diff --git a/tailbone/forms/core.py b/tailbone/forms/core.py
index f4fa79e4..beae42a4 100644
--- a/tailbone/forms/core.py
+++ b/tailbone/forms/core.py
@@ -1043,9 +1043,17 @@ class Form(object):
             if field_type:
                 attrs['type'] = field_type
             if messages:
-                attrs[':message'] = '[{}]'.format(', '.join([
-                    "'{}'".format(msg.replace("'", r"\'"))
-                    for msg in messages]))
+                if len(messages) == 1:
+                    msg = messages[0]
+                    if msg.startswith('`') and msg.endswith('`'):
+                        attrs[':message'] = msg
+                    else:
+                        attrs['message'] = msg
+                else:
+                    # nb. must pass an array as JSON string
+                    attrs[':message'] = '[{}]'.format(', '.join([
+                        "'{}'".format(msg.replace("'", r"\'"))
+                        for msg in messages]))
 
             # merge anything caller provided
             attrs.update(bfield_attrs)
diff --git a/tailbone/grids/core.py b/tailbone/grids/core.py
index 41d75fc2..b428aaa6 100644
--- a/tailbone/grids/core.py
+++ b/tailbone/grids/core.py
@@ -1374,6 +1374,7 @@ class Grid(object):
         """
         context = dict(kwargs)
         context['grid'] = self
+        context['request'] = self.request
         context['data_prop'] = data_prop
         context['empty_labels'] = empty_labels
         if 'grid_columns' not in context:
diff --git a/tailbone/static/css/layout.css b/tailbone/static/css/layout.css
index 0761d001..ef5c5352 100644
--- a/tailbone/static/css/layout.css
+++ b/tailbone/static/css/layout.css
@@ -90,6 +90,11 @@ header span.header-text {
  * "object helper" panel
  ******************************/
 
+.object-helpers .panel {
+    margin: 1rem;
+    margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
+}
+
 .object-helpers .panel-heading {
     white-space: nowrap;
 }
diff --git a/tailbone/templates/forms/deform.mako b/tailbone/templates/forms/deform.mako
index db63a424..8a940347 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/forms/deform.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/forms/deform.mako
@@ -55,12 +55,16 @@
         % if form.auto_disable_save or form.auto_disable:
             <b-button type="is-primary"
                       native-type="submit"
-                      :disabled="${form.component_studly}Submitting">
+                      :disabled="${form.component_studly}Submitting"
+                      icon-pack="fas"
+                      icon-left="save">
               {{ ${form.component_studly}ButtonText }}
             </b-button>
         % else:
             <b-button type="is-primary"
-                      native-type="submit">
+                      native-type="submit"
+                      icon-pack="fas"
+                      icon-left="save">
               ${getattr(form, 'submit_label', getattr(form, 'save_label', "Submit"))}
             </b-button>
         % endif
diff --git a/tailbone/templates/generate_feature.mako b/tailbone/templates/generate_feature.mako
index 18c9a7a2..6b0d781f 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/generate_feature.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/generate_feature.mako
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
                   <div class="level-item">
                     <b-button type="is-primary"
                               icon-pack="fas"
-                              icon-left="fas fa-plus"
+                              icon-left="plus"
                               @click="addColumn()">
                       New Column
                     </b-button>
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
                   <div class="level-item">
                     <b-button type="is-danger"
                               icon-pack="fas"
-                              icon-left="fas fa-trash"
+                              icon-left="trash"
                               @click="new_table.columns = []"
                               :disabled="!new_table.columns.length">
                       Delete All
@@ -164,11 +164,13 @@
                   <section class="modal-card-body">
 
                     <b-field label="Name">
-                      <b-input v-model="editingColumnName"></b-input>
+                      <b-input v-model="editingColumnName"
+                               expanded />
                     </b-field>
 
                     <b-field label="Data Type">
-                      <b-input v-model="editingColumnDataType"></b-input>
+                      <b-input v-model="editingColumnDataType"
+                               expanded />
                     </b-field>
 
                     <b-field label="Nullable">
@@ -179,7 +181,8 @@
                     </b-field>
 
                     <b-field label="Description">
-                      <b-input v-model="editingColumnDescription"></b-input>
+                      <b-input v-model="editingColumnDescription"
+                               expanded />
                     </b-field>
 
                   </section>
diff --git a/tailbone/templates/generated-projects/create.mako b/tailbone/templates/generated-projects/create.mako
index 32d205a0..6c3af299 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/generated-projects/create.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/generated-projects/create.mako
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
 <%def name="page_content()">
   % if project_type:
       <b-field grouped>
-        <b-field horizontal expanded label="Project Type">
+        <b-field horizontal expanded label="Project Type"
+                 class="is-expanded">
           ${project_type}
         </b-field>
         <once-button type="is-primary"
diff --git a/tailbone/templates/grids/b-table.mako b/tailbone/templates/grids/b-table.mako
index fbd36cbb..1ef3ba7b 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/grids/b-table.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/grids/b-table.mako
@@ -76,12 +76,12 @@
       </b-table-column>
   % endif
 
-  <template slot="empty">
+  <template #empty>
     <div class="content has-text-grey has-text-centered">
       <p>
         <b-icon
            pack="fas"
-           icon="fas fa-sad-tear"
+           icon="sad-tear"
            size="is-large">
         </b-icon>
       </p>
diff --git a/tailbone/templates/grids/complete.mako b/tailbone/templates/grids/complete.mako
index cb040cc4..af1a4f4d 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/grids/complete.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/grids/complete.mako
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@
                 </span>
                 <b-select v-model="perPage"
                           size="is-small"
-                          @input="loadAsyncData()">
+                          @input="perPageUpdated">
                   % for value in grid.get_pagesize_options():
                       <option value="${value}">${value}</option>
                   % endfor
@@ -459,9 +459,11 @@
 
               if (params === undefined || params === null) {
                   params = new URLSearchParams(this.getBasicParams())
-                  params.append('partial', true)
-                  params = params.toString()
+              } else {
+                  params = new URLSearchParams(params)
               }
+              params.append('partial', true)
+              params = params.toString()
 
               this.loading = true
               this.$http.get(`${'$'}{this.ajaxDataUrl}?${'$'}{params}`).then(({ data }) => {
@@ -520,6 +522,12 @@
               this.loadAsyncData()
           },
 
+          perPageUpdated(value) {
+              this.loadAsyncData({
+                  pagesize: value,
+              })
+          },
+
           onSort(field, order, event) {
 
               if (event.ctrlKey) {
diff --git a/tailbone/templates/luigi/configure.mako b/tailbone/templates/luigi/configure.mako
index c35e3216..548701a9 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/luigi/configure.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/luigi/configure.mako
@@ -77,31 +77,31 @@
           <b-field label="Key"
                    :type="overnightTaskKey ? null : 'is-danger'">
             <b-input v-model.trim="overnightTaskKey"
-                     ref="overnightTaskKey">
-            </b-input>
+                     ref="overnightTaskKey"
+                     expanded />
           </b-field>
           <b-field label="Description"
                    :type="overnightTaskDescription ? null : 'is-danger'">
             <b-input v-model.trim="overnightTaskDescription"
-                     ref="overnightTaskDescription">
-            </b-input>
+                     ref="overnightTaskDescription"
+                     expanded />
           </b-field>
           <b-field label="Module">
-            <b-input v-model.trim="overnightTaskModule">
-            </b-input>
+            <b-input v-model.trim="overnightTaskModule"
+                     expanded />
           </b-field>
           <b-field label="Class Name">
-            <b-input v-model.trim="overnightTaskClass">
-            </b-input>
+            <b-input v-model.trim="overnightTaskClass"
+                     expanded />
           </b-field>
           <b-field label="Script">
-            <b-input v-model.trim="overnightTaskScript">
-            </b-input>
+            <b-input v-model.trim="overnightTaskScript"
+                     expanded />
           </b-field>
           <b-field label="Notes">
             <b-input v-model.trim="overnightTaskNotes"
-                     type="textarea">
-            </b-input>
+                     type="textarea"
+                     expanded />
           </b-field>
         </section>
 
@@ -194,19 +194,19 @@
           <b-field label="Key"
                    :type="backfillTaskKey ? null : 'is-danger'">
             <b-input v-model.trim="backfillTaskKey"
-                     ref="backfillTaskKey">
-            </b-input>
+                     ref="backfillTaskKey"
+                     expanded />
           </b-field>
           <b-field label="Description"
                    :type="backfillTaskDescription ? null : 'is-danger'">
             <b-input v-model.trim="backfillTaskDescription"
-                     ref="backfillTaskDescription">
-            </b-input>
+                     ref="backfillTaskDescription"
+                     expanded />
           </b-field>
           <b-field label="Script"
                    :type="backfillTaskScript ? null : 'is-danger'">
-            <b-input v-model.trim="backfillTaskScript">
-            </b-input>
+            <b-input v-model.trim="backfillTaskScript"
+                     expanded />
           </b-field>
           <b-field grouped>
             <b-field label="Orientation">
@@ -222,8 +222,8 @@
           </b-field>
           <b-field label="Notes">
             <b-input v-model.trim="backfillTaskNotes"
-                     type="textarea">
-            </b-input>
+                     type="textarea"
+                     expanded />
           </b-field>
         </section>
 
@@ -252,7 +252,8 @@
              expanded>
       <b-input name="rattail.luigi.url"
                v-model="simpleSettings['rattail.luigi.url']"
-               @input="settingsNeedSaved = true">
+               @input="settingsNeedSaved = true"
+               expanded>
       </b-input>
     </b-field>
 
@@ -261,7 +262,8 @@
              expanded>
       <b-input name="rattail.luigi.scheduler.supervisor_process_name"
                v-model="simpleSettings['rattail.luigi.scheduler.supervisor_process_name']"
-               @input="settingsNeedSaved = true">
+               @input="settingsNeedSaved = true"
+               expanded>
       </b-input>
     </b-field>
 
@@ -270,7 +272,8 @@
              expanded>
       <b-input name="rattail.luigi.scheduler.restart_command"
                v-model="simpleSettings['rattail.luigi.scheduler.restart_command']"
-               @input="settingsNeedSaved = true">
+               @input="settingsNeedSaved = true"
+               expanded>
       </b-input>
     </b-field>
 
diff --git a/tailbone/templates/master/view.mako b/tailbone/templates/master/view.mako
index dcf1f8ee..5973da43 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/master/view.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/master/view.mako
@@ -10,10 +10,9 @@
 <%def name="render_instance_header_title_extras()">
   % if master.touchable and master.has_perm('touch'):
       <b-button title="&quot;Touch&quot; this record to trigger sync"
-                icon-pack="fas"
-                icon-left="hand-pointer"
                 @click="touchRecord()"
                 :disabled="touchSubmitting">
+        <span><i class="fa fa-hand-pointer"></i></span>
       </b-button>
   % endif
   % if expose_versions:
@@ -34,7 +33,7 @@
   % if xref_buttons or xref_links:
       <nav class="panel">
         <p class="panel-heading">Cross-Reference</p>
-        <div class="panel-block buttons">
+        <div class="panel-block">
           <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 0.5rem;">
             % for button in xref_buttons:
                 ${button}
diff --git a/tailbone/templates/master/view_version.mako b/tailbone/templates/master/view_version.mako
index 6417dfb7..dfe03a64 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/master/view_version.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/master/view_version.mako
@@ -19,48 +19,39 @@
 </%def>
 
 <%def name="page_content()">
-## TODO: this was basically copied from Revel diff template..need to abstract
 
-<div class="form-wrapper">
+  <div class="form-wrapper" style="margin: 1rem; 0;">
+    <div class="form">
 
-  <div class="form">
+      <b-field label="Changed" horizontal>
+        <span>${h.pretty_datetime(request.rattail_config, changed)}</span>
+      </b-field>
+
+      <b-field label="Changed by" horizontal>
+        <span>${transaction.user or ''}</span>
+      </b-field>
+
+      <b-field label="IP Address" horizontal>
+        <span>${transaction.remote_addr}</span>
+      </b-field>
+
+      <b-field label="Comment" horizontal>
+        <span>${transaction.meta.get('comment') or ''}</span>
+      </b-field>
+
+      <b-field label="TXN ID" horizontal>
+        <span>${transaction.id}</span>
+      </b-field>
 
-    <div class="field-wrapper">
-      <label>Changed</label>
-      <div class="field">${h.pretty_datetime(request.rattail_config, changed)}</div>
     </div>
-
-    <div class="field-wrapper">
-      <label>Changed by</label>
-      <div class="field">${transaction.user or ''}</div>
-    </div>
-
-    <div class="field-wrapper">
-      <label>IP Address</label>
-      <div class="field">${transaction.remote_addr}</div>
-    </div>
-
-    <div class="field-wrapper">
-      <label>Comment</label>
-      <div class="field">${transaction.meta.get('comment') or ''}</div>
-    </div>
-
-    <div class="field-wrapper">
-      <label>TXN ID</label>
-      <div class="field">${transaction.id}</div>
-    </div>
-
   </div>
 
-</div><!-- form-wrapper -->
-
-<div class="versions-wrapper">
-  % for diff in version_diffs:
-      <h4 class="is-size-4 block">${diff.title}</h4>
-      ${diff.render_html()}
-  % endfor
-</div>
-
+  <div class="versions-wrapper">
+    % for diff in version_diffs:
+        <h4 class="is-size-4 block">${diff.title}</h4>
+        ${diff.render_html()}
+    % endfor
+  </div>
 </%def>
 
 
diff --git a/tailbone/templates/settings/email/index.mako b/tailbone/templates/settings/email/index.mako
index 11881285..dbc963b9 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/settings/email/index.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/settings/email/index.mako
@@ -49,10 +49,16 @@
             let url = '${url('{}.toggle_hidden'.format(route_prefix))}'
             let params = {
                 key: row.key,
-                hidden: row.hidden == 'No'? true : false,
+                hidden: row.hidden == 'No' ? true : false,
             }
             this.submitForm(url, params, response => {
-                row.hidden = params.hidden ? 'Yes' : 'No'
+                // must update "original" data row, since our row arg
+                // may just be a proxy and not trigger view refresh
+                for (let email of this.data) {
+                    if (email.key == row.key) {
+                        email.hidden = params.hidden ? 'Yes' : 'No'
+                    }
+                }
             })
         }
 
diff --git a/tailbone/templates/upgrades/configure.mako b/tailbone/templates/upgrades/configure.mako
index 4172c2b1..fd2c60ad 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/upgrades/configure.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/upgrades/configure.mako
@@ -66,21 +66,21 @@
                      :type="upgradeSystemKey ? null : 'is-danger'">
               <b-input v-model.trim="upgradeSystemKey"
                        ref="upgradeSystemKey"
-                       :disabled="upgradeSystemKey == 'rattail'">
-              </b-input>
+                       :disabled="upgradeSystemKey == 'rattail'"
+                       expanded />
             </b-field>
             <b-field label="Label"
                      :type="upgradeSystemLabel ? null : 'is-danger'">
               <b-input v-model.trim="upgradeSystemLabel"
                        ref="upgradeSystemLabel"
-                       :disabled="upgradeSystemKey == 'rattail'">
-              </b-input>
+                       :disabled="upgradeSystemKey == 'rattail'"
+                       expanded />
             </b-field>
             <b-field label="Command"
                      :type="upgradeSystemCommand ? null : 'is-danger'">
               <b-input v-model.trim="upgradeSystemCommand"
-                       ref="upgradeSystemCommand">
-              </b-input>
+                       ref="upgradeSystemCommand"
+                       expanded />
             </b-field>
           </section>
 
diff --git a/tailbone/templates/users/view.mako b/tailbone/templates/users/view.mako
index f65b6d1c..94931e52 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/users/view.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/users/view.mako
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
               <b-field label="Description"
                        :type="{'is-danger': !apiNewTokenDescription}">
                 <b-input v-model.trim="apiNewTokenDescription"
+                         expanded
                          ref="apiNewTokenDescription">
                 </b-input>
               </b-field>
diff --git a/tailbone/templates/views/model/create.mako b/tailbone/templates/views/model/create.mako
index 6a542c52..c5e22cfb 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/views/model/create.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/views/model/create.mako
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ def includeme(config):
   ${parent.modify_this_page_vars()}
   <script type="text/javascript">
 
-    ThisPageData.activeStep = null
+    ThisPageData.activeStep = 'enter-details'
 
     ThisPageData.modelNames = ${json.dumps(model_names)|n}
     ThisPageData.modelName = null
diff --git a/tailbone/util.py b/tailbone/util.py
index db6ce4a3..f6678316 100644
--- a/tailbone/util.py
+++ b/tailbone/util.py
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ def get_form_data(request):
     # TODO: this seems to work for our use case at least, but perhaps
     # there is a better way?  see also
     # https://docs.pylonsproject.org/projects/pyramid/en/latest/api/request.html#pyramid.request.Request.is_xhr
-    if request.is_xhr and not request.POST:
+    if (request.is_xhr or request.content_type == 'application/json') and not request.POST:
         return request.json_body
     return request.POST
 
diff --git a/tailbone/views/common.py b/tailbone/views/common.py
index 4632a285..35332b6b 100644
--- a/tailbone/views/common.py
+++ b/tailbone/views/common.py
@@ -187,7 +187,8 @@ class CommonView(View):
             data['client_ip'] = self.request.client_addr
             app.send_email('user_feedback', data=data)
             return {'ok': True}
-        return {'error': "Form did not validate!"}
+        dform = form.make_deform_form()
+        return {'error': str(dform.error)}
 
     def consume_batch_id(self):
         """
diff --git a/tailbone/views/master.py b/tailbone/views/master.py
index 20dc0dcf..87c592ee 100644
--- a/tailbone/views/master.py
+++ b/tailbone/views/master.py
@@ -3003,7 +3003,7 @@ class MasterView(View):
         button = HTML.tag('b-button', **btn_kw)
         button = str(button)
         button = button.replace('<b-button ',
-                                '<b-button tag="a"')
+                                '<b-button tag="a" ')
         button = HTML.literal(button)
         return button
 
diff --git a/tailbone/views/roles.py b/tailbone/views/roles.py
index 19faabd8..ddf08dd4 100644
--- a/tailbone/views/roles.py
+++ b/tailbone/views/roles.py
@@ -249,6 +249,7 @@ class RoleView(PrincipalMasterView):
         factory = self.get_grid_factory()
         g = factory(
             key='{}.users'.format(route_prefix),
+            request=self.request,
             data=[],
             columns=[
                 'full_name',
diff --git a/tailbone/views/users.py b/tailbone/views/users.py
index e4182da9..893bf7c4 100644
--- a/tailbone/views/users.py
+++ b/tailbone/views/users.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ class UserView(PrincipalMasterView):
     """
     model_class = User
     has_rows = True
+    rows_title = "User Events"
     model_row_class = UserEvent
     has_versions = True
     touchable = True
@@ -225,7 +226,7 @@ class UserView(PrincipalMasterView):
         #     f.set_required('password')
 
         # api_tokens
-        if self.creating or self.editing:
+        if self.creating or self.editing or self.deleting:
             f.remove('api_tokens')
         elif self.has_perm('manage_api_tokens'):
             f.set_renderer('api_tokens', self.render_api_tokens)
@@ -283,6 +284,7 @@ class UserView(PrincipalMasterView):
 
         factory = self.get_grid_factory()
         g = factory(
+            request=self.request,
             key='{}.api_tokens'.format(route_prefix),
             data=[],
             columns=['description', 'created'],