#Tricks To Live Affordable Lifestyle

[betterlifeinoverall-rethabilep]

Expense Livelihood

Life Is Expensive,Safety Is Expensive,Cleanliness Is Expensive, Anything Without No Shortcut Is Expensive! Ignore The Expenses, Follow Easier Way Out Of Things, Chase Cheap In The Name Of AtleastThen, Receive No Guarantee In What You Do! Even, You Lived Cheap Livelihood Aren’t Guaranteed! Like|Comment |Save |Share |Follow Please Turn On POST Notifications

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#Expensive Lifestyle #Expensive Livelihood #How To Allow Success To Chase You #How To Avoid Cheap Lifestyle #How To Avoid Unnecessary Wealth Lifestyle #How To Budget #How To Live Affordable Lifestyle #Lack Wiped Out #Poor Wiped Out #Safety First #Tricks To Live Affordable Lifestyle #What Is Expense

[crookedkryptonitebeliever]

how does blanche pay his bills 😔😔

no fr tho where does this guy earn money ??

Tw: gore, violence

Despite having a mostly vegetarian diet, Blanche is scarily good at butchering animals, especially mammals. He knows where all the joints are, the right places to cut, and the correct technique to extract all the pieces whole. You thought that he obtained his skills from eating his chickens, but he would rather let them die from natural causes than slaughter them himself. It was rather strange to see him opening up a bag of store-bought raw chicken whenever you told him you were craving for some, while you knew he owns a coop full of those noisy fuckers a few minutes walk away.

He has no qualms about killing and butchering rabbits if you're craving for them. Blanche sees them as pests, munching on his precious lettuces and cabbages, it is scary how he has no hesitation while impaling those fuzzy little creatures with a kitchen knife. You wouldn't know this fact without having a suitable personality for it; as in, you will have to be cold and uncaring towards cute critters in general. If you have a big heart and a tendency to cry when living beings are hurt, you wouldn't know Blanche is a bunny killer.

Similarly, if your humanity is still intact, you wouldn't know that he is a serial killer and an organ harvester. The victims that he didn't beat into a bloody pulp are cut up into individual pieces and have their organs prepared and preserved in wet ice. Blanche's knowledge isn't only localized to creative endeavors or gardening, he also has a deep reservoir containing all things biology. Especially humans. He also has a good grasp of the value of organs in the black market, negotiating with his usually desperate or depraved customers to give him the highest payout possible.

How he sells them is interesting to learn; he would sell them through the internet. Blanche is well-versed with this shiny new modern toy enough to evade authorities for decades. Those who tried to trick him and lure Blanche into a trap were turned into piles of fresh organs for him to sell. And there is no shortage of those idiots who tried to best Blanche at his own game. Well, it isn't really a game, all he wanted was to make some extra cash for him to spend on you. He isn't in it for the power, notoriety, or anything.

Back then, he would have done his business through word of mouth, or even through phone calls. Getting a solid customer base was much harder but easier to hide from the law since Blanche had a lot more experience in pre-internet days. But he has enough luck and skill to become famous yet undetectable in cyberspace.

He understands his market very well. The majority of his sales come from patients who are willing to do anything it takes to get that transplant, but there is a handful who buy them for personal consumption. Blanche would sell organs that aren't as fresh or somewhat diseased to the former, as they're desperate enough to take almost anything. Cannibals would normally demand the best quality, Blanche isn't one to complain. They have the funds to afford them.

All this while you thought he earned his money through back-breaking hard work from his youth. You asked him what he did for a living back then, he described a life with no fun, only becoming a slave to his numerous employers, doing jobs that are as menial as paperwork, or as life-threatening as hacking a tree with a blunt axe until it falls. It made sense how he has this much money until now, it sounded like he doesn't even go home to sleep, eat or sleep. He does that at whatever workplace he was in at the time.

While there are some truths to that, he cannot deny that his organ harvesting business was what bought him the comfortable and romantic lifestyle he could only dream of achieving in his early years. He wasted away years being tormented by constant work, but that wasn't what allowed him to garden, knit and bake freely to his heart's content. Blanche's horrific crimes did.

#yandere #yandere x reader #yandere oc #yandere male #yandere concept #tw yandere #yandere oc x reader #yandere x you #male yandere oc x reader #oc blanche

[olderthannetfic]

There are plenty of us that are childfree but also not by choice. We live the lifestyle. They have our mental gymnastics to make it less of a constant pain. We have the things we use to cope and take comfort... but for a lot of us, it wasn't by choice.

Obviously, medical infertility is what everyone is familiar with. But there is another form of infertility: social infertility.

How many of us heard over and over again, "If you can't afford to have children, then don't have them"? Well, we can't have them.

So many, but not all, of us have convinced ourselves to hate children. We made ourselves repulsed by children, by pregnancy, but all of that... because it somehow makes the pain less sharp. A lot of us aren't that great in handling children because so few of our peers can have them. We didn't get the practice.

I was once telling a story for a fanfic scene idea of a young little child being handed a very previous personal object of his father to signal the father has died and won't be returning.

Someone in the echo chamber said, "Yeah, I don't care. I hate kids."

Then, when I said, "Hi. I am that child. I was that child. My father didn't come back," then they were fucking silent. It hurt so much, and I haven't entirely forgiven them for it.

It has become so permissive to hate children, to hate the choices others make with their bodies, that you are either so pro-child you are covered in them or you are a cruel caricature of a spinster.

The right to reproductive autonomy is supposed to be an inalienable one. The desire to reproduce is built into us in one form or another, though it is also understandable why some people don't want anything to do with that.

That inalienable right to reproductive autonomy is also supposed to go both ways. But in so many ways, our society lays traps. They are on the right, they are on the left, and the rest is... wilderness.

Although I was already a little familiar with some of the surface-level issues, a large writing project I am working that features a man becoming pregnant has given me good reason to really dive into the subject of transmaternity. It has become a passion of mine.

Transmasc individuals who become pregnant are boxed out on either side. They are consistently isolated by other transmasc for not being masc enough. They are men, thus, they don't belong in social or medical spaces. Many have lost partners and friends who were a part of the LGBTQ+ community, often trans because what they went through with their body made other people dysphoric... even though it isn't their body.

I read too many accounts of their own life-partners telling them maybe they aren't so trans after all. Maybe they are 'just NB.'

Once again, someone is making what he does with his body after themselves.

Some of these men went to great lengths to advocate for C-sections and were denied. Some had to trick the system into alloying it. Others searched high and low for doctors who understood that a channel birth could be dysphoric for them and allowed them to schedule them preemptively. Some of these went on to have a channel birth and found that it was affirming to them because the experience clarified it for them that they were still men. Some required incredible support from the people in their lives to recover from the resulting dysphoria, only to be told "I told you so" by cis and trans alike.

Finding affirming and supportive medical care is a challenge, often with obstacles, and sometimes they have to make do with a hostile OBGYN/Neo-Natal medical care complex because no matter what, they want to do this.

Transmaternity is complicated and personal because ultimately, it is about a person's body...

It makes me furious with grief every time someone makes the idea of a transman being pregnant about themselves.

"It makes me dysphoric." Great, it isn't about anyone's body, but the owner of said body. It is about no one else.

"It makes me uncomfortable to see them pregnant." Since it is their body, and only they are in it, the only person who comforted or discomforted by it is... that person.

In the same way that no trans parson's existence could cater to whether a cis person feels comfortable when they look at them, are around them, it needs to exist within that community, too.

Some of these men to be called Mom. Some choose to be called Dad.

Some have had top surgery, others delay until after the entrance of their child. Some never feel a need to it and get a measure of joy from not having to face one more obstacle.

Maternity is incredibly gendered, and members of the trans community that go through it are still feeling their way around.

But so many members of the trans community show their internalized transphobia just as loudly as the cis community the moment pregnancy comes to it.

While Roe vs Wade has frighteningly complicated matters... it is these experienced transmen who know a bit more about these medical systems that are trying to help their others. They know how to find OGBYN's who are supportive of transmasc reproductive health issues. They are often the elders. Sadly, too many of them feel driven out of the community because other people make what he does with his body about how it makes others feel.

But it hurts so much... it hurts SO much... to have wanted to be a parent since I was a kid, and there is no way I can be. To have gone through my own painful childhood, and people feel free to show a complete lack of empathy to children because they don't like children.

Man... they are little people. They are just little people. They need their own spaces. They should be cared for by people who want them. Those who don't want them shouldn't be forced or guilted into having them. But they are JUST LITTLE PEOPLE.

Sorry for going off. There's a lot of pain.

--

[hiccanna-tidbits]

@jackunzel-time

Jackunzel Month Week 2 - Coming of Age

***

"Okay, can I look now?"

"Not yet!"

The kitchen is once again filled with the sounds of Rapunzel banging around, plates and dishware clattering as she searches the fridge. Jack's got a sneaking suspicion this all has something to do with the huge, tinfoil-covered mound on the top shelf.

For an entire week, Rapunzel insisted they put every ounce of leftovers in the bottom half of the fridge, ignoring the Mysterious Object™️like a leaky faucet you handn't gotten around to fixing. Not that Rapunzel doesn't occasionally need her home fridge for work-related things, but she isn't normally cagey about it.

Jack once again resists the urge to peek out of the blindfold.

"Come ooooon, Zellie! This anticipation is going to kill me before our starving artist lifestyle does."

Rapunzel laughs. "Starving? I'll have you know, sir, that I've had no less than 5 whole french fries today!"

Considering it was 9 pm, this was not an ideal french fry quota. Rapunzel definitely had time to eat more fries today.

Jack wonders idly if Rapunzel's just getting too caught up in her work to take lunch breaks, or if her manager is crunching her deadlines again.

Before he can get too far into plotting how he would swap her boss's salt and sugar without getting Rapunzel in trouble, he hears the distinctive sound of a lighter.

"Are you torching our apartment?" he asks. "Because if so, I'm very offended I wasn't invited to participate."

Rapunzel scoffs. "Don't be silly! Like I'd set the place on fire without getting home insurance first. And it isn't as though either of us can afford that."

"You're still making me nervous. Usually I'm the one who plays the pranks."

"Hmmm, well...that would have been a good idea, actually." Rapunzel sounds a little regretful. "But no tricks today, I promise. Now open your eyes!"

And at last, Jack gets to see what all the fuss is about.

A stunning, snow-white cake sits in the middle of their dining room table, covered in sparkly silver candy orbs and carefully sculpted fondant snowflakes. All around the side are little hand-painted winter scenes, meticulously crafted by an icing brush in a process that must've taken hours. On top, a "2" and a "6" candle sit ablaze.

Rapunzel, of course, spends all day at work decorating cakes. It's her career. (Or, at least, it has been for the past 6 months--the longest she's gone without leaving a job to date.)

It still seems like she went the extra mile with this one.

"What--" For a long moment, all Jack can do is stare with his mouth hanging open.

"What the hell," he says finally. "How did I forget today was my birthday???"

Rapunzel's surprise quickly turns to laughter.

"Oh my god, how did you forget?"

Easy for her to say. Back when Rapunzel lived with her crazy mom, who practically kept her a prisoner in her own house, birthdays were easily the most interesting thing that happened all year. Birthdays with the Overlands were always much more...lowkey, so to speak.

"In my defense!" He holds up his hands. "Nothing interesting happens when you turn 26. Pretty much all the milestones are finished, so it's just another orbit around the sun."

"Nonsense!" Rapunzel sticks her lip out in disapproval. "That's no way to talk about your coming-of-age ceremony!"

"Coming-of-age?" He raises his eyebrows. "I think we missed the cutoff for that a while ago."

"Well, 26 is your age now." She crosses her arms, chin up defiantly. "And you have come to it. So therefore you have come of age."

He chuckles. "Is that how that works?"

"Why not? Teenagers and college kids shouldn't get to have all the fun!"

"My point still stands, though," he argues. "You don't really...unlock the same kind of stuff in your 20s that you do when you're younger. It's not like there are new magical adventures that you suddenly have access to when the clock strikes 12 on your 26th birthday."

"Says who?"

His girlfriend's conniving smirk sends a wave of excitement through him. What is she plotting?

"Did you find an elite 26-and-over club to join?"

"Not exactly." She leans over the table, smirk widening. "But someone did have a chat with your boss about how many great snowscape photo opportunities there are in the mountains, and how you're going to need to not come into the office for while to get all the best shots."

Jack's eyes widen as her meaning dawns on him. "And Mr. North was cool with that? Me taking a vacation right before the holidays?"

"I mean. He could hardly resist the offer of having his best photographer out getting festive snapshots for the December issue of the magazine. You'd do more good on the field than stuck behind an editing desk, right?"

"No kidding."

Jack sits down, getting ready to blow out the unexpected birthday candles. He pauses, something occurring to him.

"Wait, what about you? I'm not about to go off and leave you to handle the bakery's holiday rush on your own!"

Rapunzel hums thoughtfully.

"Well, funny thing. I told our head baker that I just hadn't been feeling very inspired lately. And if I went somewhere, say, fresh and exciting, then the muse was sure to strike again and I'd pump out a collection of the most beautiful winter cakes the bakery's ever known. Ones to really send that holiday profit flooding in."

"So...you snuck around and got us both a week off for my birthday by spinning it as a work trip? And on top of that, you just casually whipped out the most gorgeous birthday cake I've ever seen in my life?"

She nods, beaming.

"You're my goddamn hero."

He stands up and sweeps her into his arms, pulling her into a kiss worthy of being the Big Dramatic Finale to any coming-of-age film. All these years later, and it still feels like cameras should be spinning around them with rock music building into a triumphant crescendo.

Maybe that's cheesy, but to hell with it.

"Have I ever mentioned I'm in love with you?" he murmurs against her lips.

"I would hope so, Overland. We've been dating for 9 years now."

***

Half a hazelnut chocolate cake and two celebratory hot cocoas later, Jack finds himself being dragged toward the car in the encroaching darkness of 5:30 pm.

"Zel, what--"

"Come on! I booked us a night in a cabin, and we need to take off before the roads get icy. It's supposed to snow in a couple hours!"

"But what about--"

"I packed the car while you were at work." Rapunzel doesn't miss a beat. "Don't worry, I grabbed all your favorite sweaters! Your snowboarding stuff too. And the sleeping bags. And the cozy socks. And the snow chains. And the binoculars. And the sled. And the scarves."

He doesn't have time to form a reply before he's being bundled into the front seat and covered in one of his favorite fluffy blankets. The sheer amount of alpine field guides and brochures on the car floor make him do a double take.

"You have an itinerary?" he asks, surprised.

She hums uncertainly as she pulls out of the driveway.

"Well...nothing too rigid. No coming-of-age road trip of self-discovery can be that structured, or else it might get in the way of spontaneous epiphanies about who you truly are, right?"

"Right."

Rapunzel looks like she's about to burst open with what she isn't saying.

"I sense a 'but' there."

"I did find a really cute place for us to sled." The dam breaks as Rapunzel pulls out of the driveway. "And there's this secluded little mountain animal rescue we have to see. And this four-star cafe we can stop at for hot cider and soup, and this really pretty snowy hike that I don't think is too tiring. Also this ski and snowboard slope we can check out if we have time, with this really cozy lodge, and--"

She cuts herself off mid-sentence as soon as she picks up that all this might be a little overwhelming.

"Buuuuut," she amends slowly. "It's not like I've put down a deposit for anything. We could just drive through the mountains and stop whenever we feel the urge. Find the best secret spots and have them to ourselves, you know? Have deep conversations and be alone with nature and reconnect with our humanity and our sense of purpose. Or something like that."

He can't help but laugh at the way her brow scrunches as she goes deep into thought.

"That sounds great."

"Do you...have a preference?" She gives him a searching look as they pull onto the freeway, already glowing with streetlamps and taillights. "Agenda or no agenda?"

"Whatever you're down for, I'm down for. Hell, I'm just happy to have an unexpected week of vacation."

"I guess that's the thing about these types of 'finding yourself' stories. You kind of have to figure them out as you go along."

"Then let's do some figuring!"

Rapunzel hits the gas, and off they go into the winter sunset, bound for their next coming-of-age adventure. One to perhaps be followed by many more, depending on how many future ages they deem it significant to "come to."

***

Tfw you keep aging but The Blorbos™️do not, so the only logical solution is to force them to age with you XD God dammit, if I have to be in my mid-20s, then so do my comfort characters!!!

Fr tho, I often find myself wishing there were more aged-up AUs in the RotBTD fandom. Most fandom olds returning to (or who stayed in) the fandom aren't the teenagers we were when we first got into the big four anymore, so...why not let them grow up with us??? It's not like their canon ages are some sacred, set-in-stone thing that can't be changed since people do in fact get older as time passes ajdnlshbf

And like!!! Don't get me wrong, I love a well-done high school or college AU, and they can be a lot of fun!!! But I think as I've gotten older I wonder more about how the RotBTD kids would navigate adulthood, and how they would change/adapt and how they would stay the same throughout their lives.

Jackunzel I feel like would be one of those couples who would just be it for each other. Like they get together in late high school--probably junior or senior year--and everyone keeps waiting for the spark to die in college and for them to get stir-crazy (as people who get into committed relationships young often do) or bored of each other, and they just. Don't. MFs hit 30 and are still in the honeymoon phase with no sign of getting out XD

Rapunzel is so right here btw. Twenty-somethings DO deserve to have indie coming-of-age dramas made about them!!! Kids and teens and college students shouldn't get to have all the fun!!! Besides, there's plenty of growing/maturing still to do in young adulthood, so why stop writing stories about that just because the people in question are out of school??? Tbh I'm so tired of movies with adult protagonists being either fluffy (hetero) romcoms or a drama about Some Guy with a wife and kids like??? There are other types of adults besides straights in the dating pool and middle-aged people with tidy little nuclear families!!! I promise!!!

Guess I'll just have to write all those funky little RotBTD twenty-something AUs myself ajshdkuys

Shout-out to the RotBTD discord for giving me the idea of having Rapunzel be a cake decorator and Jack be a photographer! I sometimes struggle a bit with future career ideas for the RotBTD kids, but these fit really well :D Jack definitely seems like the kind of person who would like something freelance and loose-scheduled where he basically gets paid to capture the beauty in the world around him :O And we know Rapunzel can bake, and she likes art, so...

CAKE ART CAKE ART CAKE ART CAKE ART

VERY happy I found that snowflake-and-orb cake, because that definitely seems like something Jack would enjoy 🤍❄️ And now I kind of want to try it 👀👀👀I DO have to wonder how they did that little picture with the tree and the car :O

As always, moodboard pic credits available upon request!

#jackunzel #jackunzelmonth #jackunzelmonth23 #moodboard #aesthetic #jack x rapunzel #rapunzel x jack #jack frost #rapunzel #jackxrapunzel #rapunzelxjack #rotbtd #rise of the brave tangled dragons #the big four #tangled #rise of the guardians #rotg #crossover

[jellogram]

I feel like people really overestimate how expensive it is to be a digital nomad. I certainly did, although my idea of what housing costs has been skewed by living in California, but if you have a salaried remote job there is a good chance you can afford this lifestyle. You can't book a different beach house every week or anything, and your standard of living and amenities will drop, but so far I have been able to find something in every location I've wanted to visit. Make peace with using a hot plate instead of a stove and you can go pretty far. I am spending around $500-$700 less per month than I would be if I stayed in a studio apartment in my hometown. There's definitely some tricks to it that I am still learning but if you hate where you live and have consistent remote work then you might want to consider trying it for a few months. If nothing else I think it can help you figure out what you want out of where you live.

[brian-in-finance]

Instagram 2 June 2023 ⬆️ Instagram 20 August 2015 Instagram 20 August 2015 #2

Glamour Italia: August 2015

I TRAVEL THROUGH TIME

Caitriona Balfe, the Outlander’s star, is hitting the big time in Hollywood. And after shooting with Clooney and Julia Roberts, she’s ready to return to Scotland. With specific ideas, some style tricks and few regrets.

One thinks that some things can happen only in an episode of Sex and the City. Instead you can just walk in the West Village in New York with Caitriona Balfe (pronounced Catrina; it’s a Gaelic name) to suddenly glance at your side a coach with the advertising of Outlander, where she is the leading actress, exactly what it happens to Carrie in the unforgettable theme song. But Caitriona does not stumble: she mirrors herself in her image and smiles. “Thanks to the photo editing the scene seems almost heroic”,she says. “But looking at it I can only recall that my ass was freezing that day in the mountains of Scotland”. After leaving Ireland at 15 years old, entering the fashion industry as a model, last year she has been mentioned by Entertainment Weekly among the twelve Hollywood’s rising stars. Thirty-five years, 1.77 cm tall, a perfect body, icy stare and reminiscent features as Cate Blanchett, one of the actressess she likes more.

How did you feel working side by side to George Clooney and Julia Roberts in Jodie Foster’s Money Monster?:

“They are all movie giants, I learned a lot. But in the end, when you’re there, it’s just a work, and it becomes almost a routine”.

You grew up in Northern Ireland, two hours from Dublin, not only far from the spotlight but even from the city lights. How did you end up working in fashion?

“The usual fate. When I was 18 an agent stopped me while I was volunteering for an association against multiple sclerosis. I was filling shopping bags in a supermarket. He offered me to work for an agency in Dublin. I left the college, where I studied acting, and a year later I moved to Paris”.

You have worked with all the greatest – from Karl Lagerfeld to Dolce & Gabbana and Balenciaga – at the spike of your career you were considered one of the twenty most sought-after models in the world. Is there something you currently miss of that world?

“Surely the bread with olives made by Dolce & Gabbana’s cook! I remember they always had the best refreshments. Sometimes I still dream that bread. However, it was a very funnyworld, but I think it was a suitable lifestyle for my age at that time. You can cope with certain pace, between trips and parties, only when you are twenty years old”.

Is there something you never tolerate?

“The fashion system idealize only one type of woman: it’s wrong and misleading. It forces to doubt about yourself, because it doesn’t matter if you were the prettiest girl or the smartest one at school. You are judged only upon the basis of how much you are skinnier than the girl at your side. Or if you have nicer doe eyes “.

Did you feel you would have become an actress?

“Yes, I always saw my modelling career as a temporary thing. Of course, I did not think it was a step lasting for ten years! But at the time I wouldn’t have even been able to deal with all the responsibilities requested to an actress and the roles I play”.

Such as the Claire role, the heroine of the Outlander series, adapted from the book by Diana Gabaldon. Do you see herself in her?

“The story of Claire is a radical change, a great loss, but also a renaissance (Claire is mysteriously thrown back in time; in Scotland, from 1945 to 1743.) It talks about how you can survive in front of tragic events and that you must keep living your life against all odds. She has ahuge force: she is a modern and feminist woman, not by choice, but simply because she feels to be worth as much as men. And she is so strong she can afford to make mistakes … So not only I like to think to have many things in common with her, but I hope so”.

Claire is in a love triangle. Have you ever experienced a similar situation?

“It happened that the place in my heart taken by someone I loved was not yet free and meanwhile … someone else was already entering! But I have never found in a difficult position as Claire is. I do not think, however, that neither of the two men competing for her would be right for me. The first thing I look for in a boyfriend? Certainly a beautiful head. Even if no woman would say no to the overwhelming passion felt by Claire and Jamie in the serial. I almost had to take a test of “chemistry” on the set before having the part ( she laughs)”.

You had to cope with the book fans, following the character for years. Judging from your followers on Twitter – more than ninety thousand –you convinced them.

“The reviews so far are always positive and fans are very active. The funniest part is that they send me a lot of paintings of my cat. I find them beautiful and I gave a part of them to some friends who live around the world. So, it seems to meI have a piece of home wherever I go”.

Do you like Twitter?

“The wonder of this social network is doing something good by using all the “chatter”created around my success. For example, I support an association helping children with cancer worldwide. Through Twitter I can give visibility even to them”.

The first series of Outlander was shot for almost a year in Scotland: did it was a kind of homecoming or did you feel isolated from the world?

“It was a long time since I was living in Europe … Scotland and Ireland are very different but both have landscapes with ancestral energies, magical, taking your breath away. However, sometimes we were so isolated that the mobile phone did not work for days. But that’s good – actually I hate to take it always with me on the set! Maybe the only thing I really missed was dressing up elegant to go out. It seems strange, but being accustomed to Paris or New York, where you pay attention to how you dress even to go to dinner, I felt a bit out of place in Glasgow. No one dresses to impress there, unless you go to dance”.

But your look, brown sweater, high waist denim skirt, ankle boots with a little heel, apparently, seems to reflect a simple taste …

“In New York, jeans and t-shirt are the uniform between shootings, but when I go out I want to tart myself up. My style depends a lot about how I wake up: one day very feminine, girly, the day after tomboy or even “rock and roll”. The only constant is black and a few jewels. And, definitely, high heels”.

Do you have a secret to be perfect during the long days on the set?

“Perhaps the main problem are dark circles, due to the impossible schedule. So patches help a lot, the ones you can cool down. When I am engaged during the episodes of the series I have always a bit of them hidden in the fridge of the crew, and usually my days begin with them”.

With the end of the Money Monsters’ shooting you will have to leave New York to return to Outlander in Scotland. And then? Which are your plans?

“For now, I know more or less what direction I want to go, but I do not want to have a clear strategy. If you schedule everything, you risk being disappointed, while I always took my best decisions without thinking at them. I let myself be surprised and, when there are challenges, I took them up. For the moment, they were right choices. I have no regrets..apart from a couple of ex-boyfriends!”

Outlander-Online

Remember when August 2015 seemed like only yesterday?

#Tait rhymes with hat #Good times #Outlander #Money Monster #Fashion #Glamour Italia #August 2015 #Instagram

[brokenmusicboxwolfe]

Maybe it’s the endless heat or lack of sleep, but I’m in a “ugh” mood. Since I will keep it below the cut I hope you won’t mind too much.

Some days I could REALLY use someone to talk to. Sure I could do like I sometimes do, and rant away on here, oblivious to how annoying all my followers find my words. But I just don’t even have the energy for that anymore.

Ok, I am writing here. But only a bit. I promise not to go into most of what’s getting to me. I’d rather not dwell on things.

Besides, who wants to listen to all my whining or being miserable. And over such stupid stuff.

Take for instance that I keep fretting over the Greenville Comic Con being on the 13th. How stupid does that sound? The fact the ONLY thing I have had to look forward to for the past year may not happen ‘cause I can’t afford the has money for the gas to drive to the comic con 50 miles away, seems insignificant compared to how bad things could be. **

Or are. I mean, my life is a disaster and pretty close to unsustainable. When you are already walking over a plank to get to your bedroom, and now the floor the plank rest on starts to give way too, you really do feel the ground sliding away beneath you in a tangible way.

But I won’t go on about the rotten husk if a home I live in or any of the rest of my collapsing infrastructure. I’m living the post apocalyptic lifestyle without the “we are all going through it” comfort of a real apocalypse. I moan about it too much, and moaning does no good.

So what right do I even have to want to go to a con? It’s a luxury I don’t deserve. When the basics are hard to manage, only a fool would waste money and time on anything you don’t have to.

Or someone acutely aware of the brevity of life. Shouldn’t you at least try to have fun once a year when there are so few years left in a life? Wouldn’t only a fool consider fun a “waste”?

A day ago I was having to move some of my stuff*** when I found a bundle of papers tucked away in a jewelry box I hadn’t opened in so many years I’d forgotten what was in it. There was a newspaper article, an obit, and the program from the funeral of one of my classmates.

I’ve written about Mike’s suicide, back in high school, before. There is a post somewhere on my blog about all the grief and guilt, and I don’t feel like reliving it all today. The point is, I think about him often, but I was still shocked by how hard it hit me this time. I actually started sobbing, maybe because I wasn’t just remembering, but seeing his face and reading about it in solid print for the first time in decades.

You know, I hadn’t seen his photo or heard anyone mention him, in so many years it was like he didn’t exist outside my memory.

Maybe, though, my emotional meltdown was being reminded how much was lost with him. Mike was smart, kind, and popular. If he’d survived through whatever he was dealing with there is no doubt in my mind he would have contributed to the world. He’d have had friends, a job, most likely family, but whatever the personal life I think he’d have made things better for everyone he could. Maybe it would have been the tiny things on an individual basis, or maybe it would have been big causes….

But we will never know. Decades lost.

He deserved to live far more than I ever had, and he’d undoubtedly have done more with all those years he never had than I ever did.

It sort of puts things in perspective I guess. What right do I have to complain about my life being lonely and hard, or grumble about never having any fun? It’s foolish to want things you don’t need to survive. I get to be alive. That’s more than some folks get.

I feel like I’m such an idiot every time I post a text post. Petty. Childish. A fool desiring more than I deserve out of life. No one is owed friendship or fun or even survival. It isn’t even whether you earn it or just get lucky that matters. The trick is try to accept what you have ended up with, however you got here, without tearing into yourself by wanting more.

**Honestly, I thought last year I could save up the money. On my birthday last December I went to a movie and got take out, but it hardly seems indulgent to do that just once a year. I go nowhere. I try to only buy what I absolutely need. Heck, I don’t even have to buy anyone Christmas presents anymore now that I only make stuff for Mom. I assumed saving up $100, maybe even $200, in a year would be easy. I didn’t count on various emergencies and I did not predict at all how hard inflation would hit me. Fuckin’ hell, just the food for the animals and myself takes up almost all I have every month!

So now I’m going “Alright, if don’t buy any groceries for myself on my next once-every-two-weeks shopping trip will I have enough for going to the con? And do I have enough willpower to give up milk, cheese, anything fresh, etc, for two weeks? And while I’m at it, do I have enough dry/canned/frozen to eat a meal a day as a semi balanced diet for two weeks without buying anything?”

I told myself not to think about the con all year, just so I wouldn’t be disappointed if I couldn’t go. Obviously it hasn’t worked because if it had I wouldn’t feel so desperate to figure out a way to go.

***I spent more of my time moving books than reading them!

#my day #poverty #depressed #tired

[senatushq]

NAME. Cal Renard AGE & BIRTH DATE. 516 & September 17th, 1505 GENDER & PRONOUNS. Male & He/Him SPECIES. Vampire BLOODLINE. Juno OCCUPATION. Senator & Right Hand of the Queen FACE CLAIM. Colin O’Donoghue

BIOGRAPHY

( tw: poverty and sex ) Cal Renard should never have been a name that anyone remembered. Born in the gutters of London in the early 16th century, his first mortal memories were filled with filth and hunger. He became a thief out of necessity, stealing to survive and living an unstable life but he always dreamed of more, felt he could do and be more. He grew up fast, using any trick he could think of to get himself out of trouble and discovering that he could often talk his way out of it, in spite of his poor appearance. It didn’t always work – he earned lashes on his back from constables more than a couple of times for getting caught stealing but that only spurred him to get better at his craft. Furthermore, he was naturally observant and studied the upper classes, the rich merchants and nobles, and practiced their mannerisms and the ways that they spoke. Cal got fairly good at this and also kept honing his thievery. It was never enough, though, and he hadn’t quite managed to pull himself up to where he wanted to be. He was a skilled thief, true, but he dreamed of power, of palaces, of luxurious items and things he’d never really known and he wanted it while he was still young and alive enough to enjoy it. In spite of this drive, this craving, there was always a sense that he was running out of time. He’d been alive for nearly four decades, after all, which was a feat in and of itself when his dangerous lifestyle never guaranteed that he’d live through another day let alone a year. It was this urgency that drove him to commit his biggest theft yet, knowing he needed more wealth to be able to achieve all that he wanted. It nearly worked but he was caught and sentenced to be hanged.

That’s when the vampire found him.

Sitting in a stinking cell the night before his execution, Cal seethed with rage and bitterness, trying to come up with a plan, with a way to escape. Unbeknownst to him, a vampire had taken an interest in him and had been following his activities for some time. They came to him that night in his cell and offered him an alternative to the hanging. A new life unfolded before him and Cal immediately agreed, the vampire breaking him out and turning him soon after.

That was the moment Cal’s life truly started.

Afforded a second chance and an endless amount of time to achieve everything he’d always wanted, Cal redoubled his efforts. Learning from his sire, integrating into vampire society, it didn’t take long for Cal to shed all the vestiges of the poor thief he’d once been. His natural charm increased, he fully polished his speech and behaviour, reinventing himself as though he’d never been a pauper, never known the pangs of hunger. He understood quickly the hierarchies that existed in the supernatural world and that, as in the human world, those with the most power were closest to the monarch. That, then, is where Cal needed to be, so he worked towards that goal. The urgency was lessened with eternity before him but his determination never wavered; he got to know the right people, observed and learned from older vampires and emulated some of them the way he’d once done with mortal nobles. While he’d once stolen material goods, he came to understand that in this world it was information that held real power so he shifted to stealing, and trading, secrets. This was surprisingly easy (and wonderfully enjoyable) when he discovered that people were so much more willing to talk after sex. It happened to be one of Cal’s favourite pastimes and also a convenient way to feed (though not from other vampires, of course). He let it be known carefully and strategically that he was useful, that he could get information no one else could, and it was that that finally attracted the notice of the Queen. She invited him to meet with her and that began Cal’s final climb to power.

While it had started with only him, over the centuries he slowly built a network that he could turn to for information, spies that were constantly gathering whispers and rumors and reporting them back to him and he would in turn report these to the queen. While many only saw his outward charm, his flirtatiousness, his debauchery, few realised how clever and strategic he was and always had been. While it was never an act (Cal delighted in all of those) it was a useful mask to cover the important work he did and continues to do. Newly appointed to the senate to replace the previous Juno representative, Cal’s hard work has finally paid off. Both the Right Hand of the Queen and a senator, Cal has the power he’s always dreamed of and intends to use it to find out all that the senate has been hiding.

PERSONALITY

+ charming, ambitious, clever – vain, vengeful, materialistic

PLAYED BY SAM. MST. She/Her.

[sunnyleahomesblog]

Toronto on a Budget: Clever Hacks to Maximize Your Space

Living in Toronto means getting creative with your space, especially when it comes to renovations. But fear not, fellow urban dweller! You can add value and comfort to your home without breaking the bank. Here are some ingenious ways to transform your living space on a budget:

Hidden Gems:

Do you have a forgotten attic or unfinished basement? Instead of a pricey addition, unleash your inner designer and turn these areas into a stylish guest room, a cozy home office, or a dedicated play area for the kids. Partnering with a design-build contractor can help you plan and execute these transformations seamlessly.

Outdoor Escape:

Expand your living space by creating a versatile deck or patio! It's a wallet-friendly way to add square footage and enjoy the fresh Toronto air. Many home addition contractors offer sustainable, low-maintenance materials, so your new space will be both eco-friendly and easy to care for. Perfect for entertaining under the stars or enjoying a morning coffee.

Space Partitioning Magic:

Who needs a whole new room when you can create one within your existing space? Home renovation specialists can suggest non-load-bearing walls or stylish partitions that create privacy and functionality. This is perfect for growing families or those needing a dedicated home office.

Upcycle with Flair:

Give your home a unique touch and be kind to the planet by upcycling existing materials! A skilled renovation contractor can transform old windows, wood, and fixtures into new features and decor. This adds a touch of character and charm to your space while being eco-conscious.

Storage Solutions that Shine:

Maximize your space with clever built-in shelves or storage benches. These practical additions seamlessly blend with your existing design, offering extra space to declutter and organize. No more tripping over your belongings!

Prefab Power:

For a quick and budget-friendly alternative, consider a prefab addition! Prefabricated units, like garden studios or extra bedrooms, save time and construction waste. Sunnylea Homes can even guide you through the installation process, ensuring a perfect fit for your house.

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work:

Collaborating with a home renovation specialist or design-build contractor allows you to benefit from their expertise. They can help you achieve a high standard of quality and design integrity, even with a limited budget.

Affordable Elegance:

Don't let "budget-friendly" trick you into thinking you have to sacrifice style or comfort! With the right approach and expert guidance, you can transform your home into a beautiful and functional space that reflects your needs and personality.

Let's Get Started!

Ready to make your dream renovation a reality? A trusted home renovation specialist will turn your vision into a reality, creating a space you love while staying within your budget. Look no further than Sunnylea Homes! Contact us at [phone] to discuss how we can help you design and build a delightful and affordable home addition that complements your lifestyle and the vibrant spirit of Toronto.

#home improvement #home design #home decor #decor

[stensgaardholloway50]

Cool Canadian Cribs: A Guide to Buying a House in Canada

Remote acreage for sale

Welcome to the land of the maple leaf and snow-capped mountains, where diverse cultures melt together in a harmonious blend - Canada! Considering buying a house in the Great White North? Look no further as we guide you through the ins and outs of the Canadian real estate market. From the bustling cityscapes of Toronto and Vancouver to the serene landscapes of the Maritimes and the prairies, there's a perfect place for everyone to call home in this vast and varied country. Whether you're a first-time buyer or looking to upgrade to your dream home, understanding the process of purchasing property in Canada is essential to make your homeownership dreams a reality. Let's dive into the nuances of buying a house in Canada and uncover the tips and tricks to help you navigate this exciting journey seamlessly.

Factors to Consider

When looking to buy a house in Canada, one important factor to consider is the location. Different cities and regions in Canada offer varying amenities, job opportunities, and lifestyle options, so it's crucial to research and choose a location that aligns with your preferences and needs.

Another key consideration is your budget. Housing prices in Canada can vary significantly depending on the province and city, so it's essential to determine how much you can afford and explore financing options such as mortgages. Setting a realistic budget will help narrow down your search and prevent you from overspending.

Lastly, think about the type of property that suits your lifestyle. Whether you prefer a detached home, townhouse, or condo, understanding your preferences and needs in terms of space, maintenance, and amenities will guide your house-hunting process and ensure you find a property that fits your requirements.

Popular Locations

For those looking to buy a house in Canada, there are several popular locations that offer diverse options to suit different preferences and lifestyles. One such sought-after area is Toronto, known for its vibrant urban atmosphere, booming job market, and multicultural communities. Homebuyers in Toronto can choose from trendy neighborhoods like Queen West or upscale areas such as Rosedale, each offering its own unique charm.

Another attractive location for house-hunters in Canada is Vancouver, a city renowned for its stunning natural scenery and mild climate. In Vancouver, homebuyers can find properties overlooking the ocean or nestled in the lush greenery of Stanley Park. The city’s dynamic food scene, outdoor activities, and proximity to nature make it a top choice for those seeking a balance between urban living and outdoor adventure.

For those interested in a more relaxed pace of life, the picturesque coastal town of Halifax in Nova Scotia is a hidden gem worth considering. Halifax offers historic charm, stunning waterfront views, and a strong sense of community. Homebuyers in Halifax can enjoy quaint seaside neighborhoods, local craft breweries, and a thriving arts and culture scene that make this maritime city a desirable place to call home.

Budgeting Tips

First and foremost, when considering buying a house in Canada, it's essential to evaluate your financial situation thoroughly. This involves calculating your current income, expenses, and existing debts to determine a realistic budget for purchasing a home.

Next, take time to research the housing market in the specific area of Canada where you are interested in buying a house. Understanding the average property prices, trends, and available financing options will help you make an informed decision within your budget constraints.

Additionally, don't forget to factor in extra costs beyond the purchase price, such as property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and potential renovations. Having a clear understanding of all the associated expenses will ensure that you are financially prepared for homeownership in Canada.

#Realtor

[yashidiary]

The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Perfect Apartment in Colombo: Tips and Tricks

“The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Perfect Apartment in Colombo: Tips and Tricks” is a comprehensive guide that provides invaluable insights into finding the perfect apartment in Colombo. This guide is a must-read for anyone looking to navigate the bustling real estate market of Colombo.

Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, is a city that offers a myriad of residential options. Amidst its vibrant cityscape, one can find a plethora of apartments in Colombo that cater to diverse lifestyle needs and budget constraints. This guide provides a detailed overview of these options, helping prospective buyers make an informed decision.

The guide further delves into the various types of Colombo apartments available for sale. From luxurious penthouses that offer a panoramic view of the city skyline to compact studio apartments that provide a cozy living space, there is something for everyone. The guide also provides tips on evaluating the location, amenities, and price ranges of these apartments, making it easier for buyers to find their perfect home.

A significant part of the guide is dedicated to Home Lands Skyline, a renowned brand in the real estate sector of Sri Lanka. Home Lands Skyline is known for its commitment to quality and its ability to deliver a superior living experience. The brand’s apartments in Colombo are a testament to its dedication to providing homes that are not just built with quality materials but are also designed with a keen eye for detail.

In conclusion, “The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Perfect Apartment in Colombo: Tips and Tricks” is more than just a guide. It is a journey that takes you through the lanes of Colombo, introducing you to the hidden gems in the form of affordable apartments. With Home Lands Skyline as your trusted partner, owning your dream apartment in Colombo is no longer a distant dream but a reality within your reach. So, embark on this journey and unlock the door to your new home.

[kevinszabojrplumbing]

Top Five Trends in Real Estate in 2024

New housing trends appear and disappear in real estate every year, and 2024 is no different. As people’s tastes change in homes, interest rates and economic factors adjust, and the popularity of certain climates and states shift, new trends are always happening in the market.

From sustainable homes to houses with luxurious kitchens, these trends help to create unique and wonderful homes and buying opportunities. The trick is to find the current trends that suit your needs when shopping for real estate.

To keep yourself apprised of the current state of the housing market, here is a list of the five trends in real estate in 2024 to pay attention to.

1.   Migration Trends

Moving or migration trends in the market can tell you where people are moving for work or new opportunities. They can also show you areas where people are leaving, which may signal some issues in these cities or states.

According to the 2023 report from Allied.com, Southern States are becoming a popular migration destination for many families. The increased cost of living, home prices, and other economic and lifestyle factors are driving people to move elsewhere, from states like California, Illinois, and Washington.

South Carolina is one of the biggest inbound states due to the growing job market that offers many opportunities and an affordable cost of living. Plus, the state has a pleasant climate, which is always positive in the real estate market. Other southern states, like Arizona and Tennessee, have similar opportunities that are desirable for many people looking to move states.

One reason for the mass exodus from states including California and Washington is the cost of living. Another is that many large companies, such as Tesla and Oracle, are moving to other states due to high operating costs and strict environmental regulations. As businesses leave, so do jobs.

2.   Interest Rate Cuts

According to the real estate company Clever, 2023 was not a good year to purchase or sell homes. 51% of Americans said that 2023 was a bad year to look at selling their homes, while 53% stated that 2023 was a terrible year to purchase a home.

This year, interest rates hit a worrying rate of 8% for 30-year mortgages. That’s in stark contrast to the 3% interest rates just a few years ago. Nevertheless, there may be hope.

According to Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve, the U.S. government expects to cut the interest rate at least three times in the coming years. That could mean 2024 will be a better opportunity for buyers. When these interest rate adjustments occur, the housing market may flourish again, encouraging people who are locked in lower interest rates to consider listing their homes and moving again, offering prospective buyers more housing options.

3.   Housing Types & Sizes

While there is a variety of homes in different styles and sizes for buyers to choose from, the current trend in housing sees buyers downsizing their homes while apartment sizes are increasing. Lifestyle changes and high mortgages are the biggest contributors to downsizing. As families are smaller, the need for fewer bedrooms has grown.

In addition, the size of condos and apartments is increasing as buyers want bigger rooms to live in. With the rise of working from home since the pandemic, buyers want to be able to work from their homes while still having space to separate work from home.

According to Sean M. Stadler, the managing principal at WDG Architecture’s Washington, D.C. office, before the pandemic, the average apartment size was around 870 square feet. These days, the average apartment size is closer to 1,000 square feet.

4.   Sustainable Homes

With modern concerns about being eco-conscious, sustainability is one of the largest 2024 trends in the real estate market. Since the introduction of federal-backed incentives from the Department of Energy in January 2023, more energy-efficient homes are being built.

Energy-efficient homes can save up to 35% on people's electricity bills and cut waste by 40% due to the way these homes are built. These homes cut electricity bills by using certain materials and building techniques that can sustain extreme weather conditions.  

For instance, high-grade insulation and windows help keep a balanced temperature regardless of the climate, reducing the need for heating and cooling use at all hours. Also, by using open planning, homes get more natural light, which can help reduce the amount of light sources people use during the day. And finally, solar panels can help offset energy costs almost completely.

Sustainable homes also change what materials are used in the building to help with maintenance and upkeep. This is done by using materials besides wood for framing, which is susceptible to rot, termite damage, mold, and water damage. Instead, home builders may use sustainable alternatives like recycled materials and concrete.

5.   Focus on the Kitchen

It’s no surprise to anyone that the latest real estate trends include a focus on the kitchen. The kitchen has and always will be an important part of the home where families congregate.

These days, people are building larger kitchen spaces to accommodate more people and store more food and kitchen items. This also adds more places to decorate according to personal tastes while keeping the room practicable for cooking and dining, with updated appliances and functionality. 

For instance, a walk-in pantry helps create order inside the kitchen while still being able to grab whatever food you want easily. Furthermore, using updated appliances and plumbing like induction stovetops, pot filler faucets, and large refrigerators is a great way to make a kitchen efficient, allowing people to cook and share meals together while saving on going out.

Conclusion

Buying a home can be complicated, but shopping for what you want at the right time doesn’t have to be. By following the market and using this guide on the top real estate trends in 2024, you can decide what to look for to meet your family’s needs and when to search and purchase.

#This Summer #Guest Author #Guest Blogger #Guest Contributor #Guest Post #Guest Writer #Best Ways To Prevent The Most Common Plumbing Problems #Plumbing Problems #broken pipes #leaking pipes #clogged toilets #garbage disposals #prevent drains from clogging #plumber in tinley park #tinley park plumbers #plumber in orland park #orland park plumbers #plumber in homer glen #homer glen plumbers #plumber in frankfort #frankfort plumbers #plumber in mokena #mokena plumbers #plumber in lemont #lemont plumbers #plumber in new lenox #new lenox plumbers #plumber in oak forest #oak forest plumbers #plumber in homewood

[amitr7]

Transforming Spaces: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Furniture from the Best Furniture Shop

Introduction:

 In the realm of interior design, furniture serves as the cornerstone of any space. Whether it's a cozy living room, a functional office, or a serene bedroom, the right furniture can transform a mere room into a haven of comfort and style. With countless options available in the market, finding the perfect pieces to complement your space can be daunting. However, with the guidance of the best furniture shop, navigating through this vast landscape becomes an enjoyable and rewarding experience. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the world of furniture shopping, offering insights, tips, and tricks to help you curate a space that reflects your unique personality and lifestyle.

Chapter 1: Understanding Your Needs Before embarking on your furniture shopping journey, it's essential to assess your needs and requirements. Consider the purpose of the space you're furnishing, its dimensions, and any specific functionalities it requires. Are you furnishing a family room that needs to accommodate gatherings and entertainment, or a home office requiring ergonomic solutions? Understanding these aspects will guide your choices and ensure that the furniture you select serves both form and function.

Chapter 2: Setting a Budget Budgeting is a crucial step in any furniture shopping endeavor. Determine a realistic budget based on your financial capabilities and the quality of furniture you desire. Remember to allocate funds not only for major pieces like sofas and beds but also for accessories and accents that tie the room together. While it's tempting to splurge on extravagant items, it's prudent to strike a balance between quality and affordability to ensure a satisfying investment.

Chapter 3: Exploring Styles and Themes Furniture plays a pivotal role in defining the aesthetic of a space. Whether you lean towards classic elegance, contemporary minimalism, or eclectic bohemian vibes, there's a myriad of styles and themes to choose from. Browse through design magazines, websites, and social media platforms to identify styles that resonate with your taste. Consider factors such as color schemes, materials, and architectural features to create a cohesive and visually pleasing environment.

Chapter 4: Quality Matters When shopping for furniture, quality should always be a top priority. Opt for pieces crafted from durable materials such as hardwoods, metals, and high-grade upholstery fabrics. Inspect the construction of items closely, checking for sturdy joints, smooth finishes, and attention to detail. While quality furniture may come with a higher price tag, it offers longevity, comfort, and timeless appeal, making it a worthwhile investment in the long run.

Chapter 5: Functionality and Comfort Beyond aesthetics, furniture should enhance the comfort and functionality of your space. Consider the ergonomics of seating options, ensuring proper support and posture for prolonged use. Evaluate storage solutions that optimize space and organization, particularly in smaller rooms or apartments. Don't compromise on comfort for the sake of style, as furniture should invite relaxation and enjoyment in your daily life.

Chapter 6: Eco-Friendly Options as sustainability becomes increasingly important in today's world, eco-friendly furniture options are gaining popularity. Look for pieces crafted from responsibly sourced materials, such as reclaimed wood, bamboo, or recycled metals. Choose furniture from manufacturers committed to environmentally friendly practices, such as minimizing waste and reducing carbon emissions. By opting for eco-conscious furniture, you not only reduce your environmental footprint but also support ethical and sustainable production methods.

Chapter 7: Customization and Personalization to truly make your space your own, consider the benefits of customization and personalization offered by the best furniture shops. Many retailers provide options for custom finishes, fabrics, and configurations, allowing you to tailor furniture to your specific preferences and requirements. Whether it's adjusting the dimensions of a sofa to fit a tight space or selecting the perfect upholstery to complement your color scheme, customization adds a unique touch to your furnishings.

Chapter 8: Shopping Tips and Tricks Armed with knowledge and preparedness, embark on your furniture shopping journey with confidence. Begin by researching reputable furniture shops known for their quality, selection, and customer service. Take advantage of sales, promotions, and clearance events to snag great deals on high-quality pieces. Don't hesitate to ask questions and seek assistance from knowledgeable staff members who can offer expert advice and guidance. Lastly, trust your instincts and choose furniture that speaks to your heart and enhances your living experience.

Conclusion:

 Furniture shopping is an exciting and rewarding process that allows you to transform your living spaces into havens of comfort, style, and functionality. By understanding your needs, setting a budget, exploring styles, prioritizing quality, and considering factors such as eco-friendliness and customization, you can curate a space that reflects your personality and lifestyle. With the guidance of the best furniture shop and the tips provided in this guide, you're well-equipped to embark on your furniture shopping journey with confidence and ease. Happy furnishing!

[developerwith1]

Nourish, Hydrate, Revitalize: Embracing Wellness with Argan Oil Club

In the bustling world we live in, finding time for self-care and wellness often feels like a luxury we can't afford. However, embracing wellness doesn't have to be a time-consuming or complicated affair. Enter Argan Oil Club, a gateway to natural beauty and health, powered by the liquid gold of Morocco: argan oil. This miracle oil has been the secret behind the radiant skin and luscious hair of Moroccan women for centuries. Let's explore how Argan Oil Club can transform your wellness routine, making nourishment, hydration, and revitalization part of your everyday life.

What is Argan Oil?

Argan oil, often referred to as 'liquid gold,' is a natural oil extracted from the kernels of the argan tree, native to Morocco. Rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, argan oil is a powerhouse of nutrients.

The History Behind Argan Oil

For centuries, Moroccan women have used argan oil as a cornerstone of their beauty and health regimen. Extracted using traditional methods, this oil has traversed time to emerge as a modern-day elixir for wellness.

Benefits of Argan Oil for Skin

Argan oil's hydrating and nourishing properties make it a perfect solution for a variety of skin concerns. From moisturizing dry skin to reducing signs of aging, argan oil offers a natural way to maintain a radiant complexion.

Transforming Hair with Argan Oil

Dry, brittle hair finds a friend in argan oil. Its ability to penetrate deep into the hair shaft revitalizes hair from within, leaving it soft, shiny, and strong.

Argan Oil for Overall Health

Beyond beauty, argan oil contributes to overall health by providing essential fatty acids and antioxidants that support a healthy heart and reduce inflammation.

Argan Oil Club: Your Wellness Partner

Argan Oil Club is more than just a source of high-quality argan oil; it's a community dedicated to embracing a holistic approach to wellness and beauty.

How Argan Oil Club Works

Membership with Argan Oil Club offers exclusive access to premium, pure argan oil, along with tips, tricks, and guides on making the most of this miraculous oil.

Customizing Your Argan Oil Experience

Argan Oil Club understands that everyone's wellness journey is unique. It offers personalized recommendations and routines tailored to meet individual needs and goals.

Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing

Committed to the environment and ethical practices, Argan Oil Club ensures that all its argan oil is sustainably sourced and supports the local communities in Morocco.

Argan Oil in Your Daily Routine

Incorporating argan oil into your daily routine is simple and effective. Whether it's a few drops in your moisturizer or a weekly hair mask, argan oil's versatility makes it a staple in any wellness regimen.

Community and Support with Argan Oil Club

Joining Argan Oil Club means becoming part of a supportive community that shares insights, experiences, and the joy of discovering the benefits of argan oil together.

Exploring Argan Oil Recipes and DIYs

Argan Oil Club provides creative recipes and DIY beauty treatments, allowing members to explore new ways to incorporate argan oil into their wellness and beauty routines.

Testimonials: Real Results with Argan Oil

Hear from real members who have experienced transformative results with argan oil, from improved skin and hair to enhanced overall well-being.

Conclusion

Embracing wellness with Argan Oil Club means making a commitment to natural, sustainable beauty and health. Argan oil, with its myriad benefits for skin, hair, and overall wellness, is not just an ingredient but a lifestyle. By joining Argan Oil Club, you're not just purchasing a product; you're investing in your well-being, supporting ethical practices, and becoming part of a community dedicated to natural beauty and health. Let's embark on this journey of nourishment, hydration, and revitalization together, and witness the transformative effects of argan oil in our lives.

[thateldribitch]

A Red Sky's Interlude

Chapter Three: Chekhov's Molotov

TW: Body Horror, Torture (oops), Murder Bois be Murdering. You've been warned.

Honestly I just post these on tumblr to make the mood boards lol. Here's AO3!

The click of a lock soothes the savage beast. After all, he’ll feed it soon. Azul takes a breath. His heartbeat calms. His eyes skim the water-stained walls with disgust and sharp interest, like he’s looking for the cheapest meat in the butcher shop. That’s what this bastard is, in a way…. Something so unsavory isn’t worth being called his prey. 

Though, that doesn’t mean he can’t appreciate Floyd’s predatory grace. He moves like he’s still in water—effortlessly twining through the narrow channels between too-small, too-cramped tables and cheap chairs. But there’s not a soul in sight. Sunshine-olive eyes instinctively dart to the flickering neon signs advertising different beer brands… and linger on one. Azul shakes his head ruefully and taps his cane as he heads towards the bar. He skims the shittily scrawled menu, before he slips into a rickety seat. It creaks. A hand immediately settles against his back.

Floyd looms. He leans against the counter, barring Azul in with an arm. Smack! His palm against the counter finally summons the stumbling bartender from a smoke-filled room. Azul taps his cane against Floyd’s leg. But, his eel remains, slitted eyes never leaving the bastard’s… throat. He’s not going anywhere, is he?

Azul sighs, shelving his palm and glancing at the smog seeping under the shutter door. “How nostalgic.”

“Hm?” The man grunts, hazily blinking at him. Perhaps he’s the namesake for the bar—the squat, ugly building rather resembles its owner.

“Robbie, I assume?” Azul smiles, all caustic charm.

“Who’s askin’?” Robbie glances at Floyd. To his credit, the eel hides his teeth in a thin-lipped smirk.

“Only someone who appreciates high quality cigars,” he chuckles, adjusting his glasses slightly.

“Yeah?” Robbie proudly shoves his stupidly thick tobacco stick back between his yellowed teeth. Thick gray clouds slide like oil down the stubbled rolls of his neck. His jaundiced eyes fall to a serpent’s lid. The thick knots of his knuckles crack, stiffen, crack again. There’s a wince to his dry lips.

Azul’s only known Robbie for a few moments, but he knows him. He’s arthritic, an addict, and loves money. The fact he flaunts cigars means he likes the status symbol, but can’t afford the lifestyle. Yet he can’t seem to see the ashes he drowns in trap him in the life he lives now. Stupid. Predictable. But even a blind rat can smell money. He subtly shifts so the genuine-gold rings glitter on his tailored gloves. Oh, how this slime of a man clenches his fingers into his knock-off watch….

Actually, it might be genuine… ly stolen. Hm.

“Indeed. Is it….” He pauses, tapping just near his mole. Floyd shifts. Robbie leans back, greasing a cloth over his disgusting hands. “Guhrka, perhaps?”

“Ha!” He shakes his head, then takes a proud puff. “ Ideales . Limited Cohiba. Premium Cuban.”

Almost $17,000 a box. Azul’s eyes appraise the man, and the bastard appraises him in kind. But, a pawnbroker can’t match the eyes of a jeweler. His pupils shift to a caecilian slit. A trick of the light, surely. Robbie sees, he gets greedy, and he forgets. Too stupid to even smell blood in the water. But, he’s either good at something, or he’s in debt with a lot of people. Pouring every extra cent into his expensive little sin. And who knows what he’s done to accomplish that. Not that Azul cares about that part….

But the bastard certainly wouldn’t have pissed him off if he hadn’t kept feeding his bad habit with a worse scheme.

“Oh, I never managed to find one of those,” he taps his chin. Floyd shifts to squat next to him. His chest still brushes the bar top. Azul brushes a hand over his head. “Hm. Would you give me one for the price of another box?”

Robbie swallows, eyes never leaving the more obvious threat. “I uh. Just one?”

“It’s the experience of it, isn’t it?” His grin is enough to poison an emperor. “Having something no one else can have?”

Eyes filling with gold-glitter greed, he immediately nods. His eyes leave Floyd for a moment… then dart back. “Er… anything for your friend?”

“Got anything with Everclear?” Floyd finally pipes up.

“On the house!”

“Bring the whole bottle,” Floyd waves him off, but curls like a spring as Robbie scurries away. Azul settles a hand against the back of his neck, and settles to thumb at those teal baby hairs. His eel shifts closer. He ruffles his fingers through his hair in the wild pattern that he likes, before smoothing it down. Floyd exhales, and nods.

There’s a huff-puff-wheeze from the back room. In eerie unison, the two mermen lock on to the re-emerging Robbie. If the man’s unnerved, he forgets the moment Azul starts to shift through his wallet. The cigar, displayed on a napkin-clad plate, totters into view. “Rob—may I call you Rob?” The man might well agree to anything, with as hypnotized as he is by the hundreds flicking through gloved fingers. “I’ll be taking one of your signs as well. Which one is your best?”

“Uh—the Pink Fairy Absinthe is an antique—?”

“Floyd, grab that one and whatever else you want.”

Rob laughs nervously, but nods. He’s sweating bullets as he stares at the bills, trying to count the green blurs flying through Azul’s fingers. He pauses, stares with his thumb over far too few bills. At least the man’s smart enough to pounce to offer the cigarette to him. It’s mahogany brown-red, rich with expensive tobacco and crisped by a slightly crinkled black and gold tag. But those blue eyes keep boring through him. The Everclear bottle miraculously smacks down on the counter as well.

Anything to taste riches, hm? Not an ounce of pride once there are dollars in his eyes. Azul plops his jaw open, curling a fist under his chin expectantly. Mesmerized, Robert delicately places the cigar in his mouth. He’s so enamored with his proximity to youthful wealth that he doesn’t notice Floyd taking the signs down with brutal efficiency. Knowing him, even the screws are probably fully intact….

He closes his teeth around the smokey-flavored paper, cocking his head away from Rob’s plastic-white Bic lighter. Jaundiced eyes fixate on the way he cocks his cigar at an elegant angle, meeting the elaborate end of a gilded coral lighter. The warm light barely catches the glint of Floyd darting his tongue over his teeth—there and gone. Their eyes lock. He puffs a cloud into those sunshine-yellow pools. Floyd’s nostrils flare; his pupils dilate.

“So, uh—about the money?” Rob reaches forward, drawn by the siren stack of bills. His jaw hangs down. Ah, so he is good at counting.

That’s all he’ll ever be good for.

Floyd snaps forward. Rob gurgles out a blood-choked scream, staggering back into the unfortunately cheap glass shelves. Crash! Shards coat the palm that bore his weight. Yet he still clutches his mouth, writhing his oil-slick ham legs against the filthy floor as if it’ll stop the red waterfall flowing down. Those pig-like eyes bug out as his tongue splats against the ground next to him.

“Fuck, ah fuck—that wath so grossth—” Floyd sputters pink-tinged spittle against the counter.

“There’s some in your teeth,” Azul exasperatedly pokes his chin off the shoulder of his ‘business’ suit.

“Uuuuuuugh,” Floyd lets himself be pushed away by a single fingertip. Oh, the impulses of this terrifying eel of his. Though, he has to admit the results are rather satisfying. Robbie is far too panicked to even move. The ‘freeze’ part of the instinctive human reactions to danger etches into his horrified features. He’s just lying there , suffering and panicking and unsure of what to do.

Perfect .

Azul just flashes his teeth in a wide, near deranged smirk. Meanwhile, Floyd peels the aluminum with his teeth, scraping a few grisly chunks off the points before spitting the cap off and to the side. He spits shrapnel at the writhe-wailing bartender—and in one, smooth motion, dives over the counter with the Everclear. Azul settles into the rickety seat, flicking ash onto the dismembered tongue as Floyd looks up at him expectantly.

“Do what you like. Just make it slow.”

“Hot.”Floyd drops to his heels, and, with one hand, yanks Robbie up to face him. Gravity causes thick, black-red rivers to gush from the stumped remains of his tongue. He kicks and wetly squeals. Floyd smashes the Everclear over his knee. Thick glass shards scatter, sliding into paper-thin skin, digging deeper with each, pained writhe. A pitched-hoarse giggle masks a gargle-scream.

“So you really thought ya could give away our shrimp?” His single, gold eye burns through the man’s rotten soul. Slowly, he drags him up. Red leaks down the sides of his head, as the hairs strain against the weight of his whale-bloat gut. Up and up. Just far enough that he can jam a piece of glass into the vulnerable joint of his knee. “How much did you get from that Lionfish, huh?”

The glass jerks out. Dives back into the skin with a far more vicious strike. “One cigar?” He drives the shard deeper. Something severs. His leg falls limp. “Two?” Deeper–it splinters before it can pierce through to the other side. Floyd pouts, drops him, and stands. “Ugh. Boring.”

His foot cracks down on Robbie’s other knee, shattering it with the sheer force of the stomp. Limp in a pool of his own blood, he only knows peace for a moment before Floyd jolts a spell through his system. He chokes awake, eyes wide with fear.

“Nuh uh.” That sharp, wild grin pounces back down. “We’re done when I say we’re done.” Pausing, he cocks his head to the side, then scratches his cheek. “Or Azul does.”

“You’re fine,” he chuckles as he leans over the bartop, waving his hand like a king giving some royal decree. Floyd’s eyes lurch back, like one predator snapping to acknowledge another… and melts as Azul pets his head. “Don’t mind me. I’m just enjoying the show.”

A pleased hum accentuate’s Floyd’s pleased blush, unsettling over his sadistic grin. He whips around. Crunch . His fist drives into his nose. And he just. Keeps. Swinging. It looks barbaric, wailing on a worm barely able to moan in pain. But it’s precise. Ribs! Pelvis– femur! Humerus , carpals. Fingers . He snaps those like wooden sticks, each joint splintered like a crippled lightning bolt. At least twice more, Floyd must use the spell to keep. The bastard. Awake.  

Abruptly, he stops. Elegantly, he dives back up to place a blood-stained watch over Azul’s waiting wrist. He nips his finger, grins as it flicks him, and then dives back down. It’s one, smooth motion—a predatory, primal swoop. As if he were one with the air as he was with the water. A ribbon of motion. Pure, primal grace. And so sweet. He rolls his eyes and smiles, admiring the brass against his cuff. It’s an antique. What a find. 

And what a cheapass.

“This was an Oro Blanco, by the way,” Azul flicks the cigar with the hastily-wrapped black label on to the sputter-screaming man. An ember sparks on his clothes, ignites into wildfire along the pools of strategically soaked skin. The Everclear burns with frightening speed. The smell of cooked flesh fills the area, as Robbie writhes and thrashes and gargles.  But he looks on, glasses shining unimpressed before the flames.

“Disgusting old man,” he drives the heavy cane tip into Robbie’s sternum. Drives hard enough to feel the bone splinter. The grease-stained wife-beater drowns in strangled chunks of boiling blood. But the thick clots can’t escape the throat fast enough. Unable to scream as he drowns in his own lifeblood, Robbie feels his skin crack from the heat. Pink muscle bursts from seared fissures. He can smell himself cooking. Perhaps it’s the panic, perhaps it’s the pain, but he begins to contort wildly, uncontrollably. A body’s final twitch of life before—

Floyd waves his pen. Robbie chokes as he’s robbed of the chance to die. Because he’s not allowed to leave so easily. Oh, they won’t stick around long…. But they’ll make him suffer long enough to make sure his tinderbox bar will be his coffin. 

“They’ll never know, you know,” Azul removes his glasses to look Robbie in the boiling pits where his eyes once sang their silent screams. “They’ll think you drank the alcohol equivalent to gasoline, stumbled into your bar, and bit your tongue off. And then the rubble crushed you. The. End.” 

No one will bother to look further. No one will avenge him. He’ll die in the smoke he once craved. The realization tears another gargling wail from the man…. But blue eyes only glitter with hellfire. “You underestimate pretty things, don’t you, Rob? That’s why you think they’re easy money….”

“You are pretty small, though,” Floyd plops his chin on Azul’s shoulder. “Like this, anyway.” His hands hook around his waist, dragging him closer. He doesn’t care about the slow gasps in the wheezing cries. He doesn’t like the smell, though. Doesn’t like the heat. He all but drags Azul off the chair, away from the fire. 

He just dangles, plopping his head back with a hum. “I’m still not our smallest.”

Not anymore.

Floyd hums back at him, drumming his fingers against Azul’s stomach. He drags him up to flip him around and bury him in his chest. Compliantly, he wraps his legs around his lover’s middle, letting himself be carried off into the night. By the way Floyd hunches around him further, he knows he’s pleased by the gesture….

Possessive and protective in one.

On their way out, Azul flicks his pen three times. Once to clean the blood from their outfits; once to remove their tracks; and a final flick makes Robbie gasp in one more lungful of smoke. And with that, he can contently settle into his lover’s neck. He nudges his nose against the old imprint of his teeth against Floyd’s steady pulse. 

“I’m assuming you teleported those signs home?” He drapes his arms gracefully over broad shoulders. 

“Mhm.” Floyd drags his cheek across his like a pleased cat. “Gonna give that pink one to Shrimpy.” 

“Cute,” he hums. Content silence spirals between them. People bolt past. Screams ring out of ‘fire, fire!!’ Smoke blocks out the moon. But no one pays any mind to the sweet couple doting on each other. Believe it or not, humans tend to look away from one lover being whisked away in the other’s arms. And it’s dark.Their more aquatic features are hidden by the cover of night.

“You think you can breathe underwater like this?” Floyd’s voice shatters his schemes, makes him focus on the rare, sheepish tint to the question.

“Oh? And why, pray tell, are you asking that, Dear?” He purrs.

“...You’re really small like this,” he mumbles. He squeezes Azul closer, fingers kneading at the small of his back. “Just. You’re usually bigger. Y’know?”

“Mm. I suppose I probably can—”

That’s all the encouragement Floyd needs.

Splash!

The last thing he thinks he hears is some smug little giggle about hogging him. Something about Jade. Revenge. Petty brotherly squabbles. But then sharp teeth skim over his lips, water bubbles around them, and his thoughts slip away in the slide of Floyd’s tongue against his. There’s no need to worry, after all….

He knows both of his other mates are fine.

They’re together, after all.

Some people were probably like "But where's Jade?!"

Oh we'll answer that eventually, don't you worry.

#Psychological Horror #Body Horror #Dark Themes--but mostly implied somehow #Oh yeah we're up to torture now (oops) #Floyd/Azul #Azul Ashengrotto/Floyd Leech #Azul Ashengrotto/Reader #Floyd Leech/Reader

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