#and then I get to spend the summer working in wine retail and deciding if I want to do grad school | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

jayalover · 1 month

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DATES ALPHABET; rhekker edition!

i just miss these guys so bad. here’s what (i believe) we could’ve had <3

A - Amusement Park / Arcade

the two go to Navy Pier one evening after work, during the winter when it's quiet, wanting the best games to themselves. coonor's desperate to show ava how to play all the games and all the crappy pier food from his childhood. however, ava surprises him with her hook-a-duck talents, to which he accuses her of cheating at (her response? "if you were a good surgeon, you'd understand.")

B - Biking / Brunch

they're both not big on brunch, so they only really go when claire and her husband invite them. they make sure to order very different options, just so they can steal from each other.

C - Candlelit Dinner / Cabin Getaway

100% on the candlelit dinner! connor books some fancy place in uptown chicago, just so he and ava can dress up for it. however, a last-minute surgery comes up and they have to cancel; to make up for it, ava snags a table on the hospital terrace, decorating it with candles. it may not be caviar and champagne, but some cafeteria food and just each other's company can make up for it.

D - Dinner Cruise / Drive-in Movie

they may not seem like the couple for a drive-in movie. ava forces connor to go, telling him it's "the only way i'll ever experience proper american culture!", to which he begrudgingly goes along with. let's just say that a lot more happens between them than just watching the movie..

E - Eiffel Tower / Escape Room

why wine and dine in chicago when you can do it on top of the eiffel tower? they both take furlough from work to go there for their second anniversary. it's a second take of one of their failed candlelit dinners, and it's better than either could imagine.

F - Football Game / Fireworks

when marcel hosts a 4th of july BBQ, they go together, hand in hand. it's the first time they've told their coworkers together, and whilst it doesn't come as a shock to some, they're all still supportive and excited. as the fireworks burst in the sky into pretty patterns, ava finds herself in connor's arms; everything is just perfect.

G - Gala / Glamping

gala dates happen quite often, mainly because of connor's social status. neither want to go, it's all for appearances. however, it is fun when they get home and get to rip each other's clothes off.

H - Hockey Match / Harvest festival

connor scores some pretty good tickets for his favourite team and decides to take ava. it's a decent game; of course it's great when your team wins, but what's even better is seeing your girlfriend in your sports sweatshirt.

I - Interior Design Expo / Italian Restaurant

when claire falls ill and is unable to attend an expo, the two take the invites from her. instead of taking it seriously and finding new retailer for D&R, they spend the day fantasising how they'd decorate a place they buy together.

J - Jacuzzi / Jogging

jaccuzis are a great way to relax, especially when your job is so stressful. although, connor does find it hard to relax when ava looks so good in her new bikini..

K - Kayaking / Kickboxing

when summer finally hits chicago, the two make a plan to go to the beach, where they go kayaking for the first time. neither are very good at it (both trying to be in control of where they go, which leads to their usual banter), but they do find some cool caves and crevices.

L - Lakeside Getaway / Live Music

when ava wins a trip away during a gala auction, they immediately take time off to go. it's only for the weekend, so they try and fill it with as many activities as possible. however, not a lot get done; it's mainly fishing, drinking, and of course, sex. but hey, who could want more?

M - Museum / Masquerade

Sometimes it's best just to spend quiet time with each other. he two walk around hand in hand, simply glad to be in each other's presence. it all makes a change from the business of Med.

N - Nightclub / Nine Pin Bowling

it starts off fun, but quickly escalates into a competition. there's no need for it - they just can't help but to bicker over who's the better bowler (spoiler; it's ava). maybe it's best not to go bowling when you're both so competitive..

O - Observatory / Orchestra Concert

it's another date they attend for the appearances, but they end up enjoying it more than they thought.

P - Picnic / Photoshoot

when the weather is good, they go for picnics in the park, stretched out on the blanket and enjoying being with each other, finally free from their stress of work.

Q - Quiz Night / Quiet Time

when molly's hosts a quiz night, connor and ava decided to team up with the coworkers. but what confuses everyone, though, is when they go on seperate teams - they tell their coworkers that they "don't want to scare you with our intelligence". everything goes well until the final round, when connor surprises ava with his knowledge on crappy reality shows.

R - Resort Weekend / Road Trip

it's a double date with claire and her husband, but it doesn't mean they have to spend every waking second with them. connor and ava go off to do their own thing, which includes a lot of typical couple activities.

S - Spa Day / Swimming

this ties into their resort weekend trip. it's a good day for them, finally feeling relief from the recent stressors at work. but it's hard to keep it PG-13 and not get caught.

T - Tiki Bar / Tango Lessons

this date happens as a re-do after ava misses connor's leaving party, but instead of celebrating someone moving on, they celebrate moving in together. it's gonna result in a massive hangovers the next day, but it's worth it.

U - Upscale Dining / Unplugged Date

sometimes it's better to just escape the real world (AKA electronics) and be with each other. whilst it could be reading or spending time with one another, they tend to lean towards coffee dates, just the two of them, not having to deal with their pagers going off or endless surgeries.

V - Valentines Day / Volunteer

valentine's days are the ones they go all out for; whilst they attempt to both have clear schedules, it never quite works out. so, it doesn't surprise ava when a bouquet of flowers turn up at work for her, or connor gets home to his apartment to find a new bottle of whiskey. it's the little things.

W - Woodworking / Weekend

weekends off from work are basically dates for them, and mean they can be as lazy as they want. sex in the morning, not getting up until midday, breakfast in bed. it's bliss for them.

X - eXcursions / eXpensive

of course it’s gonna be expensive! connor will go above and beyond to treat ava right up (which she loves). sometimes she’ll try and get the bill, but he always insists. neither are a stranger to expensive gifts either.

Y - Yacht Cruise / Yoga

for their third anniversary, they go on a cruise. but not just any cruise; connor rents one out so it’s just the two of them. it’s a great weekend away, even if neither of them are the best sailors (at least nobody dies!).

Z - Zoo / Zip Lining

they’re both animal lovers, so the Lincoln Park Zoo is sometimes a date. they both love reading the facts and seeing all the different animals. occasionally they’ll do the petting zoo; connor has his phone lock screen as a shot of ava holding a rabbit.

taglist; @superstorefannnn @v1bri

comment if you want to be added to the list!

#chicago med #one chicago #connor rhodes #ava bekker #rhekker #headcanons #drabble #dates alphabet #oneshot

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cloveroctobers · 4 years

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CHELSEA ELLE HODGSON —

IG info/Bio: @/chelseaaahodecor | 109k followers | hi babes! welcome to my life lovelies, please get comfy with this Prosecco im serving thru this screen! xx here’s my site if you need some light in ur life: ichelseahdgsondesigns.com 🏝💕

24 (25) years

From Buckinghamshire, England

Comes from a wealthy family

her father’s side of the family founded, “Hodgson investments” their company is built off of financial services

Her papo (grandfather) was arrested on tax invasion & served some time for doing so

Her father, Alistair now manages the company but under a different name

Her mother’s side of the family comes from old money...something about horses?

Her mother, Connie holds many events and seems to make $ from them but Chelsea isn’t quite sure what the woman does or if it’s fully legal

The family is all about protecting their image & if you don’t cut it, there will be repercussions

Feels a little like dynasty (I’ve only seen 2-3 episodes & never finished but get the point?) , maybe that’s why Chelsea & her sister enjoy watching it so much

Parents forsure held courtship events or either went to courtship events with their children (even Albie) & found suitors in hopes of marrying their daughters off (& finding Albie a new wife, only on Mrs. Hodgson’s part— mr. Hodgson seems nicer/easy-going)

Has older twin sibs: Albie-Crispin & Dolly-Georgiana

Often referred to as “the triplet” in the press

Well-known in their city

They’re all called by their first & middle name in their family household even tho their parents do not have middle names

Has a love/hate relationship with albie, he is selfish & has proven to do anything to drag others down to make himself look better

He’s a lawyer & has been married to his wife for about 7 years

Mrs. Hodgson, Dolly, & Chelsea all agree they do not like her but Chelsea puts on a smile whenever her sister-in-law is around while Mrs. Hodgson makes it known that she dislikes the woman, she thinks she’s beneath her son since her family does not make nearly enough $ put together between her & Mr. Hodgson

Dolly has a bf who’s a dental hygentist that she’s been dating for about 3 years but they’re both cheating on each other, she doesn’t think she’ll ever be married

She’s in office management

Chelsea fell in love with interior decorating from the moment she played with doll houses. Her grandparents made sure to send her the biggest doll houses they could find every Christmas. She’s always been in love with rearranging and picking certain items and best putting them into a space that works

She shit at drawing (she’ll leave that to the Architects) but she knows her furniture & patterns quite well

Has asked a few architects out on dates, some she worked with or stumbled across, only one seemed like it could have truly worked...I imagine him to look a bit like Henry Cavill with light facial hair (told you I’m a sucker for it, & Chelsea probably can tolerate just a bit not too much)

Yet Chelsea always has a wondering eye, she gets curious quite often which makes you wonder, is she really ready for love? To fully commit? One day she will be

It’s a competitive field and when she’s ready to battle she will but there are moments when she gets let down & has to pick herself up again

Has ADHD, goes to therapy for it & hates taking her meds. She’d rather stick to therapy sessions since it’s always nice to talk to someone

When she was younger she probably stole a friend or two’s bf & would definitely get mad if they did it back to her but they somehow still end up being friends in the end? Yikes

Hung out with the popular kids, was always at the parties making sure everyone was having a good time. Filling up the cups, directing where furniture should be moved, where the kegs should go, how many people should be there, etc...She doesn’t seem like the stuck up type like her mother but she is privileged & doesn’t realize it as much

Was a cheerleader & ran track, quit track to commit full-time to cheerleading since that kept her in shape enough

Dated here & there, had one bf where they would scream at each other and wouldn’t allow the other to leave or would be upset that the other didn’t come after them...yeah one of those couples

Broke up with her goth bf because he didn’t tell her he wasn’t coming to school for about a week; he had the stomach flu

Canon: Took a computer course in high school & in uni & found out she was at the top of her class for typing the fastest, she now loves the sound of her short pink ombré nails on the keys

Canon: Wanted to be a show jumper due to her mother’s side of the family & their history with horses

Goes to the stables every now & then, there’s one horse there that she’s absolutely in love with & loves to ride. Her father always offered to buy it for her but it’s not a animal she wants to own

Canon: loves finger foods + will get full off them at events quickly. She also doesn’t mind the tiny portions of food at expensive ass restaurants, it’s just enough for her

Takes hair supplements. Probably had long hair growing up that she always kept up in a bun or ponytail but decided to start chopping her hair off & getting layers & highlights which damaged her hair

Approves of plastic surgery

Is part of the itty bitty titty community & got a lift for them

Gets lip fillers for her bottom lip but isn’t a fan of needles + overlines her top lip

loves going to the dermatologist, the spa for facials & whatever else she’s willing to try & finding new skincare to buy

Tans & loves tropical hot summers

Buys an overload of bikinis even in the winter

Hates the rain, it messes with her mood

Loves a good lipstick & lipgloss combo, nudes & pinks are her to go to’s

Fav color is pink

Got herself a guinea pig after the show & named her “bubbly” after her baby in the villa

I feel like she would eventually get a tiny dog too

Has her own flat, that’s quite far from all of her family. She loves her dysfunctional problematic family but Chelsea likes her space from them too

Since buckinghamshire’s culture is more of a Middle Ages style, Chelsea made sure her home wouldn’t hold much of that style inside. It needed to be lively! Her family home was filled with dark wood & she can’t stand that

She loves going to the markets tho. She always seems to leave with something & either finds herself not liking it months later and ends up selling whatever item caught her interest

Her family tends to pop in whenever they want, especially her mother

Canon: talks about cat cafe’s when she’s drunk, says its her version of the chocolate factory + she’s the dancing drunk

Always down for a girls night out, girls trip & girls sleepovers

Probably goes to bed early around 10pm or earlier m if she’s not out having the time of her life, which makes her regret her choices the next morning

All her closest friends back home are a group of girls

Hangs out with Priya, Marisol, & Hope from the villa whereas the rest she’ll mostly communicate with them through socials or gatherings

Will host gatherings & expect them ALL to show up

Is dramatic when things don’t go her way

Loses focus more than gets bored in relationships? She’ll find other things or people to occupy her time which she doesn’t realize can be hurtful to others

When she does realize she hurts someone, she immediately wants to fix it

Canon: Is a blabbermouth. Cannot hold a secret for shit, also cannot tell a lie. Her body language gives it away first if she doesn’t spill it

Retail therapy is the best therapy if she doesn’t have a office appointment

Any spice girl song will be her karaoke song, she is always baby spice

Loves her Prosecco (me too sis!) & keeps plenty bottles in her wine fridge. She originally wanted a space with a wine cellar but got creeped out at the thought since it’s just her & bubbly living in the home

Has high cell phone bills, the girl loves a good chat

Cannot cook no matter how hard she tries. She’s been to cooking classes with an ex, watched videos, order from those food delivery sites to prepare food & it just never turns out well

Will spend hours in furniture stores, she’s had to be escorted out pass closing hours by security guards before & manage to make friends out of them. They all know who she is in majority of the stores she enters

Throws a party every time her following goes up. There’s never not a reason to throw one

Was upset that Carl unfollowed her once and figured Hannah made him do it. Which wasn’t true, Hannah was sure of herself now & doesn’t feel the need to be jealous, the man could follow whoever he wanted—she knew he barely stayed on IG in the first place. He thought it was too shallow

So when Chelsea called him one night sobbing he was utterly confused, he didn’t understand why a follow meant so much

He reluctantly followed her back

Thrilled to know Elijah, Lucas, & Carl all keep up with her. Oh & the rest of the boys ofc!

Chats with Jakub! They also hang out. They’re a bit of a odd pairing but they get along well, he’s basically another big brother to her but she actually likes him—

Afraid of the dark, keeps fairy lights lit throughout the night in her bedroom, keeps scent infused night lights in her hallways

Believes in feng shui

I feel like her voice is soft like jennifer Tilly’s?

Idk what her sun sign is? Is she a sag far as daydreaming cause she does that. I KNOW she has Leo in her chart, she’s dramatic, warm, likes to be admired & appreciated. Sun sign I need help? Maybe she’s a Sagittarius sun? + Leo moon + libra rising

Has a collection of celeb gossip magazines that she keeps on a stand next to her pink velvet chair beside her bow window

I think she will be the first islander that gets pregnant tbh & it’s by an architect (the guy I mentioned/envisioned that’s been waiting on her to realize he can give her the love she needs or prove he can balance her out) or firefighter or someone “manly” she wouldn’t end up with a islander I don’t think

she has a girl & names her, “adore”

Canon: Still wants 5 kids but we’ll see how that goes & if it’ll change, it’s been a bit difficult not drinking Prosecco but she’s got a lovely baby out of it

Crushes? Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Alfred Enoch, Alex Pettyfer, Joe Cole, Gregg Sulkin, Frank Dillane, Charlie Rowe, & Hero Fiennes Tiffin

Can listen to anything that’s got a good beat. But we all know she’s a pop & folk genre lover. She listens to: Astrid S, Maty Noyes, Cher Lloyd, Bebe Rexha, Allie X, Poppy, POST MALONE, etc.

Anthem? Gabrielle Aplin — Until the sun comes up

#litg #litg2 #litg s2 #litg Chelsea #litg carl #litg headcanon #litg headcanons #litg au #50/50 like Chelsea lol #she’s sweet but there’s things that she’s done that makes me side eye her #wouldn’t keep her around my man if she’s single tbh lmao #litg3 #litg s3

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evak-fic-rec-turtleanon · 5 years

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Evak Fics - Co-Workers

A list for coworkers/colleagues. Includes fics where they are not exactly colleagues or coworkers but related to them working together in a way.

No Flirting in the Science Lab by smilexdarling (728 words) - Isak and Even fall in love at school, but this time, they're the teachers.

sweet creature by Skamtrash (1k words) - Along the lines of "We’re both baristas and sometimes I have trouble reaching for things and I show up to work one day to find a personalized stool with hearts and my name on it i hATE YOU but also thanks"

Pumpkin King by i_once_wrote_a_dream (1.7k words) - Isak grins, and taps the crown. “You’re the dumbest king I’ve ever met.” They work on a pumpkin patch.

White Elephant by HazyCosmicJive (1.8k words) - Vilde turns the office Secret Santa into a White Elephant Secret Santa.

stuck on you (what did i do?) by itjustkindahappened (1.8k words) - a teacher AU with zero teaching and a lot of crushing.

settle down by allyasavedtheday: Chapter 21 Model Au (2.5k words) - Isak was not prepared for a partner at this photoshoot. Chapter 35 Model Au Part 2 (1.9k words) - Prompt fill for where they’re doing like a couples photoshoot or something with Mikael and now they can’t stop kissing each other and everyone’s too endeared to be frustrated with them

in sickness and in health by wyoheartsmusic (2k words) - Emma is crushing on her teacher until she finds out he's very much in love with his husband. So this is in Emma's pov.

love doctor by princevaltersen (2.3k words) - “Looking through Tinder and rating guys in the paediatric unit is definitely something that you shouldn’t be doing at work.” Doctor au.

Email from Somewhere by wyoheartsmusic (2.4k words) - Isak gets an email from no one. He asks Even for help.

Did you hear oxygen and magnesium got together? OMg by sugarbeat24 (2.5k words) - Isak and Even are chemistry partners. Fluff and chemistry jokes ensue. They are not co-workers but this is cute.

Colleagues? - SKAM Fic Week Day 5 by glbertblythes (2.6k words) - Isak and Even have been work colleagues for three years - a couple for two - and they like to call the office their "second home" for multiple reasons.

It Only Takes a Taste (When You Know It's Good) by shakespeareandsunshine (2.8k words) - It would be bad enough if it was just some mystery coworker stealing meals from the office fridge. Then Isak could hate their anonymous ass in peace. But no, Isak has a very good idea who the culprit is. And seeing the villain in the breakroom every day, smiling at Isak like he has nothing to apologize for was testing Isak's very limited patience. And also probably his self-control, although for an entirely different reason.

I Don't Date Cops by jinglebin (2.9k words) - Isak gets a new colleague and he's instantly smitten. Until said collegue tells him he doesn't date cops. b99 au

just a little bit out of my limit by theyellowcurtains (3k words) - Isak is pissed about where he got placed for work experience, that is until he meets his fine ass supervisor.

Pictures of You by MacksDramaticShenanigans (3.2k words) - The au where Even is a photographer and Isak is his infuriatingly gorgeous model

Can't We Be Sweethearts? by HazyCosmicJive (3.3k words) - in which Isak and Even work at a summer carnival together

EVEN by LiliMane (3.5k words) - A friends with benefits or kinda of an enemies with benefits type of situation. 'Whatever. People come and go. Sometimes they don't come at all. Sometimes they only send you money. And the ones that come don't stay too long. But that's how it is and there's nothing I can do about it. Not that I want to do anything about it.'

Adrian and Markus by ufologies (3.9k words) - Isak and Even go undercover on a case that unexpectedly ends up bringing them closer together.

i bet my life on you by janesargnt (4.8k words) - “Ok, so it’s settled then,” said Elias, getting to his feet. “If Bech Nӕsheim loses, he has to give Valtersen his car. If Valtersen loses, he has to go on a date in said car.” B99 au.

from my lips my sin is purged by slvtherxn (4.8k words) - After Even's last relationship with his coworker ended quite messily, his boss has forbidden him from dating any more of her employees. It takes him ten seconds alone with his new trainee before he decides to date him in secret.

Fuck Tha Police by MacksDramaticShenanigans (5.2k words) - “This,” Eskild said, spinning the photograph around so everyone could see it, “is a picture of the latest piece of vandalism from our favorite little street punk.” he finished with a heavy sigh. They are both cops.

Thank You for Flying Norwegian Air! by orphan_account (5.4k words) - Isak and Even are both flight attendants who definitely don't have feelings for each other.

Don't worry, I've got you by everything_else (5.7k words) - Isak gets a job at a coffee shop.

18 Secret Santa Horror Stories That'll Turn Anyone Into A Grinch by GayaIsANerd (6.1k words) - Some secret Santa, some unfortunate google results, a whole lot of complaining and a heart full of gratitude. They work for a website that is like a Norwegian Buzzfeed but different.

i tried to be strong but i lost it (i knew it was wrong, i’m beyond it) by orphan_account (6.3k words) - Even has a thing for his intern, Isak has a thing for his boss, they're both a bit clueless and their friends just want them to get their shit together.

Crying Over Spilt Milk by MacksDramaticShenanigans (8.4k words) - The boys get their hands on Isak’s resume; Isak gets his hands on Even. Coffee shop.

my heart held a ledger by cynical_optimist, strangetowns (8.6k words) - A hitmen AU, wherein Isak and Even hate their jobs but love each other. This 'verse is now on permanent hiatus but it can still be enjoyed as a standalone oneshot.

Unclassified by bri_ness (9.7k words) - "Separate fiction from fact, romances from tragedies, the stories you want to experience from the ones you’d rather ignore." Isak and Even flirt in a library while having some deep thoughts about cataloging.

Merry Kiss My Ass (under the mistletoe) by TheGirlNoOneKnows5 (9.8k words) - Working in retail during the holiday season is a nightmare. Especially when Isak has to work right alongside his just friend and not at all crush, Even. Among freaky customers, secret santa presents and constant reminders of his one night of passion with Even, Isak doesnt know if he'll make it to the new year. If only he could figure out who was behind all the random mistletoes he keeps finding...

Is This What You Wanted? by cuteandtwisted (9.9k words) - Isak is filthy rich and Even is a hardworking male model who just got signed to his father's agency. Even gets an awful offer from Isak: one night with him in exchange for money, and begins to despise him. Little does he know that everything he thinks he knows about Isak is wrong.

sweeter than wine, softer than a summer's night by dewdrops (12k words) - Isak and Even work at an amusement park.

Valtersen's Anatomy by evak1isak (12k words) - Isak Valtersen, a nurse intern, happens to fall in love with one of the new interns, Even Bech Næsheim, from the mental health team.

when your heart is bleeding, i'm coming to get you by cosetties (13k words) - Isak doesn't exactly expect his hookup from last week to be the love advice columnist at the school newspaper he's working at. He also doesn't expect to fall even harder for him than he already has, which is a shame, really, since Even's crushing on someone else.

Ground Me by Bellakitse (13k words) - In which despite his father helping with rent, Isak still needs money and therefore a job. Isak gets a job at a cafe and meets a barista who's beauty blows Isak away.

i broke the world for us by cuteandtwisted (16k words) - Isak is 'heartless', young, busy, addicted to work, and incapable of committing. And Even is a repairman who fixes things around the office, who sees right through his smokescreen, and who might end up 'fixing' Isak's cold heart.

turn my blue heart to red by allyasavedtheday (16k words) - “Did I scare you?” Even asks teasingly, waggling his eyebrows as he leans casually against the counter beside Isak. “Never,” Isak scoffs, sending a fierce scowl in Jonas’ direction when he catches him smirking at them both. Jonas is under the ridiculous impression he and Even have a crush on each other which is not true. Doctor au.

I Just Want You For My Own by Twinklylightseverywhere (19k words) - Even loves the holidays, really. He loves spending time with his friends and family, drinking hot chocolate by the fire, exchanging gifts, the like. You know what he doesn’t love about Christmas time? Working in a fucking Post Office.

Taste by MermaidsandMermen (SophiaSoames) (21k words) - Isak Valtersen doesn't do feelings. He doesn't do relationships. He's a good boss, and he knows his shit. Then that asshat Naesheim swans in like he owns the bloody place and Isak's carefully managed world starts to fall apart. He's impulsive and stupid and childish and probably the last person in the world who should be allowed to run the Food and Beverage department at the Radisson Blu, however many brilliant ideas he has and seems to manage to miraculously pull off. It's a match made in hell. Enemies to lovers.

Dear Friend by bri_ness (26k words) - Isak and Even work together in a failing video store, and they cannot stand each other. Isak and Even both signed up for the Love Letters dating service, and they’re both falling for their anonymous pen pal.

is it gravity, or are we falling in love? by mels (28k words) - Isak works at a coffee shop. There's two things he loves about the morning shift: 1, how beautiful the city is when it's sleeping and 2, avoiding the hot guy who he happens to have a crush on. Until one faithful day, he has no choice but to work with his crush.

A Fucking Bet by Crazyheart (32k words) - Isak and Even are just friends. They make a bet and decide to fuck only five times and then go back to being friends again. Isak hopes that he might be able to fuck his crush out of his system, once and for all. Who knows what Even’s motives are. They work at KB

We Don't Need to Whisper by staylucky (34k words) - Isak Valtersen is a new teacher at Bekkulaget with an embarrassing crush on the Head of Upper Juniors, Even Bech Naesheim. His mentor, Christoffer, is constantly winding him up and Isak's beginning to doubt if teaching is for him.

(WIP) Magic Eight Ball by folerdetdufoler (35k words) - Last update Dec 2019. His cubicle is in the bullpen, but at the edge, across from the offices along one wall. When the Chief makes his announcements Isak stands near the middle, leaning against someone else’s cube, reading emails on his phone instead of paying attention. This time, though, the Chief is introducing some new hires to the office: a sports editor, a city editor, and a marketing head. When Isak looks up to finally acknowledge the new team members, he gets a good look at the guy who is going to make his life a living hell.

Blind by evak1isak (44k words) - Isak has sex in a dark room with a random stranger, but he only hears his voice. He hears that voice again: it's his new boss', one of Norway's richest men.

(WIP) Medically Speaking by Ms_Tassimo (44k words) - Last update Aug 2019. Working as a hospital porter was not how Even Bech Næsheim saw his life ending up. But here he was; mopping up sick after a stupid mistake. However, the hot doctor with the nice smell? That just about makes up for it. Too bad Dr Valtersen seems like a bit of an asshole with a hell of a chip on his shoulder.

I'll Be Coming Home, Wait For Me by dahlstrom (47k words) - The diner AU. Even and Yousef open a 1950s American-style restaurant together - Even is the creative genius in the kitchen, Yousef keeps the trains running on time, and Isak, Chris B, and Magnus are all along for the ride. Falling in love over food while Elvis serenades from the jukebox. Welcome to the Throwback Diner.

such a beautiful mess by skambition (48k words) - Isak works at Kaffebrenneriet to save up some money for a trip with his friends. Normally, working there is chill. Until Isak starts to work together with Even, an arrogant hipster with horrible taste in music, that keeps using the phrase 'sex hair' and is not only judgemental and stupid, but also so hot that Isak sometimes can't breathe around him.

On call by MinilocIsland (49k words) - Isak knows what he's meant to do in life - surgery. And he can't wait to show everyone that he's good at it. That is, if he'll ever get a goddamn chance. Not getting hindered by ridiculous, charming guys whose main advantage in the operating room simply is the length of their legs. Or - a hospital AU, with both Isak and Even as intern physicians.

Around the Corner (My Very Personal Christmas Shopper) by Crazyheart (51k words) - Isak (22) works in a record shop for Jonas. Isak’s best colleague and friend is Eva, who works in the shop, too. Isak is still in the closet. He says things as he thinks, though. Doesn't like snowglobes. Even (24) comes and asks for a job. The two get off on the wrong foot, although Isak finds Even irritatingly attractive. Additionally, Isak has just gotten a personal Christmas gift shopper.

Masquerade by Sabeley (53k words) - Isak and Even were best friends before one botched mission tore them apart. When they are assigned to go undercover as newlyweds at an oceanside resort where couples are going missing, can they put their differences aside for long enough to solve the case? And can they fix what’s broken between them before it’s too late?

(WIP) and it falls just where it needs to be by mmxii (53k words) - Last update Aug 2018. An au where isak works at a campsite and there’s suddenly a new guy joining their team. featuring a completely chill isak, a suspiciously quiet cat, and a three-year-old asking way too many difficult questions.

Caught in the Crossfire by CrochetingWords (65k words) - AU where Isak and Sana are partners working for the Oslo police department. Even used to work for the Oslo PD and is now Oslo's most well known private detective assisting the department in cases while also blogging about them. Isak is not impressed when he shows up on one of his crime scenes, because what other reason is there to publicly blog about your cases than being fame hungry.

(WIP) a careful hypothesis of the heart by StMisery (87k words) - 12/13 chapters posted. Isak and Even don't start out on the best of terms. Isak had been waiting nearly a year for the position of researcher to open up again. If he got it, he'd be working his dream job within one of the best biotechnology companies in the world. He applied for the position, heart in his throat, only to be passed over for the new recruit. When he discovered the new hire was also the son of the CEO, well, that was an unforgivable offense.

You Don't Even Know Me! by cuteandtwisted (101k words) - The one in which Isak and Even are interns who got off the wrong foot and don't like each other at all (except that they do).

#evak fic rec #skam fic rec #coworkers #colleauges #office au #let me know what fics i'm missing please

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walterfrodriguez · 5 years

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Jet-setting to follow the money

Aerial view of Aspen, Colorado

When the yachts go south and it becomes less of a feat to get a reservation at the East Hampton Grill or other local haunts, the residential brokers in the Hamptons have to come up with creative ways to network and keep their pipeline of business flowing.

Some globetrot to chase down clients. Others meet with potential clients in Manhattan. And many keep contractors on track.

“The fall is kind of a breather, but it’s also really a time to set yourself up for the winter and spring,” said Brown Harris Stevens agent Christopher Burnside.

And different brokers, of course, take different approaches to doing that.

Douglas Elliman’s Enzo Morabito said he attends events like Art Basel in Miami Beach — which takes place every December (he’s going this year) — and the Super Bowl in February, “which is when buyers start to come out again.”

“In this business, business and social are the same things,” said Morabito.

Last year at Art Basel, he ran into a fellow Elliman agent with a Florida client hunting for a newly built waterfront house in the Hamptons. Morabito suggested his listing at 611 Dune Road in Westhampton and the deal closed for $6.7 million in February, he said.

Meanwhile, top East End agent Susan Breitenbach, of the Corcoran Group, is also a regular at Art Basel — and an advertiser there. “You definitely see a lot of Hamptons people there,” said Breitenbach, who also relocates her 67-foot powerboat from Sag Harbor to Miami Beach in the winter.

Breitenbach often gets referrals from Jill Hertzberg and Jill Eber, better known as the “the Jills.” The duo — who recently teamed up with Judy Zeder — are at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, which shares a corporate parent (Realogy) with Corcoran. Corcoran, which opened a new Miami Beach office in September, also sends her leads.

At press time, Breitenbach was nearing a closing with one of those buyers on a Sagaponack property. She said she also spends a week every February on a boat in St. Bart’s chartered by clients. “I’m on the phone the whole time, but so are they, so it’s okay,” she said.

BHS’ Burnside — who in the summer zips clients around in his 42-foot motorboat, which he uses to check out estates from the water — also usually goes to Florida in the winter. He bounces between borrowed condos in Palm Beach and Miami and spends weekends with “customers who are also friends.”

But now, with the Hamptons’ market seeing a slow off-season, those trips have taken on added importance. Burnside’s 10-year-old daughter, Amelia, a competitive equestrian, will train this winter in the wealthy village of Wellington, which is thick with potential East End buyers.

For the month of December, while Amelia works on her jumping, Burnside will, for the first time, work out of BHS’ Palm Beach office. By then, he hopes to have a Florida real estate license so that he can also list Palm Bach houses owned by Hamptons homeowners. “It seems like there is a lot of money in the horse world,” said Burnside, who was tapped by developer David Walentas to market 12 new-construction spec homes on the site of his Two Trees Farm, another equestrian spot, in Bridgehampton. (Those homes sold, but he’s still marketing the original farm, which is on the market for about $18 million.)

Corcoran’s Gary DePersia, meanwhile, turns his attention to Aspen in the winter, making frequent trips there and buying ads in Aspen and Aspen Peak magazines and on a popular weather app. And the advertising seems to pay off: While having dinner at the restaurant Betula Aspen last year, “a woman recognized me and said, ‘Do you know about my property in Sag Harbor? I might want to discuss listing it with you,’” he said.

DePersia got the listing, which he said is currently on the market. He declined to disclose the address, but in November he had five Sag Harbor properties listed on his web page.

Among them was the $12.9 million 14 Seaponack Drive, which he appears to have picked up this year. According to online records, the new-construction home in the North Haven section came on the market in 2017 for about $17 million with Saunders & Associates, which is currently sharing the listing with Corcoran.

But DePersia, a long-time skier, bristles at suggestions that he chases clients to the Rocky Mountains. “It just turns out that a lot of my clientele happens to be there,” he said. “Connections happen organically.”

Local yokels

When DePersia first came to Hamptons to windsurf in the 1980s, many owners boarded up their houses at the end of the summer season. That’s obviously not the case anymore for most second-home owners on the East End.

And annual events like the Hamptons International Film Festival and Winterfest — a weeks-long festival of music, food, arts, wine and entertainment throughout the North and South Forks — are a big draw.

But outside of those events, the hubbub and deal volume fall off.

In 2018, the fourth quarter was, not surprisingly, the slowest of the year on the South Fork, with 360 deals, according to market data from Elliman. By comparison, the second quarter was the most active, with 601 deals.

But brokers say there’s been a bit more activity this fall than usual as cautious buyers finally commit to purchasing houses they’ve been circling for months.

“There are definitely usually fewer showings at this time of the year,” said Saunders’ Terry Cohen. “But we’re doing more deals this off-season than during the season.”

That may be because average listing prices are down about 20 percent from the spring — to $1.38 million from $1.73 million, according to Elliman’s third-quarter market report. Average sales prices were also down for the year through September — a fact agents attributed to both fears of a pending recession and the recent federal tax overhaul that capped state and local tax (SALT) deductions at $10,000 a year, which made buyers hesitant to take on big-ticket second-home properties.

Not helping matters is that some of the Hamptons’ venues — like Starr Boggs in Westhampton Beach, the Inlet Seafood Restaurant in Montauk and the Beacon and Le Bilboquet in Sag Harbor, places brokers flock to in order to hobnob and generate deals in the summer — close up shop in the off-season.

But increasingly, some establishments — Pierre’s in Bridgehampton, the Palm in East Hampton and East Hampton Grill, to name a few — stay open throughout the winter.

Elliman’s Morabito and his team meet at Sag Harbor’s American Hotel once a week for breakfast. “I always get leads there,” said Morabito.

For some, Hamptons venue hours are not as crucial in the winter.

BHS’ Burnside said he also heads into Manhattan in the off-season for meetings at the firm’s main Midtown office, where he meets with firm principals once a month.

He said he recently met with Will Zeckendorf, an owner of Terra Holdings, the firm’s parent company. Zeckendorf, Burnside said, is closely following the firm’s conversion of Southampton’s former post office into a BHS office. (Burnside oversaw the recent expansion of BHS’ Bridgehampton office and is involved in this project as well.)

Hal Zwick, a commercial agent with Town & Country Real Estate, said he, too, takes more Manhattan meetings in the off-season.

Negotiations with his clients — particularly owners of bars and restaurants, many of which are offshoots of New York City restaurants — require multi-day trips to Manhattan about every six weeks. “I stayed at the W Union Square right after they opened,” back in the early 2000s, “and have not stayed at another hotel since,” said Zwick.

Venue owners — who often have to wait months for the state to approve a liquor license — generally need to lock down a space by the late fall to start the approval process, Zwick said. And there are a number of deadlines to meet in order to be up and running by Memorial Day, he said.

But outside of bars and restaurants, retail leasing is weak on the East End. A decade ago, retailers were looking for 10-year leases. Today they want one-year pop-ups, which landlords won’t agree to until March, when their other options run out, Zwick said: “It’s been difficult to do business out here. That’s a fact.”

Keeping busy

In the old days — aka the 1990s — resales were the properties du jour in the Hamptons. But those resales often needed renovations. That dynamic led to a rush to buy in the fall, leaving enough time for off-season construction so homes could be ready by summer, said Aspasia Comnas, the BHS executive director who manages the firm’s nine North and South Fork offices.

Art Basel is a popular event for Hamptons brokers.

But with the rise of new-construction homes, that autumn deal bump has dissipated, Comnas said.

On the plus side, new-construction home closings can happen much closer to the start of the season. “You no longer have the same pressure to close that you used to,” she said. “Deals are more evenly distributed throughout the year.”

Construction of spec homes has, however, produced a new kind of off-season work for brokers: unofficially project-managing to ensure that properties are ready to market during the critical spring window.

BHS’ Burnside is currently keeping tabs on the under-construction 33 Bellows Court in Southampton Village, which is listed for about $4 million. Marketing materials for the property are not yet ready, but he’s pushing to make sure it’s photo-ready by February.

Another property he’ll be prepping for the market is 1127 Noyac Path in Water Mill, a spec house listed for $5.2 million — or $350,000 for the summer. The house was completed in August, an unfavorable month to enter the rental market, so Burnside decided to move into it himself in November. A cocktail-fueled open house may be held there in the spring, to lure buyers or renters, but is not likely before then.

Event-style showings are an effective in-season tool, he said. An August gathering that included an art show drew about 100 people to 54 Old Sag Harbor Road, a six-bedroom listed for about $4.7 million. But, he said, in the off-season potential buyers (and renters) usually just come to the East End to check out houses for the day.

For years, renters booked summer homes in the previous fall. After the 2008 crash, they began hunting more aggressively for deals, which meant waiting till the last minute.

Now, however, brokers say they’re seeing more long-term planning. Some of that demand is being driven by those looking to rent while they’re constructing Hamptons homes, according to Saunders’ Cohen.

In early November, Corcoran’s DePersia was on the verge of closing three summer leases, including one for a full season for a house in Bridgehampton to be rented by “a guy in his 40s from Manhattan with an extended family,” he said.

Still, the pace of deals is undoubtedly slower than usual. “[But] if you’re just going to be working all the time it kind of defeats the whole point of enjoying the beauty of the Hamptons anyway,” Burnside said.

The post Jet-setting to follow the money appeared first on The Real Deal Miami.

from The Real Deal Miami & Miami Florida Real Estate & Housing News | & Curbed Miami - All https://therealdeal.com/miami/2019/12/09/jet-setting-to-follow-the-money/ via IFTTT

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jerome-blog1 · 5 years

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Bedtonic – A Local Linen Business I Really Love

via

Bedtonic founder Julie Ramsay. Photo Rae Fallon.

I always admire it when people don’t merely just dream or talk about doing things, but they actually go out and give them a red-hot go. It makes sense that I frequently admire small business owners, professionals and creatives, and one of my favourite local businesses is also run by one of the nicest women. Julie Ramsay, the founder of Bedtonic, is not only a wonderfully generous person who has the most infectious energy; she also founded, in a highly competitive market where most small businesses go bust in two years, a successful, sustainable small business selling the most beautiful linens for the home (and body). On top of that, she started Bedtonic in her early 50s, wrapping her head around the complicated worlds of tech, e-commerce and social media at an age when, to be quite frank, I know other 50-somethings who can barely send a text message!

I can personally attest that Julie’s Bedtonic linen is a pleasure to have on our bed… and on my body. (Her iconic Poet’s Tunics are one of my go-to’s, particularly perfect for holidays and days at the beach).

This year we have had the pleasure of experiencing one of the new pure French flax linen bespoke blankets from the Bedtonic range too. I could probably write a blog post just on this blanket and how much I love it. Here it is, below. If you think of linen as being hard and rough, you’d be extremely surprised. Julie’s flax linen blankets are super soft straight off the bat, they come in the most beautiful colours, and they keep you so snug and cosy. It has been absolutely freezing at night this winter, and we honestly have not turned on the split system in our bedroom ONCE all these chilly nights. We pop the blanket over our lightweight doona, and the blanket is enough. It’s perfect. And it’s perfect on warm nights too – you don’t get tooo warm – and we just chuck it in the wash when it needs it. (I next want to buy one for Little Nerd’s bed… lucky boy! I believe all of my childhood sheets were 110% flammable polyester).

Our Bedtonic bespoke blanket teamed with my Euro Hawtrey cushion from Orno Interiors.

Julie grew up in picture-perfect Wanaka, New Zealand (yes, home of the famous Wanaka tree). She later moved to Australia, married her husband Donald, and they had a daughter, Mollie, spending the first year of her life on a cattle farm north-west of Perth where Donald had farmed all his life. The flat and often very dry landscape was completely different to the scenery Julie had been used to growing up amidst the spectacular lakes and soaring alps of Wanaka, but inspired Julie all the same.

When Mollie was still young, Julie saw an opportunity to start a drive-through coffee business in Broome.

“We were building our own house at the time and noticed there was nowhere for all the tradies who were starting work at seven to get a good coffee first thing in the morning! My husband said I would ‘blow my dough’ but that didn’t stop me. I started with a tiny trailer that I trucked over from Brisbane and made twenty coffees on my first day. Four years later I was making four hundred or more coffees each morning.”

Donald’s initial skepticism of Julie’s business concept disintegrated quickly and he joined her in the coffee shop. “My husband swapped cows for coffee and we worked like mad together in the business for four years,” she says. “We had incredible community support and went on to win a small business achiever award for the Kimberley region. I learnt a lot about grit and determination during this time.” In 2013, they sold up and moved to Perth to be nearer to their families.

Photo Jessica Wyld

Bedtonic began after Julie realised she was getting tired of working long rigid hours in hospitality. She knew she wanted a new job that would give her more flexibility with family life. “Mollie was put in daycare from 18 months to five, and I really wanted an online business that would allow me to be present with her more,” she says. “I also felt washed-up in hospitality at 50 when we moved back to Perth. So I took a year off and creatively brainstormed ideas around how I wanted the next chapter of my life to look.”

Photo Rae Fallon

Julie could see the transition with e-commerce, noticing more and more people were gathering faith in buying things online, and decided to begin an online store. “This suited me with Mollie who was seven at the time,” she says. “I saw the retail environment changing and e-commerce becoming the new way forward. Removing the retail overheads was also a big tick for me. By taking the wholesale out, I could pass the savings onto our customers. Providing personal customer service in a timely manner was and still is also key.”

But what to sell? Julie soon realised her favourite business ideas related to sustainability – and her happy childhood. “Growing up in New Zealand, my mum was a seamstress,” she says. “I remember a constant stream of ladies coming in and out for fittings and alterations, with patterns and pins and Mum’s Singer sewing machine taking pride of place on our dining table. My dad had a rafting business and was involved with the conservation and fisheries department. So from a young age I was very aware of sustainability, and nature and all that it offered.”

Searching for a sustainable business idea, Julie looked back to her roots for inspiration. “I’d always loved natural textures and fibres – oh, and I LOVE my bed,” she laughs.

“It’s the place I go to escape the flurry of life. It is my sanctuary when I need to unplug.”

With both of these loves as her inspiration, she decided to create her own line of high-end, long-lasting bedding, blankets, cushions and clothing, and started researching all sorts of different fibres. “I have always worn natural fibres and before I fell in love with sleeping in linen, I was always an Egyptian cotton girl… thick white crisp sheets like Grandma’s!” she says. “But ultimately, linen won me over,” she reveals, adding that she thinks of linen as nature’s wonder fibre. “Linen is a sustainable crop. It uses fewer fertilisers and four times less water than cotton during cultivation.”

And the feel.

“I love the fact it’s soft washed (with pumice stones) which makes it so buttery soft from the first time you wear or sleep in it… it’s not scratchy like grandma’s old tea towels!” laughs Julie. “It’s so soft but still has a weight that drapes around you. It’s whisper quiet, breathes well and keeps you cool in the summer months yet warm in winter. And the garments are so well made – French seam finishes ensure longevity and durability.”

Some people think that a hotel-like bed is only possible in well, hotels. But Julie says she believes in investing (in a good quality mattress, toppers, bed linens and pillows – whatever you need) to make every night you sleep at home as rejuvenating as you can.

“We spend $200 on a garment or pair of shoes but often short-change ourselves when it comes to sleep,” she says. “And we shouldn’t – after all, we spend one-third of our lives in bed! Bed is our haven so our bedroom should be the place we go to unwind. A comfortable bed with your favourite bedding is key to a good night’s sleep.” (Perhaps a good night’s sleep every night is why she has so much energy?)

Photo Jess Wyld

Starting with only a few key items in her online shop, it wasn’t long before the name Bedtonic was well-known – now Julie’s linen products have appeared in an impressive host of nationwide magazines and newspapers and her thrilled customers regularly give her five star reviews (“Gosh, I wish we had started those reviews three years ago!” she moans) and one of her biggest sellers, her iconic poet’s tunic, has become a staple of effortless capsule wardrobes, with fans from millennials to the more mature.

“I think it’s the structure of the garment, its French seams (no raw edges) and durable weight give it an industrial, lived-in, no-fuss look and feel,” says Julie on why she thinks they are so popular. “The cut of the garment allows it to fit all sizes and it cuts across generations in appeal. They are the epitome of the capsule wardrobe staple. We hear stories all the time of our tunic being spotted in different corners of the globe. Customers wear them straight out of bed to the school gates, beach, bar and back to bed! We have customers who own up to five of them in different lengths and colours. They really do have their own cult following!”

One of the Bedtonic Poets tunics (modelled by my lovely friend Kaylie Bodeker! Perth is a small world city). Photo at Kawa Heart Studio.

So how does a typical day running her small business go? As much as Julie loves her bed, she will leave it for a hot cup of coffee, which is how she starts every day at work. “I get up for coffee – always!” she says. “I’m actually a tea drinker for the rest of the day but it must start with coffee.

“Then it’s a walk around my neighbourhood with our schnauzer Buddy in the winter, or in summer I try and swim as many mornings as I can. It’s without doubt the best start to my day. By 9.30 I’m in my home office – even though I have an assistant, Cass, there is always my nail it list to work through.

“Orders are packed by my niece who’s studying, so she comes three days a week. By 5pm I’m either ready for a glass of wine before dinner or it’s tea on the run and more work. I’m trying to make myself stop work at nights and lock some Netflix in. No two days are the same though. Next week I will be in Shenzhen visiting our makers again which I do each year.”

2019 has been a huge year for the Bedtonic team behind the scenes as they have been working on a rebrand to tie all their labels, packaging and swing tags in line with each other, they’ve introduced new eco-friendly reusable and recyclable shipping bags, and Julie has been working closely with her seamstress designing new loungewear to add to their collection. “This design process is really important for me so I can hold me hand on my heart and say this has not been copied form another store – true ethically designed products,” she says.

They recently launched three news clothing items – their Field Dress, an oversized linen shirt called the Mollie Shirt (“think big comfy pyjama shirt with large shell buttons!”) and Slouch pants, which Julie is very excited about! “They are THE most comfortable slouch pants you will ever wear with a wide ribbed top to fold over for superb comfort!” she says.

“I had friends over in different shapes and sizes when these pants were being sampled and some would say, ‘Oh no, I won’t be wearing those.’ I said just try them for me and then, ‘Oh you’re right, they are soooo comfortable’.

“I’m super excited about these pieces as they are as comfy as pyjamas but you can wear them out for coffee, lunch, to the bar and home to bed again, just like all of our Poets tunics!”

My new linen Euros with our bepsoke blanket – I love these colours together.

While Bedtonic keeps her busy, Julie also says one of the wonderful things about Bedtonic is the work-life flexibility it gives the Ramsays. Julie, Donald and Mollie, as well as their schnauzer x poodle Buddy and cat Harry (“they are best mates”) currently live in Daglish, where the human members of the family think big – and exciting – when it comes to the future.

“We sold our workers cottage in West Leederville so we’re in a transition period of renting while we plan out our next digs,” reveals Julie. “The plan is to spend six to twelve months in France before Mollie finishes high school, and then I would love a pod home on land back in the country and a weekender in Perth!” Her own interiors style is an eclectic mix of contemporary and vintage and I love contemporary art. “A lot of my furniture is repurposed, some from kerbsides or bought from travels,” she shares. “I love mixing things up and I’m not afraid of colour. I have moved so much over the years that I now loathe clutter (or maybe it’s an age thing) I really like the notion of ‘less is more’ and I hate waste.”

So what advice would Julie give to other people wanting to take the plunge into their own small business?

“You have to really hone in on what you’re passionate about,” she says. “What makes your heart sing, what works for you around your lifestyle, family, your location, etc and then go for it! If you truly follow your passion then you will not tire of it and on the nights long after everyone else has gone to bed, it really won’t feel like work at all! There is a saying that goes starting a small business is like jumping off a cliff and building a model aeroplane on the way down… true that!” Maya x

The post Bedtonic – A Local Linen Business I Really Love appeared first on House Nerd.

house-nerd.com/2019/10/16/bedtonic-linen-win/

Posted by anneedmonsonus on 2019-10-16 13:29:18

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anneedmonsonus · 5 years

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Bedtonic – A Local Linen Business I Really Love

Bedtonic founder Julie Ramsay. Photo Rae Fallon.

Our Bedtonic bespoke blanket teamed with my Euro Hawtrey cushion from Orno Interiors.

When Mollie was still young, Julie saw an opportunity to start a drive-through coffee business in Broome.

Photo Jessica Wyld

Photo Rae Fallon

Searching for a sustainable business idea, Julie looked back to her roots for inspiration. “I’d always loved natural textures and fibres – oh, and I LOVE my bed,” she laughs. “It’s the place I go to escape the flurry of life. It is my sanctuary when I need to unplug.”

And the feel.

Photo Jess Wyld

One of the Bedtonic Poets tunics (modelled by my lovely friend Kaylie Bodeker! Perth is a small world city). Photo at Kawa Heart Studio.

“I’m super excited about these pieces as they are as comfy as pyjamas but you can wear them out for coffee, lunch, to the bar and home to bed again, just like all of our Poets tunics!”

My new linen Euros with our bepsoke blanket – I love these colours together.

So what advice would Julie give to other people wanting to take the plunge into their own small business?

The post Bedtonic – A Local Linen Business I Really Love appeared first on House Nerd.

from Home Improvement https://house-nerd.com/2019/10/16/bedtonic-linen-win/

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mynameisdreartblog · 5 years

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Romantic Composers 3

Libra: Antonín Dvořák. Nightclubbing, nightclubbing; we walk through town. We learn new dances. We… Oh, I didn’t see you there. "Oh? How about: Oh, Libi, you know that it’s really late and you should be going home? This place doesn’t need your maintenance all the time to stay afloat." Right, but I gave up the nightclubbing style a long time ago: Is it not fair to expect me to set the mood correctly and make my choices where they need to be? Can I commit to something for once in my life, or are you that incessant? "It doesn’t matter, you look so tired from a day of elevating and descending the staircases. Think of what I’m doing as a merciful reminder." [,] I’d be offended if you weren’t my own, but I’ll stop the "nightclubbing" if it appeases you. <A echo occurs upon the moment Libi says "nightclubbing."> While I’m at it, you can stop being so authoritative and demanding in your speech: It’s clear informality isn’t your strong suit. […] "Then what is it? At least I can go to sleep at a reasonable hour." …Am I appealing enough on the surface? Is that your issue with me? I mean, all the lore can come later; what we should care about now is whether or not I’m memetic enough to plaster on shirts. "In my opinion, I think you’d look lovely on a graphic T-shirt." That’s the most agreeable opinion you’ve had all night… "Nightclubbing, nightclubbing; we walk through town, we learn new dances." [,] It’s a good song, isn’t it? I’ m an admirer of Grace Jones’ work. "Yeah, I could tell; you’ve been playing her over the speakers of this place every so often." Do you like how I try to select a track for the mood you’re likely to experience? "That’s rather creepy; I’d rather it be on coincidence than on purpose." Well, you give some, you take some: I give fitting ambiance and I take a sense of privacy… "Libi?" Yes? "Are you trying to stall for something?" What? I’ve no concept of stalling: I spend every waking moment of my time on earth doing something worthwhile, you just need to redefine what you perceive as such. "You’re stalling right now, Libi. Are you waiting for something to end, like your shift perhaps?"[…] I need to stop talking to myself.

Cancer: Edvard Grieg. «I’ve hypothesized who could eventually be my greatest villain, and I once thought that it might be someone so stuck in certain instances of time, and can only present them to an exterior through aesthetic presentations, and a supernatural ability to alter the surrounding environment and attitudes to match whatever suits the hauntological current…» Cool, but I’m in a bad spot right now and I’m waiting for a lane to open up. I could just go right now and ignore everyone else, but courtesy is my policy. «Courtesy? Anyone who has ever driven a vehicle here has no understanding of the concept of courtesy. Now, get in the damn right lane before somebody clamors over us.» Jeez, what’s gotten into you? «Aside from a couple of pathogens, it’s the fact that I wasn’t given my required smoking break today. And those cigarettes are necessary for someone like me, otherwise I’d crack under the pressure.» I know you Springe… <Boitatá adequately changes lanes, angering the person behind her.> …and I know you can handle a little bit of shit before you have to puff another one. <Springe remarks in their head how Boitatá manages to be a better driver than Gonçalo: The one who owns the damn truck.> Well, it’s not a high hurdle: Anyone who survives under a terrible workplace long enough will be able to survive under it better than the rookie. Er, that’s what you’re talking about, right? <The truck stops at a very askew stop-sign.> «Yeah, but once you’re in it long enough, you wonder whenever the expiration is coming. Absolutely nobody talks about it because it’s taboo, but eventually we have to wonder when the work will be done. Like, there’s no reason for this hospital to exist anymore…» [,] Uh, there’s plenty of reasons for it to exist, like the fact that people still get sick and still need medical check-ups to make sure they’re healthy. I get where you’re going, but maybe a better example could’ve been used, like retail. There’s no point to the work of retail anymore, is there? «Yeah, but I get to listen in on all the drama of it. Plus, I just like the comfort of a gas-station, you know? Nowhere to go but again throughout the store’s hallways.» <Springe continues to babble about the "vibes" of a retail workspace for an uncomfortable length of time.> …Wow, you’ve never worked in retail, huh? <A loud thud can be heard from the side of the truck, indicating that some sorta postage was hit.> «I mean, no, but I imagine it’s fairly nice in comparison to hard labor doing construction or agricultural work.» <An omnipotent force decides that this conversation has no defined point, and needs to be disrupted with a mildly traumatic moment so that interest can be reimbued.> Holy shit, I’m in the wrong lane! Let me try and make a turn here. <Boitatá forgets to make the three-point turn a three-point turn, and the rest ensues.> [,] «Oh, goddammit, you got the truck stuck in a ditch!» A three-point turn was too risky, but yes, you can call me a clown if it helps. «You know what, you’re such a clown that I can think of the depth of how clownlike you are. There are people driving buy laughing, well, they don’t really care, but they oughta be laughing.» […] «Now that I think of it, we may one day meet someone driving a similar vehicle in the same ditch, who’s as much a clown as you!»

Virgo: Pyotr Tchaikovsky. «Bluma, your little nieces and nephews are here!» Oh cool, I love meeting them; I just hope I don’t have to tell them stories again: That’s a pretty exhausting thing for me even if they all love it. «Oh, I’m sure they won’t be as needy this time as they were last time.» <Multiple hours pass through the afternoon where Bluma sits on the couch, disassociating at the little dust particles dancing on her walls. There’s no Internet where she is and neither is there a close-by hangout spot. She finds herself so desperate for entertainment to look upon old photobooks: She remembers how much of an ugly child she was. Seriously, she had like, three puffs of hair coming out of her scalp, looking like a big claw: It was awful. [,] Bluma puts up the photobook, and she decides to lay down again, thinking about all the tasty food she could be eating but is being reserved for her piranhas of nephews. She has conductive thoughts about how this distribution method should be reformed to benefit her and her nephews whenever they’re here, but it fades away because she knows her ability to change things quite well. [,] Twenty minutes pass and Bluma lays on the couch thinking about the things her nephews are interested in: She remarks that their favorite toys tend to match the colors they wear. Either that was a choice by their parents or a choice by themselves. Regardless, it didn’t do much when Bluma was hit in the leg by one of them abruptly: Not hard enough to cause minor bruising but enough to hurt.> Ugh, thank God they’re only gonna be around for two more days. <The brutality of that attack reminded Bluma of the fact that she brought a collection of graphic novels with her. Well, the truth is that she always knew they were there and brought them with the purpose of finishing them, but the dysfunction settled in and she lets the itch decay until she forgets why they were brought in the first place. The same thing happened when she had to read old literature for the summer, and it’ll unfortunately happen again for something she expressed interest in.> […] «Bluma, it’s getting late and your nephews are heading off to bed. I think it’d be nice if-» How many of them are going to bed? <Bluma’s mother hops back a bit.> «Only two.» That means I’ll only tell two-thirds of the bedtime story. […] Ah, so we’re getting ready for bedtime here? <One of her nephews shakes their head in a pattern of remarkably strict obedience, the other is half-awake and barely responds.> Alright, here’s a special one that I only tell to people I really care about. <Bluma pinches the cheek of the nephew half-asleep.> [,] I’m the gymnast who performed as Mickey Mouse, and I was the best damn Mickey Mouse there was. They needed someone acrobatic to perform in that hot costume, and I was the only one willing: I was desperate for money back then, and I was a limber enough body to perform. <A loud crash is heard from the room on the opposite end of the house, and Bluma has the instinct to know that it was the third nephew. She turns her head towards the noise and raises herself from the kneeled position.> Guess you’ll never hear the end of that story.

Sagittarius: Ludwig Van Beethoven. «The "horrible disaster in pitch darkness lit momentarily by camera flash" mood in these paintings is incredible. <The pompous gallery-viewer steps back to grasp a better taste of the wine they just drank.> Yes, that was the je-ne-sais-quoi I was looking for. <The gallery-viewer swivels their glass of wine for an emote.>» Thanks, that theme was intentional. «I must say, was there any major works that inspired such a marvelous piece, or was this entirely a product of your evergreen imagination?» I’m not familiar with a lot of artwork: I barely saw it throughout my life except what I’d see as remnants of a scalded village. «Oh dear!» Yes, I’ve lived a very hard and traumatic life, and I feel like these works best represent that in a bite-sized, visual form. «Color me impressed!» Now, it’s not as much a concern for me because I’ve vented my emotions through my art so much that they’re more material than they are chemical. So, it’s fair to say that it’s far more uncomfortable to approach my work than it is to approach me. «I wouldn’t say you’re an uncomfortable person. In fact, you’re the warmest person I’ve met so far: Better than the previous exhibitionists, that’s for sure.» I’d say I’m more real than you, for sure. «I’d be inclined to agree, and reasonably, anyone can- wait, what did you say?» <The hint of a vignette starts to appear in the corner of the viewer’s vision.> Oh, it was nothing personal, but it’s just that my sense of cutting to the feeling has been finetuned over the years, and I feel like what you’re doing is a persona. There’s nothing more to it than that, and I’m not sorry. «Um, there has to be more to your critique that that. No, I’m sorry: If you’re one to create such work as this, then you can communicate a poetic assertion of what’s wrong with me.» <Rossouw grabs her temple and pinches it.> I just told you I’m a woman of few words: I thought the paintings told you that. «You’re more lucrative than I ever thought. I just might pay you for the service I’m getting!» <Rossouw releases the pinch and shows a more noble smile. She looks over to her friend, playing the same act as her but being far more successful with it.> I’m not a prestigious artist, but I like to pretend I’m an art connoisseur that tells rich folks how to develop good taste. «Yes, you’re right: I had absolutely no refined taste in what I liked before; that was until I saw your amazing artwork. From there, I knew all that I needed to know about your style, your movement, and your followers.» I’m, uh, glad I managed to change you so radically. <Rossouw turns back to her friend, having a conversation with a normal viewer that looks pleasant and filled with firm convictions.> <Rossouw’s viewer has their vignette slowly overtake their vision, now covering a good quarter of it.> «You get to the point so quickly! You know me so well! I’m practically a new person now that I’m exposed to your work. Consider me a disciple! You are more real than I could imagine: To you, I’m nothing but a barrier to destroy.» Yeah, how much are you willing to pay me? «Oh, so confrontational! You don’t dance around anything!» <Rossouw thinks to herself.> Are they really trying to rub something in? <Suddenly, her friend winks at her, and then she snaps.> What the fuck is going on? Why is this happening? Who is this man? «Artist divine, I will tear down all works that oppose your straightforwardness!» <With their eyes now pitch-black, Rossouw’s viewer begins launching himself at other exhibits, clawing at them with their hands, attempting to desecrate them.> <Rossouw’s friend walks towards her, pats her on the shoulder and says: Don’t worry, this happens more often than you think, especially with a personality like yours.> <«Rossouw turns back.»> He didn’t pay me. Why the fuck did he promise what he didn’t deliver? […] «I created an art-piece in your honor!» <Rossouw’s viewer pans her view towards a destructive piece that looks someone like the text following this.> <«--»>

#Zodiaccupuncture #Zodipunc #Libra #Cancer #Virgo #Sagittarius

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wildandfound · 6 years

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One would think visiting the Cariboo during the largest forest fire disaster to ever hit the province would be a big mistake. Yet, in the midst of burnout, both my own and the regions, the beauty of the Cariboo-Chilcotin landscape and the kindness of its residents made the experience one to remember.

I came into the Cariboo region via Prince George, after driving nearly 4000km from Whitehorse through the Yukon and a large portion of Alaska. A year prior I’d decided I wanted to hike the Berg Lake Trail at Mount Robson and, after hearing how beautiful the Cariboo was from a guy who grew up there, it seemed a natural place to visit.

The cutest welcome mural I’ve ever seen!

My plan was to drive from Prince George to Quesnel, south to William’s Lake, across Highway 24 (The Fishing Highway) to Wells Gray Provincial Park, up to Mount Robson for my hike and back to Prince George. It would be the perfect end to an epic 3 week trip, but I didn’t account for forest fires.

2017 was a devastating year for the region. Between April and November, more than 1300 fires burned over 1.2 million hectares of forest, displacing thousands of residents and costing the province 564 million dollars. It was officially the worst wildfire season in the history of British Columbia. Perfect time to visit, right?! 😉

I watched the fire reports and DriveBC’s road closure maps for weeks. Many of the parks were closed which was a bummer, but highways were opening where I needed them to be. I almost decided to fly home early, but the lure of the mountains and conversations about the Cariboo tugged at me.

Flying into Prince George, I got to talking to the guy beside me about my travel plans. There are a lot of places one can go in Northern BC and he seemed a little perplexed at that my first stop was going to be Quesnel. What was I missing?

It wasn’t until I left Prince George and made my way south, that I started to understand the mindset this man must have been in. He didn’t realize he was talking to a country girl who grew up in a rural farming community; similar to what you experience as you drive south.

I’m pretty sure my grandfather had that tractor.

To be quite honest, entering the Cariboo felt a little like coming home. Farmland, hay bales, pick up trucks, ATV’s. Find a country radio station on the dial and I’d be fit right in. This was exactly the kind of place I needed.

The massive gold pan, pick and shovel at Quesnel’s city limits, pretty much confirmed stories I’d heard about its strong connection to the Cariboo Gold Rush.

Welcome to Quesnel, the “Gold Pan City”.

You can’t really visit here without recognizing that they take great pride in their heritage. Murals adorn building facades and references to famed prospector, Billy Barker, abound. The city is small, but the area has a lot to offer.

Mural like this are all through town. Loved this.

Quesnel sits at the confluence of the Quesnel and Fraser Rivers. I took a walk along the Riverfront Trail, which was lovely and calming. I could watch it running for hours.

The largest wood truss walking bridge in the world.

The city is surrounded by over 30 historic sites, it is home to the largest wood truss walking bridge in the world, the award-winning Barkerville Brewing Company and its backyard boasts some of the best fishing and wilderness adventure spots in Canada.

Fraser River Bridge

A quick drive outside of town you’ll find Barkerville Historic Town and entrance to the world-renowned Bowron Lakes Canoe Circuit. If you like hockey, there’s quite a few former hockey greats living here too. My stay was going to be short, so I wanted to visit all of the above. And of course, my first stop had to be for a beer.

Welcome to Barkerville Brewing Company!

I first heard of Barkerville Brewing Company after watching an episode of Timber Kings while at my parents. I told myself that if I did make it to the area, I’d make sure I visited. Luckily for me, it was one of the few places open while I stayed in Quesnel.

Now that’s a table!

I envisioned a much larger brewery but, as they say, good things come in small packages. Ashley, the retail manager, gave me a warm welcome and set me up with a flight of their beers right away. This is definitely a favourite pastime when I’m travelling and Barkerville beer is pretty awesome. I wished I could have sent some home!

Not a wit girl, but everything else was stellar!

Shortly after I arrived, a regular patron, Carl, came in and we hit it off. It was really nice to have some company and he was game to chit-chat about Quesnel, our mutual passion for wine and his beloved Saskatoon berry wine. He was a wealth of knowledge and joy to spend time with. Truth be told, some of my favourite moments in the Cariboo are from sitting bar side at the brewery.

Long live (and bring back) this delicious licorice stout!

Carl and I shared a mutual appreciation for Barkerville Brewing Co.’s licorice stout. I’m a big fan out stout and this one was unlike anything I’ve ever had. Sadly, they had just discontinued it, but not before Carl and I were able to share a pint together.

I enjoyed my time at the Brewery so much that I ended up spending the better part of the afternoon there. Before I left I picked up some mementos and made sure to pay the bill to treat Carl for his company. I think it was a welcome surprise for him and that felt great.

If there is one thing that sticks out about my time in Quesnel, beside the huge tires on all the trucks in the grocery story parking lot (ha!), it’s the people. I can’t count the number of people who said hello to me on my walks through town, or at Granville’s while grabbing a coffee. It’s the kind of thing that makes a person want to return; which I plan to do next summer.

It came as no surprise to me when I returned from work a couple of months later to find a package from Carl with a special gift. Saskatoon berry wine, straight from the Cariboo!

Saskatoon Berry Wine!

The second place I’d heard a lot about what Barkerville Historic Town. I’d seen pictures and it looked so beautifully restored I wanted to check it out.

Barkerville owes its name to William “Billy” Barker, a famed prospector who hit gold in August of 1862 near where the town sits. Officially declared a National Historic Site of Canada in 1926, it is now home to over 125 buildings, museums, displays and shops and restaurants that make up Barkerville.

Barkerville Historic Town. A must visit in the area!

As soon as you walk out of the admission doors, you do feel a bit like you’re stepping back in time. The old church is wonderfully restored, horse-drawn stage coaches pass by carrying tourists and actors dressed in costume perform live scenes right in front of you.

The inside of the buildings hold old memorabilia and antiques. You can pan for gold or buy objects at the blacksmith shop, send a letter home from the post office, or have your picture taken in vintage costumes. If you’re a bit adventurous, you can even stay overnight a hotel or bed and breakfast in the middle of the town.

With a little imagination it’s easy to picture it brimming with miners and workers of the time.Notably the largest living-history museum in North America, Barkerville is definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Outside one of the buildings in Baskerville. Loved the pop of yellow!

From Barkerville, I wanted to check out Bowron Lakes Provincial Park, famous for its 5 lake canoe circuit. The drive there was a fun twisty-turny adventure through the interior, trees hugging the roads on either side. I loved the lushness of this area, though it was strange to think that swaths of the region were facing massive destruction.

Enroute to Bowron Lakes. I didn’t get far into the park, but the drive was beautiful.

I was a bit disappointed upon arrival, as I expected something more like my home park, Algonquin. What I did come to accept is that the beauty of Bowron Lake requires a bit more effort, and as such, with a great deal of excitement, I intend to return to complete the full circuit in summer of 2019.

Good morning and goodbye, Quesnel. We’ll see each other again soon.

Having completed the few things on my bucket list, I decided to hit the road a bit earlier. The morning I left, I winds must have picked up, bringing with it hazy skies filled with smoke. It made for a beautiful moody sunrise as I headed south on Highway 97.

Felt like the Kawarthas, just south of Quesnel.

Areas between Quesnel and Williams Lake reminded me a great deal of my home region in the Kawartha. The Cariboo-Chilcotin area has such a diverse range of landscapes, it was truly a joy to drive through it.

Loved this view on Highway 97.

I honestly hadn’t researched a great deal about the landscape, so every bend in the road seemed to offer some kind of new picture worthy moment or scenic vista. I’d love to take a drive through here again, when I have more time.

Welcome to a very smokey, Williams Lake.

The more south I went the more think the smoke appeared. Never did I ever feel in danger, but it was evident that Williams Lake on the precipice of the danger zone. In the weeks prior, this city did face evacuation orders. It was the only place I actually witnessed fire ravaged tree trees from the roadside.

On the outskirts of town, I had the pleasure of seeing 5 deer running out of that charred forest and across the road. I couldn’t help but feel a bit sad for them. It was clear their homes had been destroyed and they were seeking refuge. Highway 97 was not ideal.

Mountains have their allure, but country-side does too.

Lac-La-Hache, about 45 minutes south of Williams Lake, was probably my favourite spot along Highway 97. I so wished my Dad was with me through this stretch.

Canada or Italy? Surreal beauty in Lac-La-Hache.

The land flattened out and it turned into some stunning farming landscapes. At times, I felt as though I could actually be driving through southern Italy. So incredibly pretty. I will be back to explore this area one day, for certain, as it’s never quite left my mind.

My dad would have been in his glory here.

It was after this stretch that the smoke got really bad again. To the point that I eventually closed off my car’s external air vent to re-circulate air inside. You could actually start to taste it in the air. I’m sure residents here are used to that smell, but I certainly wasn’t.

In order to get to Mount Robson, I needed access to BC’s Highway 24, to cut across the region. Luckily, authorities had opened this stretch the week prior, though I couldn’t go any further south of the junction where it met Highway 97 . I was pretty relieved to make it without any disruptions.

Highway 24 is also known as, “The Fishing Highway”. I was interested to learn it follows the same route once used by fur traders, then supported the transport of over 100,000 gold seekers and is now an important road for logging, ranching and tourism.

Known as “The Fishing Highway”, due to it providing access to over 100 fresh water lakes, it’s a beautiful stretch to drive through. The road itself is higher than I expected, so you’re not driving alongside many of the lakes, but there are some lovely view points along the way.

The drive across Highway 27 takes about an hour and a half, after which you come to another famous park called Wells Gray, just outside of Clearwater. Known as Canada’s “Waterfall Park”, it is home to over 39 waterfalls and counting – including this one…

That’s probably a good place for me to leave this post, but stay tuned for more on this stunning park, and why it made me believe that dinosaurs could actually have lived here.

Wild and Found

Cariboo-Chilcotin: Burnt out in the Land without Limits One would think visiting the Cariboo during the largest forest fire disaster to ever hit the province would be a big mistake.

#barkerville #Baskerville Brewing Company #beer #british columbia #canada #cariboo #caribou-chilcotin #DriveBC #gold rush #Historic site #quesnel #road trip #travel

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rodrigohyde · 7 years

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The gentleman's guide to ordering wine like a pro

Wine in the U.S. is a bit like fashion: We tend to mystify it, rather than demystify it.

Nobody knows that quite like wine expert Ken Maguire. As the proprietor of Fox and Hound Wines and Spirits in New Paltz, NY, Maguire knows how the American habit of putting wine on a pedestal can be detrimental to his business.

“In the rest of the world, wine is just food—it’s just part of life,” he says. “I was in Argentina visiting a famous winemaker. Before my appointment, a guy pulled around back with a big plastic jug, the [vintner] opened a spigot, and he filled up with wine for the week.”

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That said: A little bit of studying wine will translate to a lot of skill and confidence in the wine world. That skill pays off when you’re ordering in a restaurant, pairing a wine with a meal, or bringing a bottle to a friend’s barbecue.

But to get from zero to hero, you’ll need a little bit of guidance. To gain that confidence, follow these steps to buying wine like a pro.

First: Taste the wine

A no-brainer, right? You need to drink wine to understand it. But that’s not always the case.

“I go to tastings,” Maguire says, “and too frequently you hear the server tell people, ‘This is going to taste like ripe cherries, licorice,’ and something in there nobody would eat—like road tar!”

Don’t let your server lead the witness. Instead, “trust your palate. Your taste buds and mine aren’t the same thing,” he says. While reviews and apps with tasting impressions are useful, begin your education by deciding what you like yourself, he says.

The best way to do that, he says, is to look for wine shops that do regular tastings (most decent shops run weekly tastings because it drives business). It’s not a bad idea to take notes, or at least to snap shots of bottles that you like, and to start keeping a catalog in your head of the kinds of qualities you like, and the grape varietals (literally, the kind of grape) that you tend to find appealing. If you know the beer world and you’ve learned that you like (or loathe) IPAs, then congratulations—that’s just the kind of refinement for which you’re aiming with wine.

A primer on tasting wine

As with beer, the wine world is just as nerdy, with myriad grape varietals and methods of production, blending, and aging. But Maguire says not to sweat it. Smell the wine before you taste it. This might seem pretentious, but teaching your taste buds begins with your nose, since humans instinctually know when something is spoiled by smell before taste.

Then, catalogue what you smelled. Was it floral? Fruity? Were there notes of anything like toasted nuts? Can you refine the aromas in familiar analogues—what kind of flower, what kind of vegetable or fruit?

Next, when you taste the wine, note how sweet it seems. Wine is graded on a sugar spectrum, from sweet to “dry”—not tart, per se, but a lack of any sugar taste.

Above all, try to think of your own words to describe the wine, because it’ll help you cement your own understanding of that wine, why you do or don’t like what you’re tasting and experiencing. Remember: This is wine school.

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Order or buy wine with a strategist’s taste

If a wine merchant or restaurant sommelier makes you feel uncomfortable about wine, here’s an easy solution: Don’t go back.

“They should make you feel good about what you know, even if you know very little,” Maguire says. “If they make you feel intimidated, you should never go there again. Remember: They’re providing a service, and you’re going to spend your money there, so it’s their job to help.”

To that end, there are a few good tactics to order wine intelligently, especially if you’re on a date.

Do advance research: First, decent restaurants typically have their wine lists online, so you can study what’s there ahead of time. You can even call the restaurant to be sure the wines you research are actually still for sale. This lets you handicap some options ahead of time, and to quiz the restaurant’s sommelier on what she or he might recommend in a specific price range. Take down a few red and white names from the list, depending upon what food your date orders.

Order glasses, not bottles: “It lets you and your date taste each other’s wines, and that’s more fun,” Maguire says. Plus, ordering glasses puts less pressure on a single decision. If you’re ordering a few appetizers and a few main courses, the wine list might not offer the ideal match.

Bring your own wine: Call ahead and see if the restaurant will let you pay a corkage fee and bring your own bottle, Maguire says. Even higher-end restaurants are usually OK with this, and while you’d still better study the food menu, it lets you recruit your favorite wine merchant to act as sommelier instead. If you really want to step up your research, share the restaurant’s menu with your wine merchant, and let them guide you toward wine that will work with the meal, just as if you were cooking at home. Most decent wine shops also stock a good selection of half bottles, so you could bring two to dinner and food-match that way, as you would by ordering glasses instead of a single, 750-ml bottle.

Just ask the sommelier: A good restaurant should have zero problems suggesting wine that matches your food, and should be flexible enough to understand what to do if you say you can’t spend more than $30 on a bottle, or you absolutely don’t want to drink red wine (because, say, you or your date just doesn’t like it). “If their staff is well-trained they can get you in the right direction.” Being honest, even in front of a date, is a good idea, because if you’re trying to pretend you know a lot about wine—or astrophysics—and you don’t, that’s going to get you into trouble eventually. Especially if you’re dating an astrophysicist.

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Be adventuresome in your selections

Because wine can have a huge variety, it’s not a bad idea to plant a stake in a particular type of wine and then explore that range.

Rosé is a good example, Maguire says. Most Americans think of rosé as a light, fruity, summer sip, but rosés with far more backbone are common; Americans are only now catching up to that potential.

“Bandol, from France, is made from Mourvedre [a grape more closely associated with heavy reds], and it’s really muscular enough for grilled chicken or fish,” Maguire says. One of our favorite rosés, Argentina’s Crios, is made from Malbec. It’s the perfect halfway point between red and white wine, so it’s incredibly flexible for food pairing.

Make a mental note of your favorite wines that pair with lots of food

Some wines are especially versatile, and they give you the flexibility to break the traditional wine-pairing rules.

“I have a lovely, light red from Sicily, Frappato, which a restaurant will often serve lightly chilled, and it’s fruity but not sweet,” Maguire says. “It’s a way you could still drink red wine with fish. It goes great with something more casual, like a grilled vegetable appetizer, or a pizza.”

Would you know to order a Frappato? Maybe not. (Now you do!). But if you’re open to exploring wine you haven’t tried, a skilled sommelier would know to steer you in that direction. Think about it the way you would trying one those strange sensory deprivation tanks Steph Curry uses: You’re not quite sure what you’ll experience, but it will probably be cool, and if you don’t love it, you still learned something.

Technology can help

We like the Delectable app. Snap a pic of most wine labels, and the app will quickly produce crowdsourced ratings, reviews, and a retail price estimate.

We’ll be honest: The tasting notes are snooty. As with Yelp, though, you can read between the lines to understand whether a bottle is for you. Also, once you log tasting notes for bottles you like, Delectable begins to suggest other wines you’ll dig, and it becomes a sort of sommelier in your pocket. That may or may not matter to you, but if you get in the habit of rating bottles you like, it’s invaluable to share that list with a sommelier. When you’re buying wine, dig back into your archive to find the same bottle again.

P.S.: At the risk of undermining our next point, referring to an app at a restaurant can look a little cheeseball, depending upon how fancy the place is (and how much you’re trying to impress your date).

Lighten the f' up!

“People take wine soooo seriously,” says Maguire, rolling his eyes. You don’t have to—and while everyone loves a bon vivant, nobody likes a snob.

Also, be patient with yourself. Learning about wine is a great, and an important life skill. “Say you’re in a business situation and your boss or the client wants you to order the wine and hands you the list—it’s great to be able to stare at this giant book of a wine list and not be intimidated.”

Gaining that confidence is a fun journey, and you shouldn’t invest too much baggage in it.

We’ve never lived in an era with more great wine, even at $10 a bottle. The goal posts are very wide. Shanking a wine order is pretty hard to do these days. The key, Maguire puckishly hints, is to remember that wine is just fermented grapes in fancy bottles. And you can take it as seriously as you want—but the last thing you want to do is get too stressed about getting it “right,” because there’s no such thing.

[RELATED4]

Alcoholic beverages

from Men's Fitness https://www.mensfitness.com/nutrition/what-to-drink/gentlemans-guide-ordering-wine-pro

#Men's Fitness

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fesahaawit · 7 years

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Why I Finally Decided to Do a Spending Cleanse

Hi friends! For the month of October, I’ll be publishing a new post every Monday talking about work + my slow work experiment. As part of that work, I want to share stories + the results of experiments other people are doing. These are guest posts that have been sent in from online friends all around the world, and my hope is they will remind you that it doesn’t matter when you begin a new experiment. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s always worth changing things up and trying something new. This first post is from Chelsea in Vancouver, BC.

It was the lady at the post office that did it. The packages from my online shopping sprees kept getting diverted to my nearest post office, and I kept having to trudge there, not excited about the package awaiting me but dreading seeing the post office clerk. Idle online shopping had become such a habit that I sometimes lost track of what deliveries I was expecting.

During my last pick-up in May, I had three packages to pick up at once. The clerk fetched them, then said casually, “Lots of new clothes, hey?”

Ugh. I left feeling disgusted with myself. I’m sure she meant no judgment; she was probably just making casual conversation. Much of the judgement I perceived was my own, projected onto her.

But on the bright side, someone who shops that much must have an expansive and enviable wardrobe, right?

Wrong.

No one who sees me regularly would say that I have a particularly noteworthy wardrobe. I wear the same favourite items over and over and over. I have stacks and rows of clothes I never wear or wear a couple of times before I shrink them, stain them, or grow tired of them. Or they, being poor-quality fast fashion, look terrible after a couple of washes.

Clothes weren’t my only problem. I bought books like crazy – faster than I can read them. Until I was out of bookshelf room (I’d best be getting myself to IKEA to buy some more shelves, I thought) with a solid collection of books I’ve been meaning to read, but haven’t.

I had known for some time that I needed to change. But it was that casual comment from the post office clerk that finally made me do something.

That’s how my spending cleanse began.

The Rules for My Spending Cleanse

It was decided: starting June 1, I wouldn’t shop for six months. It started as three, but I quickly realized that to break my bad habits and recalibrate my relationship with stuff, I needed to make it longer and at least a little uncomfortable.

I’ve long been a reader of this blog, so I knew where to look for tips and tricks. Cait’s shopping ban resources helped me to plan my cleanse. I decided on the following rules:

Obviously, I could buy food.

I could also replace any health and beauty products that run out – provided that they’re ones I use daily: mascara, under-eye concealer, shampoo, moisturizer. No new nail polish or lipstick or elixirs or balms or anything that isn’t already part of my routine.

Per Cait’s practice, I also created a list of allowable items that I knew I would end up needing sooner than later, including a vacuum cleaner, a new sleeping bag (mine had a broken zipper), and a new blazer for my rare but important in-person meetings. The rule for these items was this: I had to do some research and buy quality. Nothing designed to be disposable – think fast fashion or Canadian Tire throwaway camping gear. (If you had told me five years ago that I would buy a $400 vacuum cleaner, I would have called you crazy, but I did and I love it. I’ve bought and discarded three $100 vacuum cleaners, and they suck – or don’t suck, actually.)

The Tricks & Techniques That Have Helped Me

I told everyone what I was doing. I wanted my people to keep me accountable – and to risk embarrassment if I slipped up, or (even worse) abandoned the cleanse altogether.

I unsubscribed and unfollowed. As I mentioned, my problem wasn’t too many trips to the mall. It was idle online shopping, often while I was at home on a rainy night watching Netflix. I would catch wind of a sale at one of my favourite retailers on Facebook, Instagram, or in my email inbox, and before I knew it I would have $250 of merchandise on its way to me (but it was $350 full price!, I would tell myself). So a big and important trick was to unfollow all retailers on social media, and to unsubscribe from their emails. I didn’t need to know about all the beautiful things they have in stock, or about the opportunities to get my hands on them for less. Goodbye, digital consumerist clutter.

I blocked my favourite retailers’ websites. For the companies that most tempt me to part with my hard-earned money – Madewell, Aritzia, JCrew, Everlane – I went a step farther and blocked their websites on my browser with a Chrome Extension called StayFocusd. (This extension also limits my time on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to a cumulative 30 minutes per day – great for a writer who’s prone to procrastination.)

I stopped carrying my credit card in my wallet. I still needed it for bigger travel expenses, but on a day-to-day basis it stayed at home, and I used my debit card (AKA money I actually have!).

I gave more than half of my clothes away. I can thank Cait for this somewhat counterintuitive tip. It’s a lot easier to feel like you have nothing good to wear when your favourites are hidden amongst a bunch of items you hate/don’t fit/never wear. Get rid of them, or at least store them somewhere you don’t see them every day. My closet is mostly empty now, but I love and regularly wear everything in it.

The Results (So Far)

Now more than halfway into my cleanse, most of the results are spiritual/mental/emotional rather than financial. I’m a freelance writer and consultant, so my income is inconsistent, and I happily slow down in the summer. Plus, summer life is rather pricy. I’ve been on a number of trips, including to the budget nightmare that is New York City – so my bank balance certainly hasn’t climbed to where I would like. This is making me wonder if I should extend my ban through the winter, since those are the months when I’m most tempted to shop.

Me + Netflix + a glass or two of wine = unintended shopping sprees.

The main benefits I’m noticing are internal. Shopping hasn’t been something I’ve missed; in fact, not doing it has oddly felt like a relief. I don’t miss that walk of shame to the post office, or the feeling of buyer’s remorse I used to experience sometimes just moments after hitting the ‘Complete Purchase’ button, knowing I’d broken yet another promise to myself. For the last four months, I’ve kept this promise to myself on a daily basis, and it has felt really good.

I’ll be back to write more about this experience in December, when I either finish my cleanse or decide to extend it another three months. The way I’m feeling right now, I think the latter is likely.

In 2015, Chelsea (somewhat impulsively) quit her agency job to be a freelance writer/strategist/digital nomad, and she hasn’t looked back since. Her homebase is Vancouver, but that’s just where she gets her mail. You can read more of her work at Chelsea Tells Stories or chelseaherman.com.

Why I Finally Decided to Do a Spending Cleanse posted first on http://ift.tt/2lnwIdQ

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fadingfartconnoisseur · 7 years

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6 Ways to Spend Less on Travel

From students to parents to busy professionals, there are always reasons that people feel they can’t make their globetrotting dreams come true, and it usually is because of the price tag.

While travel does involve costs– airfare, accommodation and some activities– there are many alternative ways to travel that not only save money but allow you to have new experiences and follow your wanderlust.

The truth it, whatever your budget is, you can make it work.

In fact, depending on your destination, you might even spend less seeing the world than you do staying in your own neck of the woods.

Here are 6 ways to spend less on travel that’ll change everything!

Getting to Your Location

In the summer, most destinations are at their most expensive. If it’s possible to travel in the off-season, do it! Places like Europe are perfect in the so-called “shoulder season” (April through mid-June and September through October). The weather is better, places are less crowded, and you’ll save a lot of cash.

Knowing how to find cheap plane tickets is an art at any time of year. The number one strategy is to be patient. Finding a good price means you’ll have to do some serious searching.

Here are some ways I find cheap fights:

Turn on AirfareWatchDog and keep an eye on deals when they arise

Check airlines’ low fare calendar

Check Skyscanner to compare fares

Look for indirect flights or nearby airports

Avoid extra fees (like choosing my seat, priority boarding, and checked bags)

If you’re debating the best way to travel, check out the Rome2 Rio website. It’ll compare bus, train, air, ferry, and rideshare options so you can decide what makes the most sense for your trip. Keep in mind that sometimes combining transportation (for example, plane and train) can often be the cheapest pick.

For ground travel, look into multi-way passes. Europe has some great deals that’ll let you see the continent on the cheap. Look into Interflix Euro Bus Pass and the Eurail pass for some bargains that will cure your wanderlust.

Budget Accommodation

I love AirBnb — you’ll typically find accommodation cheaper than a hotel (and you can nab this AirBnB discount from me!). It’s even more budget-friendly if you get a place where you can use the kitchen to cook in!

You can also check out Homestay.com and VRBO for more great places where you can truly live like a local and explore amazing neighborhoods.

Consider hostels as well, and keep in mind that many do offer private rooms. Check out my post on the truth about staying in a hostel if you’re debating whether the experience is right for you!

If you want to go for a hotel, look for ones that are located a little farther from the city center as they are usually cheaper.

Rooms tend to be cheaper there, and most cities have great public transportation systems.

Transportation

Taxis can tend to get expensive so I try to use Uber whenever it’s available. Metros are often the best way to travel, and I recommend going underground for travel in almost any major city.

Google Maps has a public transit option that works in most cities. Just type in where you want to go and it will tell you exactly which lines and busses you need to take to get there!

Of course, when you can, walking is ideal– especially in Europe!

A lot of big cities also have cheap and easy bike rentals that allow pick up and return around the city. Be sure to search for these bike share programs while you’re abroad.

Activities

The way you organize your daily activities can make or break your budget. Some of my best memories have actually been on adventures that didn’t cost a dime!

Here are some ideas for ways to save on activities:

Skip Pricey Tours: Download audio books or guides, and listen where you’re going. There are even some great free apps that’ll let you explore at your own pace.

Ask for a Discount: Always look for special rates for students, seniors, kids, groups, or whatever might apply to you. It never hurts to ask!

Check Online for Special Deals and Discounts Before You Go: Sites like Groupon are all over the world and give major discounts. They can also be a good source of info on local events.

Research Free Activities and Museums: Many major tourist attractions are free on certain days. You can find an endless list of free activities for most big cities.

Do an All-inclusive Sightseeing Tour: If you’re visiting for the first time and you know you want to see it all, consider hop-on/hop-off buses or city passes that’ll take you everywhere.

Eating

Forget overpriced touristy restaurants. The best way to try authentic grub is on a shoestring budget!

Don’t Ever Start Your Day Hungry: Take advantage of included breakfasts at hotels and hostels. Always ask about it when you check-in.

Go Grocery Shopping: Local shops give a cool insight into local life, and you’ll want to stop at one at the beginning of your trip to pick up breakfast, snacks, and more if you have a kitchen.

Go Alfresco: Opt for a picnic in the park rather than a sit-down meal.

DIY It: Aim to alternate between going out for meals and creating your own. Think of simple fixes like sandwich and deli items. Even if you can’t cook, grocery store ready-meals are a good budget solution.

Eat Out Midday: Lunches are typically cheaper than dinner, so choose that time to head out to a restaurant.

Try Tapas Style: Order appetizers instead of one large entrée. It’s usually cheaper, and you can try multiple dishes.

Bring a Refillable Water Bottle: You will be surprised how much buying plastic water bottles adds up, both in cash and environmental waste.

Check Out Food Tours: Many cities do a 2-for-1 tour plus dining deal.

Choose Local Wines or House Wines: These choices are both the cheapest and the best in most cases!

Skip the Bread: In a lot of countries, especially within Europe, you pay for the bread even though they bring it to the table without asking.

Know How to Tip: Few countries tip as much as the US does (and in some places tipping is even rude!), so get to know the tipping customs.

Shopping

There’s nothing like treating yourself to some retail therapy while you’re away, but there’s definitely a right way and a not-so-cost-effective way.

Skip the Souvenirs: Find one special thing to bring home that really represents your trip.

DIY It: Take lots of pictures and create a DIY souvenir when you get home. Search for modern collage inspiration online.

Think Small: Shop at street markets instead of at the big department stores to get off the beaten path.

Shop Local: Opt for stores you can’t find in your hometown for truly special items.

Get Tax Back: Remember to keep your receipts because you can often get tax refunds at the airport at the end of your trip!

READ NEXT: 10 Budget-Friendly Travel Destinations Around the World

7 Budget Travel Tips for Student Travelers

Six Travel Budget Busters to Avoid

Travel Beauty Hacks for Every Budget

10 Affordable Must-Have Travel Products for Your Next Trip

Tips for Traveling London on a Budget

How to Travel Bali on a Budget

Ten Essential Tips For Solo Female Travelers

How to Avoid Overpacking for a Trip

The Ultimate Travel Gear Packing Guide

6 Ways to Spend Less on Travel is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

via Travel Blogs http://ift.tt/2hFylqL

#IFTTT #Travel Blogs

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demitgibbs · 7 years

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R&R: Six Spas We Love

This is the seventh year we’ve put together the annual Spa Edition, and one of my favorite things about producing this edition is the relationships with the local spa owners. Every year I look forward to seeing them and spending some quality time with them and their staff. A lot of people think of spas as places we visit while on vacation, but trust me, if you take care of your body on a regular basis, it will take care of you and make you look and feel younger for many years! I am writing about the spas in the order in which I went to them. 1. Chi Spa

I recently had a much needed massage and treatment at Chi Spa in Wilton Manors. They decided to give me the Mini Chi Revitalization Package ($199), which was two hours of bliss. The “mini” version of one of Chi Spa’s most luxurious treatments consisted of of a relaxing massage, followed by an exfoliating salt scrub and completed with a deliciously hydrating body butter treatment.

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I was greeted by my therapist Teena Wiggins, who had a cold cup of refreshing water on hand. She was extremely personable during my massage, which made it easier to relax. After Teena hit all of the important muscle groups on my body, it was time for the salt scrub (my favorite part). The exfoliating salt scrub was exactly what my body needed after a few weeks in the summer sun and pool chlorine. After I rinsed off the salt scrub in a steamy bath, my body was covered in body butter to sooth my skin. My skin was literally like butter! Before my treatment was finished, Teena draped hot towels on my feet and torso and sprayed my face with an aromatic citrus spray. Needless to say I didn’t want to get off the table after that.

2. The Grand Resort and Spa

Going to The Grand Resort and Spa is always fun, as not only do I get to see their friendly staff, but I get to see my wife Paula. I think by now her real husband realizes that our marriage is no threat to theirs…LOL!! This year JD decided to personally be the therapist and administer the “Nourishing Sea Mud Therapy (80 mins – $160).” This Massage/Scrub combo starts with a cleanse, and then an exfoliation. Following the exfoliation you are massaged with warm mud. The mud used in this treatment is great for drawing out impurities and detoxifying the skin. It was amazing how relaxed and refreshed I felt after the treatment.

The Grand Resort and Spa has recently initiated a membership program, which is very exciting. There are 2 membership programs to choose from. Membership Package #1 is $85 a month and includes (choose 1) a 50 min Swedish massage, a 50 min classic Dermalogica facial, a Ultra Calming Facial or a 50 min scrub. Membership Package #2 is $125 a month and includes (choose 1)80 min Swedish massage, 80 min Age Smart facial, deep cleansing facial, Bio Active peel, or an 80 min signature body treatment. Both packages also include: 10% off the purchase of spa services, 10% off spa retail purchases, 10% off future bookings at the resort, 10% off purchase of beer and wine from resort while receiving spa services, access to and the use of the resorts common grounds, Jacuzzi, pool, and resort services, and during member’s first month of membership they may obtain access to the resort for one guest at a time while member is present. Guest access to resort includes all the facilities members are allowed to use. The Grand Resort doesn’t sell day passes but spa guests can enjoy the facilities along with their treatments. Who wouldn’t want to take a dip in the resort pool or hot tub to show off their glowing skin? JD also wanted to remind the community that the Spa offers great mid-week specials on Tues, Wed and Thurs, which change every week so call them to find out.

3. Urban Retreat

Frank Velaz, the owner of Urban Retreat Spa and I have known each other for many years (Did you ask how many? Well I am not saying to protect the guilty…LOL). Frank is advanced certified in collagen induction therapy by Dermapen World International. He opened Urban Retreat and Spa in 2006 and the business has steadily grown. His staff of therapists have at least 10 years’ experience in the industry.

The service Frank decided to give me was the “Relax & Renew” (75mins $145), which gets out tension and stress from the body and face, as well as providing needed hydration. It’s an upper Body Massage (he asked me to pick the pressure) using Pure Fiji Organic Body Lotion. For me Frank chose the Starfruit Scent as it is the mildest, as he knows I don’t like smells that are too strong. Then he proceeded with a Skin Sense Hydrate Facial. It’s a seven step instant hydrate and protect treatment. It includes wash/scrub, Hydrate Aloe/Jojoba toner, bio-molecular hydrate mask, a skin plumping Hyaluronic Infusion, a Vitamin C & E Collagen Stimulating Serum, a Lip Complex and ends with a silky SPF to protect skin from environmental damage. Frank told me that the Relax and Renew is a very popular treatment, which lots of clients like to use to start a “power day” looking and feeling good. This is a great treatment when you want to re-center, relax and balance. Frank loves to bring his clients to the full length mirror in the lobby after the treatment so they can see how visibly different they look! It’s usually a “WOW!!” moment, kinda of like a ‘big reveal’! Urban Retreat offers a Free Skin Analysis to properly design a custom plan of professional treatments and home skin regimens, with reality based prices. Evidence based skin care solutions. PCA Skin Certified Peel Treatment Center and Certified In Collagen Induction Therapy by Florida Esthetics Association.

Lavish Manors

I have been to Lavish Manors many times, so this year I sent Oscar to experience the joys of this spa. When he arrived he was greeted by owner, Tommy Le, who he said was very welcoming. He was then introduced to John who performed his Hot Stone Paraffin Spa Pedicure ($55). As soon as he sat in the incredibly comfortable massage chair John offered him wine or water to drink. His feet were then soaked in a Jacuzzi tub, and shortly after his my nails were trimmed, shaped, cuticles groomed, including an intensive callus treatment, and a salt scrub. He then said his legs were pampered with a warm herbal wrap to soften and plump the skin, next his legs were exfoliated with a sloughing scrub, and softening sea butter. After this he basked in luxury as they performed a long lasting relaxing massage using warm stones and hemp oil distinctively scented with patchouli. The pedicure ended with a refreshing and smoothing paraffin treatment and a wrapping with aromatic hot towels and then his nails were buffed.

Afterwards Oscar received the Shellac Gel Manicure ($30). This relaxing manicure includes nail trimming, shaping, cuticles detailing, lotion massage and buffing followed by Shellac, which is Chip free for up to 2 weeks. There is no damage to natural nails, resilient mirror finish, no drying time. Oscar said he left Lavish Manors feeling wonderful and he couldn’t stop looking at ow nice his toes and fingers looked.

Babylon Men Massage

Babylon Men’s Day Spa is the newest Spa edition to Wilton Drive taking over the old space of 78 Degrees Spa. Babylon Spa originates from Asia. Their masseuses are trained in Chinese and Thai massage techniques as well as Japanese essential oil massages. They pay special attention to pressure points using essential oils to massage these special areas. They offer heat treatments and Chines traditional cupping techniques so their clients can enjoy full relaxation in a peaceful setting.

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The service they were giving is called “The Perfect Massage” (90 mins – $80). After I lied down on the table, they put a towel over me for a 10 minute Massage of full-body muscle relaxation. Next they used oils for a full body massage. My therapist said that the neck, shoulders, and small back generally the parts that need the most work so they focus on these places, so their guests can be completely relaxed.

After the oil massage technique, they did Chinese cupping, which cures the fatigue of the body (Did anyone see the Real Housewives of Orange County last season?). In the end, they use the hot stone to relax the muscles and let the massage achieve the perfect effect. After the massage he encased my body with warm towels, which made me feel like I was in a cocoon and was super relaxing. While in the cocoon he massaged my feet, hands and head.

Spa Cabanas Guesthouse & Spa

Spa Cabanas at The Cabanas Guesthouse is celebrating its 9 year in business. Norman Lachance began with only himself running and operating the business. Norman contributes the success of the Spa Cabanas to the loyalty of local clients as well as the return of the frequent traveler. It’s due to the continued support of these clients that Spa Cabanas has grown from a one owner/therapist ran business to the successfully ran Spa that it is today with seven employees. The Cabanas Spa has been part of this Spa issue from year one and its always a pleasure to go there and see Norman and his General Manager Clint. They really make you feel special from the moment you walk through their doors. This year they set up a ½ day of services for me.

The first service was with Dene, who is a massage therapist and massage. He administered a sixty minute Swedish relaxation massage ($95) with some trigger point examples. Almost immediately Dene noticed that I have a lot of tension in my shoulders and neck and asked if I sat at a computer all day. When I told him that I did, he spent more time in that area. In addition he used a lot of trigger points to relax my body and I must admit I felt so much more relaxed and loose after the massage. Actually noticed the difference at work for days. Afterwards it was on to Jimmy, who is a Paramedical aesthetician, and who has worked on me for many years. Once a year we get to catch up. This year was especially nice as he got married and I got to hear all about his wedding and his wonderful husband. Jimmy administered the Bio-Lift Facial ($139), which is a unique facial that was introduced to the Spa Cabanas just one month before I received the procedure. This facial includes the use of their new Palm Sonic Nrg Device which reduces visibility of fine lines and includes a heat and cooling option to open and close pores, tripling product absorption and pushing products into the skin. Now anyone who knows me knows that although I won’t do surgery or needles I will try anything natural to remove lines on my face, so I was totally game for this facial, and was excited about the results I saw afterwards. Jimmy also administered the Baby Foot ($40), which is an unparalleled, total foot care package. Their scientifically formulated product contains 17 types of natural extracts which exfoliate and moisturize at the same time. In addition, the Fruit acids such as Glycolic Acid and Critic Acid allow the dead skin cells to peel, but the Alcohol makes the dead cells soft, and the Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid and Isopropyl stimulate a flaking effect as well. The fruit acid penetrates into the layers of dead skin cells and breaks down the desmosomes which hold the layers together. By this process, skin is undamaged but peels easily away from the fresh layer beneath. After peeling, your feet are reborn just like a baby’s foot,giving you healthy, beautiful feet. Baby Foot not only peels the dead skin cells from your feet, it also maintains the grain of the skin and adds moisture to the skin. The boots with all the extracts are put on your feet prior to getting Facial and stays there until the facial is done and then is taken off and your feet are wiped with a hot towel. This truly makes a big difference and your feet after peeling feels soft and supple, just like a baby’s bottom. The Spa Cabanas offers a variety of Massages and Bodywork,which include Swedish, deep tissue and sportswork aswell as aromatherapy, therapeutic and hot stone massage. Spa Cabanas is also able to provide Manicures and Pedicures and all areas of your Manscaping needs with body hair trimming,waxing, shaving and most recently, they have introduced Sugaring. Sugaring is the natural alternative to waxing. Spa Cabanas are constantly updating their monthly specials. Check out the month of October where they are featuring: 10 sessions of a 60 minute massages for only $499 (Reg price $950.00); Microdermabrasion plus massage only $149 (Reg Price $224); 3 Medical Grade Chemical Peels for only $189 (Reg Price $267).

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2017/09/28/rr-six-spas-we-love/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.tumblr.com/post/165833362305

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thatmomforem · 7 years

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#thatsnothowirememberit

Activities, vacations, day trips… they all ebb and flow as we wander through this life. Whether you find yourself a highly involved person who can’t seem to find a free weekend or someone who’s able to slow down and enjoy time sitting on the back patio or your couch, we’re always technically doing something. As a child, these ‘somethings’ always seemed to just simply happen. Today, I find the adult version of myself in a much different position.

In my mind, the ebb and flow goes something like this…. As children, you’re at the mercy of your parents’ calendar and participate in what is planned for you – sports, vacations, birthday parties, etc. In college, you either party your ass off, study your ass off or do some combination of both, all at your own will. Then, we supposedly become adults and enter the working world where parties are replaced with late dinners and evenings at a bar with friends. Next up, parent life comes around and it’s now my turn to manage the calendar and drag my kid along… and if you’re anything like me, you spend a good amount of time googling ‘kid-friendly’ activities around town so you can get your family out of the house for a few hours and hopefully make some memories like those you have from 20 years ago.

As a child and teenager, I have fond memories of these activities my parents planned for us. We spent summers in Maine and Michigan visiting family – we checked out theme parks and canoed down rivers, we had picnics at rest areas along the long drive and took pictures of every bathroom along the way… no judgement – I was the child who had to stop to pee every hour so my mom had fun with it. We vacationed to Disney World and spent Saturdays at fairs – we did it all. My brother and I would look forward to these trips for the months leading up, marking each day off on the calendar. Then, once the big day finally arrived, I remember non-stop fun!

As the new mom of a 9-month old, I want to give her the same experiences my parents gave me. So, this past weekend, as Em is getting more mobile, eating food off our plates and is generally more alert and awake than the those first few months, I set out to make a memory. Though it’s still warm in Georgia and the leaves haven’t quite started to turn, I was committed to a ‘Fall activity.’ Every google search landed on apple picking – YES! We found one that had a huge bakery and candy shop, wine and hard cider tastings, outdoor lunch spot and of course, tractor rides out to the orchard to pick your own apples. I chose a weekend and we were off!

YOU. GUYS. Those memories we have as kids of the non-stop fun… running around to all the rides, eating all the funnel cakes, swimming for hours on end – whatever details your vacation included… those memories are a FAÇADE. Well maybe not that harsh, but they are certainly not the whole picture! Never have I truly understood all of the painstakingly hard work that went into the planning and execution of those good times until now. I mean I’ve planned vacations and herded large groups of people, but never for or with my child.

For our apple picking adventure, we made the hour and a half drive north before arriving at the Orchard entrance to find parking amongst the masses that also thought one of the first Fall Sundays was a good day to pick apples. We hopped out, did a diaper change, got a bottle ready, decided against the stroller, grabbed the Ergo Baby, made sure everything was in the diaper bag… and we’re finally ready! There’s a pseudo-sidewalk ramp / bridge that leads you from the parking lot to the main retail store that so seriously STOPS at the half way point. Our thoughts… imagine playing frogger with an infant strapped to your back. #nothanks

By the time we make it to the main building, everyone is starving so we decide to eat lunch first. The people at the deli inside don’t understand the meaning of ‘to go’ and there are all of 8 tables inside. So we trek towards the outdoor deck where it takes a hot minute to get seated - are finally sat at a filthy table covered with yellow jackets and proceeded to wait at least 20 minutes for someone to take our drink order. EFF THIS. I grabbed my friend and went inside to order wine flights for everyone while my husband fed Em cold pasta to keep her from loudly expressing her disappointment with her current situation – hangry. We continued to kill yellow jackets while eating our $10 chicken salad sandwiches before calling it quits after about an hour. Us – 5; Yellow Jackets – 0.

Next up – another game of frogger as we made our way back to the car for a diaper change and clothes swap since Em was already sweating and the bathroom was a mad house. One more game of frogger and we were back at the main building to purchase our bag to pick apples and, unbeknownst to us, to also purchase tickets to ride the tractor to the orchard so we could fill the bag we just bought. #wellalrightthen

We swung back to the bar for wine slushies and headed toward the tractor. Time for a game plan. One large bag for four adults and a tiny human with no teeth. Bag says it holds 30-40 apples. But we really like apple everything. Challenge Accepted.

We get to the orchard and are greeted with more yellow jackets, then proceeded to put Em in the Ergo Baby on my back so she could actually look around and get in on the apple picking action. I shit you not, I didn’t take more than 10 steps off the tractor before she was asleep. ASLEEP. Us big kids walked around scoping out the different apples, biting into each one to figure out which we wanted to take home and doing some sketchy tree climbing to get the best of the best, all the while sipping on our wine slushies and (I’m sure) attracting even more yellow jackets to be a part of our apple picking journey. #bastards

Once we were happy with the fullness of our bag, we got back in line to hitch a tractor back to the main building and OF COURSE Em woke up. As if she knew the hard work was over and legit said, ‘ok, tap me back in!’ Mind you we’ve been at the orchard for a total of 4 hours at this point, doing a whole lot of nothing except for the last hour – the hour she decided was most perfect for a nap.

We made it back to the main building, decided on what we wanted to grab from the store then divided and conquered – I went into the store and N took Em back to the car. I definitely drew the short straw there. The store was a nut house. It had to be at double capacity, filled to the brim with people who could give a shit less about actually making a decision and executing on that decision.

The orchard is known for their fried pies, so of course I wanted to get a few. Being so popular, the bakery had its’ own line inside the store where one woman raced her massive cart – filled with ONE small plastic container of 6 donuts – to get in front of me in line, then turned her dial to slow-mo and I swear she took about one step every 3 minutes.

I finally got to the front of that line and there were only two out of the six available bakers able to take orders. Every other baker was preoccupied with someone staring at the case like either they’ve never seen a pie before or like they couldn’t read, taking 45 minutes to decide on 6 freaking pies! #RAWR

I made my way over to the wine section and had to push a lady out of the way with my cart because she had set up camp in the one corner that had a selection of all the wine the orchard let us sample in our wine flight. I know I didn’t wipe the scowl off my face; I was OVER IT. Not today lady – get to moving!! By the time I got to the register to pay, I realized N had my ID so I had to call our friend to come back up to the main building, show an ID, pay and get me the hell out of there.

After everything was said and done, we headed home with our 54 apples in tow and my wide-awake child.

When I originally planned this amazing apple picking day, I dreamed of patio lunches with wine, Em trying to grab an apple off the tree and us crushing fried pies on the drive home. Instead, we got an over-priced lunch swarming with yellow jackets, an hour-long nap for Em during the most fun part as we both sweated to death walking up and down an orchard and a hellish 45-minute train wreck experience of trying to get some damn pies.

I know that Em will only ‘remember’ this trip through the pictures we took. And it’s not the last time I’ll have grand visions of what our adventures will be, only to have them turn out completely different, whether that be for better or worse. I’m completely okay with that.

Will I drag our family apple picking again? Absolutely! Is it possible the day can go exactly the same way this one did?! YEP. But I genuinely don’t mind. For me - as the mom – I know our trips definitely won’t go the way I remember them from 20 years go. But for Em to have those memories - it's worth it every time.

Em’s mom

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vernicle · 7 years

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You don't have to march in Pride to make a difference for LGBTQ people. Here's how.

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You really don't have to be at a Pleasure march to make a variance.

In June 1969, a group of New Yorkers resolved they'd experienced plenty of.

Patrons of the Stonewall Inn, an LGBTQ bar in Greenwich Village, stood up to police officers who'd reportedly been continuously harassing and targeting them for their sexual orientations and gender identities. The demonstrations that ensued sparked the commencing of the contemporary LGBTQ civil legal rights motion.

The exterior of the Stonewall Inn in New York City. Photo by Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Illustrations or photos.

The Stonewall Inn riots encouraged President Clinton to declare June "Homosexual and Lesbian Pleasure Thirty day period" in 1998. In 2009, President Obama expanded on the recognition, deeming it "Lesbian, Homosexual, Bisexual, and Transgender Pleasure Thirty day period," as it stays now.

This June feels distinct although.

Soon after a long time of getting an ally in the White Residence, President Trump's administration — unchecked by a GOP Congress — is threatening to roll again legal rights for LGBTQ people. It can be essential we stand in solidarity.

If you can make it out to a Pleasure march in your space, great. But even if you cannot (or just despise major crowds), you can continue to aid the motion.

1. Help acquire a bus ticket for a close friend so they can go to the March for Equality in Washington, D.C.

LGBTQ Pleasure marches are occurring in towns from coast to coast. But the most notable just one this yr will unfold in the nation's money on June 11. The Equality March for Unity and Pleasure is mobilizing queer people and their allies in aid of LGBTQ legal rights underneath a new administration that wishes to choose us backward.

You can do this everywhere, but if you occur to know someone in New York City who is fascinated in heading but doesn't have the vacation funds, you can acquire them a bus ticket on Grindr's "Pleasure Trip" to D.C.

2. If you happen to be going to the East Coastline this summer season, handle yo'self to a scoop of major, homosexual ice cream.

You can find very little explicitly homosexual about the delicious treats at the Major Homosexual Ice Cream Retailers in New York City and Philadelphia, of training course. But the enterprise, which commenced as a foods truck in 2009 before increasing into storefronts, has been a very pleased supporter of the Ali Forney Center, a nonprofit that assists homeless LGBTQ youth.

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A put up shared by Major. Homosexual. Ice. Cream. (@biggayicecream) on May well three, 2017 at 8:33am PDT

When you scream for (major, homosexual) ice cream, you happen to be also assisting the company raise awareness and methods for young people in want. And which is a major, homosexual win-win.

three. Snatch up just one of these wonderful Pleasure shirts in aid of LGBTQ youth in want.

In celebration of #Pride🌈, we're excited to bring you our unique #StandForPride selection. a hundred% of revenue will be donated to #LGBTQ charities! ☀️🌈

A put up shared by Characterize (@characterize) on Jun three, 2017 at 1:32pm PDT

Through an initiative established by Characterize, a hundred% of revenue from these shirts will benefit The Trevor Undertaking, which focuses on suicide prevention efforts between LGBTQ youth, as properly as the NOH8 campaign, which makes use of social media platforms to boost equality.

four. Or, if you happen to be a basketball supporter, maybe these Pleasure shirts are more up your alley.

Photo courtesy of the NBA/WNBA.

The NBA and WNBA partnered with GLSEN, an business assisting to make our schools safer and more inclusive for LGBTQ students, to develop Pleasure shirts for each individual professional team. A part of the proceeds will benefit the nonprofit.

A critical element in guaranteeing classrooms are inclusive is recognizing the achievements of LGBTQ people all through background.

5. Commit this thirty day period to reading just just one Wikipedia entry a working day on LGBTQ background and queer pioneers.

Faculty curriculums usually gloss about the background of, and worries confronted by, marginalized groups. The LGBTQ community is no distinct.

It helps make sense that quite a few of us haven't discovered about people like Marsha P. Johnson, Dan Choi, Edith Windsor, and Harvey Milk — some of the trailblazers who assisted us get to in which we are now.

Lt. Dan Choi, who arrived out as homosexual in 2009 even though serving in the armed forces, grew to become a pioneer in ending the military's homophobic "Really don't Talk to, Really don't Tell" plan. Photo by Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Illustrations or photos.

Each working day in June, choose 10 minutes to study up on a well-known LGBTQ figure or moment in background. Your teammates at the subsequent trivia night will thank you for it.

6. Now that you happen to be up on your queer background, electronic mail a local university or university district and inquire that the students there are way too.

Final yr, California grew to become the initially state to mandate LGBTQ-inclusive curriculums in its background and social science demands. As Vice noted, it may well established off a chain reaction way too, as other states look to incorporate more various views and historic figures in their classroom guidelines.

Mail an electronic mail — or show up at a university board meeting or bring it up at the subsequent PTA meeting — to get this problem on the radar in your town, if it truly is not by now.

7. Drop in to a cafe or retail store that supports its LGBTQ workers — and stay clear of the areas that really don't.

The Human Legal rights Campaign releases a Company Equality Index each individual yr learning and rating organizations based on how supportive their office policies are for LGBTQ people.

Numerous distinct aspects — which includes if a enterprise highlights LGBTQ protections in its anti-discrimination policies or if it provides transgender-inclusive overall health treatment gains — are regarded as in the index.

Thank you @Concentrate on for having pride in all of the @CityofPhoenixAZ! @PhoenixPrideAZ #takepride http://pic.twitter.com/TJPm1Jtkqy

— Doug Mings (@douglasmings) June 1, 2017

Concentrate on — which adopted professional-LGBTQ policies and established distinct Pleasure merchandise for buyers in current a long time — was a leading-rated enterprise for its inclusive office in 2017.

Even if you happen to be not marching in Pleasure, the way you spend your pounds helps make a variance.

8. If you happen to be not LGBTQ and new to this complete Pleasure point, established aside thirty minutes to get started understanding about remaining a very good ally.

Is your little one — or your mom or father — LGBTQ? What about a colleague or close friend at university? Do you want to be there for transgender people in your community, but not certain in which to get started? GLAAD compiled beneficial guides for allies to do their finest supporting the LGBTQ people they know and love.

Photo by Yana Paskova/Getty Illustrations or photos.

Professional tip: Do this before breaking out any rainbow attire.

9. Drink some delectable wine even though supporting queer artists and LGBTQ youth in want of stable housing.

In honor of Pleasure thirty day period, City Winery Chicago worked with four LGBTQ artists — Kelly Boner, James Schwab, Tennessee Loveless, and Sierra Berquist — to style the labels for its "Participating in with Labels" campaign.

Photo courtesy of Dustin DuBois/City Winery Chicago.

With each individual bottle ordered, $10 goes towards Undertaking Fierce Chicago, a nonprofit that delivers supportive transitional housing to homeless LGBTQ youth in the Windy City. Can not make it to a Pleasure march in person? Drink up!

10. Paint your nails rainbow colors.

They're going to provide as a wonderful conversation starter with family members or good friends. You can point out Pleasure and what the thirty day period means to you.

Moreover, they will look wonderful.

its copenhagen pride 7 days so i created rainbow nails http://pic.twitter.com/FHv6tkqzQX

— oline (@olllline) August 16, 2016

11. Decide on just one lesser regarded LGBTQ advocacy group and dedicate a regular monthly gift to aid its operate.

National companies like the Human Legal rights Campaign and GLAAD are assisting to conserve and better the life of LGBTQ people throughout the nation. Supporting them helps make a variance.

But there are quite a few other groups doing the job underneath the radar that have earned our consideration way too.

Thrilled to mail out surveys to @sylviariveralawproject Prisoner Advisory Committee (PAC) customers as element of SRLP's 2017 reboot of It can be War in In this article. To study more about SRLP's Prisoner Justice operate and PAC, check out http://ift.tt/2sdnhoQ

A put up shared by Sylvia Rivera Law Undertaking (@sylviariveralawproject) on May well 23, 2017 at 5:43pm PDT

If you happen to be appealing in making donations, look at contributing to companies like Fierce, Trans Lifeline, ACT UP, and the Sylvia Rivera Law Undertaking, concentrated on more area of interest (but continue to essential) concerns going through the LGBTQ community, usually with a lot lesser budgets.

twelve. You can find a decent chance you have at the very least just one Fb close friend who's in the closet. Produce a supportive put up noting that you happen to be there for them, any time.

When you aren't open about your sexuality or gender identity, coming out can be a very scary point for quite a few LGBTQ people — specifically if you have couple of (or no) accepting family members customers or good friends.

Sharing a Fb standing letting any of your good friends who are in the closet know that you happen to be a person they can chat to actually could improve their daily life.

thirteen. Established your calendars: Most midterm elections are Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, and the LGBTQ community demands you to clearly show up.

Midterms never get the exact media fanfare as presidential election a long time, even although, in quite a few methods, they are of equivalent consequence. You can have to do some digging on the candidates in your state vying for office in get to get a very good comprehending of who they are and what they will fight for.

Mayor Peter Buttigieg is the initially brazenly homosexual mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Photo by Derek Henkle/AFP/Getty Illustrations or photos.

There are quite a few essential concerns that want our consideration — climate improve, preventing poverty, developing jobs, felony justice reform — but LGBTQ legal rights is an problem on the ballot way too. If you cannot make it to a march, the the very least you can do is dedicate to understanding about how your candidates approach to assist (or harm) LGBTQ people in your space and maintain their stances in brain on Nov. 6, 2018.

14. Make it a objective: For the subsequent kid's birthday on your calendar, acquire them a e-book or movie which is LGBTQ-inclusive.

The amusement and toy options out there for young children want to get better at variety, particularly when it comes to LGBTQ illustration.

Studying fairy tales like "Promised Land" and viewing quick movies like "In a Heartbeat" and "Rosaline" — all tales for young children that characteristic exact-intercourse love passions — will assist young queer people have an understanding of they have a place in this environment, even though instructing straight and cisgender young children that their LGBTQ friends are deserving of love and respect.

Photo courtesy of "Promised Land."

fifteen. Discover about a urgent LGBTQ legal rights problem in your have backyard and comply with a local Fb group to stay up to speed.

Consider local: What worries does the LGBTQ community experience in your town or state?

Just very last thirty day period, legislators in Texas authorised a invoice that would deny trans students the appropriate to use the lavatory that corresponds with their gender. Lawmakers in North Carolina not too long ago tried using to reverse relationship equality in the Tar Heel state. Throughout the nation, LGBTQ legal rights concerns are remaining sorted out and resolved by local university boards.

It only can take a couple of minutes to obtain some local LGBTQ Fb groups and comply with them so you can stay plugged in to what is occurring in your space and fight for what is appropriate.

16. Share this strong online video about a transgender lady and her loving family members.

Some of your good friends on Fb could possibly be more hesitant (or outright towards) viewing it. But which is the complete stage.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/observe?v=Q95XbY4CVhQ?wmode=transparent&showinfo=&controls=1&enablejsapi=1&rel=&version=three&coloration=white&w=560&h=315]

When we elevate tales that put ourselves in the sneakers of someone with distinct daily life encounters, we are likely to develop bridges. It helps make sense that when someone is aware of an LGBTQ person and hears their story, they are far more possible to aid LGBTQ legal rights.

seventeen. If you are living in a state which is debating a lavatory invoice, make certain to call your rep — if possible more than after.

So-called "lavatory expenditures" — which halt trans children and grownups from employing the restroom that corresponds to their gender — puts people who are by now more at-threat of violence in even more unpleasant and dangerous situations. These expenditures are born from fearmongering and myths about transgender people.

If you are living in just one of the fifteen states in which a lavatory invoice is in the works, call your representatives in Washington and voice your issues.

Rainbow flags and festive parades are crucial in unifying the LGBTQ community each individual June. But they are only just one element of what it means to celebrate Pleasure.

This June, admit all the constructive improve which is transpired because these initially rioters fought again outside the Stonewall Inn practically 50 a long time in the past. Then, dedicate to assisting force that progress ahead even though preventing the forces trying to stall it, on the other hand you can.

We all perform a element in guaranteeing equality.

Photo by Wojtek Radwanski/AFP/Getty Illustrations or photos.

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thefearlessgastronomist · 7 years

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23 FACTS ABOUT YOURS TRULY

1. The Basics: My name is Rachel, 27 years young [when this was posted in 2017], posting from my parent’s home in the suburbs of Minneapolis/St. Paul, brown hair (though it’s usually dyed a different color), blue eyes, sassy as hell 😏 Also, for reference, I’m of Italian, Irish, German, and Swedish heritage. My last name is super Italian and I eat a lot of pasta.

2. I did not go to culinary school. I did go to college for five and a half years, but not for anything remotely related to culinary arts. My entire thing is: Graphic Communications Management with an emphasis in Layout/Design and minors in Photography and Journalism. At least the writing and photography parts makes sense, right? They’re useful.

3. I would, however, love to go to culinary school. Since late 2016, I have thought really hard about this. We’ll see how that pans out. I have taught myself a lot of things in the kitchen, but I would really like to have that base knowledge that all chefs have – like knife skills, certain techniques, basic food staples, etc.

4. The food I could eat every day for the rest of my life? Lasagna. How stereotypical Italian of me to say this, but I really love lasagna. Not the homemade kind that involves ricotta, but *gasp* the store bought frozen kind. I do have a lot of favorite foods, mind you. But I could eat a whole pan of Stouffer’s Lasagna with Meat Sauce by myself if given the opportunity. I’ll admit that I ate a lot of the smaller personal-sized ones in college.

5. I watch a lot – and I mean A LOT – of Food Network and Cooking Channel. My usual program of choice is ‘Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives’ (FN/CC), but I also love ‘Dinner at Tiffani’s’ (CC), ‘Chopped’ (FN), ‘Beat Bobby Flay’ (FN/CC), ‘Burgers Brew and ‘Que’’ (CC), ‘Cooks vs. Cons,’ and ‘Bakers vs. Fakers’ (FN). I would love to try the restaurants that Guy Fieri has visited here in Minnesota on Triple D. And I get a lot of hosting ideas from Tiffani.

6. Speaking of Guy Fieri and Food Network, I got to eat at both Guy’s and Giada de Laurentiis’s restaurants when I was in Las Vegas (in September 2016). And I loved every minute of it. I’m bummed I didn’t have a chance to go to any other celebrity chef’s restaurants while I was there. So here’s a short wishlist for next time: Buddy V’s Ristorante (though I did get a dessert from his Carlo’s bakery across the way from the restaurant); Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill and/or Bobby’s Burger Palace; Nobu (I must figure out what the Kardashian’s love about it so much); Emeril Lagasse's New Orleans Fish House; Mario Batali’s OTTO Pizzeria; and Wahlburgers.

7. I love White Castle! Whenever I am close to one, I typically demand whoever I am with to stop there. It’s a sickness really, but I love the sliders so much. And the onion chips.

8. I have an obsession with seafood. Including sushi. I’m not exactly sure where this stemmed from – possibly from eating calamari on a boardwalk in Florida during a family vacation years ago – but given the option, I will often opt for seafood in dishes (i.e. shrimp fettuccine alfredo).

9. I am the person that eats strange foods for the sake of trying them. And I usually end up liking it. I am the Andrew Zimmern in my family 😆 I’ll try bizarre foods that make people squirm.

10. I enjoy the smell of garlic and onion.

11. I prefer a more globally-influenced dinner time. Americans notoriously eat dinner early compared to the rest of the world (around 5 or 6pm); other countries are more around 8-to-10pm. I tend to side with those people. Probably because I’m such a night owl.

12. Starbucks is my coffee place of choice. My go-to drink depends on my mood, but I’m currently loving the Sweet Cream Cold Brew ☕️ and the Berry Sangria herbal tea.

13. I’m on a mission . . . a BEER mission. As a Minnesotan, beer drinking is almost a necessity, to go along with our fishing and our bonfires lol. The truth is that I like the idea of beer drinking, but hate the hoppy taste (meaning IPA’s aren’t my favorite). So I’ve set myself on a quest to find brews I actually enjoy drinking; this so far has included Negra Modelo (the one that started this whole thing), some pale ales, lagers, and plenty of hard ciders. Take a look at those I’ve tried HERE. I also like to actively try new wines and cheeses.

14. The key to my heart? Chinese food. More accurately, Chinese buffets. But seriously, even Panda Express or Little Chopstix. Feast on Chinese food with me and I’ll probably love you forever.

15. I am one of those people that pays just as close attention to plate and table presentation as I do cooking the meal itself. It doesn’t always get the appreciation it deserves, but I like to do it anyways. I also like to do the little extra things that make a meal an experience – such as sending someone a mailed invitation, setting up a “design your own name tag” station for drinking glass name tags, or parting gifts (I sent my family home with blackberry jam once). Just to list a few. I like to get crafty and creative.

16. I kind of have food sensitivities. I’m incredibly stubborn, so I refuse to stop eating things, but that’s also because my reactions to certain foods changes daily. Some days it effects me, some days it doesn’t. I just eat the food, deal with it, and move on.

17. While I love all forms of cooking, I especially enjoy grilling. Charred parts and grill lines on foods 🙌 SO GOOD. I may or may not have ruined our glass stovetop with my double-burner-sized grill pan.

18. I hardly ever go (because I can be such a late sleeper), but I love farmer’s markets. I really would love to go to more of them this summer, straw tote bag and all (after I find a good one I like). I’m totally getting into fresh produce and herbs lately, so now more than ever I would like to go.

19. Speaking of farmer’s markets, the last time I was there was to get a bushel of cucumbers – to make my own sweet pickles. It’s something my mom used to do, but a year or two ago, I decided i wanted to give it a try myself. It’s a 14-day soaking and boiling process that makes the house reek of cider vinegar and pickling spices. But they are pretty much the only pickles I like to eat.

20. I refuse to diet. I don’t understand how anyone could ever consciously decide to not eat what they like (especially with all the amazing foods out there!), nor have I ever understood the obsession over being skinny (my only thought about about being skinny is that it’s easier to find clothes to fit you). And funny enough, other than being overweight per the BMI (which I also believe is a crock of shit), my cholesterol and all my numbers are fine. So 😝 .

21. I possibly want to open up my own food establishment someday. But I think I would have the hardest time deciding what kind of place it would be (restaurant, cafe, food truck), what to name it, and what type of foods to serve. Like, it would probably be the most random conglomeration of foods ever.

22. There is a list of foods I use to determine how much I like a restaurant and/or if I would go back. Obviously it depends on the type of restaurant and it’s not the only determining factor, but I always have to try the following if they have it on their menu – fettuccine alfredo, nachos, and club sandwiches. If they have a good version of these, I’d probably eat there again.

23. I recently became a kitchen assistant for a cooking school! It’s a retail store technically, but some of its locations have a space for cooking classes. And sure, it’s a lot of washing dishes, but you also get to do the mise en place (a.k.a. recipe prep, like measuring out or cutting ingredients), as well as assisting the chef and the class participants in the kitchen. Probably one of the best moves I’ve made professionally. And part of the reason why I started this blog!

SIX FOOD THINGS I AM CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH

Cilantro

Making my own sauces rather than using store bought (i.e. barbecue sauce)

Taco-ing foods

Baking, especially breads and soft pretzels

Mexican Street Style Corn on the Cob / Elote (corn brushed with mayonnaise, then sprinkled with chili/cayenne powder and cotija cheese)

Caramelized or sauteed onions

RAPID FIRE ROUND

The hardest dish/meal I’ve ever made was . . . Chicken Tikka Masala; it was so involved. There’s marinading the chicken, caramelizing onions, then simmering the sauce, grilling the meat, then putting it all together and letting it simmer some more.

When I’m not cooking, you’ll find me . . . Eating 😂 But also reading, watching television/Netflix, spending time with my friends (which almost always involves going out to eat), writing and blogging.

My ultimate destination getaway is . . . Italy! I would love to spend an extended period of time (think like Eat Pray Love-style) in Italy so I could travel to all of the great cities – Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice, Naples, Capri; areas like Sicily, Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast. 😚👌

My favorite dessert is . . . Strawberry bananas they have at buffets! I also do my own version of it at home, with strawberry sauce and sliced bananas on top of ice cream. Furthermore, I’ve discovered a fabulous strawberry-rhubarb pie from Sam’s Club.

My favorite ice cream flavor . . . Chocolate chip cookie dough. Preferably as a blizzard from Dairy Queen 😉

Cake or pie? . . . Such a blasphemous question since they’re both so good, but I think I’m leaning more towards pie.

My LEAST favorite thing about cooking is . . . Deciding what recipe to pursue with certain limited ingredients I might not always have access to; when I’m cooking for people who have picky palates and don’t like when I put “grass” (spices) on things; when I’m missing one ingredient/one utensil to make a recipe work.

My favorite celebrity chef is . . . Alex Guarnaschelli, Guy Fieri, Michael Symon, Andrew Zimmern, Geoffrey Zakarian (for his ability to cook with wine in hand or the way he takes random espresso breaks mid-cooking), Scott Conant (he’s just reaaaaally nice to look at), Mario Batali (for his ability to wear Crocs and yet be a serious chef), and Gordon Ramsey (’cause he swears like a sailor, just like me). Also, if we’re including celebrities who happen to cook, Tiffani Thiessen.

If I were stranded on a desert island and only had 3 kitchen appliances with me, they would be . . . A fridge/freezer combo? That magically need not require battery nor electricity to function (as with all these items, I suppose). I probably wouldn’t mind be stranded on an island, I’d just want a way to keep my food items (like all the fish I’m sure I’ll catch haha) from spoiling. And it’ll have a fresh water thing built into the door so I don’t die of dehydration. Maybe a blender? I’m thinking island fruit smoothies with my ice from my freezer, and this particular island would have a potential Pirates of the Caribbean-esque hidden underground rum-running loot so I can mix boozy drinks 😉 Plus my island has edible plants, so blender would be useful to make like a pesto. Aaaaand... hmmm... I probably wouldn’t mind a stand mixer with all the attachments. Just in case. I’m sure I’d want it at some point or another.

My favorite Minnesota State Fair food is . . . Not that I could ever really choose, but TOP FIVE THAT I ATE LAST YEAR (2016): Corn dogs (plural), cheese curds, deep fried fruit on a stick with chocolate sauce, deep fried alligator bites, and Luigi fries (cheesy breadsticks).

Last year, I also had some new items worth noting: french toast bites with a berry sauce/whipped cream/Pop Rocks, Grain Belt BLU (Blueberry Lager), lefse with bacon and brown sugar filling, ostrich meatballs with three different sauces (orange, soy, and teriyaki), and Schell’s Beer Red Sangria Lager.

The best restaurant I’ve ever eaten at was . . . is impossible to choose!

However, My top 5 restaurants are . . . Great Moon Buffet, Tucci Bennuch, Piada Italian Street Food, Green Mill (only the ones that still have the Alamo Nachos), and Pizza Hut.

My favorite family recipe is . . . Maybe “mock chow mein.” It’s really more of a beef+pork meat and rice casserole with green pepper, onion, celery, mushroom pieces, and water chestnuts cooked in, alongside some condensed soups and other ingredients for flavor. Not really “chow mein” in the traditional Chinese food sense, but it’s delicious. A 9x13″ pan doesn’t last long at our house.

Also, my maternal grandmother’s potato salad. Unlike so many of the store bought deli ones, her’s isn’t mustard-heavy. And the texture of it is just so much better. I’m not sure how to best explain it, but I have since taken on making it myself.

Funny enough, I really disliked both these dishes when I was younger. Which probably means I need to go back through the family recipes and try some things again with my more advanced palate.

My choice pizza topping is . . . Probably Hawaiian. That’s right, I’m a pineapple-on-pizza believer! I also like plain sausage pizza. But really I just love pizza in general, especially now that I’ve started doing my own homemade dough and gourmet-style toppings (i.e. BBQ chicken with my own homemade barbecue sauce and cilantro; a chicken alfredo with the addition of either sauteed mushrooms or black beans with basil or parsley; a chicken-bacon-ranch rendition I made for my brother). As with so many other foods, my topping choice simply depends on my mood.

My favorite breakfast . . . Either a ham-and-cheese omelette from some “greasy spoon” diner, or french toast. I’ve also started making this sort of “spicy Eggs Benedict” thing on my breakfast sandwich maker that I could (and do) honestly eat all the time for a quick meal. It’s half an English muffin, slice of Canadian bacon, slice of provolone cheese, an egg cooked to a poached consistency (I’ve fallen in love with creamy runny yolks), and topped with sriracha mayo.

I take my coffee . . . With as much stuff to make it not taste so strongly like coffee. If not a specialty drink, then definitely with lots of cream and sugar. Usually some sort of flavoring (like caramel). Typically I go with a latte because that’s the one that’s more frothy milk than coffee. I also really like those “Steamers” from Kwik Trip that probably aren’t even coffee at all.

Soup or salad? . . . Ugh, this should be soup AND salad. All the food! But I’ve gone both ways with this, so it really just depends. I will say I almost always do soup at Olive Garden.

Favorite food movie . . . Eat Pray Love, Ratatouille, Chef, Julie & Julia. I want to talk about these some more, so I’ve a whole post dedicated to this coming up.

Favorite cocktails . . . Mojitos, Captain & Coke, Mimosas, I usually lean towards those fruity mixed drinks at restaurants (I had a really good Mai Tai in Downtown Las Vegas); also recently discovered Moscow Mules and now have a need for copper drinkware.

Favorite sandwich . . . Club sandwiches! But also, I crave “Sherri’s Chicken Sandwich” (a fried coconut chicken sandwich with honey mustard and avocado) from Craft Beer & Kitchen all the time. As well as my own homemade version of the Grilled Chicken Club I had at Pinstripes once – it’s grilled chicken, with bacon strips, a slice of provolone, avocado, and then instead of shallot mayo I make a cranberry mayo, and I use a ciabatta bun that I toast.

Cooking at home or going out for dinner? . . . It’s all about balance! And, once again, my choice really just depends on my mood. I love cooking things myself, but sometimes you just can’t beat getting a meal somewhere else. Especially when you’re looking for that more authentic experience or atmosphere.

Food bucket list . . . This is a fantastic concept. I’m going to use a whole separate post to answer it. Keep your eyes peeled!

Something I’m really proud of . . . Honestly? My ambitions, adventurousness, and fearlessness in the kitchen. And with that, the meals I’ve planned and executed with more effort than normal – so far a St. Patrick’s Day Dinner, Cooking a la Giada, Easter Brunch, Cinco de Mayo Tacos 3 Ways, Mother’s Day Build Your Own Pizza Party. Also, my courage to make a career change in my life by starting a culinary-based job.

One food you could never bring yourself to eat? Funny enough, olives. I don’t mind black olives on a supreme pizza because there are so many other things you don’t even notice them, but plain black or green olives... Just not my thing. I can’t even remember if I’ve officially tried any type of olive on its own or not.

The one food I’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet is . . . My namesake sandwich. The Rachel (or even the Reuben). I just haven’t had the nerve to try it at a restaurant yet.

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