#because I had taco’s yes to a wedding before I got the job offer :

[irregularbillcipher]

every time i talk to my boss nowadays it’s me just explaining how i have to miss even more work, it’s driving me insane

#first I keep getting sick #then my cardiology appointments keep cancelling #then I get a /jury duty summons/ like I cannot win!!! #I’ve only been here since the end of September and I’ve missed like 10 days of work and only the first was a ‘personal’ day #because I had taco’s yes to a wedding before I got the job offer :/ #rsvp’d who did that autocorrect to TACOS

[iliketowrite1996]

His Best Girl

    TRIGGER WARNINGS AND THEMES- single parenthood, death of a spouse, death of a parent, 

‘’Jasmine, put on your shoes and let’s go.’’

    ‘’Just a second, dad!,’’ the ten year old calls from her room, rushing around to get her things ready for the school day. 

    Ten years ago, Jasmine Lynn  Allen-Rogers was born and changed Steve Rogers' life for the better.

When Jasmine was born, Stevee was fresh out of college. He’d only been out on his own for about a year and had just gotten a job teaching art at the local Elementary School. That’s where he’d met his first wife- Petra Allen.

    Petra was the aunt of a student in one of his classes- she’d tagged along to a parent-teacher conference to see how her precious nephew was doing. Apparently the evening had made quite the impression on Petra, because she’d come to the school’s art show to see her nephew’s art work… and to talk to Steve. And he remembers the day so clearly- her ebony curls were pulled into a bun and she had her headrawp on. She smiled, talked, and fitted back…

    And slipped her number into his coat pocket before winking at him and getting into the van with her sister and nephew.

    Steve had called her the very next day, somehow timid and confident all at once. And oh, the two talked for hours, and ended up setting a date for that weekend.   One date turned into two, two dates turned into ten, and pretty soon - six months later, to be exact- Steve was on one knee and proposing to the girl of his dreams.  A courthouse wedding and six weeks later, Petra found out that she was pregnant.

    And so Jasmine Margaret Lynn Allen-Rogers was born on a cold December night, just one week before Christmas. She came into the world screaming and crying, tears coming to Steve’s own eyes as he looked at his baby girl for the first time ever before the nurses carried her off to be cleaned.

And he  will always say that Jasmine was one of the greatest blessings of his life, right next to meeting Petra.

    Sometimes, though, life doesn’t work out the way that we intend for it to. For example… Steve never planned on losing the love of his life. He never planned on picking Petra losing her life the night that Jasmine was born, never planned on having to bury his wife, never planned on having to move out of his apartment and move in with Natasha and Bucky so that Natasha, who worked nights, could be there with his baby girl during the day while Steve was at work.

    As soon as Jasmine had started daycare at one and a half, Steve had taken two more jobs- one as the photographer at a nearby church and one as a waiter at a diner on the weekends and three nights a week. 

    He had not anticipated having to work out a schedule with Sam, Bucky and Natasha- Natasha would get Jasmine ready and take her to day care, pick her up, feed her and bathe her, and Bucky would take over the night shift until Steve got off work at ten. If he didn’t have to work at the school and the diner the next day, he would get her ready for daycare. If he had to, Natasha would.

    On the weekends, both Natasha and Bucky worked, so Sam would take Jasmine during the day, until Steve got off at two. Then, Steve would take time with his daughter. On Sundays, he only worked evenings. He’d go to church, drop Jasmine off at Sunday School before going to service, taking pictures. After church, he’d take Jasmine to the diner for lunch and Sam would pick her up there, taking her to his apartment for a nap and snack until Bucky or Natasha picked her up and took her back to their place.

    When Jasmine was four,Steve did not expect to get a generous offer from Sam Wilson, Steve’s buddy from college, who offered to split the first year of rent with Steve so that he and Jasmine could move into a small studio apartment now that Steve could afford it. So, he quit his job at the diner and kept his job at the school and church. He’d be able to stay on the same schedule as Jasmine, because he’d pick her up from her pre-school’s after school program, take her home, make dinner, help her with her homework. Bath,hair, bed time, and finished up any work until he turned off his own light three hours later at 11.

    When Jasmine was seven, her aunt, Petra’s sister, contacted Steve for the first time since Petra’s funeral. She felt guilty having spent all these years out of contact with her former brother-in-law and niece,and she wanted to make amends.Several lunch dates later, and Steve has his Friday nights to himself as Jasmine goes off to spend time with her cousin and her auntie.

    Three years later, their routine has changed quite a bit.  Now, Steve is paying on a small, two bedroom apartment for him and his daughter. Jasmine now attends the elementary school where he works, so they ride together. They leave together at 4:30, when Art Club and Glee Club Practice are over. They come home, cook dinner, do her homework while he grades essays and projects, watch some television then it’s off to bed.

    Yes, in the past Steve has had to adjust to different ways of doing things. And it's been a struggle, but one thing remains- Jasmine is the light of his life, and he’d do anything for that girl.

    Currently, he wishes she’d pull on her rainboots and get to the living room.

    ‘’Come on, Jazz. We need to get a move on.’’

    ‘’Coming, daddy,’’ Jasmine announces, bouncing into the living room clad in her purple raincoat, hat, and boots, the new jeans Steve bought for her last week peeking out, ‘’I’m ready!’’

    ‘’Perfect,’’ he announces, guiding her to walk in front of him as the two of them get ready to leave the apartment, ‘’Remember, glee club is canceled until they find someone to take over in Mrs. Monroe’s place. You can either come with me, or go with Aunt Patty.’’

    ‘’I’ll go with you,’’ Jasmine announces as she and Steve make their way to the elevator, the fifth grader bouncing as she goes, ‘’I like art club!’’

    ‘’Okay,’’ he laughs, getting onto the elevator with his daughter and pressing the button for the lobby.

    ‘’So, what are we gonna eat for dinner tonight? We’ve got to go shopping,’’ Steve informs his daughter as they go through the lobby.

    ‘’I think we should go to Uncle Bucky’s and Aunt Nat’s house! She makes good lasagna.’’

    ‘’She is working a double shift. And Bucky goes to work at three. And Sam went to visit his sister Delaney in Texas for the week. So you’re stuck with me, chickadee,’’ Steve uses the nickname he’s been using for Jasmine ever since she was born.

    ‘’In that case, can we eat tacos again?’’   

    ‘’Sounds like a plan to me,’’ he tells her, taking her wrist to keep up with her on the busy New York sidewalk.

    It’s the middle of September, and the leaves are beginning to change. The weather today is slightly rainy, and Steve, being the fun-loving dad he is, is hopping into all of the puddles with Jasmine as they walk the three blocks to the elementary school.

    Once there, Steve gives his puddle-jumping-buddy a high five before she heads off to Mr. Isaac’s class and he heads to his art class.

    ‘’Good morning, Mr. Rogers!’’ DeShawn, Jasmine’s best friend, greets as he rushes down the hallway.

    ‘’Good morning, and walk, DeShawn!Steve responds to the young boy, who slowed his pace as he enters Mr. Isaac’s class.

    The hallway is full of activity- kindergartners trailing their teacher, Mrs. Parker to class, and the fourth graders are trailing behind Mr. Stevens as he does attendance on the way to his room.

    As soon as Steve does get into his classroom, he turns on his music, hangs up his coat, and leaves the lights off.

    Steve loves to start his day in the dark- music playing as he waits for the students.

    For the first period of the day, he has  Ms. Pott’s third grade class- so before his room is filled with the sound of twenty-four, eight and nine year olds, he enjoys a bit of time to himself, drinking the coffee he’d brought with him. 

    No later than 8:10, after morning announcements and the Pledge of Allegiance, do Ms. Pott’s kids file into the classroom.

    ‘’Good morning, Mr. Rogers,’’ Pepper Potts speaks, watching her students file in, ‘’How are you this morning?’’

    ‘’Doing well, Ms. Potts,’’ he speaks, taking a hat off of a student’s head as he enters and giving it to Pepper, ‘’No hats, Michael.’’

    ‘’Sorry, Mr. Rogers,’’ Michael mutters,taking his seat.

    ‘’Will you be joining Tony and I for dinner tonight,’’ Pepper question as Steve watches her class take their seats. 

    ‘’No, I can’t tonight. Jasmine has just gotten over her cold, and I really think we just need to go home and relax later.’’

    ‘’That’s too bad! Tony’s godsister, Sharon was looking forward to meeting you. Maybe next time. Alright, class, 31. Mr. Rogers better not have a tough time out of this class or there will be no movie Friday. Do you understand?’’

    ‘’Yes, Ms. Potts,’’ the class chorus, and Pepper flashed a grin at Tony before leaving so that he could close the door.

    And the day goes pretty quickly from there- he’s grateful that Jasmine’s fifth grade class has music today while he takes Ms. Hill’s class today. He doesn’t see Jasmine until she pops into class on her lunch hour while Steve takes his planning period, asking for a dollar so that she can get a treat at lunch.   

    In fact, the only new thing is that he does have a new student.

    ‘��It’s okay, Olivia. There’s no need to be afraid.’’

    Mrs. Storm, the kindergarten teacher, is ushering her students into the class… all except one: a tiny little girl with her hair in two puffs who is looking at Steve from behind her teacher, hand gripping Mrs. Storm’s skirt as she peers up at Steve through her glasses.

    ‘’Mr. Rogers, this is Olivia Reed. She’s new today- she just moved here from Arizona!’’

    Steve smiles at the young girl, crouching down to see her with a smile, ‘’Well, hello! I am so excited that you get to be in my class today! Don’t you want to come in?’’

    The Young child timidly, but quickly, shakes her head before hiding her face i the skirt of Mrs. Storm’s dress once more.

    ‘’I guess I could take her back to class for the day…’’

    ‘’No, no, that’s okay. Listen, Olivia, I’ll tell you what- why don’t you come into class with me and you can help me pass out the art supplies for our class. How about that?’’

    Slowly, but surely, Olivia reaches out and takes Steve’s waiting hand, accepting his offer to help out and causing Mrs. Storm to sigh in relief as she rushes back to her classroom.

    Passing the supplies out seems to help Olivia calm down, and he watches her exchange the brown crayon for the pencil to write her name as she finishes her self portrait.

    ‘’I used yellow because I have blonde hair, see, Mr. Rogers,’’ Daniella, Pepper’s niece, pipes up, ‘’And Olivia has brown hair, and Billy has black hair, and-’’

    ‘’And I think it’s time to start putting our supplies away! DeLynn and Drake, collect the papers. DeLynn gets the girls’ papers, Drake gets the boys. Sierra, Alex, Alejandro and Efua, get the supplies from your group and put them in the bins. Olivia and Zion, collect them.’’

    The whole process takes about ten minutes- it is filled with ‘’Mr. Rogers told ME to do it!, ‘’I’m not done!’’, and ‘’Teacher, what are we supposed to be doing’’, but it is done by the time that Mrs. Storm comes to pick up her students.

    ‘’Thank you, Mr. Rogers- sincerely.’’

    ‘’It’s no trouble,’’ he smiles, kneeling to say goodbye to Olivia, ‘’Bye, Olvia! I’ll see you on Friday, okay?’’

    She doesn’t respond verbally, but she gives him a thumbs up.   

    And that, to him, is as good as anything to show progress..

        ‘’There. Now you’re all set for bed,’’ Steve tells Jasmine, who stands and looks at the twists her dad just made in her hair.

    Her hair is growing pretty fast. Steve, who had to take lessons from Sam’s sister and watch countless Youtube tutorials, is learning to work with her curly hair. Gone are the days of her being content with wearing her hair in braids and pigtails- she is branching out.

    She is growing up.

    And Steve finds that he is both happy about it and a bit melancholy at the same time.

    ‘’Daddy,’’ Jasmine begins as she climbs into bed, ready to be tucked in, ‘’Can I ask you a question?’’

    ‘’Sure, honey,’’ he tells her, setting her alarm clock for her.

    ‘’What did mommy’s hair look like?’’

    Steve pauses before looking at his daughter.

    He’s talked about her mother before, sure. She came home from preschool crying one day, and he had to tell her what happened. And he knows that her aunt has spoken about her plenty of times. However, he stops there- he can’t quite bring himself to look at the pictures. Because though he’s come to accept it, he still feels that if he looks at her pictures, that is going to make it all happen, all over again.

    And that’s something that he’s sure  he’ll never be ready for her.

    ‘’It was… she had really, really curly hair. She liked to wear it in an afro. And it was just a bit darker than yours- ebony black, actually. She loved to wear it in twists, too.’’

    Jasmine pauses from where she is touching her hair, a grin playing on her lips, ‘’Really?’’

‘’Mhm,’’ he smiles a bit, remembering, ‘’And she looked so beautiful with her hair in any style. Just like you. But we’ll have to talk more about her tomorrow, honey. It’s already late and we’ve got to go to school early tomorrow.’’

‘’Okay, daddy,’’ Jasmine nods, allowing Steve to tuck her in, ‘’Daddy, do you think you’ll ever get married again?’’

You know when someone asks you something and you literally have no response?

That’s Steve. Because Jasmine has never asked that question in her ten years of living. So, he does the only thing that he can think of- he attempts to change the subject.

‘’Maybe, I will Jazz. Maybe. But, hey, I’ve got everything I need. And you’re my daughter, my best girl! Now, get some sleep, honey.’’

‘’Good night. I love you!’’

‘’I love you, too, sweetheart,’’ Steve presses a kiss to his daughter’s head before turning off the light and exiting.

    So she’ll definitely bring it up again, but at least he’s bought himself sometime. And, besides, he’s not pressing the issue. He hasn’t been on a date in a while, but he can’t.He’s so busy. And Jasmine needs him- he’s got to help her with her grades and she’s so excited for the big concert coming up at church, and needs him to help her with her solo for her audition. 

    So, no, he’s far too busy to be dating. And, he’s pretty sure that he’ll never fall in love again- not the way that he was with Petra. And he’s content with that. He loves his job, he loves his friends at work and church, he loves the makeshift family with old friends. So, no, he doesn’t even need to think about a new relationship. He’s got everything he needs.

    But what Steve is about to find out is that life has a way of surprising us.

    And that some of our biggest blessings, can be found in the things we never even knew that we wanted.

DISCLAIMER- I do not own any Marvel characters, galaxies, planets, cities, countries, etc. I just love making new stories. 

@ashanti-notthesinger @destinio1 @afraiddreamingandloving @starsshines-blog @airis-paris14 @syreanne @chaneajoyyy @90sinspiredgirl @shemiahsmelanin @zillmonger @skysynclair19 @marvelpotterlove @constantlycravingtheunknown @imaginewhoever @wakanda-inspired @pocmarvelworks @theunsweetenedtruth @dreampovx @adrioola21 @supremethunda @thisiskayesworld @mcusocialimagines @priya212  @kumkaniudaku  @airis-paris14 @alexundefined @fonville-designs  @dramaqueenamby  @mellowjellow6 @oceanscorazon @nerd-lovely @fonville-designs @akimi-youngblood @yoyolovesbucky 

#marvel fanfiction #marvel series imagine #marvel imagine series #steve rogers x reader #captain America x reader #black reader insert #single dad steve rogers #steve rogers imagine #steve rogers imagines #steve rogers x black!reader #steve rogers x reader imagine #steve rogers x you #marvel fanfic

[allthingsfangirl101]

Chapter 5: Lunch With Dad

Masterlist

Abby's POV

I was zoning in and out at work when my phone started going off. I checked to see my boss was still in her office before grabbing it. I sighed when I saw who it was.

"Hey, Dad."

"Hi, sweetie. I hope I'm not interrupting anything," he said almost accusingly.

"Nothing too big. What's up?" I asked, running my hand through my hair.

"I'd like to set up a lunch with you."

"Set up a lunch?" I asked. "You mean go to lunch with me? Your daughter?"

"Yes," he sighed. "I will meet you at Juan's Mexican Grill at noon."

"Okay. I will see you then." He hung up without saying anything. "I will see you for our lunch meeting, Mr. Peterson."

Noon came a lot faster than I had wished. Before I knew it, I was parked in front of the Mexican restaurant my dad had requested. I groaned as I got out of my car and headed inside.

"Hola and welcome to Juan's Mexican Grill. How many in your party?" The bored teenager asked me.

"Just me and one other. He is probably already here," I mumbled when I looked down at noticed I was three minutes late. And yes, three minutes is a big deal to my father.

"Mr. Peterson," the boy sighed like he already knew. "He said you'd be later."

I rolled my eyes as he grabbed a menu and started leading me through the restaurant. I bit my lip as my father came into view. He was sitting in a booth, talking to someone on the phone while doing work on a tablet.

"Hi, Dad," I said as I sat down. He didn't look up at me but held up one finger. I rolled my eyes as I took the menu from the waiter.

"I'll umm. . . I'll come back and take your order in a few minutes," he said, looking between my father and me.

My father just waved his hand admissibly while I sent the poor waiter a small smile. "Thank you."

I looked at my father before sighing. I turned my attention to the menu and started scanning the varied meals. "How was work?" I heard him ask.

"Was that to me?" I asked, sending him a knowing look. He hesitated before hanging up his phone and putting it and his tablet to the side.

"Sorry," he said, raising his hands to show they were empty. I waited for him to say something, but he just stared at me. I sighed as I turned my attention back to the menu.

"Are you guys ready to order?"

"Yes," my father said shortly. "I will have two pork tacos and a water. With lemon."

The waiter wrote it down and looked towards me, waiting for me to order. "Can I get a chicken quesadilla with guacamole on the side? And a diet coke."

"Alright, I will bring some chips and salsa while you wait." He took our menus and headed back to the kitchen.

I sat back, folded my hands in my lap, and waited for my dad to say something. He just smiled at me, making me feel uneasy.

"So?" I asked.

"So, how's work?"

"Work is good," I shrugged.

"Are you still Jenna Taylor's assistant?" He asked, sounding a bit condescending.

"Yes, dad." I sighed. "I am still the assistant to one of the top lawyers in town and no, I don't want to go any higher. I'm fine where I'm at."

"But, are you?"

"Yes," I sighed. "Look, Dad, I love working for Jenna. I'm not a lawyer, but she still allows me to help out more than I probably should. I'm happy where I'm at. I know that may sound weird coming from the daughter of the city's top accountant, but I am."

Dad just sat back and looked at me. I held my breath, waiting for his response. "Abigail," he sighed. Before he could continue, the waiter came over with our drinks and a basket of chips and salsa.

My dad waited for the waiter to leave before clearing his throat and slowly taking a drink of his water. "Abigail, we need to talk about Caleb."

My heart jumped into my throat. I subconsciously started playing with my engagement ring. "What about Caleb?"

"I know he is off playing engineer," he sighed.

"He isn't playing. He is," I mumbled as my dad continued.

"But we need to start thinking seriously about what he is going to do when he comes home. He needs to have his career figured out if you marry him."

"If I marry him?" I cut him off. "I am marrying him whether he has a stable job or not. I love him and he can do whatever he wants with his life. Right now, he is doing something important. Dangerous? Yes. But it's what he wants to do. I am not going to tell my fiancé what he has to do in order to marry me."

"I am just saying that when he comes back, he can work for me."

"Why the hell would he want to work in an accounting office?" I said, my voice getting louder.

"Watch your tone with me, young lady." My dad said sternly.

"No," I deadpanned. My father's eyebrows raised as I continued. "You have had your talons in me long enough. I'm your daughter so I haven't fought it. But I am not letting you even try and clamp down on him. He can do what he wants. Either way, I will support him because I love him and when you love someone, you support them without hesitation. Then again, you wouldn't know what that is like because you have never supported me. Ever."

I was out of breath by the time the waiter nervously walked over, our food in his hand. He set our plates in front of us and quickly walked away.

Neither one of us said anything as we started to eat our meals. I couldn't even look up from my plate. I know if I did, I wouldn't be able to stop the tears that were threatening to spill. The stress of Caleb being away, missing him, brushing off people's comments and now my dad trying to control, not just mine but also Caleb's life, was starting to get too much.

And in that moment, I felt like I was going to pass out.

"Abigail," my father said softly. "I am just trying to help the two of you. I know what it's like to be a freshly married couple and struggling to make ends meet. I went through that with your mother. I want you to be financially stable so someday you can stop working and focus on having children."

"Who said I had to stop working when we have kids?" I mumbled, still not looking up at him. "And Caleb and I are going to be just fine. We've both been saving money since high school. I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to spend the rest of my life with him."

I finally looked up at him as I added, "I would appreciate it if you let Caleb and I live our own lives, making our own mistakes."

"Okay," he said simply. I waited for him to continue, but went back to eating when he didn't say anything.

We had just finished our meals and the waiter had gone to get our check when my dad spoke up again. "I was talking to your step-mom and we had some ideas about your wedding."

"Dad," I sighed, cutting him off. "I've told Hannah, the step-monster, over and over again that I am not planning the wedding without Caleb."

"I know," he said raising his hands up in defense. "I wanted to talk to you about your budget. I know you and Caleb both have been saving up and created a strict budget. That's great and I am proud of you both."

"But," I sighed when he didn't continue.

"But, your step-mother and I would like to pay for it. All of it."

"No," I said instantly.

"Abigail," he sighed.

"We don't need your charity. We have it covered."

"It's not charity to pay for your daughter's wedding, Abigail. It's actually a tradition. Plus, we figured that if we pay for your wedding, then the money you've saved can go towards an apartment or a house. You could also take me up on my offer to live with us for the first few years."

"Dad," I cut him off. "I know what "paying for your wedding" means. It means that Hannah will have a say in everything. And I am not letting her take over mine and Caleb's wedding. It's not her place."

"Not her place?" My dad challenged. "She's your mother."

"Step-mother," I corrected as I jumped up. "If you can even call her that. She is your wife, dad. Not my mom. I didn't ask for her to be in my life, yet she forces herself in. She will never be my mother because no one can replace my mother. No matter how hard you try to replace mom, I can't. I won't."

With tears streaming down my cheeks, I grabbed my purse and headed straight to my car. I got in, turned it on and leaned my head against the steering wheel as I couldn't hold back my sobs any longer.

#A Lover's Dream #deepwater horizon #caleb halloway #caleb halloway fanfic #dylan o'brien #dylan o'brien fanfic

[rainbow-hatted1]

What Boredom looks like

1. You just opened up a web browser. What is the first site you visit?

https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/

Yeah, that’s sort of my jam. Reddit in general but that is my go to.

vv more below if you wanna deep dive. vv

2. You just walked into a bookstore. What section do you go to first?

The local published section. If it’s a good bookshop they usually have one. Usually it’s poetry, or short essay compilations or local history books but I tend to like the offerings and you’re supporting people who don’t have a big platform yet.

Otherwise, comics and fantasy are my next first stops.

3. You are hanging with your closest friends. What are you most likely doing?

Lately, not much of anything. Arguing… not talking… depressing things.

Ideally, though, there’s a good meal. Either we’ve cobbled it together on our own or it’s a decent take out option and video/board games. Quidditch if it’s a nice day. Basically, where we can sit and bullshit and laugh a lot. That’s the best time with my mates.

4. You just turned your car on. What station is the radio tuned to?

The independent/alt/rock station. In spite making pop music myself I don’t listen to it a lot. Which is probably weird.

5. You have just woken up for the morning. What is the first things you do?

Try to go back to sleep.

6. Complete this phrase: You cannot buy happiness, but you can buy____.

Tacos

7. What would you do if you woke up as the opposite gender?

Probably touch my boobs entirely too much. Liz calls them boob checks… well, if they’re quick and random, this would probably be fondling.  I am ashamed of this answer but it’s likely what I’d do.

8. Are you more likely to cook for yourself or buy food from a restaurant?

I’m prone to laziness but I actually find cooking relaxing so cook for myself. Saves money too. It’s just a good practice to have in general.

9. If you had to lose one of your senses, which one would you rather lose?

Smell, probably. I enjoy food too much to lose taste. And between sight and hearing, I’d miss not having those senses and touch is just kind of important as a human being.  

10. If you could relive any one year of your life, how old would you be?

Dunno

11. Would you take a bullet for anyone you know?

A few someones

12. Would you rather be rich and dumb or poor and extremely intelligent?

Poor and intelligent. Better chances of bettering my situation with that one.

13. What TV character do you most relate to?

Sam Gardner from Atypical.

14. You just walked into a supermarket. What section do you first go to?

Produce. Yeah, you all thought I’d go for the bakery and desserts. Don’t lie.

15. Is sex before marriage wrong?

No. It’s human. So is waiting. It shouldn’t be as polarizing as it is. Sex is part of life and how you want to experience it is entirely up to you.

16. You just won the lottery. What is the first thing you do with your winnings?

Get a lawyer and not tell anyone I won. People get shitty when you have a lot of money. They expect you to make it rain and I wouldn’t. I’d also take the weekly installments. More money overall and you are far less likely to tank yourself with the winnings. Just saying.

17. If your best friend admitted that they have a crush on you, how would you react?

I would be awkward as fuck. Love him, not like that and he has a girlfriend so yeah… it’d be fucked up.

18. Will the USA ever have a female president?

At this point in time: no. Again, this is a polarizing question that shouldn’t be. A woman could run the country I’m not women in charge by that answer. Don’t read into it. I’m merely saying, that with the way the country appears to be currently they will not vote for that. I’m sorry. It’s stupid.

19. You are carpooling with your friends. Are you more likely to be the driver or a passenger?

Passenger. I don’t drive.

20. How short is too short for skirts and dresses?

I’m not ancient or wearing a skirt so I don’t think it matters, but I tend to prefer more modest options on girls.

21. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, without any consequences, what food would you choose?

Pizza.

22. It’s Saturday night. What are you most likely doing?

Sleeping.

23. You go on a blind date. Your date is extremely beautiful and physically captivating, but you hate their personality. Would you want a second date?

No.

24. How strict should gun laws be?

I think Australia had the right reaction to a massacre

25. Would you rather be the worst player on the best team or the best player on the worst team?

Best player on the worst team. Hopefully, they wouldn’t resent me and we could have a good 90’s style underdog story.

26. How well do you work with others?

Not well.

27. You have the ability to cure only one fatal disease and eradicate it forever. What disease do you choose?

I don’t want that power. Either way people are gonna die and wonder why I couldn’t cure all cancer or something else that’s just as bad…and inevitably another disease will surface that’s worse. There will always be disease even if we don’t like it.

28. If you could go back to college and choose a different degree to study, would you?

Well, considering I’m not in college yet I can still change my mind on that one, but I probably wouldn’t. Care of Magical Creatures but I haven’t zoned in on the specific avenue I want to go in that field yet.

29. Where do you see yourself ten years from now?

Er… traveling the countryside looking for magical creatures and documenting them in the wild. It’d be cool if my friends joined once in a while.

30. Are you pro-life or pro-choice?

Pro-choice isn’t anti-life, for fucks sake people.

31. Would you attend a same sex wedding if invited?

Yeah. If my mates fell in love and get married, I’m gonna be at the party regardless of sexes involved.

32. So far, what has been the greatest day of your life?

The first time HM played to a sold out crowd. That was pretty shocking. We’ve done it since and Nik has carried on doing it on his own but that day was scary and humbling and epic.

33. Has anyone you know ever been arrested?

Yeah, wrongly so but they saw what they wanted and went that’s our guy. Luckily, he didn’t get sent away for good.

34. If it could be one season year-round, what season do would you want it to be?

Fall. But like warm fall not close to winter fall. That fall sucks.

35. What is your biggest regret in life?

Saying such shit things about Anna and Charlie’s mum because I was mad at him. We’ve never recovered from it and it was a stupid in the moment blind rage bullshit thing I can’t ever take back.

36. If you could bring one celebrity back from the dead, who would it be?

John Lennon, probably. But the thing is, not everyone is upset their deaths were untimely. That’s more the livings problem than the dead, I’ve come to learn.

37. What offends you the most?

When people assume how I’m feeling. I’m not exactly easy to read, I know that, and I have a hard time wrapping my own head around my thoughts and feelings. So when I am feeling something and someone says I’m feeling another way because my face doesn’t wash with an emotion or my reaction doesn’t match like it allegedly should it’s really upsetting to me and just makes things worse.

38. Would you rather have an ugly hairstyle or be bald?

Do what you want. It’s just hair

39. At what age did you have your first alcoholic beverage?

16. Yeah, I think that’s right.

40. What do you think happens to us when we die?

Ideally, you move on to another plane. Kind of like a multiverse but one for endings. For a bit you can linger between the here as we know it and there but eventually you either stay and become a ghost or a poltergeist (which depends solely on your continued mental state on the matter of your death) but most move on beyond the veil.

41. What do you think is the best way to quit smoking?

I don’t know.

42. If you could take home any one animal from the zoo, which animal would you choose?

A bear of some sort. Polar, Grizzly, Black…. Whatever they’ve got. Not all zoos have the same bears.

43. Were humans created or did we evolve from earlier species?

I’m gonna go out and say something that pisses people off but I don’t see why it can’t be both. Something came out of nothing which is creating, right? The act of creating something is taking elements and making them something or straight up creating an element. What did that, I don’t know. But at one point there was a creation moment. From there everything on this planet has changed and adapted to the situations and surroundings they came into. Life is change, you don’t change you can’t survive. So both. Both sound right to me.

44. What scares you the most?

Losing everyone I care about… and bugs. Fuck bugs

45. What personality trait turns you off the most?

I hate when people play dumb.

46. You got offered a job to do something you hate, but the pay will make you rich. Do you take it?

No.

47. If today you only had what you were thankful for yesterday, how much would you have?

Sadly, not very much probably.

48. How often do you get mad or upset at yourself?

Everyday.

49. If you could choose one celebrity to be your parent, who would you choose?

I’ll keep my parents, thanks but to answer the question: Reign. At least I’d still have family.

50. If you could only listen to one musical artist for the rest of you life, who would you be listening to?

I would probably choose not to listen to music after a bit. I like variety and I’m not always in the mood for an artist of one flavor but the Beatles? At least their breadth of music is pretty wide.

51. Have you ever used you cell phone while driving?

No

52. Has anyone you were close to die way too young?

Yes.

53. Is world peace possible?

No, I don’t believe it is. It’d be great if it could be. There’s no reason for all this hate but people are always going to clash. We get on for a bit and then boom, it’s done. Peace is an impossibility but we should still strive for it regardless.

54. You go on a blind date. You date is extremely ugly and physically appalling, but you are madly in love with their personality. Would you want a second date?

I don’t know. I want to say yes, be that guy who doesn’t care. Looks really are not everything but ultimately, you should be attracted to your partner. If you aren’t it isn’t likely to work even if their personality is the most beautiful thing in the world.

55. How did you discover that Santa Claus isn’t real?

My little brother told me and I was devastated.

56. Do you believe in God, or some form of higher deity?

I honestly want to but I have a hard time wrapping my mind around how things can be the way they are if a loving god is out there watching us. I think the Futurama episode where Bender gets life on his ass is a great example of how my brain wants to look at it.

And then I read the Bible and get to stories like Zechariah and I’m just left thinking that guy probably had a stroke while praying and the rest is a coincidence.

57. If you could save someone you deeply cared about, but it meant breaking a law, would you do it?

Fuck yes. Without hesitation

58. What is the dumbest thing you’ve ever done for money?

Sold my soul for a sickle once.

59. If you were to make a YouTube video about what you know most about, what would the subject be?

Magical Creatures. I could go on for a very long time about that topic.

60. What do you think is your greatest personality flaw?

I’m rigid. I have a hard time shifting directions when I get going.

61. If your friends spoke to you the way you speak to yourself, would you still want them as friend?

I haven’t got many actual friends so maybe. Better than being alone, I suppose.

62. Have you ever “woke up like this”?

No one has ever “woke up like this”. It’s a lie. It’s always a lie. Even if they look good, that caption shows intent and planning: don’t fall for it.

63. You got offered a job to do something you love, but the pay is one of the worst out there. Do you take it?

If I really fucking love it, yes. But I’m also in a position where I can have a shit paying or no paying job and basically be fine.

64. What do you think is your best physical feature?

My lips?

65. What do you think is your worst physical feature.

My nose is big.

66. Do you know anyone who has committed suicide?

Not suicide no. But I know people who have considered it. Glad they didn’t follow through.

67. What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done for someone you don’t know?

I dunno. I have a habit of giving my bus ticket away if it still has time on it. I know it’s not much but as for random acts of kindness that weren’t really put on display for charities or a fluff news story, that’s the one I’ve got.

68. Have you ever had a night’s dream come true?

No, can’t say that I have.

69. Would you reject a date offer from someone you didn’t like?

yes

70. Which do you think is worse: Failure, or never trying at all?

This is one of those what I say is not really what I do things. I think the second is worse but I often freeze when it comes to choices like this. When I’m by myself: I freeze.

#random #asks #questions #bored #mild entertainment

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #199

“mama, just killed a man; put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger, now he’s dead.”

Who is the nicest person you’ve ever met? I dunno, I've truly met so many. How about the meanest? Literally my former best friend, all things considered. I too often ignored her overwhelming ratio of bad versus positive traits. She was an absolute witch when entirely unnecessary to most she met, and even to those she did like, she could be extremely rude and just. Yeah, mean. Do you prefer sugar cookies or peanut butter cookies? Hmmm, probably sugar. Chocolate chip cookies or Oreos? Chocolate chip. What is on your mouse pad? I don't have one. Who was the last person to yell at you? Mom. Why did they yell at you? I don't recall, I just know it was her. What was the last thing you spoke to your mom about? I can't remember. It was as she was leaving for work and nothing major. Where was the last place you took a train to? Never been on a train. What is your favorite sleeping position? What about sitting? Sitting, idk. But I sleep like, kinda on my stomach but twist to my side with my arms positioned up like a fetus' or something. My legs are just kinda just splayed out or bent a bit beside each other. When is the last time you felt appreciated for something you did? Had to be something with Sara when she needed some comfort. Do you ever call friends just to have a casual conversation with them? I don't willingly call anyone. I've texted/messaged friends at random though. Are you the type of person who gets straight to the point? Not really. Do you enjoy playing board games? No. Are there any movies you are wanting to see? The new How To Train Your Dragon, ahhhh! Probably gonna see it with Sara when she comes. Who was the last contact you stored into your cell phone, if you have one? Probably VR. What was the last song you sang along to? Uhhh something by Powerwolf in the shower. Are you a fan of the band Taking Back Sunday? Never heard 'em. Nachos or tacos? I hate tacos, but nachos are literally the best. Do you think Kurt Cobain was assassinated? This is a conspiracy I'm not really educated on. *shrugs* I barely ever rule shit out now after going down the conspiracy theories rabbit hole. Do you feel uncomfortable when people you hardly know confide in you? Not at all. Does it annoy you when people wish away their lives? I'm guessing you mean just wish for things instead of taking action towards achieving them? Yes, it does. Wishing isn't gonna do a damn thing for you. Have you ever lived with somebody with truly repulsive habits? No. Do you tend to say things because they’re appropriate not because you mean them? No. I've probably done it, but not enough to recall an occasion. What was the last thing to perplex you? Some conspiracy theory in Shane Dawson's new series I thought was pretty far-fetched. I've already forgotten it. What was the last thing to fascinate you? Another theory in the same series mentioned above lol. It was about the fires in California. Do you ever have really good dreams, and then the whole next day, you’re in a really good mood because of that really good dream? No. What’s the last thing you bought at the mall? A book. What are you listening to? "Fire & Forgive" by Powerwolf. Have you ever wanted to go to the moon? Not really. Is your favorite author the author of your favorite book? No. What are you looking forward to the most? Settling down comfortably with Sara with nice jobs, pets we love, a house we feel is perfect for us, and just. Yeah, all of that. ;v; What’s the last CD you bought? I haven't bought one since Hollywood Undead's "Swan Songs." Is that your favorite cd by that artist? I'm not too familiar with their albums, but I think? What food do you eat the most of? Idk, really. Meats? Some form of bread? What food do you not eat enough of? Vegetables. If you HAD to look like someone else, but could choose who, who would you choose? Probably Suzy Hanson. I'm gay as all fuck hell for that sweetheart. What’s something you’re proud of yourself for? DEDICATING TO THE PROCESS OF RECOVERY. Think of your favorite band… if you got to talk to ONE person from that band, who would it be, and why them? Ozzy because he is my granddad, savior, and most importantly, spirit animal. Have you ever seen someone get a tattoo done? If so, what was it? Did they cry or were they in a lot of pain? Yeah; it was a watercolor feather with "ohana" written on it. She didn't cry, nor was it excruciating. What do you like on hot dogs? Ketchup and mustard. Favorite sport team? I'm biased towards the Carolina Hurricanes because of Dad. Do you live somewhere where it’s completely safe to walk alone at night? No. Have you ever lived with someone who was a total slob? Yup. Have you ever interviewed a job applicant at your workplace? N/A Have you ever gone over 3 months without shaving/waxing your legs? Yeah, or close to it. Would you ever consider being a foster parent? No. What’s your opinion on lottery tickets? Waste of money, or no? A waste and a risk for addiction. What are some things that make others cry, that don’t make you cry at all? Well, this is hard. I cry at pretty much anything moving. Have you ever swam in a saltwater pool? No. Can you run in heels? I highly doubt that. My balance is bad as it is. Do you think anyone has given up on you? I'm sure Colleen has. When did you last swallow your beliefs to avoid an argument or confrontation? Today, but literally most days on FB anyway with my stepmother and abortion. Do you pay your own cellphone bill, or do your parents pay it for you? Dad pays it. Have you seen every Harry Potter movie in theaters? No. Have you ever been pregnant? No. Would you ever drive a hearse for your car? Fuck yeah I would if I could decorate it some. What snacks do you usually take to the beach with you? I haven't gone to the beach consistently enough to known. Do you like to eat tomato soup along with your grilled cheese? No. Have you ever watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer? No. Do you have thick or thin hair? Thick as all fuck. If you have thick hair, do you get it thinned when you get it cut? I get it like, tapered so the ends aren't so abrupt. If you have thin hair, do you wish it were thick? N/A What kind of shoes do you normally purchase? Converse or Vans. Did you like Pokemon or Digimon when you were younger? Pokemon was and still is everything. Do you sleep with your hair up or down? It's too short to go up, but I didn't when it was long. When you go swimming, do you put your hair up or down? ^ Do you do any special workouts to stay in shape? I've started doing some yoga exercises and push-ups everyday to try to get IN shape. If you’re a girl, do you have big hips? Too big? I'd say they're fine. Is there a day you’d just like to forget? Which one? The day I ODed. Girls, do you think you look good in dresses or not? I haven't worn a dress since my sister's wedding three years ago... and I looked awful. Have you ever taken a pottery class before? No. What is the one stereotype people label you as most? Don't really hear those nowadays. Who makes you the most angry in your life right now? My last fucking school. How many times have you seen Star Wars? Be honest. Literally once, and I hated it. It was incredibly uninteresting. Do you like flowers? What’s your favorite kind? YEAH. I love orchids and dahlias. How many grades have you failed in your life? None. Do you own a car? Who provides your insurance if so? No. Are you someone who can easily keep a secret? Yup. When was the last time you painted something? December, a painting for Sara. Who was the last female you hung out with? My mom. When is the next time you’re going on vacation? Hell if I know. Are you currently renting out your own apartment? No. Have you taken anyone’s virginity? No. Have you ever had anyone drop off animals at your house and what kind? No. Have you ever made your boy/girlfriend choose between you and someone else? No. Do you remember when some of the Walmarts had a McDonald’s in them? Our neighboring town still has one. When was the last time you were somewhere that offered free Wi-Fi? I dunno. What color are your curtains and are you satisfied with this color? Maroon, and yes. When was the last time you were stung by a bee and what kind was it? Last year by a bumblebee. Do you know anyone personally who had their house burn down before? Yes. What’s your favorite kind of potato chip and are they cheap to buy? Hm. Maybe classic... or cool ranch. Who was the last male you hung out with? My dad. Are you self-conscious? You have no idea. Do you tend to get sick more often in the wintertime? If not, is there a certain season that you get sick more often in besides winter? No. I rarely ever get sick. Do you find yourself being more of a germaphobe when you’re in public? Uh, duh. What is the worst thing you’ve seen in a public restroom? Blood under the seat. And I mean quite a bit. I usually check under them now after that event with Colleen. Nerdy question time. If you were in a more medieval time period, would you prefer to excel in might, magic, or finesse? MAGIC. Do you have an friends from foreign countries? Are they online friends or foreign exchange students? Or perhaps you have some from both? Online friends. Have you ever studied how your last name originated? Yeah. What is one recipe that you would like to learn how to make? Hell, a lot. I need to know how to cook period. How many hours can you go after a meal before you are hungry again? Does the time vary off how big of a meal it was? Depends on what I ate. Can be like... 4-5 hours or I can fast and go beyond 16. Really varies. What was your favorite Backstreet Boys song? HUNNY don't DO THIS. Oh Lord. I really don't think I can pick. I know back then it was "The Call," though. Favorite *N Sync song? Probably "Bye Bye Bye." Which of those two bands did you like best? Backstreet Boys. *heart eyes drool emoji* Do you learn choreography easily? I was okay back in dance, but I doubt it now. My memory and focus have declined. What is the theme of this year’s wall calendar? Idk, Mom hasn't changed it yet. Do you believe that Jesus will come back in your lifetime? I don't believe that concept. Do you still have your favorite toy from when you were kid? Apparently no; asked Mom recently outta curiosity, and I was VERY surprised. I don't know how I ever could've gotten rid of him. Which do you do more: read books, spend time online, or watch television? Guess. What do you do the most when you’re online? Listen to/watch YouTube. Is your 2019 off to a good start? Eh, I suppose. What color is your winter coat? I don't have one. What’s your favorite candy to receive on Halloween? Reese's. Do you think you’re too old to go trick-or-treating? Well, according to society. Do you have a bobblehead? If yes, what does your bobblehead look like? No. Were you afraid of heights as a child? No. What’s the strangest thing you’ve wrapped a present in? Nothing odd? Can you read in the car? I don't know if I've ever done that? Have you ever had a lead role in a play? No. Would you ever take a solo road trip? Nah. What is the most fascinating part of nature? Shit dude, idk. There's so much. Evolution, maybe. When did you last go to the library? What book(s) did you check out? Couldn't tell ya. Have you ever gotten in trouble for running up your phone bill? Nope. When is the next time you’ll change your hairstyle? Will you color it? I don't plan to any time soon. Do people normally say you’re a fast typer, or are you rather slow? Very fast. Do you believe in the concept of global warming? It's 2019. "Concept" my ass. Have you ever worked in retail? Never again. Are you even a little bit racist? No. Were you more fond of swings, monkey bars, or seesaws as a child? Swings. Do you believe in a near-future apocalyptic event? We can't predict that. A meteor could fuck us tonight, or the supervolcano in Yellowstone could erupt the next time I blink. May not be for thousands of years. Do you have a chandelier in your home? No. Do you have a bar with stools? No. Don’t you love American Horror Story: Asylum? I didn't watch it. When’s the last time you blew some bubbles? No clue. Are you self conscious about your nails? Not too much. Which pair of pants that you own are your favorites? Why do you like them? Pretty much all I have are yoga pants and leggings that all look the same... Now if I can include pj pants, the soft, black, white, and lilac Jack Skellington ones I have. They're comfy. Have you ever had any kind of dangerous addiction? What’s this addiction? No. Are your parents still married, divorced, or split up? Like this decision? Divorced. And I mean, any person would wish their parents were together ideally, but just with how mine always fought and just constantly seemed angry at each other, I'm glad they are. Are you a Jeffree Star fan? Or no? Do you think he’s awesome/dumb? I love that alien. His personality is so bubbly, he cracks me the hell up, and he's gone through so much growth. Are any of your favorite shows too dirty for television? Which ones? No. Are there any colorful quilts in your room? Which ones are colorful? No. Do you own a guitar? Specify. Which brand of guitar do you own? I do, but I don't recall the brand; I don't play it anymore. I just know it's black and white. Are you a monogamous person? Or do you hate commitment? Monogamous. Who was the last person who was rude to you? Idk, probably Mom. Have you ever met someone in person that you first met online? Yeah. Have you ever taken a test to see if you are colorblind? No. Who do you know who is dyslexic? Idk. Describe your dream wedding in five words. Small, memorable, gothic, emotional, and sincere are a few words I can think of. Is weed legal in your state? No. Have you ever thrown up in class? In kindergarten, I believe. What is something that you used to be ashamed of, but now you’re not? Mmmmm I dunno. OH ACTUALLY, for quite a while I was embarrassed of liking Pokemon for yeeeaaars because at that time it was seen as "weird," but now like. Give me everything Pokemon. Have you ever held a newborn baby? No. Are a ton of your Facebook friends getting married and having kids now? Yes. I sometimes forget we're at that age where it's kinda normal. What’s the last supernatural thing that happened to you? Idk. If you’re a Christian, how long have you known the Lord? N/A Do you live in an apartment, condo, dorm, or house? A house. Do you have a sibling with the same first initial as you? Well, it's his nickname. Do you ever eat kids’ food (as in, meals made for kids)? Hell yeah, give me that fuckin nachos Lunchable. Do you remember pre-school? I have vague memories. How old were you when you made your first friend? Two. What is the movie that you have waited the longest for/which film do you remember anticipating the most/are still anticipating? The Incredibles 2, probably. What is something that an interested guy/girl could comment about you, that would make you instantly open to them (e.g., “That book you’re reading is from my favorite author”)? It's game over if you recognize my Markiplier tattoo lmao. Do you refer to yourself by any sort of fan nickname (Belieber, Little Monster, etc.)? I will always be a GMM mythical beast, fucking fight me. What sort of situations make you feel most self-conscious or inadequate? Are there any people or places that just make you want to crawl into a hole? If you can’t think of anything specific, can you remember the last time (or any time) you felt this way? When I'm in a position where it's my responsibility to be knowledgeable, hence why I've struggled so immensely with work. Out of all your usernames for websites, which one is your favorite? Do you use it for more than one site? I use Ozzkat like, everywhere, and it's my fave. Are there any cities near you that you’re afraid to go to because of the crime rate or its other bad reputations? Yes. Have you ever spent the whole day (or multiple days) just looking up one thing on the internet (e.g., videos of your favorite band, how-to videos, quizzes, etc.)? Ha, yeah. Can you remember the last thing you thought and subsequently thought, “wow, I really shouldn’t be thinking that”? PTSD and OCD alike give me intrusive thoughts occasionally, so. How long does it take you in the morning to fix your hair? It takes just a few seconds to wet my hand(s) and go over the back where it usually sticks up like crazy. My hair is otherwise short enough where I have to do like... nothing. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to be around your ex everyday? No. Do you prefer kisses on the nose, cheek or forehead? Cheek. Have you seen someone recently you used to talk to, but don’t anymore? No. Do you prefer a lot of ice in your drinks or just a little bit of ice? None. I don't like it to water down my drink, and even with water, I worry about one/some small ones going down my throat. Well, in margaritas it's obviously fine, just because it's so fine. Which condiment (ketchup, mustard, etc.) do you use the most of? Ketchup or honey mustard. Would you ever flirt with somebody in front of your parents? With my s/o, sure, just not if it's even mildly sexual. Have your parents ever questioned your virginity? Yeah. Have you ever spent over $100.00 on an article of clothing? What was it? FUCK no. Do you think your parents know things about you that you don’t want them to? Mom might. I doubt Dad does. How many of your friends play World of Warcraft? I think Sam still does, maybe Alex, and then I have a number of acquaintances exclusive to the game. Actually Girt might too... maybe. I just know he keeps up with the lore. Are caterpillars more cute or disgusting? CUTE. Would you rather receive roses or sunflowers? I'd appreciate either, but I prefer roses as flowers. Is your dad bald? No. Surprised honestly; he's in his mid-50s, and while it's gray, there's no less of it than there's always been. Who is the most boring or dullest person that you know of? Uhhhhhhhh I dunno. How long do you have until your birthday? Three days y e e t Do you know anyone who has been arrested? Yes. Do you remember the name of the first bar you ever went to? Never been to one. Were you of age? N/A When was the last time you wanted to do something, but couldn’t? With how Sara's been such a flirt lately, I deadass wanna pin her to a wall and go ham. Is there a certain song you like to headbang to? I don't for the sake of avoiding a headache and getting dizzy. Anything you might be giving up on soon? In the back of my mind, every once in a while lately, my hope's dimmed for photography, but I just refuse to give up. Have you ever made any kind of video? Yeah. Have you ever taken someone back after they’ve cheated? Hell no. How many living grandparents do you still have? One. Is there a garage or carport attached to your house? No. Have you ever stayed in a hotel without your parents or older relatives? No.

#survey #quiz #questions #random

[atc74]

The Convention Connection - Two by Two

What originally started out as a one shot for @iwantthedean has turned into so much more. This series is over a year in the making and there is only part left after this. I hope you all have enjoyed this ride as much as I have. 

Catch up on The Convention Connection

Summary: A baby shower is thrown for the expectant parents. 

Word Count: 1915

Warnings: Excessive use of fluff, pregnancy frustrations

Thank you to my saving grace, @just-another-busy-fangirl​, beta extraordinaire. 

“Jay!” Nicole called from the upstairs of their home. She was in the nursery they had just finished a few days ago. With only about six weeks to go before her due date, they wanted to make sure that everything was finished before they were too close and Nicole was too big to do anything.

The nursery was finished in soft blues and greens with a Noah’s Ark theme. Jensen and Nicole had decided that since there were two babies coming, they would use the theme “Two by Two.” One of Nicole’s friends at the hospital was an accomplished artist and had spent hours painting the walls to get the theme just right, giraffes and elephants painted meticulously added to the feel.

Nicole had been banned from the room until it was finished and it wasn’t until last weekend that she had been allowed in, after Jay had assembled both cribs. All the other accessories and furniture had been stored in the generous walk-in closet. With the help of a couple of friends, everything was placed with Nicole’s direction and the room was absolutely perfect.

Jensen walked in the room, finding his very pregnant wife sitting in one of the plush rocking chairs, rubbing small circles over her swollen middle. She still took his breath away and he marveled at how lucky he was to have found her and that she had agreed to share this life with him. “Hey, Baby, what’s on your mind?”

“Ash and Ang are flying in today. The spare room is already made up, but Matt and Rob won’t be here till Friday. Are you picking them up?” Nicole inquired.

“Yes, I talked to Ash before she boarded and her flight is on time. Angelina’s is delayed because of a storm in Minneapolis, but I will get her, too. I promise,” Jensen assured her.

“Okay, good. I just don’t want to miss anything and I feel with all these hormones I am forgetting everything lately!” Nicole was tired and getting frustrated with the amount of information she felt she was forgetting lately. From her medical knowledge, she knew “pregnancy brain” was not an actual ailment. She deduced that is was just everything else on her mind, with the twins due to arrive in six weeks, but she couldn’t shut it down.

“Everything is all set for the baby shower on Saturday, too. Beth already ordered the cake and it will be ready Saturday morning. I was informed that your girls are going shopping Friday morning before the guys get here. Ashley Renee and Beth will be here that afternoon and everything is going to fine. Your only job is to relax, be beautiful and grow my babies!” Jensen knelt in front of her, kissing her stomach lovingly as he gazed up at his wife.

“I am going stir crazy. My blood pressure is down but they won’t let me return to work and only lifted some of my restrictions. I can hardly clean anything and I want to do something!” Nicole fumed.

“Well, I can get you out of the house if you want to join me when I pick up your friends,” Jay offered, seeing a smile as it spread across her face.

“I think I can handle that!” she laughed. “I miss my girls so much!”

~*~

Wednesday night was spent with delivery pizza and cheesy rom coms as the three friends caught up. There was talk of baby names, but Nicole wouldn’t give in and reveal the names she and Jensen had picked out. The only thing anyone had been told was that they were expecting a boy and a girl.

“So Ash, tell me how things are going with Matt,” Nicole probed as she dug into her ice cream.

“Things are amazing! Being married to Matt is the best thing in the world right now and we have decided to start a family!”  Ashley squealed and the three of you shared of group hug at the happy news.

“And Angelina, I know things are moving along with you and Rob. Aren’t you so glad I got you that extra VIP for Minneapolis?” Nicole bragged.

“Duh! I know the long distance isn’t ideal, especially with planning a wedding. I am anxious about the move, though. It isn’t just a whole new city; it will be the start of a whole new life with him. I am not anxious about being married to him; that I can’t wait for, but the rest of it scares me a little. I have lived in Minnesota my entire life, but most everything he does is in Los Angeles. He has an entire career there while I can get a job anywhere,” Angelina admitted, looking at her dear friends as tears glistened in her eyes.

“Oh, Boo, everything is going to work out just fine. You guys have so much love, it will get you through anything. Trust me, Jensen and I have been there. You just have to be honest and work it out together,” Nicole comforted her as Ashley refilled their drinks; wine for them and some sparkling water for Nicole.

“Nic is right, Ang. It wasn’t easy for me either when I moved in with Matt, all the way across the entire country! I miss my friends and family, but we have each other and that is what matters,” Ashley added.

“I knew this weekend was what I needed! Thank you both so much for talking me down from the ledge,” Angelina gushed.

“Okay, we have a full day of cleaning and setup to do tomorrow, so we should probably hit the sack. Friday we have groceries and food prep. Beth and Ashley will be here mid afternoon and Rob and Matt get in around five. We will pick them up, check into the hotel, then come back here before dinner, so we can get the rest of the room ready,” Ashley recounted, listing everything off on her fingers.

“I can’t wait for everyone to get here for this baby shower! I can’t believe we talked Jensen into a co-ed shower!” Angelina chimed in.

“Okay, everyone in bed. I am exhausted and it’s only ten o’clock!” Nicole yawned. The three women made their way upstairs, still chatting excitedly about the upcoming events.

~*~

“Rob, did you put out the balloons?” Angelina asked her fiance as he walked into the house, still shaking snow out his hair.

“Yes, Honey. Matt and I took care of it. The sidewalk and driveway are cleared and salted. It is finally starting to let up, I think,” Rob pondered as he gazed out the window.

“Okay, thank you. Beth just ran to pick up the cupcakes and I have the stand ready for when she gets back. The food is almost ready, and all the decorations are-” Angelina went over the list in her head before her thoughts were broken by one of her favorite voices.

“Ahhhhh!!! Oh my God, girl, you look stunning!” Brianna’s voice rang through the house as she walked through the front door, greeting Nicole, wrapping her in a side hug. She rubbed her hands over Nicole’s bump. “I can’t wait to meet these bundles!”

“Hey Bri!” Ang called out as she made her way from the kitchen to the front of the house. She squeaked as Brianna hugged her so tight she could barely breathe.

“I am so happy to see you girls! Congrats on the engagement by the way. Rob, you sly dog!” Brianna playfully punched Rob in the arm before hugging him, too. “Kim is on her way, but had to make a stop. Jared and Gen are swinging by the liquor store and will be over, too. And Misha, well, Misha is Misha.”

“The punch bowls!!” Ashley shouted as she ran back in the kitchen.

~*~

The house filled quickly with the chatter and laughter of all of Nicole’s friends and family. Besides blood family, the guest list was a who’s who of a Supernatural Convention. Mark and Sarah Sheppard had made the trip, along with Ruth, Jason Manns, Rich and his wife, Jaci.

Tours of the nursery were given and games were played. The food was a big hit, everyone commenting on how creative everyone had been in the planning. The theme was comfort foods and although the list was odd, it was what the Lady of the Hour wanted.

The food included a taco bar, homemade meat lover’s pizza, fried rice and chicken sandwiches with a variety of fixings. Ashley Renee had made a cute watermelon ‘ark’ filled with fruit, arranging little plastic animals in and around it. There was also a hot chocolate bar with all the toppings and a plethora of sweet treats. The hit of the party was the cake, which was tiered cupcakes decorated with animals, two of each, just like Noah had on the Ark.

The shower was a booming success and once all the gifts had been opened, the proud parents addressed their guests.

“Nicole and I are so overwhelmed by all the love, and support and are so happy that all of you could be here with us today,” Jensen started.

“None of this would have been as special if you weren’t here. We would like to say a huge thank you to Ashley and Ashley Renee, Angelina, Beth, Genevieve and Jared, for all their help planning and set up. Also to Matt and Rob for shoveling; snow was not in the forecast!” Nicole added.

“Now, we have a few gifts to hand out as well,” Jensen continued. He handed an envelope to Mark and Sarah, then another to Angelina and Rob. Both couples opened them together, gasps coming from all four.

“Are you serious?!” Ang and Sarah asked at the same time.

“Yes, we had a long talk about all of this and any of you would have been excellent choices, we have asked these four amazing, incredible people to be the Godparents of our children,” Jensen announced. “Who would be better than God and the King of Hell?”

Everyone enjoyed a good laugh at that. Both women had tears in their eyes as they hugged Nicole and Jensen, their partners doing the same.

“We’d be honored, guys. Thank you,” Rob humbly told Jensen and Nicole.

“Yes, absolutely,” Mark agreed.

The guests started dispersing shortly afterwards. Jared, Matt and Rob carried all the gifts upstairs while the ladies got started on the cleanup. There was enough food left over for dinner that night and everyone sat around reminiscing about how they had met, favorite stories and  embarrassing admissions. Gen recalled her pregnancies fondly, nudging Jared, quietly suggesting maybe trying for another.

“Well, we gotta go, guys! Thanks!” Jared stood and threw Gen her coat.

“Oh geez!” Jensen groaned, shaking his head at his best friend.

“Make it a girl this time, Padalecki!” Nicole threw out as they walked out the door.

“So, are you guys really not telling anyone what their names are going to be? Someone has to know.” Matt looked around at everyone else left in the room, his eyes finally landing on Nicole and Jensen.

“No, we haven’t told anyone yet, Matt. But…” Nicole paused.

“Their names are Av-” Jensen stopped as soon as Nicole placed her hand over his mouth.

“Jay! We agreed! Pull up, man!” Nicole chastised her husband.

“Aww, come on! I hate secrets!” Jensen pouted.

“Six more weeks guys, Chuck willing,” Nicole just smiled.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Rob chuckled.

Tags - now open - do the thing: @iwantthedean @chelsea072498 @paintrider13-blog @d-s-winchester @just-a-touch-of-sass-and-fandoms @just-another-busy-fangirl @winchesterprincessbride @waywardjoy @like-a-bag-of-potatoes @mamaredd123 @ellen-reincarnated1967 @sis-tafics @katymacsupernatural @tankcupcakes  @wonderange @meeshw777  @tmccarney @ruprecht0420 @theoriginalvicki @hexparker @nanie5 @docharleythegeekqueen @megansescape @notnaturalanahi @impalaimagining @mrswhozeewhatsis @blacktithe7 @emoryhemsworth @dracotomanddeansprincess23 @bringmesomepie56 @devilgirlsarah @spnbaby-67 @emilycollins11 @myoutletforfanfiction @deansangelgirl @mizzzpink @jerk-bitch-and-an-angel @kayteonline @percussiongirl2017 @fanfreak07 @tattooedmomster13 @sandlee44 @moonstar86 @uttertrash–butlikecutetrash  @squirrel-moose-winchester @growningupgeek @charliebradbury1104 @evansrogerskitten @feelmyroarrrr @itseverythingilike @smoothdogsgirl @ashstrom87 @supernatural-jackles 

Dean/Jensen Only: @akshi8278 @iamabeautifulperson18 @suzannebeaketa @thing-you-do-with-that-thing @deandoesthingstome @spn-dean-and-sam-winchester @boxywrites  @sparklesuperwholock88  @ericaprice2008   @leatherwhiskeycoffeeplaid   @tardis-full-of-fallen-angels 

#the convention connection #jensen ackles #jensen x nicole #jensen ackles fluff #nicsen #tcc #supernatural fanfiction #spn fanfic #rpf

[justsoyoudonthaveto]

So the world is ending, and we’re all inside, and I’ve already watched Tiger King, so I’m dusting off the laptop to get back into Hallmark movies. My heart hasn’t been in it the last few months, but the stats are saying that readers need recaps – so here we go!  As it’s a lovely day today, but I must be near my phone inside, I’m tackling my DVR with this world premiere from a few weeks ago – In the Key of Love, starring Tony Nominee Laura Osnes, who I totally voted for on that Grease You’re The One That I Want show when she won for being Sandy.

We open with “You Can’t Hurry Love” and some kind of bridal photography cliche montage. Aww, Laura is the photographer. She can’t help the overuse of mason jars and burlap. Her name is Maggie Case, and she drives a beat-down blue truck because she’s whimsical. She’s got a lot of boxes from Nashville, including a guitar case, and her wedding planner friend Sasha begs for Maggie to sing, but Maggie don’t do that anymore, not since she left Nashville. Sasha leaves, and Younger Son says “I’m guessing she’s the Sassy Friend?” Why Yes, Younger Son. She Is.

Sassy Friend makes some kind of pithy statement that you need to do what your passion is. So you know that Maggie does not have a passion for photography and needs to go sing for her supper. Speaking of which – what’s everyone making in day 99999 of quarantine? Today its Tacos, and I know it’s weird because Today is Monday, and it should be Taco Tuesday, but I don’t live my life to abide by those kinds of dinner rules. We’re rebels in this house!

Cut to Nashville, and Jake is some kind of music producer (the guy who does a lot with a soundboard) and there’s some girl named Ashley in a big floppy hat who is making serious eyes at him but he’s all business. Jake is heading to Piedmont Island for a wedding – is it his? Is he just a guest? It’s unclear.

Cut to Evelyn, Maggie’s grandmother, who owns the Wedding Industry thing at which both Maggie and Sasha work. Evelyn wistfully watches a Youtube video of Maggie and Jake singing and makes sure that Maggie meets some kind of ferry – so much so that she shuts down Sasha and her ambition to chose entrees for the Blake Wedding. Maggie gets to the dock of Piedmont Island, which has a sign that says 3,996 I Dos and Counting so Piedmont Island is some kind of wedding destination, I guess. And before we can think that Jake and Jennifer, currently onboard the ferry, are destined to get married and it’s going to be one of those groom leaves his bride at the altar for our plucky heroine movies, it is revealed that Jake and Jennifer are in fact, brother and sister, and he’s there for support, not vows. Whew!

Jennifer is marrying Kyle, and we’ve already upped the diversity in Hallmark movies by 3 whole guys! I don’t know what to do with this information! Groom and Best Man!  AND the Mayor!  Way to go Hallmark. Jennifer planned this whole wedding at Piedmont Island in order to get Maggie at her wedding which seems WAY too much. But whatever. Plot, and it’s obvious she missed Maggie a lot, isn’t it?

This Island is just too precious – there’s a trolley car to bring guests from the ferry, and the trolley car trip is narrated by the mayor.

Maggie is all about confronting her grandmother/boss about not giving her the heads up that Jake was coming to a wedding. And Grandmother is all Fiddle Dee Dee, whatever, I’m in charge. Of course you are, that’s why you trample down all of Sasha’s ambition, to retain control in your manicured hands.

The Mayor is also the Minister. Of Course.

Jennifer spends more time with her brother than with her fiance, but we do find out that their parents or dead, so that makes some kind of sense. Grandmother Matchmaker hands bride with a whole list of things to do, and wouldn’t you know it, Maggie is included in all of them, so we’ll just have to watch Jake and Maggie fall back in love with each other. This week of wedding stuff is going to wear me out and I’m only watching this movie.

Heads up – after the commercial break, Maggie shows up in HORIZONTAL STRIPED PANTS. Costumer, what drugs are you ON??????????????????? There were no pictures available online, so I had to take one with my phone while watching this movie.

You’re welcome.

Oh my God, they are SHORTS and she’s wearing a blazer with them. WHAT IS GOING ON?????

Jake and Maggie discuss their lives over benches with tulle, and we find that Jake is the control freak, and Maggie was not, and that was one of their many issues 2 years ago. Jake seems to be killing it in life – he’s a music producer and doing great. Maggie has to admit that she’s not singing and he offers his man opinion that she should sing for weddings on the island, and it’s not like that opinion is needed, Jake.

Note – Sasha’s bangs are way too heavy for her little face.

Next day, Jake finds Maggie in an outdoor cafe, and he has to lay his problems at Maggie’s feet – he’s worried about this album he has to produce. But you know, Jake, you’re a grown up, figure it out – Maggie’s off to shoot Jennifer get her hair trials done for her wedding.  As someone who likes to organize, I have NO idea how someone waits until the week OF her wedding to try out hairstyles. Jennifer spills the beans on Maggie and Jake to a delighted Sasha and some unnamed bridesmaid. Backstory – Jake hosted an open mic night, and they chatted, and then Jake made her sing in front of a crowd, which is So Not Cool.

Jake is not having the slow WiFi at this place, so he goes to play Wedding Pictionary with everyone in the salon, and my GOD kill me now. Jake has to draw “Always a Bridesmaid Never a Bride.” And Best Man Gets It. Good job, Best Man! Still, though. Kill Me. And Jake is still pissy about the WiFi, and he demands to know why Maggie doesn’t stress over anything. Maggie’s philosophy – don’t borrow trouble, and don’t stress about what you can’t control. Enjoy the process, not the result. Whatever, Mags, you don’t have to produce an album from bumf@#! island.

Grandma Boss is totally blocking Sasha, and I do not like this storyline at all. Sasha has a new job offer but she doesn’t want to take it because she likes bumf@#! island. And Jake finally listened to his album and is going to go to Paris when the album launches. Yay for Jake. Even though he’s going to the same theater that they dreamed of playing in together, and it’s kind of weird. But Maggie is super supportive because that’s the type of girl she is.

Cut to a Salsa Lesson at this Godforsaken Island – the wedding party is learning, but Jake took a Salsa Class in College, so you know, he already knows. But then Bride makes Maggie dance with Jake, and Jake SUCKS as a partner – mansplaining everything and if you want to throw a chair at this guy, get in line. But wonder of wonders, once they close their eyes and not worry about dancing, they are Fred and Ginger, if Fred and Ginger ever did Latin Ballroom.  BTW, there is only one way to do Latin Ballroom and it is THIS.

We also find out that Jake’s extreme Type A behavior didn’t gel with Maggie’s laid-back way, and they lost out on their one big break. And so Maggie lost confidence and hasn’t sung at all since.

Beachfront evening – Bride demands that Maggie sing something with Jake. And I have HAD it with this family trying to make Maggie do things she doesn’t really want to do. But then voila – Maggie gets a-singing, and Jake plays the drums on her guitar case. I love Laura Osnes, and good for her to put up with this crap just to be able to sing some more on TV. She’s also in Broadway Princess Party and she’s delightful.  Her “10 Minutes Ago / The Next Ten Minutes” medley is GORGEOUS – Check it out here with dreamy Jeremy Jordan. Oh, back to the movie – now Maggie has to sing while Bride and Groom have their first dance, and sure, fine.

Grandma Boss is having coffee on the terrace in this paradise area of the world. She’s subtly pushing Maggie to go back to singing – subtle as a sledgehammer, but it does prompt Maggie to go back through her boxes of Nashville memorabilia, which include sheet music,  scrapbooks, and lots of pictures of Jake and Maggie looking lovingly at each other.

Uh oh, Jake’s album’s release is canceled, because they lost the right to one of the songs, the lynchpin to the album, etc. Oh, he’s devastated, and needs a new song PRONTO and isn’t it great that Maggie is a songwriter? But meanwhile, Maggie gets to go flower shopping and cake tasting, and Jake shows up at the baker with a cake topper – that is “beautiful” but looks like it is made of paper. You want a cake topper?

That’s a Cake Topper

Jake’s had a change of heart about the album and how he should only worry about what he can control, so that’s nice. His change of heart leads to Maggie digging out her song notebook, and rewriting lyrics.

Finally, it’s almost wedding time, and Maggie gives good advice to Sasha who’s going to talk to Grandma Boss about her job offer. In these turbulent times – please do not mess around with job offers. But cut to an emergency with the florist – her fridge broke and there are no flowers for the wedding! So Sasha didn’t get to tell her about her job offer and at this time, I say cut and run, girl.

Sasha has to work the rehearsal, and the wedding is going to be held by the dock. Weird. And Jennifer’s wedding is going to be ruined because of the lack of flowers, but luckily enough, during the weird Trolley Tour with the Mayor, he mentions that he has a lot of flowers in his garden, and so Jake and Maggie head over there to eat cookies at the Mayor’s Open House and beg some flowers off of him. But seriously, in all honesty, my wedding was almost ruined by a freaking Hurricane – where they said just don’t stay near windows – and the reception was in a glass-paneled room, and even I didn’t freak out as much as Jennifer did about the lack of flowers on her archway.

Meanwhile at the Mayor’s:

(They get the flowers because the Mayor is nice.  They could have just had the ceremony in front of the Mayor’s house, which is a pretty Victorian, and then SAVED all the flowers, but whatever, you do you, Maggie.)

Maggie saves the day on Jake’s album because she’s amazing.

Rehearsal Dinner! Every couple who gets married at Piedmont Island has to sign a shell the night before. That’s just weird. The rehearsal dinner is a lot like a shower, with games, and it’s weird. Sasha is still upset because Grandma Boss still hasn’t listened to her. Maggie has some words of encouragement that were completely drowned out by both Darling Husband who showed off his forage to the liquor store (essential service) and Younger Son, who just bought a Batmobile on Lego Batman 3.  But now Maggie and Jake are going canoeing and that cannot be a good idea – didn’t you see the news this weekend?  They fell in the lake that is literally 2 feet deep, and they are magically dry in 2 seconds, except for Jake’s phone – bring on the rice!

Jake asks to see more of Maggie and “she’d like that.” Kiss blocked by Maggie saying “he should go” because it’s Hallmark and we can’t have a kiss until the final reel.

Wedding Day! Maggie is so swept up in everything she barely remembers to do her job and take pictures.  But it is the fastest ceremony every and then we’re back at the manor for reception!

Posed photos on delay because Maggie’s memory card needs something, or whatever. But in the meantime, rice phone works, and Jake’s album is saved because of Maggie’s song.

Jake has to fly the red-eye back to get the album up and running, and he has to go, but Maggie’s not there, so what are we going to do? Jake’s full of conflict because he wants to tell Maggie about his good fortune, but he has only 7 minutes to make the only ferry that goes out from this island. But he makes it, and Maggie is putting a very brave face on the fact that with a song on the album, Jake will then go on tour for a whole year, and a girl can only take so many pictures of other people getting married.

Sasha picks the middle of the reception to have her moment with Grandma Boss, and Grandma Boss immediately backs down and Sasha wins. But then Grandma Boss lays down some harsh truths to Maggie and basically kicks her off the island to go be a songwriter / singer / whatever.

  Jake comes back to the reception mid-song! Harmonizing on Key! YAY!

The entire wedding party is singing along with this random song that no one is supposed to know, so you know that they sang this over and over and over during the scene and everyone has it memorized it.

Jake says singing with Maggie makes him happy and he wants to be happy. But he magically also gets to go to Paris because he and Maggie can be the opening act on this random tour.  AND We’re Done.

So this was a nice one to ease back into the magical world of Hallmark movies. As we live in an uncertain world, it’s nice to know that there are some things that are certain, be it The Sad Times, Sassy Friends, FairyTale Weddings on Exotic Random Locations, and Type A and Relaxed People getting together and Making.It.Work.  While I don’t know what will happen next month, next week, or even tomorrow, I do know that I watched In the Key of Love, just so you don’t have to.

Hey Cool Cats and Kittens - Oops, Wrong Message. I'm back to Hallmark, and it's just in time! We've Got Weddings! Photography! Songs! Beautiful Scenery! All of this, plus Cake! I watched In the Key of Love, just so you don't have to So the world is ending, and we're all inside, and I've already watched Tiger King, so I'm dusting off the laptop to get back into Hallmark movies.

#songs LauraOsnes WayTooTalentedForThis BacktoHallmark SimplerTimes

[suckitsurveys]

Lot’s of long answers in this one sorry not sorry.

1. Do you like zombie movies? Nah, I’m not into the whole zombie thing. <--Same. I do like Zombieland though.

2. What’s the grossest/worst thing you’ve ever seen in a public restroom? Used condoms. 

3. What’s the most wasteful thing you regularly do? I use a lot of paper towels.

4. What’s the most difficult apology you’ve ever had to give? I’m not sure. 

5. What’s the worst relationship advice you’ve ever seen? I HATE the whole “fighting is healthy” mentality. Yes, bickering is fine, but if you’re fighting all the time, that is not a healthy relationship AT ALL. If your partner is screaming and yelling you on a regular basis, that is borderline emotional abuse. 

6. Have you ever volunteered in a hospital? If not, would you ever want to? I haven’t. And definitely not, I hate hospitals. 

7. What was your worst Halloween costume? All of my costumes have been pretty awesome. I was Lucy from Lucy, Daughter of the Devil one year and no one got it, but I still had fun with it.

8. Who has/had the worst reputation in your graduating class? Eh. 

9. When was the first time you can remember feeling mature? I’ll let you know when that happens. 

10. Have you ever had a disappointing Christmas, or any disappointing holiday if you don’t celebrate Christmas? Yeah. It’s kinda hard to talk about, but about 7 years ago my mother accidentally took her meds twice in the morning and she was completely out of it while opening presents. I got her a really nice chalkboard that she had wanted and she opened it and literally looked at it, said nothing, and put it down to open the next present, pretty much repeating what she did with mine. And when she did say stuff she was very incoherent. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to watch. 

11. Do you have any character bandaids in your house right now, or just plain ones? There are some Batman ones that were mine at my dad’s still. 

12. Have you ever had to give a pet away? Yes. My ex gave me a kitten like 2 weeks before we broke up. The cat was also born to a wild cat that his friends fed but didn’t house, so the cat was, well, wild. He would scratch and bite me in my sleep and probably had worms. And I was too depressed after being dumped to deal with the kitten and I felt SO horrible but I had to give him to a shelter. I really hope that kitty has a good home now. 

13. What’s the junkiest junk food you’ve ever eaten? Oh man, I don’t know. Probably like loaded cheese fries or something. Or a fried Oreo. 

14. Did you play pretend a lot as a child? Were there any recurring plots or themes? Yeah, I pretended a lotttttt. One of the biggest things I did was make cars in my dining room by setting up our chairs. I’d pretend to go on road trips with my dolls. 

15. How do you feel about runny egg yolks? I’m not a huge fan but I don’t mind them. I’d rather them be firm.

16. Has a teacher ever tried to teach you something that was undeniably wrong? Yeah, my 7th grade math teacher was a JOKE. 

17. If for some reason you had to give up one of your hobbies, which would you choose? Maybe Facebook? 

18. Have you ever hidden a relationship from your family? I’ve definitely been in some online ones that I didn’t tell them about. 

19. How much do you know about first aid? Not very much oops. 

20. Which of your relatives do you know the least about? Hmm. Good question. The magic of Facebook has changed this dynamic recently. I used to not know anything about some of my second cousins but I have a lot of them on FB now, so I know at least a little about them. Maybe some of the family I have in TN?

21. Have you ever meditated? If so, did it do anything for you? Yeah. It was nice I guess? I supposed I do my own forms of meditating now, like relaxing in the tub or enjoying being outside. 

22. Have you ever given advice to someone who was much older than you? Yeah.

23. Have you ever used a view-master? Yeah!

24. Do you ever listen to talk radio or podcasts? If you do, what are some of your favorite shows? Sometimes I’ll listen to NPR, and my favorite segments on that station are Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me and This American Life. 

25. When was the last time you got ice cream from a truck? Oh it’s been a while. I’m hoping I can catch one this summer with my niece because she’d love that. We’ve gotten ice cream from one of those bicycle cooler things before and she thought it was so neat. 

26. Are any of your favorite bands broken up or on hiatus right now? I don’t pay attention to that, haha. I do know Die Antwoord is going to break up at the end of the year or already did or something. Like I said, I have no idea about those things. 

27. Do you know any sex workers? If so, how do they feel about their job? I did. She seemed to enjoy it. 

28. What’s the biggest art project you’ve ever attempted? How did it go? Hmm. I can’t think of anything. Maybe my architecture final? That I did pass. 

29. What kind of wild animals do you see most frequently where you live? Squirrels, birds, bunnies, raccoons, and unfortunately skunks. 

30. Have you ever cooked anything other than s’mores over a fire? Yeah, we’ve cooked potatoes and corn in a fire before. And also hot dogs. Oh and beans one time too. 

31. Are there any items in your house that you use for something other than its intended purpose? Hmm. Mark’s night stand is currently a storage box. 

32. What do you hope the afterlife is like? I don’t know if I believe in that or not. 

33. What’s the worst behavior you’ve ever seen from a child? One of the kids at the daycare my sister owns used to communicate displeasure well into his toddler years by SCREAMING and refusing to move. Like would stiffen up and just scream. He was a terror and my sister could not get him adjusted no matter what she tried, and the parents didn’t want to listen either. 

34. Have you ever planned an act of revenge? Maybe little things as a kid. Like one time I was hanging out with my sister when I was about 9 or 10 and she was 18 ish, and then all of a sudden her boyfriend came over and they deserted me. They ordered Chinese food for just them and while they were upstairs, I poured an insane amount of garlic powder in it. But the joke ended up being on me because my sister then offered the leftovers to me. Haha. 

35. Do you and your parents share any of the same hobbies? I mean, we enjoy doing things together, definitely. My dad and I go to Cubs games and watch movies and go out to eat together a lot. He also likes going on trips and so do I. But he’s definitely a lot more interested in music than I am. And golfing. When my mom was alive we enjoyed shopping together, and she liked trips and movies as well. She also collected antiques, which isn’t something I’m super interested in, but I do appreciate them. 

36. Do you think it’s more exciting or scary to get older? Both. 

37. How was the reception of the last wedding you attended? My sister’s wedding was basically one big reception in my dad’s backyard. It was SUPER laid back; there was a small ceremony and then afterwords we had a taco bar and my sister grilled the steak herself in her wedding dress. I loved that part haha. We also had my dad’s friend’s band play and my dad also got up and played a few songs on his guitar as well. Everyone just danced and laughed and had a really great time. It was really fun, despite who she was marrying, haha. 

38. Do you have any physical photo albums? There are a TON at my dad’s house. 

39. Would you feel comfortable working at a sex shop? Eh. 

40. Who was the worst friend you ever had? Aside from lil pre-teen jackasses in middle school, my ex friend Jessica. She was SO into herself she never asked me how I was doing and she thought she was a really good signer and definitely wasn’t. She also pulled some bullshit when my ex and his best friend tried to break Mark and I up early in our relationship. Long story short, when I told her what happened she was like “I’m not going to take sides” (my ex’s best friend was her bf’s brother). UM that situation was definitely something you should take sides in, especially when it happened to your supposed best friend. I stopped talking to her that day. 

41. What’s the biggest sacrifice you’ve ever made? Staying at home longer than I wanted to. I did it so my dad wouldn’t be lonely. I was on track to moving out when my mother passed away and then I felt like I needed to/wanted to stay with him and it ended up being a few more years before I moved out on my own (with Mark).

42. Have you ever campaigned for a political candidate, or otherwise played an active roll in an election? Eh. 

43. What’s the coolest hand-me-down you’ve ever gotten? What about the best one you’ve ever given? Oh man I cannot think right now. I’m sure there have been a few things I’ve given my niece. The only thing I can think of right now is my Barbie collection, even though they are still at my dads and she only plays with them there. They will eventually become hers fully though. OH! The coolest hand-me-down I ever got was my sister’s old room in our parent’s home when she moved out. It was painted blue top to bottom and had a KILLER walk in closet. 

44. Do your parents and grandparents get along with each other? My dad’s mother is my only living grandparent and they bicker A LOT. I think he might harbor some of the same resentment I do against her for treating my mother so horrible when she was alive. And that he’s on his way to retirement but now has to take care of her. And now on his own since I moved out, which I feel super guilty about but that’s a story for another day. This survey is over and I need to sleep. 

#surveys

[irisplate9-blog]

Texas’s Favorite Grocery Store Is a Way of Life<p class="p-dropcap has-dropcap p-large-text" id="vavTjJ"><strong>The story of H-E-B seems</strong> unoriginal, as far as cult grocers go: A family launches a store in a small town a long time ago (in this case, the Butt family, in Kerrville, Texas, in 1905). That store earns a loyal following and expands throughout the region (Texas). It becomes known among its fans for its wildly dedicated employees (many have worked there for 30-plus years), top-notch customer service (only at H-E-B will someone hand you a freshly baked tortilla to snack on while you shop), and unique food products (hatch chile cookies!). Adoring <a href="https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/the-best-grocery-store-in-america-is-heb-article">public odes</a> are published about it across the Internet. <a href="https://www.itemonline.com/news/local_news/customers-flock-to-new-h-e-b-store-on-opening/article_1f9c3d27-617c-597d-9ab9-b9eeb81673bc.html">Long lines form</a> whenever a new location touches down. </p> <p id="D5oF9v">This tale could be told of any beloved regional grocery store — your Publixes, your Wegmans, your Harris Teeters — except that San Antonio-based H-E-B exists in a single U.S. state (with 52 stores across the border in Mexico) and is the 12th-largest private company in the country, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/largest-private-companies/list/#tab:rank">according to <em>Forbes</em></a>. What’s the difference between H-E-B and everyone else? Sure, it’s <a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Award/Best-Places-to-Work-2018-LST_KQ0,24.htm">ranked among the top places to work</a> and is pretty ahead-of-the-curve with its mobile checkout (maybe that’s <a href="https://www.mysanantonio.com/business/local/article/Amazon-looked-at-H-E-B-Whole-Foods-to-break-into-11303341.php">why employees at Amazon suggested that the tech giant acquire H-E-B</a> before it settled on that <a href="https://www.eater.com/2017/6/16/15816202/amazon-buys-whole-foods">other Texas grocer</a>). </p> <p id="SciLGZ">But, really, H-E-B has just tapped into one of the most powerful cultural forces in existence: Texas pride. H-E-B’s corporate campus — where many of the buildings are made of Texas limestone, and the neoclassical design is quintessential Texas architecture — runs along the San Antonio River Walk, and is built on an old military compound called the <a href="https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qbs02">San Antonio Arsenal</a>. A Texas landmark, known for being a major supply depot during both world wars, it now supplies Texas to Texans, from Whataburger Fancy Ketchup to Takis rolled tortilla chips to Franklin Barbecue sauce. </p> <p id="AJRBzf">The H-E-B <a href="https://careers.heb.com/about-heb/">website</a> prominently declares that H-E-B has “proudly served Texans since 1905,” and that its stores are all about “outfitting Texas families with all they need for Texas lifestyles.” In 2016, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/08/us/what-makes-texas-texas.html">Manny Fernandez succinctly described</a> what that means in the<em> New York Times:</em> “You don’t just move to Texas. It moves into you ... We tattoo Texas on our arms, buy Texas-built trucks and climb fire escapes with Texas dirt in our pockets. Place, we are unsubtly suggesting, matters.” Being from most states is just part of your bio; being from Texas is a lifelong commitment. </p> <p id="2F2SFv">I know this is true because I am from Texas. My parents moved the family to Dallas from New Hampshire when I was around a year old. My dad shades his face from the Texas sun with a cowboy hat on his daily walks, and has long identified as more Texan than Indian; as kids, my sister and I posed for photos off the highway amid the Texas bluebonnets every spring; I know all the lyrics to the de facto state song, “Deep in the Heart of Texas”; and though I live in Brooklyn now, I still wear shorts emblazoned with the Texas flag to the gym. </p> <p id="50sbXJ">If you’re not from Texas, the state might seem like one giant stereotype of cowboys, conservatism, and brashness. But Texan identity is more complex than that: There’s rural Texas, Silicon Prairie Texas, honky-tonk Texas, hipster Texas, Latinx Texas, oil-soaked Texas, Vietnamese Texas, and yes, gun-slinging Texas — just to name a few. A grocery store can be a prism for identity, refracting and focusing it; Whole Foods famously does this for an entire group of people held together by little more than social class and a vague sense of taste. What’s unique about H-E-B fandom is that its customers are ultimately loyal to H-E-B <em>in so far </em>as they are loyal to Texas. This is perhaps one of the most distinguishing factors between H-E-B and the other cult grocers: People love Publix subs, crave Trader Joe’s snacks, and revere Wegmans’ customer service, but H-E-B is a way of life. </p> <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="sR5Xpr"/><p class="p-large-text" id="uEuADT"><strong>Have you ever wanted</strong> a cast-iron skillet in the shape of the Lone Star state? Party tray? Burger-shaper? Cutting board? Pecan cake? Cheese? You can find them all in the aisles of H-E-B. Texas’s unique outline, with its right angles and craggly edges, is probably <a href="https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/the-shape-were-in/">one of the most recognizable</a> in the country. There are hundreds — literally hundreds — of Texas-shaped items at H-E-B. An employee at a San Antonio location tried to convince me that the Texas-shaped tortilla chips are superior because the unique silhouette, with its handle and curved ridges, was practically made for scooping up salsa. A shopper from Schulenburg, who regularly drives 25 miles to visit her nearest H-E-B, told me that she fills her grandchildren’s Christmas stockings exclusively with Texas-shaped novelty items purchased at H-E-B stores.</p> <p id="zXt6A1">It turns out that, after oil, Texas pride may be the state’s single most lucrative natural resource — in part because it can take so many different forms, each of which can be sold to a distinct audience. Against the backdrop of a <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516589&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newyorker.com%2Fmagazine%2F2017%2F07%2F10%2Famericas-future-is-texas" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">broader conversation about the future of Texas</a> and Texan identity, H-E-B is unabashedly embracing the longer, wider, more diverse view of <a href="https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/the-native-texan/">what it means to be a proud Texan</a>, and reaping the financial rewards of doing so; H-E-B’s more than 340 stores span several concepts, each of which appeals to a specific Lone Star State community or sensibility.</p> <p id="uHKAEn">Most notably, in 2006, H-E-B launched Mi Tienda, a grocery chain that caters to the needs of the state’s vast Latinx population, with a masa factory and tortilla presses in each store, products like dulce de leche and Mexican wedding cookies, and <a href="http://mitiendatx.com/">a default Spanish-language website</a>. Additionally, there’s Central Market, H-E-B’s specialty-foods store, which was launched in 1994 to appeal to a more globalized audience by offering a cross section of the cuisines that comprise an increasingly multicultural Texas, and now competes with Whole Foods; Joe V’s Smart Shop, a budget grocery brand; and Oaks Crossing, a family-friendly restaurant in one San Antonio store serving chicken-fried carne asada and brisket nachos. </p> <p id="ZMpoyY">Four years ago, H-E-B ventured into the barbecue business — the category of food that Texans are the <em>most</em> particular about (even if <a href="https://www.eater.com/2018/3/7/17081968/best-food-texas-tex-mex-barbecue">Tex-Mex is what more Texans actually eat</a>). “What is the most Texan food we can put out there?” Kristin Irvin, who is in charge of development for H-E-B’s True Texas Barbecue, asked me. “It’s barbecue.” She added that her team tasted barbecue from more than 25 different iconic Texas spots — Black’s,<strong> </strong>Franklin, and the like — to make sure that their version would pass muster. To Irvin and her team’s credit, the food I tried at a True Texas Barbecue inside a San Antonio H-E-B was pretty good — the sausage was appropriately snappy and well-spiced, the char on the brisket was just right, and even the turkey tasted impressively juicy. There are now 10 True Texas Barbecue locations spread across the state. </p> <p id="O44eMa">True Texas Barbecue was followed by another True Texas business, True Texas Tacos, which opened earlier this year in San Antonio. The restaurant, which focuses on breakfast tacos, is housed in another spin-off concept, the H-E-B Convenience Store, because eating gas station breakfast tacos is, to some, a Texas rite of passage. At True Texas Tacos, the tortillas are flour (anything else would be blasphemous) and freshly made on site. The fillings come in <em>barbacoa</em> (stewed cow’s head), <em>picadillo</em> (ground beef), and my personal favorite, a crisp slab of bacon with refried beans and cheese. </p> <p id="azF1Yn">You can also grab a Big Red, the bubble gum-flavored soda that was invented in Waco and is taken as a matter of fact to be the ideal counterpart to a smoky barbacoa taco. When an H-E-B employee found out that I had never even heard of Big Red, despite growing up less than 100 miles away from its birthplace, they immediately filled a large cup with the frighteningly red soda, and made me try it with the barbacoa taco — the combo was at first cloying, then pleasantly salty. (I probably could have done without the Big Red.) Still, I couldn’t believe that I had missed out on this allegedly quintessential Texas experience. It made me wonder: If H-E-B doesn’t do it, is it really Texan?</p> <p id="C78439">In Dallas, where I’m from, there’s no vanilla H-E-B location, a source of <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/texas/comments/8nw1fa/rant_why_is_there_no_heb_in_dallas/">extreme annoyance</a> among locals. But my family has long been devoted to Central Market, where we could buy whole spices, ghee, <em>masoor dal</em> (red lentils), and whole-wheat tortillas, which are (still) the closest approximation my mom has found to roti in any mainstream grocery store. Central Market also introduced my family to English double cream, arborio rice, and miso, broadening our palates with tastes from other cuisines. There are still sizable communities that H-E-B could do a better job of showcasing — the state’s robust immigrant populations from China and Vietnam come to mind — but it’s hard to think of another brand that’s as expansive in its vision of who and what gets to be Texan, or that comes as close to its aspirations to represent all of Texas. Whatever the future of Texas looks like, there’s a good chance it’ll show up in H-E-B.</p> <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="cqZ2Ua"/><p class="p-large-text" id="MY2nZ2"><strong>We may </strong><a href="https://www.curbed.com/a/texas-california"><strong>live in</strong> the United States of California and Texas</a>, but H-E-B has no plans to expand beyond Texas, at least in the U.S. Julie Bedingfield, an H-E-B public affairs manager, says that the company gets requests to open stores outside of Texas, mainly from Texas natives living elsewhere, “every single day.” You’d think that, in the same way that Popeyes has exported its Louisiana fried chicken across the country, H-E-B would <em>want </em>to sell its brand of Texas to people outside of the state. But H-E-B just wants to dig into its native soil even harder: Shortly after Amazon acquired Austin-based Whole Foods, H-E-B announced the creation of a tech and innovation lab in Austin, which will house its latest acquisition, a Texas-based delivery app called Favor. </p> <p id="8Ypp10">The strategy seems to be working. “I don’t really like Whole Foods after they got bought by Amazon,” an H-E-B customer in San Antonio told me. “I don’t like seeing the Amazon stuff everywhere.” With H-E-B, on the other hand, “I feel like they do things to support the community,” she added. “Many people I know, their kids work there ... I think H-E-B has earned the monopoly.” </p> <p id="ceD2Rr">The dedicated barbecue sauce aisles and the chicken-fried steak may sometimes seem a bit like Texas caricature — but whether or not every H-E-B customer connects with every Texas-adjacent item isn’t the point. It’s all just a way for H-E-B to communicate its message, loud and clear: <em>We get it. You love Texas, and so do we. </em></p> <p class="c-end-para" id="fO5SdF">I’ve noticed, living in New York, that people tend to write off Texas as a Wild West of conservatism and unruliness. Similarly, when my parents moved to Dallas from Nashua, New Hampshire in the ’90s, everyone told them they would face intense racism. Instead, we’ve all found the opposite to be true, at least where we’ve lived — Texans, on the whole, are open, honest, dedicated, and friendly. Maybe that’s why H-E-B resonates so strongly in Texas. The stores represent Texans as they<em> </em>see themselves. There is no attempt to construct a monolithic image of Texas — or even to help people outside of Texas understand Texas. H-E-B is the secret that only Texans are in on. It’s a retailer whose ethos is very clear: This is Texas — where the food is better, the people are more loyal, and the shape of our state is actually quite remarkable. <em>Y’all got any questions? </em></p> <p id="J8iole"><a href="https://twitter.com/PKgourmet"><small><em>Priya Krishna</em></small></a><small><em> is a food writer who contributes regularly to the </em></small><small>New York Times</small><small><em>, </em></small><small>Bon Appétit</small><small><em>, and other publications. Her cookbook, </em></small><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516589&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FIndian-ish-Recipes-Antics-Modern-American%2Fdp%2F1328482472%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1%3Fie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1536589970%26sr%3D8-1%26keywords%3Dindianish" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><small>Indian-ish</small></a><small><em>, is out April 2019. </em></small><br/><a href="https://www.instagram.com/laurakraaydesign/"><small><em>Laura Kraay</em></small></a><small><em> is a freelance illustrator living in Austin, Texas. </em></small><br/><small><em>Fact checked by </em></small><a href="https://twitter.com/emgrill_o?lang=en"><small><em>Emma Grillo</em></small></a><br/><small><em>Copy edited by Rachel P. Kreiter</em></small></p> <aside id="YtlPqm"><div class="c-newsletter_signup_box" id="newsletter-signup-short-form" data-newsletter-slug="eater" readability="7.8834196891192"> <div class="c-newsletter_signup_box__main" readability="33"> <span class="c-newsletter_signup_box__icon"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" version="1.1" id="Layer_1" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 38 54.231" xml:space="preserve"><g><path d="M1,20.304v9.981v6.393c0,9.046,7.332,16.375,16.375,16.375H33.75v-11.09H17.375 c-2.914,0-5.285-2.369-5.285-5.285v-6.393h18.383v-9.981H12.09V11.09h21.66V0H1V20.304z"/></g></svg></span> <h3 class="c-newsletter_signup_box__title"> Eater.com </h3> <p class="c-newsletter_signup_box__blurb">The freshest news from the food world every day</p> </div> <div class="c-newsletter_signup_box__disclaimer" readability="8.6"> By signing up, you agree to our <a href="https://www.voxmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a> and European users agree to the data transfer policy. </div> </div> </aside><br/><br/>Source: https://www.eater.com/2018/12/11/18133776/heb-texas-origin-cult-following<br/><img src="https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/chef-cooking-kitchen-stove-flame-frying-pan-31742315.jpg"/><br/>

[weddingplans12-blog]

Stacey and Ryan’s Intimate Vintage Mountain Wedding - Bridechilla Wedding Planning

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Stacey and Ryan’s Intimate Vintage Mountain Wedding - Bridechilla Wedding Planning

​Ryan and I have been together for 7 years. We met at a party at my parents’ house after my stepdad hired him for his first job out of college. After that summer, we both went back to school in different states and decided to stay long-distance between Texas and Oklahoma to see where things went. I just kept thinking to myself that I would stay in this relationship as long as it made me happy and not worry about the future!

After a couple of years, I decided to move back to New Mexico to be with Ryan and my family. We moved in together, got a dog, and loved traveling and playing board games with friends.

When Ryan got a job in Colorado we faced a turning point in our relationship. We made the decision to stay committed to each other and he proposed on an Alaskan cruise with the 7-year-old map he had drawn to my parents’ house from the night we met. We both moved up to Colorado and have been enjoying camping, hiking, and skiing in the mountains.

We ditched the Pinterest Board and Started from Scratch

Like every couple, we really wanted the day to feel like our own. I had a whole Pinterest board before we got engaged, but I chucked it out the window because it was all rustic with lace and mason jars—and I felt like I was planning somebody else’s wedding (no hate on that theme; it’s beautiful). And we started from scratch. Making the decision to get married in Colorado was hard because that meant both families would have to travel, but we decided to do what was right for us—and we wanted the mountain venue!

Navigating the challenges of planning a big event as introverts

One of our biggest priorities (and challenges) was keeping the day intimate. As introverts, neither of us wanted to stand in front of a crowd of people we only knew half of. We chose our venue because of the slightly smaller size, and saved money by choosing a Friday date. We also decided that kids (save our nieces) weren’t appropriate for this venue or the kind of event we were having. It was hard to do this, but in the end it all worked out for the better. I’m also a professional designer and love to do projects, so it was really important to me to include special handmade details throughout the day. I spent months hand-crafting our custom invitation suite and made a few signs using barn wood from Ryan’s family farm in Oklahoma. About 10 months before our wedding, a very special cherry tree in my parents’ backyard fell over—and after crying about it for a good 20 minutes, I took my mom’s offer of using it for the wedding and hand-lettered each guest’s name onto a slice of wood for their place card. I thought that would be a detail that was only important to me, but our guests took them home afterwards and have been doing all kinds of fun things with them!

My favorite part of the entire day happened right after the ceremony. There’s a small amount of time that the bride and groom get alone together before everyone else comes in for the recessional and our feeling of elation was so high at that point. I’ll never forget the kiss we shared right then and what it felt like to have done it!

Okay, okay. And I know I’ve rambled for a bit but I have to share the most classic part of the day. First, it downpoured right before our outdoor ceremony (yes, we had a plan B). And I had no idea. Guests afterwards kept asking me if I was freaking out, but really, I was just glad about this:

When I arrived at the venue, I walked up to the doorway with my brother and our photographer. As we approached the doorway, I heard a hissing noise—and looked over to see a large rattlesnake reared up, fangs bared, and rattling/hissing 10 feet away from my brother! We backed away, used a different entrance, and the venue called a ranger but eventually the snake just went away on its own. So rain wasn’t the worst thing that could have happened to us and it gave us some great perspective and a great story.

My invitations. I know a lot of people throw fancy invitations in the FIB, but I spent hours and hours on mine and loved every minute. We got so many compliments on them and people really appreciated the attention to detail.

My dress. Y’all… the cost of wedding dresses can be INSANE I know. We splurged a little more than I had planned on mine—and it wasn’t even my mom or grandma’s favorite. But I loved it so much and it made me feel so incredible.

The. Open. Bar. And I don’t mean this in a “you’re a bad host if you don’t have one” way, because, ew. We didn’t think we had it in our budget, but we found a company in Colorado that did it for just $16 (yes, SIXTEEN) dollars a person for the entire night (whaaaat?!). So we spent the money on it and it really helped loosen everyone up for the dancing and socializing. And our guests were grateful for it. I have photos of my cousins hanging out with my friends from college. Of Ryan’s uncle dancing in the middle of a group of my aunts. Everyone mingled and I don’t think it would have been the same without the bar.

​Okay… I know this sounds cliche and like I am seeing our day through rose-colored glasses. There was a lot of stress leading up to the day and it wasn’t a fun year planning. But I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

Oh, this. Meeting with wedding planners wasn’t worth it. I didn’t end up hiring one, which made me really nervous because of our short timeline for setup. But I put a trusted aunt of mine in charge and my family tackled everything beautifully! I did make sure everything was ridiculously (and y’all, I mean ridiculously) organized for them, but they were happy to help and another vendor would have just gotten in the way. Not sure I would have the same advice to others unless they have ready and willing people like mine!

Everything traditional beyond the first dances! No bouquet toss, no garter toss, no cake cutting… just a really fun party! And we got feedback from everyone about how much fun it was instead of feeling like a checklist of things to get done during the night.

We also threw the traditional timeline in the FIB and did a first look, which was fabulous because it calmed us both down before the ceremony, and we were able to get photos out of the way so we could enjoy cocktail hour!

Transportation. People are adults. They can get somewhere on time and drive responsibly on their own.

Our traditional American rehearsal dinner also went in the FIB. At first I didn’t want to do this—I wanted a nice wedding party dinner in an intimate setting without the whole family around—but as the planning went on I found that I didn’t think the money was worth it, and just went with my mom’s suggestion of using the fabulous AirBnb they had rented with a barn area out in the back. My MIL had tacos brought in and we ended up inviting the whole extended family—which was GREAT after all because then everyone had been around each other before the wedding so it was more relaxed and much less divided on the wedding day.

​ Try to just feel gratitude, not guilt. I spent a lot of time worrying about other people—how much my bridesmaids were spending to travel, how awful of a person I was for not inviting all of my parents’ friends when they were helping us pay for the wedding, how everyone would have to take time off for our Friday date. And in the end, everyone was so happy to be there and to be a part of it. They all had a fantastic time and I learned that while it’s YOUR special day, it will be special for others too.

Also, hire professionals. They’re good at their job and they’ll make everything better for you.

​ Bridechilla helped to keep me sane! There were so many times that I felt so alone throughout the process. It was great to have a community of people to reach out to who would respond with understanding and not judgment.

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Stacey and Ryan’s Intimate Vintage Mountain Wedding