068. The Tired Horse, Streaming Wars

An exciting close-to-home brand launch and sharing which streaming services are worth the money

Hi, I’m Maggie, and welcome to Tender Forms Off-Camera: a weekly newsletter on all things slow: beauty, fashion, living. Links in this newsletter may include affiliate links or discount referrals. If you enjoy and would like to support this newsletter, click the button below or shop through my links! No pressure but thank you if you do.

---

With utmost pleasure, I can finally introduce what Husband has been working tirelessly on for over the past year. This is The Tired Horse.

The Tired Horse Website © 2021

Back in Newsletter 057, I mentioned that I was working on some very exciting projects. Well, this was one of them! It has secretly been living on Instagram @thetiredhorse since January, and the website covertly went live a few weeks back. In Husband’s words, The Tired Horse is “Wood stuff made in Gresham, Oregon.” Yes, you can look forward to more of his humorous tone throughout all copy on the website.

But for us laymen, The Tired Horse is a shop filled with custom woodcraft goods. Here are a few things you can find:

• Cutting, cheese, display boards

• Magnetic knife boards

• Coasters in all shapes and sizes

• Incense cone houses (a personal favorite)

• Cigar ashtrays

Images featured below link directly to the items!

First and foremost, this is 100% Husband’s venture, and I just support where I can. Everything is conceptualized, sourced, and handcrafted by him. The Tired Horse brand that you’ll see across all items was his logo concept sketched, then I worked closely with him to execute the final one. I expanded the rest of the branding with a custom logotype, website design, product photography, and videos.

“Wood stuff.”

If I had to describe The Tired Horse in one word, it would be craftsmanship. Husband holds such artistry in his woodwork. I have learned more woodcraft terms in the past year than I ever thought I would. All of them are fascinating and grant my brain a welcome departure from what I think most of us typically picture when it comes to woodcraft.

He sources all wood from local Oregon lumberyards specializing in a relatively new term called “urban lumber.” This means that when trees in urban spaces need to come down, whether for new developments, buildings, or roads, they are felled, milled, and kiln-dried by companies that specialize in this.

The number one reason to love urban lumber is that it’s sustainable. These trees are often cut up as firewood, mulched, or put into landfills, when they’re beautiful lumber that should be used for woodcraft instead. And unlike tree farming for lumber or logging from remote forests to provide towns with lumber, these are local! It’s also important to note that urban lumber is not salvaged lumber (taken from torn down old houses or barns, often full of nails).

Magnetic Knife Block (L), Coasters in Thins (R)

Husband sources his lumber from Epilogue and Goby Walnut. Epilogue is a true one-man-show by the talented David Barmon as he goes, fells, mills, and kiln dries it all himself. Goby Walnut also specializes in urban lumber though they call it “domestic hardwood,” and service the broader regions of the Northwest. Goby Walnut also carries exotic hardwoods, which are harder to find, non-domestic species generally sought by luthiers (African hardwoods like ebony or purpleheart). This is a joy to Husband, considering he was a Luthier building custom guitars in Texas before his pastry and fine dining career!

My personal favorite cutting board!

The item that started it all was the humble cutting board. Having worked as both a luthier and chef, it is the perfect marriage of the two. However, these are not your average cutting boards. You’ll see throughout the website that all items are multipurpose. The cutting boards are also display boards, thanks to their generous sizing, gorgeous weight, and design. But they’re made to be used! They’ll age and patina beautifully, and all boards come with The Tired Horse 2oz “Horse Wax” for easy maintenance as they age.

And all items are strong. Whether it’s the joinery, unique pieces of wood, or the modern take of shape or finish, everything equals a long-lasting custom piece. And I must emphasize that these boards are hefty! I’d say they average 10 pounds each.

Incense Cone House 01 (L), End-grain Oak 01 Board (R)

A personal favorite of mine from the shop is the Incense Cone House. If you’ve been a long-time follower on Instagram or YouTube, you may remember having seen his custom bookends of a minimal, geometric house. I had just purchased the CROSBY Incense Cones and asked if he could make something akin to the bookend but to hold an incense cone instead. Of course, as with all his handmade items, he went above and beyond. Look at how beautiful, sweet, and modern this Incense Cone House looks! *If you explore around on the website, you’ll find a video of it in action! He currently has four listed on the site. Each comes with a custom house and base. Some bases are smaller and others larger. You can use the base separately to display other items such as candles, small vases, etc.

Board: Walnut 05 (L), Walnut 03 (R)

Since I get to see everything as they get made, it soon became apparent that one of Husband’s most talented traits is his mixture of woods. He has such an eye for finding that one unique part in the lumber, whether it’s a live edge (an edge that hasn’t been manipulated flat and is the original curve of the wood itself) or decorating it with his custom inlays. There’s something exceptional about each one. No two are alike.

Smoke Tray C02 (L), Walnut 06 Board (R)

He’s also a lover of pipes and cigars, so naturally, he made cigar ashtrays. The detail in some of these is just stunning. I don’t smoke, so I would use them to hold jewelry, keys, or my wallet instead, haha!

And last but not least are the coasters. These come in three styles: thicks, thins, and live edge. Pictured directly below are the thicks. The average large coffee mug will fit these just fine. The thins are shown earlier in the newsletter, and the live edge ones feature an organic bottom edge. The thicks and live edges make equally nice jewelry trays for rings, necklaces, bracelets, or earrings. They’re sold in sets of 4, so you could dedicate one for jewelry, keys by the door, one for your beverage, and another for a candle.

Coasters in Thicks

I wish you could see and feel these in person. They all have such a beautiful weight and are so unique. And aside from each item’s excellent functionality and looking gorgeous in your kitchen, on your desk, or anywhere in your home, they would also make great gifts for birthdays, housewarmings, and holidays.

He also offers custom work. So if you see anything you like but want it in a specific wood, shape, or size, or you want something entirely your own, reach out through the custom section or simply email howdy@thetiredhorse.com.

I am so unbelievably proud of him. The way he harvests such textures and shapes from the wood is incredible. There are plenty of exciting items to come, so make sure to sign up for the newsletter (on the homepage) and follow the Instagram account for item restocks, new products, sales, and more. Please show him some love!

---

This past week marked the end of my self-imposed subscription deadline for Disney+. I gave myself two months to consume all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Disney animated feature classics and live-action remakes, and ‘The Mandalorian.’ Plus, any miscellaneous entertainment would be a bonus. It was a whirlwind, stressful at times, and while I didn’t get to watch all of the bonus ones, I 100% achieved what I set out to do.

Now that this subscription is over, I thought it was high time to reassess all of our streaming services and cut out the fat, so to speak. With streaming coming into its golden age where every network and studio has its own service, subscription costs add up way too quickly, and I’d like to cut back a little. So below are the results of all my research, contemplation, and gut-led new lineup.

HBO Max ($14.99/mo)

This is by far the most essential subscription to me. I have been subscribed since 2014, I want to say, and I always will. Gets the best old and new movies on any subscription service, though the latest releases are one of its strong suits. Especially in the past year with releasing Warner Bros. Pictures theatrical releases simultaneously on the app. As long as this happens, a subscription should be a no-brainer. But that’s not even its most substantial aspect! That belongs to none other than their Original Series. Again, both old and new including but certainly not limited to: ‘Succession,’ ‘Mare of Easttown,’ ‘Sex and the City,’ ‘The Sopranos,’ ‘Industry,’ ‘True Detective,’ ‘The Young Pope,’ ‘Big Little Lies,’ ‘Eastbound & Down,’ ‘Sharp Objects,’ ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ ‘Veep’… Alright, you get the picture. By far the best across the board. *Although I have a sinking feeling Apple TV+ is starting to hit its stride. 

HBO is also a sleeper hit for family households with young ones! Aside from Disney+, somehow, they have kid content covered. That means Sesame Street, Looney Tunes, Studio Ghibli, Cartoon Network, DC, as well as a whole slew of movies, both animated and live-action. From classics like ‘All Dogs Go To Heaven’ and ‘The Wizard of Oz’ to remakes like ‘Space Jam’ or new classics like ‘Elf.’

Hulu: No Ads Plan ($11.99/mo)

This is the second most important because it is the most practical. Husband and I eat dinner in front of the TV. It’s our favorite time of the day, dinner (because it’s always the best meal) and sitting together enjoying a cooking television program. Yes, when we eat dinner, we watch cooking shows. This includes: ‘Top Chef,’ ‘Hells Kitchen,’ ‘Masterchef,’ (any Gordon Ramsay show for that matter), and most of The Food Network (‘Iron Chef America,’ ‘Cutthroat Kitchen,’ ‘Beat Bobby Flay,’ etc.). It also gets surprisingly decent movies and is fast on indie film releases. Most often, they hit Hulu first before migrating to another service.

One of its best traits is that it offers FX shows, specifically tagged as ‘FX on Hulu.’ This means we get to watch and rewatch two household favorites, ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ and ‘What We Do in the Shadows.’ I’ve also enjoyed it for ‘American Horror Story,’ ‘A Teacher,’ and ‘Fargo’ (first three-ish seasons).

And occasionally, they’ll have some stellar Original Series like ‘The Great,’ ‘Difficult People,’ and everyone’s favorite ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ (though I only got through two seasons worth).

It’s also home to our favorite weeknight wind-down shows, meaning any competition show from The History Channel. Specifically, ‘Forged in Fire,’ ‘Forged in Fire: Beat The Judges,’ and ‘Alone.’

Prime Video ($119.99/yr with Amazon Prime Membership, or $8.99/mo)

The fact that you get Prime Video with your Amazon Prime Membership is a steal if you love their two-day shipping. If we didn’t already have the Prime Membership, I would not shell out another $8.99 per month. But, since we have it, let’s talk about some of its pros. It houses all the hit Amazon Studios films you’d want to watch. Any new release of theirs will be available here first before other services. Both Prime Video and Hulu share a very similar library. You can often find the same films and television series on both. You will most likely find a movie you’ll want to rewatch on here at any given point, whether it’s from the Wes Anderson catalog, a rom-com, or an action movie. It also has one of my favorite television series ever: ‘ZeroZeroZero.’

Apple TV+ ($4.99/mo)

Once I stopped the Disney+ subscription, I put us back on Apple TV+. Previously, we were going off my Mom’s free trial. And had ‘Lisey’s Story’ not been released, I probably would not have resubscribed. I’ve watched several Apple TV+ original series like ‘Servant,’ ‘The Morning Show,’ ‘Trying,’ and ‘Mythic Quest.’ While the production quality is very high, I find most to be style over substance. They’re enjoyable, but I don’t think twice about it and tend to forget them the moment I finish. I plan to binge ‘Lisey’s Story,’ ‘Physical,’ and ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 2 before reassessing if I want to continue the subscription. The other series I’m looking forward to won’t be released until later this year, so I may pause and come back.

Now let’s talk about the rest that didn’t make the cut.

The Criterion Channel ($99.99/yr or $10.99/mo)

Of all those that didn’t make it, this one will most likely happen later this year. I’ve wanted to subscribe for a while. The only thing that was stopping me was how much use I’d get from it. It’s a bummer that, like many others, the service cycles their films in and out. So while a film on our watchlist may be there now, it doesn’t mean it will stay there, and vice versa. In other words, it never has the complete Criterion Collection making it hard to gauge when is the best time to sign up for it.

Netflix: Standard ($13.99/mo)

We’ve been long-time subscribers of Netflix, and when the subscription reassessment came, this was the first to go. The main reason being that it had been months, and I mean months, since I could remember watching anything on Netflix. With many large television networks having their own streaming services and film studios striking deals with exclusive releases on said services, the Netflix library has been dwindling significantly. They may have been the ones to put True Crime documentaries on the map, but since their first one, all the others have been forgettable at best. There’s simply no Netflix content that I’m interested in anymore.

Disney+ ($7.99/mo or $79.99/yr)

This is excellent as a monthly option if you’re in the mood for any of the MCU, classic Disney animated features or films, anything Pixar or Star Wars, or you have kids who love to watch television. Outside of that, there’s nothing I feel I particularly need or want to watch on this service. Again, I think it’s ridiculous to charge $29.99 to rent a film, even a “blockbuster” as big as ‘Black Widow.’* I imagine this service will be good for when nostalgia hits hard, which most likely will be during the winter holidays.

Pro tip: Disney+’s default “Automatic” setting streams all content at the highest quality possible, meaning 4K. In fact, when your internet speed is too low, it will pause until it regains the ability to do so at 4K, versus continuing at a lower HD or SD quality. This made me blow through my monthly Internet data leading to extra fees. DARN YOU, DISNEY+. Make sure to change your app settings data usage to Moderate (HD) or lower if you’re not watching on a television.

*Speaking of: good for Scarlett Johansson in suing Disney for breach of contract. Films releasing on streaming services are still relatively new. Still, actors should be prepared and start negotiating it into their contracts. Johansson is warranted in her suit since Disney changed the terms when they released it on Disney+ alongside theaters. That, in effect, breaches the contract and Johannson’s original earnings based on a strict theaters-only release. Go get ’em, Johannson.

Hulu (ad-supported), Disney+, ESPN+ bundle ($13.99/mo)

I wanted to include this bundle because I think it’s pretty appealing for most families. For just $13.99, you get Disney+, Hulu with ads, and ESPN+, whereas separate subscriptions of the three would cost you $20.67 per month. The only downside in this bundle is that Hulu will have ads. Nothing disturbs the flow of a movie more than multiple ads. Instead, you can “upgrade” and get the bundle with the Hulu no-ads plan for $19.99/mo. That’s still $0.68 less than subscribing separately.

Peacock (free with ads and limited content, $4.99/mo, or $9.99/mo)

I will never subscribe to this for the sheer fact that it’s called “Peacock.” Just kidding. But also, I’m not kidding. Yes, NBC may have its own streaming service, but I don’t watch any NBC. The only thing that would be worth it is streaming all of ‘The Office.’ However, to do so, you must have a paying subscription. Peacock Premium is $4.99 per month with ads. Premium Plus removes all ads at $9.99 per month. I initially thought that the next time Husband and I want to rewatch ‘The Office,’ we’ll probably sign up for a month or two. But then I found out the entire series has been on sale before for $29.99 on iTunes. It’s currently back to its ridiculous price of $99.99, but if it’s been on sale before, it could happen again. And when it does, it feels worth it to me since the series could always go to another streaming service that I might not be subscribed to. I won’t need to worry about the hassle of changing up services and remembering to cancel a subscription if I already own the series.

Paramount+ ($4.99/mo, or $9.99/mo)

I only know of Paramount+ having worked on the rebrand briefly. Aside from that, its only selling point currently is that it has ‘A Quiet Place II.’ Even their award-winning series that I’ve never seen, ‘Yellowstone,’ is only available on Peacock. They’re working on Season 5 now along with a prequel, and their highly anticipated ‘Halo’ series isn’t set to premiere until 2022. Ergo, there’s no reason to get Paramount+ as of now. However, if you love Star Trek, it may be worth it for all its newer original Trek content, including ‘Star Trek: Picard’ and ‘Star Trek: Discovery.’ Like Peacock, its Essential plan goes for $4.99 per month with limited ads. Their Premium plan without ads runs $9.99.

Cable TV (???)

I haven’t had cable tv for well over a decade, and I don’t see any reason now. The only way I’ll sign up for cable tv again is if they somehow bundle all the services I want for a price less than what I’m currently paying. Which, in their defense, might happen sooner than I think with how things are progressing.

---

Thanks so much for reading and giving me the chance to gush about Husband for a bit. I’d love to know which streaming services survived your cut! Remember, you can always leave a comment or reply directly to this email to chat one-on-one.

As always, I hope you have a great start to your week! See you next Sunday.