#tea sommelier lessons | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

finalgirllx · 8 months

Text

Ominis Gaunt’s Occupations AU HCs

Written By @finalgirllx and @greedyforgarreth simultaneously. A promised continuation after our Garreth's Gareers.

Headcanons of Ominis Gaunt in different careers.

Warning, we get a little delusional by the end again.

English Teacher

Has a few teacher’s pets

The teacher that lots of students open up to - even if he doesn’t try

A huge banned book advocate! He starts the year off with Fahrenheit 451 every time.

Loves having the students read and argue about Holden’s character in Catcher in the Rye.

On days when there is no lesson, he has them watch Pride and Prejudice or Frankenstein in class.

When he’s with his partner he makes them sound like his dad and says “Good Job, Son.” to him to make him feel good about himself and his life choices.

Will literally eat an apple every day. No exceptions.

He will give students +1 point of extra credit if they bring him an apple.

His students love to hear his personal stories and always try to get him off track.

Therapist

“How does that make you feel?”

He will write their answer on his computer and sometimes his voice-to-text randomly goes off and exposes what he wrote to the client. “Client’s delusions are excessive today.” client gasps “Well…they are…”

Makes you say 5 affirmations as soon as you walk in the door.

He’s obsessed with having you make a pros and cons list for every decision you have to make.

“Oof, red flag” any time your romantic partner wrongs you.

An absurd amount of fidget toys, on his desk and near the client’s seat.

He likes to take on children from foster care/broken homes the most. (He does most of these sessions for free/at a discount.)

Has poured hours into a curated playlist to relax and comfort his clients during their sessions.

Sommelier - a wine professional

The wine MUST have notes of ‘nuts’ otherwise it doesn’t pass.

He will get incredibly upset if he can’t taste the nut notes in it.

The only person who could describe the “body” or “palate” of the wine and not sound like a complete jerk while doing so.

Does the dramatic hand wafting the wine aroma into his nose when he first tries it.

Has an assistant who runs an instagram for him - makes sure to take immaculate photos at all of the vineyards.

"Pair this wine with anything you'd want to take to Flavor Town. It's like a high-five to your taste buds."

Has his own wine line with his face on the label. (He insisted on it) “It will increase sales” it did

Would work with famous personal chef Garreth Weasley for food + wine pairings. Their blog would be extremely popular.

“Nuttin' But the Finest” is his slogan.

Has a famous video where he threw a wine bottle with no nut notes on the floor and it smashed and his PR team desperately tries to scrub it from it from the internet.

The more tipsy he is, the more upset he is when something doesn’t have notes of nuts.

He comments under other people's posts about wine “Does it give ‘nut’🥜?” They block him.

Spa Manager

Would constantly walk around the spa listening in to make sure the service is fabulous.

Snaps his fingers far too much.

Gets clients excited by wearing a robe as his work attire.

Gets his estheticians to give him free facials every day.

Clients can pay extra for a scalp massage from him.

Huge gossip. Knows the tea about everyone even if you’re not his client.

“Margaret, I’m feeling a blemish forming on my cheek. Come take care of it.”

Falls asleep in the massage room between clients.

Goes into the sauna during his breaks and then gets upset when he’s too hot.

Radio DJ/Operator

Loves taking calls from anyone and everyone on air.

Absolutely loves causing relationship conflict on air. The dating advice hour sessions are always done by him. “He said WHAT NOW to you? Oof, red flag.”

“Drama Domain by DJ Ominis"

Literally does not care about his song order. He will repeat the song he likes as long as he wants, no matter who complains.

“You’re all haters. Dynamite by Taio Cruz will always be a hit.” And he grows to hate it himself but he’s so stubborn he keeps playing it.

He loves to interview people on his radio show. Always gets them to divulge some deep dark secret.

Somehow has the most famous of celebrities on his show and they all enjoy talking with him.

Has a trivia show every day that’s just about what he likes. “10 questions about cats this morning.”

Fucking despises giveaways. “I’m not giving you people anything.”

He ruins the giveaways the station forces him to put on purposefully by “deliberating” if it's a scam or not.

Model

Always shirtless even when it’s not called for. They have to photoshop shirts onto him.

“What do you mean I can’t be a shirtless executive?” walks out in just a tie and pants.

Very, very particular over his hair. If one strand is out of line, he will be very upset.

But he also doesn’t tell people when he’s upset. He just sighs and tilts his head dramatically and slouches until someone notices.

Really enjoys cowboy photoshoots. For whatever reason.

He secretly loves the comments from fans “Wear the hat, ride the cowboy.” He has his assistant read them off to him while he goes to sleep. “Wait, say the one where they called me Daddy Cowboy again.”

Has a very strict diet of eating whatever the fuck he wants to.

Loves extremely high fashion accessories. His eye masks cost over $3,000.

Has his own skin care line. "Gaunt's Beauty Nectar"

Has a Daddy Kink.

Musician

In a band with Garreth. They had excessive arguments over the band name. Ominis has a brief solo career stint before returning to the Weasley Wigouts.

Will make-out with fans right on stage in the middle of a set.

He puts gold body glitter on himself so he glows during the concert.

So, so amazing with his fingers.

Loves how his fans scream when his hair that starts perfect at the beginning of the show gets messier and more wild.

Has a very strict 10 PM bedtime that he can NOT miss.

Has that one very sad song in the middle of the concert that everyone gets quiet for as he belts on stage.

Fights to make sure his merch is affordable. Punched his rep before for trying to up his shirt prices.

Biggest supporter of his band members. Will call them sexy and tell him he wants to suck them off during the concert. Supportive, of course.

There’s a video of him online throwing a wine bottle in anger and it shatters. His PR team is trying to scrub it from the internet.

Refuses to let his brother Marvolo join the band even though he lets him keep auditioning.

Lawyer

Loves getting extremely into his arguments like they do in dramas.

Often makes the entire courtroom gasp when he makes his final comment.

“Your honor, the other team is clearly incompetent. His choice of cologne is terrible.” The audience gasps.

He has his own gavel and hits it when the other lawyer is talking. The judge lets him keep it because it's entertaining.

He watches Legally Blonde constantly. “Yas queen!”

"It's quite a feat to make 'reasonable doubt' sound like a plot twist from a B-grade mystery novel." The audience gasps

When the verdict is made he’s already smiling like he's won. (He did)

"I want to thank the opposing team for providing such an entertaining performance. If legal arguments came with awards, they'd surely win for 'Best Theatrical Presentation.' The audience gasps

His briefcase is full of fan mail. He reads them during the opposing team's defense.

Will literally always wear the best suits. He makes sure he feels sexy every day.

Detective

“The clue is in your drawers.”

Really loves the interrogation portion of his job. He conducts all of them.

“WHERE WERE YOU AT 7:13 PM LAST TUESDAY?” He says both in the interrogation room and in bed.

Has forgotten he’s handcuffed a lover to his bed before.

“I can arrest you,” he warns his partner when they tease him too much.

Has a Sherlock Holmes Kink.

Eats cheese and crackers while visiting the scenes of crimes.

“Sir, you're getting crumbs all over the evidence…” Ominis scoffs “I can arrest you,”

Enjoys teaching criminology at the local universities.

Sleeps with the speech and pathology professor.

Asks her to refer to him as “Sherlock” when they make love.

Wants his partner to yell “You solved the case!” when he cums. He can only cum when they say this.

Columnist

Loves writing the horoscopes for his newspaper. Always makes sure the signs that have wronged him will have bad days. And his crush always has great days.

Loves interviewing people from his town and getting to know the townsfolk.

Hates Garfield as a concept. Doesn’t understand when people try to explain why it's funny.

Always does the “Ask Alice” column. Will be honest with people if he thinks their questions are bad but offer advice anyway.

If he’s feeling frisky the advice won’t be good at all and probably cause more harm than good.

Fell asleep on his newspaper and got the ink stained on his face. No one told him for hours.

There’s a video of him online throwing a wine bottle in anger and it shatters. His PR team is trying to scrub it from the internet.

Loves sitting down with black coffee and cheese and crackers, starts his work day by saying, “let’s start writing these bad boys.”

Has a secret column he writes called “That RAT!” where he exposes bad people, restaurants, or businesses in the town. “The manager is a coward!”

“If Duncan Hobhouse has been here, stay away. 0/10 this place must be shut down.”

Insists on putting a dad joke on the front page every day.

Politician

Super into animal welfare.

Has slept with every single candidate for every office he’s run for. (And their spouses) They always mysteriously concede so he can get the win.

There’s a video of him online throwing a wine bottle in anger and it shatters. His PR team is trying to scrub it from the internet.

He’s extremely hot. Like holy fuck he’s hot. Damn…(This isn’t a HC, it’s true.)

Dominis 24/7.

His suits are thousands of dollars and he always wears them everywhere. He sleeps in them sometimes.

He loves visiting schools and getting to meet the future generations.

Flirts with all of the news broadcasters and interviewers for his publicity events.

Makes the name “Duncan” illegal for all future births.

Has a bondage kink.

Has done a lot for the community including helping to clean up the messier side of town and starting charities to help the homeless find housing and jobs.

Wants to get carried to the stage when he presents.

He asks his partners in bed to call him “Mr. President”.

“Get down Mr. President!” is how his partner asks for head.

100% approval rating.

Florist

Became a florist because he found the care and handwork to be soothing.

He knows the language of every flower and often uses it to help people find the perfect bouquet.

Has a daddy kink.

"Ominis's Blooming Creations"

Since he can’t see the color, he relies strongly on the scent of flowers, and people have grown to love his bouquets.

“My little flower,” is his favorite pet name he uses.

Moisture checks constantly! “This isn’t moist enough!”

Wears the cutest apron with his shop name on it.

Loves having apprentices so he can cultivate their love for gardening the same way he does.

Doesn’t wipe his face so his partner can clean the specks of dirt off his nose when he comes home.

Sometimes comes home through a window in a Ghostface costume because his partner loves it. (Just for you, Elise)

#hogwarts legacy #ominis gaunt #ominis gaunt fanfic #ominis gaunt imagine #ominis gaunt x reader #ominis gaunt headcanon #ominis gaunt smut

92 notes · View notes

nixielinghui · 8 months

Text

Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human? Pointless, really.

Is that NIXIE LINGHUI? A SOPHOMORE originally from FUNAFUTI, TUVALU, they decided to come to Ogden College to study ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING on a FINANCIAL SCHOLARSHIP. They’re THE OPHELIA on campus, but even they could get blamed for Greer’s disappearance.

Do the stars gaze back? Now that's a question.

STATISTICS;

BASIC INFORMATION;

full name: nixie linghui. nickname(s): nix. age: twenty-one. date of birth: september 30th, 2001. zodiac: libra. hometown: funafuti, tuvalu. current location: ogden, new hampshire. ethnicity: caucasian & chinese. nationality: polynesian. gender: demigirl. pronouns: she/they. orientation: panromantic & pansexual. religion: wicca. occupation: student & employee at c.ling. language(s) spoken: english, chinese, hawaiian, māori, tuvaluan, semi-fluent vietnamese.

FAMILY;

father: david linghui. marine engineer. born january 18th, 1965. mother: carley linghui. marine biologist. born november 21st, 1968. sibling(s): n/a. children: n/a. pet(s): n/a.

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE;

face claim: havana rose liu. hair color: honey brown. eye color: grey to green. height: 5'2''. weight: 110 lbs. tattoos: n/a. piercings: lobes on either side (multiple).

PERSONALITY;

character trope: the ophelia. additional tropes: the aquaphile, the barefoot loon, the barefoot sage, the beach bum, the dreamer, the effervescent, the halcyon, the manic pixie dream girl, the malingerer, the mysterious waif, the paracosmist, the peach, the traveler. character inspirations: argyle (stranger things), bea (mayday), delirium of the endless (the sandman), dolores madrigal (encanto), lottie matthews (yellowjackets), luna lovegood (harry potter), molly gunn (uptown girls), mr. magorium (mr. magorium's wonder emporium), sarah sanderson (hocus pocus), thomas jerome newton (the man who fell to earth), valerie (valerie and her week of wonders). positive traits: affectionate, extroverted, understanding. negative traits: carefree, indecisive, codependent. skills: forging relationships, mediation, amateur tea sommelier. smokes: no. drinks: yes. drugs: yes, natural substances only.

SCHOOLING;

attending; ogden college. major: enviormental engineering. minor: marine biology. sports: swimming & diving. extracurriculars: renewable energy and sustainability society, rock climbing team.

BACKGROUND;

TW: n/a. ● Nixie's parents met unexpectedly on a ship that her mother was traveling on and her father was working on. It was love at first sight and within four months they were married and Nixie's birth followed an additional seven months later. ● Due to her parents work, they never truly had a set home. Instead, she spent her childhood traveling on ships or boats and visiting exotic and beautiful locations, staying in everything from hostels to hotels and rented out rooms. ● Their education came mostly in the form of homeschooling and lessons taught both by their mother and the various women who helped raise and shape them throughout their childhood, most of their knowledge (and the things that piqued their interest) not coming from the things found in a textbook or classroom. ● It was throughout their travels that they became increasingly aware of the impact of global warming, particularly on the places that they loved to much, and in hopes to make a more impactful change going forward, they enrolled in Ogden. ● They definitely do care about their education and being able to help, but being as wild as they are, Nixie struggles with actually attending classes and staying on top of their assignments, something she too often has to be reminded about.

BIOGRAPHY;

TW: n/a. It had to have been fate that allowed their paths to cross, no coincidence that the ship she wasn’t have meant to have been on broke down while in his zone, that she’d wandered out of her room and into directly into him. It was love at first sight, two people destined for each other, a romance that others might try to simplify but the Linghui’s refuse to view it so plainly. It took a mere four months before they were tying the knot, a wedding some called shotgun soon after the fact, but the child growing inside of Carley was unbeknownst to them at the time, a welcome surprise when that beautiful baby arrived seven months later. To say that Nixie's upbringing was unorthodox would still be managing to down play it. She may have been born in Funafuti but it was never home, pulled to the seas before she was even a year old. In fact, home wasn't a word that they identified in the traditional sense — home was people, it was a feeling, no set place that ever been able to hold them. Nixie spent their time drifting; beaches and islands, boats and ships, oceans and villages that so few people got to experience. There was a plethora of time spent under the watchful eye of local women, incredible elders from varying backgrounds who’d lived and seen so much more than her, who shared their wisdom and stories and helped shape her. Of course, home schooling was mandatory, even with no singular home it was important she learn — and although they passed, it was no easy task, mind drifting and focus elsewhere, always feeling they could experience and learn more from the world around them than any book. While the past two decades have allowed them to experience beautiful and exotic places, they've also forced them to be witness to the suffering of the world — particularly of small islands, populations that have lived there for centuries and are often putting the least strain on the environment, remaining most affected by it. It’s why she’s journeyed to Ogden, the stillest she’s ever been and for the longest extent of time, leaving her skin itching for change. Nixie wants to learn and help the places and people that have come to be so important to her, but don’t be surprised if you find her arriving to class late or not at all, wandering the hiking trails while the skies are dark or laying on the water for so long people begin to worry she’s merely a body.

EXPAND ON HOW THEY EMBODY THEIR SKELETON TROPE;

For perhaps anyone who's appreciated an iteration of Hamlet, the visual is clear — long, disheveled hair and bare feet, clad in a dress and often pictured amidst flowers and water. It's not just the visual of her that takes people's mind to that place, however. They display the same childlike naivety, as if entirely unaware of the harsh realities of the word, a mind that it seems has taken a step away from the real world while at the same instant, holds gently onto secrets that no one else may ever may be privy to the knowledge of. At times it's unclear if Nixie is plagued by an invisible illness or merely not of this world, questions that her unwillingness to answer acts to make her all the more bewitching.

RELATIONSHIP TO GREER;

Their first encounter was unexpected and the ones that followed were even more so. Nixie was an almost impossible person to pin down, floating around with her parents like a piece of drift wood lost to the sea. It was thanks to the beautiful locations that their work took them that she was privy to many experiences most her age were not so lucky to enjoy. The couple may not have been able to afford the luxury of the vacation homes and resorts that the Morrison family could, but the ocean and it's mainland were things trickier to lay claim upon. The same beach at the same time, together and yet somehow worlds apart — though to an outside eye, it seemed the pair were either unaware or unaffected by that reality.

LINKS;

#ogdenintro

5 notes · View notes

a-very-fond-farewell · 4 years

Text

The forbidden crack! Untamed prompts: 19/?

Wedding Planner AU [xicheng edition]: “Chickens on the Loose”

[let me have this]

Jiang Cheng doesn’t believe in love and that’s precisely the reason why he plans other people’s special day. The most extravagant, the boldest, the loudest, the better. Because if there’s something he got to accept over the years is that people aren’t willing to pay for something realistic, but for something unattainable instead. Over-compensating bland, ordinary reality with fantasy and dreams is his job and he’s well aware that no one can compete with his genius. Not with his father owning a catering and food chain company. Not with his mother being the most sought out wedding gown fashion designer on the market. They taught him everything there is to know on how to make other people’s dream come true before the inevitable envelope of a dainty, innocuous divorce application can make its way in a once happy household. Better make the satisfaction last, because Jiang Cheng will only accept advanced payments in cash, no monthly installments allowed.

His sister YanLi may have married honoring tradition over useless exaggeration, but what did her love bring aside from suffering and neglect? Marrying into the richest family in the country to the heir of a textile empire has given her nothing but sorrow and a husband too proud and distant to even visit her regularly. Jin Ling growing up without a father, spoiled rotten by the wrong side of the family who lured him into their shining world of nothingness day after day. At least Jiang Cheng’s family did rise from nothing and learned to trick the rich into relying on useless services soon enough. But Jin ZiXuan and his family had never worked once in their life and didn’t know how to take care of their loved ones. Not that Jiang Cheng’s parents could do any better, their marriage a wasteland where no love could grow, but at least they were honest about it. Better enjoy a dream while it lasts.

That is why if even Wei Ying’s marriage were to turn out to utter shit like YanLi’s, at least it will not be Jiang Cheng’s fault. Everything needs to be perfect, from the vows to the tea ceremony, from the food to the color scheme, from the seat arrangements to the music. Hell, some of his stepbrother’s requests may be too much to handle for most, but not for Jiang Cheng and if Wei Ying wants a parade and a whole week worth of celebrations, Wei Ying will have exactly that.

Hence he will not, under any circumstance, allow anyone snooping around as he plans the wedding of the century. No, not even the fiancée’s overprotective older brother asking people for blackmailing material on Wei Ying behind Jiang Cheng’s back. Not even if he pays him in nature, no ma’am.

... . ... . ... . ...

Lan Huan is the best divorce attorney in town precisely because he believes in unconditional love. That’s why he doesn’t see the point of two people (or three people, on one memorable case in Europe) spending the rest of their life together if change is inevitable and something to be expected. He would much prefer to get the best deal out of it for his clients and prevent children to suffer from it in the process.

Judges fear him and his diplomatic smile that can never hide his tunnel vision drive for victory. His trusty private investigator Nie HuaiSang is equally terrified by his assets, but still feeds him with the juiciest details whenever Lan Huan asks for favors, discreetly requesting the younger man to do background checks on this or that subject. Settlements may be nice, but not if the (soon to be ex) husband or wife in question can be easily found guilty of adultery, gaslighting, or even violence. Not on Lan Huan’s watch.

That’s why his world gets completely turned over the moment his younger brother Lan Zhan announces his intention to marry a man he hasn’t known for a full three months yet. Truth to be told, Lan Huan had never seen him this happy: glowing with something akin to adoration, affection dripping from every pore, love spilling all over just by mentioning one name, Wei Ying. In case this rascal happens to crush his precious baby brother’s heart, Lan Huan needs to find dirt on this man and squeeze everything he has out of his dead cold hands the second his brother files a request for a divorce.

But for some reason Nie HuaiSang cannot seem to be found for the job this time around. Not unlike most of his other contacts and informants, who have seemingly disappeared at the mention of his brother’s fiancee’s name. If this Wei Ying is such a big fish in the sea to make even Lan Huan’s most loyal colleagues dissolve into thin air, then he must find the answers by himself.

And if it means to bomb the wedding preparations to get shit done, oh he will. He’s not above flirting to get what he wants, but if this Wei Ying turns out to be a good person in the end... well. Lan Huan prays things won’t get too messy to proceed with the celebrations in the end. Hopefully, that is.

[fun stuff under the cut.]

NHS went to uni with Wei Ying and he knows LXC won’t find anything on him bc WWX himself is a blackmail master and will 100% diss you in front of your children calling you out on your deepest secrets so no. NHS will not mess with that and he urges to do as much to all LXC’s informants and sources.

JC looks scary but his staff loves how dedicated he is and they make bets on when he’s going to lose it and sleep with someone out of frustration. although they think he gets more turned on by going over every point in his check-lists at times...

LXC’s colleague always ask him if he’s dating anyone, clearly to set him up with someone (who will not be of LXC’s liking, he’s sure). to which he answers by smiling and lying saying he has a terrible personality. since nobody believes him, he asked his friend Meng Yao to make a scene at the firm once: (all too pleased to mess with his bestie’s reputation) Meng Yao murder-walked into the office and demanded to meet LXC, only to cry in front of everyone and smack him across the face for cheating on him. THEN his sister A-Su made her sudden appearance and smacked LXC’s other cheek lamenting the same, ridiculous thing. the two siblings gaped in fake horror at each other before spitting on LXC and storming off of the building.

NMJ laughed his ass off for weeks after the sharade. he started dating A-Su not long after (with both JGY and LXC’s blessings) bc he was mildly impressed by her willingness to jump on the opportunity to make a fool of both LXC and her brother at once. LXC thinks they are a good match, but he worries A-Su might be too tiny and full of undiluted mischief for NMJ to be able to handle her antics.

NMJ used to date LXC, but they were too driven and competitive to let their relationship get in the way and in the end they stopped seeing each other. they still care deeply for one another, but they love their jobs at the firm too much and making things messy at the office wasn’t worth it. A-Su knows about it and doesn’t feel left out because of it, glad that they settled into their respective lives while still being loyal friends to each other.

JGY tries to set LXC up with a new woman every week, saying he would benefit from having a cute wife taking care of him. but LXC doesn’t know what business JGY has to talk about women that way when Meng Yao’s been a raging homosexual since the first time he has landed his eyes on another boy in kindergarten. too many crushes on boys to even be aware of how many hearts he has broken in his life. all those pretty girls falling for his looks, poor kids. only JGY’s younger brother Mo XuanYu could rival his victim count, but barely so.

ZiXuan is secretly keeping an eye on his half-brothers and half-sister while he works as a representative for his family company and this is mainly the reason why he has distanced himself from YanLi and Jin Ling in these past few years. he would like to approach his three half-siblings and maybe have a chance to rekindle lost relationships, but by stressing over it he is losing sight of the found family he actually has. YanLi wants him to come around, eventually, but she knows how lonely ZiXuan has been with no siblings and how secretly jealous he is of the bond that she has with her family. so she won’t pressure her husband, but she feels lonely nonetheless.

the two wangxian lovebirds are too happy to notice the mess LXC is making and they don’t even realize he’s there until like, three days before the actual wedding.

LXC may be a shark but he’s not subtle. JC doesn’t know what he does for a living but he assumes he has too much time on his hands, hence not someone worthy of his time. but LXC always causes troubles on the venue or messes up with the flower arrangements or prods for information to the wrong people and JC is over it.

“if you don’t have anything better to do help me find the sommelier so I can ask him what’s wrong with him and if he studied anything at all” or “if you have so much time to waste be useful and learn how to make flower crowns for the children to play with” or “if you can sit on your ass all day at least look over my nephew while I go look for someone to emotionally bully to let off some steam.”

Jin Ling is five and even more bossy than his uncle and orders LXC around to be his pony when JC should babysit him at work. LXC discovers the boy is JGY and A-Su and Mo XuanYu’s nephew and that JC doesn’t what any of them to interact with Jin Ling. but LXC secretly lets them hang out with the boy when JC is too busy to notice.

JC and LXC get closer the more the latter understands that there’s not much dirt on Wei Ying (aside from some questionable pictures taken during a university party back in the days, but that’s beside the point). LXC appreciates how crafty and ingenious JC is, always helping others around instead of just shouting orders...even if his temper is atrocious at times.

JC forces LXC to take dance lessons with the lot of the main family members and LXC meets JC’s mother for the first time. she is competitive about her dancing skills and Wei Ying tries to win her over by asking her to show everybody how it’s done by leading her ex-husband in a tango. after publicly humiliating her ex-husband (and making him fall in love with her once more), she insists on practicing a waltz with LXC and basically threatens him to cut off his balls if he dares to lead JC on with his charms.

LXC realizes he’s been playing and flirting too much with the man for him not to notice, but JC seems oblivious. no. he’s completely oblivious and kind and beautiful as he dances with Jin Ling and twirls him around in delight. LXC played too hard and now he’s in too deep.

the only source of drama in this would be JC finding out LXC let Jin Ling hang out with his other uncles and aunt despite the warnings. JC was starting to trust the man... and LXC stabbed him in the back. he would have much preferred not to discover it from his nephew (who let it slip that LXC “told him not to speak of his uncles and aunt to Jiujiu”), because he would have given LXC a chance to explain himself otherwise. but no. JC cannot have good things apparently and now he’s heartbroken without even knowing why.

without the lucky charm that is JC (holed up in his flat eating junk food to forget the pain of being an afterthought in other people’s lives), everything goes to shit three days before the wedding: the chef quits, the tea set for the ceremony breaks, one of the maids has accidentally torn apart one set of wedding robes and so on.

the venue gets flooded with live chickens when a truck transporting them breaks down in front of the building and the chicken escape. Jin Ling is loving every second of it, but everything gets destroyed in the ruckus and JC’s hard work is ruined.

Wei Ying is heartbroken and Lan Zhan silently accuses LXC of being the cause of this and urges him to fix the mess unless he wants to receive the cold shoulder for the rest of his days. but LXC is a cowards and spends his time actually fixing the broken things or replacing them or finding seamstresses to help with the garments and so on himself. anything but facing JC and be rejected.

ZiXuan comes to his senses and blurts out that “he really just wanted to have a loving family” the moment JGY, A-Su and Mo XuanYu come check on LXC. they hug and cry and laugh and YanLi gently reminds them that this is not about them right now and that they should help with the preparations if they have so much time on their hands. her mother is very proud of her and nods appreciatively at ZiXuan’s shocked and weirdly intrigued expression after being humiliated so boldly in front of everyone. the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree indeed.

the day before the wedding Wei Ying threatens to call the wedding off if JC doesn’t show up for his big day: not because he’s the planner, but because Wei Ying wants him close on his happiest day and he will not have it any other way.

LXC goes to fetch JC in his apartment himself the night before the wedding and they yell and they make peace and then they make love and then they woke up late the next day and they have to rush to the venue.

Wei Ying is livid until JC appears and then they celebrate the wedding of the century. A week of celebrations later Lan Zhan deadpans that they actually got married already like, one month in after meeting each other, but Wei Ying wanted a big wedding and he didn’t want to deny his husband a single thing.

JC tries to strangle his brother as the last family picture is being taken.

give me an award already.

#mdzs #cql #the untamed #the forbidden crack! untamed prompts #xicheng #wangxian #mdzs/au: modern #mdzs/au: wedding planner #mo dao zu shi

118 notes · View notes

libertasrpg · 4 years

Photo

We welcome Fiona Prentice to the city. She’s 30 years old and is a Sommelier. Fiona is often mistaken for Isla Fisher. She’s open.

→ Background Information

Born to a comfortably wealthy family, Fiona could have chosen any career path or school and would have been just fine. She’s always been a bit of a homebody but she isn’t afraid to step out of her comfort zone to make a first impression. Her parents almost sent her away for school and to live away but they eventually realized how much they loved having their little girl home. She went to school to study culinary arts, and took some kickboxing classes on the side. After a while she moved in with her roommates and it was nice. But after four years and many sleepless nights - all for fun, or studying, Fiona ended up back at home while in between jobs. It was then when she met Lucas Farquaad that things changed drastically. The couple was married and spent five years as such before Fiona finally came to her senses. Fiona worked as an hors d’oeuvre chef at his winery and eventually climbed in the ranks as a sommelier. She ended up back home and for a brief few weeks dated Preston. Finally, following the all too messy divorce with Lucas and short and sweet breakup with Preston, Fiona is back in her home, working as a sommelier with her dear friend Delilah.

→ Relocation Explanation

The divorce with Fiona’s ex-husband, Lucas was without a doubt one of the biggest headaches she had ever faced. Being the owner of a world renowned winery, the prenup was the first thing Fiona had to sign and despite that, the redhead felt like she had to jump through a multitude of hoops following the couple’s breakup. She couldn’t take it any longer home, so she packed her bags and while in search of a fresh start, found a new city to call home.

→ Living Situation

After spending the first twenty years of her life living with her parents, when Fiona was finally allowed to move in with roommates in college she was delighted, it was like a whole new world, uncharted territory. There were years with roommates, and then the years with her now ex-husband. Fiona was finally able to find herself a studio apartment space following the divorce and now resides in a tiny one bedroom town home with her cat Smudge and many house plants.

→ Her Personality

Fiona is a spitfire in every sense of the word. She’s as quick on her feet as she is with her words, and if you’ve done something out of line or have crossed her or a loved one she won’t hesitate to call you out. Fiona has spent a good deal of her life worried about her appearance, at some points even hating her firey red hair, but over the last few years she’s learned to love it. She’s accepting of people from all walks of life and loves her job the most because it gives her a chance to meet people like that.

→ Her Qualities

Ethical, Loyal, Open Minded

Competitive, Confrontational, Proud

→ Her Relationships

Lucas Farquaad (Ex-Husband): Lucas and Fiona couldn’t have been more true to the definition of love birds when they first met and began to date. Fiona was entranced by his winery and shared love for the vine. She was savvy in business and that was a plus for him and little to her knowledge he used her to gain momentum. Once Fiona realized this she quickly cut him off. In all honesty Fiona’s got no desire to see him but knows it could be inevitable given her line of work.

Shane Shermann (Friend & Possible Love Interest): Shane and Fiona met once when Shane had been meeting with Lucas to make a sale on some of the grapes from his family farm for the winery. Though engaged at the time, there was something about Shrek that Fiona couldn’t forget. He had a charm about him. So to run into him following the divorce, well.. she wouldn’t hate it.

Preston Prince (Ex-Boyfriend & Potential Love Interest): Preston wasn’t Fiona’s best decision, but he also wasn’t her worst. Models aren’t exactly her cup of tea, and she found that out the hard way, but he wasn’t a bad companion, and he enjoys the same wine Fiona does, and that’s always a plus. The two have a weird relationship but there are no hard feelings following the breakup.

Delilah Drago (Best Friend & Co-Worker): Delilah has been the saving grace for Fiona and finding life following her divorce and second big move out from home. Unlike Lucas, who comes from a family who owns a world renowned winery, Delilah started from the ground up with her small farm winery and when Fiona caught wind of it she had to visit. The two became fast friends and Delilah couldn’t help but ask Fiona to help right away. Outside of all of the wine they drink together, the two also get around to seeing Broadway shows and hitting up the gym.

→ Possible Connections

Paxton Bernard (Friend): Paxton leads several kickboxing classes and even offers lessons on fencing and stage combat. They’re a person of many talents, quick on their feet and a dancer. They met Fiona during a class she was taking and the two hit it off right away.

Donovan Drake (Friend): Don is the best friend of Shrek and his right hand man. He was there for the meetings with Lucas at the winery, but aside from that Fiona knows little about him.

→ Faceclaim Change:

Allowed | Not allowed | POC must | Discuss with admin

Suggestions: TBA

Fiona is based on Princess Fiona from Shrek.

#princess fiona #isla fisher #shrek #dreamworks rp #shrek rp #31 to 40 #sommelier #female #open #open female

2 notes · View notes

docholligay · 6 years

Text

She is a Diamond

A release from the Patreon vaults! @madegeeky was given a fic gift for New Year's from a very fine sponsor (Whose name I gave to geeky privately in case she didn't want to be revealed) and this was her prompt to me:

“And you, my glittering girl, are a diamond. Stone cannot love flesh. It can only bruise and break it." ---apparently a line form both me and Carmilla teaming up, as Jet pointed out.

Anyway, 2000 words, I hope you enjoy!

Michiru did not think herself sulky, in the least, and any sulkiness she might have had as a child had been taken out of her through good manners and etiquette and the gleaming veneer of perfection she was forced to put over everything, a white coat of paint covering every chip and crack and mural that might be there, leaving only a plain perfect base of elegant nothingness.

All that being true, there was a certain kind of low hurt and anger that settled in her whenever Haruka was treated cruelly by her family, and if they were so uncharitable as to call it sulkiness, she was plenty happy to take up that particular mantle.

She’d left, tonight. She didn’t always. No, sometimes, she stayed through the assault, sometimes she would nibble on crostini as Michiru’s mother and father and siblings all fenced with the subjects of her education, her class, her occupation.

Oh, they have a problem with you being a lesbian? People asked, guessing at what the problem might be, and oh, if it were only that banal. They had a half dozen young women to line her up with, all of the appropriate breeding and the appropriate emptiness, vases to be filled with the flower of the seasons.

The party had ended, and Michiru pretended to be very interested in one of the lilies perched in a cold crystal vase, waiting for leave to be given, to return to her home with Haruka, that penthouse her parents threatened to take away whenever she displeased them, the trust fund and the cars and the very life that offered the only thing she truly had to give Haruka: A promise that she would never again know hunger, that she would wear new clothes.

“Michiru, my dear.” Her mother’s voice was firm and flowing and in French, a woman proud of the sense of the exotic she brought to the Kaiohs, the daughter of a fine textiles merchant who had raised her children in Japan and on the continent and never allowed them to belong to either.

“Yes?” She did not look up, simply pretended to be re-arranging the flower, the way she had been taught in her finishing lessons.

“I trust you will have a cordial with us in the salon. To close out the evening. I daresay the party was a rousing success.”

“Oh, I don’t know, mother,” She gave a weak smile, “I’m feeling rather tired, and must beg off to retire.”

Her mother returned the calculated smile. “Please don’t think me simple, Michiru. You’ve been sulking since that girl took her leave.”

“Her name is Haruka.” She crossed her arms. “We have been together for better than a year, and at some point you and father will need to simply accept that. This...casual cruelty, and whatever amusement you derive from it, will have to cease, unless your wish is to make every party ever after a testament to awkwardness.”

Her mother took a took a hydrangea and arranged it next Michiru’s lily. “My dear girl, I know you are of a certain age, and rebellion is a very tempting affair at this time in your life, but it can only bring ruin.”

“It would not bring ruin, if you and father were not so given to unkindness.”

“Perhaps you are unkind in your own way, Michiru,” Her mother looked at her, “To bring her into this world. To bring her to you.”

“Whatever do you mean by that?”

“Haruka is, I assume, a good girl. She probably watches baseball, and drinks beer with her friends, and reads car magazines and all such manner of things. I’m sure she is very sweet, and I have seen the way she looks at you. She does adore you.”

“But you, my glittering girl, are not like them. You have never been like them and you will never be like them. They are lovely, average, people. You, Michiru, are a diamond. You are a crown jewel, unique and talented and poised and cut and shined into such finery. You know this to be true, you are no great fool. You have known this all of your life.”

Michiru looked down at the wood of the table, suddenly interested in the way the grain flowed across the table.

“A stone cannot love flesh, Michiru. It can only bruise and break it.” She gave a chuckle. “Can you really not see that is all you shall do with her, in the end?” She shook her head. “You act as if you are the first woman of breeding on earth to fall in love below your station. It’s a cliche, Michiru.You would do well to note how those stories end.”

Michiru was not unaccustomed to trading barbs with her mother. Too much alike, maybe, her father had once opined, and the thought of it, and that terrifying shiver in the back of her mind that it might be true, haunted her still. Early on in life, she had discovered she was hardly going to fit in, and so she may as well lean into it, and while her brother Ryuji had tried to prove himself to be the most Japanese boy who ever lived, and simply tolerated his fencing lessons, Michiru had sighed through her tea ceremony lessons and asked to take traditional sommelier technique as a reward.

Maybe it was that Ryuji had been so good at being perfectly Japanese, and she hated him.

Maybe it was that she was so good at being perfectly French, and he hated that.

Maybe it was that no one in either place would ever let them be both. God knows Naoko had tried, that sad middle sister who simply managed to make a pig’s ear of both cultures.

In any case, Michiru thought, very often the whys of how our lives turned out were irrelevant to the reality of them. She was a strange diamond in this land, who knew now that she could not leave it for Paris as she’d planned when she came of age, who was trapped here by her duty and now foisted upon the country as a whole.

The Hope Diamond was French once too, wasn’t it? Beautiful and glittering and cursed, only fit to sit in a museum and never be owned by flesh.

“Michiru,” Her mother called her out of the docent’s tour of her childhood, “I tell you this from my own experience, you know that, yes?”

She had not, and yet it seemed foolish that she had not considered it. The tiny voice, the one in the back of her head that said she was just like her mother, laughed and whispered its terrible prophecy, the one that saw her marrying a fine girl and living in a penthouse so much like this one, the one that saw Haruka marrying a girl like her, a perfect blue collar wife who would laugh with her coworkers in dark bars over beer and snacks.

The one that said her mother was right all along.

“In any case, if you were seeking my leave, you have it,” She nodded at Michiru, “I will tell the others you’re a bit tired. But think on what I have said Michiru. However long you intend to toy with the simple girl, a fish cannnot fly with a bird, however it tries. She will never be like you.”

“Goodnight, Mother.” Michiru walked to the entryway, on autopilot as one of her servants helped her into her coat and called down for the car to take her home, whatever home was, just a place where she lived with the girl they all felt temporary.

It did not matter if she was in herself or not, as she was driven. Driven. Taken. She was a passenger in her own life, under glass, and maybe it was true what Mina had said of her, that she had never known what pain was, really, in her life, and so she’d never understand Haruka, not ever, and all the bringing Haruka bags of groceries and buying her clothes would never change that, it’d just make it more obvious to Haruka that Michiru didn’t know what it was like not to have those things.

It had been said in anger, but that didn’t make it untrue.

The car came to a stop in front of the fine apartment building with her fine apartment where the girl she was destined to destroy lived full time now, no longer carting a bag back and forth between Michiru’s upscale palace and the tiny place she shared with a mother that never noticed if she was there or not.

Parents that noticed every movement, and parents that noticed nothing at all, and the both of them feeling all the more unloved for it. What a pair.

Michiru paused outside the apartment building, the drizzle on her skin shining with the light of the streetlights, forcing that diamond sparkle to come alive, the glitter in that cold and painful way and show every facet of what she was.

The driver was still waiting, and she stepped inside the lobby.

“Good evening, Miss Kaioh.” A recorded response by those of the flesh, those who would never know what it was to be carved, a block with all that was not wanted stripped away to make you into a beautiful thing, cold and perfect.

She nodded, the only thing she could think to do. That had been carved, too, and she blended into the marble of the lobby as she walked through it, the pale of her skin becoming marked by the grey straitions of beautiful, perfect stone. As she stepped into the elevator and nodded to the attendant, the one whose name Haruka knew but Michiru realized she did not remember, she felt her hair intertwine with the wrought brass of the elevator door, following its curves and whorls perfectly, elegant and cold.

She touched the cool metal of the doorknob to her home, all a part of her, her purse hung on the wrought iron rack, which smiled beneath her hand, the travertine beneath her feet bending to its sister. The silk of her nightgown cushioned the gem of her body, keeping it from the slightest smudge or fingerprint, never a thing to be touched.

The bedroom door was still open a crack, the light peering into it, just a beam through the darkness.

Haruka lay asleep on the bed, the rain beading on the window, those same treacherous streetlights covering her body with a thousand tiny bruises in perfect circles. Glittering and bruised, two of a pair, but not two of a kind.

She sat down on the bed next to her, the plush of it cushioning each facet. Haruka rolled over and mumbled sleepily, her hand resting on Michiru’s knee, the warmth of it running through Michiru like Celopatra’s snakebite, a poison desperately desired.

Could her mother ever know what they had been through together? The fear, and then the love, and then Michiru, oh she had already broken Haruka to save her, and she touched the raised scar on her chest as she thought of it, that one way in which they were, in fact, matched.

Her mother had given her the number of a plastic surgeon. She had tossed it away. There was something, something, that she and Haruka would ever share.

She reached over and ran her fingers through Haruka’s hair, the boyish softness of it drawing her in, and she snuggled in next to Haruka, placing her hand in Haruka’s. There were callouses there, drawn across her palm. She was used to handling rough objects, wasn’t she?

Haruka sighed against her and pulled her closer. “I love you.”

Michiru touched the soft flesh of her cheek. Even the Velveteen Rabbit became real, once loved enough. So who was to say it was not beyond her, under the strength of Haruka’s belief.

Perhaps a fish could not fly with a bird. But she was the sailor of the sea.

#a holligay joint #i hated thus when i wrote it but now i rather like it

52 notes · View notes

crosbys-guccifloral-crocs · 6 years

Note

Helloooo, please can you write an imagine where Y/N and Harry were best friends at first then were a couple for almost 1 year and a half but break up and she’s now in relationship with a guy and he told her at a family dinner that he still loves her but she told him smt like “You were my real first love and love story, and I love you but I love him more. He’s the man of my life. But we can still be friends.” Something like this❤️

Warnings: not proofed. Angsty as hell, teen!harry, X factor!harry, best friend!harry.

***

Y/N and Harry shared everything: a street, toys, friends and even a birthday (Feb, 1, 1994) just as their mothers had. Given that they were also childhood best friends. Y/N and Harry had been friends for years — but then, the X Factor happened… Y/N hated those 3 words. They were the words that had changed the entire dynamic of their relationship; as both friends and as a couple. Well… as much of a “couple” as love sick 16 year olds could be. They’d dated for just over a year before he auditioned for the X Factor. They had been each other’s first everything: first kiss, first real person, first time and of course, first heartbreak. First he broke hers. It happened when news broke that he had made it past the first round of auditions.

“I made it, Y/N.” he’d said. It was totally casual and caught her by surprise. They were lying in his family’s living room in Holmes Chapel watching The Notebook with Gemma, Anne and Robin.

She shot up straight from her position on his lap.

“W-what?” She gasped.

“I made the X Factor.” He said, sitting up to pause the film.

“O-oh. That’s great! I knew you could do it, H!” She stammered hugging him close.

“We’re moving to London.” He mumbled.

“Wait… what?” She questioned.

“We’re moving to London, Y/N. as long as I’m in the competition I need to be on set, and because I’m not 18 mum and Robin need to be with me on set.” He murmured.

“Oh… well London’s only 3 hours away. I could come visit on weekends.” She quipped.

“I don’t know, love. That’s a pretty big commitment. We can’t even drive yet, and that’s a lot to expect from your parents.”

“You could just tell me you don’t want this anymore Harry. I don’t need your pathetic excuses.” She cried rushing out of the living room.

“Y/N, honey! Come back please!” Anne called out.

“BABY PLEASE!” Harry cried running barefoot down his cobblestone drive. But it was no use, she was gone.

Over the next few weeks before he left for London, H made every attempt to contact Y/N. He waited for her at her locker at school, outside of her classes, showed up at her doorstep every morning before school with his famous iced tea that she loved so much and everyday she would walk right past him as if he were some stranger passing her on the street. She’d even resorted to blocking his number on her mobile and not allowing her mother to answer their home phone when his number showed up on the caller ID.

Eventually he learned his lesson and stopped attempting to contact her. But not before he could leave a note in her locker before he left for London.

“Y/N,

I’m so sorry baby. I didn’t mean what I said the way it sounded. Please let me explain.

I love you,

H.”

——

It had been nearly 3 months since Harry had made any more attempts to contact Y/N, and she had made no attempts at all to reciprocate those attempts. But nonetheless, it still broke her heart to even think about Harry in the arms of another girl — let alone an older woman… not to mention a woman 14 years his senior! It was sickening. She tried her hardest not to pay attention to the rumours and wanted nothing more than believe they were false, but when every media outlet in the UK was reporting about the supposed relationship between “16 year old X Factor contestant Harry Styles and the host Caroline Flack, aged 30” the rumours became rather hard to ignore. But she had to see for herself, so one weekend, close to the show finale, she decided to take Anne up on one of her multiple offers to make the trip to London because “Harry was dying to see her.” She, Anne and Gemma decided to surprise Harry and meet him at Nando’s one evening to surprise him with her visit, only to see him show up hand in hand at the restaurant with her.

That’s when Y/N truly decided to let Harry go. She no longer tuned into the competition, deleted him on all social media and no longer hung-out with the friend group they shared at school. Instead she became a secluded introvert, only going from school to work.

—— 8 years later (January, 28, 2018) ——

It’s been 8 years since Harry and Y/N had physically laid eyes on one another. Not even at Robin’s wake or service. She went of course she did. He was almost as much of, if not more of a father to her than her own dad, she just sat in the back and only made her presence known to Anne and Gemma when Harry was no longer in the room. She decided to unblock his number for a short while and send him her condolences on Robin’s passing, but then she was back to ignoring him. That doesn’t mean that she’s a stranger to her ex boyfriend’s crazy success and scandalous relationships. She’s run into Anne now and again when she was out and about in Holmes Chapel visiting her mother. She also still had the occasional girl’s day in London with Gemma whenever their schedules meshed properly.

She’d moved there 6 years ago when she was 18 after being accepted to Oxford for (your choice in major). She decided to stay in town after she graduated, she received a job offer with a salary that was impossible to pass up just weeks after graduation.

Soon after she started her new job was when she met Kyle. The way they met was kind of serendipitous, if you will. She’d literally spilt her iced tea on him after they collided turning a corner on the street. They’d been inseparable ever since. He’s been her everything for the past 6 years. Which is amazing, considering she never thought she’d feel this way about another man ever again. Not after he broke her heart all those years ago. Anne and Gemma were happy for her, but would be happier if it were Harry she were still with. They liked Kyle enough though, he treated her well and that’s all they ever wanted for her.

Now, four days before their shared 24th birthday she’s sitting on the sofa in the flat she shared with Kyle trying to get Gemma off the phone.

“Gem, how many times do I need to tell you I. Don’t. Want. A. Party. 24 is no special occasion. I’m not 16, or 18 or 21. ‘M just another year older. Can’t we just go to Greece for a weekend? Just the 2 of us and the mums?” (Anne and Y/M/N). Y/N begs.

“Ugh. Fine. I guess, if that’s what you want. But are you sure you don’t want anything on your actual birthday? Y’know like dinner or summat?” Gemma questions.

“Um, no. I think Kyle’s taking me to Gordon Ramsey’s new restaurant in Chelsea that night. Think he wants it to be a surprise though. I over heard him making the reservation a few weeks back.”

“Oh yeah, I know the place. Fancy little bloke inn’he?” She giggles finding her own sense of humour rather amusing.

“Ha ha, Gem. Laugh it up. S’more than you can say H—-“ Y/N stops herself just before her friend’s brother’s name leaves her lips. “Never mind. Sorry. I didn’t mean that.” She retracts.

“No, Y/N, S’okay. I get it. Know he’s m’brother and what he did was a while back but it still makes him a wanker.” Gem agrees.

“Okay. I’ll call you in a few days to sort out the details of the trip, Gem. Talk soon.” Y/N smiles.

“Laters, baby.” Gemma laughs.

—4 days later, Birthday evening (Feb, 1, 2018) Gordon Ramsey’s restaurant.—

“Wow, Ky. This place is amazing, you shouldn’t have.” Y/N gasps as the hostess brings them to their table and informs them their server will be by shortly to take their orders.

“Course I should, love. S’not every day the girl you love turns 24.” Kyle smirks.

Just as the sommelier (wine expert) approaches their table.

“Excuse me, are you Miss. Y/L/N?” He questions.

“Um yes? What is this about?” She asks sheepishly, confused. Kyle himself seeming just as clueless.

“This is for you. Compliments of the gentleman over there at table 4. Enjoy your meal. This pairs lovely with the prime rib, if I do say so myself.” The wine master smiles as he departs from the table.

Y/N looks over Kyle’s shoulder to see the one and only Harry Styles smirking at her from across the dining room. “Happy Birthday, love” he mouths, lifting his own glass of wine in a “cheers” salute.

“If you’ll excuse me, Kyle I need to take care of something really quickly.” Y/N says, giving her date a tight lipped smile before marching over to Harry and hauling him up from the table by the cuff of his Gucci suit jacket.

“Oi, love. That’s no way to greet an old friend on his birthday is it?” Harry jabs as she continues to maneuver them out the main doors of the restaurant.

“First of all a $300 bottle of wine? Are you freaking kidding me, Harry? Second of all… s’tha’ all I am to you, an’ “old friend?” And third, how the bloody freaking ‘ell did you find me? Especially tonight of all nights?” She whisper yells as they gat far enough into the parking lot.

“One, happy birthday. I know you love that wine. He probably would’ve ordered you some cheap $50 merlot. Two, no love, yer much more to me than just and old friend. S’what I came ere to tell yeh. And three, I’m Harry freaken Styles, love. There’s nothin I can’t do. Not to mention Gordon owed me a favour after I performed at his daughter’s graduation last year. When Gem told me yer new bloke was bringing yeh ere tonight I decided to call in that favour.” Harry smiles, taking in the appearance of the girl he’s loved for the last 20 some-odd years of his life. The same one he hasn’t seen in nearly 8 years. But seeing her here, tonight looking gorgeous as ever in that tight black dress and killer Louboutins, with him?? Well that was a hell of a kick in the nads.

“Why did you really come here, Harry? Because I know it wasn’t just to give me expensive wine and say happy birthday. But if it was, happy birthday, Harry. Goodbye.” Y/N mutters, shaking her head and walking away.

“N-no, baby please! Don’t walk away. Not again.” He begs grabbing at Y/N’s wrist and pulling her into him. “Please, baby. I love you. Don’t walk away again. If you do, I don’t think I can take it.” He says, full on sobbing now and literally begging on his knees outside the busiest restaurant in the Chelsea district, not caring who sees him.

“Get up, Harry. You’re making a scene. Im not your baby anymore. I haven’t been for the last 8 years. And that was your choice. I loved you, but I love Kyle, now. I’d still like to be friends though, yeah?” Y/N says in an attempt to plaster a fake sad smile on her face and look away from Harry to wipe her own tears.

“Not Harry to you baby. ‘M anything but. What happened to H or babe or love or handsome?? Anything but Harry. That makes it too real. You know we can never be friends. We’ve been through too much.” He sobs, standing up to hug her again.

“M’sorry, H. I love Kyle and he’s inside waiting. I’m sure I’ll see you around yeah?” She says, releasing herself from his embrace and kissing his cheek before reentering the restaurant and leaving Harry out in the cold.

——

Fin?? But could definitely see this being a small series if you all like it! There are plenty of places I could go with this! xx M.

#harry styles #harry styles imagine #harry styles blurb #harry styles angst #harry styles fanfiction #best friend!harry #angst #answered #anonymous #request

89 notes · View notes

hanateahouse · 3 years

Photo

Tea sommelier course - lesson 3 Black tea tasting ☕😋☕ 4 black teas from India, Assam region TGFOP, PF, BOP, CTC. This was the last lesson of 1st module. 🙏 8 more modules to go.😁 #teasommelier #tealifestyle #teacupping #teatasting #Assam #assamtea #teacourse #looseleaftea #hanateahouse #ireland #tealove (at Assam) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLl-SO_nkXX/?igshid=ym11bgocoum

#teasommelier #tealifestyle #teacupping #teatasting #assam #assamtea #teacourse #looseleaftea #hanateahouse #ireland #tealove

0 notes

tea-related · 3 years

Text

Last week I've started the first day in my year long study to become a tea sommelier. This first day was all about how to taste. We learned about our sense of smell and taste, and some official ways to taste tea.

Did you know that smelling is just as important as tasting , when tasting food/tea? Or that professional tea tasters will taste up to 1100 samples of tea (slurp,taste,spit) to ensure the batch they are buying is good quality? It takes them about 5 hours!

Our first homework is to practice tasting tea. During the taste and smell tests we did during class I was unable to guess any specific smell, so I'm assigning myself the task to smell and taste everything with attention from now on. We also need to learn how to 'slurp' our tea to get maximum flavour out of the mouthful. We even received a special spoon for maximum slurpability!

We received a small handout with empty forms that will help us focus on the main points while tasting. Aroma's, whether the tea was sweet, bitter, umami, salt or sour, the mouthfeel and aftertaste are all important components. Im kind of glad that I'm currently working from home due to covid regulations because that means I can practice during work.

Anyway, the next lesson about the basics of tea is in two weeks and I cant wait! All students have to bring a litre of their own tapwater, to make tea with it so we can sample how water with different particle contents (or whatever the correct term is) affect the taste of the tea. Cant wait!

Feel free to send me a message if you want to ask something about tea or just want to chat!

#teatime #tea #gong fu cha #world of tea #teacore #taste #smell #tea sommelier #study

0 notes

wandereliterp-blog · 7 years

Text

We hope you are enjoying the perks of joining the exclusive club Wander Elite! It’s time for one of the reasons you all joined - a trip! Pack your bags and children (if you so wish to bring them) because at 10 am EST on August 17th cars will parked in your driveways to usher each and every one of you to private charters which will transport you to a relaxing vacation destination!

* Children are allowed on this trip. ** Please have your celebrity attend the event if they are eligible to do so. The entire point of events is to help create plots and interactions.

DESTINATION INFORMATION

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort.

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Private charters will be taking the celebrities from their current location to Malé International Airport from there a seaplane will take them to the final destination. Departing Thursday August 17th at 10 am EST and returning Sunday August, 20th at 7pm. Transportation will be provided to and from. Everyone is allowed 1 bags and 1 carry on item. Beverages and snacks will be complimentary on the flight. Celebrities traveling to and from the same cities will be on the same flights.

ROOMING INFORMATION

Each single celebrity will be staying in a Sunset Overwater Villa. Families will be lodging in the Two Bedroom Family Villas to provide proper accommodations.

ACTIVITIES

VOMMULI DIVE AND WATER SPORTS CENTER: From diving and snorkeling or speedboating and windsurfing to deep-sea fishing and glass-bottom kayak tours, our Vommuli Dive and Water Sports Center is the ideal gateway to indelible recreation on—or beneath—the azure waves of the Indian Ocean.Recognized as an international dive site by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), our center offers expert scuba and nitrox diving lessons and certification as well as premier ScubaPro equipment. An array of exhilarating excursions allows guests to swim with manta rays and dolphins, photograph our beautiful corals, and admire the rich marine life of our private reef. Parasailing and jet or water-skiing equipment are also available. We are happy to provide amenities for stand-up paddling, canoeing, catamaran sailing, and more for guests who do not require professional guides or instruction. Guests must be eight years or older for diving lessons and ten years or older for certification. The full list of activities can be found here.

OUTDOOR INFINITY POOL: A serene tropical oasis, our 452-square-meter outdoor infinity pool reveals unfettered views of our exclusive white-sand beach and the alluring waters of the Indian Ocean. This beachfront haven offers plentiful sun loungers and poolside cabanas for private occasions enhanced by our legendary service. Younger guests may enjoy a dip in our adjacent 70-square-meter splash pool.A tantalizing array of refreshments is available poolside from Crust, our pizzeria. Our expert butlers are on hand to provide complimentary towels and bottled water.

FITNESS CENTER: Ensconced by verdant tropical landscape, our state-of-the-art Fitness Center is located in Vommuli House, an exquisite recreational area at the heart of the island. The Fitness Center houses the latest amenities for an energizing workout, from cardio equipment—including treadmills, elliptical cross trainers, and recumbent bikes—to free weights and strength-training machines. All Technogym equipment features seamless technology, such as personal television screens. Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the facility and headphones are available at the reception desk. In addition, personal training—tailored to each guest’s fitness needs and desired results—is available with advance request.

THE CHILDRENS CLUB: The children club offers a variety of enriching and engaging activities. Children age 2 to 14 may attend a soul satisfying you class complete with meditation, a cooking course in the dedicated childrens kitchen, or take part in creative arts and crafts including origami and painting. There is also a selection of games, puzzles, and a private dining menu of snacks and juices to enjoy. Experienced childcare attendants will personally monitor the Children’s Club at all times. 2 and 3 year olds will not be able to take part int he cooking course. A list of daily activities can be found here.

THE BEACH: Day or night, unsurpassed relaxation awaits on the plentiful sun loungers and in the private cabanas of our pristine white-sand beaches. Our expert staff are at the ready to provide complimentary towel and cabana services. Enticing refreshments are available from Crust pizzeria for guests lounging near our outdoor infinity pool while private dining service delivers tantalizing snacks and meals to guests lounging in front of their villas.

OTHER: There is a full library is over 800 book titles from across the globe, a fully function spa, a state of the art gym with classes such as yoga, pilates, zumba and more.

IRIDIUM SPA

Our signature Iridium Spa promises a transformative journey in an oasis of tropically inspired sophistication. Alighting atop the scintillating waves of the Indian Ocean, our 1,850-square-meter overwater sanctuary features plush furnishings set against white oak interiors to create an ambience of elegant tranquility.

Each of our six couple’s treatment suites—including two Ayurvedic suites with private steam rooms—offers a refined retreat. Sliding-glass doors allow guests to admire unfettered sea vistas from their spa beds while private terraces with soaking bathtubs ensure relaxation enhanced by fresh ocean breezes. En-suite showers and bathrooms provide unsurpassed privacy and convenience. Additional pampering can be found in our spa’s steam rooms, saunas, and cold-drench showers.

Situated on our covered terrace and commanding picturesque ocean vistas, our Blue Hole Pool is the most expansive hydrotherapy pool in our beautiful island nation. Heated seawater and an array of whirlpool jets melt away tension while offering curative benefits for both mind and body. Guests are also invited to unwind on our comfortable poolside chaises.

Offering a holistic approach to wellness and rejuvenation, our treatments are enhanced by Natura Bissé products, hand-selected for their therapeutic benefits. Each visit begins in our serene Iridium Room, where guests can sip our exclusive Iridium tea while taking in views of vibrant marine life through glass floors. Our Ayurvedic specialist, acupuncturist, and other expert staff are at the ready to curate bespoke rituals to fulfill each individual’s wellness needs, from Balinese and Thai massages and herbal body scrubs to facials, manicures, and pedicures that will leave each guest feeling refreshed.

Refreshing snacks and juices from our spa cuisine menu can be enjoyed in our relaxation lounge. Our boutique allows guests to take our exclusive product lines home.

Resort guests receive a complimentary 15-minute Ayurveda consultation. Reservations are required for all consultations and treatments. For appointments, guests are kindly asked to contact their personal St. Regis Butler. Spa can be found here.

BUTLER SERVICE

St. Regis Butler Service has been a treasured hallmark of the St. Regis experience for more than one hundred years. From a perfectly pressed suit ready for an important meeting, to a favorite book at hand for an evening read, to a thoughtful, last minute gift for a loved one, no request is too small or unattainable no matter what the hour of the day. St. Regis Butler Service ensures that unique preferences are understood and addressed flawlessly at our St. Regis hotels around the world.

SIGNATURE SERVICES

Beverage Service: Upon arrival, allow a St. Regis Butler to arrange coffee or tea service in your room. And if you wish, a St. Regis Butler will arrive after your morning wake-up call to draw your shades, deliver your coffee or tea as well as the day’s newspaper and weather forecast.

Unpacking & Packing Services: Allow a St. Regis Butler to take care of the unpacking and storage of your luggage—so that you can simply relax and enjoy. Similarly, before you depart, simply contact the Butler Service Desk to dispatch a butler to assist with gathering and folding your garments to prepare your luggage for the journey home.

Garment Pressing: Once unpacked, simply let your St. Regis Butler know which garments require pressing and they will be pleased to assist, returning the garments to your wardrobe promptly. This gracious service includes pressing of two garments per person, per day.

For all other wishes or requests, St. Regis Butler Service is pleased to assist.

During your stay, whether you are inside or outside the hotel, St. Regis Butler Service is accessible at any hour via email. Simply send your request and allow the Butler Service Desk to assist.

St. Regis Butler Service. Allow Me

DINING

At The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, we invite guests on an exquisite epicurean journey. Our culinary experts showcase their exceptional talents by crafting worldly dishes using fresh seafood and locally grown produce as well as serving top-shelf libations in an array of sophisticated settings.

Fresh sea breezes waft through the floor-to-ceiling windows of our signature restaurant, Alba, where guests are invited to savor delectable Italian cuisine while taking in enchanting ocean and pool views from our airy open kitchen or our enchanting terrace. Meanwhile, the venerable Decanter promises a five-course degustation menu paired with seven complementary vintages hand-selected by our professional sommeliers.

Opening directly onto our pristine beachfront, Orientale boasts three elegant open kitchens, where our legendary chefs serve authentic Asian delicacies. Crust invites guest to customize their own pizza creations with traditional and local ingredients while Cargo, our pop-up diner, serves up gourmet street food amid the lush foliage of our tropical gardens. Our whimsical Whale Bar is the overwater destination for enjoying delightful tapas and tantalizing cocktails while watching the sun set on the sparkling waves of the Indian Ocean.

Guests are also invited to enjoy bespoke dining options in the privacy of their villa. View all dining options here.

OTHER INFORMATION

Once the celebrities arrive on site they will not be able to depart until the time and date specified. If your celebrity is current working please remember this is roleplay so you can bend their schedules to fit in a trip without making it too out of character. The point of these events are to give celebrities the chance to spend time with people they normally wouldn’t so try not to have them with the person they are interested in, dating, or married to the entire time! Spread your wings, make more connections, get more plots and storylines flowing! Also, remember they have to post on social medial about the trip. You can find real photos and guest instagram posts here. Tag the social media posts with the hashtag #stregismaldives and the tumblr tag wandersm.

#wanderevents

18 notes · View notes

eatvangelist · 5 years

Text

Kuredu Resort - Sangu Very Much

Like all good things, I’m sad to say the magical Maldivian vacation had to end, and I have been home for a few days now. Earlier today I finally braved my lifelong arch-nemesis, the scale. I knew going into our confrontation today to expect the worst, but I was surprised to find that instead of gaining the ten pounds I felt I added, the reality was more like three. Not sure how that is possible given the handful of chefs catering to my every culinary whim, four meals per day, at Kuredu Resort.

I had never stayed at a resort prior to this trip, so I didn’t really have any expectations about how good the food would be. My companion and I were informed that we were on the all-inclusive plan, plus we were staying at the more exclusive Sangu Water Villa at the far end of the island, so we were free to dine at any of the buffet restaurants on the island and get half-price discounts at the three a la carte restaurants on the resort. We never made it to any of the a la carte restaurants, as we were more than satisfied with the buffet options. While we did try the different buffet restaurants on the island, ultimately we were happiest at Sangu Restaurant.

The buffet restaurants are actually all similar, but there are slight differences. The most obvious is the ambiance - Sangu is adults-only so the vibe is definitely more sophisticated compared to lively Koamas restaurant, which is located near the resort’s main area and also next to the children’s playground. Throughout the buffet restaurants, there is a nightly dinner theme that completely cycles through bi-weekly, as most guests don’t stay for more than two weeks. At Sangu, there was an outdoor grill - I didn’t notice one at the other restaurants though I’m sure they had grilled foods there, too, if not a grilling station. During my stay, I eagerly looked forward to see what was cooked there to fit the theme. The best theme night was “Out of the Blue,” which was seafood, and the chef at the outdoor grill did an amazing job. I ate a ridiculous amount of lobster that night, not to mention some amberjack and the best grilled calamari I’ve ever had. By then, I had already gotten to know to the chefs at Sangu (and they me) so it was almost comical how they kept adding lobster onto my plate because they knew I’d finish it all. This leads to the biggest differentiator for me on the buffet restaurants - service.

As I mentioned, the staff at Sangu really gets to know their guests, which explains the exceptional service we experienced. Guests are assigned a dedicated server for their whole stay. Our dedicated server happened to take vacation leave a few days before our departure, but he was serving us up to an hour prior to his vacation. Even after he left, someone else we were already used to interacting with took over for him. In general, be it the chefs or the wait staff, we felt we got to know everyone at Sangu. They also put up with some of our unique requests (high maintenance confession time)... For instance, during the Indian theme night, they put out proper masala chai. The chef adds sugar to your preferred sweetness level into a silver cup, adds a couple ladles of chai, swishes it all into another silver cup, and then back and forth a few times before serving in a mug for you. Until this trip, I haven’t really been much of a breakfast person - at home a large coffee or chai latte is enough to get me through to lunch. So the morning after Indian night, we asked if they happened to have any masala chai left or if they can make us a cup,but we were informed they don’t keep leftovers and only make masala chai every two weeks for Indian night. One of our chefs heard how much we liked the chai and made us each a cup, and not only for that morning but for every morning for the remainder of our stay. Another example was when my friend picked up a coconut that randomly fell near us and took it to one of the chefs and requested he open it for us. The chef obliged and then gave us an educational lesson on why there was so little water in the coconut (it was an old coconut) and how if we want one that holds more water we should be picking the green ones in the trees (but seriously, don’t climb Kuredu’s trees if you go visit).

So as I just stated above, I’ve never really been much of a breakfast person, but it’s hard to not go to Sangu for breakfast each morning when you get to dine on the beach. In addition, the grill turns into a American pancake/Belgium waffle/French toast bar - and the chef can also make variations such as crepes and Swedish pancake if so desired. What I liked though was seeing if there was a special egg dish. I was perfectly happy with the ubiquitous made-to-order omelets at pretty much every single buffet restaurant in the world, but some mornings there would be a featured egg dish, such as the Sri Lankan Egg Hopper (pictured above). Our chef friends explained to me that Madivian cuisine is heavily influenced by, if not a direct crossover from, India and Sri Lanka. Between the culinary lessons and the gorgeous views, it’s hard not to get excited about breakfast. I will say that O Restaurant and Bar have a great view, too, as they sit above the water so you see nothing but the ocean. I still give the edge to Sangu, however, as I much prefer the full beach view - sand, waves, and all.

Sangu Restaurant is also where the wine cellar is located. So a couple things to note - the Maldives is an Islamic country, so alcohol is illegal. On resorts (Kuredu as well as others), however, alcohol is permitted on the premises. To be a sommelier, you must be able to drink or taste the wines you are purchasing and recommending. As such, the sommelier at Kuredu has been brought in from India and been working there for two years. He is responsible for picking the over one thousand different bottles for the wine cellar, which accommodates all the restaurants, including the a la carte ones. Friday evenings, the sommelier hosts a small group for wine tastings on the Sangu beach. This is not covered in the all-inclusive plan, but it’s a nominal fee of $25 per person for five or six wines. The set up is quite beautiful and the sommelier picks wines based on the group’s preferences. I think for my group, most of us preferred red, so he selected two whites and three reds for us to try. At the end of our tasting, someone piped in a desire for prosecco, which became our sixth. I didn’t care for the whites but one of the cheapest wines we tried, the Pata Negra tempranillo, was one the one I liked most, followed by the Mercurey Premier Cru, which most others seemed to prefer instead. That is what I really enjoy most about wine tasting - meeting others and discussing what we taste and our preferences, as every palette is different.

I have probably already lost all the casual readers by now, but in case anyone is still with me, let me just say I can still ramble on about the food at Kuredu but will wrap up by adding that their desserts were on point. First of all, there are healthy options like a proper fruit cart (next to the grilling station), where a chef would prepare any fruit you select for you. I must say I had the most amazing papayas, dragonfruits, and mangoes there. Most nights at the fruit cart, there was also homemade ice cream. For something more elaborate and indulgent, there is a full on dessert table indoors, usually tied to the nightly theme, and all done quite well. For instance, we had a Sunday Roast, and the chefs baked proper Victorian sponge cakes and Bakewell tarts, among many other options, that would make Paul Hollywood, Mary Berry, and Prue Leith all happy.

As a side note, I did mention four meals per day at the start of this post, and up to now I have really focused only on breakfast and dinner (and the wine tasting), so you might be wondering about the other two meals. Lunch was a lighter version of dinner - just without the fun theme. It was heavier than breakfast and we were usually so full still that we often ended up skipping lunch. Occasionally we would get peckish before dinnertime, so to tie ourselves over we would go to one of the bars. Every afternoon every bar on the island provided sandwiches, cookies or pastries, and tea. There really is no opportunity to go hungry or thirsty at Kuredu. While the location is a paradise, being pampered and indulged by the staff at Kuredu solidifies this. I honestly don’t know how I’ve been able to function these past few days without that team taking care of me like they did all last week. Here’s hoping I can go back again there soon.

Kuredu Resort & Spa, Maldives Lhaviyani Atoll, Republic of Maldives Phone: +960 662-0337

#Maldives #kuredu

0 notes

yezitea · 7 years

Text

Tea Pairing

INTRODUCTION - Looking back and stepping forward, together

During the early centuries of Chinese tea history, tea was primarily connected to food in two ways - first in its use as nourishment, and then as an aid to digestion of food. If we take a look at our pu-erh blog, you may recall that pu-erh became a tribute tea because royalty were descendants of the Manchu - whose diets were largely meat-based, and required tea to aid in digestion. Also, tea back then was not steeped but instead ground into powder (much like the process for today’s matcha) and consumed directly. Both uses for tea are still very prevalent in China today, as pu-erh and other fermented teas are still used to aid in digestion after heavy meals - and tea, in general, continues to be consumed as nourishment for the body and mind.

Of course, it is not only China that sees tea as nourishment. Over the past one or two decades, the Western world's interest in high-quality tea has increased exponentially. Tea sales and imports have been booming over the past 10 years, and in the United States alone, the past five years have seen sales of tea increase by 15%. It is projected that tea sales in the US will continue to rise, and may see a percentage increase of another 7% by 2020. Interestingly, it is speculated that increased knowledge of pu-erh and its properties among US consumers will be a large part of the reason for this increase to take place. With all of this said, another reason for this increase is simply the new relatability of teas to younger consumers. A small recent study of about 1,000 American subjects asked which beverage was preferred more out of either tea or coffee. Those in the 18-24 age group expressed the most interest in tea over any other age group. With health on the mind of more and more people, and the ever-increasing interest in new innovations, it is no wonder why younger people are starting to choose tea over coffee. New tea gadgets, new modern tea houses, new ways of incorporating tea into a healthy lifestyle, and new ways to socialize around tea have all played a part in this cultural expansion. One of the trendiest topics when it comes to tea in the US, is the concept of tea sommeliers and tea pairing. Though not an entirely new innovation in itself, its popularity has grown immensely over the past few years exactly because of the growing interest in tea as part of a healthy lifestyle. To many, tea pairing is seen as something new and innovative, especially when it comes to fine dining and trendy, niche dining experiences.

In this blog, we will set off into uncharted territory for us here at Yezi Tea and dive deep into the world of tea and food pairing. In particular, we will be focusing on Western tea pairing, as it is a topic of much discussion these days. We will take a look at a bit of tea pairing history, give some recommendations, and provide examples of pairings for those looking to get into this new Western sensory experience.

So, put on your open minded and grain of salt helmets, folks, and let's begin!

HISTORY - Inse-pair-able from birth

China

Cuisine is connected to identity, culture, and frequently even religion. This connection can be so strong that a specific cuisine can oftentimes symbolize an entire culture, such as rice becoming a symbol for Japan. It was the Chinese literati that aided in tea becoming somewhat of a cultural symbol and metaphor for China.As stated before, tea was frequently used to aid in digestion in China's earlier dynasties when rulers hailed from cultures that consumed heavy and fatty meals. This usefulness of tea in relation to food is one of the reasons why tea became a tribute item to royal families and one of the reasons why the prevalence of high-quality tea has continued for centuries. With that said, tea's use in relation to food changed over time. If tea is to be savored, it is typically savored alone, and only followed later by a serving of food or snacks. There are some traditions, though, that present snacks alongside tea for guests to partake in if they wish while enjoying tea. Such snacks include melon seeds, peanuts, fresh fruit, dried fruit, candy, and other assorted treats. Another example of how China pairs teas is evident when you look at dim sum in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. At many dim sum restaurants, pu-erh is served alongside the meal to help aid in the digestion of the food, similar to the days of old. There are few things more satisfying than having a big cup of shou after a large meal of dim sum, or even between dishes, to aid in the enjoyment of the meal. It bears repeating, however, that these are the exception to how tea is typically enjoyed.

Europe

When one thinks of Europe and its relationship with tea, one of the first things that come to mind is the image of the British Afternoon Tea. Originating in the 1800s, afternoon tea is a social affair, not to be confused with an actual meal, and used as a means to stave off hunger between lunch and dinner. The affair is centered around drinking different types of tea while consuming different types of small servings of food. The finger sandwiches and other snacks that are served alongside the tea presented are always brought out with the tea in mind. As such, none of the dishes are heavily scented or strong tasting. Typical foods served during Afternoon Tea include crumpets, buttermilk scones, fruit loaf, slight sweet cakes, and miniature sandwiches with fillings such as eggs, tomatoes, anchovy butter, seafood mayonnaises, ham, avocado, and cucumber. Afternoon Tea in and of itself is a form of tea pairing, though one that has kept much of its tradition and remained a mainstay in British culture.

This tradition of Afternoon Tea has crossed the pond and has become a luxury or fanciful activity for Americans. In the U.S., Afternoon Tea is often confused with High Tea or Meat Tea, a meal that is served at the end of the day typically consisting of leftovers of heavy meats, cheeses, and desserts. The concept, steeped in exclusivity, is seen as cultured as such you will find that most establishments that serve Afternoon Tea are high-end hotels and esoteric restaurants. With this distinction, it is fair to say that Afternoon Tea in the U.S. is trendy. It would also be fair to say that the popularity of Afternoon Tea among trendsetters has played a part in the rise in interest of tea pairing and tea sommeliers, in particular.

This is why we feel using the example of Afternoon Tea is a good bridge to the discussion of tea sommeliers and tea pairing in the Western world at large.

Tea Sommeliers

Traditionally, a sommelier was a person trained to know wines and cuisine well enough to recommend wines for specific dishes at restaurants. The goal in mind was to bring out the best of the wine and the best of the dish at the same time. In many respects, sommeliers are deemed as having the same importance as the chef de cuisine, and their importance in the world of fine dining - and then simply dining itself - is evident when it comes to the Western world. Wine and food pairing has been a popular Western tradition for more than a century. With all of this said, one can guess what a Tea Sommelier is! It is said that the first Tea Sommelier was named in the 1970s, but the concept was not enthusiastically popular until the late 90s when a restaurant in New York City hired a tea sommelier to enhance their offerings. At this time, tea was becoming known for its purported health benefits. The restaurant owners proposed that since their restaurant focused on local, organic, and sustainable foods, their guest might not want to pair wine with their meals. As such, tea seemed like a perfect alternative. What was once quite a fringe topic and profession is now one that boasts not only many institutes where one can train to become a tea sommelier but also multiple restaurants that employ tea sommeliers as a part of their regular staff. Tea sommeliers and the very concept of professional tea pairing has not only become a popular trend, it has become a hot topic in culinary news, reviews, and reporting.

It is no wonder why the interest in tea pairing as skyrocketed lately! With this small history lesson out of the way, let's delve into some of the key topics that are discussed when considering pairing tea with food.

PAIRING - Tips for playing matchmaker

When it comes to tea pairing, there are no hard and fast rules. With that said, there are some things to keep in mind when venturing into the world of this unique sensory experience.While this may be an obvious statement, it is important to state that taste is subjective. Everyone experiences taste in a different way. What pairing may be beneficial to one person may ruin either the tea or the dish for another person.

Subjectivity in taste

While this may be an obvious statement, it is important to state that taste is subjective. Everyone experiences taste in a different way. What pairing may be beneficial to one person may ruin either the tea or the dish for another person.

Know the Tea

It's important to know what the tea you are going to pair not only tastes like but also what it feels like and what chemical properties it has that could change the culinary experience. It's wise to drink the tea you are considering using as a pairing several times by itself, in order to truly know the tea. What notes does it have? How heavy does it feel? What kind of texture does it have in your mouth and in your throat? Does it coat the tongue? Is it astringent? These are all questions that you should be able to answer when getting to know a tea. Once this has been accomplished, then pairing becomes easier.

Know the Food

Just as it is important to know what the tea you are pairing is about, it is equally important to know what the dish you are pairing tastes like and feels like. Aside from the question of astringency, all the questions asked above for tea should also be asked of the dish.

Weight

As mentioned above, the weight of the meal is important to take into consideration when pairing it with a tea. Heavy, fatty dishes should be paired with teas that contain tannins and can stand up to the tongue being coated in fat. The catechin and thearubigin content within the tea cuts through the fat that remains on the tongue and allows for each bite of the dish to be enjoyed more thoroughly. In the case of delicate dishes, it is important to use teas that themselves are on the delicate side as well. Red/black teas saturated with tannins are not recommended for light dishes, just like heavy and fatty meals are not recommended for pairing with teas that have delicate notes.

Dishes with tea in them

If the cuisine you are enjoying includes tea within the recipe, it is suggested that you pair that dish with a cup of the same type of tea that was used in the dish.

Origin pairing

Many argue that pairing teas with foods that come from the same region as the tea is ideal. For example, it is common for many sushi bars to serve sencha alongside the meal. Dim Sum is typically paired with a Chinese tea like Shou. This type of pairing is quite limited though, as there are many more countries that have unique cuisines than there are countries that produce tea.

Complimentary or contrasting pairing

Complimentary pairing is when a tea is chosen to that has similar flavors/notes to the dish, while contrasting pairing is when a tea is chosen that has notes that are dissimilar to the dish, and bring out the notes of each in a more striking way. Contrasting pairings are much more difficult to achieve, as you have to find a dish that contains notes specific enough to be dissimilar to the tea, while at the same time bringing out the notes of both the tea and the dish. With complementary pairing, the notes that the dish and the tea have in common either meld together in harmony or enhance one another to make the experience one that focuses on those specific notes.

Hot tea enhances the perception of taste

Heat, in general, enhances the perception of taste. Thus, the hotter the tea is that you are pairing with your food, the flavor of the dish will change. For many this may be a good thing, however, it is important to keep this in mind when you are getting to know the dish that you want to pair. What does the dish taste like when lukewarm? What does the dish taste like when piping, yet safely, hot?

With all of this in mind, let’s get to the true nuts and bolts of this blog, teas and their commonly recommended pairings.

THE GUIDE - More than just two teas in a pair tree

HOW YEZI TEA PAIRS - Separate and savor

We here at Yezi tea like to eat before or after having tea, with a preference towards fresh fruit as the chosen food. With that said, other snacks we typically have include: crackers, fresh fruit filled glutinous rice dumplings, rice cakes, chocolate, and nuts.

We like to adhere to what our farmers would recommend when it comes to tea and food. According to them, their teas are best savored alone, with eating taking place only after having a tea session. Our tea farmers have spent years, and in some cases, generations perfecting the teas that they create, and believe in the sensory experience of the tea by itself. A mouth clear of other flavors and a nose clear of other scents creates a clean palette on which the tea can paint its clearest picture.

CONCLUSION - Be Pre-pair-ed

Tea and food pairing has been a mainstay within the tea world for centuries. With that said, this new Western interest in tea and food pairing is much different than the tea pairing of the old Chinese royal families. With the invention of tea sommeliers, more epicureans are getting into higher quality tea as a way to enhance their culinary experience. And on the other hand, many tea connoisseurs are venturing into a whole new world of sensory experiences by investing in the time to learn how to pair tea and food. We hope that you found this quick guide on tea pairing helpful. As we mentioned before, there are no strict rules when it comes to tea pairing. What you like is what you like, and there is no need to limit yourself to solely the suggestions of professionals. With that said, if you do wish to experiment with tea pairing, we hope that you strive to bring out the nuances in both the tea and the food and not let the tea play second fiddle. (We may be a bit biased here as a tea company after all).

As a parting note, we would like to tell all of our readers that many high-quality teas are created by farmers who wish their teas to be experienced without the addition or distraction of foods. Savoring your tea by itself without the interference of flavors or aromas of foods is the best way to learn about a tea, and hopefully, learn to appreciate a tea for all it has to offer. We here at Yezi Tea will continue to savor our teas before partaking in light snacks, or after consuming heavy meals. And with that said, it almost goes without saying that tea and food will always be connected. How you connect them in your life, is up to you. However, we hope that this blog may help you decide!

#tea #food pairing #tea and food pairing #loose leaf tea #tea history

2 notes · View notes

topfygad · 4 years

Text

Montage Laguna Beach Review and Detailed Guide 2020

Montage Laguna Seashore Lodging

At Montage Laguna Seashore, you possibly can select from three ranges of lodging. All embody the resort’s signature views, 280-degree panoramic seascapes, plus a pampered feeling of luxurious and magnificence. For those who’re desirous about a collection or villa, the Montage Laguna Seashore has many choices that may comfortably accommodate bigger households and events.

Each room, suite, and villa on the resort is meticulously designed to seize the relaxed really feel of coastal California dwelling. Lots of the resort’s lodging are designed with ADA facilities in thoughts for each visitor’s consolation and pleasure.

Guestrooms at Montage Laguna Seashore

Each guestroom at Montage Laguna Seashore is designed with a recent imaginative and prescient that captures the enjoyable really feel of California coastal dwelling.

Regardless of which guestroom lodging you select, you’ll get pleasure from 280-degree ocean views from a room that options wealthy brass and wooden accents alongside a palette of sentimental whites and deep blues. All of them have non-public patios or balconies. Rooms accommodate two to 4 visitors.

Count on marble bogs, feather-top beds with 400-thread rely linens, 100% goose down pillows, and personal outside area. Visitor rooms are all the identical measurement at 500 sq. ft but it surely’s the view sort that differentiates them. A settee mattress or rollaway mattress is offered in choose rooms on a request foundation.

Ocean Horizon

Ocean Horizon gives lovely views of the ocean assembly the horizon and a few backyard views. These king or double queen guestrooms present 500 sq. ft of luxurious dwelling and sleeping area, and a sublime marble rest room.

Ocean Coastal

Picture courtesy of Montage Laguna Seashore

Ocean Coastal rooms have spectacular shoreline views (the place you possibly can see tide swimming pools when the tides are low) that provide a way of peace and rest.

Ocean Surf

Picture courtesy of Montage Laguna Seashore

Ocean Surf lodging are the most-requested rooms in Montage’s visitor room class. They’re closest to the seashore with the perfect views that may embody waves breaking on the sand.

Montage Laguna Seashore Suites

Lots of the suites at Montage Laguna Seashore are nice for households, teams, and entertaining which is why the resort presents quite a lot of suite choices to select from.

They’ll embody massive eating areas, full-service kitchens, and wonderful outside areas with unbelievable views of the ocean. Every suite gives you with not less than one marble rest room with a big soaking tub for enjoyable and unwinding. Upgraded facilities embody luxurious candles and bathtub merchandise.

Ocean Horizon, Ocean Coastal and Ocean Surf Suites

These entry-level, one-bedroom suites boast 900 to 1,000 sq. ft and might sleep as much as 5 folks with the addition of a rollaway mattress or crib. They’ve a stunning lobby with half bathtub, plus a separate bed room with walk-in closets and an outsized luxurious marble rest room. You’ll be able to get pleasure from breathtaking views out of your massive non-public deck or patio.

Just like the similarly-named guestrooms above, what differentiates these suites is the view sort. Ocean Horizon Suites provide view of the ocean assembly the horizon, Ocean Coastal Suites showcase the shoreline, and Ocean Surf Suites provide probably the most dramatic and most popular views of waves assembly the sand.

Bungalow Suite

This suite is roughly 1,000 sq. ft of magnificence that contains a gasoline hearth and marble bogs. The Bungalow Suite is perfect for large households or reunion occasions, as a result of as much as 4 of those suites will be mixed to kind a bigger linked area. A single Bungalow Suite can accommodate 5 visitors with an optionally available queen measurement sleeper couch.

Aliso Suite

Picture courtesy of Montage Laguna Seashore

For those who’re trying to get away from all of it, the Aliso suite gives unequalled privateness. This one-of-a-kind premier suite is tucked away on the property, so that you just get probably the most enjoyable expertise potential. At 1,200 sq. ft, the suite boasts gorgeous open ocean views and opulent marble bogs with outsized soaking tubs.

Sundown Suite

Sundown Suite lives as much as its identify with the perfect sundown views on the property. This premier suite has 1,400 sq. ft of luxurious that features a central dwelling area, parlor, eating room, grasp rest room, and personal outside area. It has the choice of connecting as much as three bedrooms.

Founder’s Suite

The Founder’s Suite options two prized facilities – area and privateness. You’ll expertise 2,285 ft of luxurious area with the perfect unobstructed Pacific Ocean views the resort has to supply. A big non-public patio, non-public garden, and spacious eating space present gathering locations for giant teams, or loads of non-public area for visitors who get pleasure from solitude.

Catalina Suite

Picture courtesy of Montage Laguna Seashore

The Catalina Suite is a 2,800-square-foot beachside palace with Pacific Ocean views. This premier two-bedroom suite gives a two-sided hearth, eating for eight, butler’s kitchen, and two bedrooms with dressing areas. His and her bogs characteristic deep soaking tubs and separate showers. There are 3.5 baths complete. The expansive 700-square-foot balcony is accessed by floor-to-ceiling glass parlor doorways.

Villas at Montage Laguna Seashore

The villas at Montage Laguna Seashore take luxurious and luxury to a brand new stage. You’ll be able to expertise the comforts of dwelling whereas indulging in spectacular views and upscale facilities. All villas characteristic spacious indoor and outside dwelling areas, so that you by no means need to be out of sight of the Pacific. There are 4 villas with three bedrooms and 3000 sq. ft of area full of designer home equipment non-public patios and loads of area to entertain.

Residences at Montage Laguna Seashore

Among the visitors love the facilities and ambiance at Montage Laguna Seashore a lot that they by no means depart! Residences present a singular alternative to completely embrace the life-style of coastal California dwelling. You and your loved ones can get pleasure from all of the facilities of the resort from the consolation of one in all our beautiful residences. All beachside villas embody traditional stone and wooden structure and huge outside dwelling areas. The Montage ocean estates are well-situated customized properties with non-public entrances, seashore entry, and one-of-a-kind ocean views.

The place You’ll Dine

Montage Laguna Seashore resort presents visitors a number of distinctive eating experiences that characteristic gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean paired with native delicacies and carefully-selected wines. You’re assured nice meals regardless of when you’re eating at Studio, The Loft, The Mosaic Bar and Grille, or taking in a light-weight breakfast at The Foyer Lounge.

For those who’re searching for eating choices for personal events, yow will discover them at each Studio and The Loft. For many who desire their meals within the consolation of their very own room, the resort presents a 24-hour in-room eating service with menus for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night snacks.

Studio

Get pleasure from beautiful panoramic oceanfront views whereas eating on fashionable California coastal delicacies that’s expertly paired with wine from a group of two,500 picks at Montage’s Studio. The culinary group at Studio repeatedly crafts menus that depend on regional vegatables and fruits.

Studio��s group of skilled sommeliers is all the time available to give you pairing solutions and create specialised menus from their assortment of boutique and esoteric wines.

Dinner at Studio comes with refreshing ocean breezes and sweeping coastal views. For those who’re searching for an intimate eating expertise, ask concerning the Chef’s Desk that options spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.

The Loft

The Loft is a favourite of each resort visitors and locals. You’ll get pleasure from comfy eating and inventive American delicacies any time of the day. This fashionable restaurant presents charming panoramic views and an informal eating expertise.

The Loft is host to occasions just like the Daou Vineyards Wine Dinner, which options wines by the Dauo brothers paired with a customized five-course dinner, and a weekly weekend brunch that mixes conventional brunch favorites with California fare. Additionally they have an interactive cheese bar with a cheese concierge!

Mosaic Bar and Grille

Pattern native fare whereas enjoyable poolside at Mosaic Bar and Grille. The restaurant is positioned close to the pool, and its menu options salads, grilled sandwiches, and contemporary seafood dishes impressed by California avenue fare. The Mosaic Bar and Grille presents day by day pool and cabana service, so that you don’t need to interrupt your time within the California sunshine.

The Foyer Lounge

Picture courtesy of Montage Laguna Seashore

The Foyer Lounge, the centerpiece of the resort, gives mild fare, cocktails, and stay leisure. You’ll be able to anticipate world-class leisure day by day from singers and pianists who’ve traveled and carried out with well-known bands and musicians.

The Foyer Lounge presents mild breakfast objects, espresso, and tea. It additionally has a menu of craft cocktails and wines by the glass. On weekend afternoons, take pleasure in The Foyer Lounge’s elegant Afternoon Tea service. Starting at 2 p.m., yow will discover quite a lot of savory tea sandwiches, and a collection of candy treats.

Resort Facilities from Spa to Swimming pools

Montage Laguna Seashore facilities included in your resort payment are entry to the pool, health heart, health/yoga lessons, and enterprise heart. Additionally included – space shuttle service,

The next are necessary facilities you received’t need to miss.

Mosaic Pool

For those who love the solar, however not the sand, the Montage Laguna Seashore Mosaic Pool is the resort amenity for you. Get pleasure from delicacies and drinks poolside from The Mosaic Bar.

There may be additionally a sizzling tub, youngsters’s pool, and youngsters’s play space. Cabanas with devoted hosts and complimentary Evian and Pellegrino can be found for lease.

Spa Montage Laguna Seashore

You’ll be able to, and I’ve, spend all the day having fun with the spa services. Do plan sufficient time to get pleasure from them round your spa remedy.

Spa Montage Laguna Seashore presents luxurious facial therapies, physique remedies, and massages in both indoor or outside remedy rooms. There are separate males’s and ladies’s lounging services that embody marble steam rooms, saunas, and rest rooms.

Kim Vo, Hollywood A-Lister stylist and colorist, presents salon providers together with cuts and colours. Kim Vo Salon additionally gives make-up and different specialty providers.

Spa Montage health heart, additionally positioned inside the 20,000-square-foot spa, is supplied with innovative health and media tools, so that you get probably the most out of your exercise expertise. There’s a thoughts/physique motion studio with private trainers and lessons, and an outside lap pool.

Concierge Organized Actions

Montage Laguna Seashore concierge group along with the resort’s recreation clothing store, Compass Sports activities, can manage all kinds of close by outside and different actions for visitors of all ages and pursuits that may embody:

golf

whale watching

bike excursions

snorkeling

SUP

tennis

browsing

crusing

jet skis

Numerous Actions for Children

My daughter has been to Paintbox youngsters’ golf equipment and has liked them a lot that I had hassle getting her to depart. This youngsters’ programming is an enormous motive why households select this Orange County resort over others.

The Montage Deserves program turns younger visitors into Pacific Explorers. Children acquire 12 completely different Montage Advantage Badges for accomplishments starting from driving the native trolley to constructing a sandcastle. Upon finishing all 12 actions, they earn the standing of Pacific Explorer, commemorated with an outsized Pirate Pin.

Picture courtesy of Montage Laguna Seashore

Company 5 to 12 years outdated will love Paintbox, the resort’s activity-based program for kids. Younger visitors get pleasure from deliberate adventures on the pool, tide pool, seashore, and occasions garden. Children obtain drawstring memento luggage from their adventures.

Paintbox Petite is for ages 2-5 on an hourly foundation.

The Laguna Seashore Neighborhood

Picture courtesy of Montage Laguna Seashore

Montage Laguna Seashore is surrounded by neighborhoods which might be host to artwork, tradition, and upscale eating choices. Even Catalina Island is only a ferry journey away from close by Dana Level the place you possibly can expertise every part that the island has to supply from mountain climbing alongside the coast to exploring the ocean throughout a scuba diving lesson.

Different neighborhood points of interest embody biking, mountain climbing, kayaking, jet snowboarding, standup paddleboarding, crusing, and sportfishing. There are additionally quite a few golf programs and tennis courts close by.

Artwork, tradition, and historical past are distinguished options of the Laguna Seashore group. Laguna Seashore hosts many artwork festivals all year long, together with the Sawdust Competition, Artwork-A-Honest Competition, and the Pageant of the Masters Competition in July and August. As a result of Laguna Seashore is a thriving artists’ colony, the realm comprises greater than 90 distinctive artwork galleries. Laguna Seashore can also be dwelling to the Laguna Artwork Museum, which is the oldest cultural set up in Orange County.

Luxurious vacationers who need to go to Disneyland Resort and Knott’s Berry Farm additionally have a tendency to remain in coastal luxurious lodges like Montage Laguna Seashore. Positioned in between San Diego and Los Angeles, many households additionally day journey to theme parks additional afield like LEGOLAND California or Common Studios Hollywood.

Regardless of your style, yow will discover one thing that you just’ll love in one of many many museums, theaters, or cultural facilities that may be discovered within the space all whereas having fun with a keep in true luxurious.

About La Jolla Mother

Katie Dillon is the managing editor of La Jolla Mother. She helps readers plan San Diego holidays by way of her resort experience (that stems from dwelling in a 4 Seasons resort) and native connections. Readers have entry to unique reductions on theme park tickets (like Disneyland and San Diego Zoo) and perks at luxurious lodges worldwide by way of her. She additionally shares insider ideas for visiting main cities worldwide like Hong Kong, London, Paris, and Shanghai that her household has both lived in or visits usually (or each). View all posts by La Jolla Mother

var internal_js_delay_load=1000; var js_delay_load=10000; var internal_css_delay_load=1500; var google_fonts_delay_load=1000; var lazy_load_js=["async":"","src":"//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=634c3658-02bf-42e7-82d2-a487d322d856","type":"text/javascript","src":"//maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?v=quarterly&language=en&key=AIzaSyB4qJ4I7EoNW7q7HGprlfMr3f-uqTfMBaM&libraries=geometry%2Cplaces%2Cvisualization&ver=5.3.2","data-usercentrics":"Google Maps"]; var internal_js=["src":"https://lajollamom.com/wp-content/cache/wnw-cache/all-js/94812564e60bb4c26df3ce22048b219a.js"]; var lazy_load_css=["https://use.typekit.net/mny2dns.css?ver=20180911","https://use.typekit.net/mny2dns.css?ver=20180911","https://lajollamom.com/wp-content/cache/wnw-cache/all-css/385c63429df5036aedae53dc693f2fc0.css"]; var optimize_images_json=[]; var googlefont=null; var lazyload_inner_js="googletagmanager":"(function(w,d,s,l,i)w[l]=w[l])(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-5HGB284');;n","connect.facebook.net":"","static.hotjar.com":"","js.driftt.com":""; var lazyload_inner_ads_js=null; var wnw_first_js=false; var wnw_int_first_js=false; var wnw_first_inner_js=false; var wnw_first_css=false; var wnw_first_google_css=false; var wnw_first=false; var wnw_optimize_image=false; var mousemoveloadimg=false; var page_is_scrolled=false; setTimeout(function()load_googlefont();,google_fonts_delay_load); window.addEventListener("load", function(event) setTimeout(function()load_extJS();,js_delay_load); setTimeout(function()load_intJS_main();,internal_js_delay_load); setTimeout(function()load_extCss();,internal_css_delay_load); lazyloadimages(0); ); window.addEventListener("scroll", function(event) load_all_js(); load_extCss(); ); window.addEventListener("mousemove", function() load_all_js(); load_extCss(); ); window.addEventListener("touchstart", function() load_all_js(); load_extCss(); ); function load_googlefont() if(wnw_first_google_css==false&&typeof googlefont!=undefined&&googlefont!=null&&googlefont.length > 0) googlefont.forEach(function(src) var load_css=document.createElement("link"); load_css.rel="stylesheet"; load_css.href=src; load_css.type="text/css"; var godefer2=document.getElementsByTagName("link")[0]; if(godefer2==undefined) document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(load_css); else godefer2.parentNode.insertBefore(load_css, godefer2); ); wnw_first_google_css=true;

function load_all_js() if(wnw_first_js==false&&lazy_load_js.length > 0) load_intJS_main(); load_extJS(0);

if(mousemoveloadimg==false) var top=this.scrollY; lazyloadimages(top); mousemoveloadimg=true;

function load_innerJS() if(wnw_first_inner_js==false) for(var key in lazyload_inner_js) if(lazyload_inner_js[key]!="") var s=document.createElement("script"); s.innerHTML=lazyload_inner_js[key]; document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0].appendChild(s);

wnw_first_inner_js=true;

var inner_js_counter=-1; var s=; function load_extJS() if(wnw_first_js) return;

console.log(inner_js_counter,lazy_load_js.length,"js loop"); if(inner_js_counter+1 0) page_is_scrolled=true; var s; internal_js.forEach(function(script) s=document.createElement("script"); s["type"]="text/javascript"; for(var key in script) console.log(key); s.setAttribute(key, script[key]);

console.log(s); document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(s); ); s.onload=function() internal_js_loaded=true; ; wnw_int_first_js=true; */ var exclude_lazyload=null; var win_width=screen.availWidth; function load_extCss() if(wnw_first_css==false&&lazy_load_css.length > 0) lazy_load_css.forEach(function(src) var load_css=document.createElement("link"); load_css.rel="stylesheet"; load_css.href=src; load_css.type="text/css"; var godefer2=document.getElementsByTagName("link")[0]; if(godefer2==undefined) document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(load_css); else godefer2.parentNode.insertBefore(load_css, godefer2); ); wnw_first_css=true;

window.addEventListener("scroll", function(event) var top=this.scrollY; lazyloadimages(top); lazyloadiframes(top); ); setInterval(function()lazyloadiframes(top);,8000); setInterval(function()lazyloadimages(0);,3000); function lazyload_img(imgs,bodyRect,window_height,win_width){ for (i=0; i 0) var src=source.getAttribute("data-src") ? source.getAttribute("data-src"):source.src ; var srcset=source.getAttribute("data-srcset") ? source.getAttribute("data-srcset"):""; imgs[i].src=src; if(source.srcset!=null & source.srcset!="") source.srcset=srcset;

delete source.dataset.class; source.setAttribute("data-done","Loaded");

} function lazyloadimages(top) var imgs=document.getElementsByTagName("img"); var ads=document.getElementsByClassName("lazyload-ads"); var sources=document.getElementsByTagName("video"); var bodyRect=document.body.getBoundingClientRect(); var window_height=window.innerHeight; var win_width=screen.availWidth; lazyload_img(imgs,bodyRect,window_height,win_width); lazyload_video(sources,top,window_height,win_width);

lazyloadimages(0); function lazyloadiframes(top) var bodyRect=document.body.getBoundingClientRect(); var window_height=window.innerHeight; var win_width=screen.availWidth; var iframes=document.getElementsByTagName("iframe"); lazyload_img(iframes,bodyRect,window_height,win_width);

from Cheapr Travels https://ift.tt/2TpfKyg via https://ift.tt/2NIqXKN

0 notes

brentrogers · 4 years

Text

5 Powerful Ways to Stop Worrying About What Others Think

“Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.” ~ Lao Tzu

We carefully pick out what we wear to the gym to make sure we look good in the eyes of the other gym goers.

We beat ourselves up after meetings running through everything we said (or didn’t say), worried that coworkers will think we aren’t smart or talented enough.

We post only the best picture out of the twenty-seven selfies we took and add a flattering filter to get the most likes to prove to ourselves that we are pretty and likable.

We live in other people’s heads.

And all it does is make us judge ourselves more harshly. It makes us uncomfortable in our own bodies. It makes us feel apologetic for being ourselves. It makes us live according to our perception of other people’s standards.

It makes us feel inauthentic. Anxious. Judgmental. Not good enough. Not likable enough. Not smart enough. Not pretty enough.

F that sh*t.

The truth is, other people’s opinions of us are none of our business. Their opinions have nothing to do with us and everything to do with them, their past, their judgments, their expectations, their likes, and their dislikes.

I could stand in front of twenty strangers and speak on any topic. Some of them will hate what I’m wearing, some will love it. Some will think I’m a fool, and others will love what I have to say. Some will forget me as soon as they leave, others will remember me for years.

Some will hate me because I remind them of their annoying sister-in-law. Others will feel compassionate toward me because I remind them of their daughter. Some will completely understand what I have to say, and others will misinterpret my words.

Each of them will get the exact same me. I will do my best and be the best I can be in that moment. But their opinions of me will vary. And that has nothing to do with me and everything to do with them.

No matter what I do some people will never like me. No matter what I do some people will always like me. Either way, it has nothing to do with me. And it’s none of my business.

Ok, “that’s all well and good” you may be thinking. “But how do I stop caring what other people think of me?”

1. Know your values.

Knowing your top core values is like having a brighter flashlight to get you through the woods. A duller light may still get you where you need to go, but you’ll stumble more or be led astray.

With a brighter light the decisions you make—left or right, up or down, yes or no—become clearer and easier to make.

For years I had no idea what I truly valued, and I felt lost in life as a result. I never felt confident in my decisions, and I questioned everything I said and did.

Doing core values work on myself has made a huge impact on my life. I came to realize that “compassion” is my top core value. Now when I find myself questioning my career decisions because I’m worried about disappointing my parents (a huge trigger for me), I remind myself that “compassion” also means “self-compassion,” and I’m able to cut myself some slack.

If you value courage and perseverance and you show up at the gym even though you are nervous and have “lame” gym clothes, you don’t have to dwell on what the other gym goers think about you.

If you value inner peace and you need to say “no” to someone who is asking for your time, and your plate is already full to the max, you can do so without feeling like they will judge you for being a selfish person.

If you value authenticity and you share your opinion in a crowd, you can do so with confidence knowing that you are living your values and being yourself.

Know your core values, and which ones you value the most. Your flashlight will be brighter for it.

2. Know to stay in your own business.

Another way to stop caring about what other people think is to understand that there are three types of business in the world. This is a lesson I learned from Byron Katie, and I love it.

The first is God’s business. If the word “God” isn’t to your liking, you can use another word here that works for you, like the Universe or “nature.” I think I like “nature” better, so I’ll use that.

The weather is nature’s business. Who dies and who is born is nature’s business. The body and genes you were given are nature’s business. You have no place in nature’s business. You can’t control it.

The second type of business is other people’s business. What they do is their business. What your neighbor thinks of you is his business. What time your coworker comes into work is her business. If the driver in the other car doesn’t go when the light turns green, it’s their business.

The third type of business is your business.

If you get angry with the other driver because you now have to wait at another red light, that’s your business.

If you get irritated because your coworker is late again, that’s your business.

If you are worried about what your neighbor thinks of you that’s your business.

What they think is their business. What you think (and in turn, feel) is your business.

Whose business are you in when you’re worried about what you’re wearing? Whose business are you in when you dwell on how your joke was received at the party?

You only have one business to concern yourself with—yours. What you think and what you do are the only things you can control in life. That’s it.

3. Know that you have full ownership over your feelings.

When we base our feelings on other people’s opinions, we are allowing them to control our lives. We’re basically allowing them to be our puppet master, and when they pull the strings just right, we either feel good or bad.

If someone ignores you, you feel bad. You may think “she made me feel this way by ignoring me.” But the truth is, she has no control over how you feel.

She ignored you and you assigned meaning to that action. To you, that meant that you are not worth her time, or you are not likable enough, smart enough, or cool enough.

Then you felt sad or mad because of the meaning you applied. You had an emotional reaction to your own thought.

When we give ownership of our feelings over to others, we give up control over our emotions. The fact of the matter is, the only person that can hurt your feelings is you.

To change how other people’s actions make you feel, you only need to change a thought. This step sometimes takes a bit of work because our thoughts are usually automatic or even on the unconscious level, so it may take some digging to figure out what thought is causing your emotion.

But once you do, challenge it, question it, or accept it. Your emotions will follow.

4. Know that you are doing your best.

One of the annoying things my mom would say growing up (and she still says) is “You did the best you could with what you had at the time.”

I hated that saying.

I had high standards of myself and I always thought that I could have done better. So when I didn’t meet those expectations my inner bully would come out and beat the crap out of me.

How much of your life have you spent kicking yourself because you thought you said something dumb? Or because you showed up late? Or that you looked weird?

Every time, you did the best you could. Every. Single. Time.

That’s because everything we do has a positive intent. It may not be obvious, but it’s there.

Literally as I’m writing this post sitting in a tea shop in Portland, Maine, another patron went to the counter and asked what types of tea he could blend with his smoky Lapsang Souchong tea (a favorite of mine as well).

He hadn’t asked me, but I chimed in that maybe chaga mushroom would go well because of its earthy flavor. He seemed unimpressed with the unsolicited advice and turned back to the counter.

The old me would have taken that response to heart and felt terrible the rest of the afternoon thinking how this guy must think I’m a dope and annoying for jumping into the conversation uninvited.

But let’s take a look at what I had in that moment:

I had an urge to try to be helpful and a core value of kindness and compassion

I had an interest in the conversation

I had an impression that my feedback might be well received

I had a desire to connect with a new person on a shared interest

I did the best I could with what I had.

Because I know that, I have no regrets. I also know that his opinion of me is none of my business and I was living in tune with my values trying to be helpful!

Though, I could also see how from another perspective that forcing my way into a conversation and pushing my ideas on someone who did not ask may have been perceived as rude. And rudeness goes against my core value of compassion.

That leads me to the next lesson.

5. Know that everyone makes mistakes.

We live in a culture where we don’t often talk about how we feel. It turns out we all experience the same feelings, and we all make mistakes. Go figure!

Even if you are living in tune with your values, even if you are staying in your own business, even if you are doing your best, you will make mistakes. Without question.

So what? We all do. We all have. Having compassion for yourself comes easier when you understand that everyone has felt that way. Everyone has gone through it.

The only productive thing you can do with your mistakes is to learn from them. Once you figure out the lesson you can take from the experience, rumination is not at all necessary and it’s time to move on.

In the case of tea patron-interjection-debacle, I could have done a better job of reading his body language and noticed that he wanted to connect with the tea sommelier and not a random stranger.

Lesson learned. No self-bullying required.

At my last company I accidentally caused a company-wide upset. A friend and coworker of mine, who had been at the company for a few years, had been asking to get a better parking spot. One came available as someone left the company, but he still was passed over.

He’s such a nice guy, and as my department was full of sarcastics, I thought it would be funny to create a pun-filled petition for him to get the better spot.

I had no idea that it was going to be taken so poorly by some people. It went up the chain of command and looked like our department was full of unappreciative, needy whiners.

And our boss thought it looked like I used my position to coerce people into signing it. He brought the whole department together and painfully and uncomfortably called out the whole terrible situation and demanded it never happen again.

I. Was. MORTIFIED.

He hadn’t named me, but most people knew I created it. I was so embarrassed and ashamed.

But here’s what I did:

I reminded myself of my values. I value compassion and humor. I thought I was doing a kind but funny act for a friend.

When I found myself worrying what other people must now think of me, I told myself that if they thought poorly of me (of which I had no evidence) all I could do was to continue to be my best me.

When flashbacks of that awful meeting came back to mind, flushing my face full of heat and shame, I remembered to take ownership over how I felt and not let the memory of the event or what other people think dictate how I feel now.

I reminded myself that I did the best I could with what I had at the time. I had a desire to help a friend and an idea I thought was funny and assumed would go over well.

I realized that I made a mistake. The lesson I learned was to be more considerate of how others may receive my sense of humor. Not everyone finds me as funny as my husband does. I can make better decisions now because of it.

And after a short time the whole incident was forgotten.

Stop worrying about what other people think. It will change your life.

This post courtesy of Tiny Buddha.

5 Powerful Ways to Stop Worrying About What Others Think syndicated from

0 notes

positivepsychologyinterventions · 4 years

Text

5 Powerful Ways to Stop Worrying About What Others Think

“Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.” ~ Lao Tzu

We carefully pick out what we wear to the gym to make sure we look good in the eyes of the other gym goers.

We beat ourselves up after meetings running through everything we said (or didn’t say), worried that coworkers will think we aren’t smart or talented enough.

We post only the best picture out of the twenty-seven selfies we took and add a flattering filter to get the most likes to prove to ourselves that we are pretty and likable.

We live in other people’s heads.

It makes us feel inauthentic. Anxious. Judgmental. Not good enough. Not likable enough. Not smart enough. Not pretty enough.

F that sh*t.

No matter what I do some people will never like me. No matter what I do some people will always like me. Either way, it has nothing to do with me. And it’s none of my business.

Ok, “that’s all well and good” you may be thinking. “But how do I stop caring what other people think of me?”

1. Know your values.

Knowing your top core values is like having a brighter flashlight to get you through the woods. A duller light may still get you where you need to go, but you’ll stumble more or be led astray.

With a brighter light the decisions you make—left or right, up or down, yes or no—become clearer and easier to make.

For years I had no idea what I truly valued, and I felt lost in life as a result. I never felt confident in my decisions, and I questioned everything I said and did.

If you value courage and perseverance and you show up at the gym even though you are nervous and have “lame” gym clothes, you don’t have to dwell on what the other gym goers think about you.

If you value authenticity and you share your opinion in a crowd, you can do so with confidence knowing that you are living your values and being yourself.

Know your core values, and which ones you value the most. Your flashlight will be brighter for it.

2. Know to stay in your own business.

Another way to stop caring about what other people think is to understand that there are three types of business in the world. This is a lesson I learned from Byron Katie, and I love it.

The third type of business is your business.

If you get angry with the other driver because you now have to wait at another red light, that’s your business.

If you get irritated because your coworker is late again, that’s your business.

If you are worried about what your neighbor thinks of you that’s your business.

What they think is their business. What you think (and in turn, feel) is your business.

Whose business are you in when you’re worried about what you’re wearing? Whose business are you in when you dwell on how your joke was received at the party?

You only have one business to concern yourself with—yours. What you think and what you do are the only things you can control in life. That’s it.

3. Know that you have full ownership over your feelings.

If someone ignores you, you feel bad. You may think “she made me feel this way by ignoring me.” But the truth is, she has no control over how you feel.

She ignored you and you assigned meaning to that action. To you, that meant that you are not worth her time, or you are not likable enough, smart enough, or cool enough.

Then you felt sad or mad because of the meaning you applied. You had an emotional reaction to your own thought.

When we give ownership of our feelings over to others, we give up control over our emotions. The fact of the matter is, the only person that can hurt your feelings is you.

But once you do, challenge it, question it, or accept it. Your emotions will follow.

4. Know that you are doing your best.

One of the annoying things my mom would say growing up (and she still says) is “You did the best you could with what you had at the time.”

I hated that saying.

I had high standards of myself and I always thought that I could have done better. So when I didn’t meet those expectations my inner bully would come out and beat the crap out of me.

How much of your life have you spent kicking yourself because you thought you said something dumb? Or because you showed up late? Or that you looked weird?

Every time, you did the best you could. Every. Single. Time.

That’s because everything we do has a positive intent. It may not be obvious, but it’s there.

He hadn’t asked me, but I chimed in that maybe chaga mushroom would go well because of its earthy flavor. He seemed unimpressed with the unsolicited advice and turned back to the counter.

The old me would have taken that response to heart and felt terrible the rest of the afternoon thinking how this guy must think I’m a dope and annoying for jumping into the conversation uninvited.

But let’s take a look at what I had in that moment:

I had an urge to try to be helpful and a core value of kindness and compassion

I had an interest in the conversation

I had an impression that my feedback might be well received

I had a desire to connect with a new person on a shared interest

I did the best I could with what I had.

Because I know that, I have no regrets. I also know that his opinion of me is none of my business and I was living in tune with my values trying to be helpful!

That leads me to the next lesson.

5. Know that everyone makes mistakes.

We live in a culture where we don’t often talk about how we feel. It turns out we all experience the same feelings, and we all make mistakes. Go figure!

Even if you are living in tune with your values, even if you are staying in your own business, even if you are doing your best, you will make mistakes. Without question.

So what? We all do. We all have. Having compassion for yourself comes easier when you understand that everyone has felt that way. Everyone has gone through it.

In the case of tea patron-interjection-debacle, I could have done a better job of reading his body language and noticed that he wanted to connect with the tea sommelier and not a random stranger.

Lesson learned. No self-bullying required.

He’s such a nice guy, and as my department was full of sarcastics, I thought it would be funny to create a pun-filled petition for him to get the better spot.

I had no idea that it was going to be taken so poorly by some people. It went up the chain of command and looked like our department was full of unappreciative, needy whiners.

I. Was. MORTIFIED.

He hadn’t named me, but most people knew I created it. I was so embarrassed and ashamed.

But here’s what I did:

I reminded myself of my values. I value compassion and humor. I thought I was doing a kind but funny act for a friend.

When I found myself worrying what other people must now think of me, I told myself that if they thought poorly of me (of which I had no evidence) all I could do was to continue to be my best me.

I reminded myself that I did the best I could with what I had at the time. I had a desire to help a friend and an idea I thought was funny and assumed would go over well.

And after a short time the whole incident was forgotten.

Stop worrying about what other people think. It will change your life.

This post courtesy of Tiny Buddha.

from World of Psychology https://ift.tt/378FcxM via IFTTT

#IFTTT #World of Psychology

0 notes