May 2020 Mood 13 Magazine

DIY•RECIPES•HOME DECOR•CRAFTS

MOOD 13 MAY/SPRING 2020

INDOOR FRENCH HERB GARDEN SWIFTIE MOVIE NIGHT & Brunch French Style MOTHER'S DAY For Mom & Mama Swift

KITCHEN & DINING Taylorize Your Kitchen and Dining Spaces $1.99US

MAY 2020

INTERVIEW WITH LEA MANNING Costuming, Digital Art & Taylor Swift

thoughts THOUGHTS

DON'T EVER GIVE UP, LIKE, EVER "If you are lucky enough to find something that you love, and you have a shot at being good at it, don't stop, don't put it down."

-Taylor Swift

NOUS ESPÉRONS QUE VOUS AIMEZ LE FRANÇAIS Welcome to Mood 13 Magazine! We are so glad you're here! In case you don't know, I kind of have a thing for projects. I love getting lost in the creativity of it all. I find crafting, fine art, DIY, baking and designing catharsis amidst the chaos.

Basically, my thirteen + years of "Swiftiehood" had a baby with my unwavering passion for creativity, female empowerment and entrepreneurship. I named her, "Mood 13 Magazine."

Thankfully, my entrepreneurial tenacity is the exact sparkling mess my friend and Co-Editor-in-Chief, Carissa, wanted. Who knew babies left a trail of glitter?

Given the recent and very unfortunate circumstances of our 2020 health crisis, we thought this would be the perfect time to make this idea a reality.

And so, the projects began, but not before weeks of editorial planning and brainstorming over an abundance of wine and coffee.

PICTURED: CARISSA SHUMAN Co-Editor-in-Chief ©2020 K. Stovall Photography

I wanted to create a magazine that offers project ideas for tangible keepsakes from the intangible highlights of our icon. Not just to occupy your time while you are stuck at home, but to inspire you to create your happy place for years to come. Plus, you get to support Taylor in the process! I mean, you never know who's lurking these days, am I right?!

If you feel like skipping down the street like Taylor at the end of the Netflix, Reputation Stadium Tour, at the thought of being surrounded by hot glue and glitter, baking cookies and mixing cocktails (if you're of age) or throwing epic themed parties, then this is the magazine for you, or should I say, " this mood is for you."

Stay Sparkly,

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MOOD 13

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CHRISTA THOMPSON

CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CARISSA SHUMAN

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

CHRISTA THOMPSON

PHOTOGRAPHER/POST

KAYLIN STOVALL

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

JANA SEITZER

PROJECT ASSISTANT

GAUGE THOMPSON-RYBAK

EDITOR'S NOTE

©2020 Lea Manning

Next to spending time with our moms (and kids) and the remembrance of our military personnel who died in service, May is a month that’s all about “ME!”—well at least it is now.

Swifties will never forget the galactic-sized marketing campaign/emotional roller coaster that unraveled preceding the release of the “ME!” music video. Subsequently, May brought even more publicity as Taylor promoted the song from LA to Paris —and we cheered her on the whole way.

From rainbows to pastels and even its melodies, “ME!” is a song I will always associate with this time of year.

Spring is an enchanting season for me. Perhaps it’s the cool air on my skin, or the sweet scent of purple wisteria that hangs from the sweetgum tree in a buttercup covered horse pasture —surely, the tiny white blooms of the Appalachian dogwoods contouring the backroads in my hometown haven't gone underappreciated.

Spring is magical and we are missing a lot of its glory as we stay at home during this global health crisis. So, to revive some of that magic, we decided to bring spring indoors —rainbows and “ME!” included.

On the cover you’ll see how we brought spring indoors with a "ME!" inspired French herb garden. Also in our spring section you'll find a blooming "13" to decorate your room as well as our French inspired Taylor boxes. And we didn’t forget Mother’s Day! Also inspired by the "ME!" music video, is our rainbow prism suncatcher and window film, homemade bath & body self care and a "Swiftie Movie Night" for when social distancing gets a little less, well, distant.

In our Home Decor section we chose to focus on kitchen and dining as we are all spending much more time in these places as of late.

There's also a special surprise for your room!

Finally, our Quick & Easy section features, "Spring Accessories for Your Essential Errands" and our featured artist, Lea Manning, talks about growing up with Taylor Swift.

May is upon us. Don't forget to tell your moms and Mama Swift how special they are and to remember our military! Hopefully these crafts and projects will keep you feeling the magic of spring while you are staying at home and, optimistically, staying healthy.

CHRISTA THOMPSON Editor-in-Chief ©2020 K. Stovall Photography

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CONTENTS

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

3 63

E D I T O R ' S

N O T E

M I N D F U L N E S S

13 Memorial Day Facts

R E S O U R C E S

C O N T A C T

C L O S I N G

U S

E D I T O R ' S

N O T E

FEATURED

Pictured: Cookie & Candy CharcuterMe! Board. ©2020 K. Stovall Photography

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CONTENTS

Indoor French Herb Garden

13

16

"ME!" Themed French Shade" 10 Decorating your French herb garden 13

Mother's Day Decorative Frame 15

Blooming 13 Making a Shaped Floral "13" 16

Getting Organized with Taylor boxes

18

Decorating Storage Boxes 18

Self Care Facial Mask 21 Rainbow Sugar Scrub Cubes 22 Bath Bombs & Salts 23 Layered "ME!" Candle 24

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Š2020 K. Stovall Photography

15

22

CONTENTS Home Decor Kitchen 26 Dining Room 28

DIY Antiquing How to Upcycle a Console Table 30

28

30 Your Happy Place (rainbows included) "ME!" Key Hook Board 34 Rainbow Suncatcher & Window film 35 DIY Lover Sign 39

Swiftie Movie Night & Brunch French Films Are Fun 44

39

Chocolate Covered Candy Popcorn 46 Cookie & Candy CharcuterME! Board 47 Meat & Cheese Platter 48 ME!mosas 49 Cinnamon Sugar ME!cakes 52 Pastel Chocolate Croissants 53 "ME!" Wine Glass Charms 55

Featured Artist Costuming, digital art and growing up with Taylor Swift 56

52

56

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

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"Spring is magical and we are missing a lot of its glory as we stay at home during this global health crisis. So, to revive some of that magic, we decided to bring spring indoors rainbows and

“ME!�

included."

-CHRISTA THOMPSON

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

ME! INSPIRED

indoor french herb garden BRING THE MAGIC OF SPRING INDOORS

By Christa Thompson

If you're feeling like spring is passing you by... Stop right there, we’ve got a plan—and by plan we mean a majestic magical French indoor Taylorthemed herb garden (that you’ll basically wanna spend the rest of your life in assuming you can live off fresh herbs). Okay, don’t spend the rest of your life there; take food and potty breaks. The point is, this herb garden is TAYMAYZING! We wanted to bring spring indoors, but we also wanted to have a French theme because of the French inspiration within the “ME!” music video. We did this by antiquing an old once black table, hanging and potting florals, finding a few decorative pieces and repurposing a curtain shade with hand painted lettering.

This is by far one of the coolest projects I’ve ever done and I’m really super proud of how well it turned out. I am, by no measure, a hand lettering artist. What I am able to do, however, is copy things I see, which is exactly what I did to create this shade. It was sketched from a design I created digitally, and it is the focal point of the space.

The fun wasn’t all in the shade though; I truly love the result of antiquing my old table and decorating the space with florals and tabletop decor. Honestly, this whole space is my new favorite place to be in the mornings with coffee as I brave the wilds of the Twitterverse.

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Inspirée

When choosing the words for our French shade, we wanted something that was quoted from the French scene in the “ME!” music video. “Je suis calme!” is one of the most iconic sayings from this scene.

How will this fandom ever forget the cutest galactic meltdown in the history of meltdowns as Taylor screams, “I am calm!” as she slams the door? So, of course we had to use this nugget for our French shade, but we also wanted more content to fill up the negative space.

This brought us back to the conversation to see what Brendon Urie had said. With a little bit of research we realized that what he stated in French, ”calme-toi, s’il te plait” means “calm down please.”

Now, if you remember correctly the subtitle in this scene actually says, ”you need to calm down,” not “calm down please,” which

MAKING A “ME!” THEMED FRENCH SHADE

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

evidently means this was an Easter egg to “You Need to Calm Down,” which was released just over a month later in June of 2019.

I can’t even begin to tell you how exciting it was to discover this little nugget of information and to bring it into my home for permanent residence in my sunroom. This was the “triple word score” of home decor. An Easter egg and an iconic phrase in one piece! Yes, I'm fully aware of my geekery and have come to terms with it.

As you can see, we chose this as our graphic design. To give it balance we used est.1989. You can, of course, choose any saying you’d like but to keep true to the theme, you’ll want your statement to be in French. So, make sure to do your research!

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The first thing you need to do is get a reality check on this project time. Me, I’m always too excited and I often forget that it takes more than thirty minutes to make decor. This shade is going to take a lot of time and a steady hand. I recommend preparing two days to work on this project in order to not get burnt out.

With that being said, you can do this one of two ways. You can either hang your curtain with a level on the wall and project your graphic onto it in order to trace it, or you can sketch it by referencing the graphic from your mobile device. *Graphic in back of magazine If you don’t have any pets by all means spread this sucker out in your kitchen or anywhere you’d like and sketch it out on the floor. Keep in mind pencil does not erase well from fabric.

Speaking of fabric, we recommend getting a blackout curtain in an a off white color to achieve the look that you see in the photo. Blackout curtains are thicker and will keep the fabric paint from bleeding through.

WHAT YOU NEED

Blackout curtain off white (measure 2" wider than your window) Curtain rod to fit (nothing fancy, we made our own rod facades) Black and white ribbed ribbon 1.5" width Black fabric paint (we recommend using fabric paint in a bottle with a fine tip nozzle or a thin brush) Off-white acrylic paint to match curtain x2 5”x5”x2” boxes or you can make your own out of old Swiftmas boxes x2 sheets black and white scrapbooking paper Scrapbooking sticker numbers Towel Iron Masking tape Scissors Hot Glue Pencil (use lightly) Measuring tape Graphic to reference the font

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

making your shade

INSTRUCTIONS

Lay a towel on the floor to iron your curtain. If you need to trim your curtain you’ll want to measure it properly. Make sure to leave an extra inch for a hem.

We suggest using a pencil on the back of the curtain to mark where your cuts need to be.

Once your curtain is cut and ironed you’ll want to use hot glue to make a hem line where you cut. This should only be an inch and should allow your curtain to still be two inches wider than your window. Now it’s time to measure where your words are going to be.

The first thing you want to do is find the center of your curtain. you can mark this with a piece of tape. You then want to find where your words will sit by measuring about four to six inches from the top of your curtain and six to eight inches from the bottom. Then, measure ten to twelve inches from the sides and mark it with tape as well (this is where your ribbon will go).

Now you’ve defined the space where you will be writing and can begin sketching or tracing your design. Be sure to check periodically that your design is even. The last thing you want is to spend six hours and it ends up being crooked. That would suck as much as trying to buy an official Taylor Swift snowglobe the moment they sold out.

Once you have completed your initial sketch this might be a good time to take a break and start cross training for your hand lettering extravaganza the next day. Or, if you’ve had your Starbucks today, knock yourself out. Go crazy.

Using the fabric paint, trace your sketch and remember there are no do overs. You can use the nozzle or pour your paint into a small bowl and apply with a thin short brush. Allow your curtain to fully dry overnight before attempting to hang it up.

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MAKING YOUR CURTAIN ROD FACADE Using your 5”x5”x2” boxes, cut a hole on the inner side large enough for the rod to slide in where it sits on the hook.You’ll also need to cut a hole in the back where the hooks will go. Ideally, the box should have at least half of a back so that you have a place to adhere it to the wall.

Wrap your box in scrapbooking paper. We chose a black and white French-style paper. Next, stick your “13” numbers to the wrapped boxes and hang (after your shade has been hung) on the wall. Use Command Velcro Strips to hang your curtain rod boxes.

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©2020 K. Stovall Photography

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

DECORATE

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

When decorating your indoor garden it’s important to judge how much maintenance you're willing to do with regard to live vs. silk plants. That’s a nice way of saying, “it’s important to get a reality check on just how green your thumb really is.”

All of the herbs in our garden are fresh. The rest of the plants are silk. As much as I’d love to boast botany as a skill set, I’m more like a wannabe gardener. And that’s cool, I’m totally okay with knowing 90% of the plants in my new indoor garden will never die.

With regard to silks, we chose white and pink florals that are fluffy and full with lots of tiny flowers as well as bright blue hydrangeas and peonies to add a pop of color. Decor and floral choices are imperative to achieving the rustic “French garden” look.

For the tabletop, floor and walls we used white and galvanized metal buckets to pot our florals with floral foam. We also used several decorations such as the Eiffel Tower and a small bicycle that we decorated with “13” and “T.S.” using white paint pen. You can use other items such as lamps and books to create different elevations as well.

I wanted to add “ME!” to this room in a sophisticated yet fun way. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about rainbows and unicorns, but the FUN is in the Easter eggs remember? With this in mind, for the fresh herbs we used tiny white buckets that Carissa flawlessly hand painted using a black paint pen. Notice that we chose the butterfly, umbrella, daisy and heart as these are all represented in the video. We then strung the buckets in the window so they will get plenty of sunlight using fishing line tied to the window locks. But if you don't have locks there you can certainly use white Command hooks.

We added the finishing touches to our tabletop decor with an easy to make framed “T.S.” We also added lyrics to our buckets with black paint pen. Other additional decor that we used were a straw basket and a throw blanket as well as our Taylor boxes which are featured later in this issue.

Remember, this is your place, you make the rules.

You don’t have to choose our color palette or our decor, you can make this whatever you want to be. Just think, when your curtain is hung, your decorations are placed and your fresh herbs are thriving, you can sit back, relax and enjoy a slice of spring in your indoor French herb garden.

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Thank you for being the vigilant rock in Taylor's life. To believe in your child with unwavering support and dauntless sacrifice, this is what makes a mother. You've shaped and nurtured a child to become a strong, empowering, generous and tenacious woman who, leads by example.

Your commitment to motherhood continues to be a lesson to myself and others who have grown up without a mom. Thank you for all you do and for setting the greatest example. "Only the young can run" and boy...look at her go.

We Lover you!

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Š2020 Christa Thompson

Happy Mother's Day Mama Swift

Mother's Day FRAME

By Carissa Shuman

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

Mother’s Day isn’t about finding the most extravagant gifts, it’s about letting mom know that she’s remembered and appreciated. Giving her something you’ve put the time and effort into making as well as showing your personality is meaningful. As such, we thought a great way to honor our mothers is to remind them that they are unique.

Channeling Taylor’s “ME!” lyrics, we wrote a note to our moms, telling them “You’re the only one of you!” Of course, a note like that needs a frame. But not just any frame will do. No, we decided that the best frame would be one that incorporated our Swiftie essence.

Recycling an old frame, we spray painted it white. We chose a simple shade of pink cardstock and hand lettered our message, beginning with “Dear Mom,” and included some heart flourishes.

In order to add a little more personality to the frame, we hot glued silk flowers and greenery to the upper left hand corner. To balance it out, we added a beautiful gold butterfly in the lower right hand corner. This particular butterfly was originally a brooch, encrusted with a colorful array of stones.

Whatever you do for your mom, whether it’s framed Taylor Swift lyrics, a picture, or some of our homemade spa goodies, make it personal.

WHAT YOU NEED Frame White spray paint Scrapbooking paper Gold sharpie Brooch Silk flower

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blooming

By Christa Thompson

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©2020 K. Stovall Photography

Blooming 13 This floral project is a fairly easy one and if you have some of the materials laying around, you can do it on the cheap! It’s also very versatile. You can use it for wall decor, table top decor, dinner parties, birthdays and pretty much anything that deserves a bright pop of flowers. Plus, you can save it for many spring seasons to come!

WHAT YOU NEED

Large old cardboard box because reusing is fun Shipping styrofoam or floral foam Hot glue Wrapping paper to cover cardboard (we used blue) Flowers of various colors

INSTRUCTIONS A great way to bring spring indoors is by adding beautiful bright florals to any space. And what better way to bring flowers indoors then by making a blooming "13!"

First, cut a large thirteen from your cardboard allowing enough cardboard to frame the numbers with a 3"-4” border. Cut the border (the walls) of your thirteen to make block numbers without the top.

Next, glue your block numbers to the border (the walls). Once this is dry, wrap your numbers with wrapping paper (you don’t have to focus on the inside as this will be filled with flowers).

Glue your styrofoam in place. Now you can cut your florals leaving about 2"-3” of stem so you can poke them into the styrofoam. Place your florals decoratively. We recommend breaking up color, especially your brightest color.

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©2020 K. Stovall Photography

Making Your

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

GETTING ORGANIZED

By Carissa Shuman

WE LOVE TAYLOR THINGS

Every Swiftie knows about the "Taylor box." I mean, where else can you put all your beaded bracelets, Swiftie cards and confetti? So, in the spirit of getting organized this spring, we thought it would be super fun to craft French-themed storage boxes for all your "Taylor sh!t."

You can make your Taylor box from things like suitcase style boxes, banker or shoe boxes with a separate lid, or even a treasure chest. Christa found a beautiful pastel pink floral box with hinges and latches. I chose a shoe box-style container.

Sticking with the pink and blue colors so prevalent in this era, as well as the French garden style we’ve been focusing on, we chose pink and white striped and floral patterned scrapbooking paper to cover our boxes with. Well, at least I covered my entire box since it was completely white to begin with.

Christa’s box was a bit larger than mine, and she was able to place one whole sheet of scrapbooking paper on the top, and labeled it with gold sharpie. In honor of Mama Swift, it’s a “sh!t box of sh!t.” But, it’s outlined in sparkling gold ribbon and embellished with roses of varying sizes and colors.

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with Taylor Boxes I covered my box in the same scrapbooking paper design for the bottom of my box and chose a different pattern to cover the lid. I really like how it turned out. It has a bit more personality with the floral pattern on the lid.

I then cut out a third pattern that was sort of halfway between the two, and used it as the background for a pink glittery thirteen. Of course, it couldn’t be complete without a few roses of my own, and I added a paper butterfly for good measure.

The great thing about decorating storage boxes like this is that you can express yourself. You can make it as fancy or as simple as you want. Choose your own Taylor Swift-based theme and have fun!

WHAT YOU NEED Scrapbooking paper Craft glue Embellishments Gold Sharpie

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

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Pictured: Homemade candle and face masks.

Photo ©2020 K. Stovall Photography.

Self-Care YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE OF YOU

By Carissa Shuman

SPRING IS A TIME OF REBIRTH AND RENEWAL. IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MUCH NEEDED “ME!” TIME! 20| MOOD 13

"You're the only one of you" and you need to take care of yourself. As we’ve pointed out previously, spring is a time of rebirth and renewal.

It’s an opportunity to take advantage of “ME!” time.

So, treat yourself (or mom) to a spa day at home.

Relax, renew, and rejuvenate with homemade facial masks, sugar scrubs, bath bombs and salts.

We even made a candle so you can relax and unwind.

RELAX AS LONG AS YOU LIKE, THIS IS YOUR PLACE, YOU MAKE THE RULES

Homemade Face Mask Our homemade facial masks are oatmeal based and infused with essential oils. They should be refrigerated and thrown away after three days.

WHAT YOU NEED 1 ⅓ cup oats ½ cup hot water 2 Tbsp plain yogurt 2 Tbsp honey 1 egg white Handful of raspberries or blueberries x2 Drops Lavender essential oil Food processor or blender

MAKING YOUR MASK Wash your fruits and set aside. In a blender add oatmeal, egg white, yogurt, honey, fruit and essential oil. Blend until thick. If your mask is not thick enough, you can add oats until you achieve the consistency you want. Remember, oats swell.

Because we prefer using all natural ingredients, we used organic eggs from farm raised/humanely raised chickens, plain organic Greek yogurt, and raw honey.

APPLYING YOUR MASK After applying the smooth, creamy, and calming mixture, we suggest leaving it on for the typical 10 15 minutes before gently rinsing it off.

These masks can be used as part of your revitalizing bath, or independently. And, you can store them in your refrigerator for a couple of days if needed.

Taking care of yourself is a priority. This face mask is a great way to nurture yourself and revive your mojo. Remember, "you're the only one of you." ©2020 K. Stovall Photography

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Rainbow Sugar Scrub Cubes Sugar scrub is a great exfoliant and moisturizer in one. You can make it out of just sugar and oil, but if you want to mold it into a shape rather than simply store it in a jar, then you need to add a soap base as well. Adding soap to your homemade sugar scrub also allows it to lather up when you use it, and makes it easier to rinse off afterward. *Not for face

WHAT YOU NEED ½ cup chopped soap ½ cup oil (sweet almond, coconut, or jojoba) 3-4 drops (about 2mL) essential oil 2-3 drops of food coloring 1 cup granulated sugar microwave safe bowl silicone mold container for storage

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

MAKING YOUR SUGAR SCRUB CUBES To make the sugar scrub mix, start with putting ½ cup of chopped soap, ½ cup oil, 3-4 drops (or about 2mL) of essential oil, and 2-3 drops of food coloring in a microwave safe container.

Heat the mixture for about 30 seconds and stir until well blended. Add the sugar while stirring and mix it as quickly as you can so that you can transfer it into your mold before it thickens up too much to pour.

If it does, you can microwave it for 5 seconds to loosen it up a bit, but if you heat it up too long the sugar will melt, and you don’t want that to happen.

Once you have your mixture in the mold, let it sit for a few hours so that it can harden. Then store it until you’re ready to use. May we recommend a mason jar?

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©2020 K. Stovall Photography

&Salts

Bath Bombs

Each of these bath time faves have the same basic ingredients. They each call for Epsom salt, baking soda, essential oils, and food coloring.

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

Pastel Bath Salts

Fizzing Bath Bombs

WHAT YOU NEED

WHAT YOU NEED

1 cup coarse sea salt ½ cup Epsom salt ⅓ cup baking soda A few drops of essential oil A few drops of food coloring

1 cup baking soda 1/2 cup each of Epsom salt, cornstarch, citric acid 3/4 tsp water 2 tsp each of essential oil and coconut oil A few drops of food coloring

MAKING YOUR BATH SALTS

INSTRUCTIONS

Mix the salt, Epsom salt, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl. Then, add a few drops of the essential oil of your choice and mix again. When you’re happy with the scent, you can add the food coloring.

If you want more than one color, divide your bath salt into smaller containers and add a different color to each.

Using only one to two drops at a time, mix the food color in well. Keep adding and mixing until you achieve the color you want. And, if you want to get even fancier, you can add dried flowers or herbs to the mix.

Mix baking soda, Epsom salt, and cornstarch in a mixing bowl. In a separate container, mix the water, essential oil, coconut and food coloring.

Then, pour the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients mix and mix together with your hands.

Now, add the citric acid. You’ll notice some fizzing already. That’s O.K. Just don’t add any water to it. Mix it up, and you’re ready to go with some lovely, colorful bath fizz. If you want a bath bomb, you need to pack your mixture into a mold as tightly as you can. Once it has been shaped, gently pop it out and let it dry overnight. If you’re going to package it, let it dry for two or three days first.

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Layered "ME!" Candle

Whether you use scented candles, a diffuser, or just enjoy the fragrance of the essential oils in your bath accessories, aromatherapy is a key part of a relaxing bath.

For our perfect bath experience, we couldn’t resist making a “ME!” candle. We filled a mason jar with layers of pink, blue, and yellow wax.

WHAT YOU NEED x1 Pink candle x1 Blue candle x1 Yellow candle Essential oil if you want to have frangrance Mason jar Note: If you are melting a whole candle, you need to remove the wick as soon as you can, so it doesn’t burn.

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MAKING YOUR CANDLE Start by melting your wax in a melting pot set in a pan of low boiling water. Remember, you need to keep your colors in separate pots.

Once your wax is ready, pour a tiny bit into the bottom of the jar. Place the bottom of the wick in it and center it. Let it harden and then wrap the free end of the wick around a pencil and lay it across the top of the jar. This will help keep the wick in place.

To create the layered effect, you need to give the wax in the jar time to harden between pouring each colored layer. Otherwise, the colors will blend.

When you are pouring your last layer, you want to make sure to leave room between the wax and the edge of the jar. Clip any excess wick, and, as with all things, you can finish it off with a bow!

Whether you enjoy your candle during your bath or in your room, it's sure to give your setting a relaxing ambiance you can unwind in. ©2020 K. Stovall Photography

home decor FOR ADULTING & WHEN ADULTING SUCKS

By Christa Thompson

I feel like most of us have spent way more time in our kitchens and dining rooms than we’re used to during this health crisis. This is not because we don’t love cooking or sitting down with our families but mostly because we are busy. I think I speak for most moms when I say it’s a challenge to get in the kitchen seven days a week. So, I thought it would be fun to freshen up our kitchen and dining spaces with a little hint of Taylor.

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

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TAYLORIZE YOUR KITCHEN

By Christa Thompson

Bringing Taylor into the kitchen is a lot of fun and easier than you might think!

In the kitchen we used fabric paint on dish towels and oven mitts, paint pens on cooking utensils, coffee mugs, a cutting board, tray and coffee canister.

We didn't spend a fortune sourcing the items we wanted to customize but you can certainly modify any pieces you choose.

WHAT YOU NEED Iron Rubbing alcohol Items to paint on Paint pens, fabric paint Clear coat spray enamel Cardboard (if painting towels to protect layers)

INSTRUCTIONS First, using rubbing alcohol, wipe all items with a hard surface where you intend to paint then iron your kitchen towels.

Practice your design on paper scaled to the area you are painting.

Align the paper beneath your design space and use this as a guide to applying your paint. Allow 2-4 hours to dry completely. Once dry, apply 2-3 coats of clear coat to non-fabric items.

Your kitchen and dining room are two places where you and your guests usually spend most of your time. Sharing your love for Taylor with these subtle and sleek designs is a really fun way to express yourself in the home.

Practical Advice: When handlettering, create your design in an app like Picsart first. If you have to use a pencil, use it very lightly as it doesn’t erase well from fabric. Design the back of your cutting board and the handle of utensils. Do not use clear coat on areas that come into contact with food. For decorative use only.

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©2020 K. Stovall Photography

"damn, it's 7 am" ©2020 K. Stovall Photography

-TAYLOR SWIFT

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TAYLOR at the Table

By Carissa Shuman

"AND AT EVERY TABLE" In the dining room we created a tablescape with some of the colors of the Lover era: pink, blue, and gold.

To top off our place setting, we used gold glitter glue and wired paper roses to design ornate cloth napkins.

If you’d like to extend the Lover theme to the entire table, use any one of your Swiftie floral crafts as a centerpiece and flank it with your own “shake, shake, shake” ceramic salt and pepper shakers. We simply used a fine-point black paint pen to add the detailing.

"I'll save you a seat,

lover."

WHAT YOU NEED Plastic and ceramic plates Gold Sharpie, black paint pen Gold fabric glitter Paper roses (with wires) Salt & pepper shakers

HOW TO DO IT Give your table a Lover vibe by adding hearts, 13s and lyrics using a gold Sharpie.

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©2020 K. Stovall Photography

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

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Antiquing DIY UPCYCLING AN OLD TABLE

By Carissa Shuman

THE SWEET SATISFACTION OF REPURPOSING Whether it’s for a sophisticated antique look or the perfect addition to a French-themed sunroom, taking something old and giving it a new look is magical. Even if the new look is “old.” So, how did we take a black console table and give it a rustic look? With acrylics, spray paint and a few glasses of wine of course!

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©2020 K. Stovall Photography

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

WHAT YOU NEED

Light tan and copper spray paints Light grey, almond white and black acrylic paints Hand sander (or go old school) medium grit Copper hammered handles x2 "Bonjour" sign Power drill Paper towels Striping tool Medium paint brush

HOW WE DID IT The first thing we did was sand our table. We didn't have to go crazy, we just roughed up the existing paint enough for the new paint to bond. If you have flaking paint, then you have to remove all of that.

Once sanded, we wiped off the dust and applied an even coat of the tan spray paint and allowed an hour to dry.

Once the table was dry, we took the grey acrylic paint and brushed it on using long strokes that left streaks of unpainted areas. Doing this intermediate step allowed the tan “wood” color to peek through.

This is where things got slightly tricky. Maybe it was the lighting, maybe it was the wine, but adding the almond white third layer of paint was a bit more of a process.

We used the same technique to cover most of the table but paid close attention to the strokes as this is the final and visible layer. The striping tool helped here.

how to ACHIEVE

THIS

LOOK

We wanted the first two layers to peek through, but we also wanted to use the white to create dramatic streaks and fix any spots we didn't like.

What we eventually found to be the easiest method to achieve the look we wanted was to dab the brush before painting to remove excess paint, then apply the paint in a quick back and forth motion (almost like rubbing the paint on rather than using customary paint strokes). We quickly followed it up with those long strokes so it looked like it was originally completely white.

We paid close attention to the direction of strokes, considering the direction the paint would be applied in if it were coming from the factory with regard to surface areas and legs. We opted for side to side on every part of the table except for the legs.

After the table dried, we examined it for needed final touch ups. To give it an even more antique feel, we replaced the knobs with hammered copper handles and added a “Bonjour” plaque we found at the craft store and spray painted it with copper colored paint.

To give the sign an antiqued look we applied watered down black wash with a paper towel to quickly dab the paint off. Two or three applications later, we had ourselves an aged sign.

Antiquing is FUN! It gives life to old pieces, revives spaces and can be a huge savings.

YOUTH 31 | MOOD 13 MAGAZINE

"OH DARLIN'

don't you ever grow up" -TAYLOR SWIFT

32 | MOOD 13

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

ME! KEY HOOK BOARD

RAINBOW SUNCATCHER & WINDOW FILM

DIY LIGHT-UP LOVER SIGN

your happy place CAUSE ADULTING IS HARD

2 2 | M©2020 O O D 1 3K. Stovall Photography

2333 || MMOOOODD 1133

When it comes to our Taylor-themed bedroom, we wanted to add a functional piece that captured the "ME!" music video aesthetic.

With our quick and easy projects in mind, we decided a hookboard would make a perfect addition.

MATERIALS Flat rectangular piece of wood Scrapbooking paper 4 small Command Hooks Felt for making flower embellishments Hot glue Elmer’s glue Glitter

INSTRUCTIONS First, using your glue and a brush, cover your board with your floral scrapbooking paper. We chose this blue and pink one because it resembles some of Taylor's marketing material for "ME!" Next, create a border around your base paper.

Cut out your felt flowers and hot glue them to your board. There is a resource for making felt flowers on pg. 66.

We wanted to capture the "ME!" music video aesthetic

"ME!" KEY HOOK BOARD

By Carissa Shuman

34 | MOOD 13

Now you want to evenly space the command hooks along the bottom of the board. If you want them to have that extra sparkle, brush Elmer's glue over them and then cover them in rose gold glitter.

To help the lettering for “ME!” pop, we chose a lighter shade of blue than the background and shadowed it with the same pink and white stripe pattern we used for the border. Make your letters then adhere them to your board with glue.

We hung this up by the entrance to the room and put it to use immediately! And, there’s a reason Taylor is so fond of Command Hooks. They were able to hold our umbrella and wallet just as easily as our keys! ©2020 K. Stovall Photography

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

LIKE A RAINBOW WITH ALL OF THE COLORS ...in your room

By Carissa Shuman

We wanted to bring the beauty of spring and a “ME!” aesthetic into the room. We thought it would be really perfect to make that happen by bringing rainbows (and I do mean a lot of rainbows) into this space.

A fun way to bring this idea to life is by using small prisms to make a decorative suncatcher. This is an easy project to make for any space that gets good sunlight.

MATERIALS Prisms Fishing wire Hot glue Jewelry clasp Small wooden circle Sheer butterfly scrapbooking stickers 3D number stickers White acrylic or spray paint 2-3 pretty beads

MAKING YOUR RAINBOW SUNCATCHER Finding the right size and shape of prisms to create a suncatcher that both functions and looks nice can be tricky.

We ended up choosing small crystal heart beads since they cast multiple small rainbows when light shined through (we tested this with our phone flashlight in the store).

Each string of beads had nine little hearts. We chose to use three strings so they could cascade in a spiral. Of course, you can choose any shape or hanging design.

When shopping for prisms, keep in mind that they should be cut at various angles to bend light into separate colors as the sun shines through them. The more prisms you use, the more rainbows you get! Also, the more you vary the length of the prisms, the more area will be covered with tiny, magical rainbows (insert feral screech).

INSTRUCTIONS Start by painting your small wooden disc with the white spray paint, and allow to fully dry.

To vary the length of your chains, you'll need to affix them with fishing wire and hot glue from the small wooden disc. We hot glued the fishing wire to the edges of the disc so there would be wire to work with both above and below the disc (this is so we would have a way to hang it).

Since we used three chains, we spaced the fishing wire out around the edge of the disc, and tied them together above it.

RAINBOW SUNCATCHER & Window Film 3 5 Photography | MOOD 13 ©2020 K. Stovall

rainbows are Under the disc, we cut the fishing wire in consecutively longer pieces. Starting close to the disc with the first chain, we hung the second chain about a quarter of the chain length longer, and hung the third one another quarter longer. This gave a very pretty spiral effect.

The circular shape of the disc and the varying lengths of the prisms causes the sun catcher to always be in slight motion, which in turn causes the rainbows to dance around the room.

In keeping with the ME! aesthetic, we decided to add butterflies to the fishing line to give an "in flight" effect.

We placed a sheer butterfly sticker on the fishing wire above each chain, and added an additional line to the center of the disc which held three additional butterfly stickers. To give the central line weight we added a few clear beads to the bottom of it. And to hide the hot glue attaching the center line to the disc, we added a "13" using 3D metallic stickers.

©2020 K. Stovall Photography 36 | MOOD 13

Using a simple cloth butterfly from the floral section of the craft store, we topped off the sun catcher. We hot glued it at an angle with the tips of the wings attached to the fishing wire above the disc to give it motion.

As we went to hang the sun catcher in the window, we decided we wanted to be able to easily move it throughout the day in order to maximize the amount of time the sunlight would shine through it.

We accomplished this by using two parts of a bracelet clasp to create a long loop with the fishing wire that we hung over the curtain rod. And, just to be extra, the clasp we chose was a heart shape with an interlocking arrow.

Note: Be careful when moving your suncatcher as the butterfly stickers will stick to the other fishing lines. They are delicate and shouldn't be fussed with after hanging.

For more information on how prisms work, check out science.howstuffworks.com “What causes a rainbow?”

FUN!

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

C U E

T H E

rainbows If you want to have rainbows in your room ALL day, then the sun catcher is not enough. It will only create the rainbows with direct light. With this in mind, we decided to add a decorative, non-adhesive film to the bottom portion of the window.

The window film we choose is made of an iridescent material laid out in a stained glass design. As a result, any amount of light will cast a rainbow across your floor or bed depending on the arrangement of your room.

The film clings to the window, which makes it both easy to stick to it and easy to peel off. Some things to keep in mind are that you need to make sure your window is clean before applying the film, and as you are applying it you need to smooth out any air pockets.

Since windows come in different shapes and sizes, you will need to measure your window and cut the film accordingly. You may also need more than one piece of film to fully cover the portion of window you are applying it to.

Hint: The entire process of placing the film on your window is much easier if you have someone to help you.

Honor both Taylor and your space by allowing the light that shines through your window to cast inspirational rainbows all around you.

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"WHAT I’VE LEARNED IS NOT TO CHANGE WHO YOU ARE, BECAUSE EVENTUALLY YOU’RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF NEW THINGS TO BECOME." -TAYLOR SWIFT

©2020 Lea Manning 38 | MOOD 13

DIYLover Sign

By Christa Thompson

"This is by far one of my most treasured projects. I can't believe how easy it was to make." ©2020 Christa Thompson

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©2020 K. Stovall Photography

Rainbows are FUN! But another thing that’s fun is having your very own Lover sign to illuminate your room. Believe it or not, this sign is made entirely from foam board, foam sheet paper, acrylic paint, fairy lights and pure unadulterated Swiftie obsession. This is by far one of my most treasured projects. I can't believe how easy it was to make!

Apart from being super pretty, functional and easy to make, this was the first "official" Taylor themed craft I made for this magazine during its conception nearly one year ago. Can you even imagine making this and NOT posting it in every corner of the Swiftie universe humanly possible? I have been dying to share this with so many of you and I finally get to! Okay, end rant.

This is how you can make one of your own.

©2020 K. Stovall Photography 40 | MOOD 13

31 | MOOD 13

MAKING YOUR OWN LOVER SIGN x1 white foam board (get 2 if you would like a practice board) x4 sheets of white foam paper X-acto knife Pencil Hot glue Warm-toned battery operated fairy lights (you need 55 bulbs in total we used 2 sets) Pearl acrylic color of your choosing (we mixed pearl white with coral to make a light salmon color) Folk art #2803 maple water-based stain for seams to antique x2 medium paint brushes (angled works best)

INSTRUCTIONS

First, sketch “Lover” onto your foam board (the “L” is separate from the rest of the word)l. Once your sketch is complete you want to carefully use your X-acto knife to cut your word out (never cut toward yourself). If you are not comfortable with an X-acto knife, you can also use scissors.

Next, using your base paint, paint two to three sheets of foam paper, and then the sign in the same manner and allow to dry (streaks will give it an antiqued look).

Once dried, you want to pierce holes in the center of your letters about an inch apart. These should be large enough for fairy lights to fit through but not too big that they fall out. Now you can cut your foam paper into one-inch vertical strips.

Now it’s time to glue your foam paper to the edge of your “Lover” word in order to create a threedimensional sign.

Once you’ve finished and the glue has set, apply your maple stain in small amounts to each seam where the sign meets the foam paper. This will create an antiqued rusty look.

Once all your stain is dry it’s time to poke fairy lights through the holes. Using your leftover foam paper (does not have to be painted) cut small squares and hot glue over the back of each fairy light. This will not be visible and will reinforce the lights from falling out.

When your squares have set, insert batteries and test your new light. Once tested, hot glue the back of your battery pack to the actual sign by using the long edge of the battery pack, not the wide edge. The reason for this is to allow several inches between the sign and the wall so you can turn the sign on and off and so the battery pack is not visible.

Practical advice: We highly recommend using Command Velcro Strips to attach the sign to the wall.

Plus, Taylor really likes Command Strips. She knows what’s up.

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©2020 Christa Thompson

WHAT YOU NEED

THOUGHTS

LOVE WHO YOU ARE "ME!" is a song about embracing your individuality and celebrating it and really owning it. I think that with a pop song, we have the ability to get a melody stuck in people’s heads and I just want it to be one that makes them feel better about themselves, not worse."

-Taylor Swift

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©2020 Lea Manning

FEATURED ENTERTAINMENT

If you’re anything like us, you don’t need an excuse to throw a Swiftiethemed movie night.

Swiftie Movie Night ©2020 K. Stovall Photography

FRENCH STYLE

By Christa Thompson

43 | MOOD 13

Movie nights are always a blast. Especially a “Swiftie” movie night. And what better way to celebrate a month of “ME!” than with a Frenchthemed evening for you and your friends?

Our Swiftie Movie Night will invite your friends for an evening (or a whole night, you only live once) of French films, crafting, snacks and wine.

When we think of a French theme we can’t help but to think of food, wine and champagne. So, we came up with some tasty ideas to bring a little French into your evening.

And to add the element of “ME!” to it, we used pastels, themed beads for our crafts and chose French films that possibly inspired scenes from the music video.

In our Swiftie Movie Night section you’ll find recipes for snacks, ME!mosas and brunch, take-away treat bags and a project guide for “ME!” themed wine glass charms.

There are several reasons we chose a French theme for this party. First and foremost, the

opening scene of the “ME!” music video is entirely in French. I absolutely love everything about this scene. From the Easter eggs to Taylor’s look, it will always be one of my favorite scenes.

Apart from the French quarrel which seemingly takes place in Paris, Taylor also made a jaunt to the “City of Love” for a radio interview last May. As a result, Swifties will forever have the timeless image of her gazing from the window of her Parisian hotel etched into our memory—much like the whimsical scenes from the “ME!” music video.

Of those scenes, who could forget the pastel street musicalesque dance scene or the raining men on umbrellas?

It’s been theorized that these scenes were inspired by Jacques Demy's 1960’s musicals, Les Demoiselles de Rochefort and The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. And since we had never seen them, they seemed like fitting film choices (and the obvious ones) for movie night.

French Films are FUN!

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©2020 K. Stovall Photography

Movie Night Winning To host a successful movie night you need to consider some key elements; snacks, beverages (if you’re not of legal drinking age be sure to make these non-alcoholic), an activity and of course, films.

SNACKS Chocolate covered candy popcorn Cookies and candy charcuterME! board Meat and cheese platter Pink and blue chocolate covered croissants (breakfast) ©2020 K. Stovall Photography

DRINKS *non-alcoholic alternatives on recipe page Pinot wines Raspberry MEmosa Orange ME!mosa (breakfast) French press coffee (breakfast)

fun

ACTIVITY & FILMS Wine glass charm beading craft Les Demoiselles de Rochefort (1968) The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) Take home treat bags and swag

e h t t e l begin

45 | MOOD 13

CHOCOLATE COVERED CANDY POPCORN

INGREDIENTS x4 medium sized Tupperware containers with lids Parchment paper Cookie sheet x1 large mixing bowl Popcorn (enough for 8 servings) 1cup each of pink, light blue, purple and white chocolate melting morsels Pastel sprinkles Pink candy corns Small round pastel chocolates (or big ones if you’re wild)

DIRECTIONS Follow popcorn instructions for 8 servings. Divide into 4 Tupperware containers and set aside. In microwave safe bowls, melt down each color of chocolate in 30 second intervals stirring in between. Once chocolate melts, pour each into the 4 divided popcorn Tupperware containers and shake.

Pour chocolate covered popcorn onto parchment paper in a single layer and allow to cool. Once hardened pour popcorn into a large mixing bowl and add candy, sprinkles and unmelted chocolate morsels and mix.

Serve in cute bags or in a small bowl on the cookies and candy charcuterME board.

SERVES 8 46 | MOOD 13

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

COOKIE & CANDY CHARCUTERME! BOARD

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

INGREDIENTS x1 large cutting board x1 small bowl for popcorn Chocolate covered popcorn Pastel cookies White cookies (we used Girl Scouts of America) Pastel lollipops Assorted pastel candies (we found a lot of them at the Dollar Store) Pink Wafers

DIRECTIONS Start by adding the popcorn and work your way out towards the corners of the cutting board. Keep your colors separate and fill every visible part of the board.

SERVES 8

47 | MOOD 13

MEAT & CHEESE PLATTER INGREDIENTS

x1 Large plate x2 sweet jams (we used locally made blackberry bourbon and apple whiskey jams) x1 regular wheel of Brie 2 cups of raspberries Crackers Cheeses (try gouda, white cheddar) Meats (try dry salami, prosciutto) x1 bottle each of Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio *White or red grape juice

48 | MOOD 13

Slice your Brie in half and then cut one of the halves into a ¼. Use the ½ and the ¼ for your platter. Store the leftover Brie in the refrigerator. In the center of your plate, add your jams and raspberries (place a few on the brie for garnish).

Next, arrange your crackers, cheeses and meats decoratively. Be sure to have toothpicks handy so your friends can serve themselves easily from the coffee table.

Serve your platter with white and red wines or you can offer our ME!mosa!

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

SERVES 4

DIRECTIONS

RASPBERRY ME!MOSA

INGREDIENTS

Champagne *Non alcoholic alternative: sparkling white grape juice Raspberry juice Fresh raspberries for garnish Cookie for garnish

DIRECTIONS Add 1:1 parts champagne *or sparkling grape juice and raspberry juice. Garnish with fresh raspberry and cookie.

*Please be advised, adult beverages contain alcohol and are intended for consumption by those ages 21 and older. We do not encourage underaged drinking and have provided alternative non-alcoholic recipes for our readers under the legal drinking age. For those of you who will be enjoying these cocktails, drink responsibly, stay away from trampolines and remember you are NOT a wizard.

Š2020 K. Stovall Photography

49 | MOOD 13

ME!CAKES,

Chocolate Croissants French Press CoffEe &

s a s o m !

E M BY

CHRISTA

THOMPSON

If you’re as wild as we are, you probably turned this rager into a sleepover—as if you needed an excuse to make ME!cakes. We sure didn’t.

To have a perfect breakfast for your Swiftie Movie Night guests, you don’t have to be a “Taylor Swift” in the kitchen (but you sure will come off like it with these easy recipes). And let me tell you, you're going to impress even yourself.

These pastel chocolate covered croissants and ME!cakes are perfectly paired with French press coffee and orange ME!mosas. *Just stick to orange juice if you're under 21.

50 | MOOD 13

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

Brunch IS FUN BY

CHRISTA

THOMPSON

BRUNCH ME!MOSAS WHAT YOU NEED Orange juice Champagne INSTRUCTIONS Mix equal parts of orange juice and champage. *Champagne alternative, sparkling white grape juice.

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

51 | MOOD 13

Cinnamon Sugar ME!cakes BY

CHRISTA

THOMPSON

During the interview with this month’s featured artist Lea Manning, which you’ll find later in this issue, we were discussing ways to celebrate “ME!” Lea shared a photo of a pancake she made that spelled “ME!” and suggested I give it a whirl. Well, the whirl was given. A little bit of food color, some homemade icing and a few sprinkles later, we had ourselves a giant ME!cake—perfect for sharing the morning after a Swiftie movie night.

WHAT YOU NEED

Pancake mix (the fluffier the better) x1 Large mixing bowl for batter x3 medium mixing bowls for separating batter to color Large pancake flipper (and I do mean large) Pastel food coloring (we used aqua, pink and yellow) I tsp vanilla extract I tsp cinnamon ¼ cup sugar Pastel sprinkles 1cup powdered sugar (icing) 2 Tbsp milk (icing)

52 | MOOD 13

Cooking spray Pancake griddle is recommended for a giant ME!cake Large cake plate or similar If you know how to make pancakes, you’re halfway to ME!cakes and halfway is better than noneway, am I right? The only real skills involved in making this dish are pouring the batter, shaping it as it cooks and flipping it. The rest is up to you!

Color them the way you like, throw sprinkles on them from across the room, no one is going to stop you. Go nuts. I mean, you only live once right?

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

DIRECTIONS First, prepare your pancake batter according to the instructions on the box. We made enough to serve eight. Add to batter vanilla, granulated sugar and cinnamon. Blend until mixed then immediately pour equally into the three medium bowls. Don’t slack on this, you want your pancakes to be fluffy mcfluffer pants. If you drop the ball here, your pancakes are going to be as deflated as Kanye’s ego after his video leaked.

Once you have separated your batter add two drops of color to each bowl and blend. Allow to stand for 2-3 minutes so the batter can rise. Now is a good time to heat your griddle to medium-low and spray with cooking spray.

With Cirque du Soleil performance level precision, pour your batter onto the griddle in the shape of “ME!” using color #1 for the first letter then quickly adding in color #2 to the same letter to give it a marbled look. Repeat for the second letter using color #2 and #3 and for the exclamation mark using color #1 and #3.

Now, you’ll have to tap into your Chef de Cuisine alter ego to flip these suckers. Carissa apparently is the long lost great grand kid of Julia Child. She flipped these babies like it was her job—well, technically it is. Well done, Carissa!

Once your MEcakes are fully cooked (they will likely finish one at a time), you’ll want to present them in all their glory on a large cake plate or similar. This is where you and your guests will go full on Jackson Pollock with icing and sprinkles.

There will be no need for syrup as the icing and sprinkles should be plenty sweet (unless you’re related to Buddy the Elf, then go off).

Pro tip: If your MEcakes look more like blobcakes you can cut the edges with a knife. May we suggest using the cutting board in the “Home Decor” section.

53 | MOOD 13

Pastel Chocolate Croissants BY

CHRISTA

THOMPSON

One of my favorite Parisian foods is chocolate croissants. And by favorite I mean I lived off of them for an entire summer. I have no regrets.

Taylor wrote in her 2019 UK Elle essay, "I think that the way music can transport you back to a long forgotten memory is the closest sensation we have to traveling in time." I absolutely agree that music is a time traveling sensation, but I also feel that way about food. Yes, food.

At first bite, the buttery taste of a soft warm croissant wrapped in a sweet and salty layer of chocolate immediately transports me back to twentythree when, during my summer studies at Cambridge, I would take the train to Paris for the weekends just for the chocolate croissants.

In just one bite I can recall the buzzing sound of the city, the smell of coffee as I passed a small café and the feeling of adventure as I explored old bookshops, wine cellars and art galleries.

So, if both food and music are time machines, then it only makes sense to have as much food with music as possible. You can start with these exquisite chocolate croissants and may I suggest, "Lover."

WHAT YOU NEED

Giant croissants from the bakery x1 cup each of pastel blue and pink chocolate melts Parchment paper

INSTRUCTIONS

Align your croissants on your parchment paper and set aside. Pour your chocolates into separate bowls for melting. Follow the instructions on the package to melt. I generally melt one minute at a time stirring in between until the chocolate is melted enough to drizzle.

Once your first color is melted, use a fork to spread your chocolate on the top of the croissants.

Don't spread it like butter but rather rake the chocolate acros until the desired look is achieved.

Repeat this step for your next color.

I chose to use pink and blue as part of the Lover aesthetic, but you can certainly make these with any color your sparkly heart desires.

You can add as much chocolate as you like. There really is no limit when it comes to chocolate.

54 | MOOD 13

©2020 K. Stovall Photography

"During my summer study at Cambridge I would take the train to Paris for the weekends just for the chocolate croissants."

t f a r C g n i Bead ME! WINE GLASS CHARMS

BY CARISSA SHUMAN & CHRISTA THOMPSON

We wanted to add a little crafting activity to our evening of French films, Taylor and an ungodly amount of sugar (and wine let's be honest). We came up with the idea to craft wine glass charms to use during the party and to take home.

We made cute little bags for take home treats, which we clipped the wine rings to.

As you can see, we used various colors and references from the "ME!" music video but you can pick your own look. *All of these beads and charms can be found at your local craft store.

MATERIALS FOR ONE SET x8 glass floral beads x12 tiny light blue beads x100 tiny rose gold beads x4 acrylic beads x8 metal iridescent beads Rose beads x4 sparkling butterfly beads Charms Eiffel Tower, tassel, wings, heart Hoop earring wires in silver Crimps in rose gold INSTRUCTIONS First, using the hoop earring wire, string your main ring with the tiny rose gold beads. The rest of your rings will be the actual wine charms.

Start stringing your hoops according to the photo. For the dangling heart charm we used gold wire, two rose gold beads and a crimp.

Once all your rings are made you can clip them onto the main ring for storage.

These wine rings will be a beautifully sparkling addition to your guest's Taylor collection. And when they have guests of their own, they will be able to hang them on their wine glasses as not to mix the glasses up. It's pretty and practical!

Š2020 K. Stovall Photography

Pictured: Lea Manning 56 | MOOD 13

FEATURED ARTIST

COSTUMES

DIGITAL ART

& GROWING UP

WITH TAYLOR

BY CHRISTA THOMPSON

©2020 Lea Manning

rom the window in my home office there is a rhythmic calmness from the sound of raindrops beating upon the old wooden pallets I’ve been storing for a future project. My sweet canine children, Dexter and Noreen, are curled up on either side of me, snug in their fluffy beds and snoring in near perfect rhythm with “Forever & Always (Acoustic)” from "Speak Now," the album of choice for this rainy day.

Behind me, my feline child, Lyle, who is the fluffiest, softest, squishiest cat I’ve yet to encounter, is mocking me with his yellow eyes.

That’s because behind him, Carissa is combing through and inventorying a mountain of project supplies so great that she will likely need a full on mountaineering pack to leave the kitchen.

F

INTERVIEW WITH LEA MANNING PHOTO: LEA MANNING

57 | MOOD 13

You see, this interview was not done from a fancy hotel or poolside (as most of my interviews have been conducted), it was done from my home office, surrounded by my family, my business partner, my furbabies and a socially unacceptable amount of Taylor Swift swag as we all continue to hunker down during the current health crisis.

Speaking of hunkering down, my human child is hiding in his room avoiding our chaos and his frustration with being “trapped” at home. When he does emerge from his boy cave of PC gaming, LED lights and Doritos, he’s usually hijacking my concentration discordantly from his hoverboard. That beep haunts my dreams.

Buying said board was one of my greatest parenting failures. Not because I find them to be dangerous, but have you ever tried to argue with an 11-year-old who’s rocking back and forth on wheels and who gets to flee the scene at 10 mph?

Art is my harmony in the dissonance. And talking art and Taylor is, by far, the highlight of being stuck at home on this 35,927th day of quarantine (or so it feels). So, while I couldn’t exactly sip down a ME!mosa poolside with Lea, chatting with her about her work, her connection to Taylor and what Taylor means to her after 13 years has turned a rainy day of quarantine Hell into a delight.

C: Tell me about your connection with Taylor?

L: "My connection with Taylor feels like that of a friend you meet in kindergarten and have for life.

They’re always there for you and it feels like you’ve grown up together."

C: When did you know you were going to be a fan for life?

L: "I knew I was going to be a fan for life on the bus ride to my first day of freshman year high school. 'You Belong With Me' was my favorite song at the time, and the most relatable."

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C: What is the song that always empowers you as a woman?

L: "The song that empowers me most as a woman is definitely 'The Man.' For me, there’s no other choice.

From something as simple as a group school project, to getting a job in the real world, I’ve felt like guys have always talked down to me. Ironic though, how I would always end up doing the most work in school projects, and getting my group an A. cause I’m the maaaan."

C: What song helped you grow?

L: "The song that helped me grow remains my favorite song to this day. 'Treacherous.' It doesn’t matter how high the slope is. If you want something, go for it."

C: What did she represent at the beginning and what does she represent to you now?

L: "No matter how much time goes by, Taylor represents the same thing to me she did when I was 13 as she does now: strength and the ability to speak up about your feelings. Her music got me through high school, and it got me through the toxicity that entered my life after high school. I’m now much better at not caring what others think, and carrying on with what makes me happy.

C: How does she inspire your art?

L: "Taylor inspires my art because she is so much fun to draw! From incredible tour outfits and amazing taste in fashion, it’s sometimes hard to decide what outfit I’d like to draw next. Her personality vibrates through everything I draw."

C: When did you start working with fabric?

L: "When did I start working with fabric...as a kid, I always loved felt. So, that was my introduction to simple sewing projects. I really got serious when I was about twenty and I bought a sewing machine. I used to make handbags, makeup bags, and plushies! My favorite thing I’ve ever made was one of my favorite Pokémon, Milotic. The very first Taylor themed craft I ever did wasn’t with fabric. They were these cute resin pendants. I kinda wanna make Lover versions of these."

©2020 Lea Manning

C: What other mediums do you work with?

L: "Mediums that I work with include resin and hardener, fabric, iron on and sew on patches, paint, digital art and I’m currently trying to learn animation."

C: You were 13 (how fitting) when Taylor came into your life.

You've grown together in so many ways, worlds apart yet near to the heart so to speak. What is Taylor doing currently that is impacting you as you continue to grow up together?

L: "I think Taylor’s biggest impact on me recently has been her voice.

Speaking up for herself, as well as other artists, is something the industry needs more of. It’s certainly taught me that I shouldn’t take things lightly.

People are greedy, and will do whatever they can to take, take, take. At the opposite end, it feels like all Taylor does is give give give. That’s the end I want to be on."

C: What projects do you find yourself working on the most while you are staying at home?

©2020 Lea Manning

L: "While stuck at home during all this quarantine madness, I find myself reading more than anything. I like to gather ideas for stories I like to write, and what better way than reading some good science fiction? I like to start my days off early. Maybe around 7 am or so. I make a cup of coffee, read 59 | MOOD 13

some news, and dive into a good book. I would much rather be floating in a pool with a drink in my hand, but for now my imagination will have to do!"

C: Tell me about meeting Taylor.

L: "Meeting Taylor was like reuniting with a best friend. The first thing I noticed, was how BLUE her eyes really are. They’re so beautiful. She brought me in for a hug, and complimented the dress I was wearing. She’s so incredibly personable and easy to talk to. She had saw some of my DIYs online, and told me how much she loved them.

Taylor truly cares about her fans and it shows with every single interaction. The whole thing still feels like a dream."

C: As you may know, this coming issue is largely inspired by “ME!” Can you tell me something really silly and quirky that makes you "the only one of you?"

L: "What makes me the only one of me? 100% my vivid imagination. Growing up as an only child left me to my imagination and love for stuffed animals (each had their own cute unique name and personality). As I grew older, I realized I wanted to write books. I have so many ideas for stories and they all play out in my head like a movie. Music does the same, which is what drew me to Taylor.

She paints such a perfect and vivid picture with her lyrics that I could see it all in my head..."

C: What do you hope that people take away from your art? Is it inspiration, motivation or something else?

L: "Honestly, if my art can make one person smile and inspire them to draw or try a craft, I feel accomplished. It’s an incredibly good stress reliever for me and an amazing feeling of accomplishment when I finish a piece. I hope my art can inspire people to check out Taylor’s music if they are new to the fandom! If I can motivate even just one person to say, 'Wow! I really like that drawing. I wanna try something like that,' I feel like I’ve done my job!"

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©2020 Lea Manning

Quick & Easy

By Carissa Shuman

Spring Essentials for Those "Essential" Errands

While we might not be running as many errands as of late, there are still many "essential" errands that must be ran. So, we put aside a few quick and easy projects that celebrate "ME!" and spring!

Of course, with the warmer weather, you’ll want short-sleeved comfy shirts, a tumbler to keep your refreshing drinks nice and cold, and an umbrella to protect you from those sneaky pop-up rainstorms. Oh, and since it’s also the time of year for getting organized, you may want to update your go-to wallet/purse. ©2020 K. Stovall Photography

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#1 T-shirt Who doesn’t enjoy squirting blobs of fabric paint on a new shirt? Same! Using a solid cotton T-shirt, on the right sleeve of each shirt, we added “T.S.” and on the left we added the year we became a Taylor Swift fan.

We did not know each other at the time we each became a fan, and we did not discover the wonder that is Taylor in the same year. I'm a 2010 and Christa is a 2007 fan (fun facts).

For the front, we used fabric glue to adhere felt flowers and gold fabric paint for detailing. All in all, it took about half an hour to make the shirts (about 15 minutes a piece), then we let them dry overnight.

#2

Umbrella

#3

The turquoise umbrella was the final touch. We used a white paint pen to put a "13" on the push button, and a heart on the central top piece.

It's just subtle enough to show your Swiftie spirit while staying dry.

#4

Tumbler

Wallet

Like our travel mug from April 2020, this is a relatively simple project. After the snafu we had spraying clear coat over text written in Sharpie, we decided it would definitely be better to use a paint pen. Since the colors on this travel cup were darker, we chose a white paint pen.

It took two to three layers of the paint for the text to show up nicely. But, the increase in time was worth the reduction in hassle we encountered when using a Sharpie. It was much easier to correct mistakes and we didn’t have to worry about the clear coat messing up our hand lettering.

The wallet/purse we found includes card slots, a zippered portion for cash and coins, a pen holder, and a place to secure your phone. Using pink, white, and turquoise paint pens, which followed the color scheme of the wallet, we decorated it with hearts and 13s.

But the part that was probably the most fun was writing “Psycho” and “on the phone” on the phone pouch.

Note: With the exception of the T-shirt, be sure to cover your decorative accents with a clear coat spray to protect them from easily wearing off.

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13

MEMORIAL DAY FACTS

By Carissa Shuman

MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH

MINDFULNESS Mindfulness is a buzzword we hear a lot, but what does it really mean? Simply put, mindfulness is being aware of something. Since May is Military Appreciation Month, we thought it would be a good time to develop mindfulness about Memorial Day. We are sharing with you 13 facts about Memorial Day.

#1

Technically, Memorial Day only celebrates those who died in service.

We often give appreciation to all service members on Memorial Day, after all, they deserve it.

However, those who are retired, and those who are still serving actually have their own separate days of recognition. Retired service members are celebrated on Veteran’s Day every November 11, while those who are currently serving are celebrated annually on Armed Forces Day, which falls on the third Saturday of May.

#2

Memorial Day was initially intended only for those who died in the Civil War. Memorial Day now recognizes soldiers who died while in service during any war America has been a part of.

#3 Memorial Day was Decoration Day.

originally

dubbed

Decoration Day was started because of the popularity of decorating the graves of Civil War soldiers, which many areas designated a specific day for.

#4

Many cities claim to be the birthplace of the first Memorial Day. Waterloo, New York is one such place, which had a documented celebration in 1866. As a result, President Lyndon B. Johnson later declared it to be the "Birthplace of Memorial Day." But there are references to other places having similar celebrations even earlier, and there’s no documentation to prove where and when the first one took place.

#5 One of the first celebrations honoring the dead took place May 1, 1865.

According to Reader’s Digest, freed slaves in Charleston, South Carolina, along with missionaries and educators honored 257 Union soldiers who were buried in a mass common grave. In recognition of their efforts, the community prepared a memorial service full of scripture, singing, and decorating of the grave with roses and crosses. Although it seems that this should be considered the first Memorial Day celebration, it’s not recognized as such since it did not directly lead to the founding of the federal holiday.

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#8 Some

states celebrate a separate day to remember only the Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War.

#6

When it was founded, Memorial Day was set to be celebrated every May 30.

It wasn’t until 1971 when it was moved to the last Monday in May. That’s because it was part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, a congressional act that moved several federal holidays to Mondays to make 3-day weekends.

#7

Why did General John A. Logan choose May 30 as the celebration date?

Some historians speculate that General Logan chose the original date of May 30 precisely because it did NOT mark the anniversary of any specific battles. Others think it had more to do with the weather. By the end of May, both Northern and Southern states would have plenty of flowers in bloom that they could use to decorate the graves.

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This separate focus began soon after the federal holiday started, and several states still recognize Confederate Memorial Day, alternatively known as Confederate Decoration Day or Confederate Heroes Day (as it is observed in Texas every January 19). Alabama, Florida, and Georgia celebrate this Confederate holiday on the fourth Monday in April, while Mississippi observes it on the last Monday of April. For North and South Carolina, the state holiday falls on May 10.

#9

Memorial Day was founded by General John A. Logan.

The holiday, known as Decoration Day at the time, was officially founded in 1868 by General Logan, who served in the Union army.

#10

The American flag is only flown half-mast until noon on Memorial Day. According to livescience.com, this tradition started sometime prior to the 20th century, but became official flag protocol in 1924. The U.S. Code Title 4, Section 6 states, “For the nation lives, and the flag is a symbol of illumination.”

This basically conceptualizes the idea that while the half-mast flag recognizes the dead, raising it to full-mast symbolizes the continuation of our nation as a whole despite such a toll.

#11

Wearing red poppies as a way to honor fallen soldiers started because of a poem written during WWI. It all started when Moina Michael, an educator and humanitarian, read the poem “In Flanders Fields,” written by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. The poem began with the imagery of poppies blowing in a field between rows of graves simply marked with crosses. Moina then decided that wearing a red flower would be a good way to show remembrance of those who fought and died in World War I.

#12

Memorial Day became a federally recognized national holiday during the The Vietnam War. Even though it was celebrated regularly across the U.S. on May 30, Memorial Day wasn’t added to the list of federal holidays until 1968, when it was lumped together with other nation-wide holidays in the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. That, of course, is what established Memorial Day as being celebrated on the last Monday in May, beginning in 1971.

#13

These facts were sourced from the following websites: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/artsand-culture/a6359/history-of-memorial-day/ https://explorethearchive.com/history-of-memorialday https://worldstrides.com/blog/2018/05/7-facts-youprobably-didnt-know-about-memorial-day/ https://www.livescience.com/9923-flag-staff-noonmemorial-day.html http://amsterdamnews.com/news/2017/may/29/free d-slaves-started-first-memorial-day-in-the-us/ https://www.rd.com/culture/memorial-day-trivia/

Americans are required to observe a moment of silence at 3:00 p.m. on Memorial Day. That’s right, it’s a law. The moment of silence honoring fallen soldiers is to be held at 3:00 p.m. local time according to The National Moment of Remembrance Act, which was passed by Congress in 2000.

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RESOURCES Ask us on social! #Mood13

The following resources are helpful if you are a budget crafter and enjoy learning new techniques. Anytime we can score a deal or learn new tricks, we do so with great enthusiasm. We also love finding second-hand items for our project pieces. Not only is it budget friendly but it's eco-friendly too. Remember, you can score big deals with retailers who have reward programs.

Neighborhood Facebook groups, college communities and your church are also great places to ask for donations to get your project supplies. In need of a bunch of picture frames? Ask your neighbors, because reusing materials is fun.

THRIFT Garage Sales Good Will Thrift Stores Antique Stores Salvation Army Facebook

RETAIL

Neighborhood Facebook Groups College Communities Church

Ollie's Amazon Walmart Big Lots Dollar Tree Dollar General

Target Dollar Spot JOANN Fabrics (with 40% off coupon) Michael's (coupons via mailing list)

HGTV is an amazing resource for all things home and garden. If you are a beginner at gardening, light building, or painting, you can find just about anything you need here.

How to Hand Letter – Suzy Grace has a great video on YouTube if you’re a beginner: "10 Things I Wished I Knew As a Beginner." You can find it on her YouTube channel How to Hand Letter. She also has a website: howtohandletter.com. We recommend practicing what you want to write a few times on paper before applying it to your project.

We also highly recommend rubbing alcohol, acetone nail polish remover, and q-tips to remove mistakes.

The Latina Next Door, Yami has an awesome DIY channel on YouTube that includes a video “DIY Felt ” if you are new to making felt flowers.

LEARN WITH YOUTUBE CHANNELS

HGTV How to Hand Letter The Latina Next Door

Matt Adlard (The Topless Baker)

Graphic: Christa Thompson You can use this graphic to sketch your curtain or project this image and trace. * for personal use only

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Christa Thompson christa@fearless13publishing.com

MOOD 13

Carissa Shuman carissa@fearless13publishing.com Support support@fearless13publishing.com Disclaimer All rights reserved. The material in this magazine is owned by Fearless 13 Publishing. Any material not owned by Fearless 13 Publishing is published with permission from the original owner for the intention of content use within this publication. Mood 13 Magazine is published by D.B.A Fearless 13 Publishing, registered under Travel Media Solutions, LLC. Mood 13 Magazine is not affiliated with Taylor Swift, Taylor Nation, 13 Management or any entity owned and operated by Taylor Swift. All photos are original and owned by Fearless 13 Publishing. Any copyrighted material that is photographed is part of an original project and was purchased from TaylorSwift.com or obtained at an official Taylor Swift event. All Taylor Swift related information is copyright of its respective source, Taylor Swift, Republic Records, Universal Music Group and/or Big Machine Records, unless otherwise stated. Added commentary, opinions and editorials expressed on this publication are copyright and property of Fearless 13 Publishing only and do not reflect the opinions of Taylor Swift and/or her management. The projects outlined in this publication are intended for personal use and not for commercial distribution. *Wine and other alcoholic beverages expressed in this publication are for the intended use of parties 21 years of age or older. Non-alcoholic alternatives are provided for readers who do not meet the legal drinking age in the U.S. where this publication is headquartered.

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t c a t n Co us

EDITOR'S BLURB

By Carissa Shuman Co-Editor-in-Chief In this issue, we celebrated Taylor’s promotional month of ”ME!” which had her jet setting around the globe for an international publicity tour. She sure was a busy boss in 2019 as June brought with even more press coverage, but most importantly, a letter to her senator. As we say goodbye to a month of “ME!,” which was really all about YOU, we are excited to share that June will be about all of us.

There’s a saying that you truly can’t love others if you don’t love yourself. Hopefully, we’ve helped you tap into the well of inspiration that is Taylor Swift, bring life and rejuvenation into your home as you hunker down and stay healthy and set aside some much needed me time with out self-care ideas.

Loving and respecting yourself isn’t always easy, but it’s important to be mindful of how you view, judge and speak to yourself. Take this time at home as an opportunity to pause, observe, think about what is going on around you and calm down. Follow the “golden rule” and take how you want to be viewed, judged, treated, etc… and apply it to how you interact with others.

June is PRIDE Month and more than anything, it should be a time to focus on the meaning of equality. We are all human.

Let’s take a cue from one iconic queen and use our voices and actions to show love, acceptance, and respect to our fellow humans. Be the example of the future we want to achieve.

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JUNE sneak peek: Swiftie Summer Survival Kit PRIDE decor More rainbows and probably a few flamingos Only the young, 13 Rainbow Crafts for Your Kids #1 Dad A Todrick Surprise!

Remember, you’re the ONLY one of you, you know the rest!

13

"WE ALL GOT CROWNS" TAYLOR SWIFT

Fearless

LEA MANNING

@madamour13 ©2020 Fearless 13 Publishing, LLC

@Mood13Magazine #MyMood13

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