#i prefer pb's art style... i think...

[wiredeity]

i should make my own cotl oc but i've never been great at emulating art styles lol

anyway, what do you think of happy tree friends and/or pretty blood? some of my mutuals really hate it because of the gore and stuff but i personally like it! i do kind of prefer HTF though, because even PB shook me up at times lol

I absolutely love HTF! Never seen PB though, I might watch it!

P.S: create that COTL OC if you want, you can draw them in your own art style! That's how I'm getting through drawing the Bishops lmao

[sfarticles]

Passing marks: America’s Test Kitchen makes the grade ATK puts winning recipes in cooks' hands

The elevator to the massive kitchen at America’s Test Kitchen (ATK)

While we’re enjoying the things that define summer; a day at the beach, swimming, grilling outdoors and barbecues, a staff of editors, photographers, cooks, cookware specialists and food stylists, are busy inside the kitchens of America’s Test Kitchen (ATK), creating content for fall and holiday issues of its magazines The recipes and photographs on those end-of-year issues are sure to warm our spirits long after summer has given way to the colder nights of autumn and winter. There are test-kitchen cooks working on recipes for cookbooks (12 to are published each year) and other media, too.

The test cooks at work

ATK is the publisher of Cook’s Illustrated, Cook’s Country, and a plethora of cookbooks, and let’s not forget the television programs, “America’s Test Kitchen” and “Cook’s Country” air on PBS television, plus the online cooking school and websites.

I was invited to spend the day learning what goes on behind the scenes at ATK , a food organization I have admired for decades. Located in the Innovation and Design Building in Boston’s Seaport district, the 15,000 square foot test kitchen is where the rigorous testing of recipes, kitchen equipment and pantry items takes place. There are photography and video studios, rooms storing all sorts of kitchen tools and equipment waiting to be tested prior to the expert’s ratings of the devices being published so readers can make the right decision when making a purchase, whether it be a toaster, peeler, knife, or stove. Familiar packaged ingredients are lined up, waiting to be tested and compared, so the culinary experts can share their findings in ATK publications.

Kylie Alexander, Associate Art Director for ATK books and Daniel van Ackere, photographer

It was interesting to learn that the company prefers to be known as a “digital entertainment company,” rather than a publishing company. If you think about it, many of us are mesmerized and entertained by food television programs, food-centric websites, food festivals, and celebrity chefs.

Those mouthwatering magazine covers at the checkout line that get our attention at the supermarket or on display at a magazine shop, can take days to style the food and then photograph the dish to get it just right, as to appeal to every eye passing by… And each recipe, as I learned, goes through many tests before it is published thus it can be prepared with ease and confidence, knowing it will yield astonishing results. More about the process, later.

Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country, published by America’s Test Kitchen

Racks of plates in every imaginable color, pattern and shape, props and backdrops, line the walls in several rooms, giving inspiration to the food stylists. Staff members are assigned to do the food shopping for the dishes scheduled to be prepared. This might seem like an easy job, however sourcing high-quality seasonal ingredients several months ahead of their availability makes it a challenge. If you enjoy food shopping as I do, it seems to be the perfect job!

On the day of my visit several dishes were being tested. Dish after dish was being prepared and tasted by the cooks and editors. Comments followed like, ” This needs a little more salt,” “The sauce needs more spice,” and “The noodles need to be cooked more.” Detailed notes are taken, and the recipes are adjusted and tested again and again, until they are flawless. Each one takes months of meticulous research and testing.

So, what is the roadmap a recipe takes from beginning to end?

First, recipe ideas are compiled by the kitchen staff and editors. Then their team of volunteer-home cooks are surveyed. If 80% of them like the idea it moves to recipe development. The ATK cookbook library houses thousands of books so test-cook team members can source and research any respective dish upon which they are working. The test cook then submits a proposal to editors and fellow cooks. If it gets the okay; the test cook prepares five versions of the recipe culled from the library.  Next, they experiment with techniques and ingredients to write an original recipe before it is tested, then critiqued by editors and fellow test cooks.

Additionally, hundreds of outside volunteer cooks prepare the working recipe at home, providing feedback and scoring the recipe. If 80% give the recipe their blessing, the ATK team performs an” abuse test,” taking into consideration survey results, anticipated substitutions, errors, and shortcuts home cooks might make, and finally test the recipe one more time. After the recipe is finalized, a photo shoot occurs, and the headnotes are written. The signature headnotes “Why this recipe works” summarizes the recipe’s development.

Once published, an online survey is done; rarely is it refined further. The high-scoring recipes are then used in several ATK media and publishing outlets.

Wow, you might be saying…. all this simply for a recipe. If you have prepared a recipe by ATK, you’ll probably agree with me; that they always work.

With so much testing, an abundance of ingredients is used.

The grocery bill in 2022 was almost $400,000, I am told. The number of staple items uses is astonishing……

·  9,550 eggs

·  2700 pounds of flour

·  144 gallons of milk

·  1,098 pounds of unsalted butter

·  232 pounds of Kosher salt

·  1,615 lemons

·  138 gallons of chicken broth

Each recipe costs approximately $11,000 to develop. This includes ingredients, labor, and research. An ATK article said, “Our Texas Barbecue Brisket recipe took two years and 500 pounds of beef to get right!”

You might be thinking, what happens to all the food produced each day…well, there is a “take-home” refrigerator stocked with the days creations for employees to take home.  Now, that’s a tasty benefit.

The mission of America’s Test Kitchen is “To empower and inspire confidence, community, and creativity in the kitchen.” Since 1993, it’s been a well-respected resource for curious cooks to hone their skills.

Do you want to be a volunteer recipe tester and peer behind the scenes at ATK? Visit:  bit.ly/46Y4UnO

Here are two recipes that were being worked on the day of my visit.

Red Lentil Kibbeh

Kibbeh (item on right of plates) and other dishes are lined up to be photographed

The headnote says, “Why This Recipe Works: Kibbeh is a popular Middle Eastern dish made from bulgur, minced onions, varying spices, and often ground meat that can be formed into balls, pressed into a pan, and baked or grilled, or served raw like this. Our version uses lentils in lieu of meat as the texture of the two is similar. Red lentils are a vibrant, strong source of protein. Cooking them with tomato paste brings out a sweet, umami quality, and harissa adds deeper flavor. To balance the aromatics, we stir in lemon juice and parsley at the end. This dish is flexible, so spoon it onto Bibb lettuce leaves or eat it alongside pita bread—depending upon your exercise that day. We prefer to use our homemade Harissa  but you can substitute store-bought. This recipe can easily be doubled.

4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1 small onion, chopped fine

½ red bell pepper, chopped fine

½ teaspoon table salt

1 tablespoon harissa

1 tablespoon tomato paste

½ cup medium-grind bulgur

2 cups water

⅓ cup dried red lentils, picked over and rinsed

¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

1 tablespoon lemon juice

½ head Bibb lettuce (4 ounces), leaves separated

⅔ cup plain low-fat yogurt

Lemon wedges

Heat 2 teaspoons oil in large saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion, bell pepper, and salt and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in harissa and tomato paste and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Stir in bulgur and water and bring to simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until bulgur is barely tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in lentils, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until lentils and bulgur are tender, 8 to 10 minutes.

Off heat, lay clean folded dish towel underneath lid, and let sit for 10 minutes. Add remaining 2 teaspoons oil, parsley, and lemon juice and stir vigorously until mixture is cohesive. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon kibbeh into lettuce leaves and top with yogurt. Serve with lemon wedges. Serves 2

Chocolate olive oil cake with hazelnut filling was one of the dishes being tested the day of my visit

Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

The headnote says, “We strongly recommend measuring your ingredients by weight. If your cocoa is lumpy, sift it before using. You can use any fresh, mild-flavored olive oil and milk of any fat level, or even non-dairy milk. If your springform pan is prone to leaking, place a rimmed baking sheet on the lowest rack to catch any drips. A plastic take-out knife works well for loosening the edge of the cake without damaging your pan. Serve this cake simply on its own, or dressed up with berries and whipped cream, crème fraiche, or ice cream.”

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

¾ cup (3 ¾ ounces) all-purpose flour

¼ cup (¾ ounce) Dutch-processed cocoa powder

¾ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon table salt

1 cup (7 ounces) sugar plus 2 tablespoons, divided

2 large eggs plus 1 large yolk

½ cup milk

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray bottom and sides of 9-inch springform pan with vegetable oil spray. Using paper towel, wipe sides of pan, leaving only thin film of oil. Combine olive oil and chocolate in bowl and microwave until chocolate is melted, about 1 minute. Stir until combined. Whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in medium bowl.

Whisk 1 cup sugar, eggs, and yolk in large bowl until combined. Whisk in olive oil mixture until fully incorporated. Whisk in milk until incorporated. Whisk in flour mixture until smooth. Transfer batter to prepared pan; sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over surface. Securing pan clip with one hand to prevent it from opening, tap pan gently on counter to dislodge air bubbles on surface. Bake until skewer inserted diagonally into crack and aimed toward center of cake comes out with few crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes.

Transfer pan to wire rack and let cake cool completely, about 2 hours. Run knife around edge of cake to loosen. Remove side of pan. Cut cake into wedges and serve. (Leftover cake can be wrapped and stored at room temperature for up to three days.) Serves 8 to 10.

Stephen Fries, is Professor Emeritus and former coordinator of the Hospitality Management Programs at Gateway Community College, in New Haven, CT. He has been a food and culinary travel columnist for the past 15 years and is co-founder of and host of “Worth Tasting,” a culinary walking tour of downtown New Haven, CT. He is a board member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals. Stephen@stephenfries.com For more, go to stephenfries.com

[europeanguy]

[egons-twinkie]

a stantz for ur evening <3

[gunterfan1992]

Interview with Fan Artist loycos!

(Art by loycos)

So a few months ago, I was absent-mindedly scrolling on Tumblr (or was it Twitter?) when I came across something: an Adventure Time fan comic by an artist named loycos. As a person embedded in fan spaces, I find fanart like this all the time, but this time, there was something special about the art I was seeing. It was so... show-accurate!

I don’t mean that necessarily in regard to the art style (although it does feel right at home in the Land of Ooo, while still being its own thing with its own flourishes), but rather in relation to the characterization; the way loycos wrote the characters was spot on. She nailed PB and Marceline’s dynamic as former lovers who deep-down miss one another. She nailed Finn’s naive heroism and his one-sided crush on PB. She nailed Jake’s goofball energy. It was perfect.

In the past, I’ve only interviewed people affiliated with the show’s production, but I thought I’d mix things up a bit and reach out to some fan artists that I think are fantastic. As such, I’m delighted to share with you an interview I had with loycos, who answered my questions about her art, her history with Adventure Time, and where her work is headed!

What is your 'artistic origin' story?

[It’s] kind of a corny answer, but I've been drawing since I remember myself. My earliest drawing memories are drawing Clifford (the big red dog) fanart when I was around 5 y/o. I was always more of a "fangirl" artist, [and] I would draw characters from my favorite franchises to illustrate my headcanons and daydream scenarios I'd put them in. That hadn't changed one bit since. I had since gone on to study animation and illustration in official institutions which forced me to design characters and worlds of my own, but when I draw for myself it's always back to fanart (or studies). I don't have any OCs.

Are there particular artists or styles that you were inspired by and/or like to emulate or allude to?

I'd joke that my artstyle is just a mesh of all the franchises I've drawn fanart for over the years, but honestly, is it even a joke? I think you can easily recognize I had a Disney Phase like every other teenager (I didn't have an anime phase though! I know, I'm an anomaly) and [Steven Universe] definitely left it's fat mark on my style too. Out of [Steven Universe]'s storyboarding crew (which I followed very closely over the years) I especially love Raven Molisee and Jeff Liu for their wacky expressions and proportions, and of course Rebecca Sugar for their fluid and carefree lines. When it comes to art in general, I tend to prefer stylized, colorful and brushy styles over realistic or gothic ones, So people like Hue Teo and Patri Balanovsky pop to my mind (and my artstation feed, seriously look them up).

How do you approach your projects; what is your general art process?

It really depends on the type of project I'm doing, though, my [Adventure Time] comics were all pretty similar in their conception: I write down all of my ideas in my notes so I won't forget them. Then I either roughly sketch out the entire comic as fast as I can, or I write a script (if the concept is specifically very dialog heavy) and then sketch it roughly. Then I do the lineart and color, nothing too complicated. The one thing I think is worth noting in my long comic process is that I draw all of my panels on the same document- that way it's easier for me to make sure the characters stay on model and that my panel layout remains fresh. So basically, the way you read the comics on tumblr, as a long scroll, is the format I work on.

How did you come to find Adventure Time? What made you join the fandom?

Adventure Time is one of those shows you just know about, so I don't remember how I first found out about the show. However, I do remember when I started shipping Bubbline—after the episode “Broke His Crown” aired. I somehow ended up in their Tumblr tag and was blown away by the (by 2016's standards) blatant representation. Despite my obsession with them at the time, I never actually watched any episode that didn't feature the girls' relationship. I only started fully watching the show recently. But I did consume a lot of fan content, which I think helped me shape my own headcanons and such. After my initial interest in 2016 I put Bubbline back on the back burner and kept on my [Steven Universe] ramage, until last year's “Obsidian,” which brought me back fully on board the Bubbline decks around 2 weeks before it aired, so I was in maximum hype mode when I watched the special. It did not disappoint [and it] really reminded me of why I loved these characters and their relationship to begin with. I started drawing my own art for the ship shortly after, when I felt like the hype around the special died down and there wasn't much to keep me sustained anymore. I make what I want to see ;)

As for joining the fandom, I don't know if I can be considered a member, seeing how inactive I am most of the time and my very limited list of [Adventure Time] mutuals. I am extremely flattered that my stuff caught ATimers attention in a positive way.

You've done some amazing Bubblegum and Marceline stuff. What draws you to their dynamic?

I'm gay.

OK, seriously now. I have a soft spot for extremely feminine, dainty characters that are very reserved, so PB immediately marked herself as an obvious fav, and the road to shipping her with Marceline (who is such an obvious candidate and a multilayered, fascinating character herself) was a short one. I know calling PB dainty is far from a true statement, but that's what she appeared like on the surface and that's what caught my attention. Another thing is that I love relationships between immortal beings, I think it always adds another layer of complexity to any relationship, especially a romantic one. The whole "getting older without appearing like you've aged" and "watching everyone you love die around you while you stay the same" can surely make 2 beings bond, right? It always felt like PB and Marcy get each other in a way no one else can, they are very different on the surface but share fundamental internal similarities. Oh, and the fact that they're EXES? The romantic tension and the longing? The familiarity and banter they had in every scene they shared?This hit the jackpot on literally every relationship trope that I love. I'd much rather watch a "getting back together" than a "falling in love for the first time" story.

All of this and the fact that they [are] gay. It's really that simple sometimes.

In broad strokes, what is next for you as an artist and/or as a fan?

I have a few [Adventure Time] comics ideas\scripts on the back burner and one that is in the making. I think I'll dabble into some Nintendo fanart cause I've been playing a lot of Smash Bros and [Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild] lately.

I’m so excited to see what comes next! Either way, a huge thanks to loycos for chattin’ with me! If you’d like to check out more of her art, visit her Tumblr and her Twitter page!

[digi-tama-in-your-pocket]

So I knew a Tamagotchi anime movie existed but that it was about the modern reboot… and I knew there was an anime short set in the vintage era…  but I had no idea about this.  

Apparently there was this weird mini movie with a “how to draw” live action segment in the back with strong PBS kids energy. Actually this whole thing kinda has that energy, it’s pretty squarely aimed at 5-6 year old’s. And it was made in the west using the American Tamagotchi art style and colors… interestingly seems to interpret the messy color crayon look of the Tamagotchis as their actual look since everything else in the movie is colored solid.

Lots of familiar voice actors, including Tom Kenny, Frank Welker, Billy West, Maurice Lemarche ( honestly suprised they didn’t get Rob Paulson in there ), though they mostl speak jibbrish…  Maskutchi is my favorite vintage Tama so it’s nice to see him as “the hero” of this story but that “Slimer” voice does not work for me… and I don’t like that they gave him a mouth, it ruins his design.

Still, very cute little oddity from the vintage Tamagotchi era. I’ve got a very special place in my heart for the western designs… but as far as origin tales go, I think I prefer the one I discovered the other day about the drunken planet and Professor Banzo

[draculas-fem-aro-husbando]

Ask Game

1.What is your gender?

2.What is your sexuality?

3.What is your romantic Preference?

4.Your pronouns?

5.Your favorite Youtuber?

6.Your favorite Tik Toker?

7.Favorite Singer?

8.Favorite Tumblr Blog(s)?

9.Favorite Fandoms?

10.What country do you live in?

11.Are you single,taken,polyamory open,or polyamory closed?

12.Your favorite childhood TV Show?

13.Your favorite school Subject?

14.Favorite History facts?

15.Favorite Science Facts?

16.Favorite Math Facts?

17.Favorite English Facts?

18.Favorite Famous LGBTQA+?

19.Which do you like better:Minecraft or Animal Crossing?

20.Favorite Animal?

21.Nationality(ies)?

22.Religion?

23.Your favorite meme(s)?

24.Your favorite tweet(s)?

25.How did you find out you were straight,gay,bi,pan,Omni,Aromantic,Asexual,lesbian,etc.?

26.How did you come across your closest tumblr mutual?

27.Have you ever dated anyone?

28.What do you hate most about the school system in your country?

29.How are online classes going?

30.How are you spending quarantine?

31.Name one thing you like about your closest friend or significant other(s).

32.Your phone version?

33.Your Tablet version?

34.Your TV Version?

35.Do you have a tumblr crush?

36.Are you Easy to make laugh?

37.Give a few lines by simping over your significant other,favorite character,or tumblr crush?

38.How did you find my blog?

39.Type of phone?

40.Type of Laptop?

41.Favorite Aesthetic(s)

42.The reason behind the url?

43.Funniest Discord Out Of Context Quotes,Jokes,Sarcasm you witnessed?

44.What was one thing as a child you regret doing?

45.What family are you closed too?

46.How did you meet your significant other?

47.How did you figure out your romantic preference?

48.How did you figure out your gender?

49.How did you figure out your sexuality?

50.How did you find or join Tumblr?

51.Dell or Samsung or Apple Computers?

52.Did you watch PBS Kids,Disney,Disney Jr.,Nick Jr.,Noggin, BBC Kids or another channel the most?

53.Creepiest Childhood TV Show in your opinion?

54.Greastest Childhood TV Show in your opinion?

55.Creepiest and Weirdest encounter?

56.What Type of friend in the friend group are you?

57.Favorite Video Game?

58.Favorite Book?

59.Favorite Color?

60.Favorite Picrew(s)?(If you have one share it.)

61.Your art style?

62.Which of the 7 deadly sins you think represents you the most?

57.Personality Type?

58.Your hair color?

59.What is your dream self look like?(You can use Picrew to do this or describe in words)

58.Spirit Animal?

59.Are you more the fatherly or the motherly Type?

60.Favorite Holiday Memory?

61.Favorite Number?

62.Number of Followers?

63.Favorite Discord Mutual?

64.Favorite Discord Server?

65.Celebrity Crush?

66.Tik Tok Crush?

67.Twitter Crush?

68.Youtube Crush?

69.Which hurts worst stubbing your toe or hitting the scooter against your shin?

System Asks(Only for plural People):

1.Inner World?

2.Type of System?

3.Littles?

4.Number of Members?

5.How did you find out you were a system?

6.Facts about the protectors.

7.Facts about the persecutors.

8.Facts about Non-Human Members?

9.As the main and mostly fronting member.Do you have a fellow member you are close too?

10.Do you use Plural Kit or Tupperbox and what’s your thoughts on either of them?

This is for my over 1,000 followers special!

I might add more in the future.

Only Rule: You are free to Reblog this but remember to send the person you reblog this from asks.They reblog ask games for a reason.Thank you!

[literaticat]

I'm a rep'd PB illustrator and have my first PB which I wrote and illustrated on sub now. I'm confused as to what my relationship should be with my agent as primarily an illustrator. Should I ask her ideas of what to draw for my portfolio? Should I share all new art and stories with her? Or should I wait for her to reach out to me with publishing oppotunities? I'm overthinking this, but I really want to make the most out of us signing together.

Congratulations!

So I'd say it depends on what your goals are and how pro-active your agent is, but you should figure out what you want - - and then ask your agent what THEY think next steps etc are and how they'd like to approach it.

Do you want to potentially get illustration work in addition to your author-illustrator work? If so, I'd strongly suggest making sure your website / portfolio looks great, and your insta in particularly is updated often with new work, the best of which should also be added to your portfolio.

Ask your agent if she has suggestions for kicking your portfolio / online presence up a notch. And tell her -- "My goal is to get other illustration opportunities and do both other people's books as well as my own" (or whatever your goal is) so that she knows that and can "pitch you" when she is meeting with editors and art directors ands such, and hopefully give you good advice about tailoring your website.

Essentially -- it's on YOU to make sure you update your portfolio and socials, get new work out there, etc. Your agent can talk you up, and many agencies (like ours) do digital showcases or postcards or LookBooks or whatever else to help promote illustrators -- but your agent talking you up won't necessarily get you work -- it will just get eyeballs on your website and socials. So the BIGGEST thing you can do to help yourself once the eyeballs are there is to have new art rather than recycling the same five images over and over.

You don't need to share every piece of new art with her, that would be... a lot! -- but you should update your socials with it! And presumably she will see, too. Or if you have some spectacular new style you are working on, or some new passion that you really want to brainstorm a book about, etc, by all means drop her a line.

I probably wouldn't share every story concept you come up with ever -- but if you are actually to the stage of creating a dummy or writing a text, that seems like a good time to share. (And you can ask her -- maybe she wants to see every word you ever write! Or maybe she would prefer things that are more fully fleshed out. Etc.)

[gamegameygames]

QUEEN B Q&A - PART 1

Answering the questions we have: Chelsa Lauderdale; Senior Writer & Creative Lead - Maya; Book Lead - Amanda; Art Producer - Danielle; Art Lead

Q.1 - What was the inspiration for the creation of the series?

CHELSA {Irrelevant side thought, but cool name. Never seen it before.}: I've been asking to do a book like this for a while. So, I'm really glad that that finally happened. {Glad they finally applied 'messy' to a book correctly for once 🙂 and it's on purpose too!} It's a genre {Not sure what genre that is but I'd call it 'Mean Girls'} that I've kind of been obsessed with probably, at least, in part with because I'm low-key obsessed with fashion and glamour. {then please explain why some of the diamond hair styles are like that and incompatible to most of the faces 🥲 There's no most to least liked, its least ugly to most ugly} What I love most, um, and was most excited to do with this book was make something funny and relatable, um, even if the character lived in a world that's so different from anything I've personally experienced.

Q.2 - What was the process of getting the dialogue just right? Were you guys just sitting in a room and channeling Regina George at each other all day?

CHELSA: Uh, the short answer is yes. Um, but, right from the beginning I knew I wanted this book to be as funny and contemporary and subversive {uh, I guess, having a female student make a male professor uncomfortable (or making constant advances as PB would label it) is kinda subversive (in a fucked up way) of the usual set up of the trope??? Cause its super rare for it to be the other way around? At least in the media I've consumed??? (I'm either blessed or sheltered for that) as we could possible make it. I think it was important to me that the characters felt real, um, and to me that means having them speak like people I know or been around. Um, we also spent a lot of time getting the main character's inner dialogue just right so that it really felt like what someone would think to themselves in this absolutely bonkers setting, but never say out loud. {Damn, then I hope whoever was in charge of Baby Bump's inner dialogue learns a thing or two from you(r team). I prefer funny (whether it delivers or not) over 24/7 fetus obsession}

Q.3 How did you come up with the nicknames of the characters on The T?

CHELSA: So, all these nicknames have to do with a story from their history or specific role at Belvoir, like for example Michael "Tarzan" Spoors {You mean 'Carter' 👀}, um, got the nickname, in my mind, from breaking his leg after swinging on a frat house chandelier during a party. Um, as for other characters nicknames that we maybe haven't explained yet, um, maybe learn more about in book two {Cool, cool! 😃} or maybe it will forever be a mystery. {Not cool! 😥} or maybe you can make up a backstop yourself. {Got enough work making stuff up for y'all discontinued works and rushed plotting already 🥲 #NeverForgetNeverForgive}

PART 2

[anonymoushouseplantfan]

Submitted:

“I’ve found English style fabrics are a huge pain in the butt to find. Luckily the English roll arm sofa and the Chesterfield became trendy and now you can get them at affordable prices. Queen Anne dining chairs and wingback chairs are also relatively easy to find.

But the little details can be difficult unless you have antique stores nearby.”

You can do what a lot of people in the UK, including designers like Ben Pentreath, do – throw a blanket or piece of fabric over the sofa. Start with a basic solid color, and then find a kantha quilt or some such, to put over the back. Also, try to find sofa with slipcovers, which is very English : ) . 

I have two mahogany cane chairs, similar to this but bought at Altman’s 30 years ago, 

https://www.ballarddesigns.com/wimberly-caned-chair/556438

The original bottom and back cushions are green, but I swapped out the back cushions for large PB pillows like this,

https://www.potterybarn.com/products/basilia-print-pillow-cover/?pkey=call-pillows-throws-slipcovers&isx=0.0.585

https://www.potterybarn.com/products/navin-print-pillow-cover/?pkey=call-pillows-throws-slipcovers&isx=0.0.1049

And you can get gorgeous pillows for your sofas on Etsy – Lisa Fine, Peter Dunham (who is English but lives in LA), Penny Morrison, etc. Put a kantha quilt or block print throw or secondhand British plaid or paisley wool oversize shawl across the back of the sofa, add some great pillows, and you’re set. Especially if you have a good wool Persian rug on the floor : ) . 

Do NOT be afraid to use color and mix patterns. That French Coco Chanel thing about taking one thing off to be stylish? Forget it. If you want the English style at home or in your garden, add one more comfy pillow inside, and squeeze in another perennial outside!

A much less ornate and goes-with-everything style for dining chairs that some prefer is the “bar back” style, also called Trafalgar or George IV. And very easy to change the fabric on the seats. 

One good thing is that hardly anyone wants antique, vintage, or reproduction mahogany, oak, etc. wooden furniture. In the industry, it’s referred to as “brown stuff” and it’s sadly unpopular with customers. But that makes it much easier to find and more affordable to buy for those of us who do love the furniture and European style in general.

____________________________________________________________________ That’s exactly what I am trying to do with my two beige slipcovered English roll arm sofas. 

This is going to be a long story, so bear with me. My decor has always been blue and white with a bit of green or yellow thrown in but a few years ago I inherited some big abstract art pieces that are family heirlooms. They are red, green and gold and don’t fit well with my traditional decor so it’s been a headache even though I absolutely adore them.

I saw that Pntreath et. al. used a lot of red, so I’ve been experimenting with red kanthan cloth and red and gold pillows to see if I can get the living room to look right. I’m actually really happy with it. My one misstep is that I recovered  in a red stripe and added red pillows and I think that’s too much red. I’m going to leave it during Christmas because it’s very festive, but I want to tone it down next year. 

So thanks for the recommendations. I’ll see if I can find some beige fabric and pillows with just a bit of red embroidery.  

[flirting-with-psychology]

Choices Ask Game

Across the Void: What type of story would you like PB to release next?

Fantasy or mystery or sci-fi

America’s Most Eligible: Who’s your favorite villain?

Rourke probably

Bachelorette Party: What book are you most looking forward to playing in the future?

BOLAS book 2 or It Lives book 3 if they ever make it

Big Sky Country: Favorite storyline in a book? Least favorite storyline?

Favorite probably TCATF, really felt like a plot. Least favorite probably Baby Bump

Bloodbound: What has been your favorite “collections” (portrait pieces, the Freshman memory box, evidence, etc.) that books have done over the years?

I don't really do them because I don't have the diamonds, but the Endless Summer ones were cool and I at least watched people's replays

The Crown and the Flame: What was the first book you ever played?

The Crown and the Flame

A Courtesan of Rome: Do you play your MCs as yourself or as a character?

A character

Desire and Decorum: Have you ever had a hard time choosing between LIs? Who were they and why?

Dom and Raydan because Dom was best for Kenna and the plot but Raydan was my favorite

The Elementalists: Out of the powers the MCs have had in books, which is your favorite?

Maybe Endless Summer MC's

Endless Summer: What book have you replayed the most?

TCATF and Endless Summer, each 2 good plays and one fail play

The Freshman: What’s your favorite Choices “cameo” in other books?

I don't really have a favorite

The Haunting of Braidwood Manor: What’s your favorite one-off book? Do you think it needed a sequel?

The Heist Monaco and Across the Void, and yes they should get sequels

The Heist Monaco: What’s your favorite squad/friend group?

Endless Summer group

Hero: Which MC do you feel is most similar to you and why?

Idk? None of them really are

High School Story: Do you ever form backstories for your MCs? What are they?

A little bit but just enough to make a personality profile

Home for the Holidays: Is there a book you haven’t played yet? If so, why?

I've played all except the VIP books because it's too expensive

It Lives: Do you prefer one-offs, anthologies or series?

Depends on the series. If it's good I usually want 2 or 3

LoveHacks: Who’s your favorite LI?

Raydan. Close runners up are Sean Gayle, Michael Harrison, and Seth Levine (but only in book 1)

Most Wanted: What book would you most like a sequel to and why?

It Lives, Across the Void, BOLAS, Distant Shores, Elementalists, The Heist Monaco, Mother of the Year could all use another book

Nightbound: Favorite art style (MCs/backgrounds/LIs/etc.) in a book?

The original one that was realistic and painted-looking. Some of the newer ones look too fake like dolls

Open Heart: What’s your favorite pet you’ve adopted?

Furball from ES

Passport to Romance: What’s your least favorite book and why?

Sunkissed, Baby Bump, and Witness are probably tied for that position. Boring plots

Perfect Match: Have you come across anything in the books that surprised you?

There have been some twists I didn't see coming but I can't remember off the top of my head

Platinum: What book did you spend the most diamonds on? The least?

Most probably BOLAS, although I'm sure I would have spent a lot on Endless Summer if they had had the daily gift thing back then. About half the books I don't spend any diamonds on

Red Carpet Diaries: Have you ever written fanfiction for Choices? Read any fics?

No

Ride or Die: Good or bad, what book defied your expectations?

Endless Summer. I thought it was gonna just be a cartoony romance but it was so much better

The Royal Romance: What’s a plotline you feel like PB could have addressed better?

Anything where they paywall the actual plot. Also in MOTY I kind of wished that we could actually see her having a fresh start instead of the whole book being about the custody battle

Rules of Engagement: Do you like playing as multiple characters or do you prefer one MC?

Sometimes I like multiple characters

Sunkissed: What’s your favorite Choices book and why?

TCATF or Endless Summer

Veil of Secrets: What is a choice you’ve regretted making in the books? Why did you regret it?

I can't remember. Most of the time if I really regret it I go back and replay it

Wishful Thinking: What kind of representation would you like to see PB address in future books?

More male MCs, also more MCs that already know what they're doing

[ambitionsource]

wait i actually have more weirdly specific questions (if ur up to it) - how do the kids feel about poetry? do they follow any sports? what childhood tv shows were their favs? do they have celebrity crushes? fav coming of age movie? how are they doing in quarantine? what time in history were they obsessed w as a kid? have they ever been to summer camp? what type of candles do they like? what song do they cry to? how do they drink their coffee/tea sorry if u’ve answered already/too many questions

wooooo thank you for your patience iz!! we’re gonna go point by point

poetry?

charlie loves it genuinely and will read it for fun. riley likes it enough but doesn’t go out of her way to read it. farkle loves coming up with insane explanations for the metaphors and is smug about interpreting it in class. zay doesn’t care for it, neither does lucas. asher appreciates it but finds it boring; dylan likes it for the same reason farkle does, only not to look smart but to come up with something completely crackheaded to combat farkle’s interpretation (which he can’t then say isn’t correct, bc its poetry, so all interpretations are valid!). isa doesn’t like it because she doesn’t get the metaphors on paper the same way she can pick them up in film. maya hates it even though multiple people have pointed out that song lyrics are basically poetry -- she will tune you out.

sports?

sports aren’t Big at aaa (aside from dance), but there are remnants here and there. riley follows basketball of course -- even tho as demonstrated in 110, she cannot play it to save herself -- and she tried out for cheer in 9th grade at her old school but was rejected from the squad (another bad mark on a terrible year). farkle prefers wii sports over any actual sport, but will sometimes watch golf with stuart because it’s quality time with his very busy father. charlie did soccer when he was younger before it got phased out by dance and semi keeps up with it. dylan also “played” soccer, but this meant the other little league teammates getting pissed at him bc he never paid attention to the game and was just like “hey! hey, dennis, look at this!” and did like 3 cartwheels across the field. it was a smart move when randall pulled him from the team bc those intense soccer moms were gonna like beat them up fDJSKG. so now dylan is just an unofficial gymnast instead.

isa doesn’t like sports but played them a lot with foster siblings, and even though she sucks she gets very competitive. lucas liked baseball and was good at track in middle school, but he never thought about doing a sport for real because he knew he was going to quincy eventually where his dad is a coach... yeah. no. but he’s great at running fast from the police!

maya hates sports (aside from the art of dance). waste of time, waste of energy. asher has never done a sport nor ever contemplated a sport. the most Sport he’s endured is going with jade to support dave at his swim meets (where nigel also does swim) and suffice to say, asher wasn’t there to look at the swimming.

childhood tv?

dylan to this day is a spongebob squarepants STAN. legend, icon, scholar, best television show ever made, in his opinion. he also was well-versed in pokemon, adventure time, gravity falls, and phineas and ferb. asher and lucas both didn’t watch lots of tv growing up (if at all), so dylan considers it his job to give asher a thorough education in the quality tv he missed as a kid.

maya was all over hannah montana (miley is still a role model to this day for her), and she, zay, and charlie all remember the fever dream that was shake it up. zay especially loved it bc he was (is) obsessed with zendaya. zay and maya both also watched victorious. charlie was sharing a tv with four siblings so he just ended up watching whatever the dominant sister that day wanted to watch. riley was a disney channel girl, and farkle was a pbs scholar (arthur, cyber chase, fetch! with ruff ruff man... classics).

 celebrity crushes?

zay = zendaya (as previously mentioned). charlie = harry styles to a major degree, although his Cover Story would be zendaya if you asked (ironically). maya = britney spears (but in a I Want To Be Her way, major idolization rather than attraction) and technically the same for valerie de la cruz but like... rip to that lmao. isa = loki, yes we know, but sometimes it be that way (altho that does extend a little bit towards tom hiddleston in general). asher = logan lerman, aka the main valid white boy who dresses nice, is polite and soft-spoken, and minds his own business (not to mention he is the Same Type as dylan). dylan = had crushes more on like... personalities so like ash ketchum and percy jackson, and now its irrelevant bc he met asher and became obsessed and its like every other potential crush just flew out the window of his brain. it’s full asher territory in there nowadays.

riley doesn’t have a specific one, she thinks lots of people are Pretty but no one particularly strongly. farkle doesn’t have one because he’s insane and doesn’t have the mental capacity. lucas doesn’t have one because he’s demi and also hates most celebrities as people.

coming-of-age movie?

maya’s is mean girls. farkle’s is ladybird. zay’s is easy a. riley’s is bend it like beckham. isadora’s is eighth grade. charlie’s is dead poet’s society. asher’s is perks of being a wallflower. dylan’s is spiderman: into the spiderverse. lucas doesn’t know movies.

quarantine?

we’ve somewhat discussed this before, but ultimately es and i elected to let aaa remain in a nice, calm universe where they don’t have to endure covid. lucky them. blow a kiss to the ether for us, buds,

fave time in history?

riley is huge on ancient greece and greek mythology. maya loves the theatricality and Drama of the roaring 20s (a baby flapper at heart). zay vibes hard with the 80s. charlie likes the fashion and romanticism and music and art of the 70s (that sort of flowery positivity clashing with the rebelliousness of the movements of the 60s... yeah. that hits something in him). farkle’s is the great depression not only bc he’s an emo but also all the raw and desperate art that came out of it. isadora was a egyptian mythology kid. i know lucas sounds lame (he is), but i don’t think he cares about history -- but if pushed he’d probably say the 90s bc he dresses like he’s straight out of there, everyone was angry rocking, and he wasn’t born. asher likes the victorian era bc of the sheer elegance and Aesthetic to everything. dylan doesn’t have a favorite time period because due to being the subconscious multiverse conduit (i.e. the being that is somewhat connected to every other version of himself) sometimes he wakes up and for a minute he doesn’t even know what year it is 🤪anyway...

summer camp?

charlie has been to many a christian youth summer camp. zay went to the kossal program, but that was basically it. lucas no although he probably wished he could be anywhere else during the summer sometimes including a camp he would hate. riley went for a few years in elementary school. isa has gone to a couple of “foster kid” summer camp bonding things that she despised. farkle went to jewish summer camp One time and was like that was HORRIBLE, never make me spend a whole summer outside AGAIN. asher was more of a Enrichment courses at the rec center during the summer kid than a camper. dylan no because the orlandos couldn’t afford something like that. same for maya.

candles?

riley has a small variety of scented ones that are like... warm scents, like cinnamon and stuff. asher a couple that smell like clean linen but his fear of accidental fires keeps him from ever lighting them. maya has one and it smells like “star power,” a gift from her mom one christmas. isadora can’t have any because many of her foster homes don’t allow them. lucas legally shouldn’t be allowed anything that catches on fire. dylan doesn’t have one but similarly should not be given one. the minki have a whole collection for different things so farkle can just pluck one at any time if he needs one like for a super fancy bath or whatever the fuck rich people do.

mental breakdown song?

charlie’s are “falling” and “from the dining table” by harry styles.

riley’s is “manhattan” by sara bareilles and “rainbow” by kacey musgraves.

zay’s are “imagine” by ariana and “dear life” from the step up soundtrack (post zc breakup).

farkle’s are “vienna” by billy joel and “get it right” from glee.

asher’s is “don’t cry” by ruel.

isa’s is “you are my sunshine” because valerie used to sing it to her a lot when she was really little, so it will always make her a little emotional.

dylan’s (although rare) are “soon you’ll get better” by ts and “make you feel my love” by adele. the second one is because his mom loved adele when she was just starting out bc 19 was released the same year that she passed away so there’s a lot of like subconscious association there even if he doesn’t realize it.

maya doesn’t have one, and lucas also doesn’t have one because in the rare moments he does cry its in his closet in the dark silence alone bc he literally can’t stand the sentience of knowing he’s crying so. sensory blackout.

coffee / tea?

riley will add at least 3 sugars to anything, but she’s ultimately an iced tea gal. lucas drinks it black but only because it never occurred to him to add anything to it and so it’s a big wake up call when he realizes you can drink it and have it NOT be bitter and horrible and demoralizing ( “i thought we were all just suffering for the caffeine fix??” ). isa is a tea girl mostly, although she wishes she could drink black coffee for the aesthetic (and hates that lucas can... it’s like... he didn’t even Earn that aestheticism, smh). asher doesn’t drink caffeine bc it makes him Jittery (and he’s already jittery) so he’s like... the lemonade bitch at coffee shops which kin, and then dylan definitely drinks caffeine but not thru coffee, he’s more likely to get like a hot chocolate.

farkle lives on coffee but he can only drink it from home because they’re rich and can have like fresh ground good imported whatever the heck etc etc so he’s like spoiled about coffee. zay will hit up a starbucks now and then and will order coffee at a diner, but he’s not too attached either way. maya is a fun n free starbucks gal with her frappes and lattes and lots of cream (whipped or otherwise). charlie doesn’t drink coffee or tea bc hes hyper aware of his body and health (he doesn’t really have soda either) and it was frowned upon in his house.

[sfarticles]

Holiday Cookbooks: The Gift That Keeps On Cooking........

I know that I’m not alone when it comes to reading cookbooks similarly to the way one would read a novel. The cookbooks that interest me tell a story about the recipes and the author, or have a unique theme. Who else is a fan of single-subject cookbooks? Those that feature a certain ingredient in each of its recipes.  

There are those who follow comedian Rita Rudner’s quote, “I read recipes the same way I read science fiction. I get to the end and say to myself, ‘well, that’s not going to happen.” However, they still enjoy a cookbook as a “prop”, or appreciate a beautiful coffee table book, where not one recipe is used, but the glossy cover has mouth-watering visuals.  

This is the time of year when so many cookbooks are released; just in time for gift-giving season. Going through my ever-increasing collection, I picked some for you to consider as a gift for the cooks on your list. I am sure you will find one to buy for the cook-in-you too.

With kids spending more time at home these days, it is important to keep them occupied with fun activities. And, what child doesn’t enjoy spending time in the kitchen, and then enjoying the results of their efforts?  Written for 8 to 13 year olds, “The Complete DIY Cookbook for Young Chefs,” by the editors of America’s Test Kitchen (2020, $19.99)  teaches them to prepare common store-bought items from scratch.  From peanut butter, chocolate hazelnut spread, and apple sauce to bagel chips, cheddar cheese fish crackers, and strawberry Pop Tarts, to vanilla no-churn ice cream, hot fudge, pancake mix, hot cocoa mix, they probably won’t go back to store bought! The symbols for each recipe denote if the recipe is for a beginner, intermediate or advance recipe, and if the recipe requires the use of a knife, microwave, stove, oven or no knife or heat required. I found the pages dedicated to secrets for “Success in the Kitchen,” “Decoding Kitchenspeak,” “What’s Up With Ingredients?,” “How to Measure and Weigh,” and ”Essential Prep Steps,”  provide the perfect introduction to cooking. The “DIY Mixes��� chapter details ways for kids to make homemade holiday gifts.

A companion book to the above title, is “Kitchen Explorers: 60+ Recipes, Experiments, and Games for Young Chefs,“ also by the editors of America’s Test Kitchen (2020, $12.99. The workbook format structures at-home learning, making it easy for parents to use the kitchen as a classroom. Experiments using food, interactive games and kid-centered recipes, allow youngsters to practice skills in a fun way. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on science experiments and activities, as I learned a few things along the way.  Experiments include “What Makes Fizzy Drinks Fizzy?,” “The Gooey Science of Melting Cheese,” Amazing Emulsions.” After the experiments are completed, the “Understanding Your Results” helps the learning process. The “For Grown-Ups” chapter, created by educational experts, helps guide learning and connect lessons in the workbook to school curriculum.  With “STEAM,” kids will learn how cooking involves Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.  

Bakers and dessert lovers will appreciate “Holy Sweet!: 60 Indulgent Recipes for Bigger, Better Desserts,” by Peabody Johanson (2020, Page Street Publishing, $21.99).  Like the author, I have a sweet tooth too, so it has been added to my collection. This book was inspired by the author’s childhood favorites. Her introduction, mouth-watering photos, fun-to-read headnotes to each recipe, and  the creative creations drew me to the book. Johanson takes pies, cakes, cookies, and cupcakes and infuses them with flavors of cereal, ice cream, candy and booze. Think, Milky Way Pie, Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Bread Pudding, Cap’n Crunch Boston Cream Pie Layer Cake.  And perfect for the holidays, Peppermint Bark Red Velvet Layer Cake. Now don’t you feel like a kid in a candy store?

Brunch seems to have reemerged as a new craze. During the winter months, I prefer eating brunch, especially on Sundays. “Let’s Brunch: 100 Recipes for the Best Meal of the Week,” by Belinda Smith-Sullivan (2020, Gibbs Smith, $24.99) celebrates the meal that isn’t going away. The author writes in her introduction, “brunch just might become the new dinner party.” When life gets back to normal, this book will be a welcome addition to those who like to entertain. In the meantime, they have many recipes to explore. The chapter “Breads & Toppings,” has a recipe for one my favorites, Sweet Potato Buttermilk Biscuits.  Pannettone Grand Marnier French Toast, Brisket –Stuffed Herb Cornbread, with recipes for jams, syrup and flavored butters to round out the chapter. Starters include Smoked Salmon Blinis, plus Jumbo Shrimp and Lump Crab with Vodka Cocktail Sauce. Of course, Smith-Sullivan includes many egg dishes and sides. Desserts run the gamut with Lemon Curd and Gingersnap Trifle, Savory Spice Olive Oil Loaf Cake among others. And what brunch is complete without a cocktail? Pomegranate Mimosa, and Chef Belinda’s Creole Mary should fit the bill.

Cheese aficionados on your list will welcome I Heart Cheese: A Cookbook, 60 Ooey, Gooey, Delicious Meals for Serious Cheese Lovers, by Mihaela Metaxa-Albu (2020, Page Street Publishing, $19.99). The vivid photography of the dishes coupled with the elegant plating will make the reader want to get right to work, preparing the mouth-watering dishes using a variety of cheeses. I found the breakdown of the chapters by type of cheese helpful. Before each chapter’s recipes, there are details and nuances about the cheeses in the chapter with suggestions on how to draw out the best flavors of each cheese. Both sweet and savory dishes are included, such as Ricotta Coconut Almond Cake, Savory Chili and Grana Padano Cookies, Deconstructed Cheese Board Salad, Savory Pancakes with Crumbled Feta and Chives. The recipient will enjoy their journey to cheese heaven with these recipes.

One doesn’t have to be vegetarian or vegan to enjoy plant based cooking. This style of cooking is popular because of the growing interest in healthier eating and sustainability. “The Complete Plant Based Cookbook: 500 Inspired, Flexible Recipes for Eating Well Without Meat,” by the editors of America’s Test Kitchen (2020, $34.99), is the book to help its recipients prepare meals that are not only healthy where vegetables take the center of the plate, but in a tasty and creative way. I found the makeovers of comfort foods quite interesting. For example, PB & J transforms into Sautéed Grape and almond Butter Toast, featuring fresh grapes sautéed with lemon and thyme, topping crusty bread slathered with almond butter. The book gives the reader inspiration to create plant-forward meals that don’t use processed ingredients. And, those beautiful photos are inspiring, as are their renown signature headnotes; “Why this Recipe Works.”

What cookbook roundup list would be complete without one for chocoholics? I am sure you or someone on your list is one. From everyday recipes to more extravagant treats, Sabine Venier, author of “The Chocolate Addict’s Baking Book,” (2020, Page Street Publishing), shares tips and tricks on how to make it easy to incorporate chocolate into a plethora of dessert recipes. Now, who wouldn’t savor S’Mores Chocolate Cheesecake Bars, Zucchini Chocolate Olive Oil Bars, White Chocolate Carrot Cake Blondies, or Sweet Potato Chocolate Cinnamon Roll Pie, or Apple Cider Chocolate Macadamia Toffee? Venier’s flavor combinations are creative and meld well. For those that prefer standards, there are recipes for Soft Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies, Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting, Brooklyn Blackout Chocolate Cupcakes and Flourless Chocolate Cake. 

[autisticandroids]

2, 6, 12, 14, 27, 47.... foods questions

2. Grilled cheese or PB&J?

pbj, always. i like grilled cheese, sometimes. there are some truly delectable grilled cheese sandwiches out there. and it’s hard to beat a grilled cheese with your tomato soup on a cold night.

but peanut butter is the forbidden fruit. 

my mother is allergic to a great many things. this has influenced my taste in two ways. some of the foods she can’t eat, i have developed a serious distaste for. shellfish, salmon, most preparations of eggplant, etc. even some things which she dislikes because even though she’s not allergic to, it seems that she ought to be, like coconut, i hate.

but sometimes it went the opposite way. some of these forbidden foods - tamarind, pumpkin seeds, sesame, cherries - i covet. peanut butter is in this second category.

though i must say, i don’t usually go for jam on my peanut butter sandwiches. i tend to go elvis style, banana slices and honey. occasionally i will treat myself to a fluffernutter, a monstrosity which, if you have never lived in new england, i gleefully invite you to google.

6.  Top three cuisines?

okay. i’m officially declaring that this will be americanized versions only. i’ve traveled a lot, over the course of my life, and i’ve always eaten like a king, even in countries whose national cuisine is universally reviled. but i feel like it’s unfair to compare that way, you know? so this is gonna be just for stuff i eat in america, or make at home.

- italian food, but only the way they do it in new haven, connecticut, and surrounding areas. 

- chinese food because if you told me right now if i could never eat another bao i’d die on the spot, actually. this is also cheating a little because some of the chinese food i cook myself is a lot more like chinese-chinese food than americanized chinese food, since i’ve actually been to china and stuff, but even if i were to never cook my own chinese food again and only ate at american chinese restaurants it would still be on here.

- third is hard. third is hard. thai food? polish food? indian food? vietnamese food? it’s hard. i think i’m going to have to go with japanese food. i would be a hypocrite if i didn’t, because i just spent two hours making a passable imitation of takoyaki, with vegetarian fish chunks. 

i feel kind of odd about this, because i’ve always had the sense that americanized japanese food is even further from japanese-japanese food than most americanized cuisines, because it’s so limited in scope. like, american japanese food is pretty limited to either sushi, or trendy street food/ramen places. 

i always had the impression that, for example, while american chinese food is very americanized, and really only reflects the cuisine of guangdong, it might at least have something to do with what immigrants from guangdong were eating at home during the early waves of chinese immigration. i have similar impressions with other immigrant cuisines. but i do not have this impression with american japanese food, since it was really limited to sushi and whatever side dishes sushi places sold, and the expansion of things like ramen shops and street food in the last few years seem to be driven less by immigration and more by a rising trend of mainstream western culinary orientalism and weeabooism. so i feel like it’s probably incorrect to claim japanese food is one of my favorite cuisines since the american version of it is so limited.

also, just realized that i would die for a good banh mi right now so i’m changing my answer, vietnamese food.

12.  What do you get on your bagels? What WOULD you get if you had access to anything you wanted?

you can’t go wrong with a good egg and cheese. i nearly always get an egg and cheese. they’re unbeatable.

sometimes, in a certain mood, i will get strawberry cream cheese instead. sometimes, in a very certain mood, i might get just plain cream cheese, but that’s unusual.

it really does not matter what you get on a bagel. what makes or breaks a bagel sandwich is not the filling, but the bagel itself. a good bagel could make sawdust and coffee grounds delicious, and no filling on earth can save a bad bagel. 

there are, of course, mediocre bagels in the world, but those are best treated with the same respect as ordinary sandwich bread, and filled accordingly.

14.  Favorite mug you own

i don’t own a ton of mugs, but since, i’m home with my parents right now, and they have a whole collection, i’ll give me favorite of theirs, which is my mom’s spock mug.

what makes this mug special is that it’s as big in terms of volume as a cappuccino mug without actually being one. instead of being as wide or wider than it is tall like a cappuccino mug, it has the same proportions as a normal mug, just scaled up. this makes it easier to hold, and easier to drink from, while still being fucking huge. plus, the wide mouths of cappuccino mugs when compared to their height mean that anything held in them goes cold in five seconds flat, while this mug has the upright shape of a traditional mug and so holds heat longer.

also, this mug has spock on it.

27.  What section do you immediately head for when you walk into a bookstore?

i’m not a huge bookstore person? i’m very hesitant about acquiring new material possession which have a finite term of usefulness, even moreso if i have to actually pay for them, and i am well aware that i will read most books only once, and some not at all. for actual reading material, i tend to prefer libraries or ebooks, to keep from adding more unmanageable clutter to my disastrous living space. libraries especially, since they’re free, and also i have a deadline to either read the damn book or give up on it.

in libraries, i tend to head for either the y.a. or adult genre fiction sections, since that’s what i go for, though usually when i come into a library i already have a book in mind. i also tend to head to audiobooks. i love audiobooks, they’re wonderful, i’ve gotten through so many books that way.

however, when i do go to bookstores, i don’t go to the stuff i would normally actually read. in more chain-y, new-book bookstores, i tend to go to the novelty books, the kind of stuff libraries don’t have. coffee table books with pictures of cats, comic collections, joke books. and i tend to check out the displays, see what’s up. 

i’m also way more likely to go to the nonfiction sections of these kinds of bookstores than used bookstores or libraries, for two reasons. first, because i tend to think nonfiction makes for good gifts. if you give someone a book it comes with strings attached, no matter what, but those strings are different for different kinds of books. a novel comes with an obligation to read it cover to cover, and not just read it, but enjoy it, or at least come up with an interesting opinion on its contents. a nonfiction book does not have to be enjoyable, merely informative, and it’s a lot easier to be informed by a book than to like one. plus, most of the time you don’t actually need to read the whole thing, because although they do tend to have overall arcs and maybe overarching arguments, a lot of nonfiction books can be informative even if consumed in small chunks. second, because in chain-y, new book bookstores, the nonfiction section tends to be glutted with the sort of fun, digestible pop-nonfiction that i tend to read if i must go for nonfiction, while libraries and used bookstores run more towards the drier, probably more informative but less enjoyable sort.

in used bookstores, i tend towards a different pattern. what i look for in used bookstores is stuff that’s interesting because it’s old. cookbooks, art books, fifty cent science fiction novels. i especially like very old history and social science books; near my college there was a used bookstore that had an entire shelf of psychoanalysis books, and another of histories of like, medieval european art and design, all written in like the forties. the kind of stuff that’s out of print so wouldn’t be in a new bookstore, but is probably outdated, inaccurate, useless, and unpopular, so it isn’t in too many libraries either.

47.  How do you top your ice cream?

i’m not a huge ice cream person? like, ice cream gives me a stomach ache pretty much uhhhh always. if i’m having it in my house, scooped into a bowl, i don’t generally top it with anything, ditto with stuff i get from an ice cream shop, but the most common way i eat ice cream is actually in like, bar form? like you know those dove bars, like a bar of vanilla ice cream dipped in chocolate. does that count?

i definitely like stuff mixed into my ice cream, i’m a fiend for cookie dough and brownie chunks. maybe my favorite ice cream flavor ever came from a local ice cream shop which has tragically since shut down. it was called kettle crunch and it had chocolate covered potato chips mixed in.

i guess i always get toppings at like, those trendy froyo places that go by weight and have a buffet of toppings? but honestly, when i go to those places, i rarely get any actual froyo. usually i just fill my bowl with popping boba because they always have it and i love it. i get some fruit too, and sometimes i get some of the candy, like a few gummy worms or a kit kat. but the popping boba is the star of the show.

ok now i’ve gotten distracted researching buying popping boba online. apparently it’s not hard, but it seems like a lot of the time it comes in seven pound bucket. like i could get a small amount of the common flavors, but i have just now right now discovered that there is such a thing as chocolate popping boba and i’m losing it because it only comes in seven pound buckets but i need it.

also, chilli pepper popping boba, which has the same problem, but also holy fuck.

[vaguelygeiszlerian]

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ok i just saw this existed, i live on tumblr mobile where i ignore the activity tab and scroll endlessly, bear w me

Animated character that was your gay awakening? uhhhhhhh,,,....,,,.. if i remembered anything abt my childhood i would tell u, im gonna say rukia from bleach because i want gorgeous short people to step on me

Grilled cheese or PB&J? peanut butter Always... tho if it was a fancy grilled cheese (there is a special preparation).... i would be torn

What show/YouTube video(s) do you put on in the background when you when you don’t have anything to watch but you want something on? it really depends! i bounce around, i watch a lot of baumgartner restorations, i watch a LOT of nyx fears video essays on horror movies i would never watch, i watch longplays of, like, nier automata bc im still delighted by cryaotic?

Your go-to bar order, if you drink? i dont really get to order a lot of drinks at bars, itll depend, if im with friends ill order as many things off the cocktail menu as my money allows, if im with my parents ill order long island iced teas or whiskey and lemonade

What’s your favorite pair of shoes that you own? i literally own like 3 pairs of shoes, one of which being the only pair i can actually safely wear haha.... but my favorite pair is the black red and gold converse that dont fit anymore but still remind me of high school

Top three cuisines? mexican, italian, whomever the fuck invented kasoundi

What was your first word as a child (that wasn’t a variation of “Mom” or “Dad”)? yeah as said above i have no clue about anything about my childhood so idk i think mum said once that my first proper word was just ‘no’ which sounds abt right

What’s a job that you’ve had that people might be surprised to find out you’ve had? idk if my last job counts? i mean i used to do all round garden labor stuff until my pain got worse and i literally couldnt anymore so i got relegated to desk work

Look up. What’s directly across from you? oh a container of pesto i didnt like the flavour of and just... forgot to throw out.... i will do that tomorrow

Do you own any signed books/memorabilia in general? i have a rwby poster signed by ray and jack? its p cool

Preferred way to spend a rainy day? preferred right now? wrapped in a metric fuckton of blankets w my partner

What do you get on your bagels? What WOULD you get if you had access to anything you wanted? i..... dont like bagels

Brunch or midnight snacks? i live a weirdly scheduled life, midnight snacks and brunch are interchangeable to me now, so both

Favorite mug you own i..... dont really have one? all of my actual mugs that are mine have my deadname on them haha

What coffee drink would you describe yourself as? overbrewed black coffee that someone left to go cold before dumping six packs of sugar in

Pick a song lyric to describe your current mood (and drop the name and artist!) ‘ And I don't want your pity I just want somebody near me ‘ bc we all love a bit of mitski when we are feeling the self isolation creeping in

Fruity or herbal teas? fruity teas only! or rather i drink fruit tisanes! but if you mean actual tea then herbal, i only drink peppermint tea

What’s that one TV show that you’re a little bit embarrassed to watch but you still like nonetheless? fruits basket! everyone watch the reboot

That book you were forced to read for class but actually ended up enjoying? all the books i read for class sucked but medea wasnt so bad

Do you match your socks? only when theyre very fun patterned socks, and even then sometimes i will match them to the wrong pair but the same pattern, aka my double watermelon combo (i have a pair of green socks w watermelons and a pair of black socks w watermelons so)

Have you ever been horseback riding? no and i never will because i am fucking terrified of horses

What was your “phase” when you were younger? (i.e., Mythology Nerd, Horse Girl, Space Geek, etc) uh.... uh i mean im not sure if it counts as a phase but i was stupid into vampires (to the point of me and my friends constructing the intricate theory that our teacher was a vampire and we had to kill her by the time we graduated (she was not and we did not and i hate all of those people now) i was just the weird conspiracy kid i guess, we used to spend every lunch staring across the oval at a house we were SURE an alien lived in (it was just a plastic bag being rustled by a fan)

Have you ever been to jail? bkdnbrb god no

What’s your opinion on Lazy Susan’s (the spinning tray in the middle of tables)? im a lazy susan

Puzzles? i cant solve a rubiks cube but give me a 2000 piece jigsaw and ill sit there for 6 hours trying to solve it

You can only have one juice for the rest of your life, what is it? oh this is tough..... orange juice, the fancy kind but with no bits in it, i used to like the bits but these days i just want a clean juice experience

What section do you immediately head for when you walk into a bookstore? ,,,,,,the ya fiction section, i never buy anything from there but i like to see if series i read as a teenager ever got new instalments after i stopped liking them

What’s one thing you’re trying to learn/relearn in your downtime right now? how to sleep like a normal person

Who’s your go-to musical artist when you’re feeling upbeat? uh, it depends! lizzo or my playlist of musicals! (which is literally just starkid/tcb stuff)

Where could someone find you in a museum? i could literally be anywhere, probably in front of some old piece though, just staring for an hour bc im struck by the majesty of it (and my legs probably locked up so i couldnt move anyway)

What’s that one outfit in your closet you never get the chance to wear but want to? so i have a nice white button up and some really nice jeans i just got, and my suspenders, and my cool blue heels that i know i cant wear bc my legs cant handle walking in heels anymore, but it would look cool am i right

Rainbows, stars, or sunset colored clouds? i look up at my roof which is almost entirely covered in glow in the dark stars and then stare into the camera (i wish every day that my roof was like the roof of the healthy harold van, i still have fucking dreams of that beautiful ceiling)

If you could own any non-traditional pet (dogs, cats, fish, rodents, etc), what would it be? non traditional? id want a lizard that could curl round my shoulders like a leathery scarf

Do you have more art on your walls or more photographs? i dont have any photos on my wall so art by default

You have to get one meme tattooed on your body, what meme is it and where does it go? i just want the pensive emoji tattooed in the small of my back so if i wear a crop top everyone has to suffer with me

Pick a superhero sidekick to hang out with fuck superheroes they suck, can i hang out with jason todd red hood style

Lakes, rivers, or oceans? oceans, i want to go to the beach so fucking bad

Favorite mid-2000s song i dont really have a Big Favorite but like..... i constantly thank god for esteban

How do you dress when you’re home alone? ive been in the same sweatpants and old paint shirt i got from my painting and decorating course for three days

Where do you sit in the living room (we all have a preferred spot, and you know it)? armchair closest to the kitchen, perfect to make a quick escape if dad comes in

Knives or swords? knives, i dont have the upper body strength for swords

A song you didn’t think you’d enjoy but ended up loving? oh uh run away with me by crj, *bwoooooooo buhnuhnuuuuuu buhnuhnuuuuuhhh buhnuhnuuuuhhhhh*

Pick an old-school Disney Channel Original Movie HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL BUT SPECIFICALLY ONLY CERTAIN PARTS FROM EACH OF THEM BC COLLECTIVELY THEY SUCK BUT PARTS OF THEM ARE PERFECT

Are you a “Quote that relates to the photos” caption-er, an “explanation of where I took the photos” caption-er, or a no caption kinda person when you post pictures online? no caption i dont want people to really acknowledge that i post things

Name a classic Vine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anQds9PQ7CA

What’s the freezer food that you stock up on when you go to the grocery store? hash browns hash browns hash browns ONLY

How do you top your ice cream? god its been so long since ive been able to eat ice cream.... with the reeses peanut butter ice cream shell topping

Do you like Jello? jelly is the pinnacle of our society and i wish i were eating it right now

What’s something that you don’t have a picture of that you wish you did? i wish i had a picture of myself and my partner so i could set it as my phone lock screen (that or i wish i had a picture of me and a friend i really dearly miss bc i have pics of her in my phone but not of us together and i want some but i cant bring myself to say so)

How are you at climbing trees? theres a tree in my front yard i used to be able to hang off but nowadays i think id hurt myself just trying to lift my nasty meat sack off the ground trying

[the-light-of-stars]

Stories I’d love to see on Choices

- or similar visual novel apps

- a story set in 19th century Paris, more specifically Montmartre. MC is a budding artist from the countryside, trying to get known. Of course trying to become part of the Boheme isn’t as easy as expected.

- A Western, but not a modern one like Big Sky Country, but something like ���Once upon a Time in the West’ - you know, a small town, a gold mine, horses, bandits that rob post trains, wanted posters, the whole shebang

- a sci fi book , but like, with actual aliens that not just look like elves, and with drama. Maybe there’s a strange disease spreading across the galaxy and MC is a scientist on a ship sent to find a cure by finding out what that disease even is and where it came from all of a sudden

- or like, a sci fi book similar to ‘2001: A space odyssey’ where Mc and co are from regular earth sent to explore strange signals from space but in the end they uncover things that could change history

- a mystery set in a small seaside town , including a lighthouse, where the fog hides terrible secrets , such as a cult meddling with (and sacrificing people to) beings beyond our dimension (also set around the 19th century)

- A film noir style mystery book, where the whole art is in black and white and MC is a detective

- Something set in a cyberpunk dystopia. With a lot of neon lights, and rain, preferably. Bonus points if said dystopia is like a mix of cyberpunk and art nouveau. (Do you know the game ‘Transistor’? Like that.)

- Something in a non cyberpunk dystopia, preferably with those ultra smooth white futuristic design aesthetics (aka everything looks like it was designed by apple), (maybe its supposedly in a desert wasteland but as it turns out that earth being deserted was just a lie the authoritarian city government made up to keep the citizens in line?) Kind of like if you mix ‘Metropolis’ and ‘1984’ with ‘A brave new world’.

- More supernatural mysteries (like ILITW , basically I’m just really hyped for book 2)

- Something set in different cultures, like South American, Asian or African ones?

- if you remember that show “H2O - just add water” , something like that would be nice

- high fantasy, with elves and dwarves and dragons, and all that jazz.

- also something that reads like an adaption of a fairytale , but not something like Cinderella, I’m talking things like ‘the six swans’, ‘Prince Ironheart’, ‘the brother and sister’ , ‘the snow queen’ or heck, even ‘Beauty and the beast’

- A book about witches or dark magic, set in 17th/18th century Europe maybe? In Germany or one of the Slavic countries because imo those have the best witch myths. Do you know ‘Krabat’ (a novel and movie)? Kinda like that. Bonus points if somehow Baba Yaga is involved.

- A superhero book (no, ‘Hero’ doesn’t count)

- Something set in Ancient Greece , Rome or Egypt. Idea: MC is a time traveler and in three books travels to each of these respectively - those could be without magic/ mythology, but more about idk, political ploys OR MC has to retrieve magic artifacts or something

- But also something where MC is actually Ancient Greek and gets involved in the gods businesses, which ofc leads to problems.

- Do you know how awesome a story set in ancient Mesopotamia would be??

- Something set on post apocalyptic earth

- Also a zombie apocalypse book, maybe?

- Definitely something like ‘the da Vinci code’

- A book set in renaissance Italy , preferably Venice. Florence is also good, but Venice provides more aesthetic™ imo. Might or might not include some secret group/ cult and political intrigue.

- A book set in the 20s, PB seems to love to include random speakeasies, so here they would make sense.

- Something urban fantasy-ish. Where MC discovers the existence of supernatural beings in their city (kinda like Bloodbound but with more idk, mystery? )

- Someting set in modern times where MC moves to the countryside , gets lost in the woods and discovers that there is a whole parallel world of magical beings

- something in an ancient South American culture would be neat.

- that reminds me: Something Indiana-Jones-y

- Also a pirate book (could include mythological creatures or not)

- Something steampunk, maybe set in Asia, I haven’t seen much Asian steampunk yet, I think it would be interesting

- Something with ghosts - I loved THoBMs aesthetic and story, but it was a way too short book

- Murder Mystery novel, but not like VoS or MW (I mean yeah something like that, too), no I mean set up like a game of Clue

- But also something that reminds of classical novels, like..idk, Crime and Punishment , would be cool.

- For some reason I’d also love to see something with horses. But! Maybe with a mysterious or magical twist, like..the horse MC rescues is actually not a normal horse at all.

That’s 33 stories, I think the post is now long enough - although tbh I can think of more. Oh wait, I forgot something I definitely wanted to mention:

- A spy book , where MC gets into a moral dilemma at some point

- A book where MC is part of a group of master thieves, maybe they’ll rob a casino or some rich guys mansion. Or a museum (although museums don’t deserve to be robbed) ? An Antagonistic MC would be so cool