#mochi liked lime before liking lime was cool

[musubiki]

What was mochi’s exact moment of being in love with lime? We know that like got hit with the truck of feels when mochi started showing Thigh™ but what about childhood crushing mochi?

Also funny if the mob spell keeping mochi on the down low took a dramtic dip in effectiveness when she started showing Thigh™

i think there was a time where he saved her from some bullies in middle school!!! actually it used to be "saved her from being bullied," but since the mob spell development,.., i think the more probable scenario is that mochi tried to help someone else from being bullied (lime didnt care to interfere), but when they turned on her, THEN he stepped in. middle school lime was a bit of a punk so he got into his first REAL fight there. black eye and everything. he won though (mochi high five) and they all got sent to the principles office

that was also the turning point for their friendship pretty much!! because before it was like "ugh the weird girl across the street" / "that jerk who put dirt in my backpack and calls me names" (with an odd sense of camaraderie because its the orders(tm) from the parents that they walk home together and watch out for each other)

but after this event its better between them..,.. mochi thought what he did was cool and starts bringing him sweets from the cat cafe, and limes like "Maybe shes not so bad."

anyway thats when mochi first started to like him!! it was that weird middle school type crush where they seem so cool and you daydream about them being a cool prince and you feel awkward talking to them but still want to be around them as much as possible.

and it just never went away. in fact she tried to ignore it and also didnt tell her mom about it because she knew about the whole witch-love thing, and she didnt want her mom to start separating them (which she definitely would have to prevent mochi having a huge weakness right away)

and obviously over time it got worse. WAY worse when he hit puberty. middle school lime was an average kid. maybe one of those kids that you go "Oh he looks like he'll be cute when he grows up!" but puberty hit him like a fucking TRUCK. got way too tall and handsome way too fast!!! AND with time he also got more and more comfortable with her so he spent more time teasing her. but luckily at the same rate mochi was developing her early witch skills(tm) so she was still good at hiding her feelings (thank god. especially since hed throw in the occasional flirty line to mess with her. a weaker woman would have folded)

and on the side note of the mob spell dipping with mochis shorter skirt: IT DIDNT!!!!!! which is why lime thought he was losing his damn mind!!!!! hes all hot and bothered and no one else seems to give a shit hes like "????? is it just me???" and everyone else is like "is it just you what?"

but i think limes feelings didnt start with the thigh thing, it actually started with the cuddle thing. that time she spent a night or two at his house (first sleepover in forever since tiramisu banned it when they were around 13) and one way or another they fell asleep together, and when lime wakes up to mochi cuddled into his arms hes like "Oh boy....thats not bad actually..." and little did he know admitting that to himself opened a floodgate that he locked shut for years and years

[mountphoenixrp]

The Sunshine Festival is coming up fast! In preparation, you can find the program for the market and concert stage below!

Market Booths:

The Flower Mill Goods/Services: Tiramisu Frozen Coffee in a collectible mason jar; Cold Brew boba tea; Mochi donuts (glazed, strawberry, and lemon).

Lupin’s “Good Looks” Goods/Services: Custom-made headpieces, festival-wear and other clothing. On-the-spot hair and make-up styling.  Specials: 15% for customers who book their first styling appointment with Lupin.

Sweet Spot (Eros’ pop up chocolate and sweets booth) Goods/Services: Fine flower and fruit infused chocolates, light sweet confections and “love dust”. Target practice game with prizes for romantic dates. Specials: Specialty chocolates, dipped fruits, love advice.

Honeypot Brewery & Tapas Goods/Services: Aqua fresca (strawberry, cucumber, lime), burritos, and ceviche. Specials: Double Trouble coupons: for two people to enjoy a full Mexican-style meal for the price of one.

Jinxxed Goods/Services: Bone/tea/tarot readings, candle blessings, spell pouch making. Specials: 40% off crystals with proof of reading(s); free admission to one full moon ritual.

Minx Goods/Services: 360* camera shots: videos made in slow or regular speed to capture your memories from the Sunshine Festival! Specials: One free golden cuddle card! (See Malea for details.)

Marimo Ink Goods/Services: Neck-up piercings (50% off), face/body painting, hand-drawn temporary tattoos, art prints by Marimo Ink artists. Specials: Raffle for the chance to win one of three free tattoos (customers will receive one raffle ticket per piercing purchase, multiple entries allowed); free tattoo consultations.

Maibee Art Goods/Services: All handmade: crochet hats, plushies, blankets; keychains, jewelry, dice; stickers, coasters, prints, paintings; and more! Will do live portraits and synesthesia art. Specials: Buy Two, Get a Third with 10% off; Buy Five, Get a Tiny Crochet Hedgehog Friend.

Stop&Paws Goods/Services: Mini grooming service (brush out & bandannas/bows for pets); Flea & Tick treatment; “Meet the Adoptables” pen; and a pet cool down station with water dishes and a small pool. Specials: Mini grooming service and the flea & tick treatment will both be free, Pet Treats will also be available for free at both the adoptables pen and the cool down station.

Ice Ice Baby Goods/Services: Gourmet ice cream! Specials: Buy one, get one free single scoop cones; 20% off ice cream sundaes.

Black Forest Bakery Goods/Services: Berry and cream mille-feuille, double chocolate eclairs, crème brûlée, cookies and cream cheesecake in mini mason jars. Specials: Buy two, get one free; 20% off cake/event catering orders made at the booth.

Performers:

HEXED (Claire, Cassandra & Charlotte), rock band performance

HEXED will be playing a set of the songs off their latest album, along with a special sneak-peek performance of their upcoming summer single “Bonvoyage”.

Apollo, singing and dancing

Apollo will perform covers of Lizzo's “Juice”, Harry Style's “Late Night Talking”, Marshmello X Jonas Brother's “Leave Before You Love Me”, and Post Malone and Doja Cat's “I Like You”.

Sundrop Thanawat, singing and acoustic guitar

Sundrop will be singing a few songs while sitting and playing his guitar for a musical accompaniment. (There may be some birds flying around with the music as an extra feature. He still needs to ask if they'll help him though.)

Lee Juyeon, dancing

Juyeon will perform a mini showcase of a few songs he thought up his own choreography for. Just showing off his skill as a choreographer and the reason he's a dance instructor and a dancer.

Dakota Kim and Noel Yunuen, singing and dancing

The duo will be dancing and singing covers of “Mirotic” by TVXQ, “View” by SHINee, and “Peaches” by Justin Bieber.

Invidia Duval, Kihara Brighton and Kaya Everly, aerial/dance performance

The trio will perform an aerial and dance performance to: “Cosmic Love” by Florence + The Machine, “Who” by LAUV (feat. BTS), “Jericho” by Iniko, and “Middle of the Night” by Elley Duhe.

Heather Rhodes, Invidia Duval, Hunter Moon and Dakota Kim, singing

The group will be singing: “i’m yours” by Isabel LaRosa, “Tinted Eyes” by DVBBS, “Body” by Sinead Harnett, and “FRZZN” by OZZIE (feat. Teflon Sega).

Vulpe Blanford, ballet performance

Vulpe will be performing his own modernized ballet choreograph to “Experience”, “Elegy for the Arctic” and “Divenire” by Ludovico Einaudi, and “Golden Hour” (instrumental) by Jvke.

Please use this information to plot with as many people as you would like! Employees and performers can have threads where they are working/performing and threads during their days off at the festival, if you’d like.

There is no time limit for threads, but the event will only officially last a week, so make sure to start your threads or whatever else you have in mind once it begins!

Most importantly, of course, have fun!

[fizzychocolatemilk]

The Little Moments (Bakudeku Tropetember Drabble)

I'm back with another Tropetember drabble! This one side-tracked me when I was working on Belleza que Atrae, and it became WAY LONGER then I intended. For day 17: Accidental Baby Acquisition / (Single) Parent AU / Babysitting  AO3 link here.

The door creaked open as Katsuki came home and pulled off his work boots. He had a minute to feel the relief of finally being home when he heard the pitter-pattering of a child’s feet. He quickly turned and scooped up the tiny blonde as the little boy screamed, “Daddy! You’re home!”

Katsuki smiled into his son’s hair as he hugged him, “Yeah...I’m home, little man.” He carried the boy into the main room and paid the babysitter before cuddling his son on the couch for the few minutes they had before dinner.

Izumi sat on the counter as Katsuki made their meal. He smiled fondly as he listened to his son ramble about his day. Little moments like these made the hours that Katsuki pulled and the things he put up with worth it; it was all to make sure Izumi had a good life.

Izumi was chattering about his class when he mentioned something that caught Katsuki’s attention, “And this year, my teacher’s super cool and nice. Midoriya-sensei is really amazing!”

Katsuki loved his son, but he could easily admit that Izumi usually had a hard time getting along with his teachers. So naturally, Katsuki was insanely curious about what made “Midoriya-sensei” so different than the teachers his son had had before. “Midoriya-sensei, huh? What do you like so much about her, ‘Zumi?”

Izumi looked scandalized and he hit Katsuki with a couple of tiny fists before shouting, “Midoriya-sensei is a boy! Not a dumb girl!” Izumi looked angry for a second before turning his head away from Katsuki and grumbling, “Midoriya-sensei is kinda pretty like a girl though, like the nature spirit-y things in some of the stories you read me. Nie—Ni—Nim—What is it again, daddy?”

Katsuki chuckled, “I think you’re thinking of nymphs, son, but those are usually water spirits. The nature spirits are called dryads.”

Izumi’s eyes brightened and he nodded enthusiastically, “Yeah! Those! Midoriya-sensei looks like a dryad! Like he could turn into a tree, but in a pretty way! And he always makes sure that everyone is having a good day and understands his lessons! Usually teachers just don’t bother with the stupid kids and the mean-looking kids, but Midoriya-sensei makes sure that everyone is doing good! I’ve haven’t met anyone who doesn’t like him yet! He’s like a superhero!”

Katsuki nodded with a fond look across his face at his son’s enthusiasm. He turned off the heat on the stove and plated the food before picking his son up and setting him on his hip. Izumi was starting to get too big for it, but Katsuki didn’t work out for nothing. He would carry his son for as long as he was able and Izumi was willing.

“‘Zumi, I’m very glad you like your teacher this year.” He set Izumi in his chair and set a plate of food in front of him. Katsuki grabbed his own food and sat down across from his son before continuing, “But remember...don’t call your classmates stupid just because they have a hard time understanding what you’re learning. Some people learn and understand things differently, and that’s perfectly okay. Alright?”

Izumi nodded and slurped his noodles before smirking at Katsuki.

Katsuki smacked the hand that wasn’t holding his chopsticks with enough force that his son would feel it, but not enough that it would hurt or turn red. “I guess you really don’t want the mochi that I’ve got in the fridge, huh? Shame—I just made them last night and in your favorite flavor too,” Katsuki feigned nonchalance, but grinned inwardly as Izumi’s eyes widened and he shook his head empathetically.

“NO! I WANT MOCHI PLEASE!”

“Eat the rest of your food without slurping and I’ll think about it.” Katsuki smiled fondly into his chopsticks as he watched his son finish his food quickly but politely. Yeah—moments like these were Katsuki’s favorite.

.

.

.

Katsuki walked into his son’s classroom with all the purpose of a boat cutting through the water. In this case, however, Katsuki was his yearly mission to make sure Izumi wasn’t getting royally fucked over by his school. Neither Katsuki nor Izumi really enjoyed parent-teacher conferences, hence why Katsuki had left Izumi with a babysitter, but it was something they had to deal with and Katsuki would never pass up the opportunity of intimidating his son’s teachers...it was just too funny.

.

.

.

The only thing that kept Katsuki’s jaw from hanging open at the man sitting in front of him was the fact that he had prior knowledge of what he would look like. The only thing wrong with Izumi’s description of his sensei was the fact that Midoriya-san didn’t just look like a nature spirit—no, he looked like a whole-ass god.

Midoriya’s hair fell in shiny, green ringlets over his head, accenting his defined yet delicate features. His freckles were spattered over the bridge of his nose and along his cheeks in curious constellations that made Katsuki want to spend eons tracing them and counting Midoriya’s freckles like stars.

His eyes were green, but Katsuki thought the word green could never encompass the countless universes that Midoriya held in his eyes. They swirled with specks of gold, and highlights of lime, and depths of pine in almost black shadows, and they shone with the light of someone who was truly happy with what they were doing. They shone so brightly that Katsuki felt overwhelmed as those eyes looked, with their vast swirling universes, at him.

“Hello, Bakugou-san! I’m Midoriya Izuku, Izumi’s teacher. It’s lovely to meet you. Your son is such a delight to have in class! He’s very smart and helpful. Even though he’s a little gruff, he’s passionate and kind to his classmates. Such an amazing child you have!”

Katsuki smirked at the praise for his son, but his insides felt like they were melting from the warmth that Midoriya-san gave off.

Midoriya bit his lip, causing Katsuki’s brow to furrow, before speaking, “I’m sorry if this is rude, but I’m just a bit curious….usually mothers come to their child's conferences, you see, so...I was wondering….”

Katsuki sneered before replying to Midoriya’s gross attempt at making it a polite question, “Pardon my language—but my son’s shitty incubator was a bitch-ass whore. I regret fornicating with her, but I don’t regret Izumi. Never Izumi. So stop with the shit and let’s talk about my son, Deku.”

Midoriya had been staring bug-eyed at him while Katsuki was speaking, but he looked even more surprised at being called, “Deku? Maybe you misheard, but my name is Midoriya Izuku .”

“I don’t call rude assholes that insinuate that I’m a bad parent by their names, Deku ,” Katsuki smirked as he watched Deku’s jaw drop for a quick moment, but Katsuki was a little surprised when a flush rose on Deku’s cheeks and he gained a determined gleam in his eye.

“I apologize if  I insinuated anything, Kacchan , no excuse is a good one and it wasn’t my intention….I was just trying to be subtle.”

Katsuki had slammed his hands on the table at the word “Kacchan”, but now his brow furrowed in confusion, “Subtle about what, stupid Deku?”

If it was possible, Deku seemed to flush harder at this question, but Katsuki remained stead-fast and waited for an answer. Deku flustered for a second before the determined gleam came back and he answered, “I-I-I think you’re hot, okay?! Oh my goodness, this is so fucking unprofessional of me! I can’t date the parent of a student! But Bakugou-san is so fuckingbeatifulandprotectiveandkind—”

“Shut the hell up, dumbass Deku!” Katsuki was blushing furiously. The god-like green-eyed man thought he was attractive and dateable! Katsuki knew that he was sexy as fuck, but he hadn’t been on a date or even been interested in someone since before he had Izumi. Deku had been rude, but it didn’t seem like he meant it in a derogatory way like some teachers and parents that Katsuki had met before—and he was really pretty, so Katsuki paused for a second before speaking, “Tomorrow is Saturday. If you’re free, I’ll pick you up at 10 am. Now let’s talk about your class and my son. What sort of things will you be teaching this year?”

Deku’s jaw was hanging open as he stared wide-eyed at Katsuki, “Ummmm...I’m good with 10 tomorrow. Will Izumi be there?”

Katsuki scoffed, “Fucking obviously.” And their conference continued with no further talk of the date.

.

.

.

Katsuki held Izumi’s hand as he knocked on the door, but suddenly the boy tugged on his shirt and made the motion that meant he wanted to be picked up. Katsuki’s heart melted. It had been a while since his son had asked for uppies. As he was nuzzling the boy on his hip and Izumi was giggling, the door opened to reveal Deku. “Am I interrupting something?” Deku asked with a teasing smile.

And just like that, Katsuki’s heart had reformed and started beating at a frantic pace. Deku was wearing a pastel green and white plaid button-up over a white shirt that said “date shirt”, jeans that were loose enough for the physical activities that they would be doing today, and….red sneakers. He looked dorky as fuck, but somehow Deku was able to make the ensemble look adorable.

Katsuki smiled at the man and was about to greet him, but his son beat him to it. “MIDORIYA-SENSEI!?! Daddy didn’t say we were going to see you! HI!!!” Izumi was squirming to get down now, so Katsuki gently sat him on the ground so he could run and give Deku a hug.

Deku smiled fondly at Izumi, making Katsuki’s heart warm, before asking, “Well, what did your daddy say you were going to be doing?”

Izumi thought for a moment before turning back to Katsuki. “Daddy what are we doin’?”

Katsuki chuckled at his cute son before responding, “Your teacher and I are having a date, but since I’m taking him for a picnic in the park, I thought it would be fun if you could come too. We haven’t gone to the park in a while, have we, squirt?”

His son’s eyes had widened at the word “date”, but he seemed to forget the surprise in favor of being excited about going to the park. “PARK! Park! Park! Park! Let’s go now, daddy! What are we just standing around for?!?”

Katsuki looked to Deku, who had a wobbly smile on his face and a fond look in his eye, and held out a hand for him to take. Deku’s eyes widened a bit before he shot Katsuki in the heart with a shy smile and a pink blush. Deku grabbed his hand, and they made their way to Izumi, who was waiting at the end of the walkway and bouncing on his toes in anxious excitement.

Izumi eyed Katsuki and Deku’s clasped hands and held his hands out. Katsuki and Deku let go of each other at the same time, looked at each other in surprise before smiling, and simultaneously grabbed Izumi’s outstretched hands. As the trio began walking towards the park, Katsuki thought that this might be the start of something great.

That’s it! Hope you enjoyed! I think I only have three more drabbles to wrap up my tropetember series! See y’all soon!

[peace-coast-island]

Diary of a Junebug

Making cookies at the Nova Aeria Clock Tower

When it comes to being creative with cookies, Addie and Ginger are always up for the challenge! Since rebranding and opening shop at the Nova Aeria, things have been going super well for them. They went from a small cookie stand in their neighborhood to a traveling cart and now they have a full fledged bakery in the city.

Today the bakery was busy because of the monthly cookie contest, which has been a huge hit since it started earlier this year. Like I said, Addie and Ginger like to think outside the box when it comes to unique cookie recipes!

A lot has changed since I last saw them at the camp. At the time they were rebranding, taking time off to reevaluate things after realizing that the direction they were going in wasn't working out. By reinventing themselves and starting over from scratch, they were able to make something that aligned more with their dreams. It wasn't easy, but they took the plunge, knowing when to bail out when they realized that they deserved better.

The Nova Aeria Clock Tower feels like it exists in a space of its own. I don't know, it just gives off this starry, otherworldly vibe. I can also see why Addie felt that this was the perfect place to settle down in. She always has a knack for being intuitive like that. The moment she stepped inside, she knew that it was meant to be. And that's not something Addie says lightly so if she's somewhat certain about anything, we gotta keep that in mind.

For now, it's just Addie and Ginger running the bakery, though now they're in the process of building a team. Bree and Lyn were gonna start training soon but they're needed at the funeral parlor where Lyn's brother Ry works as undertaker turned temporary director.

Bree and Lyn have always been Addie and Ginger's biggest supporters so it was a matter of time before they joined the team. They're creative bakers too - Bree's baking videos are always relaxing to watch and Lyn likes experimenting will all kinds of complicated recipes. Problem is that their families aren't as supportive of their baking aspirations so it's a case of them waiting for the right opportunity to take a plunge and pursue their dreams.

So now they're one step closer! Except they can't quite take the step yet as poor Ry's overwhelmed since the funeral parlor director and consultant are out of commission. Lyn says it's not as bad as it sounds - basically, the director and consultant occasionally work with an adventurer's guild so they sometimes tag along on a mission with their investigator friend. Rarely they both go together and for that particular mission, things went horribly wrong, as Lyn puts it. The director, who Lyn describes as a bit of an eccentric prankster who seems too cheerful despite her family's business, should be out of the hospital tomorrow so she'll probably be back in a week or so. As for the consultant and investigator - an old fashioned gentleman and a headstrong young adventurer - it'll be a while before they're back up on their feet again, but at least they're recovering from their injuries.

Lyn always has stories relating to the funeral parlor - mainly about the director being weird and causing trouble. She seems like an interesting person, someone full of dark humor and can be a bit much, but a nice person overall. Lyn's family and hers go way back, and she has been supportive of Lyn and Bree while Ry seems to be on the fence. The consultant and investigator sound like cool people too - Lyn doesn't know them too well but they've always been nice to him. Bree says the consultant's super knowledgable about a lot of things so he always has a lot of interesting things to say.

The funeral parlor business was never for him so Lyn only really works there if they're short handed. Bree is basically the on call undertaker - probably the only one in the world as far as I know - though she mostly does cleaning and sometimes clerical stuff. To keep things lively, she bakes treats for the staff, which they appreciate, especially the director. She also learned a bunch of new recipes from the consultant, who also taught her a bunch of obscure and valuable baking techniques that most professionals have never heard of.

Since it's the monthly cookie contest, Ry gave Lyn and Bree the day off. So Ginger felt that this was the perfect opportunity to start their training - by being contestants! Normally Bree bakes something at least once a week but since the funeral parlor situation, she hasn't baked in almost a month, which is almost sacrilege to her. Of course, she was totally up for the challenge of coming up with a brand new recipe on the spot.

I was surprised at the turnout of the contest - thirty contestants! The bakery was packed so Addie had to break everyone up in groups. I didn't participate in the contest myself while Fauna and Mira did. Daisy Jane and I were behind the scenes, helping out contestants and cleaning equipment. It was cool seeing the kitchen as well as get some sneak peeks behind upcoming recipes.

It was fun watching everyone come up with all kinds of cookies. Everyone had such a unique spin on their creations so trying over thirty kinds of cookies didn't feel like a hassle. There were sweet cookies, savory cookies, and a lot of in between. Even things that you wouldn't think would go in a cookie came out well. Addie and Ginger sure know how to get everyone creative!

Fauna made a passionfruit matcha mochi cookie that screams tropical vibes. It was a recipe she came up with on the spot so it took a couple trial batches to get things going. The matcha cookie dough texture is like a mix between shortbread and chocolate chip, resulting in a flaky, buttery, and rich flavor. Then she bakes the cookies for a bit while making the passionfruit mochi. Before the cookies finish baking, she tops them off with the mochi, like putting chocolate chips on top, and put it back in the oven for a minute or two. That way, the cookies are crisp on the outside and soft on the inside while the mochi is chewy and flavorful.

Mira came up with colorful chocolate cookies with a black sesame custard filling. They taste as good as they look, especially with the rainbow sprinkles. The cookie is made from a mix of coconut and almond flour, resulting in a nutty flavor that goes really well with the custard and chocolate. The flavor's not overly sweet thanks to the black sesame and a touch of flaky rock salt, which really elevates a dessert. I can totally see this cookie being served at a rainbow themed party for its looks alone.

Lyn went experimental with a super duper chocolate cookie. Basically a super rich brownie in the form of a cookie that's made from three different types of chocolate. To balance out all that chocolate, he topped them off with roasted pecans flavored with lime and chilis. He got the inspiration from hot chocolate with chilis and the flavors go surprisingly well together. I mean, along with the rich chocolate ganache drizzled on top, without the spicy pecans, the chocolate would've been way too much. Only Lyn can pull off something as indulgent as that!

Bree's creation is like a fusion of a focaccia and quiche in the form of a cookie. The dough is similar to focaccia, except with some tweaks here and there to make it more cookie like. The topping is a cream cheese custard with a blend of herbs, an unusual mix of sweet and savory flavors that balance each other super well. How she came up with this idea, I don't know. To add a bit of a personal touch, she decorated the cookies as various constellations. Creativity never ceases to amaze me!

There were so many cookies, more than enough to take home and give to friends. Bree and Lyn plan to stop by the hospital and funeral parlor on the way home to give away some of the sweet treats. I did a little baking myself with Addie and Ginger before they closed up and that was pretty chill. It's so good to see them thriving and I can't wait to come back, especially now that Bree and Lyn will be joining them soon.

While waiting for the cookies to cool, Ginger took us on a tour around the Nova Aeria. At first glance, the clock tower looks like a fancy shopping center. It kinda is but also isn't, if that makes sense. There are shops and cafes but there's also places like an archive building, an observation deck, the clock tower itself, a couple of HQs - it's basically the center of a lot of things. Even those who spend their days at the Nova Aeria for years - generations even - still don't know the full extent of the clock tower and what exactly its purpose is.

Being the curious cat she is, Ginger wants to learn more about the Nova Aeria. Lyn wants to know more about the place as well. Both say the consultant seems to have some knowledge about it so he seems like a good starting point. The director might know something too as her family has connections to the clock tower so that's another thing to look into. Hearing them talk about the clock tower's mysteries has made me curious too.

What stories does the Nova Aeria hold? That's another thing to look forward to on future visits.

[missguomeiyun]

Homecookings [July ed.]

I didn’t have many entries for the June edition of Homecookings post, nor much posts in June, in general. So I made it a goal to cook more this month!

Sadly, I don’t think I have accomplished my goal in terms of quantity, but I feel I’ve tried several new things this month so that makes up for the lack of quantity? *shrugs* I mean, the deck-basil fried chicken was a hit! So was the seafood jeongol! :P Nonetheless, here’s the rest of my July.. .

I LOVE putting the hashbrown in my sausage & egg McMuffin (plus the ketchup). I can’t believe I didn’t apply this idea to a burger before o_O part of the reason bcos I don’t eat burgers that often.. . but anyway, I put one of my homemade hashbrown patties (aka the potato pancake) in my burger. Wowwwww!!! Liked the extra texture so much!

Breakfast on a day-off~ kimchi fried rice + hashbrowns (bcos as you know, I’m trying to finish the old hashbrowns by incorporating it into diff things)

*read the box* =P

There are 9 pieces of mochi per box, & there are 4 flavours per BIG box. The other flavours include: green tea, mango, & vanilla. This milk tea one was my favourite just bcos it is not vanilla & green tea lol the mango was the 2nd best.

FYI: Lotte is a South Korean brand but the Korean “starter” actually opened up the business in Tokyo, Japan. Then after almost 2 decades (when it got somewhat big enough), he migrated back to Korea. Now, it’s a huge international conglomerate with multiple “lines”, & depending on where you are, there are different Lotte products in different places.

My mom made this but I thought I’d share on here bcos I don’t think I have ever shared this - it’s not a frequent dish. This is my mom’s version of the Vietnamese appetizer, “bot chien” (= fried rice flour cake). First, my mom steamed rice flour cake (mix rice flour with water with a bit of salt). Once cooled, cut into smaller pieces; the ones here are about 1-2cm by 1-2cm cubes. Then she stir-fried it with Chinese sausages, egg, green onion, & Chinese preserved radish. For flavouring, she added some abalone sauce (just a little bit! Bcos the sausage & preserved radish are quite salty already).

“Jjam-dong” :D Jjambbong is Korean spicy seafood noodles, which is one of my most fav noodle soups. Here, I used udon noodles, which some places in Korea actually use for jjambbong .. . aka: “jjam-dong”. [Koreans call it u-dong, as opposed to udon, like it has a ‘g’ at the end, so.. . jjam-dong!]

What is this pool of whiteness with black specks & like a patch yellow butter? lol this is a ‘sauce’ that I made using: milk, water, lime juice, coarse salt, coarse ground black pepper, & unsalted butter.

What did I use this for?

Used it for seafood, namely the leftover mussels & baby octopus from my seafood jeongol. This turned out so well!

Finally used another packet of the lychee powder - used it for its purpose: bubbletea. It was okay; I used half of 1 packet for 1 cup of milk bcos otherwise, it would be too sweet for me.

Other ‘current events’:

Work has progressed fast this month, where I actually finished my training a month before schedule so now I’m on my own. Not scared, but feelin’ the time crunch as I’m no longer with a trainer/buddy, who has been helping me do odd jobs for the past while. I miss it!!!! It is also very exciting, however, to work alone & be independent.

Downtown Edmonton traffic is a nightmare >.< long story short, the daily commute for me to/from work (via 2 different routes) have lengthened to almost 2.5 times the usual length of time. When put into perspective, it’s like driving in winter except I think it’s worse now. I don’t know anymore.. . but it’s annoying bcos there’s just so much going on in downtown with construction & NHL that the traffic situation is horrendous.

K-dramas. . . I’ve been on pause. I tried several dramas & couldn’t get into it =( Chip In looks intriguing though, so I’m gonna try that once it’s done airing!

Anyways, that’s all! I’ll ttyl~

[kuzi-the-hunturr]

Can you introduce us to your ocs?

All of them? are you sure? bc I have... like 34 Main characters, don’t get me started on secondary ones, oh lord we’d be here from now through sunday!

BUT! Main characters: (I had to get my list for this) In alphabetical order, with a short description:

Aileen: (sims 2) 12 years old, troublemaker and wants to be a witch.

Alexi: (various hi-tech universes, star wars, star trek, etch) space pirate, smuggler, engineer, general nuisance 

Angel (various) Toddler size fairy who like to go treasure hunting.

Anya: (sims 4) resident bookworm and know-it-all, has about 70 PhDs and a dog

Ayli:(Na’vi, Avatar) Big shy, friendly giant

Babela:(various) Oldest (in age) OC, traditional witch, grandma friend, takes no shit, could do without the nonsense

Chizuko:(shaiya online, various) gloomy, assassin, would rather just sleep.

Danhe Shaderune:(Skyrim, Neverwinter online, various) 5 ft nothing worth of sass, rage and tramp.

Djal: (sims 2, star wars) Twi’lek, actual cupcake, has three kids, two dogs, and one (1) hubby.

Djenna McHowl:(Monster High, sims 4, various) tomboy, has big family, unruly werewolf teenager

Driga:(Dragonfable, sims 4, various) Mage, jovial, has a unnecessary collection of staffs.

Fendil:(Elfquest, various) Teeny, Blind, cutie patootie, dog person

George Von Scru: (Sims 2, sims 4, various)  Modern witch, sister friend, is always right.

‘Haleh:(Guild wars 2, various) Plant baby, necromancer, slightly stale cinnamon roll.

I:(self insert #1) runs the household, terrifies everybody, cool, calm and collected, 

Ira Owen:(Hogwarts Mysteries, Harry potter, Sims 4) teenage witch, sibling problems, in love with her enemy, would just like to finish school in peace please and thank you.

Janice Jones:(RDR, sims 4) cowboy, trigger happy, has abt 12 warrants on her.

Kuzi:(wow, sims 4) Main character on this blog, the mom friend, collect all the stuff, animal friend.

Lilly Lime:(sims 3, steampunk) Is somehow always on trouble, weird household, archaeologist, dislikes Anya

Lopi:(Ffxiv) Also tiny, cute, basically neko, has no idea what she’s doing

Magdalena (Maggie) O’Malley: (Sims 1, sims 4) boemian, has a dark side, but is still a cupcake

Me:(self insert #2) comic relief, secretly smart, Big Weird

Mirnah Magali (Homestuck) Weirdo, good person, spaced out, 

Myra (Homestuck) Mirnah’s friend, shy, will adopt any pet she finds, sleepy

Nandani:(Frosaken World) Diva, graceful, sensual

Nr 98 (Remy Martin)(KND, Sims 4) genderfluid, troublemaker, probably wanted for something, closest family member is a bulldog

Pauley Galina:(Various) lawful evil, gangster, mystery noir, lesbian, vindictive AF

Shirai Simone Oniji (samurai of legend, various) calm before the storm, demonic affiliations, can and will hex you, has a big snake.

Shuhei: (4story. various) loves martial art, no nonsense please, lil bit grumpy

Valiant: (Runescape, sims 4) everyone's friend, too many pets, traveler, farmer

Viela: (sims 2, Sims 4, Forsaken World) gloomy gus, leave me alone, emo

Yami:(Pokemon, sims 4) cant sit still, rarely has pokemon in their actual balls, cupcake

Ylang:(Sims 2, Sims 4) plantsim, mom friend, will mother you, beautiful mature woman, has 20 children

Yuun:(Archeage, Sims 4) Dangerous flower, actual human mochi, very traditional, adorable

-----

Characters available for asks on this blog: Kuzi (Troll Hunter) main character on the blog, is probably your friend already Meche (Draenei Paladin) The only responsible adult of the bunch Kieldaz (Draenei Death Knight) Merche’s sister, depressed, gloomy and mana addicted Sominee Stormcrow (Night Elf Demon Hunter) skeptic, searching, hits first, thinks later Valeeria Eveningsong (Nightborne Warlock) curious, suddenly among savages, new bby

-----

@jacobdcheshyre I dont know if this is what you had in mind, but here it is!

[noro124]

hey everyone it’s my frog collection + other cool things i had on the shelf at the time! i have 57 frogs (counting the packaged ones as one unit), which is 45 more than the last time i took a picture of my frog collection. enjoy!  

under here i will tell you where i got each frog & why i grouped them like that! the groups can also be read in the captions. all pics try to go from left to right, from the back row to the front. 

i. frogs that are big

Summer relaxin’ - my dad got him for me at a yard sale a few years ago. 

HAPPY FROG - my dad also got him for me at a yard sale, but closer to 6 months ago. He’s hanging over my bed right now on my Wall Of Stuff.

Paper frog - my sister ripped him off the bulletin board at the Starbucks where she works to give him to me

White frog - picked him up at TJ Max when my mom took me dress shopping.

Dark green frog - i don’t know...i think from a yard sale? he’s hollow & i keep a semicircle paperweight in the hole in his stomach.

ii. 8 frogs that will break if you drop them & 3 that won’t

Yoga frog - my dad got him for me, maybe from Goodwill? 

Ol Chumbo - got him at the flea market for $8. He is solid iron.

Just Eat What Bugs You!! - got him from a thrift store in a small town in Colorado. he’s got beans in him! if you shake him he rattles

Blue glass - he’s a candle holder! I got him from an antique store in Tennessee & then saw another one of him at the flea market years later. 

Bronze goofball - crooked eyes. very endearing. also very heavy. got him in a shop that sold lots of bronze things outside the Louvre. 

Gold - a gift from my boyfriend!!!

Sassy Frog - i think my dad gave her to me? or maybe i bought her at the antique store. 

Little brown frog - more fragile than he looks, missing his front right leg so i got him discounted from the antique store near school. 

Glass frog king! - got him in prague! he was overpriced, but worth it

Teeny glass frog - also got him in prague for $3! 

Another glass frog - got in the same store that I got tiny frog in.

iii. frogs that are minerals

Chunky brown frog - got him at the antique store near school. i think my boyfriend bought him for me on one of our first dates! 

Black frog - $35 but worth every cent. smooth, elegant, made in Japan. gotten from the antique store near school.

Flat brown frog - got him from the flea market. 

Malachite frog - bought him online from Bekkathyst! Expensive, but I took advantage of a sale.

Rose quartz frog - got from a really cool mineral shop in Prague! I did a project on that shop, about redesigning the storefront.

Pink frog - got from a yard sale a long time ago, only recently rediscovered in my room & added to the collection.

Little frog on a leaf - got from a gift shop at the end of a long 14k altitude hike in Colorado.

Frogs 8-12 were all given to me by my boyfriend after he came back from NY. They’re a big family!!! 

   13. Tiny frog bead - got from the flea market! 

iv. frogs that are squishy

Mint green frog loaf - picked this up from a recent con!! my boyfriend paid for half of it because he said this was something i needed to have, & he was right! 

Webkinz frog - my dad got him for me at a yard sale because he liked the mischievous look in his eyes. 

Little frog orb - part of a set of 3 round squishy things my boyfriend’s parents gave me for easter. 

TY Beanie Baby Frog - a beanie baby original my sister got from a yard sale. he might be worth a lot of money since he’s an original. i’m looking into it. 

Dark blue sand frog - I’ve had this since I was a child. he’s got stitches in his armpit because he used to have a big hole that let all the sand out.

Stripey sand frog - got her at a yard sale when i was maybe 9 so the dark blue frog could have a friend! 

Green and orange beanie frog - picked this up from a “Night Market” in Vienna. having seen real night markets in Taiwan, I was kind of disappointed, but the frog was a good purchase.

Green beanie frog - got in belfast from a cool museum. has a pink twin owned by one of my friends. all frogs have sweet dreams

v. frogs that are toys

Skeleton frog - one of my roommates got him for me from a halloween store.

Glowing frog - he changes rainbow colors! my sister gave him to me for my 20th birthday last year.

Slime frog - my boyfriend got him for me as a Welcome Back present after i returned from Prague! he’s nasty. he’s full of yellow goo & he has a cap on the bottom of his body that you can undo to take out the goo. it takes hours to put the goo back in. 

Keychain frog - also a flashlight that croaks when you turn him on! I saw him in Milan & had to have him. 

Lime green frog - my dad gave me 3 frog bath toys for Christmas. I have one in my collection (this one), one at his house, & one at my mom’s house.

Blue frog whistle - I think one of my friends gave this to me but I’m not sure.

Wooden frog - bought him from a nice lady at the night market in Taiwan in 2017.

Wooden frog 2 - he rolls! picked him up for $4 in one of the Golden Lane shops in Prague Castle. 

Frog rubber band - got him as a reward for being good at the dentist in like 2007. 

vi. frogs i have not unwrapped

 boblende fro - a frog bath bomb with a toy frog inside that i got from a weird store called Flying Tiger in prague. i don’t want to open him because he’ll be crumbly & i like the packaging a lot, & also i don’t want to use him yet.

Grow Frogs - another gift from my boyfriend’s parents for easter. I haven’t used them yet because I’m lazy & I don’t know if they’d crumble & I don’t know where I’d put them if they were unwrapped.

Frog King stickers - got these in northern ireland as well! i haven’t used any yet because they have layers & the things I’d put them on (my phone case, sketchbook, my laptop) move around a lot & the stickers would get destroyed really fast. 

vii. frogs with jobs

Candle holder - one of my friends gave it to me for my birthday.

Green frog - got him from the local crafts store my roommate used to work at. He can hold onto the outside of cups or flowerpots or my finger! 

Frog thimble - a different roommate gave him to me after he got back from his trip to Spain. 

Frog clip - one of my friends gave it to me for no reason! really nice of her!!!

Mosaic frog - the roommate that went to Spain got this for me there too! he doesn’t have a job, he just doesn’t fit into any of the other categories.

Keroppi pin - got this for 50 cents in Taiwan & then lost it for a year.

Tiny rubber frog - given to me by one of my roommates for Christmas. he got it in Florida. he doesn’t have a job either.

Milan eraser - picked this up in a stationary store in prague called McPen.

viii. miscellaneous items on the frog display shelf

Fat cat with big poofy cheeks - i went to the flea market with my dad & saw this funny man.

 Round unicorn & pink fish - the other 2 round things that came with the frog my boyfriend’s parents gave me for easter this year.

Crab ornament - given to me alongside the tiny rubber frog. he’s missing a leg and is EXTREMELY fragile - pieces of his shell fall off all the time.

Red wooden painted egg - got from an easter market in Prague.

Eggplant container - I keep souvenir pressed pennies in here. 

Stone egg with stand - I got this for my dad from an antique store, but my dad said I could keep it.

Golden pig - gotten somewhere in Prague. I was gonna give it to one of my roommates, but my mom said “You should keep it for good luck, it’s the year of the pig!” & so I did.

Snake carving - my grandma used to give me little carvings made of the same material all the time before she died. I don’t know where I got this.

Little glass crab - a gift alongside the crab ornament & tiny rubber frog!

White rock - looks very pretty in the right light. got it from a mineral store in Cesky Krumlov.

Smooth rock - smokey quartz I think? got it from the same mineral store. 

Carnelian scarab - got this from a really cool mineral store outside the Louvre. I could have spent all day in here - they sold really expensive frogs too. I had my eye on one made from turquoise, but it was 160 euros. Maybe next time. 

Labrodorite heart - my boyfriend paid for half of it when he came to visit me in Prague! it’s very blue & very gorgeous. 

Labrodorite chunk - my boyfriend got this for me at a hippie music festival!

Chunk of limestone - got this in northern ireland where there was a cool bridge near an old limestone quarry. I thought this rock looked cool, like mochi. You can’t tell from the picture quality.

Glass lizard - part of the gift with the crab ornament & the other things.

Turtle - got him from the flea market. not sure what he’s made of, but he’s handcrafted!

Shiny turtle - this was on the ground at the flea market. it probably had fallen off a display & cost money, but i put it in my pocket. please don’t arrest me

Stone turtle - got this guy from an aquarium that’s 2 hours away from home! we went as a group over spring break to the beach, but half of us immediately went home & half of us went to the aquarium. i got to touch a shark there. 

& that’s all, folks! thanks for reading my frog lore! 

[ktaebwi]

[TRANS] non-no Magazine 2018 Jan Issue - 100 Answers w/ BTS

JPN - KRN © 전정국 DC갤러리, 뷔 DC갤러리, ha_ru_man, BTSR_613 KRN - ENG © ktaebwi

JUNGKOOK

Q1. Your dream job when you were a child? A badminton player when I was in elementary school. After that my parents bought me a computer so I got into gaming and wanted to do a job about gaming. Q2. How did the members celebrate your birthday in 2017? We were all practicing singing and dancing and the lights suddenly went off, then the door was opened and Jimin-san and V-san came in holding a cake. Q3. When do you feel like you have become an adult! I turned 20 in Japanese age in September! But actually I'm still a kid at heart, so truthfully I don't really feel like I have become an adult. Q4. In which moment do you feel like you're still a kid? For example, when I watch and think about a video or an interview. When I read people's comments, I feel like even with the same question, they think from a much bigger point of view than me. That's when I feel like maybe I'm still lacking in depth. Q5. A work that touched you recently? "Love, Rosie". It made me touched because it's a sweet but sad love story. Q6. The kind of song you're planning to compose? Song of styles like future base and chillstep which I enjoy and listen to a lot. Q7. Favorite dessert? The Japanese snack kinako mochi. I like that it melts in my mouth because it's just so fluffy! Also I ate cheesecake before the photoshoot for <non-no>. That one was delicious too♡ Q8. How do you take care of your beautiful voice? I don't pay particular attention to it... Like I just sing with my original voice I've had since I was born... Q9. Any habit? Covering my nose when I yawn. Not mouth but nose somehow. (laughs) And I pull the baby hair on my face unconsciously. I know about these things because fans told me.

Q10. The most exciting song of BTS? The uptempo "Wings". And the original Japanese song "Crystal Snow" which will be released in December! When I first heard it I felt like it matched my current emotion quite well. Q11. If you were to go out on a personal trip with the members? If I have time, I want to travel to Japan. I want to tour around the streets of Tokyo leisurely. Q12. Something you're into the most right now! As always, composing! Q13. A skill that you can say "Actually I'm good at this too"? Are you asking "I can do this too", not "I can't do this"? (laughs) From now on I want to be good at composing, Japanese and learning. I want to speak Japanese a little more fluently! Q14. If you were Santa Claus, what present would you give to each member? For Rap Monster-san, J-hope-san, Jimin-san, V-san, I want to choose clothes that match them well. Maybe composing equipment would be great for Suga-san. And for Jin-san who's raising cute sugar gliders, pet supplies!

V

Q15. Favorite number? 85. The song 'DNA' we released in Korea in September ranked No.85 on Billboard Hot 100 Chart. From that day on it's my favorite number. Q16. Favorite drink? Lemon lime flavored soft drink. It's a must when I'm eating or taking a break. I can't drink coffee and alcohol well. Q17. Favorite movie genre? Every genre except for horror movie! A movie I enjoyed watching recently is "Midnight Runners". Q18. Something that made you feel the most excited recently? Actually I'm planning to give my parents a car as a surprise present. Just thinking of it gets me excited already. Q19. Saddest song of BTS? The hidden track "Sea" from "Love Yourself 承 'Her'". The lyrics are like the path we walked on, so my heart aches whenever I listen to it. Q20. A photo you took recently? Landscape photos. I like putting my thoughts into my photos. I have been saving all the photos I took until now so hope one day I can show it to you guys in any form. Q21. If you were to become a photographer, what kind of photobook would you want to make? Landscape of course. I would make a photobook of landscape photos with 2 versions, colored and B&W. Personally I like B&W photos but I think color photos have a fascinating power of touching the heart, so hopefully it'll double the delight. Q22. Something you must do for beauty care? I put on facial mask and skin lotion 10 minutes before I sleep every night. For hands I just use hand cream? Q23. How do you get your mood up when you feel down? When I think of 그므시라꼬 (lit: What is it / It's not a big deal), one of the things my father told me before, my mood's recharged! Q24. A person you want to meet right now? The aunt of the protagonist from "The Full-time Wife Escapist". Ishida Yuriko's acting is extremely skilled and charming. Q25. A birthday episode that made you deeply moved? When my family and relatives gathered to celebrate my birthday before I went to elementary school. I'm still keeping the photo we took together that time. Q26. Favorite event during a year? The birthday of my father who's been raising me up. I'm living away from him now so I can't celebrate it properly, but I want to invite him to Seoul one day and throw a big party for him! Q27. Tips for learning Japanese? I tried to remember words or commonly used sentences only before, but now I watch Japanese dramas and movies and if there's any word I don't know, I would pause the video and look up for its meaning. A movie I watched recently is "Drowning Love". Q28. Something the members told you recently that made you happy? "Handsome." This is embarrassing but it makes me happy (laughs)

JIN

Q29. The most exciting song of BTS? "Fire". The melody and lyrics bring a nice feeling and can lift the mood up, and many people knew about BTS thanks to this song too. It changed our lives so whenever I hear it, I get heated thinking about that time! Q30. A song you played with guitar recently. My skill's still lacking, but I wanted to play the BGM of a game that I happened to hear on a guitar practicing video so I'm working hard on it right now. Q31. The first image that comes to your mind when it comes to "winter"? I think of the snow-clad area from an RPG game I used to like when I was a kid. Q32. Something you do every day without skipping? Feeding Odeng and Eomuk. Sugar gliders are small and cute! By the way Odeng is "odeng" and Eomuk is "odeng" in Korean♡ Q33. A food you can cook well? Mixed seasoned whelk (whelk salad) and a soup with rice cake (rice cake soup). I made it for the members on New Year's Day and they loved it, they thanked me for making it because they can't go home often. I'm really kind, aren't I? (laughs) Q34. A Japanese food that made you touched? Grilled eel rice, it has dashi stock so it was delicious! Q35. Must-have item in your fridge? Chili pepper paste, ssamjang (dipping sauce for meat), kimchi. I mainly eat meat at home so there must be condiments for meat. Q36. Favorite space in your room? I like the room itself so it's hard to choose one. I feel happy when I play with my pets, play games or just idle around. Q37. The member who you talk to about your worries? I don't have that many worries. I tend to resolve the cause on my own before my thoughts becomes a worry. Q38. In which moment do you think you shine the most? My existence itself is shining so it should be "always", not just "moment"! (laughs) Q39. Memories about '2017 Billboard Music Awards'? When we arrived at the venue in Las Vegas there was a panel that said "Billboard", I and the members went "So this is Billboard" and we were so touched, we couldn't believe it... Q40. A recent private surprise? I gifted Odeng and Eomuk to myself! And we celebrated Jungkook's birthday in September with a surprise event. Q41. A member that you depend on lately? Jimin. When we went on a variety show he left it to me when I spoke, and stepped up when it’s his turn to speak, he was reliable.

Q42. A goal you want to achieve in 2017? Getting closer to Odeng and Eomuk and make them come to me without having to do anything. I’m practicing for them to climb on my arms when I put yogurt on my hand, but not long ago they bit my finger along with the yogurt... I think it’ll take some time. (laughs)

JIMIN

Q43. Favorite season? I like the feeling of winter, since I was born in Busan and there’s not much snow there. When I was around 6, may 7 years old, there was abnormally heavy snow in the winter, the snow scene I saw outside of my window was extremely memorable. I remember playing outside with my family and friends.

Q44. Something you want to have the most right now? Time to travel. To Japan! I heard that Halloween in Japan is really big, I want to disguise myself so that no one would recognize me and join in.

Q45. A subject you were good at at school? PE, Arts, Science, Math. I especially liked ball game in PE.

Q46. Something you pay attention to when you build up your body? I only adjust my meal portion depending on the time. I don’t really work out. Even I myself feel like I’m thin when I put on clothes. So sad... (laughs)

Q47. Favorite street in Korea? Gangnam. It’s the place where I met the members after going to Seoul from another region and also the place where I go for bowling or billiards and play with my friends. Gangnam indeed!

Q48. A fashion item you want to try wearing this winter? I’m planning to go shopping and think about my winter fashion starting from now. I’m looking forward to see if I’ll meet cool coats or cute knitwears.

Q49. What did you do before sleeping yesterday? As soon as I came home and lied down on my bed after coming back from a variety show filming, I fell asleep right away. (laughs)

Q50. What did you dream of last night? I was continuing with the variety show filming in my dream last night. (laughs) If I can choose my dream as how I want, I want to fly to the sky!

Q51. Something that made you laugh the most recently? Jin-san said something lame so I laughed really hard. But since it was too lame, unfortunately I don’t remember what it is. (laughs)

Q52. A hairstyle you want to try? A hairstyle with impact... I don’t know if I suit it or not but maybe like, slicked-back hair!

Q53. If time machine exists? I used to think it would be fun to go back in time and start over, or to secretly go meet myself in the future. But now I don’t want to go anywhere. Because I had determined to not let go of what I saw at the time, live and cherish every moment.

Q54. Favorite words? “Thank you”, just hearing this gives me strength.

Q55. Memories about 2017 Japan arena tour? The tour made me once again feel how fun it is to do concerts! As we headed towards the end of the tour, my gratitude for the members grew stronger and I think this was a valuable chance for me to look back at myself.

Q56. In which moment do you feel like the members are cool? J-hope-san’s dances are really awesome! Especially his performance in “MIC Drop”, one of the songs from our 8th single released in December, so please pay a lot of attention to him.

SUGA

Q57. If you were to compare yourself to a color? Blue. I liked it since a long time ago and I think it suits me too. And It makes people feel bright and purified so I want to be the color blue.

Q58. When you contact, do you call or text? I don’t really like calling so I don’t call much. I think I only call for 10 minutes a month. I just go simple with texting.

Q59. Do you eat what you like first or do you save it for later? I have never thought when I eat. (laughs) Maybe not right from the beginning but a little later?

Q66. The first song you made? I composed for the first time by self-learning when I was 13, I think it was a hip hop track. Q67. Favorite time of the day? When I fall asleep. I feel at ease and my heart flutters a bit before I climb on my bed to sleep. Q68. How do you refresh yourself when making music? I play computer games, play with my phone or drink my favorite coffee~ Q69. Do you have your own way of drinking coffee? I don't like sweet stuff that much so first of all, I won't put sugar in. And since I like the smell of coffee beans, I go with black, putting nothing extra in. I especially like drinking coffee in my studio. (laughs) Oh and doesn't it feel unusual and fun to drink coffee after brushing your teeth? (laughs) Q70. The hairstyle you like the most among the ones you have tried so far? Speaking of colors, I think... I like black the most... (laughs) I like my natural hair color. Q71. Favorite lyrics in BTS songs? I relate to the "It's okay to lose" part. (in "Fire") Q72. Your own treasure? The equipment for making music in my studio. And the watch I'm wearing right now. It’s what I planned to buy in elementary school, that I would work hard on the music path and buy it later, so I must wear this when I make music to remind myself of my initial mindset. Q73. The most recent time you cried? I don't cry because I'm emotional but.. Uhm.. I yawned 10 minutes ago and the tears came out! (laughs) Q74. If you have a day for yourself in Japan? I want to visit a whiskey distillery! I heard my favorite author, Murakami Haruki, likes whiskey and even wrote a travelogue with the theme of whiskey, so I became interested in it. Q75. In which moment do you feel your friendship with the members? When we gather and play games during the time we have no schedule. I'm not good at games so I like playing with many people. Q76. The member that you feel like is cute lately? Jungkook. I find it cute how he's the youngest but he's slowly becoming an adult. When I first met Jungkook he was in middle school, he used to not be able to organize what he wanted to say during interviews, but seeing how well he answers now feels cool to me.

J-HOPE

Q60. BTS song that has the best choreography? “Save Me” and “DNA”. The house steps in “Save Me” dance break is really cool and my sister also said “That dance is the best”. (laughs) For “DNA” I think it’s one of the few perfect choreographies even for BTS.

Q61. What do you pay attention to during a performance? Face expression, the dynamic of the movement. Sticking to details to express the vibe of the song.

Q62. A song that makes you want to dance along? Post Malone ft. 21 Savage’s “Rockstar”.

Q88. A place you want to travel to again? Sapporo, I have been there a few times to perform, but my dream is to one day travel there on a personal trip and go into the hot spring surrounded by the snow scenery!

Q89. How do you spend time while moving? Sometimes I just sleep, sometimes I watch movies, it depends. When I went back and forth between Korean and Japan from May to July,, I wrote songs or lyrics in the plane.

Q90. Must-eat food when you come to Japan? Ramen and meat. And I like grilled eel rice the most!

Q91. Secret to your amazing smile? Hearing that makes me embarrassed. (laughs) Basically the best is to enjoy and be positive. I believe that when we smile we’ll become happier so maybe that shows on my face.

Q92. Favorite shoes at the moment? I like shoes so I bought several pairs of sneakers recently. Among them there were one pair made from several materials and colors, I fell in love with it from first sight!

Q93. Favorite fragrance recently? Fresh scent, I’m currently using mint hand soap.

Q94. A member that you think is cool? RM and V who have special interest for fashion. But the other members also have their own styles so they’re cool as well.

Q95. Favorite sports? Tennis which I played from 4th year to 6th year of elementary school. The reason I started playing tennis was a little bit special... When the teacher stood in front of the class and asked “Anyone who wants to play tennis?”, I happened to be stretching with both arms out. The teacher mistook it as me signing up so I got in. (laughs) I started playing tennis again this summer and it’s refreshing and fun!

Q96. Personal goal in 2018? Releasing the mixtape which I’m preparing. And becoming more skilled at Japanese.

Q97. If you could experience another job for one day? Tennis player. I couldn’t do well even when I practiced in elementary school, so I consider entering the Wimbledon championship is a dream of dream. (laughs)

Q98. A member that you feel like has especially grown up lately? Jungkook’s face has become more evident ever since he turned 20. When I first saw the music video of “DNA” released in Korea, he was so cool that I was shocked!

RM

Q63. A place you have never been to that you want to travel too? I want to go to Kyoto! A friend of mine who traveled to Japan invited me to go there. Q64. Must-have item that you carry along for relaxing purpose when you go overseas? Pilates practice DVD. I watch and stretch before I sleep inside the hotel room.

Q65. Speaking habit? “Actually~. I think I say it to make time for myself to arrange thoughts. It’s like “Ano” (That~) in Japanese?

Q77. A recent trivial worry or doubt? The webtoons are too good that I end up staying up all night with my phone on one hand. And doubts for Jungkook and V! Jungkook changes his hobby every month. V’s selection of words are a little peculiar, it’s amazing. Sometimes he surprises me with his use of new expressions. (laughs)

Q78. A subject you were bad at at school? Math and English. The only subjects I had to go to cram schools for outside class were these two. I slowly got more familiar with English but I didn’t have any progress with Math until the end. (laughs)

Q79. Something personal that made you happy recently? I rode a bike along the Han river on a nice day. I felt very happy enjoying the wind and riding bike.

Q80. Food you eat the most often when eating out? Meat! I mean meat-nim! (laughs) I like meat sliced really thin like it’s shaved and then grilled.

Q81. A Japanese word you learned recently and want to use? 木漏れ日 (sunshine beaming through the trees). I think it’s cool how it’s light from the sun, but i doesn’t shine fiercely but rather friendly.

Q82. Something you want to learn at the moment? Acoustic guitar! Given how it creates raw sound, it’s a straight and honest instrument.

Q83. If you can only bring one thing to a deserted island? V. He's not dependable but... What should I say... If V's there I definitely won't be bored (laughs) And flip-flops (bi-san = beach sandals/flip-flops or V-san, similar pronunciation) are great too, since the sandy beach will be hot.

Q84. A person you respect? My father. I have never seen my father and mother fighting in front of me. When I told them I want to make music, they supported me and told me go for it.

Q85. Birthday memories of 2017? We were invited as guests to the Seoul concert of The Chainsmokers who we collaborated with in the song “Best Of Me”. I was surrounded by people I cherish so it felt like the biggest birthday party in my life?

Q86. The most memorable song of BTS? “Danger” which we released in Korea in 2014. It was when we were desperately trying as group. It has really cool dances so please watch it!

Q87. Something you cherish the most as a leader? Memories with the members. Because we made it through the hardship together, so we can still think of each other and move forward even now.

BTS

Q99. Memorable Christmas memory?

RM: I remember when I was 6, I heard that our family would travel on Christmas and I asked “Will Santa grandpa be able to come?” Since we were travelling to the country, I was worried. (laughs) SUGA: When I was small, our family would gather and have a meal together. After I started living away from them, it began to feel like a wonderful memory. JIN: When I went to the ski resort with my parents and brother. It was our regular Christmas trip when I was in elementary school. J-HOPE: There was a year when it snowed a lot on Christmas. The white Christmas I wished for! I remember making snowman with my family and laughing and chatting. JIMIN: I want to spend a memorable Christmas in the future. The snow is memorable! It’s the best to play at the ski resort and finish by watching the night scenery. V: I think many people spend Christmas as couples but I’m always alone ever since I was born. (laughs) When I was in school, I would go to the PC room with my usual friends and play games or eat noodles. I pretended to be tough like “PC room for Christmas!”. (laughs) JUNGKOOK: One year I was sleeping with my brother and when I opened my eyes slightly, I saw a grandpa with white beard! I thought “Santa really came” and went to sleep with a very happy mood.

Q100. What do you want to achieve, to try as BTS in 2018?

RM: Performing at the biggest venue in each country! SUGA: We have achieved many of our goals so far and thankfully there isn’t anything we haven’t achieved. But we won’t dwell on our achievement next year and hopefully we can enjoy our favorite music and have a good time with our fans. JIN: I want to make a song that anyone would love. Personally, I want to play and have fun with fireworks with the members. (laughs) J-HOPE: My goal and dream is to stand on a worldwide stage and present a performance that will blow everyone’s mind. JIMIN: I’m not persistent for records. Because our fans made them happen. But whenever they set new records for us I feel very thankful and grateful. I wish 2018 would become a year where we get to spend more time with our fans. V: I see a lot of beautiful sceneries in the countryside when I watch Japanese movies. I want to perform in other cities, not just big ones, and see those sceneries with my own eyes. I want to go meet more fans! JUNGKOOK: Making songs by myself that can be put into BTS albums! I’ll continue to try to make it happen.

[northsyria04-blog]

Spicy & Sweet Black Pepper Sauce Chicken

The provenance of this recipe is from a steakhouse at the St Regis in Dubai although similar black pepper sauces can be found at others. And while it's usually an accompaniment for steak, it's so utterly delicious and versatile that I've paired it with chicken. Both as a stir fry if you want something fast or whole skin on pieces.

Now I should explain something. Black pepper sauce is nothing like the green peppercorn sauce that goes with your steak. This is quite different but even more delicious IMHO. The base of flavours here are onion, garlic, ginger, black pepper and soy with a hit of sugar and lime juice too. And it is was so delicious I pestered them so much for the recipe as I wanted to eat it again and I obviously couldn't fly to Dubai for a meal (although do you ever daydream about that? I do).

I made this dish two ways: as whole skin on pieces of chicken as well as a stir fried using chicken thigh fillets. I think I actually preferred the stir fry as it allowed the juices to concentrate even more but the big pieces were great too.

Speaking of chicken dishes we recently went over for dinner at Celia and Pete's. When Mochi passed away Celia reached out to me and invited me to lunch but when I couldn't do that we decided that dinner was in order. She had made a gorgeous smoked chicken in Rosie, her Traeger bbq. It was hands down the best smoked chicken I've ever eaten and was a great quality chicken cooked perfectly on low heat and then slightly browned at the end.

It had been many years since I saw her sons Big Boy and Small Man. The last time Small Man was still at school and I think I still expected them to be the same but of course they weren't. They were fully grown and formed (ok that sounds strange but I always feel like kids, even teens may grow even more). And Big Boy was about to become engaged (spoiler, they just got engaged!). And when I was a teenager I used to roll my eyes at my mother's friends who would say "Oh wow you've grown!" (my internal dialogue was "duh!") and now I found myself saying it to them. Thankfully they were too polite to roll their eyes at me!

So tell me Dear Reader, do you find yourself doing things that you thought you'd never do as a kid? Have you ever tried this black pepper sauce before? Do you daydream about flying to other countries for a meal? Where is the first place you would go?

An Original Recipe by Lorraine Elliott

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 1 hour 45 minutes (45 minutes sauce, 1 hour chicken)

Black Pepper Sauce (makes 2.5 cups)

Oil for frying

200g/7ozs. onions, very finely chopped

125g/4ozs. garlic cloves, peeled and very finely chopped

100g/3.5ozs. ginger, peeled and very finely chopped

4-5 tablespoons ground black pepper

325ml/11.5flozs. soy sauce

200g/7ozs. white sugar

75ml/2.7ozs. lime juice

Salt to taste

1kg/2.2lbs of chicken (whole pieces or diced)

200g/7ozs. snow peas

2 stalks green shallots, cut into inch long pieces

Tip: this sauce is best when the onions, garlic and ginger are very finely chopped. Mine is chopped a little coarser than I would have liked.

Step 1 - Fry the onion, garlic and ginger in enough oil (I start with 2 tablespoons and keep adding when needed) on low to medium heat until soft-this will take around 8-10 minutes or so. Add the black pepper, soy sauce, sugar and lime juice. Simmer until the sauce becomes thick and viscous (around 20-30 minutes). Cool completely.

Step 2 - Preheat oven to 180C/350F and marinate the chicken pieces in 1 cup of the sauce for 30 minutes (if you are using diced chicken for a stir fry see instructions below). Place the pieces in a baking dish and bake for 55 minutes basting once or twice with sauce during that time. Add the snow peas and shallots and bake for another 5 minutes. Serve with rice or flatbread.

Step 3 - For a chicken stir fry, I marinate the chicken in the sauce and then fry it off in a wok adding vegetables right at the end.

Source: https://www.notquitenigella.com/2019/04/26/black-pepper-chicken/

[musubiki]

on a more funny and less romantic note i think its a hilarious facet of limes character that he went through all those magic adventures, struggles, and m-34th stuff to avoid losing his best friend because hes so antisocial and annoyed by new people that he didnt want to put in all that time and effort trying to find a new best friend

[travel-blog-incitysearch]

Mexico

Mexico is a colorful mix of Spanish, Indian and Caribbean cultures. Rest on the best beaches of Cancun and Riviera Maya, ancient monuments of mysterious civilizations and diving on the island of Cozumel, tequila, good food and fiery disco - all about Mexico: tours, prices, hotels. Imagine standing in a tropical rainforest, watching the Mayan hieroglyphs on the walls of the Palenque temples to the cries of colorful parrots. Or paddling out into the surf with your surfboard, the surf lapping great turquoise waves and the bright white beaches behind you. Or scuba dive into an underwater cave surrounded by fish, as if painted in bright gouache. Or you can dance till sunrise and fall in the world's best discos Acapulco! And in between - try to try at least part of the 300 local varieties of tequila - and without all the fancy salt and limes, but as the hardcore Mexican farmers - with tomato juice, generously seasoned with chilies. Which, in case the pepper isn't enough - snack on any of the local treats that make your mouth burn. That's what Mexico is all about - the colors, the other sensations and tastes here are remarkable, juicy, pure, just enough time to enjoy. Perhaps the only drawback of tours to Mexico - a long flight. Otherwise, the country is perfect.

Resorts and Regions of Mexico

Photo by nextvoyage on Pixabay The capital, Mexico City, is one of the largest cities in the world, surrounded by volcanoes and impregnable mountains. The old Aztec city, once a beauty on the ground, wiped out by Spanish colonizers, but the ruins of Tenochtitlan and the halls of Templo Mayor still hold secrets covered with the dust of centuries. The modern center of Mexico City is the baroque Plaza de la Constitución, Alameda Park, Paseo de la Reforma Avenue, Garibaldi Square and other spectacular locations. But the outskirts of Mexico City, especially the infamous Tepito neighborhood, are not the best place for idle strolls. Guadalajara, which is second in size only to the capital, is called the "City of Roses" for its abundance of beautiful gardens and parks. That's why the canons of mariachi music, Mexico's main sound symbol, were born here. Sightseeing is concentrated in the Center, expensive hotels and restaurants are in the western neighborhoods, and the most unique souvenir shops are in the suburbs of Tlaquepaque and Tonala. Monterrey - a big economic center, which imitates the U.S.: live here not poorly, modern craftsmanship is valued more than ethnicity. Colorful Spanish architecture can be admired only in the fashionable Pink Territory, but the surrounding nature - mountains, deserts and canyons - above all praise.  Puebla huddles between four volcanoes, the highest of which reaches 5747 m. Impressive cathedrals, museums, markets - there is plenty to see in the UNESCO-protected city. Merida is the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula, the starting point of fascinating trips to ancient Mayan cities and the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. The most popular resorts on the Caribbean coast are Cancun with gorgeous beaches, shopping centers and spa centers, and the Riviera Maya with perfect conditions for home holidays. On the Pacific coast tourists are attracted by bustling Acapulco with nightclubs, restaurants and casinos, elite Los Cabos with unsurpassed opportunities for outdoor activities, and comfortable Puerto Vallarta with developed authentic building and beach infrastructure.

Climate

The climate is subtropical in the north and tropical in the south. In the resort coastal areas (Acapulco, Cancun) the temperature is +26 ° C in winter and +35 ° C in summer. The country distinguishes between dry (November-April) and wet (June-September) seasons, which differ not by temperature but by the amount of precipitation and especially by humidity. August through early October is considered a time when hurricanes are likely to strike. Also, Mexico is characterized by high altitude temperature differences: while on the coast of the summer heat, in the highland towns of Maya is very cool - about +15 ° C. In addition, the country is sometimes shaken by hurricanes, their impact is more susceptible to the Caribbean coast.

Customs and Visa

It is possible to get an electronic Mexican visa. To do this you need to fill out a special form on the website of the National University of Migration and pick up a document with a unique code that must be printed out and give the company, taking a ticket for a flight to Mexico. Medical insurance is not required at the border crossing, but you do not need to fly into the country without it. Importation of foreign currency is not limited (declaration required), export and import of local currency - no more than 5000 MXN. When entering Mexico, you must fill out a customs declaration form, which lists all the necessary items brought into the country. For personal use can bring no more than 400 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 200 grams of tobacco, 3 liters of spirits or wine, one camera, one camera and gifts not exceeding 300 USD. Prices on the page are for October 2018. Medications must be accompanied by medical records or prescriptions verifying their necessity. Pets need a veterinary certificate of international example, drawn up a maximum of 5 days before arrival in Mexico, dogs and cats - also documents on vaccination against rabies. Importation of fruits, vegetables and products from them, plants, cuttings and seeds, flowers, meat products, pornographic editions and psychotropic substances is forbidden. Local currency in the equivalent of more than 10,000 USD, antiques, precious metals, archaeological treasures, drugs, weapons, birds and rare animals as well as their stuffed animals and skins cannot be taken out of the country. There are no restrictions on the export of alcohol and tobacco. Through an ergonomic service can pick up travel insurance in Mexico with the right parameters (including coverage for covid, zero deductible, etc.) and at the lowest price. Tax free Making a single purchase of 1200 MXN and more (cash is limited to 3000 MXN, bank card is not limited), you can save up to 15% of VAT. To do this you need to take a Tax Back receipt at the cash register or a special counter in the store, enter your personal data and show your passport, a copy of your immigration card, cash voucher and boarding pass to the customs officer at the airport. If the total value of the items purchased exceeds 5,000 MXN, they may be "insistently asked" to be inspected. The due amount is refunded at Tax Back offices: half in cash, the other half by transfer to a bank card.

Transport

Photo by crispy-fotografie on Pixabay Mexico has an extensive network of domestic air travel. Not only the huge cities are connected by regular flights: popular resorts take up to 7 flights a day from Mexico City. "Aeromexico delivers from the capital to Cancun for 1480-4050 MXN in a single finish (travel time just over 2 hours), to Acapulco for 1161-4843 MXN (1 hour), to Monterrey for 2240-2500 MXN (1.5 hours). Mexican railroads are less convenient for travelers. There are, in fact, a couple of tourist trains that run, for example, from Mexico City on the Chihuahua-Los Mochis line in the northwest (on the carrier's website in English) or from Cancun deep into the Yucatan Peninsula to the Mayan cities, but the tickets are very expensive: from MXN 3300 in economy class. But the country has excellent intercity bus service. Transportation is clean and ergonomic and runs on schedule. In addition, in many regions of Mexico is almost the only way to get anywhere. A distinction is made between luxury buses (carrier ADO), first class and simple buses. Each region and destination is "patronized" by a private company. The fare depends on the distance, speed and comfort level: for example, a trip from Guadalajara to Acapulco costs from 1300 MXN in economy class to 1500 MXN in the premium cabin. Air conditioning, in most cases, is available in all buses.

Public transport in cities

Municipal buses (fare approximately 4 MXN) operate in all major cities and are a fairly ergonomic (although often crowded) mode of transportation. Tickets can be purchased at special kiosks or from the driver. Mexico City has a subway consisting of 12 lines, the fare is 5 MXN and tickets are sold at each station. Another means of transportation in the capital is the metrobus: 4 lines that connect the center with the outskirts. The price of a ticket is 10 MXN top-up card and each trip costs 5 MXN. The Tren Ligero fast trains (4 MXN) and trolleybuses (2-5 MXN) are also popular. During kids and rush hours, women ride the subway in special cars, separate from men. In all tourist areas there are shuttle buses - "peseros". The fare depends on the length of the trip, with an average fare of 5-10 MXN. In Cancun and Acapulco, public transportation is excellent. There are buses going both ways almost all day with 2 to 3 60 second intervals, and the fare is 15 MXN. There is also a bus line between the cities of San Jose del Cabo and San Lucas (tickets are 65 MXN). In the cities of Mexico, it is possible to travel by cab. The standard taxi fare is about 10-20 MXN per pickup plus 7 MXN for any kilometer, at night fares increase by 10%. Some cars do not have meters, so the price should be negotiated in advance. Those wishing to take a cab for the whole day enjoyment will cost 1,000-1,500 MXN.

Communications and Wi-Fi

The most famous mobile operators are Telcel, AT&T and Movistar. It is possible to connect at the providers' offices, prepaid SIM cards cost from 50 MXN, recharge cards of 100-500 MXN are sold in supermarkets, newsstands and gas stations. Telcel subscribers talk to Russia costs from 20 MXN per 60 seconds. International calls are also made from pay phones installed throughout Mexico that accept cards of 20-100 MXN. Free Wi-Fi is available in some hotels, cafes and restaurants, and occasionally in parks and other public places. Access points for Telcel subscribers are widespread: by entering a password and your login, you can use the Internet without restrictions. Internet cafes are available in both metropolitan areas and remote regions, the connection is 30-40 MXN per hour.

Hotels in Mexico

Photo by Engin_Akyurt on Pixabay Mexican hotel classification is not much different from the standard international: the "stars" are assigned by the same rules, but with the institutions of luxury it is a little more complicated. Apart from the usual 4-5*, there are luxury hotels with a mark Gran Turismo and hotels of special, the highest category. The first do every whim of the expensive guests: restaurants, stores, spas, golf courses - on the huge territories there is everything you need. Others place their bets on exclusivity: a personal island for diving or a mini-reserve - the most ambitious ideas are in the fight for guests. The Mexican electricity grid voltage - 110 V, for sockets with flat sockets need adapters. In Mexico City, a bed in a hostel costs from 105 MXN, a double room in the "three" - from 250 MXN, in an ergonomic "five" - from 1100 MXN per day. In the resort of Cancun is possible to rent an apartment for 400 MXN, a double room in a 4 * hotel for 550 MXN or a villa with a pool for 1500 MXN, that if money is tight - limited to a bed in a hostel for 190 MXN per day. Any second, upbeat Acapulco invites you to "triplexes" for 450-500 MXN, beachfront resort hotels for 1000-3000 MXN and luxury vacation homes for 800-30 000 MXN per night. Money The financial unit of the country is the Mexican peso (MXN). 1 peso has 100 centavos. Current exchange rate: 1 MXN = 3.63 RUB (1 USD = 19.87 MXN, 1 EUR = 24.04 MXN). It is possible to exchange currency upon arrival at the airport (we do not recommend doing so as the exchange rate is more often poor) or on the spot: at banks, hotels and special exchange offices with a sign "Casa de Cambio". With a successful carrying of U.S. dollars U.S.: the exchange rate is adequate, and in some restaurants, stores and hotels they may also pay directly (without losing vigilance at the same time: the locals are eager to inflate the rate, in another case, and even cheated a tourist). It is better to have change in your pocket all the time: the change from large bills in public transport, cabs and private shops will not wait. The unspoken prize for attentive service in the catering industry is 10-15% of the bill. Standard tips for porters, drivers and maids are MXN 20-38. In cities and resorts rather a lot of ATMs, credit cards of the main payment systems are everywhere, as well as traveler's checks (mainly in U.S. dollars). Unfortunately, fraud with credit cards is not uncommon, so before the trip is worth insuring the card against damage. The banks are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00 (there are branches till midnight), on Saturdays till 14:00 (in some places till 16:00). Sundays are mostly days off, but some branches in the resort areas are open till dawn.

Safety

Photo by Holgi on Pixabay No special vaccinations are needed when you visit Mexico, although prior vaccinations are possible for hepatitis and malaria prevention. In the country, you should use reasonable precautions: eat warm food, pasteurized milk, and bottled or boiled water. In crowded places you should be worried about thieves, and to move around the city to use only officially registered cab (green cars are less reliable). To make women and children as safe as possible in metropolitan areas created the work of "pink cab": at the wheel - only women, in the cabin - emergency call button rescuers, men are forbidden to enter. Not far from shopping malls and hotels there are special tourist cabs whose drivers speak English and enjoy doing mini-excursions on the road. Tourists are advised to travel by car, bus and train only during the day, and avoid the provincial areas. There is no need to take pictures of the locals without their permission: the native Mexicans honestly believe that in the picture remains a part of the human soul. Despite the fact that, if you pour a little coin in the appreciation, the belief could easily shake. Nature is not without its dangers: the searing tropical sun, high pollution and seismic activity in the air. Smoking is not allowed in public places: the fine is 1,500-2,700 MXN. Despite the government's best efforts, the drug mafia is thriving in the country. The northern border states cause the most trouble: they regularly ship illicit substances into the United States. Ciudad Juarez in Chihuahua is surely one of the most criminal cities in the world: fights, shootings, kidnappings and other detective stories are everyday routine here. But in the southern states (Guerrero, Yucatán, Campeche, etc.) and popular resorts there is virtually nothing to worry about.

Beaches of Mexico

Photo by PublicDomainPictures on Pixabay Mexican beaches are beautiful: soft sand of all kinds of shades, photogenic palm trees, the gentle waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean - a dream come true. One of the most popular resorts - Cancun, whose coast is divided into long and small parts. The first is known for excellent conditions and clean sea for surfing, the second is perfect for home recreation: nearby Isla Mujeres reliably protects against waves (by the way, on the "island of ladies" is only possible to swim in the crowded Playa Norte). Pearl Beach is known for its perfect cleanliness, Playa Linda - a wide palette of sports activities. The best beach in the Yucatan Peninsula is Tulum with its rich and delightful scenery of underwater world, inexpensive to the naked eye. The main resorts of the Riviera Maya - Playa del Carmen, equally beloved by wealthy tourists and dishevelled youth, and the island of Cosumel with a narrow but very beautiful coastal strip (on Paradise Beach - children's play areas, on Palancar - the actual restaurant), a huge national park and coral reef. In Acapulco on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, the beaches of Caleta, Caletilla and Pi de la Cuesta are notable. Excellently equipped Condesa is beloved by the LGBT community, and wild Revolcadero by desperate surfers.  Los Cabos is a paradise for lovers: you can reach Playa del Amor only by boat, and there you can enjoy the views of rocks and caves, the variety of coastal fauna and the pleasant company of each other. Puerto Vallarta's most famous beaches are Los Muertos with its extraordinary sunsets, La Manzanilla and Destiladeras with its developed infrastructure and Conchas Chinas with its pristine nature.

Diving

Photo by Free-Photos on Read the full article

[heavenfemale07-blog]

Bake your Day With These Romany Cream Cookies!

These Romany Creams are a classic South African sandwich cookie. Two chocolate coconut biscuits are sandwiched with creamy milk chocolate filling. They're moreishly good and like a cousin of the Australian Kingston biscuit and no less delightful!

As soon as I saw the recipe on Tandy's blog for Romany Creams I knew that I had to make them. I really enjoy South African food and although I've only visited South Africa once, the South Africans that I have met over the years have been so friendly that I seek out their food, only to be rewarded with delicious treats.

Originally Romany Creams were based on a cookie called Gypsy Creams with a similar biscuit but white cream to sandwich the halves together but it wasn't a great seller. Pyott's biscuits was a South African biscuit company originally founded by a Scotsman John Pyott. In 1965 his son Ian was in charge and he changed the biscuit and made the filling chocolate. Pyott's had a relationship with Cadbury who many say encouraged this filling change to chocolate. The biscuits were named Romany Creams as a nod to the heritage of Gypsy Creams and the Romany travelling community. And they became one of the most popular biscuits!

Nina is South African so when I made a batch of these I asked her to test them out. You see I haven't actually tried Romany Creams before so I wasn't sure how much my version would be like the real thing.

Tandy's recipe was straightforward although I adjusted it a bit. My mixture was very sticky so I added more flour and I changed the chocolate filling to be milk chocolate rather than Tandy's dark chocolate, just because I love the milk chocolate filling of a Kingston biscuit. I don't usually like Dairy Milk chocolate as it's way to sweet for me but in this case, you definitely want to use it because it makes the most perfect filling for this biscuit.

I had so many comments on the filling from everyone that received it. My mother (who does not give out compliments lightly) described them as "so delicious" and she loved the cream filling.

I also gave a batch to Mr NQN's colleague Ruslan and his wife Anastasia. They've recently moved to Australia from Russia and they had to leave their little dog behind. The move has been a challenge on her as she doesn't work and doesn't speak much English and probably feels quite isolated.

They were very eager to look after Mochi. Like most parents I find Mochi highly entertaining - I think she is so cheeky and funny she could headline a performance at the Enmore Theatre. One time I left her alone for 10 minutes while I searched the garage for Halloween props and she went straight to the kitchen, took out two packets of bagels and a tin of tuna from the shopping basket and tried to make herself lunch I guess!

Mochi loves staying with them. They treat her like she is one of their own and any time we have to stay out late their response is that we should stay out as long as we want, they just love spending time with her!

When I gave them the cookies, I wasn't sure how they would like them. But he sent me a message shortly after, "Did you cook these cookies yourself? They are awesome!!".

So make these cookies for friends or family or anyone you want to say thank you to. This recipe makes a lot of them so it makes enough for you and lots of friends. I had enough to give cookies to four lots of people and then enough to eat on my own-Mochi staring pleadingly of course wondering why she couldn't have one!

So tell me Dear Reader, have you ever tried a Romany Cream biscuit? Do you like Dairy Milk chocolate?

Adapted from Tandy at Lavender and Lime

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Cooking time: 25 minutes

Makes around 35-40 sandwich cookies (depending on size)

15g/0.5oz cocoa powder

125mls/4flozs. hot water

250g/8.8ozs. butter, softened

150g/5ozs. caster or superfine sugar

340g/12ozs. self raising flour plus extra flour for fork dipping

135g/4.8ozs. desiccated coconut

Pinch of salt

400g/14ozs. milk chocolate (dairy milk actually does perfectly for this)

2 tablespoons coconut oil

Step 1 - Preheat oven to 180C/350F and line four trays with parchment. Dissolve cocoa in hot water and set aside to cool. Cream the butter and sugar together until pale. Add the cocoa mixture and beat for 1 minute. Then fold in the flour, coconut and salt until just mixed (add more flour if it is too sticky).

Step 2 - Scoop out small balls the size of gobstoppers. Flatten with a fork dipped in flour and make sure they're spaced about 1.5 inches apart. Bake for 20 minutes or so-these are best when they are crisp and baking time depends on how big you've made them but make sure to bake them til crisp and slightly browned at the edges because they're best that way and don't really crisp up further on cooling that much. Cool for 5 minutes then place on cooling rack. Match similar sized halves together.

Step 3 - Melt the milk chocolate and coconut oil together until smooth. The trick to filling these is to set the chocolate until spreadable and not too runny. Allow to set in the fridge. Once they've set they can be kept at room temperature (as long as it isn't too hot where you are my darlings).

Source: http://www.notquitenigella.com/2018/11/07/romany-creams-recipe/

[caliweedblog-blog]

From Los Angeles to New York City, Cannabis Chefs have set their eyes on the next Exotic Ingredient, Cannabis. I’ve been watching the explosion of private (and often secret) Pot-pop-ups happening across the country with excitement and awe as my two favorite subjects collide producing an eruption of possibilities, exploration and of course, flavor. Becoming more widely accepted, Marijuana has now made its way from the streets to the kitchen and one thing is becoming obvious; this isn’t just medicine or for recreation – this is an ingredient, and it’s pretty damn versatile. As Chef Michael Magallanes explains his Culinary approach to Cannabis, I reminisce on the humble beginnings of cooking with Cannabis. The smell of my first batch of high school weed brownies comes to mind. They were no doubt horrible, filled with bits of herb, and nothing in comparison to my dinner with The Opulent Chef.

    Chef Michael, recently named one of America’s Top 10 Cannabis Chefs by Green State, honed his skills working in top San Francisco Michelin-starred restaurants such as Mourad and Aziza. Leaving the restaurant industry to start The Opulent Chef, Michael now hosts private dinners in the bay area with plans to expand beyond our state. This particular event was held in an industrial part of San Francisco in an unassuming building which housed a full kitchen, dining and lounge type area. While I was unfamiliar with this part of SF, I was pleasantly surprised when I stepped inside as I have a soft spot for antiques and anything with a distressed well-worn look to it. This place felt like a cross between a speakeasy and the studio of an aspiring artist who might live in Silver Lake. Seats included a 10 part prix-fixe menu starting with a fresh infused lime, ginger, and mint spritzer infused with a Northern California-Diesel-Honey (courtesy of Sunboldt Farms) The dinner was paired with various solventless cannabis extracts provided by Nasha Extracts and melted by guests with one of the most elegant concentrate vaporizers out on the market, the Topstone.

  This slideshow requires JavaScript.

  With a lot of other private dinners I’ve attended starting at $50 per person on the low end and $100 on the high, this one hits the table at $150 per person. I already know what you’re going to ask… Was it worth it? Let’s break down a few of these dishes and find out.

    2nd  Course – Almond Sphere infused with Fennel Pollen

Confused yet? Those unfamiliar with molecular gastronomy (which is essentially “edible science”) may look at this dish with a sense of interest a pitch above “what’s that”? While those that are acquainted with this particular sub-discipline are already whispering to themselves – ‘this is going to be interesting.’  

This starter following the amuse-bouche (that mysteriously went missing before I could try it) combines fennel pollen and almond milk submerged in a bath using a process known as “controlled jellification.” This process produces an ultra-thin layer of semi-chewy smooth jelly around the perfectly cool semi-sweet almond milk that when placed in your mouth turns into an exciting orchestra of texture, flavor, and mouth-feel. I like to think of it as a cross between mochi dough and gummy bears if they were stretched thin. It was refreshing, fun and had the perfect amount of pollen to produce a subtle undertone of fennel flavor, what’s not to love?

    4th   Course – Cold Smoked & Seared Raw Skipjack Tuna

“Flown in from Japan and broken down 24 hours before the event” is something I never get tired of hearing when it comes to seafood. With that said, it’s a bold move to put a fish like skipjack on a plate knowing it’s uniquely strong flavor when compared to bluefin or albacore. When it comes to tongue-shocking gusto, much like beef, skipjack tuna’s flavor is attributed to its high-fat content. That being said, this dish included perfectly pickled daikon radish, white soy sauce, and fried myoga sitting in subtly citrus yuzu juice. This course was a perfect example, nah – the epitome of using acidic and salty flavors to civilize the taste of an otherwise usually fishy fish.

    6th   Course – Fried Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish scored and fried only for seconds and just long enough to achieve an ornate curl but not so long as to induce a bubble gum like texture, which can instantly ruin any otherwise delicious cephalopod dish. Pickled radish brought a bright flair to the flavor retardant nature of the cuttlefish, which paired nicely with the smooth and fatty avocado mousse and grilled scallions. My favorite part of this dish was the jus made from dried scallops and ginseng. Faint yet still a unique enough flavor for me to have to ask, “what was in that?”

    8th   Course – Spice-Cured Braised Beef Short Rib

Beef Short Rib with Roasted Brentwood Corn, Pickled King Trumpet Mushrooms, Sprouted Wheat berries, Plumped Cherries, Candies Sunflower Seeds, and a jus made from the braising liquid – a description that may be easy enough to read but is hard to get through without salivating. Where to begin? Ah yes, THE BEEF. The only time beef is good chewy is when it’s called jerky, and folks, this is not that. I attempted to cut my delicately braised beef only to think MAYBE they gave me a new knife… as a joke. My first attempt at using a knife got chuckles around the table, and it was only then that I noticed my surrounding cheery companions were fork pulling perfectly bite-sized chunks out with 0 resistance. Absolute effortless motion. The corn and highly nutritious sprouted wheat berries were perfect for this dish, but I’m going to leave it all on the beef as it was the absolute showstopper of the night.

  It’s incredible to see the way Cannabis is being used today and it’s innovators like Michael Magallanes that are continually pushing the envelope of not only the culinary aspect but in Cannabis as well. I’ve seen a lot of aspiring Chefs, and even a fair amount of “established” Chefs trying to hit the fine dining crowd but none have come reasonably close in technique, creativity or execution thus far. To be honest, if I get force fed another dry pot brownie at another “elevated” dining event, I might lose it. His approach emphasizes the small details often overlooked by home chefs and even some professionals. While some may nail flavor, they lack in presentation and while some may have both, lack creativity or the passion for perfection. Who pays to have decarboxylated weed sent to a lab to take note of the different variances temperature and time can have on the potency and flavor of cannabis anyways? Every strain has it’s own unique smell, taste, and effect and it’s impressive to see the beginnings of that kind of Culinary exploration paired with artisan extracts happen here in California. While this meal concept focused on matching cannabis with food Michael does host private infused dinners which can be found posted on his website.

  So was it worth it? You’re damn right it was, and I want seconds.

  The Opulent Chef: Disrupting Culinary Cannabis From Los Angeles to New York City, Cannabis Chefs have set their eyes on the next Exotic Ingredient, …

[musubiki]

okay im actually a little emotionally attached to mochis shop being a little cat bookstore now

[musubiki]

It feels like it was only yesterday I read about Oscar getting a mermaid girlfriend and now there's Ikasumi. I ship it, though! I'm curious what happened to the mermaid girl. Also, I think I'm experiencing what the rest of the guild is feeling when it comes to Oscar's lovelife, like since when was this a thing I want deets 😂

FUN FACT: HE STILL HAS THE MERMAID GF TOO!!!!!!!! this is what i mean when i say oscar has that playboy streak!!!!!!! hes like "Oh we have [problem]? I know someone who can help! ^^" AND ITS ONE OF HIS EX-GIRLFRIENDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and FOR REAL this is oscars running joke. he always has things going on that for some reason he doesnt tell anyone about and doesnt bring up?? 1) his girlfriend changes often and 2) his other running joke is hes always doing part-time work at some different job every so often. mochi and coco go outfit shopping, trying to pick clothes, mochi like "What do you think of this color on me?" and oscar, somehow working at that clothes shop, out of nowhere is like "Nice it brings out your eyes!"

mochi & lime after some magic commission exhausted in a far off town, go to get dinner and sit down and the server (oscar) is like "Hey guys! I can get you a discount since I work here!" when theyre like "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU EVEN DOING HERE???" he replies "Oh me? My uncle lives nearby and im visiting him for the weekend so i decided to help out at their diner. Pretty cool, huh?"

they go to some festival happening in town, walking around stalls and theres oscar managing one of those hacked, rip-off game booths like "Hey Mochi! We have this fluffy cat stuffed animal that looks like your style! Maybe you can solicit Lime into winning it for you! (overworld challenge noise)" (which turns into an aggressive "I'm gonna win that fucking cat." vs "I own this damn game and you're gonna empty your pockets before I let you win it.")

anyway, oscar is a psuedo-cryptid in his own right.

[musubiki]

I like the idea that Oscar is just really light on his feet so they just assign the role of stealth on him. Lime has been jumpscared too many times when being in the middle of a conversation with Mochi and all of the sudden Oscar is just there and makes a quick joke off of what someone just says spooking them. “Dude I’ve been here for like 8 minutes.” He’s just suddenly there, running gag sort of deal.

Doesn’t Oscar also accidentally find out Mochi is a witch? She’s talking witch things with Lime in the greenhouse witch hut and they hear a sneeze and both say bless you and he’s just there taking notes.

THIS IS A COOL IDEA BUT I THINK POST-TIMESKIP OSCAR WOULD BE TOO OP WITH THIS TRAIT!!!!! since he eventually gets the ty-lee type of abilities where he can fuck you up with the right jab, sneaky oscar would be too powerful...90% of fights would be over before they even begin, all you need to do is distract the villian for 2 seconds for oscar to get behind him