diff --git a/gcd.go b/gcd.go
index f61dfe6..d17b8a3 100644
--- a/gcd.go
+++ b/gcd.go
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ var TIME_FORMAT = "Mon 3:04pm"
 type GrandCentralDispatcher struct {
 	core.QObject
 
-	currentOpenConversation string
+	currentOpenConversation string `property:"currentOpenConversation"`
+	themeScale float32 `property:"themeScale"`
 
 	// messages pane stuff
 	_ func(from, message, displayname string, mID uint, ts, source string) `signal:"AppendMessage"`
@@ -133,6 +134,11 @@ func (this *GrandCentralDispatcher) broadcast(signal string) {
 }
 
 func (this *GrandCentralDispatcher) importString(str string) {
+	if len(str) < 5 {
+		log.Printf("ignoring short string")
+		return
+	}
+
 	log.Printf("importing: %s\n", str)
 	onion := str
 	name := onion
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index aaa27ba..3317cf2 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"log"
 	"cwtch.im/cwtch/model"
 	"encoding/hex"
-)
+	)
 
 var gcd *GrandCentralDispatcher
 
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ func andHisBlackAndWhiteCat(incomingMessages chan Message) {
 }
 
 func initialize(view *quick.QQuickView) {
-	log.Printf(os.Args[0])
+	var err error
 	//TODO: this section is ported over and has a lot of printf errors, need to show them in the ui
 	var dirname, filename string
 	if os.Getenv("CWTCH_FOLDER") != "" {
@@ -258,8 +258,13 @@ func initialize(view *quick.QQuickView) {
 		filename = path.Join(dirname, "keep-this-file-private")
 	}
 
+	/*_, err := app2.NewApp(dirname, "/data/data/org.qtproject.example.go/lib/libtor.so")
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("ERROR CREATING CWTCH APP: %v", err)
+	}
+	time.Sleep(time.Second * 10)
+	*/
 	os.MkdirAll(dirname, 0700)
-	var err error
 	peer, err = libpeer.LoadCwtchPeer(filename, "be gay do crime")
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("couldn't load your config file, attempting to create a new one now")
diff --git a/qml/main.qml b/qml/main.qml
index 3925599..fe78b5b 100644
--- a/qml/main.qml
+++ b/qml/main.qml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import QtQuick 2.7
 import QtQuick.Controls 2.4
 import QtQuick.Controls.Material 2.0
 import QtQuick.Layouts 1.3
+import QtQuick.Window 2.11
 
 import "fonts/Twemoji.js" as T
 import "widgets"
@@ -42,6 +43,10 @@ Item {
 		return newtext
 	}
 
+	function scale() {
+		return 0.1 + 2 * zoomSlider.value
+	}
+
 
 	/* Rectangle { // THE TOOLBAR
 		id: toolbar
@@ -145,7 +150,37 @@ Item {
 						aux.visible: false
 					}
 
-					Label { text: "welcome to the global app settings page!" }
+					ScalingLabel {
+						Layout.maximumWidth: parent.width
+						text: "welcome to the global app settings page!"
+					}
+
+					Slider {
+						id: zoomSlider
+						from: 0.5
+						to: 1.6
+					}
+
+					ScalingLabel {
+						text: "Large text"
+						size: 20
+					}
+
+					ScalingLabel{
+						text: "Default size text, scale factor: " + zoomSlider.value
+					}
+
+					ScalingLabel {
+						text: "Small text"
+						size: 8
+					}
+
+
+					Component.onCompleted: {
+						zoomSlider.value = Screen.pixelDensity / 3.2 // artistic license. set by erinn. fight me before changing
+						if (zoomSlider.value < zoomSlider.from) zoomSlider.value = zoomSlider.from
+						if (zoomSlider.value > zoomSlider.to) zoomSlider.value = zoomSlider.to
+					}
 				}
 
 				ColumnLayout { // userProfilePane
diff --git a/qml/widgets/IconButton.qml b/qml/widgets/IconButton.qml
deleted file mode 100644
index 1f9cd38..0000000
--- a/qml/widgets/IconButton.qml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-import QtGraphicalEffects 1.0
-import QtQuick 2.7
-import QtQuick.Controls 2.4
-import QtQuick.Controls.Material 2.0
-import QtQuick.Layouts 1.3
-
-SimpleButton {
-	id: root
-	font: "FontAwesome"
-	text: icon + (label == "" ? "" : " " + label)
-
-	property string icon
-	property string label
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/qml/widgets/Message.qml b/qml/widgets/Message.qml
index d954c18..d7f8de2 100644
--- a/qml/widgets/Message.qml
+++ b/qml/widgets/Message.qml
@@ -41,8 +41,12 @@ RowLayout {
 
 	Rectangle { // THIS IS JUST A PRETTY MESSAGE-HOLDING RECTANGLE
 		id: rectMessageBubble
-		height: lbl.height + ts.height + 4
+		height: lbl.height + ts.height + 8
+		Layout.minimumHeight: height
+		Layout.maximumHeight: height
 		width: colMessageBubble.width + 6
+		Layout.minimumWidth: width
+		Layout.maximumWidth: width
 		color: from == "me" ? "#B09CBC" : "#4B3557"
 		radius: 5
 
@@ -99,15 +103,13 @@ RowLayout {
 					leftPadding: 10
 				}
 
-				Label { text: dummy.width+", "+root.width }
-
 				Label { // MESSAGE ACKNOWLEDGMENT
 					id: ack
 					color: "#FFFFFF"
 					font.pixelSize: 10
 					anchors.right: parent.right
 					font.family: "FontAwesome"
-					text: from == "me" ? awesome.icons.fa_ellipsis_h : displayname
+					text: from == "me" ? (awesome.loaded ? awesome.icons.fa_ellipsis_h : "") : displayname
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/qml/widgets/MessageList.qml b/qml/widgets/MessageList.qml
index 0925827..779435b 100644
--- a/qml/widgets/MessageList.qml
+++ b/qml/widgets/MessageList.qml
@@ -87,8 +87,9 @@ ColumnLayout {
 	RowLayout { // THE BOTTOM DRAWER
 		Rectangle { // MESSAGE ENTRY TEXTFIELD
 			id: rectMessage
-			Layout.fillWidth: true
-			height: 40
+			Layout.fillWidth: 40 * zoomSlider.value
+			Layout.minimumHeight: 40 * zoomSlider.value
+			//height: 40 * zoomSlider.value
 			color: "#EDEDED"
 			border.color: "#AAAAAA"
 			radius: 10
@@ -194,14 +195,17 @@ ColumnLayout {
 		}
 
 		ColumnLayout {
+			id: colRight
 			spacing: 1
 
 
-			IconButton { // SEND MESSAGE BUTTON
+			SimpleButton { // SEND MESSAGE BUTTON
 				id: btnSend
-				icon: awesome.icons.fa_paper_plane
-				label: "send"
-				width: btnEmoji.width + btnAttach.width + 1
+				icon: "regular/paper-plane"
+				text: "send"
+				Layout.minimumWidth: btnEmoji.width + btnAttach.width + 1
+				Layout.maximumWidth: btnEmoji.width + btnAttach.width + 1
+
 				property int nextMessageID: 1
 
 				TextEdit {
@@ -225,17 +229,18 @@ ColumnLayout {
 
 				SimpleButton { // EMOJI DRAWER BUTTON
 					id: btnEmoji
-					text: awesome.icons.fa_smile_o
-					font: "FontAwesome"
+					icon: "regular/smile"
 
 					onClicked: gcd.popup("emoji not yet implemented, sorry")
 				}
 
-				IconButton {
+				SimpleButton {
 					id: btnAttach
-					icon: awesome.icons.fa_paperclip
+					icon: "solid/paperclip"
 
-					onClicked: gcd.popup("attachments not yet implemented, sorry")
+					onClicked: {
+						gcd.popup("attachments not yet implemented, sorry")
+					}
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/qml/widgets/MyProfile.qml b/qml/widgets/MyProfile.qml
index 2e74c04..3481110 100644
--- a/qml/widgets/MyProfile.qml
+++ b/qml/widgets/MyProfile.qml
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import QtQuick.Controls 2.4
 import QtQuick.Controls.Material 2.0
 import QtQuick.Controls.Styles 1.4
 import QtQuick.Layouts 1.3
+import QtQuick.Window 2.11
 
 ColumnLayout {
 	id: root
@@ -146,8 +147,9 @@ ColumnLayout {
 		text: "This is your address. You can give it out to people!\n" + onion
 	}
 
-	RowLayout { // TOOLS FOR EDITING PROFILE
+	Row { // TOOLS FOR EDITING PROFILE
 		anchors.horizontalCenter: parent.horizontalCenter
+		spacing: zoomSlider.value * 2
 
 
 		TextEdit { // USED TO POWER THE COPY/PASTE BUTTON
@@ -155,9 +157,9 @@ ColumnLayout {
 			visible: false
 		}
 
-		IconButton { // COPY ONION ADDRESS BUTTON
-			icon: awesome.icons.fa_clipboard
-			label: "copy"
+		SimpleButton { // COPY ONION ADDRESS BUTTON
+			icon: "regular/clipboard"
+			text: "copy"
 
 			onClicked: {
 				gcd.popup("copied to clipboard!")
@@ -167,16 +169,14 @@ ColumnLayout {
 			}
 		}
 
-		IconButton { // SETTINGS BUTTON
-			icon: awesome.icons.fa_cog
-			//label: "settings"
+		SimpleButton { // SETTINGS BUTTON
+			icon: "solid/cog"
 
 			onClicked: theStack.pane = theStack.settingsPane
 		}
 
-		IconButton { // SIGN OUT BUTTON
-			icon: awesome.icons.fa_sign_out
-			//label: "sign out"
+		SimpleButton { // SIGN OUT BUTTON
+			icon: "solid/sign-out-alt"
 
 			onClicked: {
 				gcd.popup("not yet implemented, sorry :(")
@@ -207,6 +207,7 @@ ColumnLayout {
 				color: "#888888"
 				padding: 2
 				text: hint
+				selectByMouse: true
 
 				onTextChanged: {
 					if (text != hint && text != "") {
diff --git a/qml/widgets/MyProfile.qmlc b/qml/widgets/MyProfile.qmlc
index da21d08..4bb0b48 100644
Binary files a/qml/widgets/MyProfile.qmlc and b/qml/widgets/MyProfile.qmlc differ
diff --git a/qml/widgets/SimpleButton.qml b/qml/widgets/SimpleButton.qml
index aea7892..bb43ae2 100644
--- a/qml/widgets/SimpleButton.qml
+++ b/qml/widgets/SimpleButton.qml
@@ -1,36 +1,68 @@
-import QtQuick 2.0
+import QtGraphicalEffects 1.0
+import QtQuick 2.7
+import QtQuick.Controls 2.4
+import QtQuick.Controls.Material 2.0
+import QtQuick.Layouts 1.3
+
+import "controls" as Awesome
+import "../fonts/Twemoji.js" as T
 
 Rectangle {
     id: button
-    width: buttonText.width + 20
-    height: 20
-	color: "#4B3557"
-	//border.color: focus ? "#BBBBBB" : "#AAAAAA"
-	//border.width: 1
+    width: (text == undefined || text == "" ? 0 : buttonText.width) + (icon == undefined || icon == "" ? 0 : ico.width) + 24 * zoomSlider.value
+    Layout.minimumWidth: width
+    Layout.maximumWidth: width
+    height: 20 * zoomSlider.value
+    Layout.minimumHeight: height
+    Layout.maximumHeight: height
+	color: mousedown ? "#B09CBC" : "#4B3557"
+	border.color: "#4B3557"
+	border.width: 1
     radius: 2
     antialiasing: true
 
     property bool checked: false
     property alias text: buttonText.text
     property alias font: buttonText.font.family
+    property string icon
+    property bool mousedown
     signal clicked
 
 
-    Text {
-        id: buttonText
-        anchors.centerIn: parent
-        font.pixelSize: parent.height * .5
-        color: "#FFFFFF"
-    }
+	RowLayout {
+		anchors.centerIn: parent
+
+		Image {
+			anchors.left: parent.left
+			id: ico
+			source: "qrc:/qml/images/fontawesome/"+icon+".svg"
+			height: button.height / 2
+			sourceSize.height: button.height / 2
+		}
+
+		Label {
+			id: buttonText
+			font.pixelSize: button.height / 2
+			color: "#FFFFFF"
+			anchors.left: ico.right
+			anchors.leftMargin: 6
+			visible: button.text != "" && button.text != undefined
+		}
+	}
 
 
     MouseArea {
         id: mouseArea
         anchors.fill: parent
+
         onClicked: {
         	parent.focus = true
         	parent.clicked()
         }
+
+       	onPressed: mousedown = true
+
+       	onReleased: mousedown = false
     }
 
     Keys.onSpacePressed: clicked()
diff --git a/qml/widgets/SimpleButton.qmlc b/qml/widgets/SimpleButton.qmlc
index ed4bb67..cf2ed5d 100644
Binary files a/qml/widgets/SimpleButton.qmlc and b/qml/widgets/SimpleButton.qmlc differ
diff --git a/qml/widgets/StackToolbar.qml b/qml/widgets/StackToolbar.qml
index 4ae957d..42aaca8 100644
--- a/qml/widgets/StackToolbar.qml
+++ b/qml/widgets/StackToolbar.qml
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ Rectangle { // OVERHEAD BAR ON STACK PANE
 	anchors.left: parent.left
 	anchors.right: parent.right
 	anchors.top: parent.top
-	height: 28
+	height: 20 * zoomSlider.value//btnAux.height + 4
+	Layout.minimumHeight: height
+	Layout.maximumHeight: height
 	color: "#EDEDED"
 
 	property alias text: lbl.text
@@ -20,9 +22,9 @@ Rectangle { // OVERHEAD BAR ON STACK PANE
 	property alias back: btnBack
 
 
-	IconButton {// BACK BUTTON
+	SimpleButton {// BACK BUTTON
 		id: btnBack
-		icon: awesome.icons.fa_arrow_circle_o_left
+		icon: "solid/arrow-circle-left"
 		anchors.left: parent.left
 		anchors.verticalCenter: parent.verticalCenter
 		anchors.leftMargin: 6
@@ -31,19 +33,18 @@ Rectangle { // OVERHEAD BAR ON STACK PANE
 		onClicked: theStack.pane = theStack.emptyPane
 	}
 
-	Label { // TEXT
+	ScalingLabel { // TEXT
 		id: lbl
-		font.pixelSize: 16
 		text: "Sarah Jamie Lewis"
 		anchors.horizontalCenter: parent.horizontalCenter
 		anchors.verticalCenter: parent.verticalCenter
 	}
 
-	IconButton { // COG BUTTON
+	SimpleButton { // COG BUTTON
 		id: btnAux
 		anchors.verticalCenter: parent.verticalCenter
 		anchors.right: parent.right
 		anchors.rightMargin: 6
-		icon: awesome.icons.fa_cog
+		icon: "solid/cog"
 	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file