#grants for single moms to buy a house

[mayanchild]

How To Find Grants For Single Moms To Buy A Home

Being a single mother is hard enough without having to worry about where your next meal will come from or how you will pay your rent. But what if there was a way to get help with those things?

For single mothers, there are a number of programs and grants for single moms to buy a house available to help with everything from buying a home to getting food on the table. In this article, we'll explore some of the options available so that you can get the assistance you need.

Government Grants For Single Mothers To Buy A Home

There are a number of government grants available for single mothers looking to purchase a home. The most common type of grant is the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, which provides financial assistance to low-income families who are struggling to afford a place to live. Other types of grants include the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and the Community Development Block grants for single mothers to buy a home Program. These programs provide funding for down payment assistance, home repairs, and other housing needs.

How to apply for a grant

There are many grants for single moms to buy a home. The best place to start your search is the federal government's website, Grants.gov. Here you will find a database of all the different types of grants that are available.

To apply for grants for single moms to buy a house, you will need to fill out an application and provide supporting documentation. Once you have submitted your application, it will be reviewed by a committee and you will be notified if you have been approved for the grant.

The requirements for a grant

There are a few requirements that you’ll need to meet in order to qualify for grants for single mothers to buy a home. The first is that you must be a single mother. You also must be low-income, and you must be unable to get a loan from a bank or other financial institution.

Grants are typically awarded based on need, so if you can demonstrate that you truly cannot afford to buy a home, you’ll have a better chance of getting one. You’ll also need to show that you’re serious about buying a home; most grants for single moms to buy a home require that you have already begun the process of looking for a home and have a realistic plan for how you’ll pay for it.

If you think you might qualify for a grant, the first step is to research the various programs that are available. There are many different types of grants, so it’s important to find one that specifically targets single mothers. Once you’ve found a few potential programs, contact the organizations responsible for administering them to learn more about the application process.

What type of homes are available through the grant program

There are a variety of homes available through the grant program. You may be able to find a home that is already built and move-in ready, or you may be able to find a home that requires some work to be done before you can move in. Some of the homes available through the grant program may be fixer-uppers, while others may be in need of more significant repairs. No matter what type of home you are looking for, there is likely to be something available through the grants for single moms to buy a house program.

What are the income requirements for the grant program?

In order to qualify for the grant program, you must have an annual household income that is below a certain threshold. The exact income requirements will vary depending on the size of your household and the area where you live. However, in general, you must make less than 80% of the median income in your area in order to qualify for the grants for single moms to buy a home program.

How to find a home that is right for you

There are a lot of things to think about when you are trying to find a home that is right for you. You want to make sure that you find a place that you can afford, but you also want to make sure that it is the right size for your family and that it has all the features that you need. If you are a single mother, you may also want to consider finding a home that is in a good school district or one that is close to public transportation.

Grants for single mothers to buy a home help with the down payment, but they can also help with the closing costs and other expenses associated with buying a home. You can search for grants by using the Grant Finder on the HUD website. There are also many private organizations and charities that offer assistance to single mothers who are trying to purchase a home.

If you are having trouble finding grants for single moms to buy a house that will help you with the costs of purchasing a home, there are other options that you can explore. You may be able to get a loan from a family member or friend, or you may be able to qualify for government assistance programs like Section 8 housing. No matter what your situation, there are plenty of resources available to help you find the perfect one.

Conclusion

There are many grants for single mothers to buy a home. The best place to start your search is by contacting your local HUD office or the US Department of Agriculture. You can also check with your state and local government agencies which provide grants for single moms to buy a home, as well as private charities and foundations. With a little bit of research, you should be able to find the perfect grant for your needs.

[yawneneteyam]

gorgeous (9) — what can I say?

— GORGEOUS, an avatar smau ( by yawneneteyam ) masterlist

— gorgeous, what can I say ?

the presentation went fine, nothing to worry about. y/n didn't throw up, neteyam didn't cry about whales- it was a success to the two of them. truth be told, the two of them kind of zoned out after they presented. they found a lot more amusement in just chatting up the back than listening to what their classmates had to say.

once class ended, their professor shot them a weary glance- knowing that they hadn't listened to a single word another student had to say. they didn't feel guilty, even though they knew they should've; but they enjoyed each others company too much to not hang off of every word the other said.

neteyam hesitated before speaking once they were outside, was he nervous? "did you want to come back to my place?" y/n took note of the way he shuffled his feet, "I'm taking tuk for ice cream when she's come from school if you wanted to come,"

y/n tried to not let her face light up too much, but it was impossible. he had asked her to come home with him? granted, it was to hang out with his little sister- but y/n would do his laundry or his dishes if it meant she got to spend another minute with neteyam.

"I would love to," she nodded, "means I can finally meet tuk!"

"oh," neteyam laughed, "she's been waiting to meet you, she'll be very excited"

"tuk knows who I am?"

"yeah, of course" neteyam nodded, "kiri talks about you all the time and they know we were partners for an assignment,"

y/n nodded, walking towards the parking lot with neteyam. "I'm honoured to be spoken of in the sully house," she joked.

"you really should be," neteyam chuckled, "right up there with the topics of tuk taking dad's credit card to buy robux and how the mato's bought a new barbecue so we should buy a new barbecue..:" neteyam sighed with a smile, "but we can't afford the barbecue because dad's card has been put on hold because tuk has been buy too many robux,"

y/n couldn't help but laugh, "I'm sorry," she shook her head. neteyam laughed too.

"it's okay," he promised, opening her door for her before heading over to the drivers side of the car, "it's fucking hilarious".

"not to your dad though," y/n gave him a knowing look.

"no," neteyam said with wide eyes, "so when you meet him, definitely don't bring it up,"

y/n laughed as neteyam turned the key in the ignition, "noted," she nodded. neteyam held her gaze for a little longer than he should have before putting his hand behind y/n's headrest- reversing out of the parking lot and heading towards his house.

"y/n, can you come back another night?" tuk held onto y/n's hand as they walked outside to say goodbye to her. neytiri stood at the door watching her youngest, making sure she wasn't going to kick up a fuss once y/n had to leave.

"if neteyam wants me to I can," y/n chuckled, looking over at neteyam who was leaning against his car, waiting for y/n with a smile on his face.

"what if I want you to?" tuk stopped in her tracks.

"alright you," neteyam leaned down and picked tuk up, holding her close to his chest, "go back inside and I'll be home soon, yeah?"

"but you have to promise to ask y/n back," tuk was pouting in her brothers arms, "..please?"

neteyam sighed with a smile, "of course,"

"I would've come over anyway," y/n whispered to tuk. the younger girl looked back to y/n with a big grin. they said goodbye to each other before neytiri called out a farewell. neteyam opening y/n's door for her once again.

"thanks," she mumbled with a shy smile. the drive was almost silent if it wasn't for neteyam's soft humming. "what song is that?" y/n asked.

"my mom wrote it," he only let his eyes flicker to her for a second before returning to the road, "there's a little bit for each kid, my part is the best of course," he shrugged.

"oh yeah?" she laughed.

"yes! is is,"

"that's pretty cool though," y/n told him.

neteyam hummed in agreement, "it's very special to our family,"

small patters of rain began to fall on the windscreen of the car. those patters became heavy fall. as neteyam pulled up to the girls dormitories, it was pouring rain in the cool of the night.

y/n grimaced slightly as she thought about having to run across in the rain, no jacket, no anything to keep her warm. neteyam startled her as he reached over into the backseat of his car.

"here," he handed her a hoodie.

"what's this?"

"a hoodie?"

"why?" she laughed.

"because it's pouring rain?" he looked at her as if it was obvious. y/n looked over the soft maroon fabric, the number twenty-four and his last name was embroidered on the back.

"what's this from?" she asked.

"I run track in the summertime," he said nonchalantly with a shrug.

"you do?" y/n scoffed with a smile, "I didn't know that,"

"there is a lot of things you don't know about me," he grabbed the hoodie back from her and held it open for her. "arms up," he told her. neteyam helped y/n find her way into his jumper, pulling the hood over her head. he laughed as it practically engulfed her, he could barely see her face in the abundance of fabric on her head.

"you gonna be okay to get back?" he asked her, "do you want me to walk you there?"

y/n hummed, "opening my doors for me, offering to walk me back to my room? I guess chivalry isn't dead," she joked.

"neytiri raised me better than that," he smiled.

"she definitely did," y/n nodded in agreement. they both sat in his car, not wanting the other to leave. y/n knew she would have to be the one to go first.

"okay well, I guess I'll see you next week in class?" y/n asked softly.

neteyam slowly nodded, "course, but don't forget you told tuk you would come back soon and that girl can hold a grudge,"

they both laughed together as the rain drops fell onto neteyam's car. "I can't break my promise to tuk," y/n smiled, her hand resting on the door-handle, "I'll see you soon, nete"

"bye y/n"

— gorgeous, what can I say ? I'm back! it's been two days since the last one and lots of people have asked where it's been haha, I am very very glad you like it so much- looking at around 5-6 more chapters!! definitely keep sending in modern!neteyam bf headcanons/concepts- they're so much fun to do together <3 I hope you guys liked the new chapter!

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

aita for being bitter at my family for keeping their dog that doesn't like me, and for being glad when they had to get rid of the dog?

so i (adult m) live in a small 3bed/2bath home with my family: mom (f40s), dad (m40s), nana (f60s), and my sisters (f17, f12). i was homeless for a while and moved in with them in dec 2019/jan 2020. they had two dogs that they loved for a long time, both dogs had passed years before i moved in. from what i've heard, the dogs were beloved members of the family and their deaths, while expected (because of old age and health issues), were devastating.

our house is small, but i don't really have an issue with that. i spend nearly 100% of my time inside the house because of a surgery i had a while back, and i'm content to nap and watch TV and socialize with my family all day. i require a lot of care and special attention and i'm unable to hold a job (would rather not go into detail), and while occasionally my family will leave me home by myself for a few days for a vacation, this is pretty rare and i'm overall satisfied with the care they are able to provide me. i'd say my life is pretty good.

or it was.

in the last couple of years it has been increasingly obvious that my family (with the exception of my nana) miss having a dog around. they would occasionally talk about a dog up for adoption they saw online, or a friend who was having puppies and how it would be so cool to get a puppy, or looking at videos of dogs and reminiscing about their old dogs and talking about how nice it would be to get a dog. this didn't bother me in and of itself, because it had been happening for a while and they never actually followed through.

... until early last month, when they came home with a dog. this came from out of nowhere (they stopped on the way home from the shelter to buy dog supplies, like food and bowls, toys, etc). no one had told me about this or asked me what i thought, so i was surprised and confused when they brought a strange dog into the home. according to them, they are "fostering" this dog for a few months while she undergoes treatment for a health condition (after which she will be eligible for adoption), but her behavior towards me has erased any sympathy i might have felt for her.

this dog is big (she's almost certainly stronger than i am), unruly, untrained, and she does not like me. i've been avoiding her because her extreme level of energy unnerves me, but every time she sees me she growls at me and tries to lunge or snap at me like i'm the one invading her territory and not the other way around. i have voiced my fears and my strong dislike at having this dog in the house, but i don't think my family really understands what i'm saying.

after a few days, it became clear that allowing the both of us to be in the same room would lead to injury. this was further cemented after an incident where i was sitting on the couch with my mom and my sister came in from walking the dog and the dog lunged at me and i accidentally gave my mom a minor injury in my panic. so my family has decided that the best course of action, until they have time to condition her to my presence, is for me to stay in my room indefinitely.

practically, the space is big enough for me—i don't need much, and i'm not super physically active, the only thing i can't do in here that i can do in the common areas is watch tv—but it's frustrating being confined to a single room in my own home, where i've lived for years, while this dog is granted open access to the rest of the house. my family promised it would be temporary, that they just have to work on training her and correcting her behavior and getting her comfortable with me, but the longer this has dragged on the more i have been forced to accept that this is my life now.

at the end of last month, my sibling (nby20, lived with us until starting college in 2021) came down from their university town to stay with us for a few days for their birthday. during their visit, they spent some time in my room with me, hanging out and empathizing with my situation. they said some things that made me feel more validated in my discomfort over this whole situation.

the week after they went back home, the dog started acting aggressively toward my nana, especially when my nana got close to one of my sisters. it got to the point where my family had to lock her in her crate to keep her from attacking my nana, and even then she would bark and growl at my nana. so my family made the (very difficult for them) decision to stop fostering the dog and return her to the shelter. since she was returned, i have regained my access to the rest of the house.

while i am not stoked about my nana being attacked, i am relieved that the dog is gone and i am no longer a prisoner in my own home. along with this relief are feelings of bitterness—the dog acted aggressively toward me on numerous occasions, but as soon as she displayed that behavior toward my nana, they got rid of her. after the conversation with my oldest sibling, who offered an outside perspective, i have been feeling slighted and as if my comfort was a secondary concern to my family.

my parents and sisters, meanwhile, are devastated by this recent turn of events. they had all grown very attached to the dog (apparently she could be very sweet and loving when she wasn't aggressive), and they had fallen in love with her quirks and the amount of excitement she brought into the home. my parents had spent good money spoiling her with toys and treats that cannot be used now. my sisters, being younger, are especially devastated—my youngest sister has always felt things very deeply and openly, and seeing her this sad is heartbreaking. i've been trying to comfort my family as best i can, but i feel like my presence alone is just another reminder that the dog is gone.

though i acknowledge their attachment to the dog and their sadness at having to give her up, these feelings of bitterness and resentment—that her attacking me wasn't a "good enough" reason to get rid of her—remain. i am also having trouble tampering my relief and excitement at once again being allowed access to the tvs and the common areas. am i an asshole for having these feelings when my family loved this dog and are still upset at having to get rid of her?

What are these acronyms?

[twistedwonderlandshenanigans]

Random HCs I Probably Overexplain - Deuce Edition 1!

Deuce was born deaf! Delia didn't know what was going on exactly, and it was a a lot for a first time, SINGLE mom to hear that her son...couldn't. It was overwhelming to say the least, but Delia had fought this hard to keep the son she had been told to give up, she wasn't going to give up at this point. Her relationship with her mother was strained because of it, but not completely cut off. She started learning sign language right away, even as she was finishing college with her newborn. Once she graduated she was lucky enough to find a job that would grant her flexibility for her kid, and after plenty of research she decided to save up to give Deuce cochlear implants. By the time he was three or four though, his love for blastcycles was already apparent. Though he couldn't hear them, when a few came down his street he could feel the vibrations and he got so giddy and giggly about it. Whenever Delia took him for a walk, when blastcycles came by he would get into a crawling position and just giggle his little head off as they went by. She wouldn't know until later, but his other senses were also slightly amplified by his magic. Delia ended up getting laid off when he was about four, but her mom and extended family surprised her with the funds she needed to get her son the cochlear implants she wanted to give him. Her mom let her move back in, and they slowly started to build their relationship again as Delia was able to job search and continue saving money. Meanwhile, during the day Delia could dedicate her time to helping her son adjust to the world of sounds. Deuce wasn't a huge fan of it for a while, but when he and his mom went on nature walks he loved it. He loved the sound of seashells clinking, the sound rocks made when they were thrown in the water, and found out that animals make noises. Delia was eventually able to buy her own house, a few hours away from her mom in case she needed help again. It was a very humble, very small house but it fit her and Deuce just fine. As he got older, she was able to make sure he had hearing aids that worked properly for him, but it often meant a lot of sacrifice on opportunities he couldn't have, or couldn't do. He was about twelve when this fear of missing out what his friends were doing and whatnot started to take root, and that fear of missing out turned into anger at not having the same opportunities as those around him because of the situation he and his mom were born into. He was never mad at his mom, just kind of at the world. He ended up being brought home when he was 14 by the police for trying to steal a blastcycle, but it was a small town so he was let off with a warning and out of respect for his mother, went back to the shop he tried to take it from to work for free for a bit. It was at the shop that he met a few punk kids that made a few poorly worded choices, and he ended up being top dog by accident. Finally feeling like he belonged though, he wasn't going to give it up and devolved into the delinquent we hear about in canon.

[moonlayl]

I’m just heart broken right now. 

Syria as a nation was utterly destroyed. We lost our homes and almost every single Syrian had to move. Whether to a different city or different country. 

My grandparents’ house, the one my mom and her siblings grew up in, and the one I remember the most, was one iof the first to be bombed almost 10 years ago. 

My extended family became scattered across the country, as did so many other Syrians. 

the economy is still shit, the people are still starving and dying, and the young boys are still being called to the military, but despite all of that, people were able to slowly able to try and build their lives again. 

My aunts and uncles got married and had children. They tried to build new lives for themselves. 

Only now, those areas were affected by the earthquake. My aunt’s in-laws are most likely dead. Their building, the one my aunt and her husband and their babies had lived in for several years, completely collapsed and their bodies are yet to be found. 

Last I heard, My aunt's and her kids are safe but we lost contact and they’re grieving and it’s utter chaos. 

and the death toll keeps getting bigger, and there’s a chance more aftershocks and large earth quakes will happen in that region or closer to Lebanon.

I’ve been seeing so many videos of the damage and like I wish I could do more to help. I wish I could physically do something.

I watched a video of a man trying to rescue a child and telling him ‘not to go to sleep’ and that he’d ‘buy you a chocolate if you can just stay awake’

I watched a video of a young child screaming and crying for help as he held on tot he edge of a collapsing building, and people on the streets yelling out and telling him to ‘not be afraid’ and trying to comfort him, knowing they won’t be able to save him. 

People in Lebanon and syria and Palestine literally thought thy were being attacked with bombs over their heads. 

This is just so devastating. It came as a shock originally but things just quickly escalated.

I was so scared and worried that I couldn’t sleep and missed my midterm worth 25% of my grade.

I contacted my prof and she said I’d have to pay a lot of money in order to do it a later time, and I feel so guilty. Like, why tf should I pay that money for a fucking grade when it could be donated to people who need immediate help??? 

Doing anything is making me feel guilty and I'm rotating between being numb and unable to feel sympathy and just existing there plainly, or between wanting to sob and cry.  

also the fact that syria will for sure receive less help/aid because the “president” is a piece of shit who needs to fucking die already. God, I wish the building he was in could’ve been the one to collapse. I wish he was the one slowly dying under rubble and building remains. 

I also heard many of the people who died in turkey were Syrian refugees. 

May they be granted jannah, Ameen

[spookyscarydemonbabe]

this is for the wintery stuff- Gareth and reader in Christmas day? or the Corroded Coffin traditions for Christmas?

ooh i like this one 👀 my family does a lot of weird christmas traditions on my dads side since were midwest white trash so i know exactly how all those boys would spend their christmas together 😂

(and i like the Gareth one so i’m going to try and get a fic finished for that within the next few days but i’ve got a ton of stuff planned for the next few days so i hope it’s done in time for christmas 😅)

All of the boys and their families have their own little Christmas traditions

However, all of them together have their own traditions as well

Every year Eddie and his uncle will put up their Christmas decorations and after they like to go into town to the hardware stores and offer to help people put their lights up for a little extra cash

It’s something that they love getting to do to help other people during the season

Plus Wayne always gets very excited to decorate the inside of the trailer

He’s kept every single Christmas decoration that Eddie made in elementary school so seeing the trailer covered in all his little drawings and paper snowflakes and Christmas trees warms his heart

Gareth and his family always use this time of year to help his mom out

She’s the type who always likes to cook and clean for the family, and though they will absolutely help her all through the year with the housework it gets put into high gear around Christmas time

Gareth and his dad will put up the outside decorations and shovel the driveways and sidewalks for all their neighbors while his sisters have the very special job of making sure there’s lots of snowmen outside the house

And they always make sure the house is completely spotless so that mom doesn’t have to worry about telling them to clean up once, especially when it comes to tracking in the snow

Plus they like getting to make all the Christmas cookies together

His mom always makes like 10 different kinds of cookies so they’re stocked up well into January

Jeff and his family like to give back every year at Christmas

They’ll adopt a family for the season and buy them winter clothes and Christmas presents rather than buying themselves a bunch of things they know they don’t need

And if the weather is right they like to go around with a few of their parents friends families and sing carols for their neighbors

Jeff thinks it’s embarrassing but if they plan on skipping it he gets so pissed that they’re ‘skipping a family tradition’ in his words

Plus they have the best hill for sledding behind their house so they open it up to all the neighborhood kids to use

Grant and his family love getting to use this time of year to spend time with each other

His dad works late shifts so during the day it’s usually just Grant and his stepmom until they have to leave for their jobs

But his dad will try his best to get off early each night to make it him for dinner

And his stepmom a few years back suggested his dad be a mall Santa for fun and when he actually tried it out he realized he actually quite likes it

He’s a big biker guy with a long white beard so he’s perfect for the role

And on the night of Christmas eve he’ll stand out on a street corner and wave to all the cars dressed up in his Santa outfit

Plus his family likes to do big bonfires in the winter so it’s a fun way to stay warm and see their friends

[potcpoi]

Moon Knight Episode 1 Review

“Look at me... you’re not gonna die. Let me save us.” -- Marc Spector to Steven Grant  💖💖💖

Rewatching the show and seeing all of the little details and character beats they set up right at the very beginning and then steadily paid off throughout the show is such a joy! One of my fav things about the show has been how they managed to shift the tone and squeeze in multiple genres -- we start off with a mystery/horror vibe, transition to a fun adventure vibe, throw in some deep psychological character studies and heartbreak for a bit there, and cap it off with an action spectacle. The mystery/horror vibes were perfect to start off with in the pilot episode because they immediately presented us with a puzzle to solve and draw us in!

The choice to open with Steven Grant of the gift-shop as the POV character is what really makes this pilot work. It allows for the mystery tone to be established because poor Steven is just as confused as we are and has no idea what is happening to him. It gives us the thrill of discovering things at the same time that he does and gives us the opportunity to really internalize his character arc throughout the show because we’ve been with him every single step of the way as he navigated his journey towards becoming the hero that we see negotiate their freedom from Khonshu and fight his way through the mooks at the end of episode 6. 

Most importantly though, the pilot makes us fall so deeply in love with Steven. It enables us to empathize with his struggles with what he thinks is sleep-walking, it makes us angry when Donna snaps at him, it makes us giggle when he poses in front of the mirror in a full suit+tie and calls himself a knob, it makes us wince in sympathy when we see how desperate he is for connection and how he’s only really able to talk to a golden statue and his one-finned goldfish and via voicemail to a mom who will never call him back, and it makes us sniffle when he realizes he missed his date at the steak house by a whole 2 days and dejectedly decides to order a well-done steak by himself instead. The writers and Oscar Isaac made Steven just such a completely real and endearing character that it makes it easy to buy into all the fantastical stuff surrounding him because Steven is here having a 120% authentic reaction to whatever nonsense is going on every single time.

I also loved what they did with Arthur Harrow in this pilot episode (even though I wasn’t ultimately satisfied with his arc as the villain of the whole story). His entrance opening the show by putting crushed glass into his shoes immediately made an impression and stuck with me. He had a quietly menacing and yet also completely sincere aura where you can tell he truly believes in what he and his followers are doing. It’s a masterful performance by Ethan Hawke.

The direction was also outstanding in this episode. My favourite shot from this entire episode was when that leaf landed on the water and showed that we were watching a reflection. I loved the copious shots of mirrors used as both foreshadowing for Steven being part of a system, and as a super effective method to ratchet up the creep factor when Steven’s reflections didn’t match his own. The smash cuts whenever Steven was physically overwhelmed and Marc had to step in were also well done and served to ramp up the mystery factor. The cupcake van chase was simply delightful and I love that once again Steven was totally sincere in his reactions being terrified and that his fight moves (understandably) include smushing cupcakes into his opponent’s face and throwing his gun at the car... and it was so fucking hilarious for us as an audience. In general this episode managed to hit and balance the different tones between drama, mystery, humour, horror very well.

When I first watched the pilot, my fav scene was the steak house scene and that definitely still ranks super high on the list, but the final scene of the episode when Marc finally reveals himself in the mirror and talks to Steven really hits differently now that we’ve seen the entire show. I loved how they showed Steven descending into complete panic and that his first reaction whenever he is overwhelmed is denial -- “no, no, you’re not real, none of this is real” -- because it serves as a poignant through-line to the same powerful denial coursing through baby Marc in episode 5 at the moment when his psyche first fractured to create Steven -- “it’s not my mom. it’s not her, it’s not my mom”. I also loved Marc trying to calm Steven down and telling him resolutely that he wasn’t going to let Steven die -- the glimmers of the love and protectiveness that is going to smack us across the face when he kneels in front of a frozen Steven in episode 6. These are character beats that we see again and again throughout the show and I really appreciate how carefully constructed Marc and Steven were right from the beginning. 

And of course that final shot where we see the jackal trying to run the fuck away from Marc in his Moon Knight armor and being dragged back into an absolutely smashed restroom was fucking badass and an awesome hook to end the episode on!

I have to end this episode review (and probably every episode review lbh) by giving a shoutout to Oscar Isaac’s amazing work. Like I said, this episode works because it’s so easy to love Steven, and a large part of why it’s so easy to love Steven is because of Oscar’s skill in making Steven so fucking lovable -- from the slouched shoulders and wide eyes and adorable smile, to his tiny waves when he meets new people, to the clear excitement on his face whenever he gets to talk about Egyptian history, to him almost breaking down in tears at the steak-house, to the abject terror whenever the bloody pigeon decides to be dramatic, to the physical comedy when he’s trying to give the scarab to Harrow -- there is never a false beat when watching his performance and he really elevates already interesting material to new highs by committing 100% to his characters!

[pluckyredhead]

Al/Toni 😉

Anon, you are so good to me.

who hogs the duvet

Toni. Please picture a tiny woman bundled up in several blankets and her enormous boyfriend next to her like "...Welp."

who texts/rings to check how their day is going

Toni. Knowing Toni in any fashion is subjecting yourself to 200 texts a day.

who’s the most creative when it comes to gifts

Al. Toni just spends a lot of money.

who gets up first in the morning

There is absolutely no way Al isn't a relentlessly cheery morning person, and Toni is just like "...Why."

who suggests new things in bed

Judging by the way Al turns into a blushing, stammering mess whenever he's even gently flirted with in canon...Toni. (God, I love him so much.)

who cries at movies

Toni has a stack of "I feel like crying" movies and she's extremely valid. (Al will admit that Beaches got him when they watched it together.)

who gives unprompted massages

Hmm, neither of them, I don't think?

who fusses over the other when they’re sick

AL. He WILL buy every kind of cold medicine at the pharmacy and make ten gallons of his mom's matzoh ball soup and fret to the point that it's annoying.

who gets jealous easiest

Well. Considering that Al proposed to the girl he'd had a crush on since childhood, was rejected, and cheerfully served as best man at her wedding to the guy she actually wanted, like, the next day, I'm gonna go with Toni, here. But Toni is extremely possessive, so...balance?

who has the most embarrassing taste in music

I don't know if it's exactly embarrassing, but Al canonically is just not super into music. (He prefers books. Bless his heart.) Toni, meanwhile, only listens to songs that you might hear at Soul Cycle. SHE'S VALID.

who collects something unusual

Al had a whole perfectly preserved house belonging to his dead godfather, at least until he and Grant smashed it, so Al, I guess.

who takes the longest to get ready

Lolllll Toni.

who is the most tidy and organised

Al, who grew up as the try-hard son of a single mom who needed help around the house. Toni is used to people picking up after her and lots of space for her massive amounts of stuff.

who gets most excited about the holidays

Both of them, albeit largely different holidays. It's an interfaith relationship but they're making it work!

who is the big spoon/little spoon

Come on. Look at them.

who gets most competitive when playing games and/or sports

Toni, which is funny considering that Al is a jock who nearly went pro in basketball. But he was only doing it to please his godfather, whereas Toni is vicious.

who starts the most arguments

Toni. She is very opinionated and Al is a pushover.

who suggests that they buy a pet

Al wants a dog so so bad. They are still debating breed.

what couple traditions they have

I never know what to answer for this one? They are both verrrrry big on their anniversary because Toni loves excuses to dress up and have a fancy dinner somewhere and Al is an enormous sap.

what tv shows they watch together

Toni got Al into The Real Housewives of Gotham and now they watch it religiously.

what other couple they hang out with

Grant and Tommy, Hank and Todd, maybe Rick and Jesse if Rick can stop whining about how Al tried to hit him when they were on opposite sides of a war. (Rick cannot.)

how they spend time together as a couple

It's a lot of compromises, since they have very few shared interests, but Al doesn't really mind going shopping and Toni doesn't really mind going to sporting events. And she really doesn't mind blatantly ogling Al while he's working in the garage, which baffles and embarrasses him (in a good way).

who made the first move

Toni. Al has never made a move in his life, except one (1) disastrous proposal. Bless his big dumb heart.

who brings flowers home

Al, frequently.

who is the best cook

Toni can't cook to save her life, Al has a handful of decent bachelor recipes. There's a lot of eating out and takeout in their lives.

[alara-kahya]

Character Chart

Mentions: @emiri-tezel, @zeynepdemirci @nathanial-donovan, @taliah-tezel, @dianabrooks, @logandonovan

Character’s full name: Alara Kayha

Reason or meaning of name: Alara means water fairy in Turkish & her mom is called Caria, which means she who flows like water.

Character’s nickname: 'Lara

Reason for nickname: No reason

Birth date: 28th May 1993

Zodiac: Gemini

--

Physical appearance

Age: 30

Weight: 54kg, 8st 3 pounds

Height: 5' 5"

Body build: Slim

Shape of face: Perfection

Eye color: Brown

Glasses or contacts: Glasses for reading

Skin tone: Ivy

Hair color: Brunette

Hairstyle: Long

Voice: Hot

Overall attractiveness: Elite

Usual fashion of dress: Expensive

Favorite outfit: Her Doctor Who Tardis blue onesie bc her son Kian has one too, so they match

Personality

Good personality traits: Loyal, Intelligent, Generous, Humble

Bad personality traits: Short tempered(usually with men), Impulsive, Untrusting

Mood character is most often in: Calm

Sense of humor: Top class

Character’s greatest joy in life: Her son

Character’s greatest fear: Something happening to her son

Why? Because he's her whole world

What single event would most throw this character’s life into complete turmoil? Same as above

Character is most at ease when: She's painting or curled around @nathanial-donovan

Enraged when: Men mansplain or invade her space unnecessarily

Depressed or sad when: She deals with her dad in a bad dunk mood

Priorities: Her son & her business

Life philosophy: Never cruel or cowardly, never give up, never give in

If granted one wish, it would be: Bring her bestie Jayden back to life

Why? Because he deserved so much more than the fate he got

Character’s soft spot: Animals

Is this soft spot obvious to others? Probably if they've seen her trying to catch strays to take them to shelters

Greatest strength: Her ability to endure

Greatest vulnerability or weakness: Letting people past the walls she's built to protect herself

Biggest regret: Never punching her ex square in the face

Biggest accomplishment: Establishing her business ground up all by herself

Character’s darkest secret: Thather dad is a nasty drunk but she still buys his shopping every week, or she knows he won't eat

Does anyone else know? Emiri Tezel & only recently, Nate.

Past

Hometown: Turkey

Type of childhood: Typical

Pets: A field mouse she rescued from a cat and named Squeaker & two hamsters named Fred and Frank

First memory: Watching her mom painting on the balcony as the sun set

Most important childhood memory: The time her brother went missing at a friend's party and Alara, aged 4, insisted they stop at an abandoned house, and sure enough he was hiding from the rain in there with a broken ankle.

Why: Because she feels a little like she saved him that day, and that set the tone for their relationship as they got older

Dream job: Does it

Finances: She never needed to want for anything

Present

Current location: Tonopah

Currently living with: Her son Kian

Pets: 1 dog called Toast

Occupation: Artist

Finances: She rich bitch

Family

Mother: Caria

Relationship with her: Very close

Father: Kaan

Relationship with him: Terrible

Siblings: Zeki

Relationship with them: Twin, very close

Children: Kian

Relationship with them: Thick as thieves

Other important family members: Emiri (technically family)

Favorites

Color: Lilac

Least favorite color: Maroon

Music: A little of everything but she does really enjoy Stevie Nicks

Food: Pizza, burgers, McFlurry's

Literature: Stephen King

Form of entertainment: Music, Dancing

Expressions: Resting bitch face

Mode of transportation: Car

Most prized possession: The first flower her son ever picked for her. It's a Daisy she got dried and encased in resin so she could keep it forever

Habits

Hobbies: Ice-skating, dancing, painting, binge watching Doctor Who

Plays a musical instrument? Piano

Plays a sport? Not anymore

How he/she would spend a rainy day: In a onesie, in bed with snacks and hot chocolate

Spending habits: What she wants, she buys

Smokes: Only if she's drunk, so socially

Drinks: Yes, favours vodka and rum

Other drugs: No

What does he/she do too much of? Cleaning, forever cleaning

What does he/she do too little of? Take a night off just to chill

Extremely skilled at: Art, obviously

Extremely unskilled at: Darts

Nervous tics: Finger tapping

Traits

Optimist or pessimist? Bit of both

Introvert or extrovert? Bit of both

Daredevil or cautious? Daredevil

Logical or emotional? Logical

Disorderly and messy or methodical and neat? Methodical and neat

Prefers working or relaxing? Working

Confident or unsure of himself/herself? Confident

Animal lover? Yes

Self-perception

How he/she feels about himself/herself: Has faith in herself, she knows what she's worth and won't settle for less respect than she deserves

One word the character would use to describe self: Milf

What does the character consider his/her best personality trait? Loyalty

What does the character consider his/her worst personality trait? Lack of trust

What does the character consider his/her best physical characteristic? Eyes

What does the character consider his/her worst physical characteristic? Nose

Relationships with others

Does the character hide his/her true opinions and emotions from others? Never

Person character most hates: Macho men who think they have the right to a woman's body

Best friend(s): Emiri, Taliah, Logan, Diana, Zeynep

Love interest(s): Nate Donovan

Person character goes to for advice: Emiri

Person character feels responsible for or takes care of: Her dad

Person character feels shy or awkward around: Also her dad, he has a horrible way of belittling her and making her almost believe him when he says she's worth nothing

Person character openly admires: Her mom

[psychbuilder]

You Were Right About COVID, and Then You Weren’t

Olga Khazan

The Atlantic

Originally posted 3 MAY 22

Here are two excerpts:

Tenelle Porter, a psychologist at UC Davis, studies so-called intellectual humility, or the recognition that we have imperfect information and thus our beliefs might be wrong. Practicing intellectual humility, she says, is harder when you’re very active on the internet, or when you’re operating in a cutthroat culture. That might be why it pains me—a very online person working in the very competitive culture of journalism—to say that I was incredibly wrong about COVID at first. In late February 2020, when Smith was sounding the alarm among his co-workers, I had drinks with a colleague who asked me if I was worried about “this new coronavirus thing.”

“No!” I said. After all, I had covered swine flu, which blew over quickly and wasn’t very deadly.

A few days later, my mom called and asked me the same question. “People in Italy are staying inside their houses,” she pointed out.

“Yeah,” I said. “But SARS and MERS both stayed pretty localized to the regions they originally struck.”

Then, a few weeks later, when we were already working from home and buying dried beans, a friend asked me if she should be worried about her wedding, which was scheduled for October 2020.

“Are you kidding?” I said. “They will have figured out a vaccine or something by then.” Her wedding finally took place this month.

(cut)

Thinking like a scientist, or a scout, means “recognizing that every single one of your opinions is a hypothesis waiting to be tested. And every decision you make is an experiment where you forgot to have a control group,” Grant said. The best way to hold opinions or make predictions is to determine what you think given the state of the evidence—and then decide what it would take for you to change your mind. Not only are you committing to staying open-minded; you’re committing to the possibility that you might be wrong.

Because the coronavirus has proved volatile and unpredictable, we should evaluate it as a scientist would. We can’t hold so tightly to prior beliefs that we allow them to guide our behavior when the facts on the ground change. This might mean that we lose our masks one month and don them again the next, or reschedule an indoor party until after case numbers decrease. It might mean supporting strict lockdowns in the spring of 2020 but not in the spring of 2022. It might even mean closing schools again, if a new variant seems to attack children. We should think of masks and other COVID precautions not as shibboleths but like rain boots and umbrellas, as Ashish Jha, the White House coronavirus-response coordinator, has put it. There’s no sense in being pro- or anti-umbrella. You just take it out when it’s raining.

The info is here.

[casspurrjoybellbittner]

Wreckless - Closer

*Warning Adult Content*

Finnegan

It's another crazy week where I can barely keep track of which day it is and what's coming up next but two great things happen.

First, we get awarded another DoD contract which means my company is closer to solvent.

Second, I close on the house on Friday.

Ann and the lawyer are nice enough to come to my office to do the paperwork.

When I told Emmett they were coming in, he threw his hands up in the air and said 'I guess that's what happens when you buy a house with a check' but he was mostly glad he didn't have to deal with it.

Furniture is getting delivered next week and I know Emmett is busy because he's working too but I'd really, really like to be moved in there by next weekend.

I know Emmett will be back and forth at his place some and it won't be ready to rent quite yet but I'm more than ready to move.

I told him there was no rush though so I'll have to be patient.

Still, the sooner we're sleeping there, the happier and less medicated I'll be.

When I get home the place smells terrific.

I strip out out my suit and grab my mail.

Oh, his card is here.

Emmett comes over and manhandles me a little bit, then tells me it'll be ten minutes until dinner.

That's perfect, it gives me time to open this up and see if it's what I think it is.

Yay.

I walk into the kitchen and put his shiny card on the counter.

"For you, Emmett. Put anything you need on it."

He looks at me like I put a piece of trash on his plate.

"No thanks, darling, I'm fine."

No.

"Look, it's for house stuff. We need furniture and this way your name is on it for deliveries and stuff. I'd really like a treadmill. Stock the fridge, please. I'm not saying you have to use it to buy underwear although that's fine too but if it's for the house it's a lot easier for you to just put it on my account than me write you a check or something."

He's busy making dinner but I know he heard me so I wait for him to think.

Hopefully he'll see how smart this was.

I'm not stupid, it's not an unlimited account so he can't take me for everything I own and disappear but I doubt he'll hit the limit in six months, much less one.

"And you want me to use this to buy a treadmill and whatever else? Do I text you the info and you okay it? How is it gonna work?"

He's sweet and considerate and still having trouble spending my money but at least it's not an outright no.

"I trust your opinion, Emmett. Get nice stuff," I add because I know he'll worry.

"I'd rather spend more now and not need to replace it in a year. My father's rule of thumb has always been to buy the absolute best you can afford if you'll have it for ten years or more and I agree but I think it's closer to five years. Can we visit the house?"

"Tonight?"

Yes. 

"That would be great or sometime this weekend at least. I want to see it. The painting and deliveries and all sorts of stuff will start next week but it's all ours this weekend. We could go camp out."

"Camp out in a house you own? You're silly but yes, we can visit. I have to work this week but next week I can get some things moved, buy groceries and call and get the cable sorted... all that stuff."

That's sort of what I was thinking. I'm a bit disappointed but at least the end is in sight.

There's no way it'll be longer than two weeks.

"Well I don't have much to pack so I can help with yours," I offer.

"Can we go tonight?" 

He's the one that asked.

"Impatient or just want to see if they took all the light bulbs?"

Dork. 

He puts a steaming plate of yum in front of me and I don't take it for granted for a single second.

"This looks and smells, amazing Emmett. Thank you."

"My mom's lasagna recipe. Hope you like it."

I do.

It's fantastic.

It has eggplant in it.

I want to eat half the pan but my stomach can only hold two pieces.

That's okay, I will definitely be having more for lunch tomorrow.

I throw on some clothes while he puts the leftovers away and then we head out.

I've never driven from his place to our new house and it's much closer than I realize.

"It's this close?"

"Yeah, amazing what happens as soon as you get outside the beltway. Wow, it really is a pretty house."

"Oh wait."

I grab the garage opener out of my pocket and hand it to Emmett.

I put the other one in my car earlier. 

He snaps it onto his visor and pushes the button.

"It works."

"You're cute when you're all excited. I hope this huge thing fits in there," he says, driving in carefully.

"Plenty of room."

Not plenty, but enough.

My roadster will have no trouble.

I haven't been in the garage before and it has a whole wall of shelves and storage which I'm sure will come in handy at some point although I can't imagine us ever filling this house.

"Let's go."

I brought two keys with me and give one to Emmett.

I open the side door while he slides it onto his key ring, then hesitate.

"Should we be back door..." and I catch myself.

Should we be back door people?

Oh my God.

"Back door what, darling? I happen to love yours but if you wanna go in the front tonight, you know I'm flexible."

I'm not even sure what all of that means but I head to the front door just to give myself something to do while I use my Jedi mind powers to turn my face back into a normal shade of pale.

He comes in right behind me and flicks on the lights... I'm glad he remembered where they were.

He lights up the porch and the back door and garage from the same panel.

Nice.

"It's as pretty as I remember."

"It's a great house, Finnegan. The couch is gonna look great."

He's staring at the corner it'll go into and he's right.

"I can see it."

I turn back towards the banister.

When I was here last I had the urge to slide down it and now it's mine and I can.

I sprint up the stairs, throw my leg over and slowly slide down. It's a little more uncomfortable than I envisioned but I have no regrets.

Emmett is walking around and I find him in the office.

"I'll put my desk right under the windows."

"It'll be great. Kind of tucked away but close enough that I can feed you and check on you now and then."

That sounds really nice.

"Emmett?"

Sweet Jesus.

"Yes?"

"I just realized it's a circle. The front door to the dining room to the kitchen, through this hallway and into the living room. We can have car races."

I'm gonna get us some faster cars.

Maybe the ones that can climb walls.

"You're right. Marten will have a blast too, he's gonna have so much room to run. I mean, you don't have to let him down here..."

"Oh shush, Emmett. I love him. He can go anywhere except our bed. I draw a line there."

He just laughs and pulls me into his arms.

"Deal."

"I still don't know where anything is going, we need some gym space.  That has to be the priority because it's for both of us." 

I want a toy room so badly that I can practically taste it. 

Maybe I'll give up the study.

 If I gave it to Marten and put my office in the guest bedroom...

"Let me handle it, Finnegan. I have a plan.  We're getting a gym and you're getting  a playroom too."

Really? 

"And you're getting your dark room. Right?"

I'm not letting him give that space up.

"Yes, that too."

I'm so glad that he's thinking about the house and seems to love it or at least like it. 

I want him to do whatever he needs to do to make it feel like home. 

"Then you can do whatever you want, Emmett."

"Do not tempt me, babe.  Do you have lube stashed in one of those pockets?  We could christen the place."

Alas no. 

"Damn it. There's always tomorrow." "

Yes there is. I think it's time we get back home but tomorrow we can bring over the essentials."

"And go to Ikea."

"Yes, that too."

I have an idea of what will happen at home.  Hopefully a thorough lesson. 

Tomorrow will be fun though, sex in the new house. 

I wonder if he just means lube or he really means essentials. 

"Can we bring the zoom cars?"

"Yes, the remote controlled cars can come too.  I should water the garden while we're here, don't let me forget."

I'd completely forgotten about the yard. 

"I need to get a gardener."

"No you don't, I want to take care of it."

Because of his mom.

Still, it's a lot of work. 

"Are you sure?"

"Yep."

"Okay but if you ever change your mind just let me know." 

That earns me a pat on my ass and we head out, locking the door behind us for the very first time. 

It already feels like home.

[the-book-queen]

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[eleanorseigert]

Introducing;

Name:  Eleanor Seigert Face Claim: Candice Accola King Age:  28 Birthdate:  January 16 Neighborhood: Downtown Occupation: Social Worker at East Haven Homeless Shelter Pronouns: She/Her Sexuality: Bisexual Relationship Status: Single

Wanted Connections;

people she went to school with

co-workers

exes

old flame

friends

best friend turned slow burn

people she doesn't necessarily get along with, but tolerates?

hook-ups, flings, friends with benefits

anything you wanna throw at me

Biography Notes;

TW: divorce

If you asked Eleanor she would say that she had a fantastic childhood, granted she did feel as if her father wasn't around as much as he should have been, but that was ok. He was working. She understood that. She understood that her parents grew apart, and that that was the reason they chose to divorce from one another. HOWEVER, she had her sister, and she got to watch her mother go complete girl boss to create her own business that's sole's purpose was to help people. She looked up to her mother, idealized her, and even went on to follow in her footsteps by becoming a social worjer at the local homeless shelter.

In true Seigert fashion, Eleanor quickly became the workaholic that her father had been the moment she was hire on at the homeless shelter. Her job most certainly does not bring in loads of money, but none of that matters to her. What matters is that she is helping people better themselves and help themselves heal. It's her job to help set up jobs, find affordable housing, etc, and it really comes in handy having a mother who owns her own therapy business and having a sister who moonlights as a real estate agent. She has the needed connections to really help not only herself, but others to succeed as well.

Eleanor doesn't do pets, she doesn't do kids, she doesn't do commitments, unless it has to do with her job. That is her only commitment. And yeah, it would be lonely if it weren't for her mom and sister, not to mention her sister is about to make Eleanor an aunt, albeit, a foster aunt, but still an aunt in the younger Seigert's eyes. It's no secret that Eleanor is not interested in having kids of her own, she has always made it known.

But to fill her free time she has plants, she even went as far as to buy an app on her phone that would identify when/if her plants were sick, and send her reminders of when and how much to water/fertilize them. The plants are her babies.

There was at one point in her life that she did make a commitment that didn't have anything to do with her job. She was engaged, and that person was her first love, though she might not open admit it to anyone, the break up really hurt. Perhaps it was her fear of the relationship falling apart like her parents', whatever the reason was Eleanor simply couldn't let her walls down. The break up only further pushed her into her work. Despite now claiming that her true love is work, Ellie is still very much a romantic, she could absolutely fall head over heels for someone, if she could only allow herself to take that chance.

Eleanor's personality is a bubbly, happy one, she is very outgoing and finds herself making friends with pretty much everyone she meets. She kind of has to be all rainbows and sunshine in the job field she works in. Any negative feelings she feels, she tucks away until she can express it in a private place, she's desperate to appear perfect, which only shows how imperfect she is.

[mermaidsirennikita]

ARC Reviews: Let Me Love You by Brittney Sahin

2.5/5. Releases 10/10/2023.

Vibes: light mafia, good-ish guy with a past, suspense, and something of an 80s-esque tone (not necessarily in a bad way)

Six years ago, Maria was granted her birthday wish--a kiss from Enzo Costa, the man she was obsessed with. But, fearing for her safety, Enzo kept it from going any further. Now Maria is a recently-divorced single mother and Enzo is rebuilding his life out of THE life, working as a chef. But just when the two of them start getting closer, Enzo's past catches up with him, throwing Maria into certain danger.

In theory, I love this plot. In reality, there were things I liked about this book... and then it kind of fell apart.

Quick Takes:

--So here's the thing. I really like the beginning of this book. You immediately feel the connection between Enzo and Maria. The chemistry is there, he's eight years older than her (I don't categorize anything under a 10-year difference as "age gap", but there's some definitely "don't stand so close to me" vibes going on) and she's just so eager for him that it's really pretty charming.

And the chemistry continues when you pick up after the six-year time jump. I liked that Maria was divorced and had been through it. Though I'm not a huge fan of kids in romance novels, her baby is incorporated pretty well. Like, at a certain place in the novel, I did kind of wonder what the point of Maria being a mom was. It didn't feel like it added anything to the story, besides perhaps keeping her ex in the picture as an obstacle. But I'd rather a somewhat pointless baby than an annoying child.

However, I did feel like we leapfrogged over a lot of story here. I kind of expected Enzo and Maria's contact to be minimal during the six-year time jump, but they're basically friends when the book picks up after the prologue. To the point that Maria trusts him with watching her daughter while she's on a date? There are all these references to tension and stolen moments and Enzo agonizing over her marriage before it ended, and so and so forth. The chemistry remained, but I felt like I'd missed a lot and the author was constantly having to explain and fill in the gaps.

By itself, this isn't a huge obstacle if the I believe in the love story between the leads. The problem is, it became emblematic of a central issue the story had.

--Enzo is constantly getting in his own way, which works for a hero if his thought process makes sense. Here... I don't know that it did, at least not for this genre. Obviously, the man has mafia connections and that puts Maria and her child in danger. But the fact is that he is already putting them in danger by being close friends with them. It doesn't super matter if he's with Maria or not at that point. He's spending the night at her house, he's practically co-parenting her child. His enemies are going to know that those two people mean a lot to him anyway, so they might as well be together.

So the reality is that the obstacle is entirely based on his own internalized angst, and his issues with himself after he did something that he views as a justified act (and honestly, considering the intensity of what he was responding to and his own world, it works for the story). Like, if that was the life you were in and you were responding to such a heinous crime with your own crime, would you really be as up in arms about it as Enzo is here? I didn't really buy it.

What it felt like, to be honest, was a forced slow burn that didn't make emotional or logical sense. And in many ways, this isn't a slow burn. They get physical fairly early in the story, but it's not "vaginal sex" physical, so the characters don't really count it, which makes no sense but whatever. However, Enzo holds out on a relationship with Maria for so long that it feels completely contrived. Rather than teasing, this approach frustrates, and it had me rolling my eyes on more than one occasion. It became less "ooh fun mafia book" and more "another friends to lovers story that drags for no reason".

--Obviously, there is more to this book than the romance. The suspense plot is fairly prominent, and overall, it's not bad. I will say that in no way, shape or form did I buy the mafia world that this story was built in. I'm not super picky about that, I expect camp from a mafia romance, but this wasn't even really campy. It was just a bit thin. And then every man, who I assume came from other books although this doesn't seem explicitly connected to a series on Goodreads, has this hitman past or a background as a Navy SEAL, and it's fine. But if you have a low tolerance for cheese, you probably won't love the world-building in that sense.

--While I absolutely expected the ex husband to be a jackass, and while I'm not against the concept of ex husbands being jackasses in romance novels in general (it's a part of the genre--though I'd love to see some variation) the ex husband does basically exist so that Enzo can be like "WANT ME TO KILL HIM". And like. Again, it's fine. But at that point in the story, everything started to feel very paint by numbers.

--One thing that did stand out to me as a big swing and a miss was the incorporation of romance awareness, for want of a better term. I've noticed this a lot lately, in multiple subgenres. Romance novels acting self-aware about romance novels, calling out tropes, wink-winking at the readers. And I've gotta say, it very rarely works for me. It takes me out of the story. The only time I think it really worked hard was in Lorraine Heath's The Notorious Lord Knightly, and honestly? I think that's because, for one thing, Lorraine is a strong writer, and for another, it was high level meta.

Here, it was shoehorned in at a place that was so ludicrous--I couldn't deal. I have a high tolerance for the ludicrous. I enjoy campiness. I do not expect total reality from my romance novels. But I read a couple of lines a few times before I really understood that this was how romance referential writing was being used in this novel. A part of me appreciates the attempt. I mean, it was bold. But it didn't work for me.

--I actually love the "he was in the life (on some level) and now he's a chef" thing, but there was actually very little food stuff in this book. Based on the summary, I was expecting like, sensual cooking, feeding, lots of delicious food descriptions, in between all the blood and gore. Very little! And he's Italian! Come on now. Promise of the premise, people.

The Sex:

The sex scenes were by and large good. Pretty hot, pretty fun. However, as I said earlier, there is an absolutely needless amount of dragging things out. Which is weird, because at the end of the day, people are having orgasms fairly early in this book.

But when Maria attempts to take things further, Enzo just... stonewalls. For, as I said earlier, no reason. There is one occasion in which I suppose it makes sense that they wouldn't have penetrative sex because Maria isn't on any kind of hormonal birth control (which, in her circumstances, I felt needed a bit more explanation) and they don't have condoms. Although honestly, they could've done a romance novel pull and pray and I would've accepted it. Largely, however, it just felt like the author didn't want to go there, for some reason? And it was like--but on so many levels, you already have.

It wasn't even the lack of penetrative sex that annoyed me, so much as it was Enzo going "no, we cannot, I am dangerous for you" like my man you just did some pretty intense shit with her, I think that door has been blown wide open. Or people interrupting. Or Enzo going "I can't have that distraction" (again, I feel like you were just doing something PRETTY distracting, dude). It felt like excuses, and it again felt contrived, which I think was my main issue with the book.

Then, once they actually got there, the entire thing was kind of underwhelming after all the excuses and buildup. Plus, there's one sex act that Enzo says they will do, and I was actually pretty interested in seeing that happen, and--nope! A lot of talk without follow through, which is never attractive, right?

I also felt like Maria really didn't have a lot of sexual agency for a twenty-nine-year-old divorced mother. And obviously, people's experiences vary, I'm not saying her single mom status meant she needed to be some virago, but it felt like she did a lot of pleading without actually communicating or requiring proper communication from Enzo. It felt at points that she was a typical inexperienced heroine who, for some reason, was given a divorced mom backstory that ultimately didn't seem to affect her mindset or approach very much.

I was actually pulled into this book pretty quickly, and for the first third or so I was having a pretty fun time. But after a certain point, I felt like I was getting jerked around by the story--and Maria definitely was. It felt like there was a pre-planned timeline mapped out, and very little deviation was allowed in order to accommodate the needs of the story and the characters.

Wish I'd liked it more, but at this time, noted internet scam kingpin Enzo d'Agostino of Mafia Madman remains the only romance novel Enzo I'll allow.

Thanks to Montlake and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[onlyherefortheshowmances]

1 week from today is my last day in the apt. I’ll put the whole description of the situation below a read more if you haven’t heard about this yet.

Please continue to share and donate as you can.  

eB@y Listings (more to come): https://ebay.com/usr/dandyc60 

GFM: https://gofund.me/978fb41c 

V$nmo: @.clbrown91 

I also have Chime, so moots if you do, too and wanna transfer that way, DM me.

Hi, I'm Cassie. I'm 32, and I have a laundry list of mental and physical disabilities that have made it impossible for me to work any longer (since September 15, 2022). I have undergone a lot of testing and am still working out with some providers exactly what is causing all of my symptoms. Most notably I am switching PCPs for the 2nd time in a month (but at least I’m just switching back to where I should’ve just stayed at the office my mom still goes to and a doctor I know from when I went there as a teen/young adult) and rheumatologists for the second time in 3 months (because the one I actually liked left the practice). I also need to see dermatology, but the soonest new patient appointment at any location in their network (that takes my insurance) when I called them in December 2022, was in SEPTEMBER 2023, so that’s gonna be awhile.

I managed to escape January and February's rent at my current apartment thanks to the donations I received on this fundraising page. However, there was a hearing on April 4 before the local judge for my eviction due to non-payment of rent. I was able to explain to the judge and rep from my rental agency (who went to school with my mom; small town) what was going on, and the judge agreed (as did the rental agency) to what’s called a pay and stay. I had 10 days (until April 14) to pay them all the back-owed money and then could just keep paying every month. Of course that did not happen and earlier this week a notice was taped to my door that I will be forcefully evicted May 1 at 12:01 am if all back owed rent and and their legal fees (which I don't plan to do at this point because it’s just a game.)

Going forward, my plan is to obtain a larger vehicle that it would be more possible to live out of (a van or or larger SUV). If anyone local (Central PA) has any leads on somewhere or someone that might have a relatively inexpensive minivan or cargo van-type vehicle available, please let me know. As I, unfortunately, totaled my car last Wednesday (April 19) coming home from Urgent Care no less, I no longer have that trade value to rely on even. So I need to come up with at least $3k to just buy an old but operational van and ideally as soon as possible so I can start figuring out what I can keep with me, what will go to storage, and what I can sell or donate or throw away.

The county in which I reside doesn't have any emergency shelter resources where I'd be welcome as a queer, single, disabled, atheist. The only shelter in the county is run by a religious organization, and they require you to attend and actively participate in religious services to stay there. There are a few smaller organizations, but they are all for very specific populations (single mothers, domestic violence survivors, recovering addicts, etc.) or already have years-long waiting lists (including getting a section 8 voucher which isn't even accepting applications and hasn't been for over a decade because there are that many people on their waiting list). The local LGBTQIA+ organize does have housing grants, but they require you to have proof of at least some income to get them. My therapist is trying to get me into the county behavioral health case management program which may open some other doors, but it is not guaranteed. She sent the referral almost 3 weeks ago and I have heard nothing since; I know they’re already overworked, so I was probably just too complex of a case to add to someone’s work load.

List of my disabilities (I am more than happy to field questions regarding these and how they affect my ability to work, etc. via email, twitter, tumblr ask box, etc.):

Rheumatoid Arthritis (for which I am on immune-suppressing medications that have side effects including chronic fatigue and increased susceptibility to all illness - including the one I have right now which only immune-suppressed people ever get)

Fibromyalgia (for which I have adverse reactions to the first 3 of 4 medications on the market. l am titrating up on the 4th and final medication on the market and crossing my fingers at this point. I am in Physical Therapy two times per week; was three for many months to help with stability and strengthening).

Osteoarthritis (in almost all of my major joints; knees, hips, elbows, shoulders, as well as throughout my spine). My right knee has given me problems all my life (for a reason I don’t really want to get into today); I tore my labrum in my right shoulder in June 2018 and had it repaired surgically on December 21, 2018. When I went in for my follow up first thing was ‘You’re allergic to adhesives. That should NOT be that red or itchy.” Oops. Second thing he said was “Had to check your wrist band after I got a look inside your shoulder (cause the surgery is done face down) to make sure I had the right patient. The inside of your shoulder looks like you’re in your eighties.” I was not even 28 at the time.

Hypermobility Syndrome (which causes instability and proclivity to injury; it also means that the ways I’ve learned to sit that a comfortable to me are probably absolutely wild for anyone else. My PT caught me sitting in a chair with the soles of my shoes together and the outside of my feet against the floor and looked at me like I was insane. I also dislocate joints without realizing it on occasion.) - it's probably actually hEDS but the closest doctor that'll test and adult for that is 90 minutes away.

PCOS (I’m not on Metformin ER to help control this, though I haven’t seen many changes yet. I am under the care of an endocrinologist for this).

ADHD (for which I am medicated with a stimulant - the one that’s been making the nation’s neurodivergent population rage because it’s been on back order for a year)

Various Attachment and Trauma-Based mental health disorders including cPTSD and clinical anxiety. I also believe I am autistic and am about to have an evaluation with the local center for autism and developmental delays as the neuro-psychological evaluation I had at the end of that year was a waste of time and gas money, but that’s another story for another day).

Recurrent Occipital Neuralgia (which causes headaches and difficulty moving my head/neck)

Chronic Migraine (at least 2 or 3 per month; I have Imitrex, but it can only do so much).

Severe seasonal allergies (especially to tree pollen). Like severe enough they had to put intermittent asthma in my chart to get a rescue inhaler approved cause they get that bad.

I am also excessively nearsighted (with astigmatism) to the point where my ophthalmologist has warned me that my retinas are so thin they could detach at pretty much any second.

Even with the new plan going forward, I will still need to pay for phone service (which will like increase so I can use the mobile hotspot feature) as well as car insurance the new vehicle. I hope to be able to afford a campsite at a local campground with electric access for at least part of the summer. If I do not have that option, I would at least like to purchase a small rechargeable (preferably solar charging) generator to have electricity available without killing my car battery every night. I will also continue to need gas money to get to and from appointments and the pharmacy and such and money to purchase necessities not eligible for food stamps (i.e., toilet paper, paper towels, etc.).

More about me for anyone that doesn’t know:

I'm a gray-aro/ace cis-female. Much closer to ace and aro than not.

I'm single (see above) and have no children (nor any interest in ever having any for a variety of reasons; I’m going to ask my OBGYN next time I see her if she can at least take my ovaries out so the PCOS will stop, because the Endocrinologist refused that option).

I don't have pets because my apartment doesn't allow them, but I would love to eventually obtain a service dog (mobility and anxiety/PTSD cross-trained, preferably) and/or have cats. I think if I get a van and get it set up properly, I will probably get a kitten in June. My cousin’s cat just had a litter the other week.

I don't currently use any mobility aids, but my bad days are starting to make it obvious that I will need to in the nearer future than I would like. I got a handicap parking placard just recently which is the first real step in that direction.

I enjoy cooking and baking, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to complete such tasks due to pain. And will be impossible living in a van, though if I get a camp sight I want to get one of those single burner propane camp stoves. I also plan to try to have a mini fridge and microwave in the van itself.

I write fanfiction (which you probably knew if you know me).

I went to college for three years, but I don't have a degree. I was a social work major, and the major classes weren't at all transferable and I could not get through field placement junior year. I've considered going back to school, but at this point, I'm not sure what good it would do, and money would be the ultimate factor.

[helpsinglemothers]

Makeover your mommy's home with grants for mommy makeovers!

There is no doubt that making your mom’s home look great is a huge task. Not only do you have to make it look new and fresh, but you also have to make sure the interior design meets the needs of your mother-in-law. If you don’t have any grants in hand, there are many ways to help out. Here are six tips for making your mommy's home look great without any money:

Grants for Mommy Makeovers.

A mommy makeover can be any change that needs to be made to improve the home environment of a mother. These include: changing the colour of the walls, adding new pieces of art, or updating any outdated decor. Grants for mommy makeovers can go a lot different, but all will require some effort and time from the recipient.

What are the Different Types of Mommy Makeovers?

There are many different types of mommy makeover grants available, but some common ones include:

- A Renovation Grant - This grant is given to mothers who need to completely redo their homes to meet modern standards. It may include changing the colour of walls, adding new pieces of art, or upgrading any outdated decor.

- A Painting Grant - This grant is given to mothers who request painting of their homes to update them visually. The aim is for the painting to represent a permanent change within the home and not just an occasional decoration change.

- A Home Improvement Grant - This grant is given to mothers who need help with any type of home improvement project, from re-fitting an old room with a new couch to painting and remodelling a whole house.

- A Furniture Grant - This grant is given to mothers who request furniture changes such as getting new beds or chairs, replacing an older TV with a newer one, or getting a specific type of furniture that they’re not used to having in their home (like Convertible Sofa).

What are the Grants for Mommy Makeovers?

Several different types of grants are available for mommy makeovers – these vary depending on what type of momma you’re after (renovation or painting). The most common grants offered are mentioned below:

- A Renovation Grant - This grant is given to mothers who need to completely redo their homes to meet modern standards. It may include changing the colour of walls, adding new pieces of art, or upgrading any outdated decor

- A Painting Grant - This grant is given to mothers who request painting of their homes to update them visually. The aim is for the painting to represent permanent change within the home and not just an occasional decoration change

- A Home Improvement Grant - This grant is given to mothers who need help with any type of home improvement project, from re-fitting an old room with a new couch joining up old rooms and adding more storage space, to updating an entire house for free! Blog for Helping single mother

How to Make a Mommy Makeover.

Choosing the right tools is essential for a successful mommy makeover. You’ll need a few basic items, like paint and brushes, to get started. But don’t forget the basics: a ladder, some tape measurers, and some stakes.

Start by painting your room. Choose a colour that will match your décor and add some fun details like curtain rods or colourful pillows.

Next, add new pieces to your home. You can buy or build something new to help change up your living space. For example, you could add a bed or chair in an unused corner of the room, or create a small kitchenette with storage and counter space.

If you have limited space or budget, consider adding some new gadgets to your home. For example, you could get a water filter for your bathroom or purchase an air conditioner that uses energy sparingly. By following these tips, you can make sure that your mommy makeover is as easy as possible and cost-effective!

Tips for Mommy Makeovers.

When it comes to making your mommy’s home look more modern and stylish, there are a few things you can do to get started. First, decide what kind of makeover you want to undertake. There are numerous grants available that can help fund your project, so be sure to research the different options before starting anything. If you’re looking for a complete overhaul, check out grants that focus on specific aspects of the makeover such as new flooring or paint colour.

Start with the Basics.

If you’re just starting and don’t know how to start a project, it may be helpful to start with the basics: choose a location and plan your work accordingly. Once you have a general idea of where everything will need to go, it’s time to start creating! Use lists or diagrams (or even pictures) to help organize your thoughts and create an efficient plan.

Follow the directions carefully.

After you have created your basic plans and have finished following directions exactly, it's time for some fun finishing touches! Make sure all materials are properly sourced before beginning any project; if anything goes wrong during your Mommy Makeover, you'll be in for a lot of trouble! Be sure to use the right tools for the job, and be careful not to damage delicate surfaces - accidents happen!

Use the Right Tools.

To truly enjoy mommy makeovers, you must use quality tools - something that many parents forget about when they're just trying to fix up their homespun mommies. If you're using common household tools like screwdrivers or nails instead of high-quality tools from appropriate stores, you could end up damaging delicate surfaces or causing other problems down the line (like won't be able to fix things anymore). So, don't hesitate in calling in favour of a professional when needed - even though these tips might seem simple at first glance, they can save countless hours in the future!

Conclusion

Grants for Mommy Makeovers are a great way to improve the quality of life for your mom. There are many types of Mommy makeovers, which can be customized to fit your needs and lifestyle. By following the directions correctly and using the right tools, you can make a great mommy effect in no time. If you have any questions or need help with your project, don't hesitate to contact our team.