#know your oils

[biggest-gaudiest-patronuses]

woke up and someone spilled vanilla extract all over my dash, so as punishment you strange little beasties are getting all the VANILLA FACTS i know:

vanilla is the 2nd most expensive spice in the world (2nd to saffron)

which is why more than 99% of what we call "vanilla extract" is actually vanillin (vanilla's dominant flavor compound) and is not extracted from real vanilla.

luckily, even professionals struggle to tell the difference when it comes to things like baked goods. but there is a distinct difference in non-heat treated products like vanilla ice cream. real vanilla has a more complex, individualized flavor profile.

why is vanilla so expensive? because it is a ridiculously delicate & demanding crop. complete primadonna.

vanilla beans come from vanilla orchids. these crazy flowers bloom for A SINGLE DAY and have to be HAND-POLLINATED in a process that is exhausting, delicate, and requires specialist knowledge passed down over generations.

then, if you're lucky, you get vanilla beans.

which then require months of further specialized treatment.

the entire process takes about a year and can go wrong at any stage

vanilla has been cultivated for over 800 years (possibly much longer). the first known cultivators are the Totonac, an indigenous people of Mexico.

the Aztecs used it as a sweetener to balance out the bitter taste of cocoa. it was popular in a drink called xocolatl--the precursor to modern hot chocolate!

it is only pollinated by a very specific orchid bee!!!

which is why no fruit could be grown outside of Mexico until the 1800s

Edmond Albius, born into slavery, invented the pollination method we still use today--launching a global industry when he was just 12 years old.

today, the majority of the world's vanilla is grown in Madagascar

if you want real vanilla, read the labels carefully--it's harder to find than you think!

in conclusion, those tiny black specks you see in fancy vanilla ice cream? those are vanilla bean seeds! itty bitty orchid seeds!!! they are delicious and also a PRISSY BITCH!

(src)

[galway-bae]

ran a fool’s errand at work today

[yeenie-baby]

Too many people draw Spamton like some anime twink and not like the sleazy middle aged man he is who's trying to steal your wallet by any means necessary. The speculated age based on the first spam email is 45 year old!!!!!

Give him a bit of a gut and the start to a receding hairline or beat me to death. This man is WEIRD!! He's sketchy!! He's desperate!! He's damaged!! He's corrupted!! He's STRONG and DANGEROUS!! He does not have a skincare routine!! He'll borrow your umbrella just to sell it back to you!!! Give him bags under his eyes and grey in his hair!! He's tired! He's stressed!

You can draw him pint sized all you want but drawing him like some college yaoi twunk??? Over my dead body 👹

[fairuzfan]

Zionists/Symathizers who say "Palestinians should be taken by Egypt/Lebanon/Jordan and just live there forever" have no idea what a refugee camp is like.

[giygas]

Can't get the "Marcille running her bloody hands through her precious, pristine hair" moment out of my head, so I just HAVE to draw it

[ashmp3]

i don’t think people realize how alienating and lonely it is to not have romantic interactions as a teen. Not that i think being in a relationship at that age would do me any good but it would make me feel more normal and less unlovable for sure

[tyrannosnore]

okay consider this

[licorishh]

i love og soap too much. my stomach hurts. i don't feel good.

[cotgar2]

Local teenager(s?) hyper fixating on a passing frog. You can’t tell me they wouldn’t

Meanwhile unsurprisingly:

[demigod-of-the-agni]

Sometimes I think about ATSV Pavitr's design, and I just. man thought an integral part of his costume is to have his hair out. like it's just there, a full mane of hair, perfectly styled with 0 effort, out in the sunshine for all to see.

He's so full of himself, to think that his hair is an important aspect of his presentation. Narcissus-level of self-love. You know I'm right, that the top portion of his mask is open so that his ego can just ooze directly out of his brain to moisturise his scalp and oil his hair

[rickybaby]

[bumblingbabooshka]

Romulans, yes or no? 👉👈

Romulans...YES!

Urasa:

Urasa was abandoned by his father as part of some double-cross/life lesson about being weak. He met a Klingon boy named Adokthosh and saw that he was weak and cowardly compared to the others around him. Urasa ran away from the care of his Romulan bretheren and the two of them began working together to get to the top of the Klingon empire through lying, cheating, bribing, and stealing. I'm sure that'll all go well for them! I'm also sure there won't be any complicated romantic feelings. Bartovka:

She & Asil (Tuvok's daughter) have a longrunning evil-doer vs gallant hero thing going on. Thankfully Bartovka is usually easily foiled because she loves expositing about her devious plans and also is so full of herself that she makes it kinda easy to defeat her.

She figured out she was trans because of Asil. The two of them get in a lot of …. situations. Together.

She has two kids and a wife that she's trying to avoid at all costs because she's pretty sure they'll try to kill her if they find her. Or worse, she'll have to pay child support.

[stopthatfool]

this is your monthly reminder that i can paint (also a reminder for me. it's been months since i last painted with oil)

Tom Cruise, you scare the shit out of me, but if you ever need your portrait painted, hit me up, king!

@calkale i painted him, as promised! and now he's locked up in the basement. who knows, one day he might even be moved to the furnace room. (the furnace room... the death sentence for all my paintings) (seriously though. what do i do with him.)

Jokes aside, this was really fun to paint! I love doing studies like this! And if you guys have any good movie stills like this (from top gun, Tom Cruise movies, Val Kilmer movies, or maybe things you want to see me paint/draw, or honestly whatever! I'm always happy to chat!) please send them to me (ask box, messages etc. etc.)! I would love to try and paint/draw them!

[shivroy]

gregory oil caricature!! i want to jam a lit stick of dynamite betwixt his ajar lips (in a homoerotic way)

[glowingsand]

miri and her clown/capitalist fathers 😌

[wiisagi-maiingan]

With my posts about traditional medicines and natural remedies getting reblogged, I want to say this too:

Always be honest with your healthcare providers about what other substances you're taking, including over-the-counter medication and vitamins and other "natural" treatments, and ask before starting anything new. Those things DO affect your body and can cause you medical issues without you realizing it, have dangerous interactions with any medications you're prescribed, or cause complications during medical procedures like surgeries.

Something being natural doesn't always mean that it's 100% safe and harmless, especially when mixed with other substances. And always remember: you NEVER trust safety claims from someone who is trying to sell you something. Always get a second or third opinion from uninvolved professionals.