correct information, your internet site is gonna bring you this business that you are looking for. This is a simple concept: Provide useful information. In case your primary e-mail list includes the very first name and last initial of every recipient, be sure you add the first name within the subject type of the sales message. This personal touch separates your brand's marketing communications from the impersonal spam that most consumers find highly invasive and irritating. When you adopt these measures and strive to market your brand for your respective niche, whether you're selling your very own product, someone else's, or are simply just driving targeted traffic to your blogs, website marketing can be extremely lucrative. Remember, that information plays an important role in your success and that probably the most successful businesses out there, took years to build.