#very soft and tropical and the aesthetic is gorgeous

[radiant-flutterbun]

Lair review for @pumpkin-bread​

First impression: I’ve reviewed your lair a few times before but your lair is always impressive! It’s filled with so much lore, love and care. All you dragons are so interesting and full of personality.

Arcturus

He’s a beautiful dragon and genone! I absolutely love the midnight cloak and how you’ve layered his other apparel on top of it. The horns and glasses give him so much personality. His overall look is scholarly yet elegant. And his lore reflects this! He’s a lovely stuffy coatl. I hope he finds his sister.

Menace

An XYY genone! Nice! He has gorgeous colors that drew me to him. I LOVE the accent, the wings from it are very eyecatching. I love how nicely the wind halo matches his seafoam glimmer. I also picked him because of his name and broadcast message. Trouble makers are fun.

Etienne

Her broadcast message said she wasn’t a dragon so I had to click on her. Ooo she’s a changeling. One that went against her purpose! I love that! Very, very interesting! As for the dragon herself, she has nice soft colors. She’s very beachy and tropical looking. She just looks sweet. Her accent really adds to her and makes her look even more from a tropical rainforest.

Logan

This is a really handsome looking imp! That accent is just SO GOOD. Very pretty. Very gothic. Accents like these are why I’m often broke on FR. I’m glad you were careful not to cover the accent up with much apparel. And we’ve got another grump of a dragon. I love him.

Fracture

Plum constellation looks impeccable on this dragon. I love the witchy (gender neutral) vibe you’ve got going on with how you’ve dressed him. The garden hat actually works better than the witch’s hat here. And the shadow aura really solidify his magical aesthetic.

Mistfall

Arcane primal has to be one of my favorite primal types and it’s very cool that you got it from a scatterscroll! Mistfall is a really stunning dragon. Again i’ve picked a dragon with plum. I guess I’ve never realized how good plum looks with starcon! The greens from radioactive work really well by blending with the purple that comes from radioactive butterfly. The green is just the right amount of green if that makes sense? It looks really nice with her otherwise purple-blue colors. Again another excellent choice of accent too.

Sorrow

Angelic wildclaws by beloved. That accent is *chef’s kiss*. I guess I should expect by now for your lair to be filled with beautiful dragons wearing beautiful UMAs. I should also expect by now lovely dressed dragons. I love the mix of blues and gold in his outfit. The gilded rose collar layered over overcoat is SO GOOD. Loved his bio too. He seems like a good priest.

Trina

It’s by coincidence that I chose Trina after Sorrow (Love that they’re friends), I chose the dragons prior to reading their bios. I chose Trina mostly because her broadcast message got a chuckle out of me and I had to see what she was complaining about lol. I too hate the cold, Trina. The gijinka art is her bio is very pretty. I like how the candles go with the inkwell wings too.

Paisley

The first aether I get to review! I love her vibrant pinks and soft blues. The accent look very nice on her. She really makes an excellent aether. i couldn’t imagine her being any other breed. So sad she got hurt during the crash tho! Glad she seems to be doing ok though. She seems like a sweet dragon.

Cenotaph

Oof ok this dragon really hits a lot of things I love ok. We’ve got death theming, abyss shell, VEIL BABY. I love this little guy already. 10/10 would adopt. Absolutely gorgeous little baby. Did I mention abyss shell is VERY good? And both wisteria hawkmoth and violet diaphanous give a green accent that looks so good! And her lore? A little gravekeeper with amnesia? I’m going to cry.

#lair review

[cant-think-of-a-username]

Hi!! I have never gotten this before so I thought it would be super cool to ask for one ahah

may i be matched to a haikyuu character? 🥺 thank you!! <3

Pronouns: she/her

Gender Preference: male

MBTI Type: I just took it for the 1000th time a few days ago and got INFP-T (but I would tend to also get ISFP dsfkjs)

Astrology Placements: Scorpio Sun, Pisces Moon, Gemini Rising, Sagittarius Venus, Pisces Mars (if it helps)

Physical Description: long straight black hair that reaches the middle of my back, dark brown eyes (that apparently makes me look like i have eyeliner sometimes) with long thick black eyelashes, light-medium neutral skin, 5'5", i apparently have long legs, thick thighs, cute butt (LMAO im just listing wut ppl have described of me too sdfkj), soft hands with quite long fingers, pretty basic body i would say sdfjhsd, and i apparently make things look expensive (i love fashion) i would say the best way to describe what i wear is probably (dark) academia but i like just wearing whatever i like--i don't like to limit myself to a certain aesthetic.

Personality Description: with new people/in first meeting, i tend to be quiet or generally don't speak much but once i warm up to you, im a really playful person or at least i really enjoy acting that way.

im honest but i should remember that my words can cut sometimes (rip), ive been described to be incredibly kind (sdfkh)... maybe because i tend to put so much energy and effort and time into other people or my relationships (friends, family, literally anyone that comes into contact with me for a decent amount of time)

i tend to act or do things according to how i feel but despite having that trait of mine or having that inclination, i can still very much be realistic. as i act according to how i feel, i have been described to act younger than my age and i doooo and i aint gonna deny it pfftt ima OWn That sHiT

i have no problem with acting like a child. i love rain, i love water, i love the ocean, i love cafes or the smell of coffee, i love the smell of fresh laundry and feeling the warm fabric (caused by drying in the sun or from a dryer lmfao) of whatever it may be (clothes, bedsheets) on my fingertips..

i love self development or just trying to be better and combined with me loving or liking a lot of different things, i try a lot of things--therefore not really becoming a master at anything dkjfhfsd. and because of that.. (i think) because i try a lot, putting quite a bit of effort into my.. goals (i have perfectionistic and overachieving tendencies) i guess.. when it fails (ofc) im incredibly disappointed, and become pretty... fucking sad hhh and when that happens.. i start to become more lazy/complacent 🤡

..bonus (if u wanna sprinkle some "angst" i guess LMAOO): i overthink a lot (so i start to have difficulty making smarter decisions or thinking of strategies to solve my problems + i still have a sprinkle of self-esteem issues of course... feeling incredibly incompetent is not foreign to me) so i could exaggerate my troubles or make a problem out of nothing 😶, im quite emotional, i have the "dismissive avoidant" attachment style, feeling hopeless quite often aint foreign to me either 😭

bonusbonus: (wow dont i love talking about myself? sdfknsd) i love corgis

Hobbies: dancing, witchcraft, astrology, divination, spirituality, reading fan fiction (LMAOOOO), reading visual novels/playing otome games, painting, drawing, looking into psychology in some type of manner, netflix, swimming, watching anime i guess, trying new things, learning something (new)

Ideal Date: tbh going to a concert of an artist we both enjoy, an arcade or an amusement park (im like a scaredy cat but im almost 100% sure im more likely to go for the “scary” rides if i was with someone i enjoyed hanging out with anyway), probably going on a tropical vacation (cus, beach anddd water activities), water amusement park !!

A Must Have in my Partner: they have to be okay with me pursuing my goals lol; i already have a problem with putting too much energy into others that i dont get to direct that energy onto myself.. so someone who has my best interest in mind + being considerate of me (because.. of that dismissive avoidant attachment style i would say--im just saying this because its the best that i can describe it) and they should be okay with my childlike actions/tendencies lol (like... they shouldnt be repulsed or something like that--that they treat me unpleasantly because of it or something) (oops i just realized thats more than one when u asked just.. one)

extra information: a short drabble would be amazing !!

sorry this was pretty messy and i pretty much just babbled LMAOO

but again, if ever you get to do this (or even if u dont..)

thank you so much!!!

i hope you have an amazing rest of your day hihi <3

sorry it took me a while ! i was just really busy lately and barely got time to write 😅

hope u enjoyy :)

I ship you with..

Nishinoya Yuu !!

- You are the most gorgeous person he knows ;)

- he literally shamelessly approached u the moment he laid eyes on u

- even with ur somewhat quiet first impression, he never gave up making u eventually warm up to him

- doesn’t really mind brute honesty, in fact he thinks of it as a form of bravery

- he also loves seeing your childish side since he himself has one too

- wanna dance around in the rain ?? he will 100% join u !!

- he loves how determined u are to get better and will constantly tell u how proud of you he is for it

- even if things dont go ur way sometimes he will comfort u and tell u that its completely normal to fail sometimes

- there is no overthinking on his watch !

- noya knows how bad it feels and that u definitely deserve a little break but he wont let u laze around too much, trying to help u get back up on ur feet and regain ur confidence is something he never fails to do

- he loves watching u do what u love and is always willing to join u (not that he is always fully understanding of what he is doing)

BONUS :

Cheering you up on a bad day..

You were getting frustrated trying to fix a mistake you made on one of your paintings. You let out a loud groan hiding your face in your hands in exhaustion, finally giving up. Hearing a loud knock on your door, you tell whoever is outside to come in. “HEY, HOW WAS YOUR- ....day ?” noya looks at you with concern in his eyes. “are you okay ?” “yeah i’m fine, its just that this painting won’t look right no matter what i do” you sigh.“maybe i should just throw it away” “you are not gonna throw it away” he says, his tone completely different from before, more serious in fact. “you might just be tired now, so don’t you dare give up now. you can always try again tomorrow” he says walking towards you and holding your hands in his, a little smile forming on his face. “how about you take a break for now ? the sun is really warm and it’s still early; wanna go swimming ?” You look a little unsure. “you still haven’t used that corgi beach towel i got you” he says, wiggling his eyebrows. You chuckle at that, proceeding to look him in the eyes with a small grin forming on you face, “sounds like a plan”...

#dee.ships #im not that good at writing noya gdhshsh #haikyuu #haikyuu matchups #haikyuu drabbles #haikyuu fluff #haikyuu scenarios #nishinoya yuu #noya headcanons #noya imagine #noya hcs

[theflowersgalore]

16 Unique Wedding Bouquets For Your Special Day

Every blushing bride knows that what makes a wedding stand out is in all the little details - the personal finishes that celebrate you and your partner's one-of-a-kind style. And your bouquet is no exception!

Finding the perfect bouquet that mirrors the beauty and uniqueness of the love you've found with your partner can make your wedding day truly memorable. While there's absolutely nothing wrong with a bouquet of standard roses, clutching a hand-picked, carefully crafted bouquet that's exclusively and wonderfully yours makes a great and meaningful difference!

We know it's hard to drum up new ideas, especially with the endless to-dos on your wedding checklist. So to help you get inspired, we've rounded up 16 bouquet ideas with their own spin on this timeless tradition.

These unconventional selections combine classic appeal with out-of-the-box imagination, perfect for the modern bride. Check out this lineup to find faves for your special bridal bouquet!

If you are eager to learn more about flowers from a formal course or want to get certified as an expert on florals, we recommend exploring professional bodies and colleges in gardening and floristry such as the American Institute of Floral Designers of the AIFD (www.aifd.org), the National Gardening Organization (www.garden.org), the American Floral Endowment (www.endowment.org), the American Horticultural Society (www.ahsgardening.org) and other similar organizations offering programs focusing on floristry and horticulture.

Unique Flowers

Filler flowers

While often relegated to supporting roles in flashy bouquets, filler flowers possess a delicate, almost dainty beauty that enchants you with their simplicity and understated elegance. We recommend soft and warm blooms like baby's breath, lily of the valley, Queen Anne's lace, delphiniums, and bouvardias.

Dried flowers

Brides all around the world have been embracing this trend's wonderfully rustic look. With warm hues and distinctive textures, dried flowers inspire a nostalgic mood to your stunning bouquet while also evoking a message of eternal love. Their versatility also blends flawlessly with any wedding theme. For your flower choices, wildflowers, lavenders, hydrangeas, proteas, and roses make beautiful dried flowers.

Big blooms

Make a statement with big, bold blossoms! A bouquet with oversized flowers adds an elegant and dramatic effect to your wedding look to match your fearless and confident persona. Among the most striking large blooms are peonies, water lilies, calla lilies, and gardenias.

Succulents

Boho chic is in, and so are succulents. For a more natural, textured appearance, go for these stylish eye-catchers! Whether you match them up with choice blooms or pull off an all-succulent arrangement, these stunners are a pragmatic and gorgeous choice for an one-of-a-kind bouquet.

Sunflowers

Love brings joy and lightness to the heart, so add a bright burst of cheer to your wedding look with sunflowers! If their summery look weren't enough, these blossoms also bear a heartwarming meaning: they represent adoration, fidelity, and lifelong joy. What better way to start a life filled with joyful love than with a bundle of the happiest flowers?

Themed Bouquets

Monochromatic

Sleek, chic, and fabulous-- all qualities of a monochrome bouquet that elevates your wedding to modern elegance. One color with varied flowers or in different shades adds texture to your bouquet while retaining a clean look. Go for standards like pinks and whites, which are always in fashion. If you want more of an edge or have a liking for the gothic, don't hesitate to go with an all-black bloom ensemble.

Tropical

Celebrate your destination wedding with a bouquet that matches its sunny vibe! Parrot tulips, anthuriums, oriental lilies, bird of paradise, and monstera are standard go-tos for an exotic, zesty look. For color choices, you can't go wrong with brilliant oranges, intense magentas, and popping yellows. Palm leaves or banana leaves also add warmth and volume to your arrangement.

Seasonal

Your wedding is all about new beginnings, much like the first breath of spring or chill of winter. Seasonal flowers enrich this lovely sentiment. Even better, there's also the practical advantage of having them readily available for your wedding date. Seasonal bouquets come in a wide selection of colors and florals, giving you the free rein to pick the ideal bouquet.

Signature Styles

Cascade

Finally, a flowy, enchanting bouquet to complement your fairytale wedding! Cascades pull the eyes down a trail full of flourishing blooms, fine foliage, and rich greens, creating an ethereal look and a waterfall-like illusion that will make your wedding truly a dream come true.

Horizontal

A harmonious drape of florals and foliage that joins a relaxed feel with a softly lavish look, the horizontal bouquet is luxury personified. It sweeps sideways, establishing clean and aesthetically appealing lines. Known for its versatility, it can be suited to a wild style with vines and stems or a more traditional bouquet with bountiful blossoms.

Hand-tied

Simplicity is sophistication with the hand-tied bouquet, eliciting a truly personalized touch with its free, loose, and laid-back style. All it requires is a cluster of flowers and greenery tied together using a ribbon or a silk wrap, which makes it very easy to create and set even on your own.

Hoop

This buzzworthy fad is making waves among brides nowadays! Evoking the romantic style of wreaths from days of yore, this bouquet has florals, greens, and ribbons attached to a wood or metal hoop. With a dreamy look and a laid-back aura, you'll surely fall for this gorgeous garland.

Special Touches

Berries

Fruit might not be the first thing that enters your mind when it comes to bridal bouquets, but berries create complex accents for a wild and natural look. Large, bright berries like hypericum berries, blackberries, raspberries, and snowberries make a bouquet burst with color and fullness. For more understated but stylish accents, go for tallow, berzelia, and pepper berries.

Greens

Lush greens and lovely foliage add allure to your bouquet with breathtaking color palettes, interesting textures, and even appealing aromas for a fresh, forest-inspired arrangement. Whether you go for a delicate trail or a full, overgrown look, these beauts add whimsy and playfulness to suit your delightful blooms.

Feathers

Combining classic glamor with a sense of lightness and softness, feathers inspire a vintage vibe, while creating a modern look with their delightfully unique style. These unusual accessories also come in varied types with their own unique textures and colors, making them surprisingly versatile and easily suited to different wedding themes.

Paper

Get creative with hand-crafted paper flowers! Your special creations can be just as stunning as fresh flowers, while carrying more special sentimentality. Plus, you can cherish it as a long-lasting keepsake after your wedding! Whether it's florals made from the sheet music of your special song or maps of where you first met, this bouquet is sure to be one for the books.

Click her for our  Handy Guide To Keeping Flowers Fresh For Longer.

[thesunlounge]

Reviews 324: Proper Sunburn - Forgotten Sunscreen Applied by Basso

Given that February is almost over, I’m slowly starting to accept that there’s going to be many great albums from 2019 that I’ll never get a chance to write about. There’s one though that I can’t imagine leaving behind, and that is Proper Sunburn - Forgotten Sunscreen Applied by Basso, which comprises the third volume of Music for Dreams’ “The Serious Collector Series.” Whereas other volumes in the series such as Jan Schulte’s Tropical Drums of Deutschland or soFa’s Elsewhere Junior: A Collection of Cosmic Children’s Songs have explored conceptual curation and highly specific soundworlds, Basso’s Proper Sunburn seeks to do nothing more than present an excellent and well-sequenced collection of tracks and thus aligns closely with Moonboots’ balearic masterpiece Moments in Time. The selections here range from bargain bin beauties to highly obscure rarities, and every single note perfectly encapsulates that elusive yet somehow well understood “Growing Bin vibe.” Across four sides of perfectly pressed wax, Basso treats the listener to wonderful expanses of sunshine positivity, wherein ambient prog shufflers and new age fusion burners intermingle with forest folk psych meditations and joyous synthesizer starscapes. Elsewhere, sugar plum pop vocals surround soulful breakbeat bangers, Italo serenades are married to interstellar AOR, future jazz beatscapes lead Afro-savanna spirituals, and spectral harp runs rain down over acidic lounge zone outs. And though the vibe is primarily of ebullience and celebration, there are also moments of shadowy intensity and dark drama, as the compilation occasionally detours towards dirgey break-up anthems, psychoactive riff rockers, tribal-tinged NDW lullabies, and cruises down the autobahn with shades drawn to the night sky.

Proper Suburn - Forgotten Sunscreen Applied by Basso (Music for Dreams, 2019) The journey begins with Hans Hass and a question: “Welche farbe hat der wind”? Delay-soaked seagull cries introduce a shuffling drum and acoustic guitar groove, with broken beat snare and cymbal patterns giving everything a folksy funk touch. Spindly six string leads weave in and out of the mix and basslines thump through up/down octave motions while Hass’ closed mic’d vocals wrap sensual threads around the heart. During the chorus, harmonious sirens back the male croon and later, during a subdued guitar solo, masculine and feminine vocal accents accompany the psych folk adventures…the whole thing taking my mind to Pentangle…as if McShee and Jantsch are scatting together while Renbourn tears up the fretboard. Pianos add a touch of western saloon magic, ambient organs hover in the distance, and at some point, seagulls, waves, and jet engine drones threaten to wash the mix away. Later, when the vocal scats return, they are more mysterious…haunted even…as they track the dazzling piano and acoustic guitar fireworks. And as the track ends, it all devolves into musique concrete, with voices speaking amidst crazed sound fx and jangling riff panoramas. In the liner notes, Basso discusses being inspired to revisit Volume 5 of DJ Food’s Jazz Breaks series due to a Moonboots set in Croatia, and so we have “The Dawn” appearing here. Seashells, rainsticks, and seed shakers introduce a jazz-kissed tabla rhythm, with tambourines ringing and trap kit touches intercutting in the form of bopping fills and tribal tom flourishes. Afro-idiophonics rain down from a sunshine sky, with balafon gourds buzzing amidst harmonious bass currents that seem to rise up from the soil. Whispers move through blinding feedback swells, synthesizers bathe paradise savannas in golden light, and virtual trumpets intertwine with ancestral choirs emanating from sticks and stones…the whole thing coming together like some dubbed out future jazz approximation of Phil Collins’ globalist world pop.

RVDS’s “Minuet de Vampire” is the most recent cut here and sees rhythm boxes leading a heroin-soaked lounge sway, with hissing hats decaying, square wave synth pulses bopping like a contrabass, and wavering chords hovering like morning fog. Decaying note trails seems to stretch towards infinity, subtle filter manipulations transform into ghostly howls, and guitar volume swells generate billowing hazes that are both angelic and sickly at once. There’s a touch of fever dream delirium as resonating vapors overlap and just as you’ve resigned yourself to the almost oppressive atmospherics of midnight exotica, flashes of light enter via spellbinding harp runs…these immersively gorgeous string melodies that intermingle with the downer atmospheres of firedance future jazz in a way recalling Alice, though as if backed by band of cyborgs. Brass-generated dub chords flutter into the stereo field and the plucked strings continue to shimmer like starlight…increasingly sounding not like a harp, but some crystalline structure that produces melodic waterfalls of every possible color. Then in “Light of Darkness” by Horizont, acoustic guitar rhythms shimmer like underwater gemstones…with dueling six strings generating golden fireworks and refracting lightwaves. Hand drums pop all around the spectrum and shakers keep the body afloat on a soft ambient pulse, with everything doused in reverb and rimshots pinging like sonar blips. There’s a growing sense of anticipation that is eventually rewarded by the presence of smooth basslines, which execute enigmatic conversation with the drum and six string panoramics while sometimes sliding up high and disappearing amongst layers of arpeggiated magic. Almost nothing is allowed to break free from the polyrhythmic folk ritual, so that as the song progresses, it starts to evoke Methany and Hiett, only as if surrendering in total to ceremonial new age minimalism…like a spiritual dance through seascape universes and realms of balearic fantasy.

Xiame’s “Nosso Destino,” from the group’s 1990 LP Xiame, begins with slap bass soloing and guitar chords flowing through reverberating gas clouds. Rainforest percussions underly a narcotizing duet between voice and guitar, wherein sensual pop serenades are back by ringing dreampop chord jangles, and all through the background, Michael Shrieve-style fusions fills splatter and clatter amidst liquid tabla accents. The fragile Italo vocalisms and soft focus touches of mediterranean balladry sweep the heart away towards some seaside paradise...the whole thing scoring a romantic beachside dance bathed in moonlight. There’s a moment where the mix gives over to indulgent fusion fantasy as basslines alight on crazed prog adventures while elsewhere, we push ever further towards a world of transcendent romanticism, with guitar riffs growing urgent and cooing vocalisms suffusing the stereo field…these radiant babbles and child-like croons that eventually climax in a beatific angel chorus. And during an epic passage of closed eye dreampop perfection, a brief yet jaw-dropping laser light guitar solo sets the very air aflame. As Basso tells it, Miko’s “Im Garten” made its way into the balearic consciousness when he live edited two 7”s together at the Garden in Zadar, Croatia. The track sees drum fills communicating with rhythmic birdsong before giving over to a smashing tribal stomp, with bending funk synths and fourth world electro-flutes creating visages of otherworldly jungle environments. Miko enters the scene like some priestess of the night, her operatic vocal mysteries moving in lock step with the militant percussive exotica. Further layers of future funk synthesis arc across the sky and overdubbed voices join in with the sunbeam spells and tribal jazz diva breaths. Industrial winds blow across the mix, hissing voices are obscured by bell tree sparkles, and at some point, the track gives over to rhythmic rainforest psychedelia, with idiophones splashing alongside a mystical drum processional.

Massimo Stella’s “C’e Una Donna Sola” sees touches of mediterranean fusion intermingling with romantic disco and galactic AOR. Sometimes planetarium synthscapes, orgasmic diva moans, and polyrhythmic guitar and piano patterns dance over prog basslines and bongo-led lizard funk drum jams as keyboard star-trails ascend towards the sky. Elsewhere, pleading vocals pull at the heart, heatwave pads wiggle and squiggle, and Rhodes chords skip on sunbeams while octave basslines anchor energetic disco rhythmics. And after some evil vocal chanting and enigmatic angel cooing, we flash into a section of anthemic phaser brass riffing and kaleidoscopic piano soloing before working towards a climax of prog fusion pyrotechnics. Trimolo follows with “Tempe 100” and its congas executing a fantasy jazz bop amidst sparkling guitar harmonics. Pads blow like a cool sea breeze, vocalized bass pulses float the soul, and a flute alights on flights of forest folk fancy while occasionally being joined by pan-pipe virtualisms. During a dramatic instrumental chorus, piano chords bang and sprightly woodwinds flutter above hand drums before the track gives over to a strange midsection wherein digitized clavinet basslines wobble through alien funk motions while western twang acoustics snap overhead. And moving back towards the balearic sway, synthesizers suffuse the mix with sunset colorations as flute leads and Bibiloni-style guitar solos score a beachside forest paradise. Diedel’s “Wo Seid Ihr” is built on rigid machine drums, ethereal pad hazes, and throbbing bass pulsations…the vibe like cruising down a mysterious highway under the dark of night. Claps crack and hi-hats tick anxiously behind Diedel’s sensual singing…his voice whispered and hitting like hot breath on the back of the neck. During the chorus, the track title is repeated in desperation and as darkwave arpeggiations filter over swelling pad cloudforms, we find ourselves in a world of horror-tinged synth-pop that brilliantly presages many aspects of the Italians Do It Better aesthetic. Best of all, the track climaxes with not one but two guitar solos: a Flamenco-kissed acoustic adventure and a molten fuzz guitar eruption.

Mikey D.’s “I Need You (Dub)” sees fat bottomed breaks boom bap’n beneath tropical synth accents, syrupy sampler vocals, orgasmic breaths, electro-tom fills, and bouncing synth basslines. Ethereal hazes and glowing symphonies surround bubblegum vocalisms…these magical boy band fairy hooks that combine with the equatorial dance grooves in a way reminding me of The Knife’s Deep Cuts. At some point, the mix devolves into pure b-boy breakdance mesmerism, with rhythms slapping beneath a panorama of trance electronics and that familiar sample of “you make me feel so good” from Mikey Dread’s “Comic Strip.” Elsewhere, a moment of silence sees ambient percussions, soulful claps, and synthesized orchestrations rushing in alongside a heavenly choral cascades, with repetitions of “Baby! / I Love You! / I Want You! / I Need Your Love!” resulting a pitch perfect moment of electronic gospel pop. And as the song ends, we found ourselves in a surgery sweet paradise of a capella wonderment. As Basso discusses in the liner notes, Wolfsmond’s “Fühl Dich Frei” was an all too short floor filler, one that was begging for an extended dancefloor edit. And so we have “Basso’s Maxi Edit,” which sees evil bass descents leading to a shaker-led rock groove…a pot smoke boogie pulse with tapped hats riding behind squiggling blues guitars while e-pianos sparkle like crystal. Gothic bells ring out as a smokey voice enters the scene, working through stoner lullabies while backing vocals hover mysteriously. The choruses have an almost country western feel, with the track title sung hopefully amidst saloon piano accents and soulful diva whispers, and during an instrumental bridge, woodblocks tick strangely as psychosonic blues solos ride into the night. There’s a moment where it all breaks down into repetitive hand drumming and looping feedback, and as we build back up through scatting guitar riffs and funked out basslines, the track eventually erupts into a jaw dropping 60s psych organ solo.

Apparently, Ghia’s “You Won’t Sleep on My Pillow” was at one point intended to be the closing track, and would have ended this compilation quite dramatically with some shadowy synth pop narcotica touching on Violet Eves and Portishead. Basslines echo and downer drum machine rhythms crack into the void while sci-fi electronics transmute into a heatwave mirage. Lisa Ohm croons over it all with defiant break-up poetry and declarations of independence and as we move into the chorus, the anthemic vocals are backgrounded by golden guitar arpeggios and howling fuzz leads, which create a mesmerizing contrast wherein epic fantasy melodics pull the mind towards cloudland castles even as the lyrics grow ever more angered and intense. There’s a breathtaking moment where the mix explodes open, seeing layer after layer of romantic angel harmonizations pushing the heart towards a climactic synth-pop dreamworld. And later, the group leaves behind the pop paraisos by giving over to tripped out bass fx, boom bap drum expanses, soloing fuzz guitars, and skittering electro accents. A find inspired by a CDr acquired from Tako Reyenga of Music from Memory, Jean Phillipe Rykiel’s “Fair Light” ends the journey on a note of radiant ebullience. Spectral click rhythms underly pads that hit like seafoam, resulting in a polysynth panorama of ambient fusion mastery. Aquamarine hazes are chained to bubbling bass currents, yearning leads modulate through layers of ocean mist, and majestic chordscapes hover like clouds while whale song tracers set the air ablaze. Sometimes we venture off into noodly prog wankery, though it’s always seen through a soft-focus new age blur, and at some point, jangling fuzz guitars enter the scene and give the mix an enhanced fantasy sparkle. The pads lock together to score some impossible sunrise while the leads push ever further towards psychedelic abstraction and nearing the end, kosmische arps billow in from underwater depths and intermingle with the light of refracting starbeams.

(images from my personal copy)

#proper sunburn #forgotten sunscreen applied by basso #basso #growing bin records #music for dreams #the serious collector series #hans hass #dj food #RVDS #horizont #xiane #miko #massimo stella #trimolo #diedel #mikey d #wolfsmond #ghia #rykiel #balearic #prog #ambient #funk #fusion #album reviews #vinyl reviews #music reviews #vinyl #2019 #sun lounge

[artcenterstories]

Climbing the Ladder: Meet Catalyst CCO Josh Wright

AC: What inspired you to co-found Catalyst? Josh Wright (BS Product Design '03) Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Catalyst: The seed was planted when I was at ArtCenter. The College trains you to think about design, not just from the aesthetic or mechanical point of view, but also from a business perspective.

At ArtCenter, I was encouraged to look for a business partner. When you have someone who focuses on the financials, you can focus on making design work for the business.

AC: You've had an interesting career trajectory. Can you speak about your journey? JW: Designing for an outdoor lifestyle has always been important to me. In the early years of my career, I started working in California, designing a lot of sports and lifestyle products, including footwear and backpacks for various surf, skate and snow companies.

Then, I moved to Wichita, Kansas, to work for the iconic Coleman company. It was a cool experience because it was a very small design team, and I got to touch all of their products. After six months, I contributed $30 million to the company's bottom line.

That's something else ArtCenter taught me: Don't go to Porsche; don't go to Apple — they already have great design. Go to a brand that doesn't have great design, yet. Bringing good design and storytelling to their products transformed a 100-year-old brand into something fresh and fun. And they still sell some of my products today.

I later worked at Tumi in New York designing some of their carbon-fiber luggage and helping to expand some of the product categories into footwear, wristwatches and apparel. In 2006, I got this amazing opportunity in Hong Kong and I spent the next four years working at a world-class design consultancy firm. But I was always on the lookout for a business partner, based on what I had learned in school.

AC: How did you meet your Catalyst co-founder? JW: Rock climbing. It's one of the reasons I wanted to move here — the climbing community in Hong Kong brings together such a diverse group of people. My co-founder and I have such different backgrounds — she's from bio-tech and finance.

Through the years, we developed a friendship based on trust from countless days of climbing the jungles. We realized that we had complementary skills, with her business and my design background and our mutual desire to be outdoors. We wanted to create outdoor products that brought value to people's lives — that was the genesis of Catalyst.

AC: What was the first Catalyst product you designed? JW: At the time in 2010, the iPhone was becoming the device of choice, even for climbers, so our product was a fully waterproof protective iPhone 4 case. Soon after, we launched and had a successful Kickstarter campaign.

Today, Catalyst has reached a tipping point where it's becoming a global household brand name; our products are available in over 70 countries and major retailers, including Apple, BestBuy and Target, as well as eight Amazon marketplaces, four Shopify websites and WeChat in China.

AC: Catalyst 20L Waterproof backpack recently received the prestigious Red Dot Award. Can you speak about the design process? JW: Each of our products fills a need and solves a problem. The waterproof backpack offers travelers an ultra-compact, -lightweight pack that folds into a carry pouch that's a little smaller than a 12-ounce soda can.

Waterproof is a core component of Catalyst. I'm kind of a nerd for waterproof products.

I've used this bag as a flotation device while snorkeling in Thailand. I've carried it through heavy tropical rainstorms and through a canyoneering trip in northern Italy, where I was jumping off waterfalls. The backpack works incredibly well. When the bag is rolled up, anything you keep inside it will stay dry.

AC: What are you working on right now? JW: We're always working on something new — we launch eight to 12 products every year. We were the first company to make waterproof cases for Apple watch and AirPods.

The backpack line is something we're currently working on expanding, and soft goods in general. We're heavily focused on expanding our business solutions for industrial applications of our products, including for oil and gas, hospitals and schools.

AC: How do you define success? JW: Being able to create products I believe that bring value to the people who use them, and seeing a lantern I designed for the Coleman company being used on the show The Walking Dead.

AC: Do you have any superstitions? JW: My dad always told me that it is bad luck to be superstitious and I live by that.

AC: What’s the design clich�� you’re most tempted to use? JW: I really subscribe to modernism. I believe that form should follow function with zero added details for ornamentation. Everything I build is intentionally designed, but not decorative. We are loosening up this "cliché" by adding some fashion and styling elements to some of our future collections, which I'm pretty excited about.

AC: What’s the one tool you can’t do without? JW: My iPhone.

AC: What’s the first site you look at when you open your computer in the morning? JW: Slack.

AC: What do you do to detox from media and screens? JW: It's not just screens, it's the city itself because Hong Kong is so crowded. My detox is my weekends out in nature: rock climbing, hiking, canyoneering or surfing. I think an amazing secret of Hong Kong is that two-thirds of the territory is subtropical jungle with unreal, pristine waterfalls and beaches.

AC: If you could trade jobs with anyone for a day who would it be? JW: As a designer, there's no other job I'd rather be doing. But as a kid, I always wanted to be a marine biologist like Jacques Cousteau.

AC: What book is on your bedside table? JW: I have three books; none of them are finished. One is a history book called Tragedy & Hope: A History of the World in Our Time, another is a business book The E Myth and the third is a just-for-fun, fiction book called This Book Is Full of Spiders: Seriously, Dude, Don't Touch It (John Dies at the End).

AC: Who are the most interesting designers working today? JW: Marc Newson. I also really like Michael Young — he's a British-born designer based in Hong Kong. Toy designer Michael Lau was at the forefront of the urban vinyl movement and I love his style. I'm also a huge fan of James Dyson, Jonathan Ive, and entertainment designer Stan Winston has always inspired me.

AC: Were you exposed to design growing up? JW: I come from quite an artistic and mechanically inclined family. My grandfather was a renaissance man: a photographer, inventor, mechanic, engineer, architect, designer... He had so many hobbies and passions, and he created so many things. He made all of my grandmother's jewelry.

He designed and physically built the house his family lived in, including the thermostat and heating system from spare parts. He built motorcycles for my mother and her siblings. When I was a kid, he built us a tree house with a zip line, which was super dangerous, and go-karts. I was always around people who were artistic and creating things.

AC: Describe a moment in your childhood when you first identified as a designer. JW: When I was in high school, I was lucky to have an art teacher who brought in different brochures from art and design schools around the world. For the first time, I was aware you could design cars, toys or products as a career. As a kid, I was always sketching, building models, taking things apart and putting them together. When I found out it was a career path, there was no other option for me.

AC: If you could have a superpower, what would it be? JW: Eternal life — I have too many hobbies and not enough time.

AC: What’s your most prized possession? JW: My grandfather passed away this year, and I have the camera he used when he was working as a photographer and a backpack he built for his Boy Scout group in the 1950s.

AC: Where is your happy place? JW: There are so many! Twenty meters deep, swimming with manta rays off the coast of Thailand, snowboarding in Japan. There's a canyon in Hong Kong that looks like Jurassic Park — it's just so raw with waterfalls everywhere. But to summarize, my happy place is being outside in a gorgeous location with people I care about.

AC: How would your closest friend describe you? JW: A relentless, laser-focused — I hate to say it — asshole, but with a heart of gold.

#catalyst #josh wright #product design #design #artcenter #artcenter college of design #catalystcase

[princess-ditzy]

.

#guys guys guys guys guys #new twice single and i fucking cannot #it's so #pretty #very soft and tropical and the aesthetic is gorgeous #and wow their so pretty #and JEONGYEON MY LOVE #GOD SHE'S STUNNING GUYS #AND THEY'RE ALL SO PRETTY GUYS I'M SO GAYYYYYy #just rhonda thoughts #guess who's back on her k-pop bullshit #i mean #i never got off lmfao #just recently decided to stan a new group and learned all their names in like 2 days it's a problem #even bigger problem cause it was fucking seventeen and there's 13 of them #BUT #TWICE MY LOVES #FJDSAKLFJDASKLJFAS #AHHFDJASDKLFJA #THE NEXT FEW SONGS ARE OUT IN 2 DAYS I CANNOT WAIT AHHHHHHH #OH OH OH #AND TZUYU WAS SO PRETTYYYYYY AND SHE DID PART OF THE CHORUS AND I MAY HAVE CRIED #soothing #AND THE RAP LINE #I- #GO OFF QUEENS #CHAEYOUNGS PINK HAIR FJDASKLFJDASKL #THEY ALL DID PHENOMENAL AND I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THEM GUYS #i could talk for hours about them please

[poeticsandaliens]

Hold My Beer

Pairing: Debbie Ocean/Lou Miller

Rating: Mature

Summary: The Life and Times of the Heist Wives family, chronicled by things attempted after speaking the timeless declaration, “hold my beer” or Five Times Lou Miller said “hold my beer” before doing something spectacular and stupid, and a couple times someone else did.

I owe this ficlet to a conversation I was having earlier with @smashingmagicklovely​ about

1. how I wanted a full compilation of everything Lou has ever done after saying "hold my beer"

2. How Lou is badass but Soft on the Inside and Debbie is a non-romantic smartass but Soft For Lou.

and 3. how "my womb says yes but my heart says no" essentially sums up my entire attitude toward writing Heist Wives domestic fluff.

This is the fruits of my labor. Thanks Em for drop kicking my muse at ten o'clock at night.

Tagging @casliyn, @louxdebbie, and @oceansnineball because I feel like Dani and Darcy became ‘a thing’ somewhere between the three of them and an onslaught of adorable Instagram AUs.

Lou sprawls across two separate bar stools in Nine Ball’s pub, watching Debbie beat herself at a game of pool. “I got good in prison,” she had explained the first time she creamed Nine Ball.

“You had a pool table in prison?” Nine Ball asks incredulously, blowing a cloud of smoke over the table.

Debbie shakes her head. “Nope. I had a pen and some paper, and once I finished the Greatest Heist of All Time I calculated the angle of every shot in a standard game of pool and invented new scenarios until I ran out of ink.”

Not for the first time tonight, Lou wonders how she got so lucky as to love a woman as clever as Debbie Ocean. She’s not stupid—Deb is lucky as Hell to have Lou covering her ass, but that’s the magic of it. They click like a hairpin and a padlock, picking their way through barriers and unhinging each other as they go.

Lou turns to Amita, who’s perched demurely beside her with a fucking spectacular cosmo. Lou knows—she made Nine Ball show her the recipe. “Hold my beer,” she instructs Amita, sliding it down the counter to her. She steps on her bar stool, swaying as it spins.

“Holy shit,” she hears Debbie murmur, looking up from her one-sided game. “Lou—”

Lou steps onto the bar and weaves through a line of empty drinks until she’s perched on the corner, in front of Debbie. She fishes through her pocket until she finds the ring. She drops to one knee, knocking over a half-empty margarita in the process. She can feel the tequila soaking into the knee of her jeans.

“Debbie Ocean, darling, m’love, my partner in crime, my favorite felon on the planet, I love you from the bottom of twisted criminal heart. Will you marry me?”

2. 

They host the wedding reception at Tammy’s, because unlike the warehouse, Tammy’s place has grass and trees and aesthetic value; no to mention it lacked the warehouse’s air of chaos. It also smells of hydrangeas, rather than takeout Chinese food and expensive perfume—which mattered, apparently. At least, Rose and Daphne seemed to think so, and by that point Debbie and Lou took the backseat in planning their own wedding ceremony. They were perfectly content to marry in a courthouse, surrounded by their friends, but apparently that lacked romantic oomph.

(For her part, Lou found the idea of eloping in secret very romantic, but she can’t deny the feel of grass under her bare feet and the tickle of a breeze through her cream-colored suit.)

Lou and Debbie wander from the small party as the sky darkens. Fireflies drift through their vision like tiny lanterns, and gypsy moths swim in their path, clumsily seeking the porch lights. They stroll hand in hand down Tammy’s endless driveway, buzzed on quality alcohol and the undeniable high of their own marriage. Lou lets her eyes wander down Debbie’s figure, striking in an royal blue dress that whispers sprite-like across her skin.

No white, she told Rose, to the designer’s loud protests.

White is the color of a wedding dress.

No, white is the color of ‘purity’ and has too many connotations attached. It’s not even about virginity—I’m a con artist, for fuck’s sake. You’re an amazing designer, and you have my full confidence, but it feels wrong for me to marry Lou in angel-white.

Lou stops before a shiny object on the ground; squinting in the vanishing daylight; she makes out the outline of a child’s Razor scooter. An idea crosses her mind, too quickly for her to refuse it.

“I know that look,” Debbie warns her, eyeing the scooter.

“Hold my beer, darling” Lou says, handing Debbie her drink—not a beer, in fact, but a flute of champagne—and flips the scooter onto its wheels.

“Lou this feel like a bad idea.”

“Nonsense.” She kicks off, barefoot in her wedding suit, and sails down the driveway. She’s done wheelies on her motorbike before; this has to be easier. She jumps once, twice, then lifts up the front tire—and topples over onto Tammy’s lawn in three awkward, lunging steps.

Debbie cackles. “Not quite a motorbike, is it Lou?”

3. 

They honeymoon on Daphne Kluger’s private beach, because of course Daphne Kluger owns a private beach, a tiny tropical place sprung from the Caribbean, half a mile long. Perhaps it’s excessive, extravagant, but they’re not complaining when Daphne offers to let them stay in a fucking gorgeous beach house and have the ocean to themselves for two weeks.

“We should crack open one of those coconuts.” Debbie gazes at a hunched palm, shielding her eyes from the sun. Her skin has warmed and bronzed; her mischievous grin is infectious. Lou can’t say no to those soft brown eyes.

“Want me to knock one down?”

Debbie smirks. “If you can,” pretending she doesn’t know Lou will take it as a dare.

Lou looks up at the palm tree, laden with four coconuts. It doesn’t seem particularly difficult to shimmy up, but the tangerine sunset and her fourth drink of the evening has her seeing the world through a pair of rose-tinted, how-hard-can-it-be glasses. She makes up her mind.

“Hold my beer.”

Lou squeezes the tree trunk between her thighs and begins to climb. The bark scrapes her skin; sure she’s only wearing a bikini and a breezy blouse, but the glint in Debbie’s eye promised a lusty reward for her efforts. She hangs from the top of the tree and kicks a coconut. The palm leaves catch her button-up and scratch along her exposed torso. Her efforts pay off—a massive coconut drops to the sand below with a decisive whack. Debbie whoops. Lou shimmies down the trunk and downs the rest of her drink.

When they relay the story at home, Daphne asks how the hell Lou managed to climb a palm tree in a bikini.

“Drunkenly,” she replies, “having forgotten what thigh chafing feels like.”

4.

A car revs outside the window. Lou looks up from the textbook length Swedish instruction set. “Fuck,” she mutters.

“This isn’t happening today,” says Nine Ball, gazing over the sea of bars and screws that could theoretically build a crib.

Lou groans and sips her beer. “Tammy you’ve built one of these. Help us out?”

Tammy shrugs. “They’ve changed the design since Alicia was born. Sorry.” But she’s made more progress than the rest of them, having managed to fit the bottom boards of the crib together into a solid surface.

“You’re a fence; I thought you knew how this shit worked.”

Tammy crossed her arms and got up from the floor, dusting off her jeans. “Yeah, I don’t build the things I fence.”

“Uh-huh,” says Nine Ball. “I always thought you’re one of those… DIY moms.”

“Only on occasion.”

The front door of the warehouse slams shut. “Where the hell is everyone?” Debbie’s voice echoes from the floor below them.

The group of them, somehow sweating and sore from failing to assemble the worlds’ shittiest IKEA crib, emerge from the room. Lou leans over the railing and smiles at her wife, who at six months pregnant (and beyond over it) has managed to carry four-and-a-half people’s worth of Chinese takeout in her arms while balancing an extra-large 7-11 lemonade between her chin and her baby bump and sucks nonchalantly on the bright red straw.

Sight for sore eyes, Lou thinks fondly, because she’s a fucking sap who loves this woman more every day.

She turns to Nine Ball. “Hold my beer,” and swings her leg over the railing. Nine Ball rolls her eyes as Lou slides down the spiral staircase at breakneck speed. She attempts to flourish as she rounds the final bend, but it quickly becomes an emergency crash landing, as she topples spectacularly onto the warehouse floor. With all the confidence of a clumsy woman who’s convinced the world she’s graceful, she dusts herself off and proceeds to trip over the couch, which has apparently moved three feet since last she saw it. She eats it again and finally stands to meet the half-amused eyes of Debbie Ocean.

In lieu of a greeting, she presses a kiss to Debbie’s lips, then to her neck, then to her belly for Creature (as they’ve insisted upon calling it, to everyone else’s chagrin) and then her lips again for good measure.

“I swear to God, Lou, if you die before this kid is born... ”

“Never,” Lou replies. Her hands curiously search Debbie’s midsection for a kick from Creature. “Just a couple of bruises. Although we might want to move the couch back to wherever it was.”

“No one moved it Lou. Your muscle memory isn’t worth shit.”

5.

Before Darcy is born, they take a vacation. Dani stays with Tammy—the “adult friend,” as Debbie so delicately put it when Constance asked why she couldn’t watch their child for a week. They rent a place along the Baja peninsula, a hidden coastal oasis to themselves, complete with a jacuzzi and an underground spring that bubbled into a natural pool. Overlooking the pool, to Debbie’s delight, a cliff perfect for high dives.

“How are you doing?” Debbie emerges from the house sporting a craft beer and an impressive sunburn.

Lou lifts her sunglasses. “Distracted,” she mutters.

“And how is Nessie doing?” Debbie asks, plopping onto the chaise. Her gaze softens, and pulls Lou into a warm kiss, slipping her hand under Lou’s green button-up to where their second daughter grew.

“Playing me like a fucking marimba,” Lou says softly, resting her hand over Debbie’s, over the taut skin of her belly. It’s funny, she can’t help thinking, the undisguised tenderness with which Debbie touches her. When Debbie was pregnant with Dani, she was all tough shell, and the entire nine months had been a stressful road littered with complications and doctor’s appointments and a couple close calls.

No way in Hell am I doing that again, Debbie swore, and quite understandably. Nope, no way, miracle my ass.

Well then I guess it’s my turn, Lou promised and kissed her against their creaking headboard.

Her turn—an unspeakably weird turn, she realized when first the alien creature moved inside her. Curious, the way it’s spoken on black and white British TV—curious. Weirder, perhaps, Lou woke one more to find Debbie softened like honey, curled around the new-to-them curve of her abdomen and smiling the sweetest thing she’d seen in months. Captivated the way she couldn’t be with Dani, and Lou in turn was bewildered by her.

“No shit,” Debbie whispers now, feeling Nessie (a nickname coined by Rose, of course) press against her hand. “You’re on vacation,” she mutters to the errant alien foot. “Relax.”

Lou tosses back her head and laughs. “Your voice only riles her up,” she says, shooing Debbie away with her hand.

“Her or you?” Debbie retorts, voice full of promise. So far, this vacation has rivaled their honeymoon in terms of good food and better sex.

“Both of us.” She pulls Debbie close and kisses her with fervor, pressing her thumb between Debbie’s thighs to elicit a rewarding groan. “God, you know how hot you are,” Debbie growls, her words slurring into something needy and near-impossible to resist. Debbie pinches the sensitive skin of her breast, and she’s wet already, God help her.

Debbie’s lips are running a full-on expedition of her body, tanned legs straddling her and her hand inside Debbie’s swimsuit, when few sharp sucker punches from the baby force her to break away. Debbie grumbles softly and runs her hand through Lou’s sun-bleached hair.

“More later,” Lou murmurs, low and husky, “when Loch Ness quiets down.” She’s gone on this woman, gone on Debbie Ocean forever. They’re conquering the goddamn world every second they spend in the same room. She doesn’t want Debbie more than three feet away, especially not now.

“Fine,” Debbie acquiesces. It’s playful, frustrated all the same. Debbie stands up at the promise of later. Then, her gaze fixes on the waterfall, and her eyes light up. “Hold my beer.” She shoves her drink into Lou’s hand and races to the pool.

“Fuck you, that’s my line!” Lou calls after her.

“Not anymore!” Debbie clambers up the slick rock, hauling herself onto the rock’s edge. She gets a running start, hurling herself into a front flip that from Lou’s vantage point is executed perfectly. Until it isn’t. Debbie hits the water in what can only be described as the most painful belly flop Lou has ever witnessed. She stands stone-still in the pool for a full minute before making her way to the edge.

“Are you alright, baby?” Lou shouts, half-teasing and half dead serious. Because when Debbie emerges from the water, she is the color of cheap boxed wine from her neck to her knees, pinching her stinging midsection with both hands.

“Fuck off,” Debbie mutters, but she’s chuckling through her pout, an indicator that she’s not severely injured herself.

Lou hands her back the bottle, cocking her eyebrow dangerously. “That’s what happens to people who laugh at me for getting stuck in the jacuzzi.”

6.

It is the twelfth anniversary of the Toussaint heist. Tammy, good friend that she is, offers to host the barbecue. She’s just purchased a backyard trampoline that has automatically made her the “most cool aunt” in the eyes of Dani and Darcy, and really, who can protest?

Debbie the grillmaster is flipping burgers, chatting with Daphne Kluger about her latest endeavor in directing, which is generating a fair amount of Oscar buzz. Amita and Constance are teaching Darcy how to steal jewelry off a person’s body without being caught, and what kind of hypocrite would Lou be o protest that it isn’t a useful life skill? Dani, predictably, has climbed onto the trampoline.

Lou’s heart swells as she watches her daughter bound across the elastic surface. “Hey,” she says to Rose, “hold my beer.”

She strides over to the trampoline and climbs on, shoes and all. She takes a couple steps onto the trampoline. “Hi Ma!” Dani cries enthusiastically.

“Hi Darling, are—” Her feet drop from under her. Apparently, the three-inch stiletto heels on her boots were less than ideal for a sheet of kevlar and rubber, because they’ve split two holes in the trampoline, and the woven strips of it are springing up everywhere, and Lou is flat on her ass beneath it.

Dani peers down at her, howling with laughter. “Ma you broke it!”

Lou scooches out from beneath the gaping hole, ass first, with the shreds of her grace and dignity.

7.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Darcy asks her older sister as Dani straps on her helmet and elbow pads.

“Great idea,” says Dani. She fixes her gaze on the massive pipe she’s rolled into the warehouse parking lot. On the other side of the pipe lies a ramp, and on the other side of that, a curb and chain-link fence she’ll just have to steer away from.

Dani mounts the skateboard and tests its wheels. Sturdy, smooth, waxed.

“You only finished it yesterday,” Darcy says skeptically.

“Yeah but it’s, like, the third prototype. This is the perfect board; trust me.” She’d snatched the old parts from junkyards and the back closets of skate shops and finagled them together into a board all her own.

“You have the camera rolling?” she asks, wiggling her board underfoot. Darcy nods.

“Great.” She quickly tames her hair into a top-knot and adjust the knee-pads on her torn jeans.

“Last chance to back down. If Ma sees you hit that ramp, she’ll read you the riot act,” Darcy warns her.

“Pssssh, have you seen the old photos of her on the motorbike? She used to take it to California and do some crazy shit out in the desert.”

“She still does. Doesn’t mean she’s okay with you hitting that ramp on your skateboard. Don’t be a jackass.”

Dani shrugs. “Takes one to know one, sis,” she says with a grin that her sister quickly returns. “Hold my beer.”

Her drink and camera safely in Darcy’s hands, Dani kicks off down the empty lot. She jumps into the pipe, listening to her wheels rumble on the plastic, then gives herself a boost before hitting the ramp. All of a sudden, she’s flying. It’s fucking fantastic. She flips the board once for good measure and lands beautifully, but before she can gloat the chain link fence is upon her.

Right. This is why you don’t put a ramp near a fence. She collides head on, and damn, she thinks, it’s a good thing this fence is pliable. It spits her back out like a catapult, and she lands on her ass on the concrete.

Darcy runs up to her. “Are you alright?” she repeats, taking Dani’s hand and helping her to her feet.

Dani nods shakily. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, that went great for the first trial. Did you catch me eating it on camera?”

#ocean's 8 #heist wives #debbie ocean #lou miller #debbie x lou #ocean's eight #heist wives au #dani ocean #darcy ocean #domestic fluff #I'm so soft for lou

[monsters-conquer-the-world]

10 Games

For Jack’s 10th birthday, Will got him a RetroPie.  Pretty cool, especially since it’s so easy to just dump a zillion games in there and let the kid go nuts.  But that’s a one-way ticked to analysis paralysis, so Will had a a super sick idea.  He asked me and Jess and some other friends to put together a list of 10 must-play classic/retro games and write a little bit about why we chose them.  As someone who loves video games and writing and lists, I was ALL ‘BOUT THAT.  

Now that Jack’s birthday has come and gone, I can share all the junk I wrote about these ten games that mean so much to me!  Check it out:

I love this idea.  I know the initial prompt was just "pick your favorites" but I couldn't help but impose a bunch of additional caveats. I know where this list is headed (and I have a pretty good idea of what games will pop up on the other lists)!  I could have easily listed off 10 Super NES games or 10 N64 games, but I wanted to hit a variety of consoles and franchises.  I would have liked to have hit a variety of genres and studios too, but I can't lie: I love platformers, and I love games by Nintendo.  It was challenging but rewarding to shave this list down to ten--a lot of old favorites and recent discoveries couldn't fit on the list, leaving these few.  The ones I've always treasured, the ones that stuck with me, the ones I memorized the music and sound effects to, starring the characters I love, exploring the worlds I wanted to live in.  Maybe you'll dig 'em too.

NES

Super Mario Bros. 3

I had spent some quality time with our Atari 2600 well before we ever had an NES in the house. I have fond memories of playing but not really understanding Pac-Man, Haunted House, and the bleak nuclear apocalypse masterpiece Missile Command.  But the first game I really wrapped my head around was Super Mario Bros. (and Duck Hunt, but that's not as relevant!).  Mario and Luigi's multi-screen adventures under a friendly blue sky expanded my concept of what a video game could even be--plus it was super fun, and Rochelle and I could both play it together! Super Mario Bros. 2 was technically more impressive, but so weird (and flanked by so many similar games) that it didn't rock my world like Mario 1 did (though I of course have a huge soft spot for it anyway).   Then Super Mario Bros. 3 came along and Mario had learned how to fly.  It was bigger, more beautiful, and stuffed to the brim with secrets and surprises! It was so exciting even Mom and Dad would play it with us.  Super Mario World is maybe the bigger, better, beautifuler game (and you can ride a FREAKING DINOSAUR), but I'll never forget the day I woke up to find my dad and sister playing this in the living room because we finally owned it.  It was too good to just keep renting! Kid Icarus

I didn't catch Kid Icarus the first time around.  I didn't even play it until high school, but I was inspired to track it down because of my love for Greek mythology and the Metroid series.  Kid Icarus takes place in a world heavily inspired by (but still distinctly different from) the swords, sandals, and sorcery epics of ancient Greece!  It's considered a "sister game" to the original Metroid, released around the same time by the same team, and the game shares a lot of the core elements that make Metroid so unique and awesome: eerily lonely, dangerous worlds to explore, a challenging beginning, player-empowering character growth, and a focus on exploring vast, often vertically-scrolling worlds with satisfying run'n'gun'n'jump gameplay. Kid Icarus borrows all the best stuff from Metroid, but tempers it with a slate of unique design choices: instead of one sprawling world, KI is split into discrete levels.  The first world is an ascent out of Hades with vertically oriented levels, the second world is a horizontal trek across the surface world, the third is another vertical ascent into the sky, and the finale is a horizontal, forced-scrolling shoot-em-up to reclaim the heavens!  Every fourth level is a sprawling, maze-like, Metroid-ish dungeon, capped off with a frantic boss fight!  Plus, Eggplant Wizards, credit cards, and RPG-style character upgrades!  They don't make 'em like this anymore!! Duck Tales

It's not as groundbreaking as Super Mario Bros. 1 or as innovative as Super Mario Bros. 3, but that doesn't change the fact that Duck Tales could possibly be my favorite NES platformer of all time. You don't need to know anything about or even like the original cartoon (or the comic books that birthed it) to appreciate the challenging charms of this hop'n'bop classic.  Duck Tales only has a handful of levels, but they're huge, full of hidden treasures, packed with alternate paths, swiss cheesed with secret passageways, and just gorgeous translations of Disney's lush cartoon worlds.   Getting to choose your own path through Duck Tales' roster of big beautiful worlds is reminiscent of the Mega Man games (also by Capcom). What really sets Duck Tales apart is controlling Scrooge.  He's spry for a septuagenarian billionaire, but his real talents lie in swinging and pogo-sticking off his cane!  It's delightful cartoon nonsense, but if you get the hang of it, it's also incredibly satisfying, allowing you to make some wild, death-defying maneuvers.  If you dig this and find yourself hungering for more bounce-centric gameplay, Shovel Knight takes Scrooge's cane, turns it into a shovel, and builds a deeply satisfying modern classic around it.  Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze finally gives Cranky a chance to shine as a playable character, and he straight-up jock's Scrooge's style, cane and all.  It rules.

Super NES

Yoshi's Island

The first thing you'll notice about Yoshi's Island is that it looks like it was drawn with crayons, markers, and colored pencils!  The second thing you'll notice is that Mario is a freaking baby!  It's an odd premise, but it all comes together in perhaps the best sidescroller ever made.  With Mario mustache-less and diaper-clad, this game puts you directly in control of Yoshi, and he is a joy to play as.  Hovering to extend his jump power, turning enemies into eggs and chucking them, and butt-stomping are Yoshi's primary tools of the trade, and they mix things up nicely.  This doesn't feel like "just another Mario," but it also feels right at home in the Mario pantheon. Beyond the Yosh-man's most basic maneuvers, there are some wild power-ups that turn Yoshi into a helicopter, a train that zips along in the background, a mole-tank, and more, plus special areas where Baby Mario gets superpowers and runs up walls and stuff!  Yoshi's Island is another magical micro-world, jam-packed with extremely clever and fun level design and very possibly the biggest and best boss fights of all time.   Ya gotta play this one.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong-Quest

I know I just talked about Yoshi's Island maybe being the best platformer of all time, but Donkey Kong Country 2 is right behind it, nipping at its heels.  DKC2 has a wildly different aesthetic, dropping you into beautifully computer-rendered pirate shipwrecks, janky-but-glitzy night time carnival rides, endless bramble patches, a skyscraper-sized beehive, haunted forests, and more!  They're not just beautiful to look at, but beautiful to listen to, because DKC2 features one of the all-time greatest video game soundtracks.  Maybe the greatest.  But this game ain't just another pretty face!

DKC2, like Super Mario Bros. 3 and Duck Tales, is stuffed to the gills with tricky little secrets and hidden areas and surprises.  This game doesn't just have secret levels, it has a secret WORLD.  This game doesn't just have a secret world, it has an entire secret ENDING.  The classically solid platforming is accompanied by a wealth of mine cart challenges, awesome animal buddies, mini-games, and enough level design variety to keep you coming back for every last hidden treasure.  

Super Metroid

Super Metroid doesn't just have secrets, it has mysteries.  This was the first game to ever actually scare me. The first one to ever creep me out.  And that just made me want to play it even more.  It feels lonely and dangerous.  Unlike the games earlier on this list, it is one HUGE and continuous world.  It is a world of incomprehensible alien horrors, ancient moldering ruins, and high-tech space-faring bio-terrorists.  This world, named Zebes, is a world where the sky continuously rains acid and almost every living thing inhabiting it wants to kill you.  Good thing you're Samus Aran, the toughest, smartest bounty hunter to ever clean up Space Pirate scum!

Samus explores this acid-drenched nightmare planet by running, gunning, and jumping... but also by solving puzzles and thinking her way out of traps.  With each power up she gets a little stronger, and can find her way deeper into this gnashing alien hellscape.  It's a game that is sadly beautiful just as often as it is ghoulish.  The story, simple and sketched-in as it is, is also deeper and more moving than you will ever expect. The boss fights are as massive, memorable, and epic as the ones in Yoshi's Island, but about a thousand times more intense and frightening.  The music perfectly sets the dark, burbling mood of each region of Zebes, and by the end of the game you will feel like the most powerful hero in the galaxy.  This mix of sci-fi, horror, and adventure isn't just a must-play, it's a life-changer.

Gameboy Color

Wario Land II

I love the Mario series, but I'm also absolutely crazy about Wario.  He's a fat, greedy, chaotic, prideful, disgusting, bull-headed oaf.  He's the polar opposite of Mario... and that's why I love him!  He's not exactly a villain, but he's a definitely a troublemaker, and it is hilariously fun to walk (or stumble!) a mile or three in his shoes.  The game before this, Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land is a ton of fun (as is Super Mario Land 2 before it!), but Wario Land II is the first one that truly feels like a Wario game.  What makes this game so different?  Wario can't be killed!

You read that right, there's (almost) no way to actually "die" in this game!  No way to lose lives.  That might sound too easy, or boring, or both, but it's not!  Wario might be unkillable, but all KINDS of bad stuff can and WILL still happen to him.  A LOT.  He'll get flattened, set on fire, trapped in bubbles, fattened up, frozen, drunk, zombified, and more!  And here's the kicker: those wacky conditions are required to solve the puzzles and challenges of each level!  On top of that ingenious and perfectly wacky set of game mechanics, the story branches off in wildly different directions: you'll blow up the annoying alarm clock in your castle, play street basketball against a giant bunny, be nice to a chicken, visit Atlantis, race through a weird world of mouths, noses, and eyes, and more!  There are multiple endings, multiple hidden exits, and multiple secret treasures and minigames to find and conquer.  Almost all of the Wario Land and Wario Ware games are oddball masterpieces, but WLII is the perfect balance of weird, smart, funny, and challenging.

Nintendo 64

Super Mario 64

This is it.  This is the game.  In 1996, when I was in sixth grade, Super Mario 64 was the only thing I cared about.  I begged and wished and hoped for a Nintendo 64 that Christmas, but it didn't come.  I was crushed.  Occasionally I was able to rent an N64 and Super Mario 64, and I'd lose whole days to this magical, miraculous game.  When I couldn't rent it, I'd bug my classmates about it endlessly.  "What level are you on?  What's that level like?  What stars can you get?  What secrets have you found?"  They'd answer a few of my ravenous, bug-eyed questions before getting uncomfortable and leaving to do something else.  What was the big deal? Why was I (and still am) so obsessed?

The leap from Super Nintendo to Nintendo 64 was like the leap from console and computer games to virtual reality.  But instead of short, funny minigames, it is a huge, sprawling world where anything seems possible.  A magical, secret garden full of surprises, wonder, challenges, and secrets.  Where the sun always shines in a cloudless sky... except when you plunge into the death-defying Bowser levels or the inappropriately terrifying Big Boo's Haunt.  Oh Mario can definitely fly in this one like he did in Super Mario Bros. 3, but just the simple act of running around in circles and jumping through 3D space felt like a joyous miracle... one that puts 2-dimensional flight to shame.  Each world (accessed by jumping INTO paintings in Princess Peach's sprawling but empty castle) is colorful, full of possibility, and chock full of distinct personality.  Adventuring through 3D space for the first time ever was incredible on its own, but doing it in such richly detailed, lovingly crafted worlds made me want to play there forever.  I still do. 

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Take everything I just said about Super Mario 64 and multiply it by ten!  Well, sort of.  Ocarina of Time took the lessons learned from Super Mario 64 and applied them to the dungeon-crawling, puzzle-solving Legend of Zelda series.  The result was an incredibly groundbreaking game that I cherished almost as zealously as Super Mario 64.  I don't think it's aged as well, but I don't care.  Ocarina of Time is a grand story, spanning seven years (!!!) and the entire fantastical country of Hyrule.  As Link, you jump forward and back through time, meet strange and wonderful new friends, discover hidden kingdoms, face the blood-soaked evil of Hyrule's past, save its future, outwit cunning puzzles and traps, steal and ride a magnificent horse, challenge towering, Super Metroid-style end bosses, wield magical weapons, break hearts, play beautiful music, and go fishing.  It's an entire, epic fantasy life in one little cartridge. 

This was the first Zelda game I ever spent SERIOUS time with, and the fact that it plays like a fantasy-fueled hybrid of Super Mario 64 and Super Metroid means I've lost entire days to it.  I've played it start to finish at least 8 or 9 times.  It never gets boring. Like Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time invented how we make and play 3D games.  This was the first 3D game where you could lock onto enemies and points of interest, plus a bevy of other camera controls that come standard in 3D games now (or at least they did for about a decade after Ocarina's release). The story is surprisingly cinematic and even gripping at times.  You'll want to live in this world.  You'll be sad when you see the end credits.  Not because of the ending itself, but because there's no more game for you to play... until you start it all over again on the next save file.  

Star Fox 64

Star Fox 64 was a life-changing event for me, just like Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time.  So is Star Fox 64 a slow-paced, exploration heavy adventure into beautiful and fantastical solitude like those other two games?  N O P E.  It's a guns-blazin', fast action, dogfightin', barrel rollin', rock'em sock'em intergalactic action epic in supersonic spaceships!  Piloted by talking animals!  That actually talk!  YES!

Instead of the wide-open freedom of Super Mario 64 and  Ocarina of TIme, Star Fox 64 either puts you on (invisible) rails in a forced-scrolling attack run or in a contained 3D arena.  Here's the kicker though, the levels are all so perfectly designed and the action is so expertly paced that you never feel restricted.  You're too busy racking up kill combos, saving your wingmen, and navigating through flying, burning space debris and buildings and asteroids and terrain to think about what you can't do.  And even on rails, Star Fox 64 gives you ways to explore!  Most levels have multiple exits and there are a whole mess of different, branching paths through the entire, war-torn Lylat system.  The game is designed to be played start to finish in a single sitting, but experimenting with repeat playthroughs is the only way to experience everything this laser-blazing action classic has to offer.  On top of all that, it's got a great story, iconic, meme-worthy dialogue, and an absolutely banging soundtrack.  It might not have changed the face of interactive entertainment like Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time, but it delivered the ultimate shoot'em up space adventure.  

#Super Apartment Friends #video games #mario #Metroid #zelda #NES #SNES #N64 #Nintendo

[abiteofnat]

OUT IN THE WILD, WILD WEST LOOP...

THERE’S A LOT OF GOLD TO BE FOUND. In the form of pizza, pasta, tacos, booze, and everything good that’s bad for you. The Randolph Street area west of the highway that runs next to Chicago is becoming ~the~ place for dinner plans and Friday night dates as it’s being transformed from warehouse valley to an up-and-coming Broadway of food, which is great news for the whole city. 

While I’m fairly certain not even the most extreme foodie has been able to eat at every single place in Chicago, it’s easy to find your favorites and settle into choosing from them versus really exploring a new section of the city. West Randolph has created a whole new division of restaurants and bars to float around and honestly they’re all hits; no where on this street is a flop and it’s such an aesthetically pretty area to be day or night. There’s the view of the entire skyline on one side, and then old, gorgeous brick building refurbished and repainted lining both sides of the street. Since this used to be a heavy factory/ storage area, there are still a lot of untouched lots which adds an old-Chicago vibe that O’Leary’s cow could probably fit right into, but with all the patios and twinkly lights spilling onto the sidewalks the restaurants really nailed the shabby-chic look. 

Over the past eight months or so I’ve eaten my way through Randolph Street because every restaurant looks better than the last, and I can honestly say I love nothing more than dressing up a little and getting an early dinner somewhere new and cute to sit in for hours, and if I’m with my best friends or my family?!? OVER THE MOON. A good 6 p.m. dinner followed by wandering around the city in search of a night cap or a verrryyyy chocolaty dessert? PAST THE MOON AND TO JUPITER. My life philosophy is that the best moments are spent around food and loved ones, and that happiness really is that simple... which is why every weekend I go home to my family where we all love to eat out in Evanston and then get ice cream anywhere because we don’t keep treats in the house (since we all entirely lack self control) and dessert is a nightly “congrats” for getting through the day. But sometimes they want to come into the city and that’s when it’s my turn to find the top-notch noshes! 

Should you need a date night idea or somewhere to bring your best friend/family for a birthday dinner, here are some golden nuggets along West Randy. 

1. Formento’s 

I came across Formento’s on Instagram one million times before ever making it there as they are one of the restaurants that caught onto the “cacio e pepe” pasta trend before the rest of the city did, and the boomerangs of a soft egg yolk breaking over thick, peppery noodles haunted my dreams for weeks. When my girl Luzi asked where we wanted to get dinner one night over the summer when it was a perfect, breezy evening I didn’t even hesitate to suggest Formento’s- with a beautiful and lush patio and a menu packed with drool-worthy food, and she was like “Yes, duh”, so off we went! The waiter was a quirky gal full of suggestions and more than willing to walk us through the menu which is somewhat tapas style and an “encouraged to share” type thing, which always makes me a little anxious but all my brain could think was “cacio e pepe cacio e pepe cacio e pepe” so somehow along the way we also ordered olives and a kale salad but I barely remember those. The olives were marinated and served slightly warm, and they brought us bread thick with rosemary and garlic and wowie it was good enough to be a meal on it’s own. I would love to go back and try the burrata and the lump crab toast, but this place is more of a treat-yourself night out place than a drop in for a casual $50 dinner place so I’m biding my time for an event to celebrate there! 

The pasta finally arrived after we had to move inside post surprise thunderstorm, and in the glow of candles and dim, sexytime lighting I met my love. A perfect swirl of al dente bucatini tossed in a light cream & cheese sauce spotted with freshly cracked pepper, and then an egg yolk perfectly contained and sitting on top like a fucking queen was almost too much to handle. I cracked the yolk and damn, this was one of those moments I wish my eyeballs had a camera built in because I was too engrossed in it to capture it on video. 

This pasta was exactly as good as I wanted it to be and how Instagram made it look, and we all know Instagram is a catfish playground and with all the fuckin gross food going viral because of it you can never quite trust it... but this was good, tried & true. I’m thinking graduation round 2 dinner might be here in the spring... hmmmm.

Oh and the wine menu is dope as well, any nice red would pair well with the spicy + flavorful appetizers and the freshness of the pasta selection. 

2. De Cero (slash) Hello Tacos! 

Ok so the name of this restaurant still confuses me as it used to be De Cero and then they changed it to Hello Tacos! but both show up if you Google it... I promise it’s the same place. This was sooo the shocker of my summer because I was taken against my will to get tacos with my family after a nine hour bus ride from Nashville back to Chicago, and I wanted to shower and curl up in a clean, controlled environment for like five hours before entering the world again but the parents were hungry. And they were kind enough to drive downtown to pick me up, so to turn down a nice dinner out would have just been rude and extremely stupid. So off we went in search of something tasty and my dad suggested De Cero, which we walked into and instantly fell in love with. Even though I smelled like an actual dumpster (the Megabus is not a glamorous way of transit, but I love it) I was instantly coated by the scent of fresh tortilla chips, smoky spices, and freshly sliced lime. We sat down in a cozy wooden booth under a wall of beautiful quilts and were immediately offered a drink (their flavored margaritas are DELICIOUS) and told to pick 3 (!!!) salsas from their list of options. As someone who believes in coating everything I eat in like sixteen sauces, getting to pick three salsas and receiving huge bowls of them was absolute heaven.  We got the Warm Chipotle which is for sure my favorite, imagine just a heavy, garlicky red salsa that’s delightfully toasty, the Tomatillo Lime Verde, and the Pico de Gallo. Later when I came back with a friend (legitimately one week later), I changed out the Pico for the Mango Habanero and it was incredible. I hate mango with every inch of my body, but in the way they marinated and treated the salsa it looses the tropical zing and is just really moist and sweet. All of these salsas? BOMB.COM. Exceptionally flavorful, and more than enough to bring home with you after. 

For dinner, my dad and I got the Grilled Mahi Mahi tacos and HOLY GUACAMOLE THEY WERE FAB. The most succulent, meaty fish fillets dripping with marinate and then topped with an asparagus compote and then doused in avocado puree, all in a corn tortilla that can barely support the weight. These tacos were some of the best fish tacos I’ve ever had, and when I went back with my friend I tested my “was it good or was I starving” test by getting the exact same thing, and loved them all over again. Go check this place out, it’s cozy and adorable and offers epic Mexican cuisine!! 

3. Bar Siena 

This might be my favorite spot on the street so far, but it also has the most options and isn’t too crazily priced so that could be a big factor! Bar Siena sits on a corner a little further down Randolph and is the perfect mix of upscale-bar and classy Italian, with a giant light-up tree in the middle growing up through the second floor that offers scenic seating of the skyline and the rest of Randy. With a menu bursting with wood fired pizza, pasta, antipasta, cheeses, and OF COURSE some fancy as heck cocktails, it’s really really really hard to decide what you want for dinner. Yet, because I’m me, both times I’ve been there I’ve ordered the same entree. Some highlights on the menu (a mix of mine and those I’ve dined with who eat meat) include: 

- Roasted Meatballs: IF I COULD EAT THESE, I WOULD. They come in a little dish of sauces, cheese, and with garlic bread on the side. Oh hellll yes. 

- Burrata: This is the best burrata I’ve ever had. On crispy toast with thick, creamy burrata and apricot jam, topped with sea salt and some crunchy nuts, it’s a 10/10 combo. Get it.

- Kale & Granny Smith Salad: It’s a good, simple salad that’s light and refreshing with so much hearty food. 

- The Prosciutto-Fig Pizza: IF I WAS A PIZZA, THIS WOULD BE ME. Even without the meat the spiced pistachio, truffle honey, and cheese on top of a perfectly baked white pizza is indulgently delicious. If I ever became a stripper, my name would be Truffle Honey in honor of this pizza. 

- Wild Mushroom & Garlic Pizza: Lots of mushrooms, lots of cream and cheese, very good. 

- SWEET CORN RAVIOLI: THIS IS IT. THIS IS THE PASTA OF MY DREAMS. CORN RAV STUFFED WITH MORE CORN, SAUCE, TRUFFLE BUTTER, MUSHROOMS, AND GOD’S LOVE. 

AND THE WINE LIST IS GREAT TOO. 

Y’all don’t skimp on dessert either; Bar Siena is attached to Bombo Bar, the small coffee shop and donut seller on the side with a walk-up window. They have the famed hot chocolate and matcha topped with a coordinating donut, biscotti or cookie, whipped cream, and sprinkles and toppings out the wazoo. They are absolutely crazy but soooo delicious and the hot coco is perfect for a cold winter day when you just want to get out of the house for a small adventure! 

Some other hits along this strip are Soho House, Kaiser Tiger, and Maude’s. Soho House is an ~elite~ club that’s in an ancient, elegant building tucked off on a side street that has a cafe and breakfast nook on the first floor which offers delicious coffee and perfect vibes for writing, reading, and girl’s talk on a rainy afternoon. Kaiser Tiger is a warehouse turned bar that’s open, loud, inviting, and has a unique menu of bratwurst and cheese plates. It’s great for a drink or to grab a nicer bite before heading to the United Center for a game! And Maude’s is somewhere that’s on my wish list- I am DYING to go get a drink in this blue & white dream! The outside is cute as a button and I imagine the inside is even better. I love having places I can’t wait to try out, it keeps this city so fresh! 

Until next time, Happy Eating!

-Natalie 

#foodblog #food #Chicago #eater #brunch #lunch #dinner #coffee #drinks #happy hour #wine #Italian #Mexican #bar food #night out #date night

[mustlovetights]

Summer in Savannah

My saltmate is one year older which means gifts of fic must be written! Happy Birthday @wrathofthestag​!!! xoxoxoxo

(Also on AO3)

Savannah had been his mother’s idea.

You’ll love it! She said. There’s so much history—everywhere you look!

Fresh off a disappointing end to the Falconer’s most recent bid for the Stanley, Jack needed to get away. He wasn’t a beach person, although the solitude of a private hut somewhere tropical held its own brand of allure. Europe had been his first choice, somewhere he could blend in, where his face wouldn’t run the risk of recognition, where he could meld into crowds and explore, untethered to the Jack Zimmermann hockey legacy.

Trust me, his mother had laughed. Georgia might as well be another country, and you’ll love the people.

As it turned out, she wasn’t wrong.

His first week was spent in the grand old Kehoe House, chosen not for its prominence on Columbia Square nor for its placement on the Best Inns of Savannah list. No, Jack chose the bed and breakfast entirely because it bore the name of a retired Canadian hockey player.

Maman said at least he was predictable.

The inn was a good fit, as it turned out. There were no dainty settees or lace appointed windows—or at least none that Jack had seen. No, his room was darkly masculine, with deep mustard walls and richly polished oak floors. The bed was big enough he could roll around all night and never quite reach the edge.

Too bad you have no one to roll into… said Maman.

At least you’re predictable, said Jack.

She had texted him the names of several Savannah nightlife hot spots in return.

He stuck to daytime activities, though, combing the city in larger concentric circles, learning its name, its feel, its history. Acclimating to the slow boil of its heat and the sweet sultriness of its summer scent. The food was strictly off his diet plan; he ate it with gusto.

The people were charming and kind with wide smiles and slow, rolling accents and Jack had next to no idea what they were saying more than half the time. But they seemed to love his dimples and his biceps and the careful way he considered their wares, their houses, their history. It was a summer love affair of the slow burning kind, and by the end of week two, Jack was considering real estate prices over his morning coffee.

It was just such a curiosity that had landed him in his current predicament, seated on a stainless steel hospital table, awaiting stitches for the spectacular gash along the base of his thumb.

He had sent Mrs. Beetlemeir, his real estate agent, out to the waiting room where she could flutter and coo with abandon, rather than continue to drive him bonkers cooped up in the tiny enclosure. He appreciated her sincere distraught, and her quick thinking when he had picked a fight with an unruly and rusty iron gate—and lost. But he preferred the peace of solitude, even now. The pain had been something of a wakeup call and Jack felt for all the world as though the last few weeks had been something out of a dream. A feverish, catfish-laden, sweet tea-drowning dream. He studied the delicate handkerchief tied around his hand, his blood staining the sprigs of embroidered violets dark red. He would have to buy Mrs. Beetlemeir a new hanky.

Lost in thought about the exact nature of procuring delicate embroidered handkerchiefs, Jack jumped when the door was flung open and a white-coated—and startlingly handsome—figure appeared in the opening.

“Mr. Zimmermann.” The man quickly scanned the chart in his hand and then looked up with a smile. “Welcome to Savannah.”

Jack snorted. “Thanks. It hasn’t been, uh,” he waved his hanky-wrapped hand. “Dull.”

The nurse grinned and tossed the chart onto the bed beside him. “All right, let’s see the damage.”

He was small, his head just shy of level with a seated Jack, his palm warm where it gently gripped Jack’s wrist. He tutted under his breath when he peeled away the hanky. “You probably doomed a perfectly fine old gate.”

It took Jack a moment to register the words; there was a soft curl of dark blond hair tickling his chin and it smelled faintly of honey and sunshine.

“Huh?”

The man glanced up, close enough Jack could count the freckles sprinkling across the bridge of his nose.

“What did that poor old gate ever do to you? Minding its own business. Protecting its yard from intruders. And Yankees.” He sniffed and went back to prodding Jack’s hand. “The new owner will likely tear it down now, replace it with one of those ugly chain length monstrosities. Viciously murdering the gorgeous aesthetic of an heirloom Southern rose garden. And—”

“I’m not tearing down the gate.” Jack breathed in deep; was it creepy if he sniffed his nurse? He smelled good enough to eat. It wasn’t just honey—was that cinnamon? Donuts? Something with buttery cream—

“What do you mean you won’t be tearing it down?”

Those deep brown eyes were glaring at Jack now, a little bit of color blossoming in the sharp cut of his cheekbones, and Jack felt a stirring in the region of his groin. Uh oh. “I, um. I’m buying it.”

The nurse blinked. “You’re buying that big old Second Empire on Taylor.”

Jack blinked back. “Yes.” Mrs. B must have been very thorough in her description at admission; Jack had all but tuned her out, her chattering like the low humming buzz of a bee.

The glare softened, just a bit, and went back to studying Jack’s hand. “You’re going to need stitches. Six—maybe seven.”

Jack leaned forward and tried to inhale without being obvious. Pancakes? “Shouldn’t we wait for the doctor?”

“Okay.”

Jack’s hand was promptly released.

They stared at one another for a beat, brown eyes on blue, and Jack fought the urge to squirm under a rather obvious and lingering onceover. He hadn’t given much thought to his attire when he ventured out that morning with Mrs. B, worried more about the heat than his appearance, but right now he was very aware that his faded Falconer’s tank top left very little to the imagination. He smiled slowly, feeling bold. He was on vacation, after all. “You want to lose the coat while we wait?” He squinted at the nurse’s nametag. “Bittle? Fair’s fair.”

The little fucker didn’t even have the grace to be embarrassed at being called out, pursing his lips and opening his palm. “Give me your hand, Zimmermann.” Jack tensed when strong fingers closed around his wrist again, but Bittle was surprisingly gentle. He spoke slowly and succinctly, looking Jack right in the eye. “You need six stitches. Maybe seven.”

Jack prided himself on being a learned man, but it took him a very long moment to catch up. “Wait—you’re the doctor?” His mouth worked. “How old are you?”

“Old enough to know better than to take my coat off for a pretty face,” Bittle muttered, running his thumb along Jack’s wrist. He smirked at the fluttering pulse under his finger. “You feeling all right Mr. Zimmermann?”

Jack inhaled sharply. Scones? “I feel fine. I feel—” And here’s the thing: Jack wasn’t afraid of hospitals. Playing a lifetime of hockey, he had been nicked, stitched, poked, and stuck more times than he could count. But this was entirely different. His doctor was hotter than the sun, possibly flirting, and smelled like something Jack would pour maple syrup all over and eat for breakfast.

Jack wanted to eat his doctor and he was one thousand percent sure that wasn’t OSHA permissible. He was suddenly lightheaded, slammed with the most vibrant shade of pure lust he’d ever known. He planted his good hand on the steel bed and fought to steady himself. “Are all southern doctors like you?” He asked, just shy of grabbing his heart. Or Bittle’s ass.

“Nope.” Bittle’s grin was smug. “You’re just that damn lucky, I guess.” He turned away and began to rummage through the cabinets over an adjacent sink. He pulled out a tray and added dressings and a suture kit and bottles of liquid the likes of which Jack was pretty certain would feel like fire on contact. Then he shrugged off his coat (with a bawdy wink), rolled up the sleeves of his perfectly tailored pale pink buttondown, and went to work cleaning Jack’s wound.

The whole process stung like a motherfucker, and with each of Jack’s hissing curses, Bittle murmured silly platitudes like there there boo boo and what a big boy you are! Jack wanted to smack him. And kiss him. But mostly he wanted to get his hands on his tight little hips and grind him into the wall to relieve the godawful pressure mounting in his dick—what kind of doctor wore jeans that tight anyway?!

And he smelled like motherfucking cheese Danish!

At the first prick of needle, Jack decided the south was hugely overrated. 

He was eventually left to sulk, alone (with his seven stitches), while Dr. Bittle (!) finished Jack’s chart at the nurses station and wrote him a script for painkillers and antibiotics. (For prophylactic purposes, Bittle had added, tongue wholly in cheek).

When he returned, hair perfect, eyes sparkling, lips unkissed, Jack stood with a scowl. 

Before he even got a word out, Bittle popped a pill between his lips and shoved a paper Dixie cup of water in his good hand. “Drink that, Zimmermann, and meet me in the parking lot in twenty. I know a lobster with your name on it.”

He was gone with a wink and a whiff of poundcake.

Jack stared at the door until the pill began to dissolve on his tongue, leaving a strong bitter aftertaste that he chased away with the water.

He crumpled the cup and tossed it in the trash, mouth splitting wide in a grin.

On second thought, maybe the south wasn’t so bad after all.

#zimbits #omgcp #ficlet #wrathofthestag #birthday fic #jack/bitty #omgcp fanfic #can you just imagine #doctor!Bitty #hockey!Jack #mmmmmm #smexy

[isprava]

Isprava on where to go next

Isprava on where to go next

New homes on the block

Two beautiful villas, one signature aesthetic. Isprava opens the doors to two of its favourite holiday homes from its ever-growing collection, for you to pick your next haven of escape. Our suggestion: visit both!

When it comes to making a choice, as discerning as you may be, Isprava makes the decision tough. Both Villa Loto Bianco and Villa Vivre exude luxury, beautiful design and supreme comfort in equal measures, all the while making you feel like you are right at home. Why? Because Isprava doesn't compromise. It crafts homes in a way that it would imagine perfection to be. And each home is just a reflection of that commitment. What really separates these two villas, are the simple things -- specifications like location, size and maybe the colour of the bathroom tile. Here is a peek inside both:

Villa Loto Bianco is tucked away in an enchanting location of North Goa’s Siolim, where the villa overlooks gorgeous lush green paddy fields. It’s only a 10-20 minute drive away from some of Goa’s most pristine beaches, like Vagator, Ashwem, Anjuna and Morjim Beach. The four bedroom, fully furnished villa features a well-appointed living and dining room, a lovely sub-tropical garden, beautiful floor-to-ceiling Portuguese windows, arched doorways, charming balconies, a stunning azure pool, and bedrooms decked with old-world antiques interspersed with modern amenities.

Villa Vivre is no less captivating, with its idyllic location in the secluded part of North Goa’s Assagaon. This is one of Goa’s tiniest and most beautiful villages, surrounded by greenery, promising you peace and tranquillity, yet in close proximity to your favourite restaurants, bars and beaches. The four-bedroom villa is surrounded by a fenced perimeter, just beyond which a beautiful dense forest sways. It features lovely bedrooms accentuated by artefacts sourced from palaces and mansions in India and Europe, bespoke soft furnishings, custom designed flooring, opulent living and dining spaces as well as a luxe pool just waiting for you to splash into. The best time is now: book your stay at one or both of our villas today!

The art of refurbishment

Whether it’s a regal overhaul, returning an ancient home from a state of dismay to its former glory, or giving an elegant makeover to a space from yesteryear -- the art of restoration and refurbishment is a unique one. Isprava believes there is a distinct charm when the old becomes new again, don’t you agree?

Architecture and design is as much about invention as it is about re-invention. Some of the most magnificent spaces are those that have been given a rebirth. Not only does refurbishment give a space the chance to live eternally, embedded with story, culture, art and history. But it also gives it the chance for a new lease of life, a future in the modern world.

Refurbishment is an art that demands study, patience, attention to detail and a level of mindfulness and precision. You have to be cautious of preserving what is valuable and inherent to the space, restoring it in such a way that it doesn't diminish the original beauty.

An old structure has many beautiful aspects to it -- from its imposing facade to age-old arches, motifs and carvings. The aim is to celebrate these elements and give them a new avatar. Unique spaces like courtyards, corridors, serene gardens with a beautiful pool give the home a character of its own. From refurbishing old wood to shining the spotlight on antique furniture and brass artefacts, from restored walls and ceilings to intricately crafted decor, handmade floors and more -- every space has a story to tell, just in a renewed sense of being.

At Isprava, we are always on the hunt for old mansions and palaces around India and the world, to restore and refurbish their remains to perfection, so that we can transport you into the regal past. A place you may never want to return from.

Why everyone's retreating to Alibaug?

When all it takes is a 20-minute speed boat ride (even less if you use a helicopter) to escape from the grim, chaotic city life of Mumbai, and transport you to the great, beach bumming, mansion-living life of Alibaug -- why wouldn't you go?

The quiet coastal town of Alibaug has quickly become the new great escape that takes you from traffic jam in the city to birdsong by the beach within the hour. And everyone is jumping on this wagon. It is where the well-heeled gather for a better social life. It is where the creative flock to for pristine stretches of white sand to inspire their next design. It is where life gives you the chance to press restart, even if it is just for the weekend. Here lunches are languid; moments are calm and the parties, one of a kind. Think of it like the Hamptons of Mumbai. And while it does not have the art galleries or swanky restaurants and bars like the Hamptons may, all you really need here is a great holiday home. Good news for you: Isprava is coming soon to Alibaug.

So hop over for the weekend, swim in the lavish pool, cook in a grand kitchen from the fresh produce growing in the garden, sip on Isprava’s exclusive Peaberry coffee, take long walks in the evening and just relax in the ambience of tranquillity. It sounds too good to be true. But it is.

Brewing magic everywhere she goes

As the head of marketing at White Owl Beer, she’s tapping into great success. But the Swedish lady who’s made India her home also has much to say about luxury, experiences and why Isprava is a fine balance of it all. In conversation with Paulina Elm Agren....

1. Tell us five things you love about India, and why?

 The People – This might sound cliché, but it’s true. Moving to a new country where you barely know anyone, it’s easy to feel alone. However, every single person that I met, has made me feel at home. Living in India has opened my mind in a different way. The diverse culture of India makes you appreciate new and different aspects of what life has to offer Indian Food - Indian cuisine consists of a wide variety of regional and traditional cuisines. The countless variations in taste, colour, and fragrance in every course of the meal is a unique experience Travel - India's landscapes are as fantastically varied as its cultural traditions. This country has a bounty of outdoor attractions. However, my favourite place is still Goa Traditional Clothing: The Indian traditional attire is as vibrant as its culture. I always wait for an opportunity to dress up in Indian clothes, and never let go of a chance to wear them Opportunities: If I stayed back in Sweden, I wouldn’t have had the same opportunity to introduce a whole country to the world of Craft Beer. It has been and is an incredible experience.2. The beer culture in India is booming more than ever before, and White Owl seems to be doing wonders. Tell us more...

Our journey has been phenomenal. We were a team of five people doing absolutely everything when White Owl started brewing beer in 2014. Today, our beer is sold across Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Bangalore and Delhi, On Tap, in Bottles & in Cans, at over 1,700 bars and retail stores with many new markets and products in the pipeline. This excites me incredibly and makes me believe that the journey to come will be even more thrilling than the journey so far.

3. Having visited a few Isprava homes, which one is your favourite for a lazy weekend sipping on some White Owls and why?

It has been an exceptional experience with every visit to Isprava homes. It is very difficult to choose one as each home is unique. Even though I absolutely love the new concept of Igreha Vaddo, Villa Evora holds a special place in my heart. It’s intimate and cosy (what a true Swede loves) yet the luxurious villa has everything needed and of course, Goa is a charming confluence of east and west, juxtaposed with the magnificent scenic beauty of beaches and coves, architectural splendour of churches, temples and old Portuguese homes. Sipping on a chilled White Owl brew in that endearing abode of a charming Portuguese home surrounded by scenic allure was all I could ask for to rejuvenate myself.

4. Your recent collaboration with Isprava was quite exciting. Tell us about your time in Goa with Isprava?

When I first visited one of the Isprava homes in Goa it struck me that White Owl stands for a similar concept. We put in an incredible amount of effort to create a memorable experience for our guest. And as such, serving White Owl, a top quality, locally produced beer completed that incredibly curated Isprava experience. On top of that, White Owl offers an exciting portfolio, with different styles that will excite Isprava guests. For those looking to quench their thirst by the pool, we have Spark, our Belgian Wit. For the slightly more experienced beer drinkers, we have Diablo, our Irish Red Ale. And for anyone who likes their brews on the sweeter side, we have Ace, our Apple Cider Ale. Our trio most certainly adds to the crafted experience that Isparva is offering.

5. Is travel about luxury or experiences or both? How do you think Isprava binds it all in?

Travel is about both luxury and experience. One travels to get away from their mundane lives to explore and learn new things. Isprava offers the best of both worlds. The lavish facilities with finely crafted interiors, best of locations and service to pamper your mind and soul, making the whole experience beautiful and memorable.

#holiday homes #real estate in Goa #Buy property in Goa #luxury holiday homes in goa #goa property