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underestimated-heroine · 2 years

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3rd General Reference Post

(sorry if I reblog, it's only to keep from losing this to the sands of time! Also anyone's free to reblog or save this as is the mode on Tumblr Dot Com. Links go to my blog because it's the best, easy way I have to make sure I don't lose posts to deletion.)

General:

Jazz Hands

Bra sizing

What do you want me to do put them back?

Funniest Phenomenon in America

Groundhog Day

McSnatched

Oh my god there's a dolphin

They will steal even the skies from you

Way of the Househusband bags of white substances

Zendaya is Meechie

Block Apps' ads

Poot Lovato

Stolen microwave story

The internet's idea of helping people

Horses wouldn't be horses

Whiteman story

Indoor cats not cunty post

No tangible reason for people to starve

King Taejong fell from his horse

Joke even stem majors will laugh at

Can't cook ramen also might be an alien vid

Heart Power over Horse Power

Onion with a Butt

Teen Titans Quirked Up Green Guy

Absolutely Devastating Typo

Moon Moon

How many Elmo's must die

Teletubbies Chicken Post

Apparently this would really get truckers fired

Treasure under the road

Orange joe

How to draw ref

Gundam Wing Anime Dramatic Nonsense Vid

Cummingtonite

Anti-NFT anthem

Consuming Media Isn't A Zero-Sum Game

Acacia trees across Africa

Whales have memes

We are Not American Hawaii video

What happens if you take ur iphone to somewhere other than an approved iPhone stode

Sociology of antis

Best of Robert Pattinson

Undercover cops in the US

Violets are Purple Tumblr Poetry

Squirrel costume video

Doctor vs. Furry Artist Comic

Some people cry when they're stressed and that's okay

Pokemon Brock Raised His Siblings

Naruto Office Post...

In Yunmeng, the Night before a wedding comic

Fiona transformation scene shitty movie details

I love the way men love post

Gorilla Glue Logo

Baby Oil Condoms

After watching the Shrek film

Left-handed bigotry tags story

Dancing to Nightcore Vid

I'm going to fuck your dad and give him a child he actually loves

Malcolm in the Mittle

Medieval homespun clothes post

Death Note Ace Attorney Heritage Post

Why Pluto Isn't a Planet

Wolf Anti-Cigarette Ad

Witcher Costumes & Posturing

Humans of NY post her mother always new Alex

I'm like 9/11 but a girl

The US Prison System

Jesus had a vampire twin sister

My dad after the moon landing pic

What's up with claymation

3 of your favorite childhood cartoon characters

Personal:

Literally Every Tumblr Update

Manga Pupils

Hal and Peenyo

Casey Frey Videos Last an Eternity

Go forth and fling shit

The optimism of willfully useless anime characters

Writing advice lean into the bad shit

Diego and Rutherford

Gajeel's Function

What ghost me would say to the alligator who ate me

9 years old letters

You don't owe anyone info about your identity

Dark Plank

Least Favorite Recurring Fairy Tail Moment

When Laxus Embarrassed Himself

Basketball gif with my addition about Frank & Steve

The feminine urge didn't set us back...

Sniper red dot is my shadow

ANThropology

Natsu and Gray's Reaction to Erza and the 100 monsters

TomCardy Business Man tiktok

Tumblr said I'm into weird humor like this now

When I was called a "weirdo cunt"

You got two sides to this site

Healthy Boundaries Include Forgiveness

You are the SUN!

#you've underestimated the heroine

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b3tweenworlds · 3 years

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Random. Coffee scoops and serving spoons/ladels. A 1" butt chisel, a tip-bent knife, and curved shop-ground cabinet scrapers, plus polishing. Simple tools, traditional edge tools.

1st picture: the bowls of coffee scoops. Red Gum from a downed invasive exotic in a coastal restoration site, Gaviota Coast; Acacia, same; and Pear from a damaged tree in a small, old orchard on San Juan Island. Fresh cut Pear wood smells like candy : ).

2nd pic: the same Acaia and Red Gum coffee scoops.

3rd pic: Avocado wood ladles carved from crooks such that the grain in the upturned bowl is strong. Avocado trees get shockingly deep pruning, so I'd gathered some logs from the Avo orchard/ranch I was living in at the time. *Avocado wood has an absolutely gorgeous spicy scent : ). I carved some handboards from the Avo wood as well.

4th pic: Walnut from a tree that was downed up in the Berkeley hills. Also got some pretty little handboards out of the little Walnut rounds that I salvaged.

5th pic: big Avo serving spoon, and a wee Lemon wood coffee scoop. The Lemon was from a neighboring avo/citrus orchard, and it one of my favorite woods to carve. Buttery under a chisel, and the cuts are pretty much polished from the get-go. I had a hard time finding pieces in the right dimensions to get even small spoons though--smol trees.

#handing out little pieces of love #Home #Me

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smoothieforhealth · 4 years

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How the Green Smoothie Was Discovered

My husband, our two younger children and I have been on the raw food diet for more than eleven years. We were able to heal all of our incurable, life-threatening diseases. However, after several years of being raw, each one of us began to feel like we had reached a plateau where our healing process stopped and even somewhat began to go backwards. Since then a burning question in my heart grew stronger every day. The question was, "Is there anything missing in our diet?" The answer would come right away: "Nope. Nothing could be better than a raw food diet."

Yet, however tiny, the unwanted signs of less than perfect health kept surfacing, in minor but noticeable symptoms like a wart on a hand, a gray hair, etc. that instantly brought doubts and questions about the completeness of the raw food diet. Finally when my children complained about increased sensitivity in their teeth, I reached a state when I couldn't think about anything else. I drove everybody around me crazy with my constant discussion of what could possibly be missing.

In my eager quest, I started looking at every single food that exists for humans. As my grandmother used to say, 'Seek and ye shall find'. After many wrong guesses, I finally found the right one. Whew! I found one food group that particularly matches ALL human nutritional needs: greens. The truth is, we in my family were not eating enough greens. Moreover, we did not like them. We knew that greens are important, but we never heard anywhere exactly how much greens we need in our diet, just a vague recommendation to eat as much as possible.

In order to find out how much greens we need to eat, I decided to study the eating habits of chimpanzees, since they are the closest creatures to human beings. According to recent scientific research, they share 99.4 % of the same genes with humans.(1) I am not trying to say that humans developed from chimpanzees. I am simply grateful for the reality that there is another species in this world that closely resembles us. There are thousands of chimpanzees living in Gombe Valley, Africa. The most remarkable fact is that majority of those chimps of Gombe, as opposed to humans, have not been touched by civilization. I went online and purchased $300 worth of books and DVDs about chimpanzees and their diet and lifestyle. I wrote a letter with my questions to the Jane Goodall University. I traveled to three big zoos that have chimpanzees and spoke to many people who feed them and take care of them every day. I discovered so much fascinating information about chimpanzees that I totally changed my view of them. They became one of my favorite beings. My research gave me a solid idea that humans are supposed to eat a lot more greens than I would have guessed.

As long as I can remember, in books and pictures I always saw chimpanzees depicted with a banana or an orange in their hands. That definitely misled me to the assumption that they eat only fruit. To know that greens compose almost half of their diet became a revelation for me. As far as root vegetables are concerned, the chimpanzees don't eat any of them unless there is a famine and nothing green is left. Based on how much fruit we consumed in my family (about 4 or 5 pounds per day per person) I estimate that we needed to eat about two good sized bunches of dark leafy greens per person per day, and probably reduce the consumption of nuts, seeds and roots.

Another thing I noticed is that the chimpanzees really love greens. I remember watching at the zoos, how excited they became when given fresh acacia branches, young tender palm tree leaves or kale. I was so inspired looking at them that I went to the nearby bushes and tried to eat acacia leaves, but the truth was that the green leaves were not very palatable for me and that presented another problem. To eat greens was always more like a duty for me. I would think to myself, I have to have my greens. Some days I would "cheat" by juicing my greens. I would quickly drink a cup of green juice and consider myself good for a couple of days. Or I would make a delicious raw dressing and sink my greens into that dressing. That was another way for me to enjoy greens. But I could never imagine sitting and eating two bunches of kale or spinach.

The more I read about the nutritional content of greens. the more I became convinced that greens are the most important food for humans. If I could only find a way to enjoy them enough to consume the optimal quantity needed to become perfectly healthy!

I tried countless times to force myself to eat large amounts of greens in the form of salad, or just by itself, only to discover that I was not physically able to do that. After about two cups of shredded greens I would have either heartburn or nausea. All along, I was aware that my body was missing the nutrients that are available only from greens.

One day, while reading a book on biology, I became intrigued by the amazingly tough composition of plants. Apparently cellulose, the main constituent of plants, has one of the strongest molecular structures on the planet, because it is one of the longest and most complex carbohydrate molecules. From this I understood that in order to assimilate the many needed nutrients from greens, the human body needs to be able to break down these tough structures. However, cellulose is insoluble. That means in order to get nutrients, its structure has to be broken into the tiniest pieces, preferably down to the molecules. In simple words, we need to chew our greens to a creamy consistency in order to get the benefits.

Secondly, in order to digest the released minerals and vitamins, hydrochloric acid in the stomach has to be very strong, pH between 1 and 2.

These two conditions are absolutely, vitally, necessary to the assimilation of nutrients from greens. Apparently, I did not chew my greens well enough and possibly did not have a high enough level of hydrochloric acid in my stomach.(2) As a result, I experienced unpleasant signs of indigestion, after pushing myself to eat greater quantities of greens. Hence, I didn't like eating greens altogether!

However, after more than a century of eating mostly heavily processed foods, modern people lost their ability to chew normally. Our jaws became so narrow that even after extracting our wisdom teeth, we still need to wear braces.(3) Our jaw muscles became too weak to thoroughly chew rough fiber. In addition to these compromising conditions, many people have lots of fillings, fake or missing teeth. These conditions make chewing greens to a necessary consistency virtually impossible.

That is why I decided to try to "chew" my greens in the Vitamix blender. (4) First I blended a bunch of kale with water. I was thinking, I will just close my eyes and nose and drink it. But as soon as I opened the lid, I closed it back again quickly because I felt queasy from the strong, wheatgrassy smell. That dark green, almost black mixture was totally unconsumable. After some brainstorming, I added several bananas and blended it again. And that was when the magic began! When I slowly and with some trepidation removed the lid and sniffed the air, to my greatest surprise this bright green concoction smelled very pleasant. I cautiously tasted a sip and was exhilarated, because it was better than tasty! Not too sweet, not too bitter, it was the most unusual taste I had ever tried, and I could describe it in one word: freshness.

In four hours I emptied all I blended, which was one bunch of kale, four bananas and a quart of water. I felt wonderful and made more. Triumphantly, this evening I realized that this was the first time in my life that I consumed two good-sized bunches of greens in one day. Plus, I ate them without any oil and salt! And I enjoyed the whole experience.

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acaciafollows · 4 years

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Ace/Alex for the bantz bye

why would you do this.

Send me a ship and I’ll tell you (Expecting Edition) | acacia & alex. ( @tastethediff )

Who cries when they find out about the pregnancy: lmao, acacia. and let me tell you, my guy, they are absolutely not happy tears. alex actually finds out from liam, who found her having a full on mental breakdown in the bathroom when alex was off doing his 9-5, and he isn’t necessarily... allowed any reaction other than concern after that, in his own mind.

Who says it’s a boy and who says it’s a girl: ace prays it’s a boy. alex genuinely doesn’t care, he’s one of the peak “as long as the baby is happy and healthy” type of people, but he low-key pulls for a girl.

Who suggests ridiculous names: alex, mostly to make ace laugh. my guy offers literally every type of tree name there could possibly be, even with in some other languages. oak is ace’s personal favorite, mostly because can you IMAGINE their baby in a professor oak get up? starts crawling and the first activity lil’ thing does is have to crawl to their first pokemon.

Who suggests using a family name: neither, really. it’s very much a new start for the both of them, to make their own legacy and their own future. holding anything back in that way seems to work against that.

Who says ‘veto’ to the most names: neither veto, honestly. despite ace being absolutely fucking erratic and terrified the entire time due to a plethora of reasons, alex insists on making it... fun. lighthearted. it is a very, very serious thing that they’re about to do, but he wants to make the entire experience... not anxiety-ridden. fun. a journey, together. they’ll have to have their important, real talks, but when it comes to something like names or anything that could ever be ridiculous, neither are going to reject the other unless a name holds something very, very negative.

Who reads the most ‘What To Expect’ books: alex. ace makes fun of him. and reads them when he’s off at work because he’s not going to be better than her, goddamnit, also so it settles in a little easier. it’s less terrifying. it’s more real. they’re more connected. and they’re literally on the same page.

Who insists on having a ‘gender reveal’ party: ace, but with the stipulation it’s horror-themed and is an absolute shit show. the cake is the zombie baby from dawn of the dead. the gender reveal is in some saw-trap recreation that won’t actually kill a person but is just gross and weird. ace is DELIGHTED the entire time.

Who thinks ‘Maybe a home birth is a good idea’: neither. don’t you dare wish that evil on them, ricky bobby.

Who is in charge when it comes to decorating the nursery: it’s truly and honestly a complete collaboration. alex tries to hand it off to ace, but she genuinely wants his involvement and he can’t say no to it. they’re both artists, they’re both have feelings and things they want involved. it’s nerdy and musical and soft and warm and comfortable and just a place of Good Fucking Vibes.

Who talks to the unborn baby the most: to the world’s knowledge, alex. in actuality, ace. alex sings to the baby a lot. like a lot a lot. reads to the baby, tries to prepare the baby for all the funny and wild things in the world. ace doesn’t shut up when she’s alone. singing, making promises, telling the baby and convincing herself that nothing bad will ever, ever happen.

Who suggests having sex to kick start labor: the answer is acacia and i am so, so sorry, alex.

Who cries the most when the baby is born: it’s a goddamn moment for BOTH of them. and honestly, it wasn’t something that either of them had ever expected or prepared for until they learned she was actually, really pregnant. ace refuses to cry in front of people, but she tries-- she tries so goddamn hard, which leads to the most humiliating pictures after since her makeup is a mess and she has a raging headache from keeping in her dumbass sobs. alex has had a fucking life. a journey. and look at where he’s at, what he’s accomplished-- it’s all phenomenal and unbelievable and yet, here’s this little human that he created and he cannot fucking believe it, at all.

#lily-whitewitch #pregnancy tw #( meme. )

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ellocentipede · 4 years

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Arcana Pumpkins Crave... Reviews!

I thought that I was the kind of person who could not wear pumpkin perfumes—they were either too spicy (lookin’ at you, cinnamon!) or too buttery, or too something. Leave it to Arcana to pull my pumpkin-spice-perfume-loathing self out of my mire of self pity with her Pumpkins Crave collection. They’re all lovely in different ways, but Pumpkins Crave Quietude is my favorite of the bunch. I highly recommend it for those who typically do not do well with spice notes and who are looking for a seasonal pumpkin scent.

Pumpkins Crave Quietude

Scent description: Soft vanilla, white amber, white musk, Mysore sandalwood, sweet pumpkin, and a tiny pinch of white pepper.

This may possibly be the pumpkin scent of my dreams (it’s a close tie with Moonalisa’s The Rumpkin!). It’s not a traditional spicy pumpkin scent—I would call it fragrant instead. It’s fragrant, dry sandalwood and glowing, sweet, musky pumpkin that reads like a pumpkin-scented beeswax candle. The sandalwood and pumpkin complement each other beautifully, creating a scent that does evoke contentment and peace. The amber comes out more with time, lending some sparkly depth.

Pumpkins Crave Trees

Scent description: Gently spiced pumpkin cookies with Arcana Wildcraft's Trees accord (jammy fir absolute, sugared pine, earthy black spruce, Canadian fir needle, a touch of Atlas cedarwood).

This one is like a dry Christmas tree (that’s beginning to lose its needles) with gentle wafts of pumpkin spice blowing around it on a breeze. It’s an unusual and beautiful scent. It loses some of its starkness with time and becomes richer as the sweet, fragrant pumpkin gains more prominence. The trees and the pumpkin blend together more, instead of being like two opposing notes sitting side-by-side.

Pumpkins Crave Bread

Scent description: Sweet pumpkin flesh with warm, baking bread, barley malt, cassia, maple candy, and pumpkin spice.

Warm, crusty, dark, baking bread with a honey glaze on top and a gentle sprinkle of pumpkin spice. Beautiful. At first I smell a good bit of the sticky sweet maple candy (sometimes maple takes over scents for me and all I smell is maple syrup), but in time it melts into the rest of the blend like honey.

Pumpkins Crave Treats

Scent description: Rum-laced caramel, cane sugar, pumpkin custard, and delicate, vanilla-infused marshmallows.

Mmmm on first sniff this smells like a warm, spiced rice pudding to my nose! It's creamy and cozy and comforting. Oof this smells delicious. There's an Irish eatery here in Mobile that has a bread pudding with an Irish whiskey sauce that is amazing, and this smells like a spiced pumpkin creme brulee doused in that sauce.

Pumpkins Crave Honey

Scent description: Spiced calabaza and beeswax candles smothered in acacia honey, buckwheat honey, and mead.

Gentle, dusty pumpkin spice sweetened with thick, creamy, gooey, golden honey. The beeswax is warm, sticky, a little smoky, and is lending the "dusty" vibe. This is a lovely classic and complex pumpkin blend that is sure to be a crowd pleaser. It's neither too spicy nor too sweet. Wonderful.

Pumpkins Crave Peaches

Scent description: Glowing golden musk with caramelized peach, maple sugar, and softly spiced pumpkin cakes.

This sounded like such a delicious and offbeat combo, and I was looking forward to trying it! It's wonderful. It smells like a warm peach cobbler, honest to goodness. The peaches are potent and wonderful and delicious as Arcana's peaches always are, and the warm, spiced pumpkin produces an effect not unlike a syrupy cobbler hot out of the oven waiting for an ice cream topper. I can't believe how good this is!

Pumpkins Crave Pointe Shoes

Scent description: Creamy pumpkin and sweet Korintje cinnamon with Arcana Wildcraft’s Two Finger Ballet (a delicate blend of French vanilla crème, white amber, sugared vanilla beans, caramel, and the smallest dab of opium).

I haven't tried Pointe Shoes on its own, but it's now on my wishlist! This is a lovely and innocent creamy pumpkin, with just the tiniest hint of fine, dry cinnamon, with lashings of vanilla cream. This is a cool, delicious iced pumpkin latte without the coffee.

Pumpkins Crave Ganesha

Scent description: Pumpkin spice and sweet pumpkin with Arcana Wildcraft's Ganesh (A large, joyous snoutful of coconut cake is snugly wrapped in honey, vanilla, Indonesian clove, green coconut, and a warm blend of spices).

I've never tried Arcana's fan favorite Ganesha on its own, so this is a brand new experience for me. It's lovely! At first I get a punchy, smooth, and fragrant clove, golden sticky-sweet honey, and spices, but the clove quickly settles in and allows the honeyed coconut cake to shine amidst the spics. This is gorgeous and now Ganesha is on my wishlist!

Pumpkins Crave Resins

Scent description: Gilded amber, black amber, 10 year old labdanum absolute, black tea, and boozy golden gourd.

This is a glorious blend for Halloween. It smells like a dark and opulent parlour alight with glowing jack o'lanterns. The resins are plush, moody, and a little smoky. A brooding and grown up seasonal blend!

Arcana Craves scents may be found at https://arcanacraves.com

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archerwindsor · 3 years

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Holiday Gift Guide 2020

Holiday gift guide

Strap in. It’s the holidays—and that means it’s time to get our shopping on! If you’re like most of us, we always seem to run out of time to get it all done. Did you just say, “A little help here?” We think you did. And we heard you loud and clear! Girl, this year, we’ve done all the – ahem — leg work for you with our quintessential holiday gift guide that has something for everyone on your list. And guess what, they’re almost all under $50 (Hey, we know everyone is all about the ‘peace and joy’ until their next credit card statement arrives). So, all that shopping stress? Relax. NBD.

Honestly, sometimes less expensive gifts are harder to find. I mean, we don’t want to be all scrooge-y with our friends – we’re just trying to stick to a budget and spread joy. So don’t even think about re-gifting elves on shelves, ugly sweaters or years-old fruitcake this year. Our LSF holiday gift guide includes all our faves in Fitness, Nutrition and Self Care. Your friends and family will love these gems — and because they are so awesome, no one will guess the (oh, so affordable) price tag! And that means we get to give you the gift of confidence!

FITNESS Under $50

LSF Foam Roller

We’ve been flexing on our LSF 2-in-1 Foam Roller a lot lately, and for good reason! Foam rolling is one of the best ways to maximize workout efforts and reenergize your muscles. The marble design on our roller is kinda dreamy and its multi-zone outer and soft inner layers will def improve post-workout recovery time. When you can give a roller that’s this insanely cute and effective, I mean, c’mon. What elf can you ask for?

Shorts + Tank Workout Sets

OK, so cute. They’ll step into this two-piece bra and workout short set and be prepared for their best work out in 5-ever! The stylish padded bra is both comfy and supportive, and the shorts are super flattering for any shape. We love the stretchy material because it controls our tummy and lifts our booty while we sleigh it!

LSF Heart Hoodie

Cozy, soft, and super chic. This must-give cropped hoody is so on-trend, they’ll look fabulously hip while trimming the tree or playing Reindeer Hat Horseshoe. Made from high-quality combed & ring-spun cotton and poly fleece, this neutral-colored crop hoodie is cut longer than most and so versatile! We promise it will look ah-mazing with anything they pair with it. Oh, and best of all, it features our LSF heart logo, so every time they wear it, they’ll be reminded how much you love them. Awe!

Pants + Longsleeve Workout Sets

Even though the weather has taken a less than balmy turn, we’re all still waking up to crush those early morning workouts. With this lightweight long-sleeved compression workout set, they can kiss Jack Frost buh-bye. The material is breathable and comfy, and the fit is so fire. Let’s just say it hugs all the right places. Yasss! They’ll thank you with a high-five and a warm-yet-bewitching smile.

Step up box

You know they’re on your list. Those friends who claim they can’t get past the infamous fitness “plateau.” Well, you can really help them step up their workouts by giving them a fitness box they can add to their regime. Step up boxes will work every inch of their legs and build stability, strength, and coordination! This one’s really sturdy (there’s like a lot of steel and wood holding this bad boy together) and features a rubber top, so it’s super stable and there’s no fear of slippage! With this added oomph to their workout, they’ll crank through to the next level of fitness in no time!

Posture Corrector

Serious. We’re kind of obsessed with this gift because of the 10,000 hours every dang day we are hunched over our computers working (except when we’re working out, of course). After a while, our shoulders droop and we get all hump back-y. We love this adjustable posture corrector gizmo because well, first of all, it’s pink. And secondly, for a contraption, it’s super incognito and easy to wear. It fits under your clothes so no one will be the wiser as they secretly improve problems such as scoliosis, spinal side bend, lumbago, and just plain ol’ back pain. So be a hero to your co-workers who are always griping about their aching backs on Zoom calls and give them the gift of relief!

Ankle Weights

We know. Some peeps in your tribe think these are so extra. But these one-pound ankle and wrist weight sets on our holiday gift guide could be a game-changer for their fitness journey. Available in pink or blue, they are super styling with a soft silicone, skin-friendly texture. But most importantly, they increase exercise intensity (and badassery) while burning fat and building a cray amount of muscle strength and endurance. They also can be majorly beneficial for those whose fitness regiment consists of a simple daily walk.

NUTRITION Under $50

Uniquely You!

We could all use a good detox every now and then, especially coming out of the holidays. This gift of gluten-free Uniquely You! Daily Wellness Gummies supplements will give your loved ones the little extra push they need to stay healthy and help rid their bods of all that gook they ingested during the holidays. Chew on, my queens. Chew on.

Instantpot

Ah, the world of Instantpot-ting. If you aren’t yet familiar with the Instantpot, it’s a multi-purpose, customizable cooking machine with a cult-like following! This magical pressure cooker-slash-steamer-slash-slow cooker will allow friends and family to whip up an endless array of simple healthy recipes, like yogurt, rice, pasta, soups, chicken, overnight oatmeal, steamed veggies… I mean, we can go on infinitum. The point is, this is an appliance worth giving (and getting if you still don’t have one!), and you’ll likely get invited to dinner that will be absolutely delish.

Holiday Survival Guide

It’s beginning to look a lot like… a big hot mess. Our Holiday Survival Guide is the perfect present for your friends who have a hard time doing Christmas: their tree lights are tangled, the stockings have gone missing, the dog ate the pfeffernusse, and all they really want is to do is yell, “Bah humbug.” Welp, it’s time to spark the joy again. With 62 pages of décor tips, healthy recipes, workouts, checklists, relaxation essentials, and much more, our LSF Holiday Survival Guide will help them let go of their holiday stress and get back on track in no time. We give a resounding holly jolly to that!

Storage Canisters (come in colors or white!)

It’s been a minute since we’ve been this excited about storage canisters. But these handy-dandy ceramic containers are soooo pretty that they landed a coveted position on our holiday gift guide! Bam! We love the color selection on these beauties – white or muted green, dusty rose, and slate gray. The lids are acacia wood, making for quite the stylish display. Perfect for organizing and storing tea, coffee, sugar, flour, cereal, beans, rice, spices, herbs, and your favorite healthy snacks like nuts or dried coconut chips.

French Press

Some of us can get so aggro when we don’t have our coffee. And who needs moody friends? That’s why we say “oui” to this fabulous French Press. This eight-cup press will give you great flavorful brew in just four minutes. Made of glass with gold accents, it’s so elegant, their friends will assume they’re coffee connoisseurs, when in fact, they just need their caffeine like, now. Those in the know say that regular moderate coffee and tea intake reduces the risk of stroke and heart disease, as well as neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s. We also say “oui, oui” to that!

Wine Opener

You had them at Wine. And then Opener. And then Electric. OK, bottom line is that this miraculous tool is pretty dope because it gives the wine enthusiasts on your list the ability to easily pull the cork from the bottle and access the glorious grape. Need we say more? OK, alllllsoooo… drinking wine in moderation is good for you! Experts say it provides antioxidants, supports longevity, and helps protect against heart disease and harmful inflammation. OK, now we’re done. Oh, and cheers!

SELF CARE Under $50

LSF Planner

Well, it’s been a year. We think we can all agree that we’re happy to put the apocalypse that was 2020 behind us. Done and done. We’re excited to help all you busy babes set goals for next year with the LSF Planner. Our 2021 #GOALS Planner helps all the Reese Witherspoons on your holiday gift list design their dream life with vision board building and goal setting; organizing and daily planning; monthly and weekly overviews; fun stickers and artwork; motivational messages from Katie; healthy habit builder; and so much more. And all that comes in full-color pages with a pretty soft peach cover, bound with rose gold metal wire. And Reese will especially appreciate that it also includes laminated, color-coded month tabs.

Mini fridge

Beyond adorable. Really. This retro pink mini fridge is so cute we just want to pinch its little handles. And it’s portable! In fact, when you gift it to your friends, they’re gonna want to carry it with them wherever they go. And who couldn’t use their own personalized fridge RN, what with all the jars and tubes of cosmetics, La Croix cans, and elixirs that we all use on the daily. This fridge even has a hot mode that allows you to warm things up if needed. So if ever there was a perfect gift for new moms on your holiday gift list (who may be stockpiling breast milk), this would be it.

Plush Fleece Indoor/Outdoor Slippers

The weather’s cold, and that means our little tootsies need some extra love. These premium fleece slippers with a cross band design are cozy, chic and elegant, making them the perfect gift for family and friends. They also have sturdy-yet-comfy waterproof foam soles so you can venture outside to grab the mail without your feet getting nippy!

Voluspa Candles

This gift is for all of your overscheduled rigorously organized friends who need to just RELAX for a hot minute and breathe in the amazing scents of this beautiful Voluspa candle selection. From Goji Torroco Orange, Santiago Huckleberry, and Panjore Lychee to Japanese Plum Bloom, Moso Bamboo and Baltic Amber, these glorious fragrances will gently waft by them, allowing them to wind down and transfix on the flickering flame. Aaaah.

FAVORITES Over $50

Silk Pillowcase Set

Newest obsession: silk pillowcases. Did you know these pillowcases provide less friction on skin and hair which prevents irritation or damage, they’re a way cleaner sleep surface AND they’re way less drying for your skin or hair. Overall, they’re a game changer and a perf gift for your bestie who wants to get her beauty sleep. Literally.

SMEG Toaster

Okay… HI. How cute is this SMEG toaster!!! Totally get that a toaster might seem like a pretty random gift, but we had to add it to our holiday gift guide. Can you image the kitchen glow-up with this toaster added to it? All you need next is a pink fridge and you’re set.

Cosori Air Fryer

I absolutely love my air fryer. I can cook veggies in minutes or make sweet potato fries totally guilt-free. It’s one of those appliances that you might not think is super necessary, but once you have one, you don’t know how your kitchen didn’t have one before. I love this one because it’s super easy to use, not too big and looks super sleek.

Olaplex Hair Set

All the hair self-care! Okay so I struggle with my hair sometimes (as you guys know, washing is kept v minimal) and overall I struggle with dryness cause from my hypo. I am absolutely loving Olaplex products, they keep my hair so soft and shiny and tbh I don’t think I’ll ever stop using it. This hair set is such a great gift for any babe in your life who wants to up their hair game!

Happy Holidays Babe!

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carmineri · 5 years

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SATURDAY SIX: 6 of the MOST UNIQUE Dining Experiences at Walt Disney World

This week’s SATURDAY SIX takes a look at some of the Most Unique Dining Experiences at Walt Disney World. Nobody enjoys eating at “The World” more than us. From trying next level bonkers hotdogs at the Grand Flo and Animal Kingdom poop snacks, to eating refined cuisine found at Be Our Guest Restaurant and ‘Ohana, food may have actually replaced attractions as what we look forward to the most on our Disney vacations. Now it can be expensive to eat onsite, no doubt, but Disney also offers many unique, one-of-a-kind experiences you will never get back at home. These meals won’t just fill you up, they’ll give you memories. So today we’re going to take a look at some of most unique dining experiences on property, starting with…

# 6 – Sanaa (Animal Kingdom Lodge)

The Animal Kingdom Lodge may be our favorite resort on Disney property. Among other things AKL has to offer; it has rooms in which guests can look out at live animals, has one of the best collection of onsite restaurants at WDW including Boma and Jiko, and also has authentic African art found throughout the resort. Did we forget to mention zebra domes? You can never forget zebra domes. While AKL may be off the beaten path for most WDW guests, one restaurant worth going well out of your way to experience is Sanaa. Located in Kidani Village, Sanaa is the only restaurant at AKL which has a view looking out onto the beautiful savanna and all the animals. The decor of the restaurant is wonderful, with the chairs having backs echoing African tribal shields and lighting fixtures based on nests that Weaver birds would make. The dining room floor has beautiful representations of acacia trees while the entire room is filled with art, which is appropriate since Sanaa is the Swahili word for artwork. Sanaa is hands-down one of the most gorgeous restaurants in Orlando.

Sanaa also happens to be the home of one of the all time greatest foods at WDW: the Indian-Style Bread Service. With five different types of breads and nine varieties of “accompaniments” (which may or may not be the Swahili word for dipping sauces) this is one appetizer that needs to be on your Disney Bucket List. The rest of the menu is worth exploring as well, with many unique options that are far removed from chicken fingers, hamburgers, and pre-made flatbreads,

Check-in desk at Sanaa. (photo by Lindsay Dubose)

Pro Tip: Tell the check-in desk you’ll wait for a window seat.

Indian-style bread service at Sanaa. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Part of the Sanaa menu, including listing out what all the “accompaniments” are. I personally can never remember which ones I like the most, but when all 9 are in order I like the middle 3. My sweet spot. (photo by Captain Cruiseline Scott Sanders of the world famous @TheDCLBlog)

Tandori Shrimp. (photo by @TheDCLBlog)

One item we love getting at both lunch and dinner is the Potjie Inspired dish. The menu describes it as: “Choose one from the Journey – Goan Seafood Curry, Butter Chicken, Braised Beef, or Spicy Durban Shrimp. Choose one from the Harvest – Chickpea Wat, Aloo Masala, Paneer Tikka, Lentil Dhal, or Cilantro-Coconut Vegetables. Served with scented Basmati Rice.”

Potjie Inspired. (photo by Brandon Glover)

One thing to also keep in mind is that Sanaa has a lounge which allows walk-ups if you can’t secure an ADR. There is a full bar and you’re allowed to order off the regular menu.

Sanaa Lounge. (photo by @TheDCLBlog)

Tusker beer on draft. (photo by Brandon Glover)

If you are absolutely insane, like some people we know, you can go to the bar and order the Indian-style bread service to go and take it to the pool area.

Ultimate blogger move.

# 5 – AMC Dine-In Theaters (Disney Springs)

I have two places in Orlando where I like to see movies. One is the true IMAX screen at Pointe Orlando on International Drive. There is nothing like seeing a special effects laden blockbuster on a true IMAX screen. Nothing. The other place I’ll catch a film is at the AMC Dine-In Theatres at Disney Springs. With a shockingly good menu along with a full bar, this is how movies were meant to be enjoyed…with people bringing you stuff! Instead of the usual movie theater where there is literally nothing to do while waiting for your movie, the lobby of the Dine-In Theatres features the MacGuffins bar and lounge. At MacGuffins you can enjoy drinks along with being able to order off the food menu. Inside the actual theater, guests are seated with a table in front of them and a call button for your server. There is no minimum purchase, and you can even just order popcorn and soda (or nothing if you so desire.) Disney Springs has a bowling alley (Splitsville) and a movie theater that both serve food and drinks that are as good or better than many onsite restaurants. Don’t overlook them.

AMC Dine-In Theatres. (photo by Brandon Glover)

A beer at MacGuffins. From personal experience, this makes movies like A Wrinkle In Time or Skyscraper MUCH easier to sit through. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Southern style chicken tenders. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Inside a Dine-In theater. (photo by Brandon Glover)

The button to call your server. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Pizza. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Oh, the kids want to see The Grinch for the third time? No problem there. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Popcorn and Coke Freestyle soda, with unlimited refills. (photo by Brandon Glover)

# 4 – 50’s Prime Time Cafe (Disney Hollywood Studios)

50’s Prime Time Cafe at DHS is one of the few interactive restaurants at Disney, and by that we mean the diners are part of the “show.” The entire restaurant is themed to an old timey kitchen, complete with black and white TVs. With chicken noodle soup, meatloaf, Mom’s old fashioned pot roast, and Grandma’s chicken pot pie, the menu is themed to home cookin’ meals that many of us had growing up. The servers are always in character, such as “Cousin Lilly” or “Uncle Bob,” and will playfully nag you during the meal, so don’t forget to eat those green beans! With great theming, a tasty menu, and the chance to possibly see a family member get an “airplane” of food brought to their mouth, 50’s Prime Time has to be experienced at least once because there is nothing quite like it in your hometown.

50’s Prime Time Cafe. (photo by Kristi Fredericks)

Inside Prime Time Cafe. (photo by Disney Photography Icon Tom Bricker. You can read Tom’s review of 50’s Prime Time Cafe over at Disney Tourist Blog)

TV at 50’s Prime Time Cafe. (photo by Joseph Machado of Machado Farms, home of your theme park’s finest candles and soaps)

Stuffed pork chop. (photo by Joseph Machado)

This fried chicken is as good as it looks. (photo by Joseph Machado)

Dessert at Prime Time, but only after you finish your vegetables! (photo by Joseph Machado)

Chocolate cake. (photo by Joseph Machado)

You did it! (photo by Joseph Machado)

# 3 – Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater (Disney Hollywood Studios)

We admit that the menu at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at DHS is not going to earn any Michelin stars. In fact the food would have a hard time cracking the top half of WDW sit down restaurants. However, this list is about unique experiences and Sci-Fi delivers that and then some. The restaurant simulates diners being at a ’50s drive-in movie theater at night, and does so spectacularly. Guests are seated in a faux classic American car, which is an attraction in and of itself. Meanwhile all the cars are facing a giant movie screen playing classic clips from the 1950s. Our best bet? Get some appetizers and a couple milkshakes and just enjoy yourself. Or go for desserts, because the S’mores brownie and ice cream along with the house-made candy bar are legit. The Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater is what immersive theming is all about. The food may not be memorable, but the experience itself is something you will remember for years to come. Telling people back at home, “you won’t believe where we ate at…”

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater. (photo by Brandon Glover)

E-Ticket dining booth. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Inside Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Dinner and a show… kinda. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Sci-Fi appetizer sampler. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Drive-in bbq burger. (photo by Megan Stump)

Veggie Burger.

S’mores Shake. (photo by Brandon Glover)

S’mores brownie and ice cream. (photo by Megan Stump)

House-made sci-fi candy bar. (photo by Megan Stump)

The candy bar was cookies and cream mousse, chocolate ganache, and chocolate sauce. Was TERRIFIC. (photo by Megan Stump)

# 2 – Whispering Canyon Cafe (Wilderness Lodge)

Similar to 50’s Prime Time, the severs at Whispering Canyon Cafe can be fully committed to a “performance.” Meaning: this is not the place to come for a quiet and relaxing meal. However, mixed in with all the hootin’ and hollerin’ is one of our favorite meals at WDW because Whispering Canyon offers the All-You-Care-To-Enjoy Skillet (which will be described from this point on as the all you can eat skillet, because we’re not insane.) With ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, sausage and more, this skillet is what we call mighty fine eatin’! Whispering Canyon also offers a vegan-friendly skillet that contains items such as Beyond Meat sausage and Gardein chick’n. In fact, with this one dish Whispering Canyon went from one of the worst restaurants at WDW for vegans to one of the best. It’s that good. Even better, besides the all you can eat skillets there is all you can drink milkshakes! Kids will absolutely love Whispering Canyon because of the over the top atmosphere, including the well known bit of what happens when you ask for ketchup. Adults will enjoy it because of the tasty vittles.

Whispering Canyon Cafe. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Waiting area at Whispering Canyon. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Some of the Whispering Canyon seating. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Booth seating at Whispering Canyon overlooking the Wilderness Lobby. (photo by Brandon Glover)

All you can eat lunch skillet. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Vegan friendly skillet. (photo by Brandon Glover)

There’s even a breakfast skillet! (photo by @Christie0408)

There are other items on the menu besides the skillet, but c’mon now, you’re here for the skillet! (photo by Brandon Glover)

Ask for enough refills and you may get the LARGE soda….(photo by Brandon Glover)

I did finish that soda by the way.

Anyone ask for ketchup? (photo by Brandon Glover)

# 1 – Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue (Fort Wilderness)

If you haven’t done the Hoop Dee Doo Revue yet, stop reading immediately and book an ADR. We’ll wait here for you.

Back? Good. Now Walt Disney World is filled with wonderful shows, from Festival of the Lion King to Finding Nemo: The Musical to the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, but Hoop Dee Doo Revue blows them all away. It’s funny, entertaining for all ages, and has songs you’ll be humming to yourself long after the show ends. Not only is the all you can eat food incredible, but even the plates that you eat on and the mason jars you drink from add to the overall dining experience. It’s one thing to for the delicious fried chicken and finger lickin’ ribs to be unlimited, but the beer and sangria are also poured all meal long. If we’re dreaming, don’t ever wake us up.

The gigantic strawberry shortcake that caps off your dinner is one of the best desserts at WDW, and trust us, we’ve tried them all. It is rare to find something that can appeal just as much to the 7 year old in your party as it does to the 70 year old, but Hoop Dee Doo Revue hits that spot and continues to be a jewel in the Disney World crown. On your next vacation you owe it to yourself to book a family dinner at Hoop Dee Doo Revue, and consider making a day or night of it and explore everything Fort Wilderness has to offer. You may surprised with what you find!

Pioneer Hall, home of the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Hoop-Dee-Doo. (photo by Brandon Glover)

The beginning of an AWESOME meal. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Oh, it’s fantastic! (photo by Brandon Glover)

Unlimited refills! (photo by Brandon Glover)

The only dessert at WDW with its own “moment.” (photo by Brandon Glover)

Strawberry Shortcake. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Guest interaction at Hoop-Dee-Doo. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Honorable Mention – Brunch at California Grill (The Contemporary)

The first rule of real estate is location, location, location, and no restaurant at WDW can top the California Grill when it comes to that. Sitting high atop the Contemporary Resort, the California Grill’s floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the Magic Kingdom. During the park’s nighttime spectaculars, such as Wishes, the lights in the California Grill dim while the fireworks music is played overhead. It’s also a truly wonderful place to be eating while enjoying the sunset. The service is more reminiscent of a fine dining restaurant than your average Disney table service restaurant, and is impeccable.

However, the meal we would recommend experiencing at California Grill is brunch. Offered on Sundays from 10AM to 1PM, this meal includes all you can eat buffet-style offerings along with an a la carte menu. At $80 per person, the price is steep, but the quality of food, the level of service, and the unbelievable view you get while enjoying your meal makes this one worth checking out.

For more read TouringPlans’ resident foodie Tessa Koten’s thoughts on the Brunch at the Top experience, and check out Tom Bricker’s rave review as well.

California Grill and its million dollar view.

“Brunch At The Top” offers stunning daytime views of the restaurant and Walt Disney World Resort. (photo by Tessa Koten)

Chef’s fritttata with heirloom tomatoes, roasted poblano peppers, chorizo, and goat cheese served with marble potatoes (photo by Tessa Koten)

Several varieties of house-made meats and accompaniments are on offer at the charcuterie table. (photo by Tessa Koten)

Bloody Mary Bar. (photo by Tessa Koten.)

So there you have it: 6 Unique Dining Experiences at Walt Disney World! See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX, where we’ll look at something fun from the world of Disney and Universal. If you enjoyed yourself, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles, or, for your listening pleasure, check out the E-Ticket Report podcast. You can also follow Your Humble Author on Twitter (@derekburgan).

If you enjoyed this article, you will surely like the following:

California Grill: A Review of BRUNCH AT THE TOP

6 Examples of the DISNEY DIFFERENCE

Menu Monday: 50’s Prime Time Cafe

Special Thanks to The Elite Brandon Glover, Mr. ‘Ohana Tim Grassey, the SAT SIX Fun Squad of Parkscope Joe and Nick, hot shot Michael Carelli, and Hermoine Granger’s tutor Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. The SAT SIX is inspired each week by goofballs Aengus Mackenzie and LitemAndHyde and you Potterheads will enjoy Meg’s other blog work over at the Central Florida Slug Club.

FINAL PLUG! Did you know The 2018 Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando has a special edition of the SATURDAY SIX in it? Finally, someone came up with an actual reason to read a book. ORDER this baby now!

The post SATURDAY SIX: 6 of the MOST UNIQUE Dining Experiences at Walt Disney World appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

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froggyflan · 7 years

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Pretend it’s last week, I’m still writing haha.

Junkfish is my favorite AU, but since I already write so much of that, I went with Shark!Mako. Syrupy fluff ahoy.

Day 3: Favorite AU

There's something in the water.

Its shadow looms in the depths, ominous and foreboding like something out of an old Hollywood movie. Too large to be a shark, they say, too small to be a whale. It keeps to itself in the dark recesses of the cove, away from the beach and it's loud human visitors, but the sight of that shadow drawing near sends everyone into a panic. Those that claim to have seen the creature tell of a great dorsal fin cutting through the water like a machete, and a tail that can smash rocks with ease. They say it has glowing red eyes and teeth the size of kitchen knives, and has attacked ships as big as freighters.

He's the only one who knows the truth.

Jamie enjoys the expedition through the groves of palm trees and thick acacia. The secrecy of his journey fuels the thrill in his blood, even when the tickling of the brush irritates his skin. He pushes through the walls of green until he hits the sand, until he roams over the dangerously sharp and slippery rocks molded by the sea. They look like little islands, green with algae and freckled with barnacles, separated by little tide pools. He steps on each one carefully before stretching over to the next, making his way further out to sea. One wrong step would have him falling into a nest of urchins and jagged stones, easily breaking his only good leg. But he’s not worried. He may be clumsy and missing a limb here and there, but he’s become an expert traversing this trail.

The tide is low enough that he can see the colorful anemone that cling to the edges of the tide pools, the pink and purple starfish as big as his fist. He would normally be collecting those to sell as souvenirs on the boardwalk, but today he’s a little occupied. He moves past the pools and goes further, where the waves crash against the rocks and he could be pulled into it without a moment’s notice. He pulls his bucket to his hip, grabs at the base, and throws the contents into the open water. The chum smells terrible despite being caught just that morning, and he’s happy to finally get rid of it. Bits of fish splash on the surface, and he sees eager sea life start to swarm it.

The white and blue waters turn red, and he waits.

It’s a little hot, as the sun sits high in the afternoon sky. He’d dip his foot in to cool off, but he’s not stupid. There’s young lionfish in these waters, hiding, waiting just like he is. So he sits on the edge of the wet, slippery rocks and hopes the waves aren’t cruel enough to push him into the pools behind him.

The shadow comes as it always does; slow, cautious, as if this isn’t a daily routine and he can’t tell who’s up there waiting for him. It’s always Jamie. It’s never been different. Jamie bends his knee up to his chest and wraps his arm around it, trying to quell his excitement. It never gets dull, seeing that big ol’ mask breach the water, air puffing from the leathery shark nose like a dolphin’s blowhole. It sprays mist up with a hissing sound and huffs, sniffs, like it’s making sure it’s actually Jamie, before coming all the way out of the water. The mask is missing none of its bleached white teeth, and Jamie can see a strong, brown jaw move from behind them.

“You’re late.”

“How do you know I’m late if you can’t tell the time? Can’t imagine fish people got clocks down there.”

A thick finger pops out of the water and points at the sky. “Sun tells.”

Jamie props his chin on his knee and grins down at him. “Ooo, smart guy. I like ‘em smart.”

The mask lowers back into the water slowly. The creature never did like Jamie’s teasing. Annoyed, mostly. Bashful, hopefully. Jamie laughs.

“Take a compliment, big guy. And get used to it.”

Air puffs out of the mask again, bubbled of exasperation seeping out of the open shark mouth. Jamie would say the creature is always angry with him, but nothing is making him come here. Nothing is forcing him to entertain Jamie’s curiosity and visit him in the shallows. And if he’s this upset about Jamie not being on time, then that already says so much. Jamie feels the stupid grin on his face grow soft at the sight of the creature coming closer, until he’s directly in front of him. Long, silver hair spreads out on the surface of the water like wisps of seaweed. If the creature would just tilt his head up, Jamie would see plush lips and deep brown eyes hiding in the mouth of a great white monster.

“You got a nice face under that thing. Anybody ever tell you that?”

The shark mask nudges at Jamie’s bare foot perched over the edge of the rock wall. “You do.”

Jamie laughs again, curling his toes as the rubbery snout tickles them. Little waves crash between them, and the creature lifts a big hand up as an offering. Jamie moves his own hand forward to touch it. It’s warm and rough, and Jamie always wonders how his skin doesn’t prune from being underwater his whole life. Another mystery that will never be solved. His fingers dip between the creature’s, and it’s gentle and intimate. Those strong fingers close over his hand, pulling him closer, coercing him into the sea. Jamie snorts.

“You know I can’t swim, you bastard.”

It doesn’t stop the creature from tugging insistently. “Don’t need to.”

Jamie is giddy with anticipation, and uses his metal hand to steady himself as his foot dips into the cool water. Lionfish or not, the creature scares away everything in his path, and Jamie doesn’t have to worry about anything. He pivots his hips off the rocks and lowers himself down slowly, already feeling the terrible weight of his prosthetic leg try to sink him. But the creature holds his hand tightly until he’s in up to his neck, and another big hand presses to his back to keep him afloat. The touch is like fire in the crisp water, and Jamie can’t help the stupid giggle that bursts from his mouth.

“Gonna take me to your undersea lair? Is that where you take all the pretty boys like me?”

There’s a cheeky smile from behind sharp jaws, and before the mask disappears back into the deep, he speaks. “Something like that.”

The creature becomes the infamous shadow beneath the water, and it carries him from the tide pools into the great big blue, infinitely more dangerous and thrilling. Jamie feels the hands leave him for just a moment before the creature rolls and presses its giant tail between Jamie’s legs, supporting him with hundreds of kilos worth of power. A thick, heavily scarred dorsal fin breaks the surface, asking for Jamie to hold tight. He’ll take him away from here, to somewhere unknown, and that’s absolutely terrifying, but he’s game. He’s always game.

Jamie takes a long, loud breath before plunging down to meet him.

#roadrat #flanfiction

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oops-my-fingers-slipped · 7 years

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Finish the Story (Part 1)

Author: Admin Lex Characters: BTS + you Pairing: Namjoon X Reader X Taehyung Genres: Fantasy, Angst, Fluff, Romance POV: First Person + Taehyung POV Description: You offered to help Namjoon refurbish his old bookshop and in the process you find a peculiar book. Unknowingly, you end up diving head-first into a world of ink and parchment unlike your own. There, you meet a boy trapped in the bindings of literature and your life changes forever. I was followed into the bookshop by quarrels of Autumn’s leaves and the North Wind’s children dancing away with ribbons of my hair. The shop’s wooden door swung closed, shutting out the world outside but kept hundreds preserved in the room before me. Though tall oak bookshelves lined every wall of the store, thousands of books piled up in precarious stacks rising almost to the ceiling. Blinding rays of sun from the sky-light windows struck the mountains of literature and illuminated the specks of dust orbiting the air. In the back left corner sprouted an Acacia tree, coiling itself around a wooden beam, spiraling upwards towards the roof windows. It’s sunset-colored leaves joyfully basked in the sun amitting from the glass. However stunning the tree appeared, dead leaves from previous seasons decorated the floor and crunched beneath my leather boots as I approached the front desk. Noticing no one behind the counter, I began to call, “Nam-” before a heavy thud sounded from under the polished wood followed by a muttered curse. Surely enough, Namjoon emerged from under the desk, scratching his head of lilac-purple hair with a pained look on his face. I failed to restrain a loud chuckle that bubbled up from my diaphragm. Namjoon rolled his eyes and deadpanned, “Ha ha, very funny.” He eyed the four books enveloped in my arms and continued, “I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow. Don’t tell me you finished them already.” I smirked and replied, “I hate to break it to you but I’m only 3 more books away from beating your record of 16 in a month! You better step up your game. You’re getting your ass kicked by a sophomore.” I plopped the small stack of books down onto the counter and Namjoon slid the nearest one on its side, scanning the bar code suck to its spine. A curt “beep” was heard as each novel touched the device. “Well excuse me for having an entire bookstore to manage while you have all the free time to read in the world. Unlike you, I have responsibilities to handle and customers to deal with.”  I looked around the shop, noticing how devoid of business it was. “What customers?” “You.” The comment was meant to be sarcastic but a little pit of pity bloomed in my heart, knowing that I, in fact, was one of his only customers. I decided right then and there that I would no longer be the only one who’s footsteps echoed through this building every day, but rather the silence to be filled by constant turning of pages and friendly chatter about new releases. He needed customers and that’s exactly what he would get. “That’s exactly my point! I am your only regular client but”, I lowered my voice for emphasis, “that is about to change.” Namjoon lifted his head, temporarily distracted from his task. “You’re so dramatic. Besides, I’m managing this place just fine without your help.” I sighed and tried a different approach. “Uh-huh, if ‘managing a bookstore’ includes not picking up after your tree -heaven knows why you even have a tree in a bookstore-, not organizing your shelves, and there are so many dust clouds in here I can barely see three feet in front of me.” I may have exaggerated a tad but I wasn’t necessarily wrong either. And he knew it. The roots of the tree had started to lift some of the floorboards and weave itself through the infrastructure. Eventually, the more damage the Acacia caused, the more it would cost to repair it and with no steady income, where would Namjoon find the funds to pay the fees? His predicament was challenging, to say the least. I already made my point loud and clear so my voice softened a bit when I proposed, “Ya’ know I could help out around here if you’d like? For free, at least until you gain enough business.” He scoffed at my offer, seeming unfazed by my my bluntness and challenged, “Do you honestly think you could handle this monstrosity?” Namjoon drummed his fingers against the table-top, obviously amused at my proposition. Did he know something I didn’t? Probably. Ignoring the thought, I lifted my chin high and said, “Challenge accepted. When do I start?” “Now.” •~• It’s been three days and we’ve hardly made a dent in transporting every book to the back storage. Namjoon’s plan was to clear the shop of the literature temporarily until the interior was complete and restock the shelves later. So we began with the cities of stacked books towering over ten feet…. It was a start. A very slow, gradual start. And the finish line seemed light years away. The “free time” Namjoon claimed I had was nonexistent, now occupied by long hours of organizing and sorting through endless amounts of novels. The more days that flew by, the more our hard work progressed and the prouder we became. The time after school to long after dark were spent in the soon-to-be-bookstore with only each other as company. I’ve always thought of Namjoon as ‘the purple-haired dude who runs my favorite bookstore’, that is, until he quickly became the person I spent the most time socializing with. The long nickname shortened when I began to refer to him as a newfound friend. It was almost impossible not to grow this fond of him when we worked together striving toward the same goal, not to mention the shared tastes in books and writing. His company kept the boredom at bay when working and though I wouldn’t dare admit it, I started to look forward to our extended conversations, unpopular theories, or book recommendations. To put it simply, maybe fixing up this old outdated bookstore would blossom both the business of the company and our overall relationship. Due to Namjoon’s undeniable whit, we eventually developed shifts where every few hours we would switch off between finishing up schoolwork and progressing the bookshop. The system deemed itself very effective, as we both managed to maintain our spotless GPAs. This particular night, I sorted books sat on the newly-swept hardwood floor, the moon’s silver shadow casted down from the skylight windows cloaking my hands as I worked. Tonight seemed like a regular evening until I reached for another novel, expecting a smooth book jacket to meet my fingertips but, instead, felt the velvet fabric of a book unlike any other. My eyes landed upon a hard-cover book wrapped delicately in crimson-red velvet. The title glistened a radiant gold and read: Finish the Story. I explored its exterior, searching for an author’s name but none was found. I also noticed how the spine didn’t posses a bar code stuck to its back. Hmm, that’s odd. Maybe this is one from Nam’s personal collection… The spine cracked as I opened the cover to reveal the title page, which was decorated in florals of bright scarlet roses sprouting thorns of gold. The blooms of flowers dripped black ink from their buds. The artwork was absolutely, positively marvelous and don’t get me wrong, I’m not an artist but the time and effort to paint this must have taken decades. I admired it a few more seconds before forcing myself to flip to the first chapter. Compared to the art coating the title page, the chapter page seemed mundane. Regular script ran from one side to the next just any other book. Still a bit skeptical about the art, I turned a single page and sure enough, I gaped in awe at the scene that beheld me. Another picture enraptured my attention. A glowing castle made entirely out of bronze nails and plates loomed over rolling hills of ruby red poppies, making it appear aflame. The sky was painted with varieties of violets, dark blues, and indigos. The two color schemes clashed with one another so perfectly, I almost didn’t notice the lone fox that parted the poppy fields curving in the direction of the palace. The animal’s head turned towards the corner of the page, almost looking…. angry? I followed its eyes over to the bottom left corner where a man sat back looking up at the sky, his neck craning so eager to touch the indigo painted stars. He looked so carelessly free while the fox’s eyebrows furrowed in irritation. I let a little giggle escape at the bit of absurdity. What a peculiar sight! Suddenly, my eyes darted back to the man sitting at the corner of the page, catching a glimpse of movement. To my surprise, he no longer looked up at the sky but instead stared right at me, one ebony eye charmingly winked. Huh?!? I wasted no time slamming the book shut. Ok, it’s official. I’m going completely insane. Maybe these long work hours are getting to me. Yeah, that’s probably it. Right? However I may try to convince myself that I hallucinated what I saw… I couldn’t help but wish that it hadn’t been my imagination and that something incredible was about to happen. But that’s ridiculous. Even so, I still found myself placing the book in my bag, swinging it over my shoulder, and briskly began walking down the street to my apartment. •~• “Ouch! Hey!” Taehyung flew backwards from the impact of his book rudely being slammed shut. His face was now thinly coated in yellow pollen from the poppy field. It tickled his nose, forcing a sneeze to rip out from his nostrils. “Aachoo!” The fox bounded over the sea of red and gold to stand before Taehyung, a disapproving growl hummed from his throat. “You didn’t get to your position on time! And to make matters worse you moved, you moved. This was our first reader in ages and you had to go ahead and blow it!” Taehyung ran his nimble fingers through his hair, ready to sit through another lecture about how to always stand statue-still when a new reader opens their story. “Ah, I’m sorry Jin. We just haven’t had a reader in forever and I thought it might be entertaining to mess with them a bit.” He stood up as a small smile carved itself across his features. Jin flicked his tail, not taking this for a valid excuse. “As funny as that was, next time please do your job as I’m sure Yoongi and the others are doing just fine. Try learning a thing or two from their excellent example.” Taehyung raised his eyebrows slightly and giggled at the memory of his companions, “Last time I saw them, Kookie and Jimin were playing frisbee with the moon on page 84 and got it stuck in a palm tree. Your right, they are great exam-” The fox bolted to the end of the page and glanced back at the man, warning him about his job as a book character one last time before he leapt through the pages, stopping on page 84, solving yet another problem. Sighing, Taehyung plopped back down into the poppy pillows growing around him and peered up at where the reader’s face would usually gaze from. He wondered if the new visitor would open the book again. She was quite interesting, after all. Then again, all the readers were. Each one completely different from the last. Each one more exiting, new, and exotic. Each one, you know not trapped in a book like him and the other characters were. Each one free. Taehyung knew that it was dangerous to be hopeful, to wish that the girl opened the book again. Because, well, after the little stunt he pulled today she will most likely not. But the little tug on his heart told him that maybe, just maybe she would investigate his book again. The way her eyes glittered and flew from one page to the next gave him the impression that she was a bit too curious for her own good. But, no these thoughts had no place consuming his head. He shut them out and instead focused on the stars above, daring to pretend they were her eyes.

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