#since that's what I wore most of high school and throughout my 20's. I wear more of a cat-eye now with a gold accent.

[downtherabbitholewithlucy]

😎When the band scores BIG at the Buy-1-Get-1 Sale at the Sunglass Hut😎

[lovemesomesurveys]

Hello there, can I have your name? Stephanie.

Have you gotten close to anyone recently? Not anyone new, no.

Out of all your friends, who do you spill ALL your secrets to? I spill everything in these surveys.

Do you miss the way things used to be? I miss the way a lot of things used to be.

On your “lazy days” what are you doing? So what do I do everyday? Lie around in bed switching between social medias, watch YouTube videos, watch TV, read, scroll through Tumblr, do surveys, play some Animal Crossing: New Horizons, sleep...

Do you remember the first conversation you had with the person you have feelings for? I don’t have romantic feelings for anyone at this time.

Are you anything like you were at this point last year? Unfortunately. Have you ever got a D or F on your report card? No.

If you could go back and change something in the past 5 months would you? How about 5 years?

Do you like anybody? Not in the romantic sense.

Do you believe that people talk about you behind your back? I don’t think I’m on anyone’s radar.

If you had twins, would you give them rhyming names? Not having kids, but in the hypothetical scenario where I had twins; no, I would not.

Do you remember what you were like a year ago? Yeah, like I said I’m the same now, which means I haven’t changed much. And that’s not good.

What are you listening to? An ASMR video.

Would you rather go back a week or forward? Forward.

Did you do something mean to someone today? No.

What holiday is your birthday closet to? 4th of July.

Is there anyone that you wish was IN your life who used to be? I do miss having Ty in my life and the way things were between us a few years ago. I’m such a mess now, though. :(

Give us a lyric from a song you’re listening to: I’m not listening to any music right now.

Is your birthday in less than 6 months? I already had my birthday 3 months ago.

Do you think your zodiac sign fits your personality? No, I’m so opposite of how a Leo is said to be.

What brings out the worst in you? My mental health has.

How’re you feeling right now? Tired and kinda hungry.

When’s the last time you ate at Taco Bell and with who? I haven’t ate at a Taco Bell in several years.

Are you closer to your father or mother? My mom.

Are you a morning person or a night person? Night.

What are you supposed to be doing right now? I mean, I should be asleep at 630 in the morning, but that just wouldn’t be me now would it?

Would you ever get a tattoo? I’ve wanted one for several years, but I just don’t see it ever happening.

Are you one of those people who hate crying in front of others? Most definitely.

Is anyone on your mind right now? No. 

What’s the greatest thing that happened today? Nothing much has happened so far.

Are you afraid of the future? Very.

Do you believe in true love? Yeah. I just don’t see it happening for me. 

Has anyone ever given you jewelry on Christmas? Yeah, my family.

What do you prefer, Skittles or Starbursts? I liked the strawberry Starbursts. I couldn’t even tell you the last time I had Skittles or Starbursts, though. It’s been a longgggg time. Like honestly, probably not since high school.

Mike & Ikes or Jolly Ranchers? Jolly Ranchers. I don’t think I’ve had those since high school either to be honest. The watermelon ones were the best. Anyone remember the Jolly Ranchers suckers? Those were really popular when I was in middle school. My school used to sell candy and ice cream after school and I’d always get some of those and/or those caramel apple suckers, and a Superstar (chocolate banana ice cream bar). 

How are you feeling right now? We’ve been through this already, I feel tired and kinda hungry.

Could you go the rest of your life without smoking a cigarette? I’ve gone 31 years so far and have no desire to start.

Were you happy when you woke up today? I haven’t gone to bed, yet, but I never wake up happy. I wake up feeling like a zombie.

Do you believe that every one has a soul-mate? I don’t know, man.

Have you ever fallen into a mud puddle? No.

Do you like winter? I love it.

Do you wear your seatbelt in the car? Always.

Will you talk to someone on the phone tonight? Not likely unless my mom calls me on her lunch break like she sometimes does.

Was today a good day? It’s only 6:46AM.

What woke you up this morning? ...

Do you prefer to take showers at night or in the morning? I always take them at night.

How did your day go yesterday? Typical day for me.

Are you talking to anyone? No.

Do you look people in the eye when you talk to them? Yeah. I look away now and then, but yeah.

Have you cried on somebody’s shoulder? Yes.

Have you ever played naked twister? Uh, no.

Will this weekend be a good one? *shrug*

Do you call people Douche-bags? I’ve said it about people, but not to anyone.

Would you marry for money? Absolutely not.

Did you kiss or hug anyone yesterday? Nope.

Can you sleep in jeans? I couldn’t now as someone who only wears leggings and hasn’t even worn jeans at all in like 3 years.

What color are your eyes? Brown.

Is your hair longer than your shoulders? Yeah, it goes down to my butt.

This time last year, can you remember who you liked? I wasn’t interested in anyone in the romantic sense last year.

What are you doing at this very moment? Hmm, take a guess.

What was the last piece of clothing you wore that didn’t belong to you? I don’t wear clothing that doesn’t belong to me. <<<

If you had the chance to see ONE band, (past or present) live, who would you pick? I wish I got to see Linkin Park while Chester was still alive. </3 :(

How long have you been in your current relationship? Sighhhhh.

Are you a patient person? No.

Would you get in trouble if you came home drunk? No, I’m 31 years old.

Do you ever think about things and start to worry? Haha only all the time.

Are you one to get annoyed easily? Yes. Somedays any little thing can do it.

Do you have any pets? Yep, a doggo named Princess Leia. <3

Is the last person you kissed yours? I don’t own anyone.

Are you a player or do you keep to one person? I’m certainly not a player. I’ve been played, though.

Was it a boy or a girl to text you first today? No one has as of now.

Are you scared of spiders? Uh, extremely.

Do you hate the last boy who talked to you? No, I love my brother.

Where are you? In my room sitting on my bed.

Do you think that crying is a form of weakness? No. I’m just hard on myself because I feel like such a crybaby. I’m like, jeez you’re crying again what’s wrong with you? Or about how I cry over the same things, but not actively or even trying to do anything about them. I’m just not very understanding or kind to myself.

Do you tend to make things complicated? Yeppp. :/

Have you ever slept on a couch with someone? No.

Have you ever gotten to the point where you’ve said “I’m done trying”? I’ve felt that way many times throughout my life. And there have been times I did not stop trying when it came to certain things. I also have neglected myself and my life in a lot of ways these past few years, so I feel like I haven’t been trying at all. Do you miss someone? I’ll always miss my loved ones who have passed away.

Do you think things will change in the next few months? No.

Have you cried this past week? Of course.

Do you think two people can last forever? It happens.

Last reason you threw up? I had a stomach bug or something. 

Do you think relationships are even worth it? Yes.

Does it bother you when people try to make you jealous? No one tries to make me jealous, but yeah it would. Like that’s just stupid.

Is it possible to be single and happy? Yeah, there’s lots of happy single people. 

Do you like when people play with your hair? I loved that when I was a kid.

Are you mad at someone right now? No.

Best memory? I couldn’t choose just one.

Do you remember your dreams? No, for some reason it’s like they vanish as soon as I wake up.

First off, single or taken? Single. As if that hasn’t been made abundantly clear by now. 

Do you wear a lot of makeup? No. I haven’t worn any makeup in like 3 years.

What are you wearing right now? Leggings and a Scream shirt.

Is there someone you want to fight? No. I’m not a fighter.

What kind of hairstyle do you have right now? It’s up in a bun.

What’s annoying you right now? Mehhh.

Do you have your license? Nope.

Are you tired? Of course I am.

Who will you be with today/tonight? I’ll be with all my family at various times because they each have work but different schedules. We’ll all be home together tonight when they’re all off and home for the night. I’ll be with my doggo all day.

What color is the shirt you are wearing? Black.

Last person to call you? My mom.

Do you have any piercings? Just my earlobes.

Have you ever kissed someone who you weren't dating? Yes.

What was the reason for your last tear shed? Blah.

Do you go to school? If so, what one? Nope, I finished 5 years ago.

Ever feel like you have been replaced? I’ve felt that way many times before. I definitely know my former friends have replaced me, but that’s completely to be expected. I hope they have found better friends than me.

What are you doing tonight? Same stuff I do every night.

Who were you last in car with? My mom.

Would you rather write a paper or give a speech? Write a paper. I definitely do not miss having to give speeches or do presentations in front of the class. 

Are you lying to yourself about something? Maybe.

What is your favorite thing to eat with peanut butter? Toast, PB & jelly, bananas, chocolate. 

Your mood summed up into one word? Blah.

Is the person you last texted single? No.

Are you a happy person? No. Have you had your birthday this year? Yeah, three months ago.

Do you think any of your exes will eventually want to be with you again? Nopeee. And that’s perfectly fine cause I don’t want to be them either.

Was New Year’s Eve enjoyable? It was okay. I miss how we were all like, woo roaring 20′s and 2020 vision we’re gonna see things clearly and how we had absolutely NO idea what was soon to come and how quickly the world would change. Although, I will say I think we have seen a lot of things more clearly this year, it was just a lot bigger and more serious than we thought. 

If you could move away, no questions asked, where would you move to?  Hmm. Not sure. My family and I do really want to move in the near future, though.

What would you change about your life right now? A lot of things...

Has anything upset you in the past week? Yes.

Are you on the phone? Nope.

What’s your favorite color? Pastels, rose gold, coral, mint green, and yellow.

Which do you prefer, relationship or a one-night-stand? Relationship. I’m not interested in a one night stand.

[purplesurveys]

1033

survey by tickticktmr

What's the best food to have at a sleepover? I’d have a blast at a sleepover if my friends and I were to get a square-cut cheese pizza with a box of wings. Cheesy nachos with beef would be great too.

How did you meet the last person you shared a bed with? We were introduced by our respective friends.

Do you like the yellow cheetos better or the orange ones? I don’t like Cheetos, period. Cheese puffs never did grow on me.

Where did you buy the shoes you wore today? My mom got it for me two Christmases ago.

Do you have any half siblings? Nope. But this year I found out I have a half-cousin (and possibly half-cousins) from a trash uncle who apparently fooled around behind my aunt’s back, but I have no desire to associate with her or that entire family altogether. 

How many DVD players are in the house? We still have two lying around but we haven’t used either in 6–7 years.

Do you like the last song you heard on the radio? I cried, because I needed to hear the lyrics that were being sung.

Do you know anyone who has been on TV? Sure, mostly some of my friends’ parents.

When going shopping for junk food, what's the first thing you pick up? My eyes usually dart to the Pringles before anything else. And if there’s also any salted egg chips that looks appealing enough for me to pick up.

How would you react if you found out you had a long lost sister? I think my literal first reaction would be to be pissed at my parents for hiding such a secret from me for a long time. It would depend on how they explain the situation if I end up wanting to meet her or if I can do without.

At sleepovers, do you usually stay up all night or actually go to sleep? Hahaha I’m the grandma that passes out. I’ve never successfully stayed up at a sleepover and for some reason I’m always the first one to start getting sleepy. I guess all my friends’ bedrooms are really that comfy.

Is there anything in the room you're in that's really dusty? [continued from last night] For sure. There are some things in my room I barely use or move around so it definitely wouldn’t be a surprised if they’ve since gathered up a fine layer of dust.

Do you know anybody with different colored eyes? Yeah, someone from my high school has this condition.

Are any of your relatives vets? [continued AGAIN from the night before last, lmao send help] As far as I know, no. We’re not really the type of family that produces doctors, and I believe we lean more towards law.

Who cleans the most in your house? Oh my mom, for sure. She wants all chores done a certain way, and she’s always genuinely happy to do everything herself.

Do you own any shirts that cost over $100? No. I think my most expensive shirts are my wrestling ones, which never went above P3000, I think.

What about any shoes? Do you think that's a lot of money for clothes? Yeah, well shoes are generally more expensive so I’ve definitely spent more on sneakers than I’ve ever had on a shirt. I think a pair of shoes that go for P5000 is fine because for the most part it’s also already a testament to its quality. I draw the line at P5000 shirts, because you’re only paying for the label at that point.

What's the movie theatre in your town called? Ours don’t have names. Most of our cinemas are housed within malls, so whenever we make plans to watch a movie we just mention the mall.

How many minutes do you consider late? Idk man, I prize punctuality a lot. People to me are either early, on the dot, or late.

Is there any jam in the fridge right now? No, we don’t really consume jam. We’re not a very spread-y kind of family, come to think of it. We prefer meatier stuff in our sandwiches.

What did you get your best friend for their last birthday? I learned iMovie throughout my UTI-slash-fever horror experience so I can make a video for Gab that compiled her friends’ greetings in time for her birthday. I wasn’t able to get Angela anything because I was still looking for a job then and didn’t have any source of income; and because Gab broke up with me on that day so I was too distraught to be doing anything.

What about your mom's and dad's last birthdays? My dad was abroad for his last birthday. I didn’t get my mom anything because we don’t have that kind of relationship.

What kinds of food do you dunk into milk? Uhm mostly none, because I never really have milk unless I’m at a hotel or at a friend’s, lol. I’ve dipped chocolate chip cookies into milk several times though, and those didn’t turn out bad at all :) I’m a fan of the mushiness.

Do you have any current or past teachers on your facebook friends? A couple of my high school teachers are still my Facebook friends. I never added nor received requests from my college professors, which I prefer tbh because I’ve always viewed college profs as having a more professional vibe compared to my grade school and high school teachers, who were like parents to me.

Are there any baby pictures of you up? Like, the room I’m currently in? No but my school portrait from Prep is framed and hanging on my wall, which is the closest thing. I was already 7, though.

Do you have any friends who have bleached blonde hair? Nah. I have a lot of friends who’ve dyed their hair over the years, but none bleached all the way through. Gabie did, but just for her tips.

How much sugar do you like in your tea/coffee? Lots. I need every trace of it feeling like black coffee removed, haha.

What color is the cereal in your cupboard? We don’t eat cereals in this family; we’ve always enjoyed a classic Filipino breakfast. Sometimes we’ll get cereals I guess, but we never eat them the traditional way; my mom and sister usually just snack on them straight from the box on non-breakfast hours.

Are you wearing any jewlery that a boyfriend/girlfriend gave you? No.

Has a boyfriend/girlfriend ever given you jewlery? Yes.

Have you ever seen the last person you kissed cry? Many times.

Would you rather work at a gas station or be a maid? I hate chores and touching other people’s stuff, so I’ll go with the gas station. I could meet different people from that job too, which sounds more interesting.

What's the closest store to your house called? Just Things. Basically sells hype merch, including the P5000 streetwear shirts I called out earlier, for all the hype heads in my area.

Do horror movies scare you more when they're 'based on a true story'? The biographical nerd in me obviously gets excited, but I don’t get scared. I get more invested when they include snippets or updates about the real-life counterparts and go beyond the vague ‘based on a true story’ banner.

Do you still talk to the last person who hurt you (emotionally)? Yeah but I really need some sort of coin bank thing for it for every time I do so because idk why I still hang around sometimes.

Is there an outdoor movie theatre where you live? Not where I live. But I do know that because of Covid, some malls outside of my city have started offering drive-in cinemas, which were never a thing here before.

What color was the last food you ate? Golden brown, yellow, black, red, green. It was a truffle and mushroom pizza that I treated my family to because I had gotten my first paycheck this week and I would’ve looked like an absolute ass if I spent it on anything else other than my family. I MEAN I wanted to treat them too, of course, but I won’t deny that there’s an underlying reason for me buying the food as well. Welcome to a firstborn’s life in the Philippines (and in Asia, tbh).

Have you ever seen your mom or dad drunk? My mom has been tipsy, but not drunk. My dad never lets himself get swayed by alcohol. He’ll still get a single bottle of beer, but I’ve never seen his demeanor change.

How expensive is too expensive for a pair of jeans? Anything above P7,000 or P7,500, maybe.

After seeing a movie, do you go to a site to enter a review about it? Nah, I’m not the Letterboxd type of person. I’ll sometimes tweet about a movie, but only if I found it good or intriguing enough.

Have you ever done that? No. I’m not the best movie reviewer, so even though I’m aware of Letterboxd’s or IMDb’s appeal I’ve always been too shy to share my thoughts or ratings just in case someone ends up criticsplaining a movie to me.

Would you consider McDonald's a restaurant? I know what route this question is getting to but I’m too tired to defend my thought process, so suffice it to say I love McDonald’s, lol.

Do your parents vote? LOL my mom only started doing so again when I registered - before 2016, she cast her last vote back in 1992. Of course, her opinions were wrong for both the presidential (2016) and senatorial elections (2019) haha. 

My dad does not vote and he stopped giving a shit about Philippine politics when he started working abroad 20 years ago and increasingly spent more time overseas than he does in his home country. Which, honestly, as sad and bad as it sounds, I totally understand. He’s completely detached from the goings-on in our country that to make him vote would be just as useful as letting him purely guess his choices.

Are there any creepy pictures up on the walls of your house? We’ve never gotten such a comment before, so no.

What's the last thing you were excited to eat? The pizzas I bought tonightttttt :> I got truffle and mushroom pizza and quattro formaggi pizzas and they were from Motorino, this fancy (and pricey) place I used to go on dates in that I haven’t visited so long.

It’s hilarious because I didn’t even plan on buying any food today as I’m stingy with money...but in my shift today I was tasked to order food bundles for certain media partners we regularly collaborate with. I kept ordering all these fucking pizzas for people I don’t even know and I got so jealous???? So I ended up buying for myself at the end of the day HAHAHAH

Do you ever hit electronics if they don't work? I smack them against a surface, but I rarely hit them with my own hand.

Who’s the most romantic person you ever went out with? I’ve only gone out with one person and, her toxic traits aside, I highly doubt any future prospect would ever come remotely close to her.

Is there anything hanging from the ceiling in your room? My bedroom light.

How would you react if your best friend was pregnant/got someone pregnant? She’s not planning on having a kid any time soon so I would assume it happened by accident, and I would assume she would be in distress. That said, my instinct would be to be there for her and support her in whatever she does moving forward.

Do you know who Lisa Simpson is? Sure thing, she’s my favorite.

Have you ever had a crush on the last person you spoke to online? No. I’ve never even met her.

Have you ever seen the last person you hugged dressed up fancy? Sure, my grandma dresses up for parties and other formal events.

(If your parents married), Do you know where they got engaged? No. My dad didn’t even pop the question; at some point they just sat each other down, had a long talk, and decided they’d get engaged. Idk where it happened though. Maybe while on a date somewhere?

What color was the last cup you drank out of? Copper.

What was the last picture you printed of? I honestly can’t tell you. I’ve printed a number of documents for various adulting tasks lately, but I don’t know the last time I specifically printed out a photo.

What restaurant has the best fries? I’d have to go with Army Navy. Or if we’re going with fast food, Jollibee.

What does your mailbox look like? We don’t have one. Messengers just insert envelopes through our screen door.

Have you ever gotten something stuck on the roof? We have a rooftop, so that’s never been a problem for us.

Have you ever had a surprise party thrown for you? No. I don’t think I’ve ever been that important for anyone.

Is the room you're in organized? It can do with some fixing, but it’s not terrible.

Would your mom make a good president? She’d be the most organized, neurotic, and punctual president in the history of presidents, but I doubt she’d be of help in conflict resolution or law-making, or any decision-making aspects that go with being president.

The 2nd class you had last time you went to school: ever skipped it? I don’t think I ever skipped that class in the short time I took it before Covid took over.

Do your aunts and uncles have kids? Yeah, nearly everyone does.

Is this survey interesting so far? I liked it.

Do you say fancy or formal? Or something else? Depends on the context. I use both as I think they have different connotations anyway.

Does your English teacher have kids? The last English professor I had doesn’t.

Does your computer make a lot of noise? The fan whirs when the laptop gets too busy. The noise is definitely noticeable considering how quiet my laptop is 98% of the time; but I wouldn’t call it bothersome.

Do you see movies at home or in the theatre more? Home. I watch at the cinema like, a maximum of 5 times a year.

What's your favorite thing to eat during a movie? Potato Corner fries. Non-negotiable.

[segenassefa]

6: Brand Focus: Los Angeles Apparel

September – the season of changing leaves, pumpkin spice lattes (those are nasty but if I speak…), and – usually – back to school shopping.

However, now that life has transitioned online, there is no reason to wear anything that is uncomfortable or at least two sizes oversized on a day-to-day basis. But – and don’t fight me on this - there is nothing more satifying than new and quality loungewear.

This is where Los Angeles Apparel comes in.

The brand formerly known as American Apparel rebranded as Los Angeles Apparel – the same basics brand, full of heavyweight cotton, styles ranging from classic to contemporary, and a wide range of colours, everything from neutrals to neon colours.

After bankrupting twice, American Apparel was purchased by Canadian manufacturer, Gildan, in 2017. Gildan went on to rebrand and remove the more notable points of the company’s marketing strategy – namely, the borderline pornographic advertising and sinfully high price range (some AA products can now be purchased on websites such as Wordans and Amazon).

Founder and Montreal native Dov Charney (who has his own demons, including accusations of sexual harassment and mismanagement of funds when he ran American Apparel in 2014*) then decided to take his ideas elsewhere, introducing Los Angeles Apparel.

Now operating out of a south Los Angeles warehouse, LAA poses itself as an ethical, basics, brand, paying workers between $15-$20 USD, as well as overtime pay and benefits, and varies from other fashion retailers in the amount of transparency to behind the scenes of their warehouse and in the production process – many of the brand’s Instagram stories include shots of models, posing outside and throughout the warehouse, and well as videos of various garment and production workers at their daily dyeing, stitching, and cutting tasks. Another plus of this brand is the composition of the garments, specifically their sweatshirts and sweatpants, tops, and bodysuits. Most places do not manufacture goods with 100% cotton - traditional brands either use a 50/50 blend of cotton and polyester, or an 80/20 blend for goods in the heavyweight category. Using 100% cotton leads to a garment that looks even better with wear and tear, as well as prevents pilling, worn out elastic cuffs and hems, as well as less discolouration. Lastly, LAA is mostly devoid of branding – their clothing has no flashy logos or tags, no awkward stitching or excessive distressing, product styles, and unsavoury colour combinations – likely stemming from their roots as a wholesale blanks company. There is a bit of 90’s flavour to the styles shown on the website, included oversized sweats and t-shirts, lots and lots of pleats (pants, skirts, shorts, everything), as well as having more fresh-faced models, both men and women.

I’ve never personally been a huge American Apparel shopper – the original brand was not the most inclusive in terms of sizing as most of their items run on the smaller size (even to this day – their 2XL fits more like a very roomy XL) or were the dreaded “slim fit” (the ugliest cut of clothing to touch down on this face of the Earth, please don’t argue with me). However, since rebranding, Charney and the rest of the LAA team began to embrace more true-to-size and oversized fits. After rebuilding my wardrobe with quality basics, I can say about 80% of my wardrobe is from LAA – the pieces are good quality, minimal, and tasteful. Also, as a person who tries to be as ethical with my spending practices as possible and invest in quality clothing, I feel a bit better knowing the $40 t-shirt won’t be falling apart in the wash or after a few wears. For anyone who has considered dipping their toe into LAA or has been looking for other basics to add to their collection, here is a listed review of my favourite items from Los Angeles Apparel**.

HF09GD Unisex - Garment Dye 14oz. Heavy Fleece Hooded Pullover Sweatshirt

If I had the power to get rid of all of the hoodies in the world and replace them with only one, this would be it. This hoodie is thick as hell to the point where sometimes it feels like canvas, but not in an uncomfortable way. The colours are also super rich – my favourite one is Chocolate (one day we will talk about how brown is the supreme neutral for its ability to be and blend with both warm and cool tone colours, but I digress). Another interesting thing about these hoodies is that they don’t hold smell the way I’ve found polyester blends do and when washed, literally smell like an entirely new garment. This is also one of the products that I found is actually more of an oversized fit, and as with most cotton goods – stretch (but not unreasonably) with wear. It comes in a huge selection of colours as well and the sizing is fairly unisex, as both me and my boyfriend have worn this hoodie and have marveled at the quality. While it is an investment ($100 CAD per hoodie, about double that for the whole set), it is truly the hooded sweatshirt I’ve ever owned.

Size: XL, Colour: Chocolate, Price: $100 CAD

3380GD - Heavy 2x1 Rib Crop Tank

As our beautiful friend who was floating around Twitter not too long ago said, “Get into eeeeet!”. And she was absolutely right. This tank top is made for the people who want to get into the w*fe-beater/undershirt-as-a-shirt trend but don’t particularly enjoy the length or thinness of those traditional tops. This cropped tank is a racerback, but not to the point where it is completely unwearable without a bra, provided you have a convertible bra. This top is also 5% elastane as opposed to polyester (for those who are curious, elastane is a member of the Lycra and Spandex family, so the stretch in this top will also provide some shaping benefits). While it does only come in two colours for the time being, I’m one of those people who owns everything in my closet in both black and white, so this was perfect for me. Another thing to note, all my BBWs, this top does not roll up or require too much adjusting throughout the day, and sits just above the belly button for a cropped look without making you look like Roger the Alien (you know what I’m talking about….). This tank top is relatively affordable, considering the wearability, and the ribbing isn’t too noticeable so if you wanted a nice cropped but semi conservative top, this just might be it.

Size: L, Colour: Black, Price: $30 CAD

1215GD - Heavy Jersey Garment Dye Casual Pants

Ok, you know when you want to wear sweatpants, but you also realize that maybe the occasion is not appropriate, or you just need a little bit of pizzazz without all of the frump? This is these pants. When I first read the reviews, I was skeptical, but after realizing all I own are jeans and sweatpants, I copped a pair. I wore these in 75-degree weather, walked a good three or four miles, and was comfortable all day. Plus, unlike most traditional womenswear pants, these pockets are DEEP. Like Mariana Trench deep, which I love because one thing about me – I’m going to use a damn pocket. I would say to avoid these if you aren’t into the straight leg look because with a t-shirt, they do give very public-school art teacher vibes, but they also come in a huge range of colours. A lot of people complain about the elastic band for a lot of their products (too tight), but personally I prefer that – it provides a longer wear time before you have to wash (since it takes longer for the garment to stretch out) and keeps everything cute and covered. These pants are also a nice alternative to jeans, and even come in the couple shades of blue to mimic the idea of dark/light wash. The price is a little obscene for some casual pants, but I think you’re someone who usually wears pants from Urban Planet, H&M, or even Zara, these will be a nice upgrade, sure to last a very, very long time.

Size: L, Colour: Black, Price: $52 CAD

1406GD - Long Sleeve Garment Dye Mockneck T-Shirt

Another one of my favourite things about LAA is the fact that a lot of their products are unisex (while not explicitly labelled as such, you will see a lot of the same items in both the men and women tabs on their website). I love a good long sleeve shirt, but my proportions were never too forgiving to pull it off without looking like a 1960’s ghost, or like I had gotten dressed in the tent section of Home Depot. This top is more of a boxy fit, but the bottom is cropped enough to make it hit just above the thighs for a nice, slouchy look. The colours in these are also super nice, veering more towards neutrals and pastels. This shirt looks good with bike shorts and tucked into jeans, and (the best part) the white is not see-through at all, which was one of my biggest complaints when buying shirts from brands like Hanes, Gildan, Fruit of the Loom, and Keya. The neckline is a lot higher than most traditional crew necks, but I’m a fan. Plus, I feel like it looks a lot better when you layer jewelry over it. If you’re springing to get a basic colour, I’d say it’s totally worth it, at $41 a pop, considering that it’ll last damn near forever.

Size: XL, Colour: White, Price: $52 CAD

B128CF - Long Sleeve Crossfront Bodysuit

The bodysuit that started it all. Y’all. The number of compliments I get whenever I wear this top is insane, not to mention of all the bodysuits I have purchased from this brand, this one is the most flattering, the most versatile, and the most forgiving, in terms of sizing. The cross-front bodysuit is a happy medium for people who want to get into the criss-cross top look without the hassle of strings and shit like that. Not to mention, many bodysuits in this style tend to be ribbed – and not the good kind of ribbing either *retches*. I own this bodysuit in both a medium and a large, and my advice would be to size down, especially if you’re planning on wearing it without a bra (not much of a choice considering this bodysuit has a deep, deep, V neck) and will definitely add to the effortless look of the whole ensemble. This bodysuit can be dressed up and dressed down, but my favourite way to wear this is with some slouchy ass sweatpants, white sneakers (preferably a little beat up) and a small shoulder bag – ad square or transparent sunglasses for some big 90s energy, like you just left a Bikram yoga class or something. The colours on this could be better – aside from the white, black, and flesh toned colour, I really don’t see a purpose for the coral or blue shade, but I may be biased considering I do avoid bright colours like that. Now, it may seem a little overpriced for what it is, but I promise you – in my years of bodysuit research, the only brand that’s coming close to this, especially for larger chested laydeez, is Capezio, and that’s literally dancewear. Like, industrial ass dancewear. Regardless, this bodysuit is top 2 and it’s not 2.

Size: M, Colour: White, Price: $49 CAD

BD12 - Bull Denim Oversized Bag

If I had to give a name to my aesthetic – particularly when it comes to accessories – I’d say I’m somewhere in between “Bag Lady” by Erykah Badu and first year art student in the Midwest working part time at a dusty bookstore. This bag is more of the latter. For reference on size, it’s about as big, laid flat, as my large Telfar, but when on, doesn’t have the same structure, thus keeping it from looking like a burlap sack (or keeping you from looking like Santa on December 24th). The material is bull denim, which is similar in texture and style to regular denim, however, dyed to give it a rich and uniform colour. Also this bag comes in literally all of the ROYGBIV colours, plus black and white, and in a variety of styles and closures (they have one with a zipper for people who are diligent about things like that, as well as a more standard tote size and shape). This bag is perfect for literally everything – I like it when I go grocery shopping, or even getting from A to B when I have to carry a million things. Another bonus is the construction of the strap is thick without being comical, meaning that you won’t have those nasty lines in your shoulder after a long day, and you won’t have to worry about a strap busting and embarrazzzzing you (Nella Rose voice) when you’re out. In terms of pricing, you could get a little pleather number from H&M for the same price, but if you don’t take yourself seriously, then just say that (kidding!). as someone who loves the look of a good canvas tote, without wanting to look too much like a crunchy granola kinda person, this bag is lowkey one of my favourites (sorry, Mr. Clemens!).

Size: OS, Colour: Navy, Price: $58

Notes:

*= We do not condone predatory behaviour from anyone, but it is important to highlight that just because you love something doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Part of being a responsible consumer is also knowing about who you purchase from, not just what and how things are made. I am aware of this and am taking accountability for not knowing this information sooner.

**= All of these opinions are my own and not sponsored. Product codes will be listed in the title, and sizing, colour purchased, as well as CAD pricing will be listed at the end of each review.

[applesdrowned-a]

PRIDE EDITION !

as  promised   here   are   some   pride   headcanons  .   the  questions  are  from  an   image  i   found  (  revised  for  rp  purposes  )   ,   feel   free  to  use  for  your  own  hcs  !

1. what is your muses sexuality ? : chad is a homoromantic demi-homosexual !

2. what gender does your muse identify as ? : cismale.

3. how long have they been aware of their sexuality and or gender ? : chad knew he was gay pretty much his entire life. he never had to think about it. he just knew "yeah i like boys" and that was that. he got kicked out of private school at age 10 for hospitalizing one of his bullies who called him a gay slur

4. do they have any preferences ? : not sure what this is asking, i assume it means gender preference ? but since my muse is gay it doesn't apply. 

5. share a positive memory of your muse coming out : chad came out to his brother and sister when he was ten. his parents found out chad was being called gay slurs at school after he hospitalized his bully. it was only fair he told his siblings. his sister took a while to wrap her head around the concept being younger, but she just wanted chad happy. his older brother was also extremely accepting of his brothers sexual identity. chad became even closer to his siblings that day.

6. how do they feel about pride month ? : chad loves pride month and is super obnoxious about celebrating it. he suppressed his sexuality throughout high school to avoid ridicule so like once he got away from that and felt more comfortable in his own skin. he is not shy about letting people know he is very happy to be gay.

7. do they participate in pride related events / any other events ? : my boy loves pride events. he went to his first pride parade in los angeles in university with his third boyfriend ( they were friends still at the time ) luca russo. chad wore the flag face paint and carried his little flag around. he was in awe of the festivities. he never had the guts to go to a parade before alone. 

since then chad has attended pride every year. even if he was single at the time. he does not miss a chance to embrace his identity.

8. how does your muse feel about lgbtq+ roles in media ? : seeing his community represented in media is very important to chad. as long as its done respectfully he is always happy to see queer folk in tv and movies. and like pretty much every person in the community, he hates queer baiting with a passion. the second he sniffs it chad will stop watching the program. he can tell  the difference between that and slow burn.

9. do they feel pride in who they are ? : chad struggled with his sexuality for a long time in fear of facing ridicule. it wasn't until he finally left home did he really embrace who he was. there was no reason to hide it anymore. in his adult life chad very much has pride for his sexuality and his community. 

hes heard stories from people in the past who wish they were different if only to stop the abuse. but chad has never wanted to be anyone else then the gay man he is. if given the chance he will provide a confidence booster in this regard. born this way by lady gaga is a huge inspiration for him.  ( yes i know it came out after he canonly died but on this blog we say fuck canon ) but lets clear the room, well chad is not insecure about his sexuality, he is overall stupidly insecure otherwise.

10. who has been your muses supportive idol in their self discovery ? : as chad didn't really have to struggle with finding his sexuality he never found reason to admire anyone. he does however look up to anyone who is comfortable with their identity and or a positive influence for the lgbtq+ community.

11. who was your muses first crush ? : chad was twelve when he started crushing on a boy in his history class. it wasn't anything more then wanting to hold his hand and sit next to him and smile. it was a fleeting fancy that chad got over in a short time. chad would often get soft feelings inside his chest for boys that would even simply smile at him.  but he once again would always suppress his desire for boys, never allowing himself to actually ask one out.

12. what advice does your muse have for lgbtq+ teens ? : if chad could go back and do it all again, he likely wouldn't have repressed himself. he would tell any teen in the community to never be afraid of who they are, if people didn't accept them then fuck those people. you are born who you are, and the real ones will love you for it.

13. has your muse come out to friends and family ? : yes he has. his parents and siblings know. ( see five ) chad never had friends really so there was no need to come out. most people who meet him in his college life onward, could just tell he was gay.

14. how does your muse feel about the phrase "coming out" ? :  chad sees this as letting your colours show. before you were kinda black & white like everyone else, the same, uniform. but then you let your colours come out & were seen as different.

15. do they believe there is a closet to come out of ? :  yes. the closet in his opinion is something you hide in until you feel safe to emerge. like if someone broke into your house, you hide until the danger has past. for some the danger might never pass, but if they stay in the closet forever they won’t have a chance to really live. sure they be alive but you won’t be living your life. being in the closet is safest, but its not really living. 

16. what's your muses biggest pet peeve when it comes to lgbtq+ characterization in media ? : harmful stereotypes. mostly because as a gay man chad can attest to certain things being common, and he knows he doesn't fit into a lot of those commonalities. particularly where sex is concerned. so it makes him a wee bit insecure. 

17. what's their favourite part when it comes to lgbtq+ characterization in media ? : finding someone he can relate too. he likes when gay men are portrayed for more reason then to be a token gay character. he likes a story with an actual backbone. something real. 

18. do they practice safe sex with the same gender ? : yes and no. he is very adamant about both parties being safe and comfortable but chad for most of his sexual career was a sub/bottom. he took it rather than gave it. his first boyfriend didn't like condoms, and chad being naive and fearful of him didn't ask him to wear one. the fact his boyfriend was uncovered was not what was making him the most uncomfortable so it wasn't really on his mind.

his following sexual relationship with boyfriend three fell into a similar pattern. chad didn't give he took,  and when he gave there was no coverage. since they were exclusive neither saw a need for protection. chad didn't see an issue with it.

boyfriend four insisted on wearing one most of the time, but since chad never penetrated him he never had to wear one.

patrick didn't give a fuck, a reason why chad insisted patrick wear a condom in the beginning of halloween part 1 cause he was worried about disease. in fact i hc they were unprotected until chad suspected cheating and got his boyfriend to cover up. although pat never asked chad too.

tldr; chad has little experience with protective sex but will always want to make things as safe as possible for his partner. so boy will wear the condom if asked.

19. what are their turn offs with the same gender ? what are their turn ons : turn ons are older men of authority. chad is very dominant in personality, but also has an extreme submissive side that can come out with the right partner. this part that longs to be taken care of is what attracts him to men in control. he also likes a man who knows what he wants, and has some culture behind him. ( talk dirty to him in another language and he will melt ) oh and praise is another huge turn on, he loves validation 

turn offs are pain. he doesn't like it. anything hardcore BDSM will have him running for the hills. no S&M. and anything demeaning, don't call him slut, whore etc. it makes him uncomfy. in terms of actual personality traits from men, anyone that acts like his first boyfriend ( leather biker, hot shot type ) will have him nopping out.

20. how does your muse feel about lgbtq+ clubs/apps/websites ? : this is a grey area for him as he is certainly in support of gay web content, its how its used that effects him. like, his experience with connecting with the community in any kind is limited to a general kink website which his boyfriend used to chest on him. so his feelings around that are a little uncomfortable. 

21. how do they feel about the term "queer" ? : chad has no issues with this word. he doesn't have anything deeper to say about it, other than it sounds close to queen in his opinion and he wears that label proud.

22. what tips would they give to heterosexual/cisgendered people looking to better understand the community and news surrounding it ? : chad would tell them to be open minded and not look at it with bias. forget about the hetronormative society you live in and just be open to another view. 

23. whats the most annoying question your muse has ever gotten for being lgbtq+ ? :  the most annoying question chad gets is when people ask who is the woman in the relationship. it really grinds his gears as something like that implies either he or his partner isn't a real man. it also makes him insecure as he is neither a masculine or effeminate gay. hes kinda of in between and it really rubs people the wrong way sometimes. because they expect him to act a certain way.

he acts gay, but hes more gay, and less gay depending on what people are seeing. so when people ask him if hes the man or the woman it brings out his rage over the fact that thats a homophobic af comment, and also his dilemma on what type of gay he is.

24. how do they feel about receiving questions about their sexuality and or gender ? : chad is overall not a super friendly person. i mean he can be, but his second language is bitch so be careful lol. so it really depends on who is asking and what they are asking. if a stranger is asking dumb shit he won't be inclined to give more than a "fuck off" but if someone he knows has some curiosities he wouldn't mind, depending on how invasive it is.

[bambyeol]

This Band (p.1)

B.A.M SEQUEL

pairing/s: band! park jihoon x oc ; band! bae jinyoung x oc ; doctor! hwang minhyun x oc 

character/s: park jihoon, park woojin, bae jinyoung, ong seongwoo, kim jaehwan, ha sungwoon, lai guanlin, kang daniel, yoon jisung, hwang minhyun

genre: angst, fluff, music (band) 

summary: never date your band mate. 

warning : a sequel so I’d appreciate it if you’ll read B.A.M first. though you can always live dangerously and read this immediately. 

This Band (p.2) This Band (p.3) This Band (p.4) This Band (p.5) This Band (p.6)  This Band (p.7) This Band (p.8) This Band (p.9)  This Band (p.10)  This Band (p.11)   This Band (p.12)  This Band (p.13) This Band (p.14) This Band (p15) This Band (final)

B.A.M p1 // B.A.M p2 // B.A.M p3 // B.A.M final 

wanna one masterlist

song inspiration : Saved by Khalid 

“But I'll keep your number saved 'Cause I hope one day you'll get the sense to call me “ 

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome aboard flight 3B7 en route to Seoul, Korea. Kindly fasten your seatbelt and secure all baggage underneath….” the standard announcement played out. She rested onto her seat and stared at the distant city lights as the plane took off.

Five years.

That was how long she was gone, and that period of time was more than enough for many things to change - for herself and for others.

“Ah. We’re finally going home.” Seulla spoke up while wrapping a blanket around her chest, reclining her seat in childlike amusement.   

“Oh, right. Jinyoungie told me that since you’re coming back they’re thinking whether you guys should have a reunion. You know, like the old days in the band?” she relayed her boyfriend’s message.

“Seulla. You know to yourself that it will not be anything like the old days.” Riseul replied, a scowl forming on her face. Before Seulla could even reply, she closed her eyes, an action that meant that the topic was over.

A reunion was the last thing she’ll ever want between them.

In the busy city of Seoul, tens of screens were plastered on buildings, displaying a man around his 20’s shining brightly onstage. A smile so captivating it stopped anyone from their tracks. His brown hair slicked back, sweat dripping down his face. He winked and left a random passerby squealing on the sidewalk.

But she couldn’t care less as she plugged the earphones to her phone and maxed the volume as she walked away from the lined screens that broadcasted the same performance.

It was a successful comeback with him as the center, and it frustrated her how he had the ability to haunt her without even meaning to do so.

The years may have murked the memories, but the feelings remained for her, and it still leaves a bitter aftertaste on her mouth whenever she was reminded.

It was too good to be true anyways. Their relationship that is. Everything seemed like a fairytale except they didn’t live happily ever after. Instead, her 12 midnight struck before she even realized it.

Often, she would wonder if she just fabricated their whole relationship. Time was blurring it all away too, but at times like these when she hears his voice sing another song and catch a glimpse of him on the television, she is reminded that it did happen.

Bae Riseul dated Park Jihoon, her ex-bandmate and currently one of the most popular idols in the industry.

But really, she didn’t have any energy left to waste on the old times. Not now nor ever. Besides, they lived on two different worlds. He was too popular for her own good. An idol and a doctor? It was destined for failure. They’ll never be able to meet given how grueling their jobs were.

You’re still considering it.

A small voice whispered on her head.

Her face sourly crumpled when she caught herself immersed in thoughts of him yet again.  It was long over. Reminiscing wouldn’t change a thing.

It was 5 years ago.

No use in crying over spilled milk.

So she returned to her apartment, brewed herself hot tea, changed to the most comfortable set of pajamas she had, played the most soothing music on her phone, unplugged the tv (just in case she forgot that Jihoon would be in any channel), and closed her eyes.

Tomorrow, she’d spend her day-off and have her long-awaited reunion with B.A.M.  

Park Jihoon wore a black beanie, a black face mask that engulfed over three-quarters of his face. He made sure to wear the largest sweater in his wardrobe to hide his built. He chose to dress up nice and plain for once to deviate from his fashion disaster self.

It’s been over 2 years since he’s last seen them, his former band. Frankly, he missed them dearly. Nostalgia always hit him, and he’d be immediately reminded of their high school days. Jinyoung playing the keyboard, Woojin playing the bass, Seongwoo with the drums, and Jaehwan with his singing.

He missed the run-down Underground, and all the events that happened within its walls.

He misses her the most.

He texted his manager upon his arrival and began scrolling through hundreds of notifications. Jihoon didn’t notice his path until he collided with someone, causing his phone to bounce off.

“Ah, I’m sorry..” He instinctively bent down and stretched his hand towards the direction of his phone, but before he managed to, a woman of significantly smaller built picked up his phone. She held it briefly to check whether there were any cracks before handing it to him with a small smile.

“No worries. Your phone’s fine, by the way,” her tone polite, and her voice warm. She craned her neck to meet his eyes.

And it was as if the heavens have heard his musings that she was right there and then.

Five years have passed.

Many things changed like how her hair was longer, or how she stood with certainty and maturity.

Yet, some things remain.

He is still captivated by her.

But before he could even call out for her name over something that she dropped, she turned around to walk towards the long queue of people lined up near the entrance of the stadium.

She was still the first to turn her back.

But this time around, he will chase after her.

After all, Park Jihoon had a lot to explain to Bae Riseul even if he didn’t know where to start.

For now, it started with a lost ticket.

The ticket was missing. Riseul realized when she took out all the contents of her bag for the 10th time. She flapped open her wallet, removed the case of her phone, felt her pockets, and asked around, but no one knew.

Worse, the tickets long sold out.

She groaned in annoyance as the place was beginning to be packed with more people, and the sky slowly dimmed.

How could she have been so stupid to drop the ticket?

"Excuse me!" someone rushed after her and grabbed her arm. She turned around and saw a towering man. He looked very shady with his face mask and black beanie. She must have forgotten to mask her glare that the man retreated immediately and raised his hands defensively.

“I think this is yours..” he held what looked like a ticket, and her eyes widened. Her hands covered her gaping mouth and she bowed several times, and jumped in glee though modestly.  

“I can’t believe this. I thought I’d never find it!” she shouted amongst the horde of people walking and chattering. “Ah. Thank you so much. You saved me.”

“No worries. You dropped it when you picked up my phone after all.”  He replied.

“Can I line up with you instead? The line’s pretty long already and it would be hard to get a nice view in the back..” He requested, and she laughed at his honesty.  

“Sure. After all, you ran after me and I even mistook you. Apology accepted?” she asked and offered a handshake.

His eyes crinkled and Riseul assumed that it was him smiling, “Apology accepted.”

He reminded her of someone.

It felt strange to watch the band as a member of the audience. New songs and new faces. They all moved forward, and reached for greater heights. One that they never dared to imagine before.

What started as a band of the Underground was now the most famous band in Korea. And now, they were beginning to take the international stage by storm.

“Bul ane maeum (B.A.M)! Bul ane maeum! Go with a B.A.M!” everybody chanted.

The first time she came across them was when she was 19 years old, and she grew with them for 2 years as Jaehwan’s partner vocalist.

In those two years, she noticed a lot about the habits of each member that they still haven’t let go of.

Seongwoo still likes to flaunt his angular jaw by rotating his head to the side and twirl his drumsticks before proceeding to his solos.

Jinyoung still bobs his head to the beat and plays arpeggios whenever the cameraman focuses on him.

Woojin still thinks it’s cool to do a guitar jump, and Jaehwan still exaggerates his soulful look by closing his eyes and pairs it with slight head shake as he clutches to the mic whenever he sings mellow songs.

The speakers blasted their performance throughout the concert hall and the large screens projected the band for the people in the back. Everyone raved by swaying their light stick to the beat of the song.

Woojin noticed her near the front of the stage, and nodded to her, pleased with her attendance.

“Hey. Jinyoung heard from Seulla that you’re returning to Korea next week already?” Woojin greeted as she answered her phone while folding her clothes.

Riseul clips on her earphones,  “Yeah. The scholarship is over, and we’ve decided to continue our residency there.”

“Then schedule a day-off on September. B.A.M’s having a concert. I got you a VIP ticket.” Woojin replies with an air of demand. She wasn’t allowed to say no.

“I don’t think I should even…” she pauses with reluctance to continue her words. “I left the band after all.”

“You didn’t leave the band. You just graduated from it because of reasons that we all accept.  Now, don’t be so stubborn and just say you missed us too. We missed you, by the way. It’s not fun to have an all-guy band. Everyone stinks.” Woojin laughs and Riseul heard from the background Jaehwan’s shrill voice scolding Woojin. “That’s Riseul right? Oh, God. Take back what you said, you ape. You stink the most! You fart during practice!”

“We miss you, Riseul. Remember, September!” Seongwoo’s cool voice was on the phone, and Riseul could imagine how he casually snatched the phone from Woojin and pushed him away with his arms.

“Oops. We’re going back to practice now. See you soon, Ri.” Woojin’s raspy voice bade goodbye without any change to his attitude from when they first became close.

“I miss you all too,” she laughed and immediately realized her defeat as Woojin and the other howled. “Oh God, you had that on speaker didn’t you?”

“Can’t say for sure~” Woojin replied teasingly before cutting off the line.

It has been over an hour since the concert started, and everyone in the band was sweating profusely with the heat from the spotlight, the singing, and the intense playing of their instruments. The first set was almost over before they slipped into a small break.

Suddenly the stage lights dimmed down, and Jaehwan cleared his throat.

“Everyone knows that at each concert, B.A.M performs a song not listed within the setlist. This one’s an old song composed by our former member.  Title is ‘Letting Go’ “

Woojin strummed his bass and there was the familiar rising harmonization.

It would be a lie if she told herself that she didn’t want to perform with them again like the old days.

“Only Jihoon and I are missing,” she tugged the sleeves of the person beside her unable to catch herself before the words flowed out of her mouth.

The two jolted and stepped back for their own reasons.

Hearing herself utter his name rattled her.

Hearing his own name from her lips rattled him.  

“Ah. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize what I was saying,” she retreated her hands away from him. He nodded understandingly trying to brush everything off until someone grazed her lightstick on his beanie, flicking it away and unstrapped the right part of his face mask from his ear.

The young girl immediately noticed what she had done and turned to apologize. “It’s okay.” Jihoon tried to stop her, but as the lightstick illuminated his face, with the face mask half-dangling because it got removed from his right ear, and his brown hair shining, it was only a matter of time.

Then there was recognition in her eyes.

“Aren’t you Park Jihoon?!” she exclaimed and her voice echoed down the concert hall because the song the band was performing was mellow and accompanied by silence from the crowd.

People turned around. Jihoon tried to pick up his beanie and salvage it, but even before he was able to reach it, people came forward, swooping their phones, and turning on their cameras.

He tried to find Riseul in the crowd and saw her being pushed towards the back as she stood there dazed as she stared at his face. He clicked his tongue in annoyance, and removed his face mask to mouth off something as he looked at her intently.

“The ticket! Look at the back of ticket,” he mouthed silently hoping Riseul would catch it.

“Phone number… Your ticket… at the back!,” he mouthed again, as he kept being jostled by the crowd. The noise kept attracting more people.

The commotion pushed the security to temporarily stop the concert, keeping them from finishing the song..

She stared at him, and at her hand before flipping the ticket. It was his phone number.

She looked at the ticket, then to him and back to the little piece of paper where he wrote his number. He smiled with relief finally turning to his fans and mumbled apologies.

When he noticed that she stood at the same spot, he looked at her again.

Their eyes locked, and he recognized anger from her narrowed lips and drawn down eyebrows..

She raised her palm holding the ticket before crumpling it and ripping it into small pieces never breaking contact from his eyes.  

notes: the title’s a play on the pronunciation of the dreaded “D” word. Also, because people will kill me if I did use that as the title.

This will be the longest post ever for this fic. I just needed to establish until that part or else the pacing would be awkward. It’s been awhile, but I’m glad to be back. 

Hope you continue supporting me ~ 

[paladin-of-nerd-fandom65]

A New Tamaran

This was idea even older than Talon!Mary Grayson and the OC of Benito Zucco. It was heavily inspired by numerous influences from TV and Rock n Roll albums. The two particular influences are Pink Floyd’s The Wall and the Original Star Trek episode ‘Patterns of Force”. Another I gladly attribute to is writer George Orwell and his novella ‘1984′ from which the following scene derives from. 

The English name of Karras being ‘Cometwind’ is not my creation but that of Fanfiction.net author cartoonstar in her story ‘Teen titans Forever’. 

The character of Karras himself was created by Marv Wolfman and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez. 

WARNING: The subject matter in this story contains historical and political references some might find disturbing and even offensive. It is in no way a meant to entice the political ideology within its story or promote such. There is no real agenda meant to be heard and the use of such politics are meant to narrative to the story. Viewer discretion is advised. 

As Always, I would love to thank @lightdusk, @tarisilmarwen, @fireflyxrebel, @robxstar, @nightglider124 and many others for encouraging me to write and make corrections for they are some of the best friends you can ever ask for.

 Introductions now finished, let’s begin. 

About one thousand pairs of green or purple eyes starred up onto the screen as the footage began to play. The first sight of a prosperous, happy and loyal generation of children playing or working on their tasks brought in a sense of awe and peace to the masses. The voiceover began to play…

“These are our children, these are our schools, these are our people, this is our home; this is the Planet of Tamaran.”

The images had shifted by that point into various signs of their home, from the recently built wind mills that provide their kleshu (Tamaranean for ‘Bread’) to the steel pounding factories that craft the finest weapons and building skeletons the Vega system had yet to witness, the crowd grew a sense of joy and further more pride. This gathered mass was invited and encourage visiting this rally here in the opposite side of Tamaran courtesy of this new development within the Grand Ruler’s court; a ‘party’ as they pronounce it was created from the mind of a very young and impressible Tamaranean warrior by the name of Karras. As it turns out, this young man, English translated as ‘Cometwind’, was a very close childhood friend with the ever beloved Royal Family, in particular of the Princess Koriand’r (‘Starfire’). Her knowledge of Earth culture had reached her birth planet and the young Cometwind took it upon himself to research Earth’s history, in particular military history from across various cultures in which can prove effective for Tamaran and its people against their ever present archenemies across the Vega system. By the grace of X’hal, Cometwind, who at this moment provides the voiceover for this rally, found one such culture to rally the people under…

“This home of ours is enjoying an era of peace and harmony. Security and Justice are done for all. Poor and Rich, Warrior and Shield maiden, Educated and Uneducated; this is our home which all can have their peace. This is our mother’s home and the home of their mothers. This is our Tamaran …”

At this point, the mood darkened…images were shifted to those very children at the beginning being suddenly taken from their places and into chains, the factories and mills burn to a crisp, bombs and explosions erupt, nothing was scripted, this was their reality….

“Our home is under siege, mutilated, pillaged, raped and defiled…by them. They had enslaved our children. They have destroyed our schools; they have harmed and scared our people for far too long…”

The images began to shift once more, this time to a certainly familiar, lizard like face…

“WHO are THEY?”

That lizard like face grew into thousands in a mass rally of blood and perverse orgy of their own terms… their orc like roars screeching throughout it all…with teeth stained with the crisp yellow blood of Tamaranean children…their glowing red eyes filled with such a level of depravity and malice at everything they stare…staring towards their home…

“They are the darkest and blackest souls of our galaxy. The black, murderous souls of the Gordanians are what they are. They know no meaning of the word mercy, no meaning of the word peace or harmony; instead they opt to relish and pleasure themselves in the suffering of others….OUR suffering…a suffering we will NOT PERMIT.”

“How does this suffering even begin? Certainly centuries’ worth of discontent between us and them would’ve provided enough of justification for this treachery? That is where we were wrong. The centuries’ worth was only in full bloom once SHE had her say…a say that has disgraced our kind and brought our people to the very brink of extinction and loss of all hope…”

The tone was now much noticeably angrier while a possessing a near sick level calm in projection. The image shifted once more…to a certain black haired Princess…wearing the Grand Ruler’s crown…the very crown she wore when forcing their precious Koriand’r into a disgraceful and humiliating marriage had it been for her allies…the exiled Komand’r was there on their screens now…

“SHOUT. SHOUT! SHOUT OUT HER NAME!!!” roared the voice of Cometwind himself, a youthful young man of approximately 20 Earth years of age, now appearing in front of the screen on a simple platform with a rather Earth looking uniform of dark purple and black, military combat boots, a hat of unique shape like that an Earth ship captain with an eagle gracing the top, and to finally add a black armband with a red border, centered with a white circle containing a red colored eight pointed star, The Official Emblem of all Tamaran called The Nightstar, wrapped around the upper part of his right arm.

The crowd erupts into roars and screams of hatred and spite, all with their eyes now glowing in righteous fury and hatred towards their enemy; while the names and calls varied in the end one common was used….

“TRAITOR!”

This simultaneous albeit diverse outcry from the rally continued for the next minute, growing and pile onward as the filthy image of the disgraced and traitorous Princess continued her display on the screen.  The cries grew even louder once Komand’r’s (‘Blackfire’) image was paired with the image of the horrifying and evil grins of the Gordanians who happily slaughter and/or imprison more of their beloved children. The peak had hit by the time Cometwind raises his hands high enough for all to see and the images stop. Now all the was shown was the flag of this ‘Party’, a similar design to the armband Cometwind wears, the Red Nightstar with a white background within an all black banner. The young Tamaranean man began to speak after a brief minute of utter silence.

“Beloved friends, this is our reality as I speak. Due to the aftermath of our traitor and the slow transition for the great Emperor Galfore, the war between us and them has progressed into a completely new animal. These crimes against our kind had grown on a scale only seen since our home’s founding days. We must find a way to bring our Emperor and our People the glory and respect we deserve away from our enemies. We have found that way starting to this day. On the Planet Earth, they have officially named this day with the title of April 20th, the Fuehrer’s Birthday. The Fuehrer according tot the doctrines of the studies we have learned from Earth’s history and best to our knowledge had one goal in mind: the preservation and ultimate survival of the Aryan Race, the superior human beings in an age of mutilation and disgrace not dissimilar from our own. Like the Fuehrer’s war from decades past and the effects upon his home, our war has not produced the glory and honors our warriors and shield maidens rightfully earned and especially not of the home our children must grow within in order to live happy lives. The Fuehrer attempted to bring his home all such and more but unfortunately suffered the consequences due to his mistakes and follies. We, the Imperialist Party of Great Tamaran, will not make those mistakes. Our war will be one in which all will WIN. Our cause is not for supremacy but VEGENACE AND JUSTICE. Our Tamaran shall transform into a Planet united for the good and safety of our children and with your support starting this day, our beloved Grand Ruler Galfore will have under his care and authority the greatest and most loyal citizens the Royal Family had never known. WE WILL HAVE OUR PRINCESS KORIAND’R RETURN TO OUR LOVING ARMS. WE WILL PROPSER AND SHOW THE VEGA SYSTEM WHAT TAMARAN REALLY IS. WE… WILL… NOT… SURRENDER. WE… WILL… TAKE OUR HOME BEYOND US ALL. ONE PEOPLE! ONE PLANET! ONE REICH!”

The crowd stands, their right arms raised as the Party officials instructed in their pamphlets with their fingers folded instead of the pinkie and index…the chant was heard as Cometwind began…

“SEIG!”

“HEIL!”

“SEIG!”

“HEIL!”

“SEIG!”

“HEIL!”

Even as Cometwind had stopped and simply held his hand in the Imperial greeting, the crowd’s roars of ‘Heil” meaning Victory in the Earth language of German continued with zealous fervor. Fervor he himself found rather…unnerved by. While remaining true to his word of Tamaran accepting this so called ‘Fascism’ as the Earthlings call it as a means to protect its people and children from the Gordanians that have continuously made miserable for centuries, he means for what is best and once his place on the Royal Council is secured, he hope his eventual Imperial growth doesn’t result in him taking unethical chances that mostly likely will shame his people. Personally, Karras, his Party name being Fuehrer Cometwind, hopes his rise will mean that peace he sees alongside the others in those screens are the ultimate result, without the needing of the pointless genocide his idol, the German Fuehrer, had his subjects carry out. Fuehrer Cometwind only expects the highest moral standards and civility from this otherwise blunt and uncompromising ideology he had discovered that one day his best friend Koriand’r had brought unintentionally with her Earth knowledge and probably one she had no knowledge of but one she no longer has to endure, neither should his people...not unless they can show everyone just what sort of people they dared to defile. One Earth phrase usual says ‘Pay Evil unto Evil’, and Karras accepts such a painful truth while the new 2000 members of the Imperialist Party continue their Heils for the next few seconds. A New Tamaran will rise, the Great Journey to Glory has begun and whether she knows or not, Princess Koriand’r will lead the way with Fuehrer Karras as her left hand and her beloved Robin as her right.

As stated before, no political agenda advocating this system of government is promoted here. It’s fictional and in no way is reflective of my true political stances or those who read it. Please be considerate. 

[scenariosofkonoha]

Shisui, Itachi, or Sasuke (and a brief explanation pls!)? If the Uchiha Massacre didn't happen, who would: have gotten married first? have fallen in love first? Have kids first? get annoying with bragging about their s/o? host family get-togethers? Play match-maker for the single ones? If married, who was his best man? How did the other one feel about not being best man? Do the others like his spouse? Do their s/os get along? Sorry if there are too many questions! Answer what you feel like!

Okay, these three are some of my boys, and I love anything that’s a Non Uchiha Massacre AU, and I really do like this ask! 

Marriage:

1st: Itachi. Mainly because out of the three he would be most accepting of settling down early, and would benefit by going into that lifestyle early on. Itachi’s never really been the bachelor-life type, he’d rather be with someone and be settled down than living the free life of a bachelor, so he’d probably be the first to get married. But by no means does this imply that he’s constantly in a relationship; he’s probably one of those people who has maybe three relationships throughout his life, and once he’s found that person he wants to be with forever, then he’ll marry them relatively early.

2nd: Shisui. He would definitely enjoy some time as a bachelor where he doesn’t have to care about anyone, but himself, and he can just do his thing and enjoy life. He’s more capable of letting loose and actually enjoying this stage of life in comparison to Itachi, so that’s why he spends more time in this phase; Shisui really does benefit from this stage in the long run. Though I can definitely see Shisui having one of those “We were friends with benefits but then one morning I woke up and I realized I loved them and dammit these things never work right…” things happen to him, honestly. Probably ends up marrying that person. I feel like Shisui would have a longer bachelor stage, but a short relationship stage, and him and his S/O are ‘officially’ together for maybe a year and then they get engaged/married.

3rd: Sasuke. First off he’s the youngest by a good amount of years, so chronologically it’s not surprising he’s the last to get married, but I also feel like his personality kinda stunts him from getting into relationships in general, so that also prolongs his stage as a bachelor. It’s not that people don’t want to be with him, but he just has a hard time surrendering that independence and making himself vulnerable to another person, so it takes a bit for him to be comfortable enough and have enough faith in a person to get into a relationship with them. I also feel like he would be in a relationship for a rather long time before proposing, like 3+ years, if not longer.

Fall in Love:

1st: Shisui. He’s the most average in his love life honestly. Out of the three, he probably has the most, like “puppy love.” That’s not the right word, but he’s more likely to be someone to love little bits and pieces of just random people he knows; it’s not the genuine love he’ll have for his end S/O, but it’s still love, ya feel? Like you loved your high school boyfriend/girlfriend, but there’s no way you’d want to spend the rest of your life with them?? Also he hooks up the most out of the three, so idk what you want to do with that, but it’s most fitting for this category.

2nd: Itachi. Okay, if we are being fair, Itachi was the first to fall in genuine love. If Itachi is in a relationship, then he truly cares and loves the person, and it’ll be something that lasts for a while. He probably didn’t really date until his 20’s, so he never really went through the stage where relationships only lasted a short time period.

3rd: Sasuke. Again, it takes Sasuke a while to become comfortable with a another person romantically, so he’s that last to fall in love solely because of that.

Children:

1st/2nd: Shisui and Itachi: I can see them both having children right around the same time tbh. Both of them are totally open to having a family, and honestly excited, so I feel like they would both have children relatively early on. Plus since their kids are born right around each other, they can try and survive parenthood together and their babies can grow up together, how sweet. There’s a few difference between the two of them though.

Itachi’s child was definitely planned and happened after him and his S/O were married. He’d also probably only have one, maybe two kids.

Shisui’s more likely to have a child outside of marriage, and it’s one of those “oh shit,” moments. Nonetheless, he doesn’t really care, he’s okay with having a baby; his baby’s gonna be amazing regardless. Also, he’s not really one to plan for kids even after him and his S/O are married, if they happen, they happen. He’s more likely to have three or so kids.

3rd: Sasuke. Definitely waited until he was married to have kids in hopes that they would grow up in a more stable environment.  He’ll only want one child, honestly, and put everything into the one child. He thought about having a second, but decided against it, just because he wanted to make sure that his first baby had everything that they needed. Probably had his baby later in life too, because he wanted deal with everything within himself before bringing a child into the world and having to focus on solely them.  He just didn’t want them to suffer, because he was still dealing with personal issues and he wasn’t able to dedicate enough time to them.

Bragging about S/O

Shisui brags about his S/O and Sasuke can get annoyed with it. Itachi doesn’t really care; he probably knows Shisui’s S/O well. Shisui doesn’t even do it to annoy anyone, he’s just really proud of his S/O.

Hosting Get Togethers

Shisui hosts the big things where there are a lot of people coming over and it’s a lively event, especially after everyone has kids. Shisui’s home’s really warm and welcoming and he’s the most welcoming and jovial of the three, so he took on this role.

Itachi will have the small things where it’s maybe just 6 or so people, mainly the adults too.

Sasuke’s a bad host, so no parties at his house.

Best Man

Itachi and Shisui were each other’s Best Man, because they’re are the best bros ever. Sasuke really didn’t care that much, because he already kinda figured that these two would do this from the get go.

Sasuke had Naruto, because without Naruto he wouldn’t where he is in life, and he probably wouldn’t even be getting married. Shisui and Itachi are just happy that Sasuke found someone who’s pushed past Sasuke and all this Sasuke-traits and decided to marry the kid.

S/O

I see all of their S/O’s getting along, honestly. Especially Shisui and Itachi’s, because they’ve probably known each other for a while, just because of Shisui and Itachi’s friendship. They probably went on double dates a lot and their kids play together, so they’re a tight knit family. I can totally see their S/Os end up being best friends too; imagine them talking about their husbands. omg.

“I told Itachi that he needed to go to the eye doctor and get new glasses, but he’s being stubborn and not admitting that his eyes are terrible. The kids were playing down the hall yesterday, and he couldn’t tell which one was which bc they were both turned around and wearing matching shirts. And if not being able to tell your children apart isn’t enough to make him go get a new prescription, I don’t know what is…”  

“Oh my God, I swear I think not taking care of your eyes is an Uchiha thing. Shisui needs to get new contacts; but he won’t go either for some odd reason. He wore the same pair of contacts for four days straight without taking them out, and I had to threaten to take them out myself, because I was worried that they were going to get infected or something.”

“So that’s why his eyes were so red a couple days ago…”

*eye roll* “Yes. Why don’t we just send them there together; that’s the only way, and we can’t have them going blind, that would be a mess…”

When Sasuke finally got a S/O, I can see all of them being welcoming to them and trying to help the adjust to all things Uchiha, because adjusting to this mess of the family can take some time, but I mean, it’s worth it.

[peachinthecity]

january favorites!

Hello lovelies! It’s been a while since I’ve posted, but I’ve got a lot of things to catch you up on!

It’s crazy how fast the first month of 2017 has passed... but there have been a lot of great looks + products that I’m super eager to share!

*** Disclaimer: some of the pictures in this post are being really strangely low-quality and not sure how to fix the resolution through Tumblr yet. Bear with me please!

As far as skin + hair goes, this winter has been brutal. City air pollution and the wind whipping through tall buildings had really cost my hair! My hair was so dry and deprived of natural oils that my hair produced excess oil and got greasy so much faster than usual. I tried out all the moisturizing shampoos, but nothing really worked for me. I found a system that works for me and leaves my hair feeling like I’ve been to the salon. 

If you know me in real life, you know that I’m completely obsessed with Shea Moisture products because they’re family owned, all natural and cruelty-free. I use their coconut oil for EVERYTHING and their Radiance Moisturizer is 🔑. I picked this KIDS Coconut & Hibiscus Extra-moisturizing detangler up in the summer when I was in the pool a lot, and I started to use it on my dry scalp/hair throughout the day when it started to feel a bit itchy or tingly. I started using the coconut oil as a hair mask every week. I’d warm the coconut oil in my hands, massage it into my hair and on my scalp, and leave it in for an hour. Then, I washed with a clarifying shampoo, and my hair felt AMAZING. Truly. 10/10 best dry hair help ever. 

As for makeup, I’ve been loving the Lorac Pro Palette 1. Yes, I accidentally scratched in the color “Nude,” yes, that is the color of my apartment walls and no, I do not want to talk about it. 

 These colors in this palette are simply beautiful. Buttery texture, best pigmentation ever, and the metallics are so shiny and the mattes are so flat and smooth. I think this has beaten out the Too Faced Chocolate Bar as my favorite eyeshadow palette! 

Today I’m wearing the shade “Lt Bronze” all over my lid and “Taupe” in the crease. 

I discovered the wonderful world of baked eyeshadows. I had previously owned all of these, but I thought they were crappy quality (they were only ~$3 so I wasn’t expecting much), but when you WET THEM??? Wow.

Here we have a flash picture of all the colors I own, which are Burnt Plum, Smoky Sea, and Blush Gems. I did these swatches with an Elf shader brush ($3), and the pigmentation and shine is TOO GOOD. I did a “back-to-school” look with the Burnt Plum and Blush Gems the other day, and please bask in the glory.

Truly soft and subtle. LOVE. The outfit I wore with it was fun, too, and I busted out those new clear-heeled boots. 

I did a more high-impact look involving some NYX white liquid liner as well: 

And ugh, ignore my rough, dry skin. Winter is NOT my season.

I’m still looking for something to try the Smoky Sea trio with. I feel they would have gone with another look I did before I discovered the wet look, which was this one:

I got this top from Goodwill (claro que sí) and the earrings are from Romwe. Those are also part of my January favorites. They’re probably the coolest pair of earrings I’ve ever owned. And they were only $4.99!

As we move into accessories, I’d like to take a moment to talk about the rose gold loafers I got for Christmas. 

Perpetually screaming.

Anyhow, they’re the most perfect shoes I’ve ever seen, but they give me such bad blisters due to the shape that I need to find some of those heel pads or moleskine fabrics to relieve some of that rubbing. I still wear them tho. Beauty is pain. 

These shoes, however, are glorious, go with everything, and don’t hurt at all:

Speaking of tru pain, it’s going to the mall and only having an hour and a half to shop. Kat and I went to shop for a (now-cancelled) Roaring 20′s party, and got to try on some very cool merchandise. Classique. Kat got a lovely pink dress with sequins in the Gatsby-print (don’t know what it’s called but you all know what I’m talking about). 

I’ve been loving the look of all-black with a pop of color (duh, I’m gonna be an architect in a few years) because it’s so high fashion. Everything just looks so great when it fits right and looks good. I’m itching to find the perfect pair of black jeans. 

One random insertion of favorite things: I love this picture of Bean. Seriously. True queen.

Alright, moving on to media, here’s a quick detail of my favorite movies + tv:

GILMORE GIRLS (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 11

Heroes

The Graduate

Opposite Sex

Favorite Youtubers/Youtube videos:

Valeria Lipovetsky --- love how au natural her makeup is

Tati Westbrook --- literally her wedding video was so perfect

SunKissAlba’s skincare routine playlist

KathleenLights --- love her makeup tutorials

simply_kenna’s DIYs

Jenny Mustard --- best vegan advice + minimalist decor

Last but not least on my January favorites post, I’d like to commemorate this wall of aesthetic, because I am such a fan of colors that match and collections of things, that I just had to take a bomb selfie to share. 

See you guys soon, and hope your February is great!

xoxo,

Peach

[goingrvway]

My Mr. Steak Years

Sister’s House--Citrus Heights, Ca

It was Easter break, my Junior year, when my brother Bob, who did not live at home anymore, came up to my room after I went to bed and woke me up.  What I remember is this:

“Hey Dave, you awake?”

“”Am now…”

“You want a job at Mr. Steak?  You can start tomorrow if you want to work there.  Hitch is, you will have to be able to be to work at noon each day.”

“Well, don’t know how that could work since I am still in High School.  But there is this thing called “work experience”, I know other kids who leave school early to go to work….ok, sure, what time should I be there?”

“11:30 sharp, wear dark pants, you will get a shirt when you are there….”

That started what would be a career which would last until 1986.  From Busboy, to Cook, to Head Cook, to Assistant Manager, to Manager to General Manager.  Back in those days, the typical Mr. Steak…and there were over 270 nation wide, looked like this one above.  It served only USDA Choice steak, used no tenderizers or spices except on the Teriyaki Steak and on the Kebobs.  It was always full service, unlike a Happy Steak, Ponderosa or Sizzler which were “serve yourself” style.

The sign was bright yellow, with “Family” emphasized because they had a strong push for being a family restaurant.  Kids had their own menus, and kid’s meals would come out first, before the parents meal so that the parents could take care of getting them going on their food without the parents foods getting cold.  (Except for the kids steak, which would be served at the same time as the parents food.)

  This “vintage” postcard really shows what the interior looked like back then.  The waitresses wore a red uniform, with a white apron and white hat, and white shoes.  The restaurant had 32 tables and booths.  This picture was taken from the Hostess/Cashier Station, and the nearest table was table #1.   In the middle right, where you see the shingled roof, was the kitchen.  Doors on each side of the kitchen  led to the back room.  Each waitress had a number, and when an order was ready, the broiler cook would call her number.  On a Friday night, there would be 7-8 waitresses working, 2 hostesses, 2 busboys, 1 dishwasher, and 3-4 cooks.  When it was full of people, it was pretty loud.

    Along with any restaurant there is always the promotional items.  The most “stolen” item was the Ashtrays (upper left).  Matchbooks were free for the taking (upper right).  And all kids got a “Mr. Steak Bib” to wear.

The late 70’s brought a “new look” to many of the restaurants.  By now the number of restaurants nationwide had dropped to just over 200.  Those restaurants which remodeled, did do better…but competition from places like Black Angus, Steak and Ale, and numerous other higher end, full liquor establishments were drawing people away.

The interior’s of those which were new or remodeled had a brown, wood look to them.  To shut down much of the noise, instead of a microphone, a light number system was used…#1 for section 1, #2 for section 2, etc.  The kitchens were closed off to where only a slot for the food to be passed through was open, and the noise level inside dropped dramatically.  In Sacramento though, we were on our second ownership, and by 1980 I was managing my “own” (I did not own it, but I always managed it as if I did own it).  Then, around 1981, the owner decided to sell them back to the company.  MOST Mr. Steak’s were franchised, but the company, headquartered in Denver, owned around 20-25 locations, some of which were turned back to the company from the franchisee who was folding under.  In our case, we were not folding, the owner (who once worked for the company during the 60’s and early 70’s) just wanted to sell…and the company had first rights to purchase…which they did.  With that, I had to go to work in San Jose twice for 13 weeks the first time, and 15 weeks the second time all in a 32 week time period.  That unit was losing lots of money, and they needed a manager real bad….but I would not go there permanently because frankly, I could not afford the bay area, and I did not think the place would survive very long.  Sure enough, they closed it about 18 months after my last day working there.

     Of course, with new look comes new matches, ashtrays, and even a belt buckle which they gave to managers…I still have a few of those somewhere, along with a business card.

   Then in the early 80’s they once again changed their logo.  Cooks and dishwashers wore these baseball hats, and they finally started to sell beer and wine in their company stores (before that only some franchises sold alcohol.  A large church about 1/4 mile from my location protested the beer and wine license, but we did finally prevail…and on Sunday after church we did not put out the wine glasses as to not offend the church goers.  Another thing we did was have half or more of the restaurant as non-smoking, instead of the 10% prescribed by California law.  Of course now days, all establishments are non-smoking in California and most states throughout America.

  Although they tried very hard to keep up with the Industry, it was destined to be one of those Restaurant Chains that would die off.  The 80’s introduced one of their better products, the “Steak Lover” menu (those are menus in picture above).  14 oz New York Strip, 12 oz Top Sirloin, 16 oz T-Bone, 14 oz Ribeye and the 8 oz Filet Mignon.  (I think I have the sizes right)  These steaks were as good as any other restaurant except for those who served USDA Prime (and even better than some of those too).  In the early 80’s, with the company owning the Sacramento restaurants, the north store and my store were both converted to the image which they hoped would safe the Mr. Steak concept.  I have pictures, but not with me…I think my daughter actually has them now, and there are none on the Internet.  More up-class than their original remodel, it had etched windows, wooden tables, comfortable chairs…it was real nice. 

In June 1985 I married my first wife, whom I had known through working at Mr. Steak for a number of years.  In late 1985 I briefly went to work for an independent restaurant in Sacramento that was just starting up…just to realize about 6 weeks into it that the guy lied about his financial backing.  My name was on the liquor license, and we made a deal…he lay me off, let me get all the goods back to the purveyors so that they did not lose too much of their money, and I would not report him to the Alcohol and Beverage Commission (ABC).  He agreed, I then wrote ABC a letter letting them know that I no longer worked for the establishment, and within a month it was out of business (I did not report all the stuff he did, but I never said that I would keep my name on the liquor license).  At Mr. Steak, however, the company had decided to sell the three restaurants to a franchisee who had lost his new concept Mr. Steak out in the Denver area.  During this time period I could not go back to Mr. Steak for 30 days after the sale went through…so I have a few months off.  We went to Utah to see my wife’s brother, and I decided I wanted to go to their business school…and that is what we did in late August of 1986 after working for Mr. Steak for another six months (March-August).  While getting my business degree, I worked in the library…where they just happened to have a School of Library and Information Sciences masters program…which is how I became I librarian.  Graduated with my Business degree in August 1989, and with my MLIS in August 1990.  By January 1991 we moved to the Pine Bluff Arkansas area, with three kids, all born in Utah.

As for the Mr. Steaks in Sacramento….before 1986 ended, they closed the south area store, the one I started at.  By the summer of 1987, the Fair Oaks store, the one I managed and worked at the longest, down…and before the end of the year, the north area store was shut down.  In the restaurant business…if the owner does not know how to operate a restaurant, they had better have a REAL GOOD, trustworthy manager…  Mr. Steak as a “Nationwide Company” went bankrupt in 1987, and remaining franchise locations retained the name and did not have to pay a franchise fee any longer.  I don’t think there are any Mr. Steak restaurants, which were part of the Mr. Steak Franchise, still in existence. 

In Michigan (Battle Creek, Lansing, Jackson, Muskegon and Okemos) the owners there changed the name from Mr. Steak to Finley's, now Finley’s Grill & Smokehouse, and they still have five restaurants operating, still steakhouse style with a diverse menu…although I am not sure the current owners are the same as when it was a Mr. Steak  (wish I would have known that when we were in Battle Creek earlier this year!)  As we travel and drive through various towns, I see old Mr. Steak buildings.  Some are now Chinese, Mexican, or other type of restaurants, while others have been split up into two or three establishments.   Here in Sacramento, the north area store is a Sub Shop, with another part of the building used as a Goodwill Express, but is now empty.  The south area store is a Mexican Restaurant.  As for the Mr. Steak which I worked at the most…well, it is now a part of the Pavilions Shopping Center, a premier luxury shopping center which first started while I was managing the Mr. Steak on Fair Oaks...and when the restaurant closed down, they expanded right over the entire property. 

via Blogger http://ift.tt/2zUiA6Z

[purplesurveys]

927

1. How long have you been doing surveys for? I started doing surveys in 2009 when I was 11, but they were all private and I never posted them anywhere because at that time I had no idea other people were also into taking surveys and that communities were built out of them. I started posting surveys on a blog in 2012, and I’ve always done so on Tumblr.

2. Why do you prefer Facebook over MySpace, because I know you do? My Gen Z’s going to show up in this question lol but I never reached the peak of Myspace so I don’t have an attachment to it to begin with. I did find Facebook lame at first because it seemed like only older people were on there, but I’ve since learned that it’s an interesting place as well so I’ve been using it more often now.

3. Have you read the ‘Pretty Little Liars’ series? No. Did not watch the show either, but I do find Troian Bellisario pretty.

4. What product do you use to moisturize your lips? Just water and plain ol’ saliva, ha.

5. The last movie you saw in theaters - what would you rate it? That would be a while back - Knives Out. Did not like it but the actors were great, so I’d give it a 4/10. The last movie I watched in general was I’m Thinking of Ending Things – also the first Kaufman work I find myself struggling with. It’s not for everyone. I’m not sure what rating to give it yet...I might need to give it another rewatch.

6. When did you start using Xanga? I was never on it.

7. Be honest, do you judge people on their appearance? Sometimes. I think we’re all guilty of it even for just at least a few seconds. The difference lies in whether or not people hold on to their impressions.

8. What school do you attend? I’m done with school. I can’t believe I’m saying that now AHHHH. My most recent school, though, was UP.

9. What Science are you currently taking? I don’t take classes anymore but the very last science class that I had was a physics general elective.

10. What song have you really gotten into lately? I haven’t been listening to music. I guess I don’t do so when I’m depressed and going through a prolonged wave of anxiety...sigh. I wish I find my way out soon. I miss my lo-fi tracks.

11. What did you eat for lunch today? I didn’t eat lunch. I also don’t eat anything these days.

12. Did you get compliments on the shoes you wore today? I didn’t go out today, so I haven’t needed to wear any shoes.

13. Before you take a survey, do you read down through to make sure there aren’t any questions you don’t wanna answer? Quite the opposite. I read through it so that I can see if the questions are interesting or random enough for me. It also helps if the person I get the survey from is eloquent, since it gets me in the mood to take the same survey. 

14. Rate your confidence level on a scale of 1 to 10: Right now it’s at a solid 1 because I haven’t gotten a job while I’m seeing my batchmates getting jobs left and right. This is the one issue eating up my brain and my confidence and my life, but once this whole thing is settled I’m pretty sure my confidence will be back to normal again.

15. Do you know anyone who does not like The Beatles? Yeah, myself.

16. For every sibling you have, name one food they don’t like. If you’re an only child, do you ever wish you had siblings? I’m not sure what particular food Nina doesn’t like, but I know she doesn’t like spicy meals and will always opt for a non-spicy version. My brother does not like potatoes or any potato-based dish, like fries.

17. Did you have a friend in middle school that you’re now enemies with in high school? I’m not in school anymore but I did go through something similar. Athenna was my friend throughout high school but we grew apart in college, mainly because she and Angela had a falling out and I decided to stick with Angela since she’s my best friend.

18. What grade are you in anyway? I just graduated from college/university a month ago.

19. Do people have any reason to believe you’re an alcoholic? Not at all.

20. What is one thing you hope your children don’t inherit from you? My kids are definitely not inheriting any single trait from me because when I get pregnant, I’d rather it be from my partner’s eggs. But to answer the question, if I hypothetically had a kid that was genetically mine, I would not wish for my mental health condition/s to be passed on to them.