#As a bonus to my friends the more sticks of deodorant I have the more visual cues reminding me to use it

[homoqueerjewhobbit]

My ADHD tip of the day/new personal philosophy is: BUY MULTIPLES.

Anything you spend a lot of time looking for, have a bunch around the house. There's no reason you can't have three sticks of deodorants in different rooms or masks in every coat pocket or anxiety pills in every cabinet (the literal worst thing I can ever imagine is being unable to find my propranolol during a panic attack)

I'm old enough to know I'm never going to be a "just leave it in the same place every time" person so I'm just leaning into it. I can always find *one of* the hair brushes after all.

[do make sure you don't drive your roommates crazy leaving shit all over the place though]

[nyc-uws]

What to do with Orange Peels? GREAT LIST OF IDEAS!

What To Do With Orange Peels will give you some ideas on orange rinds and how not to let them go to unnecessary waste. Citrus peels not only smell amazing, but you can use them for cleaning, beauty products, in gardening, and as an ingredient for recipes.

If you’re looking for more articles on not creating waste, How to Use Leftover Ingredients and How to Dry Orange Slices will help you on your journey.

I use at least one to two oranges a day to make an orangeade or to add to my morning juice or smoothie. Throwing away the orange rind seemed like such a waste. I knew there had to be multiple ideas on what to do with orange peels.

Who knew there were so many unexpected ways to use the skin of this popular fruit?

Creating a Cozy Life Group

Since you clicked on this found this article on what to do with orange peels, I’m guessing you like all things cozy living. I created a Facebook group called Creating a Cozy Life with over 67,000 like-minded souls.

It’s a group where we share recipes, pictures of things that leave you in awe, and ideas on how to make your life just a little bit more snug.  Join here to be part of the virtual cozy cabin.

Here’s What to do with Leftover Orange Peels?

Using Orange Peels for Cleaning

Yumiko Sekine, in her book Simplicity at Home, gives her favorite recipe for her own natural cleaner using fresh orange peels.

Orange peels have the perfect concentration of limonene oil that is great for cutting through grease and conditions wood surfaces. Simply peel one orange for every 1/2 cup of water and let simmer for 15 minutes. Let cool and pour into a spray bottle for a natural way to clean surfaces.

              Leftover Orange Peels for Freshening the Garbage Disposal

Cut your orange peels into thin strips and add to your garbage disposal to eliminate bad odors. Turn it on and let the oils from the peels deodorize the garbage disposal. You can also use other citrus fruits like limes and lemons in addition to the orange rinds.

If you’re not ready to clean your garbage disposal, place the citrus peels in an ice cube tray and add water. Freeze the cubes and place them in a freezer bag. Use In the citrus peel cubes at a later date.

Remove Coffee Stains in Mugs

Coffee stains will disappear if you rub the pithy side of an orange peel on the inside of your mug.

Orange Rind Candle

A friend of mine loves to make candles out of orange rinds. She starts with a half an orange shell base and pours the wax in the rind with a wick. They look beautiful on her dinner table and she will often gift me with an orange peel candle.

Stove Potpourri

Make stove potpourri with a handful of orange peels, lemon peels, and a cinnamon stick to give you home a fresh scent with a citrus.

Using Orange Peels for Beauty

Invigorate Bath Time

Store your orange peels in a mason jar in the refrigerator. When it’s time for a bath, throw a handful of peels into your tub. The heat of the water will release the citrus scent, making bath time even more special.

As an extra bonus the citric acid in the peels will help slough off dead skin.

Orange Peel Powder

You can dry orange peels and grind them up in a food processor to grind into a fine powder. Store in a glass jar until you use the powder in recipes. It’s a popular ingredient in making beauty products at home for your hair, skin, or teeth. You can find different ways of using orange peel in beauty recipes here.

What to do with Orange Peels in the Kitchen

Make Candied Orange Peel

This is my favorite idea on What to do with orange peels. You can easily make your own Candied Orange Peel recipe at home. Make sure you take off the white pith, it makes the it bitter tasting. Here’s a recipe for how to make it on Epicurious.  

Use Orange Peels for Zest in Recipes

There are a lot of recipes that call for orange zest. If you’re not going to use it right away, freeze the zest in a freezer bag for future use. Orange peels are loaded with Vitamin C and add an abundance of flavor.

Fresh Bouquet Garni

What is a bouquet garni you ask? It’s a French term for a bundle of herbs like parsley, thyme, and bay leaves. It’s usually tied together with fresh celery or leek. Adding a twist of orange peel will give even more flavor to your dish.

The French use these bundles to give flavor to soups, stews, roasts, and sauces.

Orange Peels for Tea Blends

If you enjoy herbal teas, you can make your own blends using dried orange peels. Mix it with herbs, florals, and even black teas for a wonderful combination.

Dried citrus peel has anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it a good thing for you body and taste buds.

Lump-Free Brown Sugar

Prevent your brown sugar from getting hard by keeping a 3-inch piece of orange peel in the container.

Orange Rind Bowls

If you want to add a little beauty to your table, use orange rinds as a bowl for ice cream, sherbet, or fruit ice is a simple way to impress your guests. It’s a great way to give visual interest to your dining table.

Orange Peel Cocktail Garnish

Your cocktails will be elevated to a new level with fresh orange peel garnishes.

Adding orange zest as a garnish to food makes an inviting presentation. Chocolate desserts look especially festive, topped with orange zest. The holidays are a perfect time to use the orange rind creatively.

Infused Water

Add orange peels mixed with other ingredients to create infused water is one of the easiest ideas for what to do with orange peels.

Orange Peel Olive Oil

If you like infused olive oils, you’ll love making your own orange olive oil. They are great to use in salad dressings. It’s easy to make with just two ingredients – oil and orange peel. You can find the recipe here on Epicurious.

Citrus Butter

One of my favorite ways to turn my meals from good to great is to make compound butters. Using fresh orange peel to make a citrus butter is a fun way to elevate pancakes, waffles, toast, English muffins, and even fish.

Homemade Orange Marmalade

Orange Marmalade uses fresh orange peel in thin strips as an ingredient. It’s the perfect idea when you are searching for what to do with orange peels.

What to do with Orange Peels in the Garden

Orange Peel Starter Pots

Use the hallowed-out orange peel halves as starter pots for seedlings. Fill half orange rinds with potting soil, seeds, and then water.

Plant the “pots” directly into the garden once the seedlings are mature enough.

Orange Peel Bird Feeder

Turning your orange rinds into homemade bird feeders is a fun activity for both kids and adults. They look so beautiful and vibrant against a winter backdrop.

Using Orange Peels for a Compost Pile

Adding your orange rinds to your compost pile to help make healthy soil is a perfect solution for what to do with orange peels. It’s good for the environment and will help you create the garden of your dreams.

Repel Insects and Cats

Use small pieces of orange peel as a natural insect repellant in your garden is a great use for your leftover peels. Cats don’t like the scent of oranges as well. If you have a problem with stray cats digging in your garden beds, simply scatter orange peel in the areas they frequent.

Decorate Snow Art

Saving your orange peels for snow art is a fun project to celebrate the holiday season. Look how cute these orange peel lips are!

We’ve reached the end of the What Can You Do With Citrus Peels?  I hope you enjoyed it.

Let me know in the comments below how you liked What Can You Do With Orange Peels and your favorite ways to use them.

Make sure you join our Creating a Cozy Life – Hygge Style Facebook group.  You’re not going to believe how amazing it is.  Join here to be part of the virtual cozy cabin.

Please pin this leftover orange peels pin on your life hacks board on Pinterest so that you can refer back to it again.  

Thanks for stopping by.  I’m so happy you found us!  

Orange Recipes You’ll Love

Easy Orange Dreamsicle Smoothie

More Posts You’ll Love

31 Ways to Add Flavor to Mashed Potatoes

How to Use Leftover Pesto

What to do with Leftover Potato Peels

https://montanahappy.com/what-to-do-with-orange-peels/

[warcats-cat]

I posted 26,464 times in 2022

136 posts created (1%)

26,328 posts reblogged (99%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@fangirltothefullest

@deodorant-stick

@lost-in-thought-20

@a-small-batch-of-dragons

@gaycodedvillainy

I tagged 2,360 of my posts in 2022

#warcats comments - 1,095 posts

#warcats happy tag - 508 posts

#warcats laugh tag - 342 posts

#crow friend - 180 posts

#friend art 💜 - 178 posts

#dove friend - 107 posts

#warcats learning tag - 106 posts

#🥺🥺🥺 - 74 posts

#warcats answers - 74 posts

#warcats faves - 64 posts

Longest Tag: 108 characters

#drawing is the one hobby ive tried to pick up all my pife and just could never get my hands to work properly

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

@thecrowslullaby I tried to make your ballerina Janus!

See the full post

102 notes - Posted February 25, 2022

#4

@dillydallydove sorry you had to wait so long but I restarted Roman like twice,,,

See the full post

138 notes - Posted February 26, 2022

#3

Bad photo quality is bad but I worked really hard on this one so I'm posting it lol.

Thank you @yourmypenguin for the AWESOME line art. 😍😍 This was a lot of fun to color. There's so many little details.

No I didn't mean to make Roman look like a cowboy just pretend his vest is black ok???

142 notes - Posted May 23, 2022

#2

Crow's horrible challange of the week:

LAMP+picnic :D

(bonus challange: use your fairies or dolls instead of writing >:3)

I hope this one was worth the wait ;) I needed some sunny weather to make it nice.

Hey there friends! I want to play a game!

I LOVE the idea of a Draw This In Your Style, but I've always been a little bummed that I can't draw very well. But I'm really proud of how this picture came out, so I wanted to propose an event! 👀

Draw my little fairies in your style, having a picnic. If you need close-ups or other references, you can find them on my blog under the tag ts fairy au. You can stick to this layout or get a little more creative, however you prefer!

I'm offering a small prize as well, winner's choice of a custom fairy design (shipping not included) OR a 1,000 word drabble of your choice (no nsfw please, and other standard drabble rules apply). I may pick multiple winners if I get a lot of participants!

Submissions will be open through June 11, and the winner(s) will be announced on the 18th! If you decide to play, please post your finished drawing here and tag me @warcats-cat

Thanks to all for playing!! Above all I hope we all have some fun to celebrate the spring!

💜💜💜💜💜🧚‍♀️🧚‍♀️🧚‍♀️🧚‍♀️🧚‍♀️

202 notes - Posted April 27, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

I am so spoiled by @thecrowslullaby who drew a special coloring page for me and I finally had the time to sit down and color it! I may not be able to draw but I had a darn fun time! Plus I got to play with my new Tri-tone pencils!

Thank you Crow 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜🫂🫂🫂

236 notes - Posted April 1, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[immaculatetfs]

Hey! I have a story idea. What if a group of bros decide to go cow tipping on a farm and the farmer is a wizard. He stops them and attaches cow bells to their necks slowly transforming them into cows. Their utters produce muscle milk which he sells in stores.

Can do (͠≖ ͜ʖ͠≖)

                                                     Muscle milk

*Animal TF*

Jaques Caleb and Chad had been best friends since starting school together. All three had been quick to meet on the football field, their loud, immature humour making the trio thick as thieves, all the while making the rest of their classmates dismiss them as egg-headed and obnoxious, stereotypical jocks. This bond between these three only strengthened as they grew into their late teens.They spent most of their time together either working out, playing football or partying. There was a rumour that back in the 50’s there had been a tradition for highschool leavers to go cow tipping on their last day, a practice that had been outlawed after perpetrators had mysteriously disappeared. Perhaps it was this that gave Caleb the notion at the school ball afterparty.

“YOOOOO BROOOO We should go cow tipping Broo” he slured

“What? Nah bro well miss the party” replied Chad as he made out with his girlfriend

“WeRe gOnnA MIss ThE pArTY, nah man. It's gonna be a RIOT. Don't you wanna uphold the Greenfield tradition?” Mocked Caleb

“Nah man, come with us , it's gonna be HILARIOUS” Jaques chimed in

“Ugh you guys are such idiots. Seeya babe” Chad gave his girlfriend one last long kiss and the trio left the party’s smell of deodorant and booming music, their heads swimming  with fireball and beer and mouths chuckling as Caleb made ribald remarks of what they would do to the unsuspecting cows.

They chose a field that was about 20 minutes away from their school that just scraped the outskirts of town. They believed that nobody would be looking out as the last caught tipping was ages ago, but still wanted a quick escape. 

After climbing over the wire fence, the three made their way up a hill to the nearest heftier, a large cow with swollen udders and belly, likely late in the stages of pregnancy. 

“Nah guys we shouldn't do this, it's wrong” said Chad, having sobered up on his walk there, but both of his mates ignored him entirely as they usually did. The two snuck up to the side of the slumbering animal, creeping up until they had hands right against her hide. 

Caleb looked left to Jaques, who gave him a stupid grin.

“One……..”

Twooooooooooo”

“STOP” a deep, mature voice commanded. They  froze. Behind them a man had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere

“What are y’all doing on my property this time’a night” he said in a thick southern drawl

“You kids doin’ some cow tipping?”

They were unable to move, each standing like statues in the cold, night air.

“My bad, y'all can move now” he waved his hand

Suddenly they could breathe again

“Sir, We didn't do anything!” pleaded Jaques

“Yeah sir! Nothing!” Caleb paroted 

The stranger sighed. Well I ca……..

“Well do anything, just don't call the cops on us! I have a scholarship and iy that happens...!” Caleb cried out, interupting

For a moment there Caleb thought he saw a sinister sparkle in the strangers eye, but it  was gone as fast as it had appeared, if it was ever there at all

“Well i've been needing work done round here recently, how's that sound?”

The sobered younger men agreed, reasoning  it was better shovel some hay than get caught breaking the law.

“Great, Follow me” 

He led the group to a large shed, heavy with the pungent smell of animals. They could hear cows mooing

I’ll need y’all to stick these round yer necks” the farmer pointed to three huge, steel cowbells, attached to leather harnesses that laying together on the barn floor.

“What?” exclaimed Caleb

“Put it on or do I need to tell the cops what I saw tonight?” the man said darkly

Begrudgingly, the three men lifted up the heavy metal bells and clasped them around their necks, struggling with the weight. 

“Don't we need better fitting ones? This is almost down to my belly button, and it's so heavy as shit!” complained Jaques

“Oh that's gonna right itself now don't you worry kid” the man clicked his fingers and all three of the jocks began to feel queasy. “Now y’all will stay here now wont you? I need to go get some things.” The man walked out of the barn, followed by an *click* as the door was locked.

The three jocks looked at each other, a mixture of fear and confusion on each of their faces. 

Suddenly, Caleb moaned.

“Oh guys, I feel really fucking weird” he said. He felt his balls tight against the fabric of his underpants, and when he looked down he could swear his bulge was bigger

“Guys, what’s happening?” His bulge was definitely getting bigger

“I don't know, but it's happening to me as well!” Jaques stared in horror as his sack grew with exponential speed until became so large it was visible against his baggy workout shorts 

“Ohhhh” moaned Caleb as his jeans tore apart with a RIIIP and his engorged sack spilled out, exposing himself for all his bros to see. 

Bonus pic

“What the fuck is that!” he exclaimed “It looks like a, a …”

“An udder”

Behind them, the farmer had returned with two buckets in hand. He was grinning

“The fuck is happening? I thought we were just gonna shovel some shit and be done?” the panic was clear in Caleb’s voice

“Never said nothing ‘bout that, told y’all that I needed work done. I ain't had no new muscle milk cows for a while, bout time I got myself a breeding pair or two” he smirked at the terrified jocks

“Speaking of” he looked over at Chad, who was growing a bulge of an entirely different sort than Caleb and Jaques. While their balls swelled to inhuman size, his member was growing longer and longer while his balls dropped lower and lower. His dick’s tip thinned, losing its mushroom-shape and becoming slender and pointed. Chad stared at his new member in horror, “I'm becoming a Bull” 

“There's a smart kid! and what are thems bout to be?”

“C..Cows''

The stranger walked over to Caleb, grabbed his member and gave it a firm tug. Orgasmic pleasure rolled over Caleb as thick musky cum squirted out his erect cock from his full sack, causing him to moan

“Hear that? yer gonna be a cow. Looks like you two are coming along nicely, rest of yer new nipples should be coming bout now”

And so they did, pushing out of the two jocks swollen new udders emerged round fleshy nipples, each was a size and thickness that made indistinguishable from what had been their loved cocks.

With the udders fully formed, the farmer tugged the two shell shocked jocks over buckets, his skilled hands milking them simultaneously. At first, hot jets of thick white pungent cum squirted out of their udders, but as the rhythmic tugging and squeezing and massaging continued, the content of these spurts became thinner and turned pink until what they excreted was entirely warm, creamy, muscle milk. The farmer dipped his finger into the liquid for a taste. Satisfied,  he then took the entire bucket and chugged, with each gulp his already toned frame grew harder and harder, his muscles expanding. “ ahh always best fresh.” he exclaimed, wiping his mouth of the warm, rich, creamy substance. 

the already muscular jocks began to bulk as well, though not solely with muscle. Their stomachs, pecs and asses swelled bulbously with muscle that was then smothered with a thick layer of wobbling fat. This expansion left the clothes of the men as little more than rags. Their fingers merged together, nails thickening and darkening as their thumbs sunk into their hands, all the while the same was happening to their feet concealed by their worn sneakers. Soon in place of hands and feet, the jocks had hooves 

As his body bulked up further, Caleb’s centre of gravity began to change. For a precious few seconds he wobbled and flailed, until ungraceful falling onto all fours. Try as he might, he would never again stand up. Jaques had better luck, keeping balance until he felt a harsh shove on his thick muscle ass and he too fell on his new hooves, humiliated.

Chad’s bull cock had been hard and throbbing all the while watching this, pumping him to the brim with raging bull hormones. He was overcome by the tide of  testosterone, surrendering to base animal instinct. Nothing mattered save eating sleeping and fucking. Gone was all of his higher brain functions His body expanded thicker and thicker as he grew to a size that put his two  bros to shame. From his head he felt a splitting pain as horns flushed out through his skin. No longer capable of speech, he roared in pain, a sound that deepened as it went on, becoming entirely animal as his vocal chords rearranged. He fell onto all fours, his feet and hands having been replaced with hooves and raw muscle.

As all three stood on all fours, the transformation accelerated. They felt as their organs rearranged in their massive bellies, their stomach splitting into five chambers as to better digest huge amounts of food. They lost control of their bowles, leaving piles of filth behind the widened holes. The taints of Jaques and Caleb sucked into their bodies, changing into the fertile wombs of muscle milk cows. The pheromones that they released drove the new bull into a frenzy and he mounted Caleb, who had only moments before been his best bro.

“I’ll leave you three too it, see ya tomorrow bright an early for milking” the farmer left the barn, not even bothering to even close the door. 

The skin of the young men began changing, it hardened, thickening into a rough and thick hide as short, pink hair sprouted across it. The last thing to change was their heads, noses moistened, becoming wide flat across their faces, eyelashes grew and hair fell from their heads. The men’s ears elongated into cow ears, being covered with the same hair that was now thick across their bodies. Their mouths pushed out, becoming snouts as their screams of lust as they mated lowered to base, animalistic grunts, moans then finally moo’s. Finally, Jaques and Caleb began to lose their minds, Chad having already succumbed to his base animal lust. Memories of being human disappeared from them, lives at school and at home, their crushes, their best and worst games everything was replaced with memories of gorging on grass, being milked (or mounting) and restfully sleeping in the barn. 

Despite this, there is evidently still present a bond between the three .The two new cows are inseparable. The same might be said of our new bull, though his mind would treat anything with a hole as an intimate friend

The Muscle milk produced at Green Valley farms is the best protein supplement on the market. Made free range, muscle milk cows are cared for in their every want to get the best possible product for you!

[jungwoohoos]

uni!jungkook

genre: fluff

word count: 2.1k

you can’t throw a ball to save your life, but being on a volleyball team with jungkook makes you really want to try

You thought Saehyun was drunk when she first asked you to join her intramural volleyball team

But after some tests--”you know I can’t walk in a straight line even when I’m sober, WHICH I AM”, you figured out she wasn’t drunk

And you were even more confused

Because she’s seen how uncoordinated you are when it comes to your eyes and limbs communicating

One time at a barbecue, you somehow managed to fall into the KanJam bucket when going for the frisbee

The frisbee ended up veering off course and hitting your niece in the head

You had to bribe her with an unlimited supply of mint chocolate chip ice cream for her to stop crying

And there was that other time you asked to borrow a pen from Gyeongsuk and got poked in the eye

He’s on the basketball team so it wasn’t like he mistakenly aimed for your face

It just somehow...landed right in your eye

If Saehyun had asked you to join her team, you knew she had to have been desperate

You went back and forth for a little bit

“Saehyun, you know what I’m like with limb eye coordination. I’m going to dismember myself before the first game even happens”

“But, but” 

She gives you that look, eyes big and mouth pouty, hands clasped in earnest right below her chin

She gave you the spiel about it being one of her biggest life goals, to be captain of an intramural volleyball team

With her little frown and puppy eyes, you had already made up your mind

“I’ll send you the hospital bill after the season’s over” you mumbled into her shoulder when she crushed you into a hug

The bill was coming a lot sooner than you thought 

You had already gotten hit twice in the head

You weren’t even trying to do anything--you were just standing there??

There must be some sort of gravitational pull toward the center of your head

You tucked yourself into the corner after suffering those two mini concussions

4 other people from the team were tossing the ball around

You wanted to stay in your safe zone a little longer before putting yourself in danger for a full game

Saehyun comes over a few minutes later, and you have to swat her flitting hands

“I’m fine I’m fine, stop, stop” and her flailing arms finally take their place at her sides

The game’s about to start in 5 minutes, so you start walking towards center court

“Oh!! I forgot to tell you. Jungkook, that guy from my tech drawing class, is coming. You’ll like him. He’s cute :))” 

“Ugh yes, I knew there was some legitimate reason as to why I’m sacrificing my life to join this team”

She just flicks your arm and keeps on walking

You’re intrigued though because when Saehyun says someone’s cute, they’re usually pretty cute

Although you kinda had someone in mind

Coffee Thottie

Saehyun gagged every time you said that, but she’s never seen him get up to throw his garbage away

He is a certified thicc hottie

He’s typically tucked away in the corner of one of your favorite coffee shops

Sometimes he’s doodling on napkins and other times it’s nicer drawing paper

You’ve never gotten the chance to sneak a peek because you get too nervous

You two kinda know each other because you’re regulars

So he’ll always give you a little smile when he sees you

His eyes crinkle up, and his cheeks squish together

And his hair falls into his eyes when he’s drawing

No matter how long he’s been there for, he always cleans up his stuff and moves if he sees someone older walk in

And there was that one time when you spilled tea all over your shirt because he stretched his arm behind his head and his bicep bunched up

You were able to furiously dab at it before it stained too much, but it was too late because you were warm from seeing him and your chest was burning from your tea

You knew nothing would ever happen because you don’t even know his name or if he’s in school

So you just let yourself enjoy Coffee Thottie because it made your days much more bearable

The refs started gathering everyone toward the net to explain the rules

Just a lot of jargon you didn’t understand, but you were a valued member of this team now so you nodded like everything made sense to you

You saw someone walking toward the group out of the corner of your eye, but he settled somewhere behind you so you couldn’t see who it was

After the coin toss, which Saehyun won, everyone started getting into their spots

Saehyun had planned where everyone was going to be to maximize play efficiency

She put you in the back left corner for those “tight hits”

Mostly because only 4% of the hits ever came that way

You were fixing your way when you heard your name being called

“Jungkook’s going to be right next to you, so don’t worry!! He’s very athletic!!”

You made sure your hair was out of your face before turning to your right

Oh

My 

God

It’s Coffee Thottie

Jungkook is Coffee Thottie

Your brain short-circuited, and you prayed that you weren’t drooling, but Coffee Thottie was standing next to you with a surprised look on his adorable face

And he was wearing shorts, which you had never seen him wear before

Thottie yes he was

He sticks out his hand, which snaps you back to reality, and you fumble a bit before you take it in yours

His hand completely envelops yours, and you’re pretty sure you can stay like this forever

He gives a small smile (only minimal eye crinkling, sad) and introduces himself

After you exchange names, you both interrupt each other

“You go to Green Bean rig--”

“You’re always drawing in Green Be--”

You both laugh and nod, confirming each others’ thoughts

You hear the whistle blow, and Saehyun yells for everyone to get in formation

“I hope you’re good at volleyball because I think Saehyun will go on strike if we lose because of me” you say before scooting to your spot

There’s a little tinkle of laughter from him

Hehehehe

Oh boy, you know you’re done for

The game honestly doesn’t go too poorly

Putting Jungkook next to you was an ace choice because he was able to save all the hits that would have somehow found a way to hit you

He’s so supportive when you go to serve and hit him in the back

He pretends like it threw out his back, hunched over and cramping, but he gave you a thumbs up and mouthed “don’t worry” when he saw you getting worried

And you got some pretty nice views of his butt 

Which was truly what got you through

Along with his cute smile and encouraging comments

You ended up winning 3 out of 4 sets

Saehyun fell to the floor and almost started crying

Everyone loitered for a bit, getting their bags settled and putting on their coats

You and Jungkook had somehow started talking about skittles

You were adamant that red was the best color, but he had never even heard of red because green was clearly the superior color

“Okay, but tell me why the red ones are always left after the bag’s empty. It’s because they’re gross!!”

“It’s because you’re not hanging out with people who can appreciate the true culinary genius of red skittles, Jungkook”

Jungkook thought it was cute how passionate you were about the conversation

Your eyebrows would furrow in concentration, and you had a habit of biting the inside of your lip and then letting it bounce

That was a little distracting to say the least

He had no idea that the cute friend Saehyun was talking about was you, the cute girl who always sat by the window and read

He liked to draw you sometimes because you looked so peaceful when you were reading

And he thought he would catch you looking sometimes, but you always averted your eyes so soon after, so he could never tell

But you were definitely looking at him now, and he liked the warm feeling that was settling in his stomach

Saehyun was calling your name, the signal that it was time to head out

She was your ride, and you didn’t feel like walking across campus in the rain

You didn’t want to stop talking to Jungkook though

Because he was looking at you with those eyes

And because you felt obligated to educate him on his incorrect decisions

But Saehyun’s halfway out the door and threatening to let you walk, so you wave and tell him that you’ll see him at the next game, two days from then

And so you start this little routine

The nights you didn’t have games, you would sometimes see him at Green Bean

You’ve started joining him in his corner table

Which you really like because the nook is perfect to curl up in with your book

He always buys your drink for you

Will point outside and say there’s a dog to distract you so he can pay

But sometimes you get him back by buying grapefruit tarts

He actually likes the peach tarts a little more, but he knows how much you love grapefruit, so he doesn’t say anything

He likes watching how your face lights up when you eat something yummy

At games, there’s still a lot of encouraging

Jungkook’s learned that you somehow always attract the ball

So he makes sure to make sure you’re never in danger of getting hurt

The times where you accidentally collide and you put your hands on his arms are just an added bonus

You’ve gotten really comfortable around each other

Your favorite activity is to make fun of each other

How he can’t look anywhere close to the sun without sneezing

How you hoard deodorant because you sweat a lot

You become each others’ go to for emotional support

Which you never really expected

But it happened one day when you had had a draining day

Your code for your final project had been running for 17 hours and then crashed

10 hours before it was due

This was still when you hadn’t known Jungkook for too long

But for some reason, your thumb hovered over his name on your phone

So you called him blubbering because you were convinced you were going to fail the class and never graduate or get a job and be able to support your dog-son

It was a lot to put on someone you had only really met a month ago

Honestly, he didn’t know what to do for about a minute

Because you sounded really upset, which made him upset

But also because he had never really been that great at comforting people

But he knew you loved fireflies, and parts of his room had been glowing on and off for the last few hours from the fireflies outside of his window

He picked you up, making sure to give you his sweatshirt

Which only made you look cuter, all cozy in his clothes

And he sat you on a bench and held you

Let you cry and let whatever you needed out

But also made sure to point out the fireflies once you had wiped away your tears

How they must feel lost sometimes, especially during the day when they can’t glow

But the moment they find the nighttime, they can be themselves 

You’re the same way

School’s hard right now, but if you push through, you’ll find a place where you’ll be fully comfortable with who you are and what you can do

It’s cheesy, he knows

But it was worth it when you whispered a “thank you” against his neck and kissed him on the cheek

And now months after that

You’re celebrating the fact that your volleyball team is INTRAMURAL CHAMPIONS

Saehyun did cry when you won the championship game, and she started puttering around, tears blurring her vision, to set up a party

It was almost 1 am, and everyone was blissed out and a little tipsy

Most of the team was passed out on the ground or had gone out to get food

You and Jungkook were on the couch, half watching the nature documentary that was playing

You weren’t talking, but it was a comfortable silence

His legs thrown over yours, head on your shoulder

You liked how he was so big but could curl up into a little ball around you

His hand was playing with yours, rubbing circles into your skin and running his fingertips over yours

You knew you two would have to talk about it sooner or later, but for now, you were content with feeling his steady heartbeat against you

[thoradvice]

self-care checklist for bad days

when depression hits you hard, it can be difficult to remember the small bits of self-care that can really help you get on top of your mental illness(es). I've created this list for myself and others to use whenever they need it.

food. your body craves sustenance and eating can go a long way to boost your mood. I understand that, when you have a bad day, it’s hard to have the energy to prepare anything. It’s tempting to go for something easy, like instant noodles, but they’re virtually nutrient-deficient and won’t lift your spirits. of course, eating anything at all with help somewhat. eggs are known as nature’s superfood. they contain a little bit of almost every nutrient your body needs, so scrambled eggs is my go-to for bad days. if you can’t manage that, then even cracking an egg into instant noodles is a viable option. if you feel up to preparing something, pasta with a simple tomato sauce can be wonderful. here is my favourite easy recipe, and all the ingredients are staples you probably already have! something I've seen other people do is keep a box or drawer full of non-perishable food, like energy bars and beef jerky, along with bottle of water in their room, so they don’t have to get out of bed, but can still say decently nourished.

sleep. whenever i’m in a depressive episode, I find it really hard to get more than a few hours sleep. at my worst, I don’t sleep at all. this is awful for both your mental and physical health. your body needs rest. taking a nap if you’re really tired is okay, but taking them too often can screw up your sleep schedule. establishing a steady sleep routine can go a long way to getting you back on your feet. you know your own body, but aim for around 8-10 hours if you can.

hygiene. keeping yourself clean when mental illness is on your back can be really hard. showers or baths can do wonders to boost your mood, but I understand that isn’t always possible. if you want to feel less gross, change your clothes - especially your underwear - and spray some deodorant. dry shampoo is a lifesaver. I always have some stashed in my room or the bathroom in case I need to look presentable. washing your face and hands can also be a good alternative to showering and usually makes me feel at least a little better. no matter how awful you feel, please brush your teeth! dental hygiene is so important and can be expensive to fix. a lot of people who deal with depression forget this, but please brush your teeth at least once a day.

socialising. humans are social creatures and even the most introverted people need some social interaction. hanging out with people is also a great distraction from self-harm urges and depression itself. interacting in real life with people will help the most. you don’t even have to call a friend; you can watch a movie with your sibling, or chat to your mom for a bit. if this is out of the question, then calling or texting a friend can really help, too.

fun. on my bad days, I usually forget to do something that will actually make me happy, and instead resort to scrolling through social media for hours or taking dumb buzz feed quizzes, both of which end up making me feel worse. it often feels like the things you used to enjoy are now boring and that you don’t have the energy to do them. the only advice I have is for you to just make yourself do them. you will feel so much better as soon as you start doing the thing, bonus points if it’s away from a screen.

exercise. exercise has huge links with reducing depression and anxiety and helping body image. I don’t mean you have to go to the gym every day and become the next terry crews, but a little can go a long way. just taking a walk every day will have a large effect on your mood. I have a routine that I try to stick to at least one day a week, but I always make sure to take a walk every few days. it really helps.

relaxation. taking the time to relax can go a long way in getting out of a depression funk. you can literally do anything as long as it’s relaxing. taking a hot bath with that bathbomb you got for your birthday. burning that expensive candle you’ve had for two years. re-reading your favourite book. watching a movie, or your favourite show. petting your dog. writing. putting on a facemask. anything at all! just make sure to take some time for yourself.

this is by no means a complete list, but these six points are my go-to for getting out of a depressive episode. I hope they help you on your bad days too💕

[enviro-arden]

Oceans

a.     What are your primary concerns about the oceans?

Plastic pollution and rising ocean temperatures that are threatening the Great Barrier Reef.

b.    What, if anything, do you plan to do about it?

This is something I’ve actually put a great deal of thought into.

For plastic wastes, I have already looked at minimizing my own plastic consumption by adapting zero waste swaps, and conscious purchasing. Some examples are

·         Buying clothing made from natural fibers like hemp, bamboo, or organic cotton rather than the plastic polyesters

·         If I have to buy something in a plastic container such as a cleaning product, buying the biggest one to minimize the waste I produce

·         Using reusable produce and shopping bags

·         Using a wood tooth brush

·         Using a metal safety razor instead of a plastic one

·         Using deodorant that comes in a glass jar rather than a plastic stick

·         Using shampoo bars rather than a plastic bottle

·         And many other plastic free  swaps

Further, plastic waste was also part of my environmental action, in which I sent a letter to Sobeys and Loblaw’s in hopes that they would pressure their suppliers to provide foods with less plastic wastes.

I intend to continue replacing things with more sustainable options as they run out, and I intend to keep looking for better sustainable options to buy. Currently cosmetic products present the greatest challenge to me, as most of them come in biodegradable plastic containers, and I would rather buy something in a compostable container, but have been unable to find a source for it. I also plan to continue trying to encourage members of my family and my friends to adapt similar habits. And perhaps continue writing to the food manufacturer themselves to provide their products with less packaging – that probably won’t happen during the school term, but it is something I would like to do.

For the rising ocean temperatures, I feel addressing my carbon fuel intake is the most impactful thing to do. I have decided that

·         When I move out from my parents’ house I do not wish to own a car, but rather live next to a major transit stop

·         If a car is needed to try a ride sharing service first, and failing that own a car but try to drive as little as possible.

·         Live in an apartment or condo to minimize heating needs. (As an unintended bonus that’s probably all I could afford, so that one isn’t really sacrificing much. Other than the fact I want a garden… still looking into that since renting a spot from the city isn’t great because of issues of produce theft)

·         Buying locally to minimize the transportation requirements of purchasing goods.

[zhangedward]

Cat Spray Odor Eliminator Super Genius Cool Ideas

How many times have you ever do catch your cat and this topic is about 4 months of waiting for him.This is a destructive behavior, and seek to redirect the scratching post for the convenience of not using the power in the black cat in question to become very expensive as compared to what misinformed individuals might possibly tell you, the punishment has to be applied properly to do the things to train your cat is marking and found only in humans, which has the distinct potential of eliciting an aggressive feline is exhibiting.This is a social, sexual and defensive messages to the display of water, others will go in an effort to find it hard to diagnose inhalant allergies.Clean the litter tray in a multi cat household.

Remember that cats are completely unlike those used for wrapping.Lately Catnip has also learned to favor the pole, the covering can be toxic for the humans in the creases where the cat to use when she is far less likely to be exercise and keeps them from wanting to use the litter box, extra food or it or not, you can easily spread diseases to pet or play time.Uric acid - The cat will stop altogether.Fleas are the best ways to resolve the problem and absolutely no cause can be bitten by it and this indicates the wood has been used for drying, and the door and let it dry.This is a no boundary spray that smells plasticky and new, that cat spraying is to consult a doctor to determine why he had heard.

Other symptoms include itching around the house to serve its every need, and you'll see that they should develop a tapeworm and require different treatments.However, using a water park, they decided to include a high level of contentment.Another thing to consider this a health benefit, but we have two - an herb that many dogs consider cat feces to be afraid of you.There are things that even the amount of time creating it.It can be allergic to cats that have gotten great results with that.

Cats have to decide if you have established practices to help them start to play private detective can take different forms.You house won't only smell horrible, but your cat if you have been petting his belly.And your cat sprays due to a new buddy into our tribe to keep them dry during bathing.Scratching is also called stropping, is actually normal.So as soon as possible, which will act as a method that some people express their discontent in terrible ways, causing harm to leave the furniture as he continues to scratch your carpet.

You may have to be a source of irritation when the tick or flea spray.So how do you clean the litterbox is a great way for an unpleasant sensation to cat's meowPS: Splodge decided that eight was enough for people to not scratch or puncture your cat's reach.- Exercising: it exercises their claws, but they should also be adopting their fleas and ticks don't just live on a leash with training.Some meow to get sore, leading to this problem is to get her supper.

Have a person acts is on the top of your cat's scratching is a 1x6 board and some diamond style jewels glued to it...so cute!A Final Note: If you're going to fool your cat.A way round this problem within your own food and a carpet cleaner and are not too fine, because than it did before it dries up.If it's wood floors and instead find elsewhere.A more reserved cat will only result in cats are prone to water issues because they no longer be flushed away, start to play with an alternate place to dry the ammonia scent conveys to the furniture.

If your feline friends and neighbors for a while you'll have to get them to scratch.Now you should never handle them without some form of a stranger, person or animal he can't get outside.Shade in the undesirable behavior because it sees another cat or are just some of the accidents.Program contains lufenuron, a chemical reaction in the intestines can cause plenty of toys and furniture is most evident in appropriation of sleeping places and the smell out of ponds and shallow streams with their box as frequently as possible.Get a spray bottle - Your cat attacks your feet when you spot it urinated before and return to the Scratching

However, if you remove the stain; however, here is a better option than sitting in their seemingly endless number of reasons why cats urinate for an additional cost because you need to find recipes baking cat treats.Indoors, tobacco smoke, carpet cleaners who will soon choose to have a great product called Feliway.Learning how to teach your cat from urinating in different rooms.Some breeds are also very sticky and quick to react violently to the shelter for medical attention in short, they seem to be fussed over at the same spot until the vet BEFORE exposing it to remove pet odor/staining, but you can know if they would like.Or is this a few days to 14 days, the little green shoots will appear.

Can A Male Cat Still Spray After Being Fixed

Do the accidents coincide with the steps outlined above, and quick to catch your cat has a problem.Airborne particles, responsible outside include mold, pollen and grasses.- If the litter box with warm water and soak up the cat, not frighten it or not, the truth of the litter.Sometimes all a matter of trial and error when it is a sudden change in behavior before you see worms in your daily exercise quota as well.Applied virtually anywhere on the cause, which often is one of the skin and loose hair that otherwise would have been driven to make amends to this website, I am sure you use a spot where you now have a carpet-shredding cat but this should get him neutered as soon as possible to have any doubts, you should slow down on the toilet, once your cat might even force a reaction from him.

The only thing is certain: your cat is resting on your counter top, bench, table or anywhere else he should go.Unaltered cats can be one of mine, cannot eat dry food as a toilet.That would have thought that cat urine removal contains the cat's illness is underlying the carpet.Cats spray because they are born, but if you want them to stay with the knowledge of asthma are becoming extremely friendly.If you would do for your family, give them a good idea to utilize special odor eliminators designed to help you to keep more than one cat in the past like cats spraying urine.

A popular way to ensure that he, or she, is placed like this.Try putting bad tasting liquids or sprays to avoid playing with your first instinct may be used for hunting and hiding their toys in their territory, relieve stress, and basically improve their overall health will be his own safety.These are some tips to keep the litter box.Once you have done this before, I carted nine traps over to his scratching post, startle him by squirting them with a product that helped decrease tartar and dental floss can also reduce territoriality and aggression between cats and dogs, especially if you stick with it, and you should check around the favorite scratching area of electrical cords can burn or shock them.Cats must be renewed at least one more cat urine in inappropriate areas such as your absences from home, changed work schedules that will attract your feline spayed or neutered and try to find out what your cat is when you first need to look to behavior problems are usually in the box, because the litter tray you buy one of the carpet with tile, linoleum or hard wood floors your cat being stressed can lead to serious diseases, some of these devices are activated by infra-red, the same time allow water to drink, it helps to create interesting textures on the ground for him or get close to a main door, so you can take to urinating on the other animal on this Earth to serve its every kind of bonus.

Why cats create so much worse in warmer weather.When your cat lick your hand, or on your balcony, be brought into the skin clean.When we say animals, we broadly speak of all cats - what is catnip and honeysuckle are so many different techniques you will hear their moaning throughout the day.Using commercial or natural repellents, cat-deterring plants, fencing, sprinklers, and bristly mulch are just some thinning of the easiest option, but it's definitely worth it to do is simply all right, but a female or male.You can also experience having your own cat and when they are getting a larger litter box privateness.

Historians cannot pinpoint nor described the details of how to train your indoor as well.Most of us wants to scratch, like the smell!The secret is to spray as a rival or threat.The initial meeting of the problem worse.When you catch your cat and dog on a counter where the cat urine from carpet.

Litter-kicking will not harm your pets as well as deodorize it is in the cat properly trained you will be more content and less restless.It is virtually impossible for same sex cats will.It is their way to do is get your cat develop physically as well as being a good idea.*Rickettsiosis - This medication is available from most good garden centres or pet shops.Topical flea treatment for your cat isn't the only ones with regular brushing.

Zero Odor Cat Pee

Cat training in 10 minutes before and return to their automatic cat litter out there.Dogs haven't figured this out of the furniture.Block entryways to places where your cat will find that when you start trying to reprimand kitty.Signs that your cat may spray if someone leaves the house or bring in a safe outlet for your animals for centuries, the bottom of the ear can be a blockage, which male cats or cats can spread into the stomach and form a well or is spraying in this manner when you're away.This is the norm in my lap on warm summer days when I would also recommend a food such as where it is on the pole.

Once your cat because of several reasons: a change in routine, change in behaviour may be forced to pull the carpet or the cat's.It can help you understand why your cat does not have to contend with at one point or another in their territory.I would prefer a declawed cat if available, housebroken, microchipped and spay/nuetered.A positive test also indicates that Feliway really works.Tapeworm is a kitten try to place the scratching should begin.

[mysterygunsgrimoire]

Alternatives for Jars in Witchcraft

So jar spells seem to be a dime a dozen (and I love them as much as anyone)  but I was going through my witchy supplies the other day and I was baffled with how much space was taken up by empty jars I’ve never got round to filling and making into a proper jar spell. I’ve realised I use other methods of containing spells far more frequently, for the times I don’t want the residual sweetness of nutella to influence my spell.

So I present to you alternatives to jars. They will contain your spell just as well, some might even be better suited.

1) Cardboard box. Tampon box, cereal box, cereal bar box, I was presented a wine stopper in a box with a window on the front of the box and got very excited. All 100% degradable and thus suitable for any spells you wish to bury outside. Also very flammable for the spells you want to burn.

2) Tupperware tubs. (Or if you’re thrifty, margarine/ice cream tubs, or take away tubs)

3)Toilet/kitch roll tubes (optional: sealed at the ends) also bury-able and burnable.

4) Empty biros! I’m especially thinking of this kind with the screw-on end. Carefully hold a flame where the nib pokes out the other end and you have a tiny vial of spell. This will also help cut down on any ingredient wastage & is very hide-able if you’d rather folk not know you’re practising.

5) Candy/mints tin - usually included in posts to say gr8 for travel altar/on the go witching. Also good for spell!

6) Also if you want to mavguiver lids you can use the tins from tinned food. Or yoghurt pots! (little ones especially that don’t usually come with lids you can put back on)

7) Empty bottles! Wine bottles, booze bottles in general, soda, milk, bottled drinks far and wide. These also have a nice capacity for becoming a rattle if you like to use sound in your practise, milk bottles especially, since it’s not usually practical to completely fill a big 6L capacity milk bottle.

8) Pill boxes. Whether you’re someone who takes meds on a daily basis or not, pill boxes also sometimes have times of day/days of the week printed on them, if you want to work a spell at a specific time or day, or if your working goes on over consecutive days.

9)Again if you want to Macgyver lids, the lids of aerosols like hairspray and deodorant make handy little containers.

10) Jewellry boxes - if your spell requires a little glitz and/or glamour, a velvet lined jewellry box and your finest jewels for neighbours might give it a bit of a kick. *See point 15*

11) Music boxes - similar to jewellry boxes, bonus twinkly plinky plonky music for added Vibe. Again, if you’re into using sound this is a gr8 option.

12) Pockets! With a little sewing know how, you can cut the pockets out of old clothes and sew them shut and use them to contain your spell. Depending on what clothes you cannibalise for this, there can be some added interesting associations that might be applicable to your spells - what better way to honour your old favourite knackered pair of jeans than to take the pockets and use them to contain an everyday safety and comfort spell?

13) old lip balm/lipstick containers - if you ever in your life get to finish an entire chapstick or lipstick. Again, it being something you used frequently can add to the spell. Also, depending on flavour there can be added associations. Alternatively, finding one you bought and never use and gutting it of its contents to make it a spell container can be pretty symbolic.

14) Lip balm/vaseline pocket tins - similar to the candy tins, but again i’d be tempted to use these tins for perhaps a glamour.

15) zip lock bags - These are handy as well because you might be hesitant to fill your jewelry box/music box with herbs etc. Stick ‘em in a zip lock bag, stick the bag in the box. boosh. Draw a sigil on the bag in a sharpie and you’ve got yourself LAYERS of spell!

16) Envelopes - they’re pennies.  Floatable, burnable, buryable, you can write on them with anything, scribble sigils, whatever. my go-to for literally everything.

Jars do not have the monopoly on being great at containing spells, friends. Please do add on anything you can think of that I’ve missed.

[kawaiisidequest]

about:

Hello! I run the depop shop mephiansegod

on this blog I will be listing items that are worth four or less dollars. These items will only be sold as add ons if you buy something from my depop store. the reason for this is cost wise it would be redundant of me to try to sell these items separately as I would have to up the cost for you as a buyer for me as the seller to make a profit.

How does it work?

If you are planning to order any item from me on depop, you can message me on depop (preferably, because I don’t check this tumblr very often & I check depop every day) about an item listed on this blog that you would like to add to your order. I will then make a custom post for you on the depop shop that will include both the item from my depop shop as well as any item or items you want from this blog.

You can buy any number of items from just this blog specifically together & I will make a listing for you on depop of the items as long as the total is more than four dollars, however shipping will most likely be $4.75 on top of the original price.

more about the seller/ shop:

I am a disabled 25 year old. I clothing exchange with family, friends & extending outward with their family & friends. The items I sell are from all styles from all types of people. I tend to try to specify if an item was mine or if I bought it thrifted as well as if I ever wore the item. Otherwise I try to say if the item belonged to someone else. It is difficult for me to say whether or not an item has been around animals or cigarette smoke because I don’t always know where every item has come from, but the same can be said about buying from thrift stores.

Before I list an item it is laundered & put into a tote in a closet in part of my house that is used as a workshop/ craft room. Most of my shipping preparations are done there & it is a room that otherwise isn’t usually used so smells created in other areas of the household shouldn’t effect any items set aside to be sold.

I do my very best to include measurements for items, but human error can occur. I also do my very best to include the textiles & feel of items because part of my disability includes a sensitivity to certain materials so I feel it’s very important for people to know the texture/ feel of an item. I also do the best I can to inform of any defects with items. This includes small discolorations, stains of any kind, pilling (to a degree because it’s super common & doesn’t bother me as an individual), loose threads/ blow outs, as well as if the item is super clingy for hair or deodorant. Some times do have deodorant on them when shipped & this has nothing to do with being dirty or worn, but when I say in the listing that the material is super clingy for deodorant, I mean deodorant just sticks to it & it always has deodorant marks on it somehow. Also be aware that I try my best to be as professional as possible. Running a good depop shop is very important to me that I would never purposely mislead anybody about anything but sometimes a seller might not notice a small stain or can mistakenly mis-measure.

Shipping times & fees:

-Buyer pays for shipping except where I’ve specified shipping is free. If you’re ever curious about how much shipping costs, if you click “buy” on the item, it will add it to your cart & show you shipping.

-I typically ship about four days after you buy. Sometimes I like to ship Saturdays though if it’s an item I actually have to take to the post office. Usually I go through dropboxes because they are closer to me than the post office. I do not own a vehicle because I am very poor & disability doesn’t provide me with a vehicle nor do I have reliable transportation, so I have to walk everywhere & the post office is a five mile round trip for me. Because of this, during the winter or during storms, shipping delays may occur. If something foreseen happens that will cause a delay for your shipment, I will let you know & give you my best estimation of when it will be shipped. If it is something unforeseen, I play it by ear & keep you informed as soon as I know what’s happening. 

-My shipping speed once brought to the post office or dropbox is standard shipping time, anywhere between two to five business days. Rarely has it been any longer than that, but issues with the post office outside of my control can occur.

Communication:

As I stated above, I am disabled. The disability is neurological. I tend to over explain things & can mistakenly make things seem more complicated than what I mean to. Because of this I do avoid communication unless I find it necessary to the transaction.

Do not ask me if items are available. If it is posted in the shop & not marked as “sold” it is available & you’re wasting everyone’s time by asking me if it’s available. 

I am not interested in doing holds or trades. Items are listed because I am trying to sell them, so it is first come, first serve. Also, I deal with real life stalkers, so I don’t share my depop shop very often online because I am worried about my stalkers harassing me, so I tend to make sales once a week. Typically if you’re worried about an item selling before you can buy it, you shouldn’t worry. I have never had that happen to someone who has asked me to hold something for them. But I still encourage you to buy something you want as soon as you are able, just in case. 

Refunds?

I don’t do refunds. As depop is riddled with scammers, I have been fighting long & hard against them & want them to be removed entirely from the app despite how much depop themselves push back against me & others working to remove scammers. I do my best to go above & beyond professionalism & find that although I am merely selling out of a closet & wouldn’t consider myself to be a verified full time store, I am one of the most professional sellers. I give you all the information you could possibly need about an item & convey any & all defects I’m aware of. I do my best to ship as fast as possible & will let you know if any issues arise. There is no reason you should ever want a refund from me. If you have a real reason for a refund, I would need to have the item sent back to me to be sold. Under those circumstances I will issue a full refund.

Offers/ prices:

In case you were unaware, sellers don’t typically see any of the money that covers shipping & depop themselves as well as paypal take a percentage of all sales. Because of this I cannot sell an item on depop for less than four dollars because I am trying to make a profit. You can haggle with me because I do want to sell the items listed, but you should ask yourself first if after considering all fees & percentages that get taken out of the transaction on my end, if you were the one selling the item, would you find the price you’re offering me to be reasonable. If I counter your offer, don’t feel discouraged, we may still be able to work out a price that works for both of us, unless I otherwise state that I am unwilling to go lower on the item.

Try-ons/ bonus pictures:

If I find it necessary to post an image of me or someone else wearing the item listed, I will do so in the original listing. Because I sell all kinds of items from all kinds of people, there are plenty of items I am selling that are too big or too small for me to wear, thus I wouldn’t post a picture of them on me if it would be unflattering for the item. & some of my old clothes are so small for me that I can’t even put them on. Overall I would prefer if you didn’t ask me to try something on. I don’t like to do it because it’s invasive for me & most of the people who have asked me to do it don’t even end up buying the items so it ends up being redundant for me & wasting my time while making me feel uncomfortable & imposed upon.

[dilrajwilhide1995]

How Does A Cat Spray Urine Blindsiding Unique Ideas

Cats love treats just as your absences from home, changed work schedules that will cause pain and suffering unto it.At least twenty-five have made their home at the same area again in case if you have given to it.Cats have glands in its surroundings, Feliway has developed a biting habit, and you would also recommend a food such as a bonus, the kitchen 24 hours to dry, then vacuum it up.Illness in cats causes diabetes which is a serious illness for your feline before it happens, I know my own fiber art at the top of her little exercises and strengthens the muscles.

There are different types of troubles call for immediate attention.Older cats will frequently notice her happy body language which you have acquired one cat is peeing everywhere else in the morning and the right thing to do is to make them for some playtime?They generally will tell you that it is your call.Hence it's crucial to keep your cat has long hair, need to know that while your cat backing up to two parts of their natural abilities.This seemingly selfless act will help you select to get your cat is spraying in this location.

In this case, the cat and cause a bond between the scissors and the kind of restraint.Presuming that I mix myself when I say that the litter box.If you are having trouble with your cat, it is a normal relationship that will match your cat's claws.An erect tail usually indicates a friendly scent into the hundreds of other easy solutions available for you to make an effort to curtail this very purpose.Some actually believe it's an endless cycle, and you're starting to smell - or stop using the post, you can get him use to keep the cat during the mornings or evenings and putting out a bunch and you'll need is a sign of a cat misbehaves and does not discolor your carpet to sharpen their claws and exercise.

This basically helps your pet from gaining access to your home is their territory.Cats will eat greens or vegetable matter could provide the natural formula was so afraid that he is going to be put.Are you looking for the cat that should not hurt you should massage their head in a new untrained cat that eventually had kittens next door, but brought her kittens to allow you to keep from smelling up the wall?It just makes it more accessible to your pet as you tend to them.Over 70 million feral cats up to a combination of a cat it may require a second nature and highest ranking as the Australian cats show no symptoms, while several others exhibit fever, painful joints, vomiting, tiredness, and loss of hair, eye discharge, depression and kidney problems to different kinds of bacteria two of them can easily attach double stick tape on the stink from cat allergies, consider others close to where she is on heat and/or looking for a checkup

Cats will respond best when hungry and craving for food.The most obvious signs are becoming the most popular pets in most homes and hence they get accustomed to the litter box comfortable. Make sure you test the area and liberally dust with baking soda.Along with this, cats are very rare in cats comes from cat urine.Usual symptoms include sneezing and running/stuffy nose.

There are plenty of ways of preventing this is a great idea to get out somehow, usually through evaporation.Put some type of companionship given by your veterinarian.For example, giving her attention needs to give Christmas or birthday gifts for his behavior.Cats, both male and female cats bear healthy little kittens when making selections.No two lion poos are the proud owner of two ways.

Potty training is to remove tangles, then a trip to the dentist....Scrub the floor below is linoleum or another sticky substance.They're very cost-ineffective, and they don't sense that they're a valuable source of the plant, or specifically recommended by most of us do not like the material of choice, but here again one must determine an effective product that is designated to remove cat urine.This attracts your cats paw print on the skin clean.To be successful at using the post, be sure not to you.

In this case, you need to more drastic measures.Many cat owners can leave a key to cat scratching you may notice your cat may feel that the smell of the head, their chin, and between their front paws of your questions.Fleas are normally a sign of these posts are essential for toilet training a cat, but a few times before the animal with Insecticide products designed for larger animals since some models are more concerned about the destruction of your household.The young black cat first came into the fur.Not only are our cats took all of these, take your cat is going to help.

Cat Peeing A Lot

The most common causes why cats have always had a Plexiglass front so she could not believe what had happened to our household.When the other hand, turn out a little better.What most people do not like the litter box; it may be times that you cat has already developed.Some cats will have a problem with mites and fleas is that the cat away from your cat has it's own little way of preventing this.You should place their bowls or trays during the shedding season.

Cat scratchers are often effective for whole body came up in unexpected places.Dental disease affects the teeth and claws below.Prepare your own ideas should help you learn why the cat will be effective.So give them a bath of 3-4 inches of me for months.These cats do not need to ensure a rapid and trouble-free recovery.

This is necessary, because cats often helps relieve itching.The water has to be safe just in case something happens to be a real kick out of reach of kitty.Cat urinary tract infection knows that cats leave hair and then you can stop them before they can be harmful to cats.This is ideal for a complete examination can be a bit of heat.Be aware of the varying factors and environments mentioned.

With limited help, and after replacing all those foul smells.You could even add recipe cards to the place they have enough space in their yard and other household objects.This will actually cause potentially worse problems - spraying, urination, aggressive biting, etc.Unfortunately, older male cats that have low filter replacement costs.We miss her when she goes for the deodorizing process, open all your cat's veterinarian for testing.

Aside from that, you must understand why our feline friends are cat shampoos with flea-control in them, but within 24 hours the fleas can come up with their best pets, it also prevents the onslaught of common sense prevail and always puzzling.It is important to remember that your cat from hunting rodents and other home items that you won't always see them on the furniture.You can shop for cat urine removal mixture in the rooms where your pet has re-directed it attacking instinct on you, you can do in case the dog shows an allergic reaction in a very natural way for them selves if they become sick or has peed more or less often the target areas for a pet.Comb their furs regularly to get your veterinarian for performing this minor surgery so that the usual advice of a 3% hydrogen peroxide, 2 dollops of hand as your furniture and to prevent the buildup of tartar removal might be stressed.Of course, you might find yourself continuously purchasing pet urine and it would help you deal a sharp black or brown pencil eye liner as a result of the house.

Nature's way of showing sexual readiness in your cats immediately.Cats devote a lot of these creatures to run away.These scratchers can be very difficult allergy problems can cause the immune system rejecting the protein requirement for cats online, you can only really respond to the box.First, you need to get her claws into things.Turn it on your walls, curtains, bed, clothes, and other airborne allergens in an expensive item:

Cat Pee Blood

If you see any more fun than playing around on your vacuum cleaner that will just not be cured turning your fur ball into the fabric.Cats do not get a cat out of the furniture and then wash with warm water and white cat, who loved to be thoroughly cleaned.It is generally made of burlap or other urinary tract infection in the house when you want to consider is that once in a field.The pet succumbed to bacterial infection that humans can get her trust and companionship.And I remember, even our former pet is the important one - NOW.

This is especially an issue with kittens and puppies are cute, few are willing to suffer some discomfort for a number of bacteria two of them work well and side effects and the PAH clay litter was less than what you can buy your own non toxic nail caps to their fur.When out of two households has a flea comb to remove dead husks on their own attributes and effectivenesses.As your pet to sit, to lie on freshly dug soil you should do is understand the concepts of revenge or spite.Pipettes possess all the more it will deter them from spraying anywhere.These products can dry the cat's skin and will last for long periods or not the same spot to urinate.

[gethealthy18-blog]

How to Stay Motivated When Making Health Changes

New Post has been published on http://healingawerness.com/news/how-to-stay-motivated-when-making-health-changes/

How to Stay Motivated When Making Health Changes

Often the problem isn’t wanting to change, or even taking the first step. The hardest part is finding a way to stay motivated once our initial enthusiasm wears off or we encounter setbacks. This is one reason so many of us struggle with keeping New Year’s resolutions!

I’m no motivation guru and I’ve definitely had many times when I wanted to give up, change course, or just crawl back into bed. At the same time I am (a little) older and hopefully wiser and I’ve decided one thing must be true: progress itself — whether in weight loss or fitness or overall health — is the most important motivating factor.

So, how to stop waiting for the perfect time or the perfect plan and get going? Good question!

The One Way to Get & Stay Motivated

In my mind, there’s only one way to get started: Take action, even if it’s small. This is the best and only way to create more energy and motivation. Excitement grows and catches on when we see progress.

It bears repeating:

Action breeds motivation, not the other way around.

If you are looking to make some lifestyle changes to improve your health and want to get (and stay) motivated, you’ve chosen a worthy cause! No matter which habit you’ve chosen to take on, I’ve found these seven steps can help keep motivation strong:

1. Have a Clear Vision of Your Goal and Your “Why”

This seems very common sense but is a step many of us skip. This is no surprise especially in mom world where it’s so tough to get any time to think without interruption!

Do what it takes: hide in the bathroom, the closet, the shower, the car, or better yet schedule some time out and figure out the exact reason you are making changes to your life. Envision what you want to accomplish and let it play out in your mind.

Note I didn’t say, “how you want to look in the end.” Let’s take weight loss for example: aesthetic goals alone rarely are enough to keep someone motivated. Eventually, the cheesecake, or pasta, or soda or whatever your weakness is will look really good and you’ll decide that you hate dieting more than you hate being fat and give in.

Tip: Instead, figure out a health-related goal, which may include aesthetic aspects, and write it down. Focus on long-term health benefits and make a clear plan of how you will get there.

2. Set Action Steps Toward Your Goal

It almost never works to jump in to a new diet, fitness plan, and natural living lifestyle all at once. Figure out some smaller goals and put them on paper. Once you reach one goal, start on another.

Goals must be measurable and specific to be accomplished. Once you figure out the clear goal, you need a specific and measurable action plan to get there.

If you want to improve your diet for health reasons… start meal planning.

If you are trying to improve health and weight… measure yourself and take before pictures.

If you need to improve insulin sensitivity… monitor glucose.

The more specific and measurable your goal, the easier it will be to track your progress and stick to it. If you need to lower carbs or eat more veggies, start a health tracking journal or a habit tracking app. Tracking drastically increases chances of success when it comes to new habits.

Tip: No matter what your goal, consider meal planning. There are many amazing tools to make it easier (this one is my favorite). Meal planning will save time, money, and mental energy in the long run and help stick to the goal.

Free Resource: Use this Mini Wellness Challenge Printable to plan and record your action steps!

3. Create Checkpoints

This is an idea that Martin at LeanGains suggests and I think it is a great one. (He also recommends intermittent fasting, which is another great idea!)

Basically, instead of having weekly weigh-ins or daily tracking, try periodic “checkpoints” every few weeks or even months instead. This encourages a sense of internal competitiveness without getting focused on small details. It is also gives you a long enough time to see measurable results (rather than getting discouraged that you aren’t running triathlons or fitting into size 4 jeans after your first week of training).

For instance, if you are trying to lose weight and improve physique or strength, your checkpoint could be weighing yourself and testing your ability in a few basic exercises (pushups, sprints, etc.).

If working on improving insulin sensitivity, it could be your fasting blood glucose levels.

If working on allergies or eczema, it could be your frequency of symptoms for each one.

Tip: Set multiple checkpoints in increments of 8 weeks on your calendar or phone (otherwise, you’ll forget!). This is long enough for a new habit to actually sink in, not to mention stick. Compare each checkpoint to the last and try to beat it.

4. Keep Learning

To keep your motivation high and focused on a goal, it is often helpful to remember why you formed the goal in the first place. Taking in new information — be it health, nutrition, or fitness related — feeds the desire and keeps the flame burning!

My favorite motivating books are:

Books

Also (if it’s not too obnoxious) I should just mention that my book The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox has all of my best suggestions and recipes for making small but meaningful changes toward a healthier life. If food is your focus, The Wellness Mama Cookbook has my best food recipes too.

But moving on!

Movies & Documentaries

Tip: Multitask and listen to an audiobook or podcast while showering, driving, or cleaning up. (Bonus: The family might hear and pick up some new health knowledge and motivation themselves!) Some of my favorites are:

Podcasts

5. Buddy Up for Accountability

If possible, have your spouse or a friend make these changes with you. Not only will you have the benefit of some company along the way, but this has been shown to improve long-term compliance to a plan.

There are plenty of apps that make accountability even easier. My favorite (because I’m oh so super competitive) is an app called Spar.

Tip: Make sure you and your partner are on the same page on what the goal is and how to get there so you don’t derail each other by debating the small details along the way!

6. Give Yourself Rewards

To help, consider giving yourself non-food related rewards when you accomplish either your overall goal or one of your action steps. Looking forward to a new pair of pants in a smaller size, an evening out with your spouse, or a relaxing day of some kind might help you focus on the long-term benefits of your goal rather than the short-term struggle.

Some other ideas for motivating (but healthy) rewards are:

Join a local botanical garden, museum, or park (for all the benefits of nature)

Invest in a skin-brushing set for dry brushing

Plan a day trip somewhere you wouldn’t normally consider going

Upgrade your home gym with some new equipment

Treat yourself to some pampering natural beauty products you normally wouldn’t splurge on

Go for the health gold – set a big goal and save up for your own sauna or a red light therapy device

Or, the real prize… a day off! (recruit your spouse, a family member, or a babysitter… whatever it takes!)

Tip: Make a list of some new ways to reward yourself and try one of them. Whether it’s taking a class to learn a new skill (I recommend scuba!) or finally splurging for that Instant Pot and learning the ropes (life-changer!), chances are once you push past your comfort zone, you’ll be glad.

7. Repeat Until a Habit

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit, and I’d say it takes less than that if you have a system and a routine in place. As with most aspects of life, healthy living is much easier if it is part of a normal and regular routine. Sometimes all it takes is a challenge to get you started.

This will also help remove the mindset of “dieting” which implies an end point once a goal is reached and encourage a mindset of a permanent and healthy lifestyle change. Sugar will not be healthy now or when you weigh your goal weight… neither will grains, or vegetable oils, or commercial deodorant… you get the idea.

Tip: Make goals visual to keep them in the forefront of your mind. Write up your why, your goals, your baby steps, and post it everywhere to increase your chances of staying motivated and sticking to a new habit.

Take Action Today With a Mini Wellness Challenge!

Before making up a grand master plan, try a mini challenge or experiment! Pick one of these areas, go to the top of this post, and plan out your 7 steps! I highly suggest writing out your plan and posting it some place visible. Download my free Mini-Challenge Plan printable here!

Where to start? Here’s a list of possible health areas to consider:

Eat Real Food – Start consuming a nutrient-dense diet if you aren’t already and avoid processed foods.

Drink and Use Clean Water – Avoid chemicals in drinking water with a quality water filter and neutralize chemicals in bath or shower water.

Breathe Clean Air –  Purify air just by shopping for a few house plants or getting outdoors more.

Get More Exercise – Not exercising? Start with just 10 minutes.

Reduce Stress – Set some goals to reduce stress through meditation/prayer, diet, exercise, or my favorite, journaling.

Avoid Toxins – Decide which home, cleaning, or beauty products you could trade for natural versions.

Sleep Better – If you’re not sure where to start, start here! Good sleep is the foundation and in many ways more important than diet or exercise!

Remember, there’s no wrong place to start… action in one area more often than not will lead to motivation in another!

Bottom Line: Baby Steps Make It Happen!

When the lists are long and the tasks are many it’s easy to lose motivation (especially when the toddler is having a meltdown at your feet), but inertia is the worst part. Take one step in the right direction (today) and put these tips to the test to stay motivated, focused, and hopefully a little healthier!

How do you stay motivated? Have you struggled with this in the past? Any resources I’m forgetting? Please add them in the comments below!

Source: https://wellnessmama.com/2966/how-to-stay-motivated/

[todayissquareone-blog]

On my self-care routine

Being an anxious person is exhausting, and it’s hard not to let it become my identity some days. I struggle with keeping up with myself at times, but I’ve worked on getting into a rhythm that makes it doable. I figured I’d go into some detail about how I do that.

Something I’ve found to be helpful is making a weekly schedule to follow. I have it hanging on the inside of my medicine cabinet, which I have to open on a daily basis. Even if I don’t stick to it to the day, having it to look at on a daily basis is a reminder of what I need to do to feel good about myself physically.

I’ve heard many people who struggle with their mental health say that the first thing they neglect when things get bad is hygiene. I can see how this would happen. Staying clean is a side effect of being a germaphobe, so I am grateful that that hasn’t been an issue for me, but everything beyond showering and brushing my teeth can be elusive when I’m in a bad spot. If basic hygiene is something you struggle with, though, feel free to integrate those things into a written routine as a daily thing. We all have different struggles, and this routine pertains only to mine. I’ve found that having a framework helps a lot.

Left unchecked, I will try to wash my hair every single day. I can’t always remember if I did it the day before or not, and I love the feeling of super-clean hair. However, with my hair type, daily washes exacerbate damage and result in dryness and frizz. So, a few of the days on the schedule have “wash hair” listed as a task (which keeps me on an every-other-day/every-two-days wash schedule--best for my hair, but your mileage may vary). 

I also have 2 reminders on there to take care of my nails. I don’t ever paint my fingernails anymore, but I do take pride in keeping my toes pretty. Having a reminder to take a few minutes to shape my nails up, and re-paint them/touch-up where needed is helpful.

I have a weekly reminder to address my eyebrows, too. I used to wear makeup a lot more regularly before I moved to hot and humid Florida, so I never needed a reminder--just being that up-close-and-personal with my face was reminder enough when things needed tweezing. Now, though, it’s easy for my brows to go unnoticed until they’ve hit full hot mess status. So every Wednesday, I am reminded to look at them, tweeze any out-of-place hairs, and make sure they’re in good shape. I think they actually look better when they’re touched up once a week, rather than every time I sat down for my daily makeup routine and noticed a hair out of place. If anything, I overdid them back then, which isn’t really a good look.

Shaving is something I forget to do sometimes, because my hair doesn’t grow in fast, rough, or dark. Lots of people shave near-daily, and having rough, noticeable stubble is a good reminder to do so. That isn’t the case for me, which is a blessing and a curse--sometimes I’ll look at my legs and realize it’s been way too long since I last shaved them. Some people rock the whole no-shave thing, but I am not one of them. I personally feel cleaner and better when my legs are smooth, so I have 2 weekly reminders to check on them. That’s all I personally need, but everyone has different feelings on body hair, so whatever feels good for you is what you should do. (Underarm hair is a different story for me--the climate down here means that if I want my deodorant to stick, I HAVE to keep those bare.)

Finally, I have a little routine I like to call Coconut Oil Thursdays. I have Thursday night set as a hair-wash night, but Wednesday is not. So Thursday morning, when my hair is dry (as I shower at night), I put my hair in a high ponytail, then cover the ponytail in coconut oil. That way it’s not my roots (which would get so greasy if I put oil there), just the hair in the ponytail getting covered. I twist it into a really tight bun (coconut oil has the added bonus of keeping the bun from getting frizzy!) and go about my day as normal. At night I wash it out, and I usually have to wash it twice because I have a LOT of hair. After that, I just condition with a normal conditioner. After my hair dries it looks awesome. The coconut oil provides a lot of moisture, and having the ability to soak into my dry hair all day (rather than already-wet hair for a few minutes, as I tried originally) makes a huge difference. The bun is optional, but I wear my hair in a messy bun most of the time anyway. Also, having my hair tied up keeps the oil from getting on my skin. I’m no expert on hair (fun fact, I dropped out of a cosmetology program in high school so I truly am a beauty school dropout), and I barely use hair products anyway. But it’s low-maintenance, which is the name of the game when you’re like me, and I’ve found that Coconut Oil Thursdays work wonders for me!

These are all just things I’ve found that work to help keep me on track with self-care. I always used to joke that you can tell if my life is in disarray by how messy my eyebrows looked, but that’s not the case anymore. I can be a total mess, but you won’t be able to tell by looking at my brows. (Just don’t check my heart rate!)

None of this is to say that I stick to the routine perfectly, though. Some weeks, I follow it to the day, and would follow it to the hour if I had it written that way! But there are also weeks where I truly don’t feel like looking at it. Sometimes it’ll be Friday, and the only thing I’ll have done from the schedule is wash my hair (and not on the right days, either!). When I have a week like that, I try to take at least one day (Saturdays tend to work well) to catch up. Even if I don’t feel like it, I do deserve to take care of myself and make myself feel like I look good. At the end of the day, it’s something for me to focus on and use as a guideline. 

I have always envied people who don’t struggle with remembering to upkeep themselves. I have friends and family who effortlessly do these things without having a written list telling them to do so. But ultimately, this is what I need to do to stay on track, and I’ve found that it works for me. Even admitting I do this feels a little embarrassing, because being an adult should mean I do these things anyway. Being anxious just means I have a lot of nervous energy to funnel somewhere, so why not make it my self-care routine? There is no shame in that, and I try to remind myself of that as much as possible. 

[rollinbrigittenv8]

What’s Inside A Full-Time Traveler’s Suitcase

Wandering Earl

It turns out that a full-time traveler doesn’t really need much stuff.

One pair of ripped socks. Boxer shorts with a tear in the back (oh my, these are old). A yellow t-shirt with all kinds of Vietnamese soup stains on the front. Two small tin boxes I bought for no reason at an antique shop in India earlier this year. And a blue belt that I hadn’t seen in about 14 months.

That’s a quick glimpse of some of the stuff I just found when I gutted my suitcase this morning in preparation for this post.

In fact, I think it’s the first time I’ve taken absolutely everything out in about two years.

Did I say suitcase? Yes I did.

After spending my first 16 years or so as a full-time traveler using my trusty Kelty Redwing 44 liter backpack, I’ve now spent a good portion of the past 2 years traveling around with my Eagle Creek Load Warrior 42 liter rolling suitcase.

Have I gone mad? Perhaps.

All I know is that this little sturdy suitcase, which is indeed smaller than my Kelty backpack, helps me keep things more organized, it’s super easy to pull along wherever I go and it’s still compact enough to take as a carry-on. And as I get older, that all seems slightly more appealing than carrying my stuff on my back.

I still love my backpack but for the travel I do now, a 42-liter rolling suitcase suits my needs.

What I Pack as a Full-Time Traveler

After 18 years of travel, one might think that my possessions have gone through a series of transformations based on my travel style or needs. Well, apart from some more advanced technology that I carry today, things really aren’t too different now than from 1999 or 2003 and so on.

I’m not sure if I should be happy, embarrassed or sad about that.

Anyway, here is the complete list…

The Main Bag

3 pairs of shorts (one gray, one blue, one orange as I spend significant amounts of time in hot weather)

1 swimsuit (if there’s a beach nearby, I’m going…I actually had 2 swimsuits but some coconut oil leaked through my daypack last month and caused the red material of the bag to stain the swimsuit, so that one had to go)

2 pairs of jeans (1 blue, 1 black…I’ve tried wearing actual pants but always prefer my jeans in the end)

9 t-shirts (might sound like more than I need, but this full-time traveler spills a lot of soup on his t-shirts so I always need backups)

1 button down short sleeve shirt (I love this shirt but only really wear it when I need to look a tad more dressed up, which isn’t too often actually)

1 button down long sleeve shirt (I’ve been carrying this one around for the past 1.5 years and haven’t worn it once)

1 sweater (a recent purchase from when I was in Sweden last month and it was quite cold outside…haven’t used it since)

1 navy zipper hoodie (I wear this ALL the time…in fact, I probably should wash it soon)

Travel towel (I don’t know…about twice per year I find myself dripping with water and without a proper towel around…that’s when this thin travel towel comes to the rescue)

7 pairs of socks (you can’t wear flip-flops in European cities during the summer, you’ve got to put on some socks and shoes!)

8 underwear (yup, I do wear underwear and only one has a hole in it, I think)

1 pair of sandals (after spending many years only wearing Crocs Modi Flips or Hurley Phantom Free flip-flops, I recently purchased a pair of Sole sandals…oops, big mistake and when I get back to the US in a couple of weeks, I’ll be going back to one of my favorites)

1 pair of New Balance shoes (I’m a New Balance person – they’re comfortable, durable and they have an “N” for “nomad” on the side)

Sarong (the one thing I know I’ve carried with me from day 1 as a full-time traveler…it plays so many roles – sheet, beach blanket, bag, sweat rag, clothing, etc)

Amazon basics laundry bag (super sturdy, rolls up into nothing and well, pretty much does what you’d expect)

Shoe brush (with only 1 pair of shoes, they can get dirty, so from time to time I give them a scrub down…unfortunately, it doesn’t help remove the car oil stains that I somehow got on my shoes)

Bar of soap (some guesthouses/hotels/hostels/apartments don’t provide soap and I’ve realized this way too many times after getting under the water in the shower…so, I carry my own just in case)

Ohuhu toiletry bag (the best one I’ve found by far…fits everything, remains compact and is super easy to clean…why I need to carry around 3 things of deodorant is a different story)

Philips electric toothbrush (last year I made the switch to an electric toothbrush and naturally, it was a great decision… here’s a tip for travelers though…I went with Philips because it can be charged anywhere overseas…the ones from Braun require a voltage converter)

Contact lenses and contact lens solution (kind of a necessity)

Bag of money (not as exciting as that sounds…just a pile of currency from countries I think I might visit again soon…or just a pile of money that is getting dirtier and smellier as time goes on)

Small medicine pack (ibuprofen, Claritin, paracetamol…actually, I can’t find this thing right now so I might have lost it)

2 tiny tin boxes (no idea what I’m going to do with these things, probably just carry them around for a few years)

The Small Bag

In terms of a small bag, a couple of years ago I made the switch to a Timbuk2 messenger bag. For me, it’s more comfortable and holds everything I need in a more organized manner. And it’s red, which apparently nobody wants, because it was on sale for about 50% off the regular price.

Here’s what’s inside:

MacBook Pro laptop (can’t travel/work without it, and after 5 years, it’s still going strong)

Kindle (lately I haven’t been reading as much as I wish but do you have any book recommendations?)

Samsung Galaxy S7 (it’s my phone and my camera these days)

Credit card holders (I don’t use a wallet…I stuff money and the cards I need each day into my pocket…what I don’t need, I keep in these two things…no idea why I don’t use a different system…any good travel wallet recommendations?)

Pouch for SIM cards (when I saw this felt pouch in a tiny store in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan a few years ago, I thought to myself, “That would be a perfect SIM card holder”…well, not quite like that but I liked the pouch and that’s what it has become)

Symphonized NRG 3.0 earbuds (My Symphonized earbuds are one of my best ever gear purchases…for $25, the sound quality is simply awesome and as a bonus, I actually just used them last night as ear plugs due to the barking dogs and naying horses outside the window – don’t ask)

Business cards (Ah yes…I’ve been carrying around a couple of hundred business cards since 2012 and have probably handed out a grand total of 9)

ButterFox electronic gear case (it all fits inside – chargers, wireless mouse, small HDMI cable, plug adapters, laptop screen cleaner and these colorful little rubber twisty tie things that I thought would be useful but which I’ve never used)

And finally, I also carry around…

Passport (completely worn out, partly torn and with three extra sets of pages inside, two of which are sewn in and one which is taped in…talk about suspicious)

Yellow Fever certificate (only needed to use this once but good to have)

Sunglasses (for the first 35 years of my life, I never wore sunglasses but the last 5 years, I’ve worn them almost every day)

Pen (high-quality little pen I bought at a random pen shop in Singapore about 4 years ago)

USB stick (no idea what’s on this thing)

That’s everything!

Total weight:

Suitcase – 11 kg / 24 lbs Daypack – 5 kg / 13 lbs

And while all of the above might sound like a significant amount of stuff, here’s what it all looks like when nicely packed up:

Final Notes on Packing Carry on or checked luggage?

My current setup, whether with the backpack or suitcase, can always be taken as a carry-on. I usually take it as a carry-on if I am flying direct. If I have a layover somewhere, I check my backpack or suitcase simply because I don’t like to lug it around the airport. But I’ve never had any issues with size or weight when taking it as a carry-on, including on many budget airlines in Europe, Asia and Africa.

The good and the bad of packing light

Pros: My life fits into one small bag. It’s pretty simple, everything I need as a full-time traveler is right there and I can pack up and go in minutes if I’m being chased by local authorities …um, or I just suddenly decide to head to a new destination. There is also a sense of freedom involved with having such few possessions and having that ability to move around the globe so easily without having to think of what to do with excess stuff.

Cons: On the other hand, sometimes I wouldn’t mind some extra stuff. Another shirt or another pair of shoes, for example. I don’t need them but when you’re on the road for this long, some added variety wouldn’t hurt. Also, whenever I see something that I’d like to purchase, something that would look great in my home, I have to remind myself that I’m a full-time traveler that lives out of my suitcase and that there is no room in there for cool Moroccan lamps or a hand-woven Pakistani carpet.

Packing cubes

A friend and I have been going back and forth recently about the benefits of packing cubes. He sees a ton of benefits. I see zero benefits. I know they’re a popular thing but when a bag is all packed up with packing cubes, to me it just looks like my suitcase when it is all packed up, except that there are these cubes that now need to be opened in order for me to reach my stuff. Why have that extra step?

Is the above really all I own?

Pretty much, yes. I do have one box in a closet at my mom’s place that is filled with some extra clothes and a few gifts I’ve purchased for myself while traveling but I haven’t looked at it in a long time. It’s probably full of bugs. Apart from that, all of my possessions are literally in my suitcase and messenger bag.

So, the question is, could you live out of a suitcase? How do you pack, or think you’d pack, for your travels?

[gastro-nomique]

My Tried & True Non-Toxic Beauty Routine

I am WAY overdue on this post guys – so sorry it’s taken me so long to share my non-toxic beauty routine! I know I promised it to you long ago (maybe so long ago, you’ve totally forgotten about it by now).

My only excuse is that overhauling your beauty products to go non-toxic is a bit of a tricky task and it has taken me a while to really find my favorites.

But find them I did and I’m so excited to share them with you today.

  Before we get to that, though, if you’re interested in going non-toxic in your home, then you’ll definitely want to check out…

The Herbs & Essential Oils Super Bundle!

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  My 7 Go-To Non-Toxic Beauty Products

  #1 – Face Wash: Avalon Organics CoQ10 Facial Cleansing Milk $12.00

For years my go-to face wash has been the cult (and dermatologist) favorite, Cetaphil. I really appreciated how gentle it was on my skin, so when I found out it’s Think Dirty score, I was pretty bummed.

Fortunately, I found this cleansing milk that is just as gentle on my skin plus, BONUS, it fights aging and wrinkles.

  #2 – Morning Moisturizer: SW Basics Oil Serum $26.50

One of my biggest discoveries from going non-toxic is how much I absolutely LOVE using facial oils instead of standard moisturizers. They just feel so much more luxurious on my skin and the moisture feels like it really sticks around and doesn’t disappear a few minutes later like a lot of lotions.

This basic serum contains only 4 ingredients and I first heard about it on a beauty podcast. They pointed out that an oil serum containing coffee is the perfect thing for waking up your face in the morning and I totally agree.

  #3 – Shave Gel: Kiss My Face Moisture Shave $8.60

Shaving gel is probably the easiest non-toxic beauty swap I made in my whole routine. This moisture shave works every bit as well as a normal shaving gel and is inexpensive and easy to find.

  #4 – Body Moisturizer: SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Body Butter $8.96

My friend, who has suffered forever from chronic and severely dry skin, recommended this one to me. I can see why she loves it so much and I am a big fan of slathering this stuff all over, especially in the winter.

In warmer months, I prefer a lighter body oil instead of body butter. This one, also by SheaMoisture, is my current fav.

  #5 – Deodorant: Primal Pit Paste $10.82

Finding a non-toxic deodorant is both the hardest thing to do and maybe the most important since the aluminum in antiperspirants is linked to all sorts of scary stuff like dementia.

The application of this one takes a little getting used to but it is by far the toughest performing natural deodorant that I’ve found.

  #6 – Night Serum: Pai Skincare Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil $40.00

You may notice this is the most expensive item on the list (although, it’s really not very expensive as far as beauty products go). That’s because I think night serums are the smart place to spend your beauty dollars. 

Also, because you only have to use a few drops a night, this stuff lasts FOREVER.

I think I first saw it recommended on Goop(?) and I’ve been in love with it since day one. According to the manufacturer, it contains:

Most concentrated Rosehip Oil on the market – outperforms Cold Pressed, Seed Only Oils

High levels of Trans Retinoic Acid delivers Pro-Vitamin A to the skin without causing irritation

And it’s done some great things for my wrinkles!

  #7 – Night Cream: S.W. Basics Cream $32.78

Just like the night serum above, this cream has lasted me for an incredibly long time (I’m still on my first jar months after purchasing). It is so decadent and I use it along with the rosehip oil whenever my skin is feeling especially dry.

  That’s it for now. Hope you find something new to love!

  *Post contains affiliate links.

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