#and they still very vocally hate each other but we follow the journey of poor lwj realizing the hate is becoming more and more performative

[jin-zixun]

AU (I guess) where wei wuxian and lan wangji taking su she hostage actually kinda works (despite all the reasons it definitely shouldn't lmao) so now they have to actually keep him around and constantly supervised until they get jin ling back and oh yeah make sure public enemy #2 doesn't get hurt or killed or anything because like. he's a hostage now.

like just wangxian ready to go on their honeymoon and now they gotta babysit su she. because they decided that was a good idea, even though it very much was not. it'd be funny though.

[aobindiareview]

Top Sales Outsourcing Company Suggests Best Sales Movies to Watch

All work and no movies make sales teams dull!

We have stepped into the 10th Month of the year. Most of the organizations are still working from home. In gleam situations like these days, we need to keep motivated. While you may pass most of the weekends sitting on your couch and browsing through Netflix and Prime, the sales outsourcing company, AOB India, continually motivates and engages the sales consultants and sales acquisition teams in the most creative ways. We have a list of movies that you need to add to your watchlist today!

Cinema has very few good content to offer in terms of sales. And when they do, most of them show sales agents as soulless predators who leech money off innocent people – and it’s true in some cases. However, a handful of them over the years have truly captured what it’s like to be a real salesperson. Regardless of the light in which sales people are shown, all these movies still offer a lot of takeaways: from persuasion tactics to attentive listening to building relationships to pep talks.

 Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

ABC. “A”, always. “B”, be. “C”, closing. ALWAYS BE CLOSING. Always be closing.

-Blake

Glengarry Glen Ross is the story of four sales agents battling against each other to save their jobs. This movie portrays how toxic a competitive environment can be. They use all sorts of unethical practices and tactics to close deals; ranging from stealing leads to selling undesirable property to lying, cheating, threatening, bribery, and more.

Despite all these, the sales outsourcing company, AOB India suggests that it still has scenes that offer a lot of value to salespeople. For example, the famous Alec Baldwin scene, where he explains the ABC and AIDA technique to his peers to “motivate” them, is by far the best and most useful scene from the movie. Not only does it explain these two concepts, it also shows how a manager should go about motivating his team.

 The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

In order to not waste any time… I wasn’t hanging up the phone. I gained another eight minutes a day. I wasn’t drinking water… so I didn’t waste any time in the bathroom.

-Chris Gardner

Based on a true story, The Pursuit of Happyness follows the journey of a struggling salesman, Christopher Gardner. The trials and situations faced by Chris when he loses his job, his wife, and his house, and raises his son homeless, account for an absolutely heartbreaking but inspirational story. He never gives up; he relentlessly chases down high-value prospects; he gives his 100% whatever the circumstances may be, and most of all, respects his superiors. The sales strategists at AOB India believe that there are so many take-aways from the movie, for eg. Chrisexhibits many good sales practices; like using an energetic and positive tone to talk to his prospects or optimizing his cold calling process to save a few minutes, etc.

 Door To Door (2002)

Patience and Persistence.

-Mrs. Porter

Isn’t this quote from the movie the motto of every sales agent ever? Another true story, Door To Door, is based on the life of Bill Porter, an inspiring and successful door-to-door salesman who suffers from cerebral palsy. Despite him being crippled with cerebral palsy, severely disabled, as well as having speech impediment problems, Bill Porter sold Watkins’ products for nearly 40 years, from door to door on a 7-mile route in Portland, Oregon. The sales outsourcing company highlights Patience and Persistence in every team meet. They believe that with these two qualities anyone can work his route with such diligence and perseverance to become the top-selling sales agents.

 The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Jordan Belfort: Brad, show them how it’s done. Sell me that pen. Watch. Go on.

Brad: You want me to sell you this f****** pen?

Jordan Belfort: That’s my boy right there. Can f****** sell anything.

Brad: Why don’t you do me a favor? Write your name down on that napkin for me.

Jordan Belfort: I don’t have a pen.

Brad: Exactly. Supply and demand, my friend.

 Does this movie need any introduction?

Filled with high-energy dialogues, lavish parties, and a bunch of unethical sales practices, this Martin Scorsese biopic about the infamous Jordan Belfort took the world by storm. It’s the story of how Belfort built an empire by pushing worthless penny stock to the public. Despite the tactics used by him, there are a few things a salesperson can learn from this film. Like the core concept of selling – sell the dream, sell the need, the product is irrelevant. Or the use of vocal tone to effectively engage prospects. Belfort illustrates the power of using a sales playbook and sales scripts which he teaches even today as a sales coach.

 Wall Street (1987)

I’ve been in this business since ’69. Most of these Harvard MBA guys don’t add up to dogs**t. Give me guys that are poor, smart, hungry and no feelings. You win a few. You lose a few. But you keep on fighting – and if you need a friend, get a dog. It’s trench warfare out there, pal.

-Gordon Gekko

Even if you haven’t seen this movie, you would have certainly heard of Gordon Gekko. One of the most ruthless characters to be shown on the silver screen, Gordon Gekko, is a man driven by pure greed. Pure, Unadulterated Greed. Wall Street follows the story of an ambitious young stockbroker named Bud Fox who seeks fame and fortune. He exchanges insider trading information with Gekko who acts as his mentor. What ensues is a tale of absolute power, greed, and corruption that involves stock manipulation, taking down other firms, and destroying lives in the process without a second thought.

 Moneyball (2011)

I hate losing more than I love winning.

-Billy Beane

Last in our list is anything but a sales movie. However, this movie is a must-watch for sales people. Here is why. Moneyball tells the story of how Billy Beane, the General Manager of Oakland Athletics, used Sabermetrics to help them win 20 games on the row. With the help of his assistant general manager, Billy Beane applied data analysis of baseball metrics to analyze and scout undervalued players to form a winning team. And how is this relevant to sales, you ask? At AOB India, we believe that this is the future of sales.  Data-driven sales strategies – whether it is in prospecting or understanding user engagement or predictive analytics will be a game changer for fast-growing companies. The top sales outsourcing agency in India, AOB India, uses people, process and technology to get the sales numbers for their clients.

 Mad Men (2007-2015)

Although this post is about movies, I’d be remiss if I don’t talk about Mad Men. Mad Men has changed the way marketing and sales professionals approach their clients. There are several brilliant sales pitches across the seven seasons that any sales rep can pick pointers from. Despite being set in the 60s, the characters and writing from this show were ahead of its time. Mad Men should be made mandatory viewing for anybody serious about getting into the marketing and sales industry.

At AOB India, it’s not all work. The top sales outsourcing company has some of the best talents in the industry who deliver top sales results. Keeping them motivated in new and creative ways sets this sales outsourcing agency apart from its competitors.

[ourmanifestoisfun]

4x17 & 4x18 episode thoughts

IT’S OVER YOU GUYS!

That was one hell of a journey, and while I’m sad I won’t be able to write up week after week anymore, that still doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of things left to say.

Dream ghosting! I was kind of hoping she went to the real Dr Akopian, but honestly dream ghosting works equally well for me. But falling asleep on the toilet, Rebecca? Really?

I love the red dress Rebecca wears, because that is the color associated with love and of course she will wear it on this important night.

Tim...spend Valentine’s Day with your wife. You learned about her clitoris, now learn to handle your 11-12-year relationship. Seriously.

Maya looks cute though. Love her Reveal

All of Paula’s heart decorations are marvelous. Especially digging the earrings.

The time fakeout was nicely played. I got spoiled for that going in, but I appreciated how they clarified when “earlier” actually was.

Josh’s panic about Rebecca’s decision made it sound like it was...not entirely about her, more that he had finally reached a new stage in his life and was ready to share it with someone compatible. I wish they had delved into that more.

George’s “Raven’s Nest” is terrifying

Yay for Darryl and his blended family with April. Also holy hell that is going to be a crowded household.

All of Rebecca’s flashforwards were very short, but I liked those different glimpses into different lives and how frustrated she was that the Rebeccas in them were not happy.

So much cuteness: Rebecca + Greg’s wedding dance, pregnant!Rebecca presenting a baby Ruth Gator Ginsburg to Nathaniel, and her+Josh’s family breakfast with their adorable kids

Having the episode be a little more stripped down and center on Rebecca and Paula felt very natural, because that is how the show started and it would be the way to make it come full circle. While their relationship is no longer nearly as codependent and have other aspects of their lives as priority, it is good to see them still come together and rely on each other for pivotal moments.

ESPECIALLY having Rebecca bring Paula into “that weird thing [she] does”. Seeing her run around and peer excitedly at the costumes, and being so excited about this rich imagination of her best friend is just so heartwarming.

What she needs “just happens to be here” and the handholding moments GAHHHHHH

Also ‘11 o’clock’ was PERFECT. Love how they took all of these seminal songs and brought them together with the mannequins and the outfits and everything gahhhhhhh

I’m so proud of Paula for sticking to her guns about the pro bono arm of the firm and being prepared to walk away in order to continue doing something that she felt was right. Paula now knows her worth as a lawyer - now she can figure out how to use her worth and apply it to her drive. And Julia was willing to listen, so it paid off!

Watching Josh get his heart broken was hard, because the poor boy did not see it coming.

It makes sense for him to move out, but I wish we knew what he was doing for a living now.

I like the tidbit that him and George hang out now.

Josh’s new magic club girlfriend looks super nice and cute. But meeting Rebecca must have been so awkward. Especially if she followed the saga in the Daily West Covina.

Also, I wished she had a name. Please, for fan-fictional reasons!

AJ moving in with Rebecca is fun, but also such a bad idea. I am relieved that he will never tell her whether he has a vibrator or not.

I love AJ in general. For introducing a new supporting character, they came out very strong with him and I’ve really enjoyed having him around.

I hope she does get him that Harvard t-shirt

Valencia and Beth are engaged! And it was both quiet (in bed) AND a little bit dramatic (the drone). Looking forward to that wedding.

Heather and Hector got a hot tub! 

...maybe Rebecca shouldn’t be using it at the same time as them.

I liked that Nathaniel recognized what was happening with Rebecca very quickly and I kinda hope he was joking about the rock (knowing him though, he wasn’t). Still, the “you only have one life to live and you should live it the way you want” was a sweet sentiment.

Nathaniel walking away from his father’s firm was exactly what I wanted for him. I’m not sure he should stay long term in Guatemala, but a change to reevaluate his life will be good for him.

Also that he did it with the support of two psuedo-father figures and yelled ‘’I love you’ at his dad before hanging up. I am very pleased by that because Sr would HATE it.

I’m glad that Greg made it clear that he wasn’t going to wait for Rebecca

I loved Rebecca’s tribute to him at the open mic night, that he is someone who has always been ahead, and that she wants to have the passion in her life that he has for Serrano’s.

Whijo’s grumping about it was hilarious.

I am sure that Whijo had great things happen in his life too in the past year, but ouch re: the wildfire burning both his apartment and his childhood home.

To the surprise of no one, Rebecca is not in a relationship at the time of the ending. But given how they played her breakups with the boys with gentleness, and the idea that she has a focus of her own now rather than needing to actively “choose herself”, really worked for me, because romance is still important and desirable part of life. It’s just not the only part of it, and when Rebecca says that she feels ready to welcome the other side of love into her life, I believe her.

The panning shot of all of the eligible guys made me laugh way too hard.

I did want to hear her song, but that is an excellent way to close things off.

For the concert special I don’t have this kind of list, but it was fun and sweet and a perfect send-off as well. My favorite gag is either between David Hull dancing in Vella’s song, or Michael MicMillan’s sexy toothbrushes. The Period Sex choreography was GREAT. Especially the incredibly obvious maxipads. They are all stupidly talented.

It’s also really cool that they were able to have so many of the supporting cast come join them for props/backup vocals/gags. That made it feel really warm and complete.

Also loved Vinnie popping out of the bed for the Sex Medley

In many ways, this episode resolution was simple and probably predictable for anyone who has thought about the show as deeply as the people here think about it. There was so much focus on the boys in the last few weeks that it was incredibly obvious that the solution would be that she would choose none of them, because to actually have the conflict for the final episode narrowed down to that choice would go against the very nature of the show. But the way it was handled really worked for me. Rebecca has a life and routine and friends, plus now she has a passion to nurture to its full potential. This first version will be rough, but it will be something.

I do have my criticisms, because while I love this show, there have been quite a few plot points/character beats that I feel were shorted/not touched upon: Josh’s story in particular feels incomplete to me, especially when it comes to having direction in his life. I wanted to see more of Heather+Valencia this season and especially have a stronger focus on Rebecca being a better friend to her gurlgroup, which was often glossed over. I wish things hadn’t gotten so frenetic, or the love quadrangle taken up so much time that could have been spent on moving the characters more gradually in certain directions. In general, I wanted to explore other background character relationship dynamics on a deeper level. There’s also the consistent question of when and how often the writers were knowingly subverting or playing into with tropes, which I suspect also contributed to how the back half of this season was devised.

But this story has always been Rebecca’s story, for better or worse, and that focus is part of what makes this ending feel satisfying, knowing that she is in a centered, happy place, that she is surrounded by people she loves, and the room might include the guy who will be her future mate or not, and she is about to give them words from her heart. This was an apt ending to a phase in her life where she wasn’t sure what she wanted, and I’m happy for her and for everyone, and in the end that is what I wanted from this show.

“I open at the close” - written by JK Rowling, tweeted by Rachel Bloom, and applicable to Rebecca Bunch’s story. She now knows the passion that makes her happy, so we can leave her to a future wide with possibilities.

[kamino-ink]

Finifugal | Park Chanyeol

✧ finifugal - hating endings; of someone who tries to avoid or prolong the final moment of a story, relationship, or some other journey.

✧ 01 | 02 | ???

✧ Genre: Bodyguard!au, angst, fluff, romance, probably smut at some point lets be honest

✧ Summary: After an ambush that leaves your left shoulder in stitches, your head bodyguard decides to scour the country in search for a new recruit to help up your safety - when Park Chanyeol shows up and his first request is to dye his hair, you can’t help but wonder who in the world Junmyeon just so happened to recruit.

✧ Word Count: 1k [this is just an intro, hence the shorter wordcount, but in the following segments they’ll hopefully reach at least 3.5k]

                                         ✧

 “I cannot believe that Junmyeon went behind my back to hire a new bodyguard!” You hissed in utter disbelief, your anger-filled voice echoing in the large laboratory you were currently stationed in. If you could drag that stubborn man back to the compound and strangle him, well, you would - which you were vocalizing very heavily as you recklessly went about your business, fingers streaming across the keyboard of your laptop to respond to some lousy deal from another cartel.

 Kyungsoo, another of your bodyguards normally wearing a stoic expression and a black baseball cap atop his mostly bare head, held back the growing urge to roll his eyes into the back of his skull. “Y/N, its time for us to add another person to the team. Eight of us clearly isn’t enough to protect you-”

 “Yes, you are - it isn’t any of your all’s fault that we got ambushed, alright?” You refuted just as quickly, fingers still typing furiously while you corrected the man. Ever since that night, resulting in a majority of your left shoulder being covered in rather ugly stitches, many of the boys had come to blame themselves for the matter. Of course, you disagreed heavily, and just about snapped whenever one of them began to degrade their abilities in your presence.

 Honestly, the stitches didn’t seem to affect you as much as everyone else assumed they would have; then again, you recalled going through much worse experiences. “Seriously Kyungsoo, fucking drop it before I lose my collective shit.” The threat came out low and irritated, but to the stockier man, it meant little to nothing; he and the others were practically immune to your silly threats - even if they came from the leader of one of the biggest drug cartels in South Korea.

 While the boys knew you to be a young woman with a passion for donating to charities and sobbing over silly romcoms, the public eye viewed you as a local terrorist who only sold drugs to make bank and buy lavish expenses. To the rich and even the poor, who you constantly made an effort to help build a better life, you were one of the most rotten people to walk the face of the earth.

 But no matter how much anti-you propaganda you stumbled upon, no matter how many pleads you saw online for the world leaders to just out you and get it over with, you continued to do your work. Each day was filled with the pressure of deals, trades, and keeping customers satisfied.

 To keep everyone you serviced happy and satisfied, you decided to start crafting your own drugs; having a background in chemistry certainly aided you in this difficult and rather dangerous endeavor.

 The world was against your very existence, yet the boys who you came to call family supported every step you took into the darkness and misery of being the head of the cartel.

 Which is why you despised them constantly saying they were at fault for the accident that nearly took your left arm.

 After you both had fallen into a semi-comfortable silence, you kept your lips sealed and continued working on replying to the plethora of messages flooding the screen of your laptop. Every now and then you would glance over at the internalized clock nudged in the corner of the screen littered with text, checking to see how much time would pass until Junmyeon and the new recruit showed up. While you were obviously still infuriated that the older man had gone behind your back to get this guy or girl, your curiosity was mildly peaked to a general extent.

 Junmyeon was known to be incredibly picky with who did and didn't join the inner circle - otherwise known as EXO to the citizens of South Korea. You weren’t technically part of EXO, as your identity was essentially a passing shadow that happened to lead the cartel that stretched from Busan all the way to Ontario, touching almost every capital in the world. Junmyeon lead the circle of men as a whole, though there’s also a sub-group that are always seen at the head of complicated operations; EXO-CBX. Once again, you weren’t technically part of that either.

 At one point, there had been a separated faction of EXO, but that fell through, leaving only eight of the original eleven men to protect your cartel; hence why you were shocked Junmyeon had even bothered to obtain another bodyguard. The past events and actions of EXO weren’t exactly bright, instead stained with splotches of dark grime; how he was so willing to go through with his idea was left unknown to you.

 In the midst of your silent, rumbling wallowing, the main door to the laboratory had been swung open.

 “Yah, Y/N, Jun and the new guy - who is mighty fine, by the way, are waiting for you in the living room.” Baekhyun announced loudly, his lips curling into an amused smirk when you let out a huff of agitation and slammed your laptop shut, the sound startling a dozing Kyungsoo, who had been leaning against the wall closest to you for a while now.

 “Don’t scare him off by flirting with him, alright Baek?” You chide the man with furrowed eyebrows, stepping up onto your tiptoes to flick his forehead. “As much as I hate this and want to  personally slam Jun’s face against a door, I don’t want the guy to run off... yet.”

 The brunette haired man snickered softly in amusement at your harsh words, his hand coming to playfully pat your back as he turns and follows you out of the lab, a tired but alert Kyungsoo right behind the two of you.

 As you sauntered into the living space, chilled hands tucked into the depths of the pockets of your baggy sweatpants, your gaze immediately met those of a stranger’s; said tall stranger towering next to the head of EXO.

 “You’re the boss around here, right? I’m Park Chanyeol, and I was wondering if I could dye my hair pink.”

                                         ✧

[brianmight]

SAIL ACROSS THE SEA. //   Maylor Titanic!AU (part 2/?)

- where to, mr? - to the stars.

[ also posted on AO3! ]

( @eternallystarlight )

10 april, 1912. Southampton. The ship of dreams is about to commence on its long-awaited journey — the voyage of a lifetime, if the papers are not mistaken. The grandiose sight of the vessel in the harbour is plenty to instil awe in all who parade around the harbour, either as future passengers or people who are about to bid their loved ones farewell. Two separate worlds mingle upon the crowded docks — the one of automobiles and the one of wooden carts; the one of many suitcases and the one of few; the one of riches and the one of rags. One belongs to an affluent heir, the other to a wandering street musician. Their backgrounds couldn’t clash more, but that won’t refrain fate from unifying them on the unsinkable RMS Titanic.

Crossing the gangway towards the first class entrance, Roger could already foretell that the irritated tension between him and his fiancée would only evolve into a more hostile form during the journey. If they weren't able to spend one week together on a ship without disagreement, then how on Earth were they supposed to establish a loving marriage? She promenaded alongside him, a baby blue parasol resting on her shoulder next to a luxurious hat, and emotionlessly peeked over the railing at the waves beneath her feet as if challenging the very ocean to a duel.

When he had offered his hand to help her exit the car, Margaret had stared at it like the gesture was the most offensive movement he could possibly have made, knowing he was only being polite because his father had urged him to. God, how he abhorred her! Flawless on the outside, with pearly skin, chocolate hair and gentle facial features, yet so rotten on the inside with vanity. The memory of meeting her for the first time was unfortunately imprinted on the back of his mind: an angelic appearance that'd almost made him reconsider his opinion on arranged marriage, but all was ruined when she parted her lips to give a smug remark on the length of his hair. Roger deliberately hadn't cut it since, purely to get more under her skin as that was the only way he could get at least a little bit of amusement from his engagement.

He cast a quick nod at the steward by the door, who welcomed the passengers onto the Titanic with a proud smile. Certainly, the vessel was something to be proud of, but Roger, having grown up amongst riches and lavish mansions, was not overly impressed. It was a ship, nothing more: a ferry to a new life that awaited him in America. Married life. A shudder ran across his spine at the mere thought of it.

The interior of the ship was majestic enough to match its grandiose exterior. White walls and tiles radiated the illusion that the entrance hall was even more spacious, and the extravagant patterns of art nouveau added a contemporary flair. Through modern lifts, they were guided to their quarters. Roger had one suite with his father and his younger sister Clare, while the neighbouring one was occupied by Margaret and her parents— unfortunately, their two quarters were directly connected through a shared living area. Smacking the door wide open with more force than necessary, Roger entered the suite along with his relatives, only to realize that its appearance completely mirrored that of the hallway, albeit a bit more old-fashioned: panels of the finest cherry wood, scarlet-draped curtains around the beds, their luggage already placed neatly on the carpet floor. Servants were rushing around, installing several paintings of the Taylors’ personal collection and adding some final ornaments in the shape of vibrant flowers.

The young man took the sight in with a hint of suspicion. They shouldn't be able to afford such luxury. Not according to his father's many sermons on their debts. The fact that he was now standing in a fully furnished suite could only mean that their final coins had been smashed into the assurance that their voyage would be just another facade to conceal the family's financial downfall. It wasn’t the lavishness that he loathed— it was the pretentious nature of his loving father, who first tumbled flat on his face and now sought to ascend again through his son, too self-satisfied to do as little as admitting his own fatal blunders. A glare was fired right into the patriarch's back, and Roger was about to deliver a snarky remark when the door opened brusquely.

The person he least wished to have around walked in as if she owned the entire place, followed by two maids and the same crew member that'd fulfilled the role of welcoming committee by his lone self. Margaret cast a quick glance around the suite, arriving at the conclusion that it looked precisely the same as hers apart from the personal decorations, and voiced her thoughts to no one in particular. “Did you see those poor beggars of third class enter? I do hope we won't get bothered by any of them.” None seemed to respond physically to the remark, but Roger noticed that one of the maids, who was carefully unpacking an oval mirror, slightly tensed up — if she hadn’t been here in service, third class would have been her only option to travel across the Atlantic. Certainly, the remark had been a harsh kick to her shins, which would leave an aching bruise at best.

He knew it would be best for all their sakes to leave Margaret’s comment for what it was, but the steward lacked the experience and immediately came to reassure her. “Oh, no miss. The upper decks cannot be accessed from below.” Something in his voice revealed that he wasn't referring to “below” in the spatial sense, but the social one. No way to work oneself up; no way to break the barriers. Margaret exhaled with relief, her attention suddenly engaged by an adorned vase full of amber chrysanthemums, which matched the golden piece of jewellery around her elegant neck. “Thank God— I would hate to have to walk among those folk all day long. Imagine the lice!” Her shrill voice rose with each syllable to the point where Roger was tempted to shush her with a finger to the lips. “Lice can jump rather far, can't they?” he muttered nonchalantly, completely unaware if the reply was factually correct in any way, and added the following upon seeing his fiancée’s wide eyes: “probably as far as two entire decks.” In the silence that followed, a dropped needle would have been more deafening than a gunshot. Clare intervened before a full quarrel was able to burst loose, noticing the obviously upset tinge upon Margaret's facial features. “Oh Rog, will you accompany me outside? I’d love to be there when the ship departs,” she admitted with a beam gracing her youthful face, eagerly clutching to her brother's arm while awaiting his reply in anticipation. Roger suppressed a roll of the eyes for the sake of his sister, whom he hated to disappoint, and gave her an affirmative nod. “Sure, Clare. I could use some fresh air.” Before anyone else grasped the opportunity to tag along, he buttoned his woollen overcoat and opened the door, the freedom of the hallway being a more than welcome shift in atmosphere.

—

Two bunk beds. Four suitcases. Four strangers who'd been fortunate enough to scrape enough money together to afford four individual boarding passes. The cabin was compact, unadorned and barely wide enough for two people to pass each other without backs touching. Brian wouldn't complain— not as long he had basic facilities such as a mattress and running water. It was preferable to sleeping on the streets of London during cold winter nights, which he had endured with great difficulty. Snow would stab his shivering limbs without a grain of mercy as the wind would rob what little warmth he could amass. Fingers would be too frozen for strumming, vocal folds too weak for singing. It was during those moments that Brian was fully convinced that hell was not built upon fire, but ice. The only consolation to his wretched condition would arrive when he glanced upwards and noticed celestial smiles of solace. Those immortal stars, their perpetual presence in combination with the light they omitted, brought hope like no mortal ever could. Miserable circumstances made one appreciate little, and right there, on the renowned RMS, Brian felt like a pampered duke.

The guitarist sat on his bed in relative peace as the three roommates had each left the cabin earlier, presumably to explore the enormous vessel or to get their hands on some fresh ocean air. On his lap lay a leather-bound notebook wide-open. Its old pages had turned a pale shade of yellow, its spine was cracked, and various loose sheets had been added as if they embodied several afterthoughts on the penned down words. The book was an extension of his mind; a fountain of lyrics, ideas, and experiences which value-wise could only be outranked by the wooden instrument that slept next to him on the sheets, still in its casket. A sigh escaped through his chapped lips as he casually browsed through the journal, allowing his eyes to relive all the memories that clung to the paper. Some words were concealed underneath dirt stains or had turned simply unreadable due to their pencil streaks being smudged. Among the randomly scribbled thoughts were several entries brimming with facts of mathematics and physics, which he'd overheard on the streets or read in some crumpled newspaper. A fascination for those sciences had emerged at the moment he'd learnt to read, and they'd never let him go since. There was the urge to explore and explain the inexplicable, to find any reasoning behind the unknown, to alleviate his own ignorance. Fingertips traced the syllables of songs that no one would hear, no one but the composer himself. Here the ship sailed out into the blue and sunny morn. The sweetest sight ever seen.

A long-haired head emerged from behind the cabin door — it belonged to a fellow named John who'd claimed the bed above his. “Heard we're about to leave any second now. You don't want to miss this,” was assumed with a promising twinkle in his eyes as he nodded upwards, indicating the outside decks and the unique view it would provide. Indeed, one final honk announced the vessel's long-awaited departure. After safely storing his guitar case underneath the bed, Brian followed his roommate through the narrow halls.

When they arrived on the Shelter Deck, many passengers had already gathered around the ship's railings to bid their loved ones farewell, who were situated on the docks below. Brian had no one to say goodbye to, yet joined in waving at the horde of people, suddenly so full of elation that he couldn't help but bare his teeth into a wide grin. This was truly happening. He was at the gates of a brand new tale of which the famous voyage was only the prologue. The heads among the crowd below, with their handkerchiefs and shouts of adieu, were but ants gazing at a gigantic ark that would redeem past lives and deliver its passengers to a continent of unlimited opportunities. Brian felt the vessel beneath his feet stir, and then slowly come to life. Cheers became louder, resembling a tidal wave of noise that appeared to push the ship further into the ocean. A free seagull hovered by.

That was when his attention was completely absorbed by one particular figure on the upper promenade deck. A young man, staring almost melancholically at the shrinking harbour. Even with the vast distance between them, Brian could notice the air of frustration around the stranger. He thought nothing of it, assuming the guy might simply suffer from early seasickness, and was about to turn away when the other shifted his head slightly, causing their gazes to interlock for the briefest of moments. Brian couldn't blink. Neither could the other man. They were left in a clandestine staring dance, trying to figure out why either of them was unable to look away. Had he been standing any closer, the guitarist would have perceived the vanishing of the deep frown on the stranger's forehead the instant their eyes were introduced to each other. In reality, the moment could only have survived for mere seconds, but amidst the mass of cheering passengers that were solely focused on their ever-shortening connection with the mainland, the brief interval seemed to last an eternity.

“Do you think they're nobles?” John interrupted after following his roommate’s stare at the first class passengers, perceptive enough to see that Brian was glancing at one in particular yet not well enough acquainted with him to provide a teasing remark. “They look posh enough,” he further commented, warming his hands inside the pockets of his tweed jacket. Brian answered absently, now forced to blink and break eye contact with the faraway guy. “I haven't the faintest idea. Not exactly my sort of people.” “Because if they were you'd be up there too?” A shrug. “Perhaps, yeah.” The ends of John's lips turned upwards into an amused smile, not requiring words to convey a clear message: dream on. Fair enough, dreams were the only place where such a reality could ever exist. Maybe the moment Brian had shared with the first class stranger had indeed been mere imagination — a mirage of the most treacherous kind — but it certainly had been more than a king looking down upon a peasant.

[gethealthy18-blog]

How To Create a Sustainable Kitchen

New Post has been published on http://healingawerness.com/news/how-to-create-a-sustainable-kitchen/

How To Create a Sustainable Kitchen

Looking to become a greener cook? Here are several tips to build a more sustainable kitchen, support your body and the planet and how to get started on this journey today.

1. Reduce Food Waste

Food waste is a larger issue than most of us realize. New research suggests that half of all US produce goes to waste in this country. This is partially due to poor distribution, our preference for “perfect” looking produce and of course, the food that goes bad in our own kitchens. Of all the tips on this list, this is the one I follow most religiously. I do this by not overbuying food but also by making sure I preserve my food for longer.

How many times have you reached into your produce drawer only to find a head of wilted lettuce or moldy strawberries? How about that rice that tastes rancid or those nuts you’re not sure how long ago you bought? Been there, done that. What I’ve found is that making sure my food is properly sealed in air-tight containers is the only way to preserve your food for longer so it doesn’t go to waste. I love using Pyrex because pure glass containers are non-porous meaning they keep stored food fresh, tasty and nutritious for longer.

2. Use the Whole Plant

Have you ever wondered why we chop off the top of celery or the greens from beets? Here’s a secret: DON’T! It is possible to either consume or reuse the whole plant when it comes to cooking or even DIYs around the house. When you can’t use the whole plant, you should definitely consider composting but if you can, I recommend making a point of using it all. One of my favorite ways to reuse produce is to save my veggie scraps to make veggie stock. I even have a tutorial for it here! I used to put the scraps in plastic bags but found the veggies got freezer burn and I’d end up having to compost them. I haven’t had that problem since switching to Pyrex glassware for freezer storage. Not only are they reusable (hello sustainable!) but they’re also super versatile in that they can be used in the freezer.

Other ways to reuse produce:

-save coffee grinds for body scrub -use citrus peels for naturally scented candles -make pesto with leafy greens from beets/carrots -roast squash seeds

3. Buy Organic

You knew this was coming, didn’t you? I am very vocal about my choice to purchase organic, when possible. It is a choice I make to eat more sustainably, support sustainable agriculture and better conditions for farmers. You can learn more about organic and why I choose to eat organic HERE. I’m certainly not perfect and you simply can’t always get organic but when I can, I do. While I recommend you do the same, I also understand that organics aren’t always accessible or affordable so do what you can with what you have!

4. Use Natural Cleaning Products

This tip is a pretty easy swap for most people. Not only are conventional cleaning products full of toxic chemicals that are bad for your health, they’re also bad for the environment. Conventional cleaning products, and anti-bacterial cleaning products in general disrupt the microbiome of your kitchen as well as the health of the planet. Using products with ingredients like ammonia and chlorine negatively impact our ecosystem and have not shown to decrease health risk in the long-term. Let me know if you want to see a post on this.

5. Use Reusable Dish Towels

I’ll be honest, this is my least favorite tip on the list. Mostly because I hate doing laundry! But with a job that requires me to be in the kitchen, in addition to loving to cook, I spend a lot of time cleaning up my kitchen — and well, it would not be sustainable to use paper towels every time I cleaned it. Rather than using paper towels or cleaning wipes, consider switching to reusable dish towels to reduce your footprint. Same with napkins. We only use reusable napkins, and while it’s a pain in the butt to wash them, so is not having a planet anymore so I’ll choose the former TYVM!

6. Use Reusable Grocery Bags

This is a pretty obvious tip and many states have actually helped to encourage this by charging for plastic bags. I always bring my reusable bags with me when I go to the farmer’s market or grocery store. In addition, I don’t use the small bags that hold produce either. You don’t need them! You’re going to be washing your produce anyway so why waste all these bags just to hold each individual type of produce. If you’re really gung-ho on using them, try remembering to repack them in your reusable grocery bags so you can just use the same ones rather than grabbing new ones each time.

* * * * *

I know the transition to a more sustainable kitchen seems like a daunting one. Yes, it may require a bit more budget and time at first, but the initial investment is 100% worthwhile in the end. These small steps have great returns and if we can all encourage each other to build a sustainable kitchen then we will begin to reap these rewards, namely in having a planet our kids and our kids’ kids can call home.

I want to take a quick second to thank Pyrex for sponsoring this post. I have been using Pyrex in my kitchen for as long as I can remember. Their casserole dishes are my go-to and I’m pretty sure they’re hand-me-downs from my Mom – which makes them at least 45 years old and still kicking (don’t worry Mom, we all know you’re 35!). They make kitchenware that lasts, but they also make storage solutions that you can count on. We made the switch to glass storage a few years ago and have never looked back. It’s a game-changer and once you know about it, you wonder how you ever used anything else.

To learn more about Pyrex check out their website. I also high recommend the Pyrex Simply Store 18 piece set if you’re wondering where to start.

Am I missing any tips? How do you support a sustainable kitchen?

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[steffancockrell]

How To Create a Sustainable Kitchen

Looking to become a greener cook? Here are several tips to build a more sustainable kitchen, support your body and the planet and how to get started on this journey today.

1. Reduce Food Waste

Food waste is a larger issue than most of us realize. New research suggests that half of all US produce goes to waste in this country. This is partially due to poor distribution, our preference for “perfect” looking produce and of course, the food that goes bad in our own kitchens. Of all the tips on this list, this is the one I follow most religiously. I do this by not overbuying food but also by making sure I preserve my food for longer.

How many times have you reached into your produce drawer only to find a head of wilted lettuce or moldy strawberries? How about that rice that tastes rancid or those nuts you're not sure how long ago you bought? Been there, done that. What I've found is that making sure my food is properly sealed in air-tight containers is the only way to preserve your food for longer so it doesn't go to waste. I love using Pyrex because pure glass containers are non-porous meaning they keep stored food fresh, tasty and nutritious for longer.

2. Use the Whole Plant

Have you ever wondered why we chop off the top of celery or the greens from beets? Here's a secret: DON'T! It is possible to either consume or reuse the whole plant when it comes to cooking or even DIYs around the house. When you can't use the whole plant, you should definitely consider composting but if you can, I recommend making a point of using it all. One of my favorite ways to reuse produce is to save my veggie scraps to make veggie stock. I even have a tutorial for it here! I used to put the scraps in plastic bags but found the veggies got freezer burn and I'd end up having to compost them. I haven't had that problem since switching to Pyrex glassware for freezer storage. Not only are they reusable (hello sustainable!) but they're also super versatile in that they can be used in the freezer.

Other ways to reuse produce:

-save coffee grinds for body scrub -use citrus peels for naturally scented candles -make pesto with leafy greens from beets/carrots -roast squash seeds

3. Buy Organic

You knew this was coming, didn't you? I am very vocal about my choice to purchase organic, when possible. It is a choice I make to eat more sustainably, support sustainable agriculture and better conditions for farmers. You can learn more about organic and why I choose to eat organic HERE. I'm certainly not perfect and you simply can't always get organic but when I can, I do. While I recommend you do the same, I also understand that organics aren't always accessible or affordable so do what you can with what you have!

4. Use Natural Cleaning Products

This tip is a pretty easy swap for most people. Not only are conventional cleaning products full of toxic chemicals that are bad for your health, they're also bad for the environment. Conventional cleaning products, and anti-bacterial cleaning products in general disrupt the microbiome of your kitchen as well as the health of the planet. Using products with ingredients like ammonia and chlorine negatively impact our ecosystem and have not shown to decrease health risk in the long-term. Let me know if you want to see a post on this.

5. Use Reusable Dish Towels

I'll be honest, this is my least favorite tip on the list. Mostly because I hate doing laundry! But with a job that requires me to be in the kitchen, in addition to loving to cook, I spend a lot of time cleaning up my kitchen - and well, it would not be sustainable to use paper towels every time I cleaned it. Rather than using paper towels or cleaning wipes, consider switching to reusable dish towels to reduce your footprint. Same with napkins. We only use reusable napkins, and while it's a pain in the butt to wash them, so is not having a planet anymore so I'll choose the former TYVM!

6. Use Reusable Grocery Bags

This is a pretty obvious tip and many states have actually helped to encourage this by charging for plastic bags. I always bring my reusable bags with me when I go to the farmer's market or grocery store. In addition, I don't use the small bags that hold produce either. You don't need them! You're going to be washing your produce anyway so why waste all these bags just to hold each individual type of produce. If you're really gung-ho on using them, try remembering to repack them in your reusable grocery bags so you can just use the same ones rather than grabbing new ones each time.

* * * * *

I know the transition to a more sustainable kitchen seems like a daunting one. Yes, it may require a bit more budget and time at first, but the initial investment is 100% worthwhile in the end. These small steps have great returns and if we can all encourage each other to build a sustainable kitchen then we will begin to reap these rewards, namely in having a planet our kids and our kids' kids can call home.

I want to take a quick second to thank Pyrex for sponsoring this post. I have been using Pyrex in my kitchen for as long as I can remember. Their casserole dishes are my go-to and I'm pretty sure they're hand-me-downs from my Mom – which makes them at least 45 years old and still kicking (don't worry Mom, we all know you're 35!). They make kitchenware that lasts, but they also make storage solutions that you can count on. We made the switch to glass storage a few years ago and have never looked back. It's a game-changer and once you know about it, you wonder how you ever used anything else.

To learn more about Pyrex check out their website. I also high recommend the Pyrex Simply Store 18 piece set if you're wondering where to start.

Am I missing any tips? How do you support a sustainable kitchen?

The post How To Create a Sustainable Kitchen appeared first on The Healthy Maven.

[lenaglittleus]

How To Create a Sustainable Kitchen

Looking to become a greener cook? Here are several tips to build a more sustainable kitchen, support your body and the planet and how to get started on this journey today.

1. Reduce Food Waste

Food waste is a larger issue than most of us realize. New research suggests that half of all US produce goes to waste in this country. This is partially due to poor distribution, our preference for “perfect” looking produce and of course, the food that goes bad in our own kitchens. Of all the tips on this list, this is the one I follow most religiously. I do this by not overbuying food but also by making sure I preserve my food for longer.

How many times have you reached into your produce drawer only to find a head of wilted lettuce or moldy strawberries? How about that rice that tastes rancid or those nuts you’re not sure how long ago you bought? Been there, done that. What I’ve found is that making sure my food is properly sealed in air-tight containers is the only way to preserve your food for longer so it doesn’t go to waste. I love using Pyrex because pure glass containers are non-porous meaning they keep stored food fresh, tasty and nutritious for longer.

2. Use the Whole Plant

Have you ever wondered why we chop off the top of celery or the greens from beets? Here’s a secret: DON’T! It is possible to either consume or reuse the whole plant when it comes to cooking or even DIYs around the house. When you can’t use the whole plant, you should definitely consider composting but if you can, I recommend making a point of using it all. One of my favorite ways to reuse produce is to save my veggie scraps to make veggie stock. I even have a tutorial for it here! I used to put the scraps in plastic bags but found the veggies got freezer burn and I’d end up having to compost them. I haven’t had that problem since switching to Pyrex glassware for freezer storage. Not only are they reusable (hello sustainable!) but they’re also super versatile in that they can be used in the freezer.

Other ways to reuse produce:

-save coffee grinds for body scrub -use citrus peels for naturally scented candles -make pesto with leafy greens from beets/carrots -roast squash seeds

3. Buy Organic

You knew this was coming, didn’t you? I am very vocal about my choice to purchase organic, when possible. It is a choice I make to eat more sustainably, support sustainable agriculture and better conditions for farmers. You can learn more about organic and why I choose to eat organic HERE. I’m certainly not perfect and you simply can’t always get organic but when I can, I do. While I recommend you do the same, I also understand that organics aren’t always accessible or affordable so do what you can with what you have!

4. Use Natural Cleaning Products

This tip is a pretty easy swap for most people. Not only are conventional cleaning products full of toxic chemicals that are bad for your health, they’re also bad for the environment. Conventional cleaning products, and anti-bacterial cleaning products in general disrupt the microbiome of your kitchen as well as the health of the planet. Using products with ingredients like ammonia and chlorine negatively impact our ecosystem and have not shown to decrease health risk in the long-term. Let me know if you want to see a post on this.

5. Use Reusable Dish Towels

I’ll be honest, this is my least favorite tip on the list. Mostly because I hate doing laundry! But with a job that requires me to be in the kitchen, in addition to loving to cook, I spend a lot of time cleaning up my kitchen — and well, it would not be sustainable to use paper towels every time I cleaned it. Rather than using paper towels or cleaning wipes, consider switching to reusable dish towels to reduce your footprint. Same with napkins. We only use reusable napkins, and while it’s a pain in the butt to wash them, so is not having a planet anymore so I’ll choose the former TYVM!

6. Use Reusable Grocery Bags

This is a pretty obvious tip and many states have actually helped to encourage this by charging for plastic bags. I always bring my reusable bags with me when I go to the farmer’s market or grocery store. In addition, I don’t use the small bags that hold produce either. You don’t need them! You’re going to be washing your produce anyway so why waste all these bags just to hold each individual type of produce. If you’re really gung-ho on using them, try remembering to repack them in your reusable grocery bags so you can just use the same ones rather than grabbing new ones each time.

* * * * *

I know the transition to a more sustainable kitchen seems like a daunting one. Yes, it may require a bit more budget and time at first, but the initial investment is 100% worthwhile in the end. These small steps have great returns and if we can all encourage each other to build a sustainable kitchen then we will begin to reap these rewards, namely in having a planet our kids and our kids’ kids can call home.

I want to take a quick second to thank Pyrex for sponsoring this post. I have been using Pyrex in my kitchen for as long as I can remember. Their casserole dishes are my go-to and I’m pretty sure they’re hand-me-downs from my Mom – which makes them at least 45 years old and still kicking (don’t worry Mom, we all know you’re 35!). They make kitchenware that lasts, but they also make storage solutions that you can count on. We made the switch to glass storage a few years ago and have never looked back. It’s a game-changer and once you know about it, you wonder how you ever used anything else.

To learn more about Pyrex check out their website. I also high recommend the Pyrex Simply Store 18 piece set if you’re wondering where to start.

Am I missing any tips? How do you support a sustainable kitchen?

The post How To Create a Sustainable Kitchen appeared first on The Healthy Maven.

from News About Health https://www.thehealthymaven.com/2018/10/how-to-create-a-sustainable-kitchen.html