#Like Light is 18 when they meet and a month away when the potato chip scene happens

[himbo-kronk-stan]

Death Note Movies/ J-Drama Fans as the rest of the fandom has to decide if the lawlight age gap is predatory

#the story dose not really change much when you age Light up/L down a little #honestly I really get both sides and being uncomfortable is super valid #Like Light is 18 when they meet and a month away when the potato chip scene happens #so you kinda have to decide for your self if 18 is an adult to you #while L is in his 20’s #and on paper light is an adult by this time but we’re watching him in the process of becoming one #my fear low key is that I’ve noticed a lot of teenagers in the fandom #dose the tangled fandom have the same issue? bc I think the age gap is about the same- what’s the approach there? #og movies!lawlight shippers are stronger then any U.S. marine #there’s no rain or blue room scene just an alt timeline novelization

[cinna-stars]

Worth Waiting For

Uhh, okay, this is my first ever fanfic! I might continue it based on the reception, but it was a few thoughts I had in my head that I wanted down on paper. 

18+! Some sexual themes and content throughout, however for those experienced smut readers, this is some mild sauce, not very much spice.

I have to credit @cyancherub for making me think about Kiri smelling like cinnamon, the thought hasn’t left my brain.

Kirishima x Fem!reader 

A cool breeze whispers through the slightly ajar window of your dorm room. The sun set a little while ago; studying always seems to eat up most of your free time, so this wasn’t exactly a surprise. You lean back in your desk chair, arms up, and stretch your muscles into a big yawn. The sudden contracting muscles have your stomach gurgling. It’s definitely time to take a break, so you close your textbook and stand up from your desk. I wonder if there’s any of those expensive sounding potato chips that Momo bought back from her trip abroad left over? The thought makes you salivate as you begin towards your door. You glance to the mirror in the corner and look at your own reflection: hair pulled into a loose, messy bun, torso swallowed up by an old band shirt Denki gave you (after a conversation initiated by Mineta on what you liked to wear to bed) and bare legs sticking out from the hem. Shouldn’t be a problem, as long as Iida isn’t feeling like a stick in the mud this evening. You open your door and begin creeping your way to the kitchen, hoping to keep noise levels to a minimum as to not disturb anyone who might be sleeping already.

Your ears perk up when you hear conversation coming from the communal area.

“On a scale from 1-10, with ten being the most boring, you have exceeded my expectations and we’ve hit an 11.”

“Shut up dude, it’s an absolute cinematic masterpiece. This is why you don’t have the remote- we’d be watching Care Bears or some shit.”

You approach the seating area to see Bakugou, Kirishima, Sero and Denki. The latter two arguing over what to watch. Bakugou looks like he’s about to blow a fuse, so Kirishima chimes in,

“Hahah, okay guys, why don’t we just watch a horror movie, like Scream or something? It’s an easy watch.”

“Sounds like a good idea as long as Kaminari doesn’t shit himself.” Sero tries to start again, but this is perfect timing for you to interject.

“Sero, I’m sorry, last time I checked, you’re the one who had to ‘leave suddenly’ when we watched Halloween.” A smirk appears on your face from ear to ear as all four boys turn their head your direction. You notice an empty spot next to Kiri and take the opportunity to sit, careful not to flash anyone.

“Hey Y/N don’t be startin’ on me. I have plenty of stories about you that we could share you know? What about the Jaegerbomb incident?” Sero matched your grin, and you feign shock by slapping your hand to your heart.

“You’re breaking my heart, Hanta. Are you the only ones up?”

“Yeah Iida sort of ‘encouraged’ everyone to go to bed early because of the test tomorrow, but” Denki motions in Bakugou’s direction “the angry Pomeranian barked and he gave up with us.” Bakugou snaps his head up from his phone to stare Denki down, but realizing he’s just proving his point, sighs and goes back to scrolling on his phone.

“You okay Baku-babe?” he grunts and flips you off, but you could see the corner of his lip turn up in a weak smile at the affectionate nickname. You knew he meant well, especially after the time you had spent together over the last summer with the guys; he just had a defensive temperament.

“You wanna join us, y/n?” Kiri propositions with a wide grin. His hair was still styled into sharp points from classes today, contrasting with his relaxed clothing choice of a t-shirt, shorts and crocs. He’d also made the addition of a white bandana around his forehead. As usual, he was looking incredible.

After the time spent together as a group over the break, it was great to get to know everyone better. As Sero’s oldest friend, it was always easier to stick by him, which had ended up in your favour by meeting these clowns. You’d slowly got closer to the other three boys too, but there was something about Kirishima you couldn’t shake.

The way you felt when you were left together alone in the same room at a party, or when the other guys ended up flaking so you spent the night together at his place, there was always a feeling of excitement, in more ways than one.

You’ve never been very good at flirting and you just seem to come across as an anxious mess, but Kiri was pretty much just as bad. Meaning neither of you ever made a move. Just awkward giggles and eye contact that lasted just a little bit too long for friends.

“I actually came to steal some of Momo’s fancy chips but yeah, let me get a snack and I’ll be ready. You guys want anything?” You get up off the couch and start your way to the kitchen.

“BEER. BEER. BEER.” Denki chants, making you giggle.

“Oh I’ll come and help you carry them!” Kiri jumps up to follow behind you. You can hear Sero make a ‘wha-PISH’ whipping sound which makes Denki burst out with laughter. In their defense, it was painfully obvious you were both pining for each other.

The kitchen isn’t far but it is out of earshot of the sitting area. You open the cupboard in the corner to find Momo’s chip bag, left sat there completely empty. “Oh come ON” you sigh, picking up the bag and placing it in the trash.

“No chips left? Don’t worry I got you covered.” Kiri stretches to the gap between the top of the cupboard and the ceiling, feeling about with his hand. Your eyes fixate on the skin that is now showing just above the waistband of his shorts. You slowly move your view up the side of his torso, his shirt draping over his body in all the right places, and then to his face, one eye closed and tongue sticking out in concentration. He totally caught you checking him out and now you’re both stood there blushing like idiots. He finally located the bag he was looking for and brings his hands back down, showing off the slightly dusty bag of unopened chips.

“These are your favourites, right?” You stand in bewilderment looking at the bag and nod. “There are many bonuses to being one of the tallest in this dorm” he grins. He even remembered your favourite chips? You can’t help but smile back.

“Thank you so much. Oh let me get the beers!” you walk over to the fridge and open it up, bending over to search for the well hidden cans. You know your ass is on show, and you’re doing everything you can to make it the best view. Arching your back slightly, barely moving your hips from side to side, putting on a full show without being too obvious. “Ah I found them!” You gather them into your arms, the cold metal against your skin sending shivers up your spine and making your nipples protrude from the thin material of your shirt. You stand back up and close the fridge, turning around to a very red in the face Kirishima. You send a sweet smile his way.

“Do you mind taking a couple they’re coldddd” you whine. He composes himself and grabs the first can he can see looking ready to fall. He then proceeds to take another, slowly exposing more of your chest and your hardened nipples. You notice his eyes dart to them and then back on the beers. Are you two really going to carry on like this? Acting like the sexual tension couldn’t be cut with a knife? His wandering eyes now have you blushing and you’re quick to fill the hanging silence. “Should we really be drinking when we have a test tomorrow? I’m no NARC but you know what Denki can get like. He’ll wake up the whole house.”

“It’ll be fine. The only ones that know where the rest of the stash is are you and me. As long as you can keep a secret, we’re Gucci” he winks.

“Did you… really just use the term ‘Gucci’? like completely unironically?” You laugh, nudging his side.

“Shut upppp y/n. Come on let’s get back to them before Bakugo kills Dumb and Dumber.”

 “Hoes and bros we come bearing beverages!” You walk in and pass out the three beers you held to the boys, Kiri slowly following with the chips and the last two drinks.

“Wait, who are the hoes?..... oh.” Kaminari has a moment of self-realization and stares at the beer in his hand.

“Denki don’t listen to her, she is the last one to be calling anyone a hoe” Sero hits you with another of what will be many insults of the night.

“Uhhhh says the guys who has a body count tally on his wall. If you ever get with Mina you’re going to need to take a trip to Home Depot to paint over those you know?” You counter.

“Can we watch the damn film already?! Could’ve watched half the fucking thing by now.” Bakugou finally lets off some of the pent up steam. Both you and Denki lift your arms up to your forehead in a salute. “Yes sir!”

Grabbing a blanket, you and Kiri get back into your original seats next to each other on the sofa furthest away from the TV. Sero is on the chair to Kiri’s right, sprawled over it in the most boyish way possible, legs stretched wide and arms hanging over the back. Denki and Bakugo share the sofa to your left, Bakugou reserved to the spot at the very end, finally turning his phone off, while Denki almost mimics Sero’s positioning, but one hand is wrapped around his beer chugging it a bit too fast. Sero presses play as you sit back into the sofa. Kiri’s arm is already draped over the back of the headrest, and it’s only a matter of time until his arm drapes around your shoulder and you lean into him.

You’re about ten minutes into the movie when he starts to move his fingers in little circles on your upper arm. If anyone saw you right now, they’d assume you two were together. The months you’ve both spent flirting and teasing, the light touches and the lingering cuddles. This is becoming unbearable for you, its overwhelming. How haven’t you kissed yet? You weren’t really a ‘hoe’ as Sero said, but you certainly weren’t inexperienced and have never had this trouble before, so what was stopping you now? If things continued like this, you were going to explode.

You look up at Kiri, admiring the contours of his face against the light of the TV. The way his eyebrows slightly furrow, and the way he’s chewing his bottom lip between his teeth in concentration. You inhale the mild aroma of cinnamon, which is a scent that follows him around everywhere. You’re certain he’s aware you are staring, by the light blush reforming on his cheeks, but he allows you to for just a little longer. Right up until Denki yelps aloud from a minor jump scare in the film, causing you to jolt yourself and grab onto Kiri’s shirt.

“Don’t tell me you’re scared?” he asks, voice low and husky. “Don’t worry, I got you.” He lifts his free arm and tucks a loose strand of hair behind your ear.

“I-I wasn’t scared. Denki made me jump” you pout.

“Aww, even worse haha” he chuckles, the vibrations flow through your body, straight to your core, making you instantly wet. If he ever really knew the affect he had, you might just die from embarrassment. You release his shirt and return your head to his shoulder; however, his hand has maneuvered itself away from your upper arm and is now placed on your hip. The large amount of warmth is slowly followed by a very light squeeze of reassurance, and you’ve never been more aware that you aren’t wearing any shorts.

His breathing has now quickened, and his hand feels like it might even be shaking a little bit. He was so nervous, which makes him even more endearing. A wave of adrenaline rushed through you as you lift your hand to rest atop of his, to give him the assurance that it is absolutely okay to have his hand there.

About three quarters of the way into the film, all drinks have been consumed, chips have been eaten, Sero pauses and gets up for a pee break. “Couldn’t your bladder have waited? There isn’t that much longer left Se-bro” Kiri teases

“Ei, I don’t think I know anyone who could wait as long as you have” he leans down and darts his eyes between the two of you. You glare with intent to BURN. You thought too long for a comeback and unfortunately, he’s already happily waltzing off to the bathroom.

Kiri turns to you with a smile and lowers his voice. “Did nobody tell tape face that anything worth having is worth waiting for?” and you swear in that moment an entire flutter of butterflies were trying to escape you. That’s the most direct he’s ever been and it’s not something easy to ignore.

“I know you both have hidden the beer and I take personal offense.” Denki bellows. “I bet it’s on top of the cupboard where Kiri keeps all the good stuff” and he gets up and skips off to the kitchen, fully convinced he’s going to find what he’s looking for.

“I’m going to bed. Gotta be up early and you extras are pissing me off.” Bakugou gets up and stretches. “Love you, Bakubro! Mwah!” both you and Kiri heckle him with air kisses and you are met with yet another middle finger as he strolls off to his dorm room, that small smirk still present.

There’s that feeling coming back again. The way you feel whenever you’re alone with Kirishima. But this is the most compromised you’ve been: you’re basically half naked, he’s got his hand on your hip and he just dropped an absolute bomb of a line thanks to Sero. You can’t help yourself and before you truly think it through,

“Ei, I think I’m done waiting.” You lift your head off his shoulder, faces only a few inches apart. You can feel both your heart rates quicken in sync and your bodies getting hotter. He raises his hand and takes your chin in his hand, urging your lips forward onto his. The anticipated contact sends electricity through your body and the kiss deepens quickly, his tongue licks your lower lip asking for entrance and you accept immediately, releasing a soft moan from the motion.

You twist your body round so that you’re straddling his thigh, his wandering hand had slipped under the fabric of your shirt in the same place, playing with the fabric of your underwear. Your hands find their way to the back of his head, pushing him further into your mouth. You both are getting sloppy as lust takes over and you find your hips involuntarily grinding on his thigh. He breaks away from the kiss, pulling at your lower lip and working his way down your jaw to your neck, nipping and sucking lightly, causing louder moans to escape you.

“So- fucking long- I’ve waited- to touch you like this” he groans out between kisses and bites, sure to leave a mark. “Sound so pretty”

“Ah- me too, I- fuck” the stimulation from his voice and touch is almost overwhelming, but clarity sets in quicker than you’d like it too. “Sero will- ah- be back any second” and you release your grip on his hair. He’s really trying to pout at you, but he can’t help let his goofy smile beam through. You stare at each other for a few seconds, both absolutely beaming with happiness. He lets out an almighty sigh,

“Uggggh, you’re right. Hey, what are you doing after this?” he asks as you settle back down next to him, making you chuckle.

“Well I was planning on going back to my dorm and sleeping. Unless you have a better offer?” you beam.

“Well…” his grin gets wider, “you know there’s a sequel to Scream, yknow? Think you might wanna… what’s it called..”

“Scream 2.”

“I can make you scream, too. Sure”  and you erupt into laughter together, from his disgustingly awful pun.

Sero approaches from the corridor “Well you two sure can clear a room.”

“I’d blame it on Kiri’s terrible puns, but Bakubabe went to bed and Electabuzz is currently trying to find the rest of the beer but- oh there you are” Denki walks in, with a pout on his face, and flops back on the couch in disappointment.

“Denks, how about we throw a little party tomorrow after the test. We’ll let you in on where the secret stash is, too.” You offer, his expression immediately switching to that of delight.

Even though there was only a half hour left of the movie, it felt like hours until the end credits started rolling. Denki had managed to fall asleep and was snoring at full velocity, and the only person left paying full attention was Sero, as you couldn’t stop your brain from wandering from anticipation.

He shut the TV off and you tasked yourself with waking up Denki while Kiri cleaned up the empty beer bottles.

“Kami, come on sweetie, you need to go to bed.” You nudge him slightly causing him to stir. Sero walks over, and gives him a hard slap on the ass

‘WAKE UP ASSHOLE! Iida will kill you if you sleep on the couch”

“…I- sleep- your mom-..” he sits up and rubs his eyes

“Don’t be so rough Sero, he’s so sleepy look at hiiiimm” You say, admiring how cute he looked in such tired state. Kaminari finally gets up and all four of you head to the lift… shit.

You are Denki are on the 3rd floor, Kiri is on the 4th and Sero is on the 5th… how are you going to get to Kiri’s room without being suspicious?

A/N: Thank you if you read this in full! Please let me know what you think and if you’d be wanting to read the next part (which would include a lot more spice!)

#kirishima smut #kirishima #kirishima eijirou #kirishima x you #kirishima icons #kirishima imagine #kirishima x reader #kirishima fluff #mha x reader #mha smut #kirishima x y/n #kiribaku #denki kaminari #hanta sero

[lotusss-flowerbomb]

Dark Knight

Part 1

Bucky x reader

Warnings: violence, 18+

Word Count: 2,484

********

"Hey, slow down!" You yelled at the two children. Your four year old daughter and nephew continued running past you as if you hadn't said a word. You just shook your head and continued to prepare their lunch.

The doorbell rang and you wiped your hands confused as to who would be visiting unannounced. Then you rolled your eyes when you realized who it probably would be.

You looked out of the peephole and your suspicion was confirmed. You opened the door and stared at your child's father.

"Bucky, I thought I told you to call before you came over here?" You leaned against the door frame.

"I did. You didn't answer," he said back with just as much attitude as you were giving him.

You remembered leaving your phone in your bedroom on the charger.

"Jordyn, your dad is here," you yelled and turned away from the door. He followed you inside.

You and Bucky had a very emotional break up 7 months ago. He didn't really give you a reason, he just came home after a mission and told you that he'd be staying with Steve for a while.

After weeks of silence and then only coming by to see Jordyn and ignoring you, you finally gave up trying to talk to him.

After four months, your friends convinced you to go out on a date. Somehow, Bucky found out about it and after scaring the guy off, he started coming by the house unannounced and staying much later than he should. 

"Dadddyyy!" Jordyn screamed as she and your nephew Braylon ran towards you.

"Hey, princess," he scooped her into his arms. "What's going on, Bray, you watching over the girls today?"

"Mmm hmm," the young boy nodded his head while giving Bucky a fist bump.

"Come on, daddy," the little girl squirmed out of his hold and grabbed his hand, "we're about to eat lunch." She started towards the kitchen.

"Go wash your hands, please," you said to them as you set their places at her kid's table.

You and Bucky didn't speak. He stood by quietly and made sure to stay out of your way. You'd catch him watching you, but he wouldn't look away. He didn't care that you knew.

Once the kids sat down to eat, you took a seat at the island with Bucky and grabbed a bag of chips.

"You know, you should really eat better." 

"Says the human garbage disposal? Worry about yourself." You stuffed another chip in your mouth.

********

Bucky was playing outside with the kids. You watched out of the window as they took turns swinging from his arm. This is exactly how you pictured your life at one point. 

He must have felt you watching. He looked up at you and smiled. You quickly looked away and stepped out of view. You shook your head willing yourself to snap out of it. It's never going to happen. He made his choice.

You heard the door open and Jordyn came running inside.

"Momma, momma!" She yelled excitedly. 

"Yes, Jordy?"

"Can you come out and play tea party with us?"

"I'm sure your dad and Bray don't want to play tea party. Why don't you play something else?"

"But they're already at the table waiting. Daddy told me to invite you," she informed you.

You looked out of the door and sure enough, they were both sitting at the table on the deck in top hats. You couldn't help, but laugh. Big bad Bucky Barnes was sitting at a table playing tea party with his little girl and nephew.

You grabbed some cookies, a pitcher of sweet tea that was already in the fridge, because making some would leave the guys waiting too long, and your phone. You walked outside to Bucky and Bray speaking to one another with terrible British accents.

"What are you doing?" You giggled. 

"We're having a tea party," Bucky said.

"But why do you need the accents?"

"Because we're — are you recording this?" He asked once he noticed your phone.

"Absolutely, I may need this for blackmail at a later date. You look so adorable in your wittle hat."

"No, stop," he grabbed at you, "delete it."

"Absolutely not," you laughed and ended the recording.

You sat down with them and poured tea while Jordy handed out cookies. As you all sat around and enjoyed your snacks, Jordy started telling Bucky about your weekend movie nights.

"Daddy, you should come this weekend, so Bray isn't the only boy. We're gonna watch the Alien Vs Predator."

"You let her watch stuff like that?" He raised a brow at you.

"Yes, she knows they aren't real," you shrugged.

"Yeah, daddy, not like the Chitari or anything. Besides, uncle Tony dusted them, right? Peter said they blipped away right before his eyes."

"Who's Peter?" Bray chimed in.

"Alright fine," Bucky jumped in before she could spill the beans. "I'll come. Is it okay if I come?" He turned to you.

"Pleeeaaaassseee, momma?" Your daughter looked to you with those big blue eyes just like her father's. 

"Yeah, please, momma?" Bucky jumped in. They both batted their eyes at you. Bucky whispered something in her ear and then they smiled.

Damn it.

You were powerless when it came to those smiles. He knew it and so did she. You just shook your head and laughed.

"Fine," you bit.

"Yaaaayyy!" They celebrated their victory together.

"Wow, you got played, auntie," Braylon said to you.

"Big time, kid."

********

You were preparing snacks when you heard the doorbell. You told the kids to go and open it since you knew it was Bucky.

"Hey, need me to help with anything?" He offers once inside.

"Um, if you could just get the kids in their pj's and grab their blankets, that'll be great. Jordy likes to sit on the right side of the couch and it's Bray's turn to have the remote."

"Got it," he turned to complete the task you'd given him.

While he handled the kids, you set their snacks up on the middle cushion. Bucky came down the stairs holding a kid under each arm like a sack of potatoes.

You opened the blu-ray and put the movie in, but left it open, so Braylon could close it. They enjoyed controlling the TV on movie night. Jordyn snuggled down on her side with her favorite Bucky blanket and Braylon did the same with his Sam Wilson blanket.

"Bray, I can't believe Sam is your favorite superhero, he's not even cooler than me," Bucky rolled his eyes.

"He can fly. Can you fly uncle Bucky?" He asked.

"I see how it is."

"You're still cool, daddy," Jordyn whispered.

"Thank you," Bucky kissed her forehead.

"Alright, are we ready kids... And Bucky?" You said as you took your normal place on the love seat, tucking your feet beneath you making sure to leave room for Bucky.

********

Midway through the movie you looked over to see both kids drifting off to sleep. You stretched your legs out and put them on Bucky's lap. He took that opportunity to switch his position and lie his head in your lap.

"What are you doing?" You froze.

"I'm getting comfortable," he replied nonchalantly.

You tried to keep your breathing even, but your heart rate increased anyway. You knew he could hear it, but he kept watching the movie. You wanted to run your fingers through his hair the way you used to. Just when you were about to cave, your phone started vibrating.

You picked it up to see that you had a text from someone you'd recently met. You responded and held the phone waiting for him to text again.

After a few messages back and forth, Bucky finally asked, "Who's texting you?"

"Um, none of your business." You sent your last message and put the phone on the table.

When another notification came through, you felt his body tense up.

"Can you grab a kid and help me put them to bed?"

"You can go ahead and get yourself ready for bed. I've got them," he moved off of you and grabbed Braylon first.

You scooped up your phone and followed behind him. You texted the mystery man back, put the phone on your dresser and went into the bathroom.

Once you came out of the bathroom, you heard Bucky talking to Jordyn. You tip toed to the door to watch them.

"But daddy, can you stay? I know you can't sleep in mommy's bed, but you can stay in mine." You heard her sleepy little voice. It brought tears to your eyes. You never wanted this for her. Sometimes, she understood that mommy and daddy didn't live together and other times, she just didn't want to accept it.

"No, princess, your bed is too small for me. I'll stay with you for a little while," he said and smushed his large body in the bed with her. The sight would've been hilarious had you not been feeling emotional. You walked away and back down to the kitchen for a glass of wine.

By the time you finished your second glass, Bucky still hadn't come down. You were tipsy and tired of waiting, so you went back upstairs, but when you peeked in on the kids, Bucky was gone. You were confused until you saw a bright white light coming from your dark room.

"What are you doing?" You walked up to him and snatched your phone from his hands. You saw that he'd been looking through all of your text messages.

"How long have you known that Andrew guy? Where did you meet him?" He fired off.

"You have no right to ask me those questions and you have no right to invade my damn privacy! How did you unlock my phone anyway?"

"I do have a right if you're going to be bringing these men around my child."

"Bucky, get the fuck out of my house," you said fed up.

"This is my house." He walked towards you and wrapped his arm around your waist to pull you closer once he finally reached you. "And if I ever catch any of those men here, it won't end well for them, so be careful," he said in your ear and then placed a soft kiss on your neck.

"You forfeited your place in this house when you decided to leave," you pushed him away, "now get out."

"Okay," he put his hands up in surrender.

He turned to leave and you waited until you heard his car start before setting the alarm. You paced back and forth. How dare he go through your phone? Who the fuck does he think he is threatening a man you hadn't even been on a date with yet? Then he had the absolute audacity to kiss you??

"And you," you pointed to your wet pussy, "you're a fucking traitor. One little tiny kiss and you're weak for him? No!"

You grabbed your phone and texted Andrew to meet you for coffee soon. He agreed and you both said goodnight.

********

You'd dropped the kids off over your sister's house. She wanted Braylon to come home for a few days and of course Jordyn packed her bag and tagged along. You went by the coffee shop to meet Andrew after. Seeing him again started out nice, but then he asked a few odd questions that put you off and you started looking for reasons to leave.

A few days had gone by and you'd stopped answering calls from him and would keep replies in texts short. 

Today, you were taking the trash out when you heard a familiar voice call your name.

"Andrew??"

"Hey, you, uh, you live here?" He asked.

"Yeah, what are you doing here?" You looked around.

"Oh, I have a friend who lives just up the road and I was headed home when I saw you come out," he explained.

"Oh, I see... Well, I'm —"

"How are you?" He cut you off, "I haven't heard much from you since we met up last."

"I've just been busy with some stuff is all," you lied.

There was an awkward silence that surrounded you for a moment.

"Can I come inside? Maybe we can sit and chat for a while," he suggested.

"No, I don't think so. I barely know you, Andrew." You stepped up on to the porch and opened the door. When you turned to say goodbye, he was right behind you.

"Just give me a chance," he pressed.

"Back up," you sounded stern, but your heart was racing.

He took a small step back, but he was still way too close for comfort.

"Who were you visiting?" You asked.

"Excuse me?" He was confused.

"You said you saw me, because you were leaving a friend's house. Who is your friend?" You were now visibly shaken. His lack of an answer told you everything you needed to know. You knew there was something off about him a few days ago.

You tried to run into the house and shut the door, but he was too close. He ran in behind you and grabbed your top. You picked up a lamp from one of the side tables and smashed it over his head.

"Ah!" He yelled, "you crazy fucking bitch!"

He pushed you into a wall. Your back hit so hard that it knocked the wind out of you. You hit the floor gasping for air. Your brain kept telling you to scream, but nothing was coming from your mouth.

He grabbed you up by your hair and forced you to look at him.

"Was that really necessary?" He spoke through clenched teeth.

You could feel the tears stinging your eyes, but you blinked rapidly to keep them from falling. You would never let this psycho see you cry. 

Of all the days for Bucky to not randomly stop by, you thought to yourself.

Bucky. Your eyes widened at the thought of him.

"FRIDAY, call Bucky!!" You yelled quickly.

That made Andrew pause and gave you an opportunity to strike. You punched him in the stomach hard enough for him to buckle and he let you go. You smashed your knee into his face as hard as you could. The crunch sound from his nose breaking was far more satisfying than it should have been.

"Leave now and you might get to live," you warned him.

"I'll take my chances," he charged at you.

He threw you to the floor on the pile of glass from the lamp. You felt a piece tear through the skin on your upper arm. For the first time you were able to scream.

"Don't scream now, I tried being nice to you, but you wanna be a bitch and force my hand," he said just before wrapping his hands around your throat.

#bucky x reader #Bucky Barnes #bucky x you #Smut #marvel smut #marvel fanfic #Avengers #avengers fic #Lotusss Writes

[sunflower-swan]

Wolfstar Chapter 17

A/N: Here’s what you need to know: I created this story for Writer’s Month 2020. Every day is a new prompt, and therefore a new chapter. This is an AU Wolfstar where Remus is a tattoo artist next door to Sirius who manages a flower shop. James and Lily are alive in this universe and own a coffee shop across the street. And to make parts of the story work with the prompts, Remus is about 10 years older than Sirius. It also takes place more or less in present time, minus Covid-19.

This is chapter 17 of a multi-chapter work. If you’d like to start from the beginning, here is chapter 1.

Disclaimer: I don’t own these characters. I just like to play with them.

Day 17 Prompt: Cooking

Rating: Teen and Up

Word Count: 1608

Tags: fluff, dinner, date night, confessions

Chapter 17

Remus

Coldplay, “Strawberry Swing”

Now the sky could be blue

I don't mind

Without you, it's a waste of time

 Remus entered the Flower Loft. It was nearing the time when Sirius would usually take a break, so he hoped he hadn’t missed it. Through his head ran ideas of how to do this and not sound like an idiot.

Are you busy tonight? What are you doing tonight? I’m cooking a roast for dinner, want to come over? Hey, want to come over for dinner tonight? ...fucking hell...

One of Sirius’ employees was running the front counter. Remus inquired as to where Sirius was, and the young woman went to fetch him.

Remus tried to dry his palms on his cardigan, but did not have much luck. The act left him with navy fibers clung to his hands. A few moments later, Sirius appeared from the back.

“Hey, Remus. Everything ok?”

“Yeah, yeah. Everything’s fine. I was just wondering --” he rubbed the back of his neck, “-- well, have you taken your break yet?”

“No, not yet. Just about to. Are you sure everything’s ok? You look a little...like, your face is kinda blotchy...and sweaty.”

Fucking nerves. “It’s warm outside?” Remus said, hoping that was a decent excuse.

Sirius didn’t seem completely convinced, but didn’t press the issue further. “I’ll meet you at our bench under the oak tree in about,” he checked his watch, “ten minutes?”

“Sounds good.”

Remus went to wait at the bench. He liked this bench. His hands splayed over the wood planks, worn rough and clover green paint chipped in places.

Our bench, Sirius had called it. It wasn’t far from the truth. They had spent a lot of time together on this bench over the course of their friendship. This bench had seen them drink a lot of coffee and share a lot of stories. Now it would be privy to Remus asking Sirius over for dinner. If he could figure out how to do it without being a complete awkward failure.

Before Remus could formulate an acceptable way to steer the conversation, Sirius had appeared. He settled into the bench, and threw his arm around the backside of the bench...behind Remus’ shoulders. Crossing his legs and turning toward Remus he said, “So, what’s up?”

Here goes nothing. Thanks a lot, Lily. “Er...wannacomeoverdinnertonight?” The words came out so fast, so mumbled, there was no way Sirius understood any of it. Which meant he would have to say it again. Dammit.

“Ha ha!” Sirius laughed, and leaned toward Remus. “What?”

Sirius fingertips lightly played on Remus’ shoulder. This did not help his nerves. And Godric, did he smell good.

Remus cleared his throat. “I said, would you like to come over for dinner tonight.” He finally looked directly at Sirius. “Do you like beef roast?” Shiiit...shit, shit, shit. What if he says no?

Sirius' fingers stopped their light pattern on his shoulder. Remus watched his concerned frown morph and grow into a wide-mouth, teeth-gleaming grin. “Beef roast sounds delicious. Throw in some roasted potatoes and carrots and you got yourself a date.”

A date. Remus was pretty sure his heart actually stopped at those words. “Um...what are your feelings about strawberry shortcake?”

“Strawberry shortcake sounds marvelous as well.” Sirius said with a wink.

He resumed the small, gentle caress of his shoulder. Somehow it simultaneously calmed Remus and increased his heart rate.

Sirius checked his watch. “I have to go soon. What time should I come over?”

“Eh…” Remus quickly calculated how long he would need to do the shopping, and pick up the flat a bit, plus time for actually cooking the meal. “How about...eight o’clock. Sound ok?”

“Eight sounds perfect.” He gave Remus’ shoulder a small squeeze. “See you then.” Sirius stood and started back to the Loft.

Remus leaned back and let out a long breath. This whole asking someone out thing was harder than he remembered. He hoped he still knew how to actually date someone.

“Hey, Remus!”

He turned to look down the sidewalk, where Sirius was half-shouting.

“I’m really looking forward to dinner tonight.” Then he gave a wave and disappeared into the Flower Loft.

Remus felt like a jumble of nerves. Excitement, anxiety, enthusiasm, and insecurity rushed through him in waves. Now that this was happening, he needed to get a move on. Just as soon as his legs were no longer jelly.

~~~~~

Remus went to the store to pick up ingredients for dinner: beef roast, red potatoes, carrots, strawberries, and whipping cream. Now he was back at his flat putting things away, and doing a general tidy up. It’s not like his flat was messy or dirty. Just those items that have a home but never really stay there long, or one doesn’t feel like putting it away because they’re just going to use it again soon...those types of things. Once the flat was tidied up, he grabbed his kitchen apron and set to work.

At eight o’clock on the dot, the door buzzer buzzed. The exact punctuality told him that Sirius had probably gotten here way early, but didn’t want to be early, and waited outside until eight.

Since he was in the middle of finishing the meal, he swished his wand toward the direction of the door, and hoped it unlocked and opened for Sirius.

“Hello?” came a voice in the hall.

“Come on in!” Remus called. “I’m in the kitchen!” 

A few moments later, Sirius poked his head around the kitchen doorway. “Smells bloody delicious in here.”

Remus glanced back at him quickly before returning his attention to his cooking task. “Thanks. You can come in and sit down. It’ll be about five more minutes. My timing wasn’t perfect today.”

Sirius stepped into the kitchen with one hand behind his back. “I brought you something.” He drew up next to Remus at the stove.

Remus looked over. He was holding a small floral vase of what appeared to be...no way. “Are those…”

Sirius blushed. “Gardenia and Calla lily.”

“Wasn’t that…”

“The first arrangement you bought from me? Yep.” Sirius cast Remus a sheepish smile. “I’ll just set this on the table then.” Sirius placed the vase in the center of the small table. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Um...well, you could set the table if you want.”

Sirius jumped to work setting out plates and utensils. “Nice apron, by the way,” he said with a chuckle. “I don’t think I’ve seen it before.”

Remus looked down, and turned to face Sirius. “What’s wrong with it?”

“Nothing. But, ‘Feed the Beast’? Seems a little, ominous.”

“It was a gift from someone who thought they were funny.” Remus laughed. “Ok, I think, dinner is ready.”

They both filled their plates, and sat down across from each other at the small table. The roast was very flavorful, and the roasted veggies were nice and tender. All in all, Remus was proud of the meal he had prepared. It was one of only about five things he could actually cook decently, but that was beside the point.

“It’s been a while since I’ve done this.” Remus admitted.

“Done what?” Sirius asked. He popped a carrot into his mouth.

Remus paused his fork and looked up. “Date.”

Sirius also paused, and met his gaze. “Is this a date?”

“Do you want it to be a date?”

His eyes lit up. “Yeah. Do you want it to be a date?”

Remus couldn’t stop the smile playing on his lips. “Yeah.”

“How long exactly?” Sirius raised an eyebrow.

“Hm…” Remus contemplated. “Ten years? My, uh…” Now or never, Remus. “I was actually married once.”

Sirius nearly choked on the bite he was chewing. “Really?” he said.

“She passed away. It was...a difficult time for me.” His throat tightened.

“She?” His brows narrowed.

“I am really not good at this date thing am I?” Remus rubbed his temple and chuckled. “Ok, so...I’m bisexual…”

“Oh, ok. That’s cool.” Sirius smiled. “I was super confused for a moment.” 

“Yeah, bringing up deceased spouses is probably not what a person is supposed to talk about on a first date.” Remus looked down and tapped the handle of his fork against the table. “Sorry.” 

Sirius grinned. “First date? Are you forgetting Open Mic Night?”

Remus looked up, then tilted his head and placed his jaw in his palm. “Was that a date?” he asked, warmth filling his chest.

“I’m counting it.” Sirius shrugged with a smirk, and swallowed a large bite of potato. “Besides, normal first date stuff is like, boring surface level shit. Which, I feel like we moved past a long time ago. This is nice.”

This is nice. This is really nice. Even if he felt like he was bollocking it up by bringing up his deceased wife, he also felt it important for Sirius to know. “I’m having a nice time, too,” he said. 

Remus finished his plate, and lay down his fork. Then he placed his hand on the table. Sirius' hand was so close. Remus wanted to reach out and take it. Place his hand over it. Thred their fingers together. Those mere centimeters might as well have been an entire continent.

As Remus stared at their hands, he saw Sirius’ begin to move slowly closer...and closer...and then Sirius’ fingers were gliding over Remus’ fingers. His skin tingled under Sirius’ tender touch. Remus stopped breathing as he watched his hand slowly disappear under Sirius’ hand. He looked up.

Sirius’ eyes sparkled, and his lips curved into a smirk. He gently stroked the side of Remus’ hand with his thumb. “Your history made you who you are. And I’m ok with that.”

Next Chapter: Chapter 18

#writersmonth2020 #wolfstar #remus lupin #sirius black #remus x sirius #sirius x lupin #harry potter marauders #slow burn #alternate universe #harry potter #fanfiction #fanfic #bisexual remus

[yoonia]

15 Questions

__Tagged by @chillingtae and @baebae-goodnight (I can’t remember who else, so sorry T^T) 

__Tagging: @randombtsprincessa @mindays @kittae @winetae @jincentvangogh @vanaera​ (only if you want to!)

1. It’s your birthday! What did you ask for and did you receive it?

I never really celebrate my birthday and after I’ve gotten my biggest wish at 18, I don’t normally have any huge wishes for my birthdays lol although, I was supposed to be traveling through South East Asia and Japan from this month until the end of the year so that’s a bust. The only thing I could wish for on my birthday is a million dollars...October is about two months away. 

2. What was the last song or album you listened to?

Lee Hi and Eric Nam’s EP have been both on replay

3. What is your go-to snack when you’re hungry or bored?

Cheetos, potato chips, cheese Doritos, chocolate bars

4. What is your morning routine?

I wake up around 5 AM cause that’s when my cats wake me up for their morning snacks (or cuddles. it depends on which cat wakes me up tbh). then I’d wash my face, do some morning work out or yoga. a quick shower and breakfast when I have work that day, or go back to sleep when it’s a free day. I don’t normally check my phone or be online until sometime around 8 AM unless I have schedules or when I’m bored 

5. What mythical/cryptic creature would you be?

A Kitsune/Gumiho situation. Hello, lets be majestic female creatures who eats men hearts. ⇠ yeah, I’ll go with this. thanks.

6. How do you interact with someone that you don’t like?

I just don’t. I’m a terrible liar and I don’t have a poker face to hide my feelings. So I tend to just avoid interacting with people I don’t like, both in real life or online. I’m not someone savage or hateful either and I tend to keep things to myself (or rant on my journal when it’s personal and sometimes on twitter when it gets too much) so I find it better to just not talk to someone that makes me feel...bad. 

7. How do you define a toxic person?

Refuses to take responsibility for their actions, manipulative, shifting blames when being called out, always put others in a bad place or put others down to make themselves feel better

8. Have you ever been to a concert or fan meet type of event? If not, would you want to?

I have been to a lot of concerts, music festivals and shows. and there are still loads more that I want to go to. can’t say the same about fanmeets tho (I’ve been to a couple but not that much) but I wish I could go to one in the future.  

9. Do you believe in astrology? Why or why not?

I guess so. It’s always fun and interesting to read things about yourself through astrology. I don’t delve too deep into it, so it’s more about curiosity I feel like. 

10. If you had only one sense (hearing, touch, sight, etc.) what would you want?

This one is tough because I can’t do anything without music. but then again, I use (and need) my sights to work and create stuff, so I know I can’t afford losing it. 

11. Who is your favorite celebrity or idol?

The most? BTS gets me crying a lot. I can’t think of others that affect me the same way as they do. 

12. If you could talk to your favorite celebrity(ies) for a limited time, what would you tell them?

I’d definitely say thank you. I found BTS at the most critical time of my life and it has changed me a lot since then. If words can’t be enough, then I’d probably cook for them, sing them to sleep, tuck them into bed, wrap them in bubble wraps and thick blankets, feed them ice cream and desserts, bake them stuff, anything. 

13. I’m taking you out on a date and it’s your choice. Where are we going?

Flea market sounds like a good idea :))) Museums, coffee shops, the beach, any place that is relaxing and probably somewhere fun, like amusement parks or small music gigs

14. Do you like sweet or savory foods?

Sweet.

15. Do you have any band merchandise or merchandise from any of your favorite artists? If so, what?

I have...a ton. CDs, DVDs, light stick (the old army bomb), hoodies, some jewelries, tshirts, posters (from buying albums mostly). I don’t think I still keep concert tickets with me but I might be able to find some of them in my box of things...  

#tagged #get to know me

[boop-e-pie]

hallluuu! i’m back with a second story! idk who liked my previous story but thank you! i give you, hallway no.7!

Well, every family has that one thing they hide from everyone. My family has 7. For us, we hide the fact that we are cold blooded murderers. Trained from birth to bring death upon people. For the right price, of course.

My Grammy, Grand Papi, Mom and Dad, they are absolutely skilled killers. No one in our bloodline has ever got caught. We intend to keep it that way. My brother, Henry, his weapon of choice are daggers. I have no idea how many he carries but they seem to never run out. At times I thought he had magical abilities. Spoiler alert: he doesn’t!

Then we meet my little sister, Joey. She’s 16 and her weapon of choice is a spear and katanas. Dad made it so that she can adjust the length of her spear at any time, to ease her in her battles. Body count: 27. Not bad for a newbie.

I’m Sonic. I know, I have the coolest name in my family. I forced them to change it when I was 6. I would kill the house cats every time they said no. It’s pretty fucked up if you think of it... Anyway, my weapon of choice is anyweaponIcanfindbecauseIamindecisiveandcannotchoosetosavemylife. I would bring the first thing my eyes land on the second we enter the weaponry. There’s anything and everything you could imagine. Katanas? Check! Guns? Check! Portable mine bombs? Check! Phone bomb? Check!

Like I said, anything and everything you could imagine. Literally ANYTHING! My dad can make anything he puts his mind to. I, on the other hand, am helpless when it comes to creating weapons. I failed every single attempt and would end up just hurting myself. Nevertheless, I am the best assassin in my bloodline. I am very versatile and I adapt to the situation very quickly. I beat my dad multiple times under 2 minutes and he held the title for best assassin so badabing-badaboom, I’m the best now.

Every year we would hold an election day. We would choose 1 person in our beautiful country of Velenznova, the best of the best of fighters and see if they can survive a treacherous night in the hallways of our house. We would scare and maim and hurt the challenger. If they survive... I don’t know what will happen if they survive, no one in 27 years has been able to survive the house. Everyone who survived ended up getting killed by my stupid bloodlust controlled brother, Henry.

Apparently this year, things are going to change. For some reason, a group of 10 kids are going to be living with us, in our massive house for about a month and as per my dad’s rules, they cannot know a thing. If they came at any other time, I would be fine but right now, requests are coming in hot and coming in fast. At times I would come home all bloodied and messy, only to drop dead in the lobby. I can’t do that now.

Sunday night, they arrive at our house with their bags and their books and their little nerdy things. I don’t know, okay? All of them look absolutely weird and awkward but smart and composed. One of them catches my eye. I jump from the first floor window, all the way down to the pebble covered ground. I land in front of a young lady, delicate looking and sweet.

“Name‘s Sonic. You are?” I put my hand out and she smiles and accepts it.

“Eden. Sonic is a pretty weird name. Also, where did you come from? You appeared out of nowhere.” She asks me with a shy look on her face and my heart completely melts. I take her hand, folding every single finger except for the pointer finger and points to the windows I jumped from. She giggles and tells me that’s amazing. I know I’m amazing but I like hearing it from her.

Henry drags me by the collar and pulls me away. Eden lets out a small giggle before I wave my hand at her as I was being dragged by my brother. Henry warns me about flirting with other people and I roll my eyes. He is such a party pooper.

My sister informs me that I have to leave for work and Henry let’s go. Joey pulls me by the ear and drags me into the office. That was not a fun experience. I unlock the secret door to enter the weaponry and a whole bookcase moves out of the way.

We close the door behind us and punch in the code so that we can walk through the iron vault door. My eyes meet with a beautiful freshly forged Karambit. I take it off the glass table and test it out. I absolutely love it! The small size, the speed it gives me, the cool spinny thing I can do with it. My dad truly is the best.

I enter the changing room to change into something more comfortable to fight in and I put on my “assassin cloak”. My family still does that for some reason. I get out of the room and I pick and choose other weapons too like a couple guns, a few hidden daggers and a garrote wire just because I can bring it.

My sister and I leave the mansion through the secret back door and we start doing our job. Today’s job is to burst into a meeting, kill everyone and not die. Apparently they’ve been importing cheap drugs and selling it to a drug lord saying it’s a premium drug. That’s just a death wish if you ask me.

The meeting is taking place in a reserved casino, that makes things so much easier. We kill whoever isn’t involved and kill whoever that’s involved, easy. We enter through the kitchen door, obviously as no one is stupid enough to try and hurt us while we’re bringing katanas and guns.

To be honest, only one person has to die but why not finish all of them? Why not? We burst through the door and to our surprise, they have guns. Well so do I.

I give Joey a smile before we start completely obliterating everyone. Some dude really tried to pull me back by yanking my cloak but guess what? There’s a thing called velcro. I stick a dagger through his chest and he falls to the ground.

I make my way to the boss and there’s 4 men defending him. None of them are armed? That’s is so stupid. Joey finishes off the rest and I take my gun out from the back of my pants and shoot the boss straight in the head while Joey finishes off the other 4 guys. Everyone is now on the floor, bleeding one way or another and to make sure everything is all fine and dandy, I place a bullet in each of their heads, finishing each and every one of them.

Joey and I return to the car and drive away as fast as possible.

“I’m tired, aren’t you?” Joey asks me.

“I am totally drained. You wanna get some food after this? My treat,” I offer and she nods. “Right now, we have a problem. How the hell are we going to be able to return to our rooms? Windows? I’m so tired to climb—“

“Basement,” we say we at the same time and I step on the gas. We get home and we sneak to the back of the house all bloodied and dirty and enter the basement through a trapdoor.The basement hallways are always lit so we don’t have to worry about a single thing. We open the door leading to the kitchen and my dad is standing on the other side.

He’s making food. Joey’s eyes light up instantly. We’re not allowed to get food until after we’re clean so Joey and I run up to our rooms, taking off our cloaks, gloves and masks on the way up the flights of stairs. I entered my room, shower and cleaned myself before heading to the kitchen. My dad made us steaks and mashed potatoes.

“They’re here because we are one of the founding families. Play nice and absolutely no flirting. I’m talking to you, Sonic. Henry told me your little encounter with one of the girls.” My dad glares at me and I look away, pretending to know nothing of the incident. “All your missions are on hold for now. We’ll figure out something.”

“Wait, what? Then what am I going to do all month? Just sit around at the estate?” My sister glares at me, knowing that she can’t leave the house for any other reason other than work. I roll my eyes at her and turn my attention at my dad. He nods and I groan.

I don’t really have a say but he’s paying me while I am stuck at home so whatever.

~

“My grandparents give us the money to buy whatever crap we want because we can’t leave the estate until we’re 18. My sister can’t leave home yet so I rarely leave too. My brother on the other hand, loves to go out. Understandable,” I tell Eden what goes on in our house and she lets out a giggle. “You can’t leave the house until you’re 18? Wow. What do you do here? Let me guess, laptop and lotion?”

“That’s where you put the bar, Eden? Ouch. The estate is massive. We would go horse riding or swimming or archery or tennis or combat training or sit inside and read. We do sports a lot. Up until I was 19, my dad made me study 8 hours a day. From the age of 6, we’ve been spending a lot of time studying. We’re pretty smart for people who don’t leave the estate much.” I tell her and she seems pretty amazed.

We continue walking and she notices a pretty hidden door that we keep several weaponry. My dad explained to me last night that they can know that we are weaponsmiths but they can’t know that we are assassins. I place my hand on the RFID detector and the chip in my wrist unlocks the door. I pull out the hidden compartment and I notice a bloody dagger that I use in one of the missions.

She looks at it and picks it up by the handle, careful not to touch the blood. She asks for an explanation and I lift up my shirt, pointing to one of my many many scars. I take the dagger out of her hand and I keep it in my pocket. She takes out a katana and she hands it to me. I do a few tricks here and there with the sole reason to impress her.

I hear my sister’s very high-pitched voice and I know that I am in trouble. I am holding her sword without her permission and I know I am in very very deep trouble. I turn towards her and she has 2 other people following her. “You are supposed to give her a tour, not show her tricks and do funny business! Dad is taking away your card if you slip up and all access to your thing!”

I crouch down to her height and tease her. “When have I ever slipped up? I know my place, kiddie. I am done with the tour, okay? Don’t worry about me.” I pat her head and she glares at me.

Eden takes my hand and pulls me to the end of the hallway. She points to the door and she asks me what’s inside that room. I tell her that there's a hallway that no one can enter. It’s a lie but she doesn't know that. Oh well. I lie to her that I can’t enter by tapping my wrist on the detector and it won’t open.

There’s a special code we have to tap to get in and obviously I didn’t do that. Hallway number 7 is absolutely off limits to anyone and everyone outside of our family. In there, lies our deepest darkest secret and NO ONE can find out or we’re done for.

I lead back to the kitchen and I tell the chef to cut up some fruits for us. He obliges and I turn my attention to Eden. “What information do you want to know about my family? What’s not enough on your little notebook of yours?” She thinks it’s flirting and she starts blushing. Lord, save me.

“I want to know what was like growing up in the estate. You can’t leave, you’re locked inside. How did it feel?”

“Pretty normal. It’s not like we don’t have the internet and I can leave but for a good reason. My parents didn’t lock me up in here, I just didn’t like leaving. I get anxious and this house is a safe place for me. I played a lot and I got really fit but I still enjoyed reading and stuff. In our house, there’s always a balance. My childhood was mostly my siblings and I playing in the field, classes with Mr Harrows and helping my dad and mom in the workshop and the tailor. Most of the time, I don’t like people outside of my family because we can’t just trust anyone right? My dad and mom really taught me to know who to trust and not to.” I lied again. My childhood was mostly school and combat training. We did play around but that’s after 8 hours of ‘school’ and 10 hours of training. By the time we finish our training, all of us would be completely drained, no one wanted to play.

We continued chatting and thankfully none of the questions were about how we even get the money we have. My dad sells weapons and my mom is a fashion designer/tailor. Neither of the jobs is enough to pay for the estate. Not even close. I wonder what my dad said about that question. It’s probably about old money or some bullshit like that. It’s not a full lie like the ones I’ve been telling her but our ‘old money’ is in the Velenznova bank. We just don’t use any of it. The money in the bank is just for show.

Later that night, all my family members were required to meet up at the forbidden hallway and one by one entered the hallway. Making sure none of us looked suspicious. the door actually leads to another room but we just call it Hallway Number 7 to throw people off. The door will automatically close after 30 seconds and I was the last one to enter so I didn’t think about anything as I walked in. I take my seat and I say, “I don’t like tradition being changed. The kids can enter the house, look though our shit and we can’t kill any of them? That’s a bummer. That Eden girl is so tiny, I just wish to break her neck and—“

I hear a gasp from the door and it’s Eden. I smirk at her and walk towards her. The door closes, completely sealing off the sound proof and windowless room. “You know a little too much, Princess… I’m sorry but you have to leave.”

Crying, she says, “Sonic, I won’t tell anyone. I promise. Please don’t hurt me.”

I glide my hand on her cheek and with a swift motion, I break her very delicate neck. The sound she made as her neck was being snapped sounded so soft. I turn to my family and shrug. The look of disappointment on their faces are obvious. My grandmother groans and says, “we’ll deal with the family. Sonic, you clean this up. Henry, follow me. Joey, pack her things. Sonic, make sure she’s really dea—“ I pierce her heart with the dagger I have in my pocket from before, cutting off my grandmother. “Micheal, you did a poor job in raising him… you really did.” I start laughing and my dad glares at me, cutting me short.

Eden’s dead because she knows the secret. Guess what?

YOU'RE NEXT!

#short story #oneshot #original story #english #new story #please like if you read

[livingcorner]

Easy Backyard Ideas That Won’t Break the Bank

nwbobGetty Images

Let’s face it: We’re all spending way more time at home these days, so it’s more important than ever to make our backyards welcoming and special. And in northern climates, we need to make the most of those precious few warm weather months! Any backyard can be made a little cozier with our best tips and tricks for making your space more beautiful, useful and fun. And you don’t need to spend a lot of money or hire a landscape designer to make over your backyard. With these simple ideas, you can create a restful oasis for you and your entire family (pets included).

You're reading: Easy Backyard Ideas That Won’t Break the Bank

There are so many ways to make your backyard a place where you’ll want to spend all your extra time. From porch and patio decorating ideas to DIY fire pits and new ways to display your favorite plants, we’ve got ideas that work for big country backyards or small urban gardens. You’ll fall in love with at least a few of these ideas, so start planning, gather your supplies, roll up your sleeves, and refresh your backyard for a brand, new look this year. These creative ideas will help you make home sweet home even sweeter!

1 of 85

Update with Pops of Bright Color

Take your backyard from bland to bright! Dress up your deck, patio or balcony with a simple display of colorful pots and birdhouses. Choose vibrantly colored flowers that complement the color of the pots. Use acrylic craft paints or spray paint to make inexpensive clay pots any color you like.

SHOP CLAY POTS

2 of 85

Upcycle Unique Containers

If your favorite gardening wellies have sprung a leak, don’t toss them! Turn them into cute planters that fit well on the steps to your deck or by a sunny back door. This is also a sweet way to upcycle your child’s old wellies that have been outgrown.

SHOP RAIN BOOTS

3 of 85

Build a DIY Window Box

Why spend all that money on window boxes when they’re not difficult to make? These pretty boxes offer a simple, elegant look for any style house.

Get the tutorial at Julie Blanner.

SHOP WHITE PAINT

4 of 85

Install a Fire Pit

Heat things up this summer with a fire pit—either one you DIY or purchase. And don’t forget to stock up on tons of s’mores fixings!

SHOP OUTDOOR FIRE PITS

5 of 85

Welcome Hummingbirds to Your Garden

We promise: It’s so worth it! These little gems will make you smile as the zoom by and perform amazing aerial acrobatics! They beat their wings 50 times per minute and need to eat every 10 to 15 minutes, so providing them with a feeder helps supplement their diets.

Choose a feeder that’s easy to clean (you’ll need to take it apart and wash it well every few days because dangerous mold and bacteria can grow). Make your own nectar with 1/4 cup plain white sugar and one cup boiling water. There’s no need to add red dye, which can harm the birds. Don’t use honey or any other kinds of sugar, which contain too much iron. Cool the nectar, then fill your feeder, and wait for the show to begin.

SHOP HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS

7 of 85

Add Adirondack Chairs

When it comes to lounging around, there’s no better place to do it than in an Adirondack chair. That might be why we instantly equate the timeless accessory with summertime. Fill your patio or backyard up with multiple chairs, add some cozy blankets, and you’ll be crowned the hostess of the year in no time.

Read more: Manure As Fertilizer: How Manure Effects The Soil

SHOP ADIRONDACK CHAIRS

8 of 85

Recycle Vintage Tins

Trade your go-to terracotta pots and deck your front porch out in a much more original alternative—old potato chip tins. Scour spots like Etsy and eBay to complete your collection, then pot your favorite blooms for the best porch-worthy touch.

SHOP VINTAGE TINS

9 of 85

Camp Out Under the Stars

This summer just begs for a campout, and why not in your own backyard? It’s inexpensive and easy! Map out a designated corner, roll out your sleeping bags, set the mood with string lights, and gather around the fire pit for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. Even the grownups will have fun with this idea!

SHOP SLEEPING BAGS

11 of 85

Breathe New Life Into Old Pots

12 of 85

Establish an Outdoor Movie Spot

13 of 85

Use an Outdoor Rug to Define a Space

To make an outdoor space truly livable, you want to make it feel cozy and inviting. Add an outdoor rug to your deck or patio, a couple of throws, and some throw pillows so it will feel just as comfy as your living room sofa.

Get the tutorial at Julie Blanner.

SHOP OUTDOOR RUGS

14 of 85

Shake Up the Neighborhood Lemonade Stand

With a DIY lemonade stand this well-decorated, you can safely bet your backyard will be the most popular one on the block. Your kiddos can man this adorable station for years to come.

Get the tutorial at Fantabulosity.

SHOP WOODEN CRATES

15 of 85

Plant a Thicket of Shrubs

Need some privacy? Plant a thicket of fast-growing shrubs to screen a view or offer privacy to your deck or patio. Instead of planting one type of plant in a row (which leaves a hole if one suddenly dies!), plant different sizes and types of shrubs in a triangular pattern. It looks more natural and provides better overall coverage anyhow.

Get the tutorial.

SHOP FAST-GROWING SHRUBS

16 of 85

Hold a High Tea Party

Who says dining al fresco has to be all hot dogs and potato salad? Channel your inner royalty and serve a formal tea worthy of the Queen. Bring out the linens and vintage china, because what are you saving it for?

SHOP VINTAGE TEA SETS

18 of 85

Plant Some Edibles

There’s absolutely no reason you can’t use at least a little of your backyard to plant easy-to-grow edibles such as greens, cherry tomatoes, or climbing beans. Make the most of your space, and enjoy food fresh from your own mini-farm!

Get the tutorial.

SHOP SEEDS

19 of 85

Add Elegant Seating

No need to splurge on a pricey French-style backyard bench when you can easily craft your own. Scout out two identical chairs (the prettier, the better!) from thrift stores, remove the seats and replace with a handmade rectangular base.

Get the tutorial at An Oregon Cottage.

SHOP WHITE PAINT

20 of 85

Serve Party Treats in Style

Meet the latest hosting game changer: an outdoor, Murphy-style mini bar. Stock with your go-to food and drink essentials, serve, and then neatly fold everything away once the party’s over.

Read more: Beginners Guide to Companion Planting – Heeman’s

Get the tutorial at Live Laugh Rowe.

SHOP WOOD GLUE

21 of 85

Make an Outdoor Bed Swing

Has anything ever sounded more divine than an afternoon nap in the beauty of the outdoors? Make this pallet swing bed, and dream on!

Get the tutorial at The Merrythought.

SHOP MATTRESS COVERS

22 of 85

Build a Backyard Bar

Meet the most organized DIY storage unit ever. With more than enough room for outdoor treats and summer beverages, you have no excuse to not take advantage of your backyard space. It can even double as a potting bench!

Get the tutorial at A Burst of Beautiful.

SHOP WOOD SCREWS

23 of 85

Update Your Outdoor Lighting

Just like anything else around the house, worn, dated outdoor lights don’t make your yard feel homey. If it’s been a while since you upgraded your outdoor fixtures, it’s probably time for an update!

Get the tutorial at Julie Blanner.

SHOP OUTDOOR LIGHT FIXTURES

25 of 85

Maintain Some Privacy

An easy DIY privacy wall will make your deck or patio oh-so-cozy and out of the neighbor’s view.

Get the tutorial at Table and Hearth.

SHOP LEVELS

26 of 85

Repurpose a Stock Tank As a Pool

27 of 85

Build a Treehouse

For those who would rather enjoy the backyard from a higher altitude, Treehouse Supplies offers easy building plans and materials. Come on, you know you want one!

28 of 85

Set Up a Potting Station

Two metal trash cans and an old door make an inexpensive but totally functional (and adorable!) potting station.

SHOP RED METAL STOOLS

29 of 85

Decorate a Chic Shed

You can easily transform a basic backyard shed into a gorgeous space—complete with a barn quilt—in just 48 hours. Start by hanging checkered fabric by installing a rope across the peak of the shed and draping the fabric over using a staple gun to attach fabric to the walls (this shed required about 30 yard of fabric). Then hang an upholstered blue couch to create a unique seating area. And finish the shed by accessorizing with a bar cart, rug, and decorative baskets and plants.

Heartland Estate shed available at heartlandind.com and exclusively at Lowe’s.

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

source https://livingcorner.com.au/easy-backyard-ideas-that-wont-break-the-bank/

#livingcornernews

[ironstank]

WHEN A GIRL MEETS BOY

PAIRING(S): 40's!Bucky x Reader, Dum Dum Dugan x OFC Dotty

WARNING(S): Curse words 

WORD COUNT: 1973

AUTHOR’S NOTES: I wrote this on a whim and I love it so much fvlgffbnefjnf Bucky is actually my most favourite thing in the planet like he could punch me in the face with his metal arm (or what used to be his metal arm) and I would thank him for it. 

Listen to How About You by Judy Garland (1941), then You’ll Never Know by Alice Faye (1943)

MASTERLIST ( ! ) • PROMPTS ( ! ) • ASK BOX ( ! )

1943, SOMEWHERE BEHIND THE ENEMY LINES 

War was a mean place. You knew that better than anybody.

You were an army nurse, straight out of your father’s farm in England. But simply put, you were an army brat. Your father, an old veteran, now a farmer. Your mother, an old army nurse, now a wife of a farmer. Your brothers were also soldiers of war, like your grandfather, and his father before him, and his father before him.

1939, the army was recruiting. It was not voluntary. Anybody over the age of 18 and unmarried were expected to enlist. Your brothers saw it as an opportunity to mean something – to be a part of something bigger than themselves. But truth be told, they probably left to impress the ladies in town.

Nevertheless, your brothers run off with their heads held high and brave faces, but your father was not glad. He was not proud. He did not wave them goodbye with a smile on his face, his arm was not around your mother’s waist with a look of pride and joy. In fact, your brothers had left in the middle of the night, through the window, leaving all but a light kiss on your forehead before they had run off to the save their country. Four years had passed, and you had not heard from then since.

You hated them for it. And then you didn’t, because soon enough, you had done the same thing. You followed your mother’s footsteps like your brothers had followed your fathers. You had left with all but a daisy on your bed, and a red stained lip kiss on your favourite handkerchief your grandmother knitted you.

Now, you hated yourself for it.

Your lovely parents only ever wanted you to be safe – all of you. Your brothers, yourself – your parents always said they hated every second they ever spent in war.

Now you were somewhere in Italy, far, far, away from the safety of home. You, along with a dozen nurses you soon began seeing as the sisters you never had, were kidnapped and captured and became prisoners of war. You along with hundreds of Allied soldiers.

Many had come and gone. None came back. They were taken for something. Torture, interrogation, experiments, whatever it was it couldn’t have been good. You and your girls had been there for months. You didn’t speak German, but a Dorothy did. She was your friend.

SEVEN MONTHS AGO FROM TODAY, FOUR DAYS AFTER BEING TAKEN:

“What are they saying, Dotty?” You whispered towards her.

Dotty brushed her blonde hair away from her face. “They refuse to touch us.”

Mary, another friend of yours, whispered beside you. “Like what they’re doing to the soldiers?” She raised her brow.

Dotty nodded. All of you sat on the floor of the cage you were locked in. Her hand was raised on the bars as she stared at the NAZI soldiers. “Yes. Not until they capture more of us.”

You raised your brow. “Pardon me?”

“They need more women to experiment on, but they don’t have enough. They’re waiting until they catch more of us.” She gulped and spun around. “Then they’ll begin.”

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.”

The newest set of soldiers were American – mostly. You and the girls were used to British and French soldiers, actually, you’d met a couple of Australians along with way, too. They were all dead now. 

Winifred had already made friends. She was another nurse from your infantry. She asked them the same questions she always asked the newbies. What infantry are you from? How many of you? Any women with you? And, will there be anyone coming to save us?

On average, it took the Germans months to get through one infantry since there were hundreds of soldiers. Currently, your girls and the 107th infantry were on standby. They had arrived two months after you and your girls, making a total of five months of being imprisoned together.

Beside your cage, was a group of soldiers, none too savage and pig-headed, in fact, they were gentlemen. When they first arrived, they ratted you tired from their questions. None of which were about their safety, but instead, about yours.

“Are you ladies hurt?”

“How long have you been here?”

“Did those bastards touch you?”

“We’ll fucking kill them if they did.”

“C’mon, doll, don’t shy away, tell us the truth”

James Buchanan Barnes.

Oh, he was a dream. Mocha brown hair, bright blue eyes like heaven. His face was as handsome as he was kind. A total dreamboat, in your opinion. Young, handsome, brave, intelligent, and his smile was the brightest out of all. He became your best friend. In his cage, there was four of them left – once upon a time, there were twenty-two. When the Germans return, his odds weren’t so great.

He first met you when you were sat on the floor with the girls. The soldiers of war were crying, wailing, screaming, threatening. The 107th was new then, and one thing you and the girls had realised was that soldiers all went through the same stages. Anger, more anger, frustration, sadness, then acceptance.

And you were just about sick of it. Sure, you let them be, you allowed them to be men – to be human. But these men, goodness me, they’re anger lasted at least three times more than all the others.

Dotty’s head was on your lap, the other girls were also sitting and fiddling with each other’s hair. “I miss my victory rolls.” Dotty pouted.

You smiled softly and continued to brush your fingers through her blonde hair. “I know, darling.” Before you could say more, the sound of angry men fighting interrupted. Your words died before they were born. You remembered your life back at the farm; picking flowers, collecting eggs, milking the cows, picking strawberries. The sun seeped through your skin as the fresh, clean wind blew past your face. You’d be wearing a clean dress that always got dirty before noon arrived. Even then, there wasn’t anyone to judge you. And to past the time, you’d sing. You took a deep breath.

“When a girl meets boy / life can be a joy / but the note they end on / will depend on little pleasures they will share / so let us compare.”

Soon enough, the men of war began to silence. Dotty’s face turned to awe, and hundreds of eyes were on you.

“I like New York in June, how about you? / I like Gershwin tune, how about you? / I love a fireside when a storm is due / I like potato chips, moonlight and motor trips / How about you? / I’m mad about good books, can’t get my fill / and Franklin Roosevelt’s looks give me a thrill / holding hands at the movie show / when all the lights are low / may not be new, but I like it / how about you? / I like Jack Benny’s jokes / to a degree / I love the common folks / that includes me / I like to window shop on 5th Avenue / I like banana splits, late supper at the Ritz / How about you?”

“Doll?” Bucky’s voice broke through the crowd of soldiers.

Your eyes turned to his. And suddenly, it was only you and him. “Hi, Buck.”

He beamed. His eyes were just as tired as yours, and his heart probably as heavy. “What was your mother like?”

You smiled at his question. “Well, she was beautiful. A strong woman. She was also an army nurse, like me.” You smiled at the thought of your mother. “She’s every bit as hard-headed as I am.”

He held your index finger through the holes of the cage. “She sounds wonderful.”

You nodded, brushing your [Y/H/C] hair behind your ears. “She would have liked you.”

A soft and playful look washed over his face. “You’d want me to meet your Ma?”

You giggled and nodded once more. “I think you’d be the first man my mother would approve of.”

His posture straightened ever so slightly in pride. Then he paused, frowned, then turned to you. “You bring home men a lot?”

“No, silly.” You smiled, wiggling you finger that was in his hand. “I lived in a farm. Not a lot of guys like a lady who gets dirty.” 

Bucky huffed. “I do.”

Your smile widened. “I know.”

Silence came from the both of you, comfortable silence, anyway. You listened to the conversations of the others. Dotty had gotten herself an older fellow. She was as fond of him as he was of her. His name was Dum Dum Dugan. You received a wink from him as you caught his eye. You grinned. You hadn’t even noticed Bucky’s eyes on you until he spoke again. 

“They’ll be back soon, doll.”

Your face fell. No, no, no, no, no, this can’t be happening. “Don’t say that, Buck.” You whimpered.

His brows narrowed as he turned to you in concern and sadness. The tears in your eyes were threatening to fall. “Doll, don’t cry.” He whispered. His grabbed as much of your hand as he could, rubbing his thumbs on your skin. “Hey, hey, hey, don’t you do that to me, sweet girl, look at me.” And so you did. “Now, you know I love the sound of your voice. And your eyes, man that has to be one of my favourite things about you.”

Well, that was it. A tear had escaped and there was nothing you could do to stop it. “Buck … ”

He sighed, then chuckled drily. “I really wish I got to take you on a date.”

You sniffed then shook your head. “You will.” You nodded at him through your tears. “Oh, James, you will. Just survive, and when we get out of here, take me to dinner at your favourite restaurant. Take me to meet your ma, and your pal, Steve. You said they’d like me. You know how much I like being praised.”

Bucky’s eyes brightened. “That punk.” He chuckled. “Alright, I’ll even take you to meet the fellas at my barbershop. I already know Ma’s gonna love you. So will Rebecca.” – his baby (and favourite) sister out of four. You sighed and nodded. The comfort from his fingers seeped through you. “Can you do me a final favour, doll?”

Your eyes bounced from his left eye to his right. You’d already memorised the difference. The iris on his left eye was slightly larger. The one on his right had specks of darker blue. There were creases on the sides of his eyes. This man smiled so much, they left permanent evidence of it. The sides of his mouth twitched up as he noticed your stare. You had memorised his face as he had yours. “Sing for me, doll.”

You didn’t have to be told twice.

“You’ll never know just how much I miss you / you’ll never know just how much I care / and if I tried, I still couldn’t hide my love for you / you ought to know, for haven’t I told you so / a million or more times / went away and my heart went with you / I speak your name in my every prayer / If there is some other way to prove that I love you / I swear I don’t know how / you’ll never know if you don’t know now – ”

You couldn’t finish your song.

The Germans had come to take him in their arms.

THREE DAYS SINCE YOU’D SEEN BUCKY:

The sound of footsteps woke you up.

You blinked rapidly, your eyes desperate for clear sight.

“Who are you supposed to be?”

You began searching your surroundings until you spotted the source of the voice. A man was perched over the cages, hands ruffling in a bag. The commotion had gotten everybody’s attention.

“Captain America.” 

Dotty cocked her head from beside you. “Are you wearing tights?”

#marvel #text #mine #bucky x reader #bucky barnes x reader #sebastian stan x reader #sebastian x reader #steve x reader #steve rogers x reader #chris evans x reader #chris x reader #avengers x reader #marvel x reader #40's!Bucky #40'sBucky #Peter x Reader #Peter Parker x reader #howling commandos #captain america #the first avenger #catfa

[yourlifefun]

20 Weight Loss Tips for Busy Moms

If you’re trying to seek out simple ways to CRUSH your weight loss goal this year, you’re in luck!

Three months ago I made a choice I won’t to be finally going to get healthy, reduce and be the happier, more energetic Mom I knew I'd be.

I made the selection once I started my weight loss journey, that I wanted this to be a lifestyle change, not another diet.

So after careful research, I made a choice I won’t to be going to meet my weight loss goal by implementing a coffee carbohydrate (carb) lifestyle.

A low carb lifestyle is where you reduce the number of carbs you consume during a day, which primarily comes from pasta, bread, starchy vegetables, and sugary food and drinks.

Instead of eating many carbs, you consume more protein, low carb vegetables, low carb fruit, and healthy fats.

Once you start reducing the number of carbs your body consumes, your body will start burning fat instead of carbs for energy.

When your body starts to burn fat instead of carbs for energy, you’ll start to scale back.

So what percentage carbs do I need to consume during a day to lose weight?

I’ve found that I even have how a better chance of losing weight if I keep my net carb consumption at or under 20 grams per day.

You may be able to keep your net carb consumption between 20 and 30 grams per day and still reduce.

You’ll get to experiment in conjunction together with your net carb consumption to figure out the internet carb count that works best for you.

You might be wondering, what are net carbs?

When you inspect the nutrition label on food and drinks, the nutrition label gives you the whole carbs in grams and thus the dietary fiber in grams per serving.

To calculate the grams of net carbs, you subtract the grams of dietary fiber from the grams of total carbs.

Some foods contain sugar alcohols.

When you eat something that contains sugar alcohol, you’re able to subtract the grams of sugar alcohol from the whole carbs also.

So if your favorite protein bar contains 15 grams of total carbs per serving and it contains 6 grams of dietary fiber per serving, then internet carbs per serving are 9 grams. The 9 grams of net carbs is what you'd wish to stay track of.

Once I started counting net carbs and commenced keeping track of what I want to be eating, I started seeing the extra pounds shed right off.

To help you begin on your weight loss journey, here are my 20 weight loss tips that I used to lose twenty pounds over the last three months.

  20 WEIGHT LOSS TIPS:

  20. DRINK NON-SUGARY DRINKS

Drinks like pop, sweet tea, sports drinks, and juices contain any sugar.

If you inspect the nutrition label, you’ll see that these kinds of drinks contain many net carbs.

Don’t waste your net carbs per day on one can of pop, once you'll save them for something you want.

A good rule of thumb – Don’t drink all of your net carbs away!

Healthy alternatives to sugary drinks are water, coffee, diet tea, and crystal light.

  19. EAT HEALTHY SNACKS

Potato chips, tortilla chips, Cheez-Its, and crackers are filled with carbs.

Instead of consuming those unhealthy snacks, try making your snacks.

You can easily make your chips by using deli cheese slices.

To make your chips out of deli cheese slices:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper

• Use a pizza cutter to cut your cheese slices into 6 equal rectangles

• Lay your rectangles on your lined baking sheet ensuring they’re spaced about 1/2 inch apart

• Bake them within the oven for about 13-14 minutes (ovens may vary so you'll get to regulate your baking time)

Once your cheese chips are cool, remove them from your baking sheet and eat them by themselves or in conjunction together with your favorite low carb dip.

Make sure you store your extra cheese chips in an airtight container within the refrigerator so as that they keep.

I find that when the cheese chips have sat within the refrigerator for every day, they become stiffer, therefore, making it easier to use them as chips when eating my low carb dips.

  18. MAKE VEGETABLE NOODLES

Since regular pasta is made from flour and wheat contains many net carbs, you'd wish to remain away from traditional pasta.

Instead of eating traditional pasta, make your noodles out of either cabbage or zucchini.

To make your noodles out of cabbage:

• Cut 1/2 a head of cabbage into noodle strips

• Melt 4 tablespoons of butter during a skillet

• Add your cabbage strips and a tablespoon of minced garlic to the skillet

• Cover and cook your cabbage noodles for about 8-10 minutes or until they’re cooked to your liking

To make your noodles out of zucchini:

• Use a spiralizer to cut your zucchini into noodles

• Then cut your zucchini noodles into spaghetti length pieces

• During a skillet bring oil and garlic to a simmer

• Add your zucchini noodles and cook them for about 5-7 minutes or until they’re cook to your liking

If you’re making low carb spaghetti, cook your sausage or hamburger, add your low carb sauce, then add the meat mixture on top of your cabbage or zucchini noodles for a delicious low carb meal.

  17. BAKE WITH ALMOND FLOUR AND COCONUT FLOUR

Instead of baking with flour, start using almond flour and coconut flour to make your bread, pizza crust, pancakes, muffins, and desserts.

Many low carb recipes involve either almond flour or coconut flour and a couple of involving both.

There are many low carb breads, pizza crust, pancake and muffin recipes that call for almond flour.

Many low carb dessert recipes call for coconut flour.

I make these Awesome Keto Low Carb Pancakes that taste delicious and help me stay track of my weight loss.

I make this Awesome 90 Second Keto Bread that you simply can easily make within the microwave in 90 seconds to dine in conjunction together with your eggs for breakfast.

  16. DRINK UNSWEETENED ALMOND MILK

Whole Milk, 2% Reduced-Fat Milk, and 1% milk contain around 12-13 grams of net carbs per 1 cup of milk.

Unsweetened Almond Milk contains but 1 gram of net carbs per 1 cup of milk.

Remember, if you'd wish to reduce by following a coffee carb diet, you don’t want to drink away the net carbs you've for the day.

Unsweetened Almond Milk could even be how better option and much of low carb recipes involve Almond Milk instead of milk, 2% Reduced-Fat Milk or 1% milk.

  15. USE NO CALORIE SWEETENERS

Pure sugar is high in carbs with 8 grams of net carbs for each 2 teaspoon serving.

No calorie sweeteners contain but 1 gram of net carbs for each 1 teaspoon serving.

No calorie sweeteners are a healthy alternative to pure sugar with many no-calorie sweeteners cup for cup to pure sugar.

You can also use confectioners with no-calorie sweetener in place of confectioners’ sugar for your low carb dessert recipes.

  14. EAT semi-sweet chocolate

When you get an appetite, instead of reaching for your favorite candy eat some semi-sweet chocolate instead.

Dark chocolate with a high percentage of cacao could even be an outstanding option when you’re following a coffee carb lifestyle because it's fewer net carbs per serving.

These semi-sweet chocolate chips have a lower percentage of cacao, however, they're sweetened with a no-calorie sweetener. The only part is, you'll eat 60 chocolate chips per serving at only 3 grams of net carbs!

  13. EAT FRUIT LOW IN CARBS

To incorporate fruit into your low carb lifestyle, you’ll want to make sure you’re only eating fruit that's low in carbs.

Fruit with higher amounts of present sugars has higher carb content.

Fruit like grapes, oranges, apples, and blueberries have higher net carbs per serving. These are the fruits you'd wish to avoid.

Fruit like strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and avocados have fewer net carbs per serving. These are the fruits you'll eat in moderation, just confirm you don’t over appear the hay.

12. EAT vegetable LOW IN CARBS

Vegetables contain less natural sugars and fewer carbs than fruit, however, there are still some vegetables you'd wish to avoid for your low carb lifestyle.

Vegetables like potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, onions, carrots, and peas all contain higher net carbs per serving. These are the vegetables you'd wish to avoid.

To keep your carb intake low, only eat vegetables that are low in net carbs, like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, celery, cucumbers, white mushrooms, spinach, green leaf lettuce, radishes, kale, asparagus, zucchini, and bell peppers.

Make sure you always keep fresh fruit and vegetables available for a healthy snack. The only thanks to storing them in your refrigerator, is by keeping them in these Tupperware Fridge smart Containers so your fruit and vegetables keep longer.

  11. EAT MORE PROTEIN

Meat, fish, eggs, and cheese are all excellent high-quality protein sources.

Higher protein consumption boosts your metabolism and reduces your appetite.

By consuming higher amounts of protein, you reduce your hunger levels which cause you to eat fewer calories.

High amounts of protein consumption also help fuel fat burning in your body.

  10. DRINK MORE WATER

There are many benefits to drinking more water.

Drinking water increases your metabolism, provides you with more energy, boosts your system, helps you burn more calories, and acts as a suppressant when consumed before meals.

Many times once you think that that that you’re hungry, you’re just thirsty, so keep a bottle with you throughout the day, so you refill on water instead of extra carbs.

  9. EAT SMALLER PORTION SIZES

Eating smaller portion sizes will assist you to consume fewer calories.

To scale back, your body must burn more calories than it’s consuming during a day.

One way to help you eat smaller portion sizes is to drink an outsized glass of water before each meal.

By drinking an outsized glass of water before each meal, you’ll be less likely to overeat.

8. EAT MORE OFTEN

Eating more often helps you reduce.

When you eat large meals only a few times each day, your metabolism slows down.

If you eat small meals or snacks throughout the day, you’ll keep your metabolism up, and successively you’ll burn more calories.

  7. TRY INTERMITTENT FASTING

Intermittent fasting is once you favor refraining from eating food for a specific period of a short time.

So basically anytime you’re not eating food (by choice) you’re fasting.

Intermittent fasting is safe and has been around for a very while.

It simply allows your body to burn off excess body fat which is food energy that has been stored away.

When your body burns off excess body fat, you reduce.

  6. Stand back FROM PROCESSED FOODS

Many processed foods contain added sugars and other additives that aren’t healthy for you.

Next time you attend the grocery, devour a box of pasta, and skim the ingredient label.

You’ll find that it takes several different ingredients to make one box of pasta.

Then attend the produce aisle and devour a head of cabbage. You’ll notice it doesn’t have an ingredient label simply because the only ingredient in real food is that the important food itself.

If you want to scale back, avoid processed foods all directly, and stick with real food.

  5. EXERCISE

To help you reduce, confirm you’re exercising a minimum of a few of times hebdomadally.

Exercise stimulates your metabolism and helps you burn calories and body fat which accelerates your weight loss.

If you don’t have time to go to the gym, take a walk on your lunch break to urge some exercise in. You’ll feel much better, plus it'll assist you to meet with your weight loss goal.

  4. GET ENOUGH SLEEP

Believe it or not, the amount of sleep you get each night affects your ability to scale back.

Not accessing least 7 hours of sleep each night can increase your appetite making your stomach think it’s hungrier than it is.

This often causes you to make poor choices like consuming more calories from convenience foods like food or other unhealthy snacks.

  3. MAKE THIS a life-style CHANGE

If you'd wish to reduce and keep it off, you'd wish to start out with the mindset that this is often a lifestyle change instead of another diet.

Too repeatedly we continue diets to scale back, only to put all of the load back on once we’ve hit our weight loss goal.

If you’re going to exerting to make the specified changes to the food you eat to satisfy your weight loss goal, then you'd wish to form sure you’re during this for absolutely the better of the day.

  2. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PROGRESS

There are a couple of Apps I exploit that are great for helping you stay track in conjunction in conjunction with your weight loss.

The MyFitnessPal App helps you keep track of your daily weight, exercise, food intake, and water intake. It shows you your progress over a specific timeframe and congratulates you once you meet certain weight loss milestones.

The Carb Manager App helps you keep track of the food you eat in a day. You’ll easily use the App to look up internet carbs and nutritional information for nearly anything you eat, which helps you stay within your net carbs for the day. It even features a barcode scanner so you'll scan the barcode on your favorite food and drinks to urge internet carb count and nutritional information before you even purchase them at the shop.

  1. FIND LOW CARB SNACK, MEAL & DESSERT IDEAS ON PINTEREST

There are numerous low carb snacks, meals, and dessert ideas on Pinterest.

Create a coffee carb board on Pinterest, then search for low carb recipes and pin away!

By reducing the number of net carbs you consume each day and by increasing the amount of healthy fat, protein, low carb vegetables and low carb fruit you consume, you’ll get on your due to losing weight in no time.

Once you reduce the number of net carbs your body consumes, your body will start burning stored fat instead of carbs, so you’ll start losing weight.

When you reduce the number of net carbs your body possesses to burn for energy, the only option your body has is to start out burning fat.

To help you steel oneself against your weight loss journey, here are some low carb kitchen staples that you’ll want to remain available, and so you'll make your low carb snacks, meals and desserts.

Low Carb Kitchen Staples:

• Almond Flour

• Coconut Flour

• Almond Milk

• No Calorie Sweetener

• Confectioners No Calorie Sweetener

• Copra oil

• Xanthan Gum

• Unsweetened chocolate

• Eggs

• Cheese

• Powdered spread

By keeping these kitchen staples available, it makes it very easy to make low carb snacks, meals and desserts that you simply won’t feel guilty about eating.

To give you slightly motivation to urge started on your weight loss journey, confirm you read my post on how I’m on track to urge purchased my weight loss. This small incentive is strictly what I needed to urge started on my weight loss journey and it'd just be the motivatio

[voidchill]

In 9:18 Dragon, a 6 year old human is found in the Kocari Wilds. Her demonstration of magic grants her a one-way ticket to Kinloch Hold.

These events would hardly stand out if not for two facts: 1) She knows she's trapped in a video game. 2) She was 26 years old, the last she checked.

The upside: 12 years should be more than enough time to come up with a plan to survive the impending Blight. (She hopes)

[Note: This story is also on AO3]

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

Warnings for body shaming.

[9:18 Dragon] [Helena: 6 years old – Thedas | 26 years old – Earth]

 Mom stands in front of the stove in a pair of short shorts and a hoodie, her platinum hair swept up into a bun on the very top of her head with a red scrunchie.  She dishes up her signature Hamburger Helper with a side of mashed potatoes and peas.  

Helena counts only four plates.  Sometimes she wonders if Mom actually eats.

“She got more mashed potatoes than me,” Abby whines once Mom divvies up the plates.

“No, I didn’t,” Rebecca sneers back.  “You already ate half of yours cuz you’re fat.”

Alex chortles at the end of the table, shaking with mirth from his slim arms up to his light brown bowl cut.  

Helena watches from across the table as Abby’s eyes well with tears.

“Shut up,” Abby demands, glaring from under her own messier bowl cut.

“Fatty, fatty, boom-buh-latti,” Alex singsongs.

With a war cry, Abby brings a meaty fist down on Alex’s bony left shoulder.

Alex stops laughing.

“Don’t touch me,” he snarls, shoving Abby.

Abby’s eyes widen in panic, her hands grasping onto the end of the table to keep her chair upright.

“Knock it off,” Mom scolds as she steps between them, her long, bony fingers curling around each of their arms.

“She started it,” Alex hisses, jerking against her grip.

“I don’t care who started it, I’m finishing it.”

“Can I have more mashed potatoes?” Rebecca asks, her tone almost as bright as her long blonde hair.

Helena notes the smug curl to her lips as Mom releases their younger siblings to take her plate.

“But I asked first,” Abby points out.

“I know, hold on,” Mom says, scooping another dollop onto Rebecca’s plate.

Abby pouts.

Helena looks down at her own plate.  Mom gave her one of the chipped ones, but at least she left out those soggy noodles. Plain hamburger gravy poured on a scoop of mashed potatoes—just the way she likes it.  Well, almost.  She grimaces at the small pile of peas encroaching on her mashed potatoes and nudges them away with her fork.

“You better be eating those peas.”

Helena glances up to find Mom frowning down at her from the other side of the table.

“I love peas,” Rebecca announces from Mom’s left, tilting her chin up as she sucks a scoop off of her spoon.

“Me too,” Abby adds from her right.

Alex fumes, glaring down at his plate as he rubs the arm Mom grabbed.

“I don’t,” Helena mutters down at her plate.

“They’re good for you,” Mom says.

“They’re gross,” Helena insists, poking one.  She grimaces at the green ooze on the end of her fork.

Mom’s frown deepens, her wrinkles sinking further, almost as if someone carved them there.

“I don’t care if you like them or not.  They’re good for you,” she repeats in that tone that makes Helena’s shoulders hunch, “and you’re not leaving this table until you eat them.”

Helena glares down at her plate.  She can’t eat them, she’ll throw up.  Why does she have to choke these stupid peas down?  Why didn’t Mom make more of an effort?  Why didn’t she find vegetables that Helena could eat?  If Mom had exposed Helena to different vegetables then, she could—

Helena blinks, dropping her fork.

“I don’t have to eat this,” she realizes, staring at her hands, her fingers slim but long.

Too long for this script.

Another fork clangs onto one of the plates across from her.

“Excuse me?” Mom hisses. “You will eat every single pea on that plate or—”

Helena raises her head. The seats around the table are empty.

“No, I really fucking won’t.”

Mom gasps.

“What did you just say?”

“Fuck, fuckety, fuck fuck,” Helena replies in a jaunty tune, pushing back her chair.

“You—sit back down and finish your dinner,” Mom demands.  “Now.”

“Screw you—you’re not my real mom.”  Helena laughs, looking down at her, even if only by an inch or so.  “Besides, even if you were, I still wouldn’t have to eat shit.”

The Thing pretending to be her mom jerks closer, its body thinning as it stretches taller, and Helena wants to laugh.  Their height difference had always been near negligible—just that inch or so.  The Thing could double its size, but it couldn’t shove Helena back down onto small hands and clumsy legs.  Not now.

The Thing stops growing after half a foot and strides through the table between them, the illusion warping around its form as its face cracks.

The Thing hisses, “You little—”

“This isn’t real,” Helena points out, triumphant even as her heart thunders in her chest.

A bright flash of light fills the room and Helena shields her eyes, staggering back.  When she drops her arm, she finds both the light and her old kitchen gone, along with whatever had worn the guise of her mother. A path bracketed by rocks extends before her, the world a wash of green and a vacuous darkness.

“’And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you,’” Helena murmurs, turning in place with wide eyes.

“Where did you find that?” a voice asks from behind her.

Helena jumps and whips around, catching a glimpse of gold and purple before the world tilts and she smacks into stone.

“Ow,” she hisses, blinking bleary eyes around her.

A faint, flickering light illuminates the stone walls of the infirmary.  She leans against the cot behind her and reaches to untangle the blanket around her legs, pausing when she sees her childlike hands.

Not like, she corrects, shoulders falling.

 …

 Helena steps into Irving's office, hands clenched in the fabric of her robes to keep from tripping. Her gaze sweeps across the bookshelves, but she resists the urge to investigate further.  Based on her playthroughs of Inquisition, she knows the likelihood of finding any texts written with the English alphabet is low.

And isn't that a Harrowing thought—a bibliophile unable to read.

"Do you have an interest in books?" Irving's voice snaps Helena's gaze to the opposite side of the room, watching the man stride forward and sift through some papers on his desk.

Once again, she strains under the desire for honesty.  Who knows what age children learn to read in this world?  Her answer might betray her in some way.

Irving turns around and Helena shrugs, her lips twisting.

“You will have plenty of time to familiarize yourself in the coming months,” Irving comments as he meanders passed her.  He raises a hand to the bookcase and plucks out a slim book.  “You might even discover an appreciation for them.”

Helena pictures her bookcases at home, the shelves warping under the weight of her collection.

Irving opens the book to a page with a few drawings and offers it to Helena.  Her shoulders slump, but she keeps her hands gentle as she studies the strange symbols scribed across the yellowed paper.

“What does it say?” she asks, gaze caught on a sketch of a young woman surrounded by some kind of force field.

“I’ve found this book to be quite helpful as an introductory text.  This page,” Irving taps on the sketch of the young woman, “describes just one of the many ways your gifts can be harnessed to protect you.”

A slew of responses rise to the forefront of her thoughts, but fracture before reaching her mouth.

“Oh,” Helena murmurs instead of contributing, gaze shifting to the swirling dark figures pressing against the woman’s barrier.

“The common term for this spell is ‘Mind Blast,’” Irving says, with a note of amused exasperation, “though it’s far more complex than such a name would suggest.  The bash of a warrior’s shield cannot compare to this spell’s concussive force or ‘blast.’”

Helena glances up at Irving, noting the rehearsed quality of his words that spoke of past arguments.  

“It’s a wave of pure will drawn from deep within the caster,” Irving explains.  “To use it to stagger an opponent is to overpower their own force of will, even if only for a moment.”

“Will you teach me?” Helena wonders, voice small.

Irving smiles.

“You will learn that and more, child.  Here at the Circle, we are dedicated to educating our apprentices in the arcane arts, so that they may hone their craft and prepare themselves for the difficulties ahead.”

Helena closes the book.

“You mean demons?”

Something in Irving’s smile or his eyes shifts, and Helena recalls that cutscene she watched on YouTube once upon a time, wherein he urged both Amell and Surana to trick Jowan.

“Yes, demons are but one difficulty you will face.”

Helena restrains herself from scoffing at that.

No kidding.

“Tell me, child, can you remember your first use of magic?  What led you into the Wilds?”

Helena remembers blinking in something deeper than darkness, something absent and void, ears so clogged with that void that even her thoughts grew muffled under the panic, throat scraped raw from—screaming?  Was she screaming?

She remembers her life on Earth.  Her family, her friends.  She can visualize her bedroom with all its clutter and knickknacks.

She tries to recall what led to that moment of silent cacophony and finds only absence.

The last thing she did, the last person she spoke to—all swallowed in that void.

And then the templars.

“No,” Helena admits. She shifts in place, tapping her thumb against the book.  “Do you know how the templars found me?”

Irving sighs, though not unkindly.

“Do not trouble yourself. I am certain you will recover those memories in time.”  Irving extends a hand and Helena returns the book, trying not to frown.  “In the meantime, let us focus on getting you settled.”

Helena wants to insist Irving give her a real answer, but in the end she just nods, trailing after him.  He leads her into the hallway and she works to keep her steps measured, grimacing at the thought of meeting anyone else.

#Don't Panic | Plan It #modern girl in thedas #modern character in thedas #misssnazzy writes

[higherfeed]

What's Coming to Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Hulu in November

This month all eyes are on The Irishman, Martin Scorsese’s epic gangster drama. But until you can see it on November 27, there’s plenty of other highly-anticipated releases in TV and movies coming to Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Hulu, including shows like Jack Ryan, The Crown, and Silicon Valley October Streaming Guide: The ‘Breaking Bad’ Movie, ‘Glass’, and More to Watch This Month Along with those new options, movies like Creed II, Step Brothers, The Matrix Series, the James Bond collection, and Rounders will be streaming on various sites. The Best Adventure Movies, TV Shows, and Documentaries You Can Stream Right Now Here’s everything new you can stream in November 2019:

What’s Streaming on Netflix

the King / The Irishman / NetflixNov. 1 Apache Warrior American Son Atypical: Season 3 Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures: Go Team Roberts: Season 1 Billy on the Street Christmas Break-In The Christmas Candle Christmas in the Heartlands Christmas Survival The Deep: Season 3 Drive Elliot the Littlest Reindeer Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Fire in Paradise The Game Grease Hache Hello Ninja Holiday in the Wild Holly Star How to Be a Latin Lover The King Love Jones The Man Without Gravity Mars: Season 2 The Matrix The Matrix Reloaded The Matrix Revolutions Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans: Seasons 1-2 Paid in Full Queer Eye: We’re in Japan! Rosemary’s Baby Rounders Santa Girl Sling Blade Spitfire: The Plane That Saved the World Step Brothers True: Grabbleapple Harvest Up North We Are the Wave Wild Child Zombieland Nov. 4 A Holiday Engagement Christmas Crush Dear Santa The Devil Next Door District 9 Nov. 5 The End of the F***ing World: Season 2 Seth Meyers: Lobby Baby She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: Season 4 Tune in for Love Undercover Brother 2 Nov. 6 Phillip Youmans Burning Cane SCAMS Shadow Nov. 7 The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open Nov. 8 Busted!: Season 2 The Great British Baking Show: Holidays: Season 2 Greatest Events of WWII in HD Colour Green Eggs and Ham Let It Snow Paradise Beach Wild District: Season 2 Nov. 9 Little Things: Season 3 Nov. 10 Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj: Volume 5 Nov. 11 A Single Man Chief of Staff: Season 2 Nov. 12 Harvey Girls Forever!: Season 3 Jeff Garlin: Our Man in Chicago Nov. 13 Maradona in Mexico Nov. 14 The Stranded Nov. 15 Avlu: Part 2 The Club Earthquake Bird GO!: The Unforgettable Party House Arrest I’m With the Band: Nasty Cherry Klaus Llama Llama: Season 2 The Toys That Made Us: Season 3 Nov. 16 Suffragette Nov. 17 The Crown: Season 3 Nov. 19 Iliza: Unveiled No hay tiempo para la verguenza Nov. 20 Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator Dream/Killer Lorena, la de pies ligeros Nov. 21 The Knight Before Christmas Mortel Nov. 22 Dino Girl Gauko Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings The Dragon Prince: Season 3 High Seas: Season 2 Meet the Adebanjos: Season 1-3 Mon frere Nailed It! Holiday!: Season 2 Narcoworld: Dope Stories Nobody’s Looking Singapore Social Trolls: The Beat Goes On!: Season 8 Nov. 23 End of Watch Nov. 24 Courtesy of Bold Films Shot Caller Nov. 25 Dirty John: Season 1 Nov. 26 Mike Birbiglia: The New One Super Monsters Save Christmas True: Winter Wishes Nov. 27 Broken The Irishman Nov. 28 Holiday Rush John Crist: I Ain’t Praying For That Merry Happy Whatever Mytho Nov. 29 ‘Atlantics’ Courtesy of TIFF Atlantics Chip and Potato: Season 2 I Lost My Body La Reina del Sur: Season 2 The Movies That Made Us Sugar Rush Christmas

What’s Streaming on Amazon Prime

Jack Ryan Season 2 / Amazon Prime Video / Paramount TelevisionNov. 1: A View To A Kill (1985) Bad Santa (2003) Big Top Pee-Wee (1988) Chinatown (1974) Diamonds Are Forever (1971) Die Another Day (2002) Double Jeopardy (1999) Dr. No (1962) Escape From Alcatraz (1979) Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex * But Were Afraid To Ask (1972) Fatal Attraction (1987) Fire with Fire (2012) Flashdance (1983) For Your Eyes Only (1981) Freelancers (2012) From Russia With Love (1963) Gloria (English Subtitled) (2014) Goldeneye (1995) Goldfinger (1964) Kingpin (1996) LicenceTo Kill (1989) Light Sleeper (1992) Live And Let Die (1973) Moonraker (1979) Never Say Never Again (1983) Octopussy (1983) On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) Overlord (2018) Reds (1981) Save the Last Dance 2 (2006) Soapdish (1991) Summer’s Moon (2009) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) The Counterfeit Traitor (1962) The Firm (1993) The Living Daylights (1987) The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) The Ring (2002) The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) The World Is Not Enough (1999) Thunderball (1965) Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) Training Day (2001) Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family (2011) Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection (2012) Jack Ryan Nov. 6 Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013) Nov. 8 One Child Nation (2019) Nov. 12 Angel Has Fallen (2019) Nov. 13 Anna and the Apocalypse (2018) Romans (2017) Nov. 14 Instant Family (2018) The Souvenir (2019) Nov. 15 Creed 2 (2018) The Man in the High Castle: Season 4 (Amazon Original) Nov. 19 Bottom of the 9th (2019) Nov. 20 The Fanatic (2019) Nov. 22 Brittany Runs a Marathon (2019) (Amazon Original) Costume Quest: Christmas Special (Amazon Original) Nov. 29 The Report (2019) Nov. 30 Low Tide (2019) The Feed: Season 1 (Amazon Original)

What’s Streaming on Hulu

Nov. 1 America’s Cutest: Complete Seasons 2&3 (Animal Planet) Giada’s Holiday Handbook: Complete Seasons 1-3 (Food Network) Holiday Baking Championship: Complete Seasons 1-4 (Food Network) Into The Dark: Pilgrim: Episode Premiere (Hulu Original) Kids Baking Championship: Complete Season 4 (Food Network) Love Island: Australia: Complete Season 1 (ITV) Sex Sent Me to the ER: Complete Seasons 1&2 (TLC) Too Cute!: Complete Seasons 2&3 (Animal Planet) A Fairly Odd Christmas (2012) A Simple Plan (1998) Albert (2016) Big Top Pee-Wee (1988) Chinatown (1974) The Counterfeit Traitor (1962) Dinner for Schmucks (2010) Double Jeopardy (1999) The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain (1995) Escape from Alcatraz (1979) Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex, but were Afraid to Ask (1972) Fantastic Four (2005) Fatal Attraction (1987) Fever Pitch (2005) Fire with Fire (2012) The Firm (1993) Flashdance (1983) Freddy Vs Jason (2003) Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991) Freelancers (2012) Fun with Dick and Jane (2005) Gloria (2014) Head of State (2003) Home for the Holidays (1995) I Heart Huckabees (2004) In Enemy Hands (2003) Interview with a Vampire (1994) Kingpin (1996) Light Sleeper (1992) Madea’s Big Happy Family (2011) Madea’s Witness Protection (2012) Magic Mike (2012) The Mexican (2001) The Nightingale (2019) Overlord (2018) The Pink Panther 2 (2009) Reds (1981) The Ring (2002) Santa Hunters (2014) Shall We Dance? (2004) Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2002) Soapdish (1991) Spy Next Door (2010) Summers Moon (2009) Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) Terminator Salvation (2009) Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride (2005) Tiny Christmas (2017) The Two Jakes (1990) Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) Undisputed (2002) Waiting… (2005) You Laugh but It’s True (2011) Available Nov. 4 Denial (2016) Nov. 5 Framing John Delorean (2019) Available Nov. 6 Long Time Coming: A 1955 Baseball Story (2017) The Biggest Little Farm (2019) Nov. 7 Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013) Nov. 9 You’re the Worst: Complete Season 5 (FX) Nov. 13 Anna and the Apocalypse (2018) Ugly Dolls (2018) Nov. 14 Instant Family (2018) Veronica Mars (2014) Nov. 15 Dollface: Complete Season 1 Premiere (Hulu Original) Creed II (2018) Wings of the Dove (1997) Nov. 18 Booksmart (2019) The Tomorrow Man (2019) Nov. 19 Apple Tree Yard: Complete Season 1 (Fremantle) Margaret Atwood: A Word After a Word After a Word is Power (2019) The Quiet One (2019) Nov. 20 Some Kind of Beautiful (2015) Nov. 22 The Accident: Complete Season 1 Premiere (Hulu Original) Holly Hobbie: Complete Season 2 Premiere (Hulu Original) Vita & Virginia (2019) Nov. 24 Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (2010) Nov. 25 Love & Mercy (2015) Nov. 26 NOS4A2: Complete Season 1 (AMC) Astronaut (2019) Nov. 27 Meeting Gorbachev (2019) Nov. 28 Mike Wallace is Here (2019)

What’s Streaming on HBO/HBO Now

Movies Big (11/1) Blindspotting (11/1) Bruce Almighty (11/1) Chocolat (11/1) Crazy, Stupid, Love (11/1) Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops (11/19) Flawless (11/1) For Love of the Game (11/1) Forget Paris (11/1) Head Full of Honey (11/2) Hope Floats (11/1) Indignation (11/1) Jingle All the Way (Director’s Cut) (11/1) King Arthur (Director’s Cut) (11/1) Lindsey Vonn: The Final Season (11/26) Little (11/16) Look Away (11/4) Mr. Bean’s Holiday (11/1) Nine Months (11/1) Pan (11/1) Reversal of Fortune (11/1) Shazam! (11/30) The Apollo (11/6) The Condemned (11/1) The Condemned 2 (11/1) The Darjeeling Limited (11/1) The Darkness (11/1) The Day After Tomorrow (11/1) The Kid Who Would Be King (11/9) The Town (11/1) True Lies (11/1) Us (11/23) Very Ralph (11/12) Wes Craven Presents Wishmaster (11/1) TV Daniel Sloss: X (11/2) Entre Nos: Erik Rivera: Super White (11/1) Halfway — HBO Access pilot (11/1) His Dark Materials (11/4) Message Erased (11/1) Pajaros de Verano (aka Birds of Passage) (11/8) Papi Chulo (11/15) Santos Dumont (11/11) Sesame Street (11/16) Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary Celebration (11/9) Sobredosis de amor (aka Roommates) (11/1) Sterling — HBO Access pilot (11/1) Unimundo 45 — HBO Access pilot (11/1) Expiring 11/30 Blackkklansman Breakin’ All the Rules Captivity Crazy Rich Asians Darkman Darkman II: The Return of Durant Darkman III: Die Darkman Die The Darkest Minds Deja Vu The Diary of Anne Frank Disclosure Hop Insidious: The Last Key Legend Lions For Lambs The Lost Boys Macgruber (Extended Version) Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Manhattan Night My Friend Dahmer Paper Heart Paycheck Peter Pan Pride Ramona and Beezus Robin Hood Steve Jobs Stratton Read the full article

[cinful-stories]

50 Interesting Questions- Tagged

(I was tagged by @widzzicles to do this! I really appreciate it! I haven't really mentioned much about myself on this platform, so this will be the first look at my quirky, strange personality. Here goes nothing!)

1. What kind of food can't you stand? Even though I’m not a strict vegetarian, I loosely consider myself to be one because of my hatred for meat. Seafood and ham are particularly horrid to me, but on rare occasions, I can handle small amounts of bacon, sausage, and chicken if prepared well.

2. If you could choose one minor inconvenience to never have to deal with again, what would you pick? Acne. I’ve struggled with it for nearly eight years, and it’s been the root of my insecurities.

3. Have you got any useless talents? I’m double-jointed in my right wrist and three fingers. I can also wiggle my right ear and nose.

4. If you could be really good at one thing, what would it be? Writing. I have a strong perfectionist mentality when it comes to my artistic creations, and it often gets in the way of completing any projects; therefore, whenever I sit down to work on my original novel, it becomes a stressful task for me.

5. Name a few people you think are extremely good-looking? Eddie Redmayne is my ultimate celebrity crush. I think he’s absolutely adorable, and he’s the main inspiration for the male protagonist of my novel. I also find Dan Avidan from Game Grumps and Benedict Cumberbatch really attractive.

6. What was your favorite way to pass time as a kid? I often watched Hetalia and YouTube gaming channels during middle school, so I wasted a lot of time on the internet. I was also a major SuperWhoMerLock fan. I suppose not much has changed as far as interests go...

7. What is something you are proud of? Before I started posting my fan creations on Tumblr, I was highly active on Quotev for four years. One of the stories I posted (a Hunger Games fanfic) was received extremely well, and it has over 1,200 favorites.

8. What's one character flaw in people that you just can't tolerate? I can’t stand people who are unreliable and only make an effort if they need something from me. My biggest languages of love are Quality Time and Acts of Service, so when someone doesn’t want to put in some of their time for me, it’s a major turn-off.

9. Do you consider yourself to be more of a leader or a follower? It depends. I’m typically more of a follower when I’m insecure about my own abilities regarding the task at hand, but if it’s something I’m confident about doing, I instinctively take on the leadership role.

10. What kind of student are/ were you? I’m incredibly studious, and I’m almost anal about receiving good grades. I tend to procrastinate when I let myself relax, so I make sure to keep myself busy during the school year as much as possible.

11. Butterfly effect question! Has there ever been a seemingly minor decision you've made (at the time) that ended up having a profound influence on your life? Sitting at an unfamiliar lunch table on the first day of eighth grade. It was a seemingly insignificant choice at the time, and I thought it would be a temporary thing, but it later became the event that led to meeting my best friend of five years. If I hadn’t chosen that table, I wouldn’t be nearly as confident, independent, and honest as I am today – all attributes that came from her importance in my life.

12. Name your most irrational fear/ aversion: I’m petrified of settling. I have a horrible habit of not being able to say no to people; therefore, I end up settling for relationships and activities I never wanted to do in the first place. I’m afraid that I won’t get the chance to live my fullest life before I die only because I wanted to please others or take the easy route.

13. Are there any fiction characters you find especially relatable? As basic as this sounds, I find myself relating to Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Her thirst for a thrilling life somewhere unfamiliar is something I crave. She doesn’t fall in love with a person’s outward appearance, which is something I do as well, and she loves reading too!

14. If you drink, what kind of drunk are you? Alternatively, what sort of person are you at parties? I don’t drink, but at parties I’m fairly social, regardless of whether or not I know the people in attendance. Sometimes parties are uncomfortable for me, but other times they’re not. It just depends on the type of people at the gathering.

15. Do you fall in love easily? Or does it usually take a long time for you to trust someone? I tend to trust people rather easily, but that doesn’t mean I fall in love quickly. I’m actually really reluctant to get into another relationship. It’s hard for me to find someone I truly love. I’ve only ever been in love once, and that relationship was two years ago.

16. Would you rather have one close friend or 100 casual friends? I prefer having one close friend. I have two best friends, and roughly five or six casual friends. I’ve always gained a lot more out of my bonds with my two closest friends than I ever have with those more distant from me.

17. Do you consider yourself to be more of a slob or a neat-freak? I’m a total neat-freak. I take great pleasure in organizing my bedroom and cleaning my car, and if I’m trying to keep myself busy for whatever reason, I often find something to organize. I’m a Virgo, so that explains it.

18. Describe a place (imaginary or real) that you find incredibly cozy: I imagine myself in a wooden loft in an attic of a house, surrounded by potted plants, art canvases, and towering bookshelves. Hand-woven dreamcatchers loom above my bed, and prisms capture beams of iridescent light on the walls. There’s a skylight on one of the ceiling panels, and a sliver of moonlight is bathing the room in an eerie, azure glow. Particles of silver, feathery dust are swirling around my head, twinkling like the blanket of stars above. I’m lying prostrate on the floor, gazing up at the heavens as the full moon smiles down upon me. A symphony of crickets fills the air, and the scent of old parchment wafts into my nostrils. It’s a tranquil night, and I’m alone with my thoughts. A porcelain cup of scalding, raspberry tea rests idly in my hand, and a warm smile is toying with my lips. I am at peace.

19. Do you have kids? If not, do you want them someday? I don’t have kids, and I’m hesitant about the idea of having them with the career I want to pursue, but I could see myself with two sometime in the future. Boys’ names: Elijah or Benedict. Girls’ names: Roslyn or Margot.

20. What was your favorite book as a child? Eggs by Jerry Spinelli was my absolute favorite book, and I remember reading it several times. I also really enjoyed The Sisters Grimm and N.E.R.D.S. books by Michael Buckley.

21. Name one thing you just don't get what all the hype is about: Going on cruises. The idea of being trapped on a giant boat with a timed schedule of mind-numbing, preselected activities to do doesn’t sound remotely fun to me.

22. Name one thing you think is tragically underrated: Crushed potato chips in bubblegum ice cream, mixed with marshmallow syrup and topped with rainbow sprinkles. Don’t knock it until you try it.

23. If you had to be glued to a person for a month, real or fictional, who would it be? I would choose Dick Van Dyke, who has always been my favorite actor. He’s currently ninety-one years old, so I would jump at the chance to walk a mile in his shoes before he dies.

24. What's something you'd like the chance to do someday? I’ve always dreamt of travelling Europe. I especially want to visit London, Dublin, Madrid, Amsterdam, and Rome.

25. Do you typically speak your mind when you have a controversial opinion? Or do you generally prefer not to rock the boat? I’m actually really vocal about my opinions. I’d like to think that I’m a gifted debater, writer, and public speaker, so I never shy away from sharing my perspectives in a controversial conversation if I have the evidence to back it up.

26. What's the dumbest fad you've been caught up in? I don’t think this was ever a fad, but I used to wear those Hot Topic rubbery wristbands up and down my arms like tattoo sleeves in middle school.

27. What's something you thought was cool as a kid, but now cringe at yourself for? See #26. I also thought that getting bad grades and bragging about being vegetarian for a day was cool.

28. What's a trait you consider to be very admirable? I value having intellect and good communication skills above all else, and it also makes my heart flutter if I meet someone chivalrous. I also love humor. I’m a sucker for anyone who can make me laugh.

29. Is there a particular kind of item people always tend to give you as gifts? My closest friends always buy me astrology related things. Other friends typically buy me Doctor Who merch or something feminine and monogrammed.

30. Do you speak multiple languages? Not fluently, but I studied French for three consecutive years and won a bronze medal for the national French exam.

31. Would you rather live in the big city or the countryside? I’m a city gal. I’ve grown up in an urban family town for far too long. I’ve always wanted to live in a flat in central London.

32. Has there ever been something you were certain you'd hate, but ended up loving? Marching band. I was terrified of joining originally, but here I am four years later serving as my band’s historian and the Mellophone section leader.

33. Do you mind being the center of attention, or do you prefer the spotlight to be on someone else? As far as group conversations go, no. I hate being in charge of the dialog, but if I’m speaking publicly or performing in front of a large audience, I don’t mind. I enjoy the adrenaline rush!

34. Favorite holiday? It’s a toss-up between New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July.

35. Are you more of a go-with-the-flow type of person, or do you need to have things planned meticulously? I prefer having a plan, but I’m not going to throw a fit if I have to play something by ear.

36. Is there something you loved so much you wish you could forget it and experience it all again? I once took a family trip to Bar Harbor, Maine in 2011, and I firmly believe that it’s the most tranquil, serene place I’ve ever been to. Luckily, I’m going back to visit during the summer of 2018!

37. What hobbies do you have? Writing, sketching, blogging, reading, watching anime or YouTube gamers, astrology, gardening, playing the French horn, and playing Otome games obsessively

38. If you could have a superpower, but it was only mildly useful, what ability would you want to have? I would love to be able to harness the four elements somehow, even if my powers were minor. Just being able to generate a puff of smoke or grow something from the ground with my hands would be amazing.

39. Something people are always surprised to learn about you: I’m allergic to peanuts. Even after I tell my friends, they frequently forget.

40. Something that took you way too long to figure out: I don’t need to rely on other people to find the source of my happiness. I’m wonderfully made, just as I am.

41. Worst injury you’ve had? I’ve never had any injuries other than your typically bumps and bruises.

42. Any morbid fascinations? I love horror films and video games, especially the gory, psychological ones.

43. Describe your sense of humor: I make a lot dorky puns and niche references, so it’s rare when I get a genuine laugh out of people.

44. If you had to be born in another era/ place, which would you choose? Late 1960’s America. The country was in a state of social and political turmoil, so a movement of independent thought swept the nation’s youth for the first time since the Revolutionary War. Rock, which is my favorite genre of music, was also becoming immensely popular. I would’ve loved to have participated in an anti-war rally and go to Woodstock.

45. Something you are irredeemably bad at: Science. I have a passion for astronomy and psychology, but I’m terrible at any other science subtopic.

46. Something that sucked but you’re glad you went through: My first breakup. It’s corny, I know, but that emotional time in my life really helped me evolve into who I am today. I used to be pretty spineless, naïve, and dependent on others for my happiness. I may have lost someone I loved dearly, but I learned to love myself in the process, and I became a lot more confident because of it.

47. Would you rather have a really godawful, ugly tattoo in a place that is only slightly inconvenient to conceal, or the coolest, most beautiful tattoo ever in the middle of your face? I’ll take the ugly tattoo. At least I can hide it if I need to.

48. Are you more of an optimist or a pessimist? I’m an optimist. I don’t always see the silver lining in dark times, but I always persevere and convince myself that there’s something better coming.

49. What would be the most flattering compliment someone could give you? “You mean the world to me.”

50. Something you feel people often misunderstand about you: People seem to think that they can take advantage of me since I’m easily forgiving and kind. I may forgive, but I never forget.

(This took a lot longer to answer than I anticipated, but I had fun! @phantomchou @confused-tofu @princessofwysteria @rimalupin @lustfullyleocrawford @rizosrojizos @yukarinova @leorysxi @mariyukimu I'm sorry if y'all have already been tagged!)

#tag #not midcin related #50 interesting questions #fyi #about me

[museoffury]

I have exactly 18-minutes to complete this in order to have a post for each day that I have been here thus far. There is MUCH to tell you about as it’s been a very full 24-hours since 29-12-18. (An aside: why don’t we use the same numbering for dates? It makes much more sense to put the day first, followed by the month, and then the year!)

OK, the wonderful neighborhood Malasañas where I was to stay with Paloma y Viktor was a bust! Not because they aren’t awesome and have a super cool pad there, but because Paloma decided to have the room I was to stay in painted ceiling to floor on all walls 48-hours before my arrival!  Oh my LORD! The floor to ceiling in these Madrid flats must be 30-feet, I kid you not. The room swelled with noxious paint fumes! The sweet Viktor assured me that he had been burning incense to make it go away. Oh, no. I tried to do my best to think fast. I laid my things down and had to take a walk. I had to think. I could not think in that little room with the smell of paint and no windows. (Um, yes. no windows.) So, I walked around, drank a beer, took some photos… They serve you potato chips with every beer you order and the beer of Madrid is Mahou. Say it a few times:

Ma-hoo. Ma-hoo. It’s cute!

So, I wondered about the very colorfully artistic and musical Malasañas area where the streets are quite narrow and filled with people. In fact, I’ve come to discover that all streets in every neighborhood in Madrid are filled with people all day and night until around 3a or so. People wander in packs: elders, young lovers, families with children, droves of them wander about or sit in sidewalk bars, restaurants, and cafes laughing and really enjoying conversations with each other. People alone at tables are on their phones reading, but those in groups are ENGAGED with each other in conversation!

10-minutes left til the last day of 2018 that I am fully ready to say “Adios!” to as in “kick it to the curb!”

So, I made a decision at one of my stops: I’m going to search for a hotel to stay in around this neighborhood cuz I dig it. I looked up a few and noted their locations. I wasn’t about to start making calls, but rather just made a note of their addresses and figured I’d go pack an overnight bag in my backpack and head to the streets in search of lodging where I could breathe.  I was not going to ask for a refund because the AirBnB was very inexpensive and Viktor is an enterprising young man who has a dream of success in business and one thing I know about AirBnB is that your success is in good reviews. This was a dumb mistake to paint – an accident of bad judgment and by a professional painter who lied and told them the smell would be gone in 48-hours (just in time for their guest from San Francisco!). So, I planned to suck it up and just let it go so that they don’t get a bad review or have AirBnB overlords ask why the refund?

I picked a cool place about 20-minutes from their flat after walking through a lot of new streets (there are so many!) only to find they were fully booked. Damn. OK, on to the next and the next and the next. Finally, I stopped for another beer and sat outside (the weather is chilly but perfect and clear and delightful) and surfed my phone on Expedia for the “One Room Left” at two places just missing them! Who knew this huge city would be so full of people that all the hotels are booked?

I finally found one at Mediodia on the Plaza del Emperador Carlos V and just two train stops up from where I was. Their trains are fantastic–a whole story on the Metro forthcoming. The stop was Estacion des Artes. I loved it!  Famous artworks and literary quotes adorn the walls of the station (ok, well every station it turns out, but I first noticed it here) and as I walked up from the deep underground I came to yet another vibrant place filled with people doing exactly what I found in the previous neighborhood only the street at this stop was much larger with taxis and busses careening around the plaza at full speed just feet from the train station. The hotel was close.

HAPPY LAST DAY OF 2018 PEOPLE!  It’ just switched!

OK, I’ll wrap up to go out and have a little something on my last morning in Madrid since I leave later today for Lisbon!

An artful sign creation on the window of the museum

The reflection of the sign on the sidewalk tile

I have so many more stories to recount on the following topics:

How my Spanish here is unacceptable because I speak the language of Mexico and just can’t seem to remember the “th” sound for the “c” as in “grathias” (gracias) or “estathion” (estácion), so that whenever I use the “cee” sound I can almost see a visible cringe on the faces of the people I’m speaking to as if my voice just made a scratch to a chalkboard. I’m trying to remember to use it but it’s particularly difficult when there are esses mixed in with cees in long words. Caramba! (that’s C with a hard-k sound).

When you order two small plates of food, they think it’s crass that you might want them at the same time. I mean, come on, if I order a salad and a side of patatas, I clearly want to eat them at the same time, right? Who wants to eat potatoes alone? For some meals, I just want something light like two appetizers which is fine with them but they want to deliver one after the other and so I waited and waited, wondering where the potatoes were as I gently nibbled the salad (this was my 29/12/18 meal while figuring out where I would stay) I finally asked and the waiter told me it comes next. Oh, please. I want them together. The delicate salad with dressing needs the potatoes to soften the vinegar…The entire staff thought I was a nutball.

When you order brunch at the fantastic restaurant connected to the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Nebus, I think it’s called, where the giant red art space of the restaurant filled with light meets fantastic music from a DJ spinning live mixes of my favorite downtempo electronica.  His music story wove a sonic journey through time that I could not help grooving to as I ate.  The brunch comes served as if you were sharing with a table for 4! It was a delectable meal of salmon and avocado toast (at least I thought that’s all I ordered) but was accompanied with 4 croissants, an entire serving of granola-topped yogurt, a bowl of fruit, and a side of a pancake smothered with Belgian chocolate, thick whipped cream, and strawberries along with a mimosa and coffee. WHOA!

The restaurant interior

The DJ – look at those speakers!

The a-m-a-z-i-n-g visit to Hammam Al Ándalus this past afternoon (yesterday now but feels like the same day to me) and the wonders of the water, the massage, the music, the steam, the candlelit corridors. Whoa. I would never have known about this place if it weren’t for the two artists I met at a gathering with Craig, Caroline and Oliver who invited me out on 24/12/18, just days before my trip, with whom I had been discussing Remedios Varo (fantastic, Spanish surrealist painter) who left Spain with her husband Max Ernst for Mexico City along with a host of other artists in the 1930s. At one point, one of the artists interjected “Oh, you must find the Arab Baths there in Madrid. It’s a marvelous experience.” Woof. She was right. This is one of those “must-do” on your trip here, people. It’s just a 3-min walk from the Tirso de Molina Metro Station.

People love their Mahou beer and flowers as the streets are filled with both everywhere you go in every Plaza and on every corner.

Another brightly painted street that narrows leaving just enough room for pedestrians and motorcycles – the vehicle of choice for residents of Madrid.

I have taken great pains to NOT photograph people and thus most of my shots of Madrid all aim high toward the rooftops and sky. There are so many people EVERYWHERE you go!

  30-December, Rounding the Corner to 2019 I have exactly 18-minutes to complete this in order to have a post for each day that I have been here thus far.

[jessicakehoe]

FASHION’s Guide to Portland, Where All Things Local Truly Shine

Portland is a city for many tastes, proclivities and interests. If you’re the outdoorsy sort, rejoice in all the trails, slopes and lakes. If you care about the environment, you’ll be guaranteed to meet kindred spirits at every turn. If you’re a fan of local, small-batch goods, well I feel sorry for your wallet. And if you’re into food, saddle up, because there is SO much ground to cover. One through line you’ll probably pick up on by the end of a visit to Oregon’s largest city is the emphasis on all things local: whether it’s the restaurants that source their meat and produce from nearby farms or the stores that carry goods from homegrown businesses and retailers or the bars that champion wine from Oregon’s own biodynamic vineyards. Here’s a quick snapshot of some of the spots I explored on a trip to Portland over the summer, which should serve as a handy guide for whenever you’re headed to the City of Roses yourself.

SHOP

Wildfang You may have spotted their hugely popular ‘Wild Feminist’ t-shirts out on the street or on social media. The female-founded company specializes in menswear-inspired clothing for women and female-identifying people but it’s their politically-driven feminist messaging that gets the most love. Most recently, they put out a special collection encouraging people to vote in the midterm elections, and over the summer, raised $250,000 for refugees at the US-Mexico border with their “I really care, don’t you?” jacket. Swing by either of the brand’s two Portland locations for some badass goods.

View this post on Instagram

WHO'S READY TO GIVE A LITTLE HELL TOMORROW?!

A post shared by WILDFANG (@wearewildfang) on Nov 5, 2018 at 7:00am PST

Frances May This impeccably curated boutique in downtown Portland carries a slew of local designers with an eye on sustainability, from their own in-house line fashioned out of vintage fabrics to Kate Towers, whose pieces are hand-dyed and made of natural fibres, to Older Brother, a brand known for its eco-friendly, gender-neutral separates. In addition to clothing, Frances May carries shoes, sunglasses, bags and jewellery from local and international labels like Rachel Comey, Another Feather, Batsheva and Common Projects.

View this post on Instagram

Plenty of light and foliage and fall fashions in the shop RN. Come soak it all in today 11-7 🍂

A post shared by Frances May (@francesmayshop) on Oct 27, 2018 at 11:31am PDT

Schoolhouse Electric The headquarters of Schoolhouse—purveyors of eclectic furniture, lighting and home decor—are in a 115-year-old brick factory building. Not only are their one-of-a-kind pieces made onsite, but the building is also home to the brand’s flagsip store, a homey space where you’re likely to walk away with all manner of great finds, from quirky lamps to cool art.

View this post on Instagram

In our Portland flagship store you’ll see beloved vintage finds we’ve collected over the years. Our hope is that one day, our own Schoolhouse pieces will live on similarly as treasures for the next generation to cherish. #schoolhouseliving.

A post shared by Schoolhouse (@schoolhouse) on Aug 13, 2018 at 9:39am PDT

EAT

Tusk “Locally sourced, aggressively seasonal” boasts this Middle Eastern restaurant, and they deliver on both counts. The airy, light-filled restaurant is the ideal space for brunch, where you can enjoy dishes like The Cypriot (halloumi and spicy lamb sausage with eggs) and Mujadara (a combination of rice, lentils, crispy onions, labneh and sumac). Pretty much every single thing about this restaurant is Instagram bait, from the fresh, vibrant food to the earthy plateware to the space itself, awash in millennial-approved pastel hues.

View this post on Instagram

Kibbe Naya with green wheat, endive, raw lamb, turmeric yogurt, chips || #ayerscreekfarm #tuskpdx

A post shared by Tusk (@tuskpdx) on Oct 29, 2018 at 6:40pm PDT

Tasty n Alder One of the most beloved restaurants in the city, Tasty n Alder’s food is legendary. Carve out a solid chunk of time to dine here, so you can enjoy a range of dishes at leisure. A few items you mustn’t miss: their chocolate potato doughnut (trust me), the radicchio salad with bacon lardons, manchego and a six-minute egg, and the steak and cheddar eggs with cornmeal pancake and jalapeno butter.

View this post on Instagram

Tasty Steak N Cheddar Eggs. 🍳 . . . #tastynalder #portland #pdx #pdxeats #tastyfood #brunch #regram from @relishedafrica.

A post shared by Tasty N Alder (@tastynalder) on Aug 1, 2017 at 11:10am PDT

Pepe Le Moko A great spot for late-night eats and cocktails, this below-ground speakeasy seats just 36 people, so be sure to call ahead for a reservation. Oysters are their specialty, but I highly recommend ordering their cumin-roasted pistachios as a table snack. They’re seriously addictive.

Heart Coffee Roasters Portland’s no stranger to great coffee, and Heart’s one of the best specialty roasters in the city. They source their beans from countries like Guatemala, Ethiopia and Colombia, and have three locations in the city where you can get your fix.

View this post on Instagram

Shelves are stocked with a great selection of beans! Stop by any of our locations and grab yours for the weekend✌🏼

A post shared by Heart Roasters (@heartroasters) on Aug 10, 2018 at 7:58am PDT

Salt & Straw If you leave Portland without sampling the ice cream at Salt & Straw, you may as well not have visited at all. This small-batch ice cream shop with multiple locations has some of the most interesting flavours you’ll ever try: pear and blue cheese, Arbequina olive oil (apparently Oprah’s fave!), and even salted caramel Thanksgiving turkey.

View this post on Instagram

Behold, Salted Caramel Thanksgiving Turkey! The main course of our Thanksgiving menu, this creamy, salty-sweet ice cream is full of delightful, finger-licking flavor—we fold sweet and buttery turkey brittle into a turkey fat caramel ice cream, creating an astoundingly authentic flavor you’ll want to wrap up and take home for leftovers. Get your tail feathers in here and dig in!

A post shared by Salt & Straw Ice Cream (@saltandstraw) on Nov 5, 2018 at 12:02pm PST

Food trucks Portland has over 500 food trucks, most of which are clustered into areas locals refer to as “pods.” Check out a pod or two to sample foods like Korean bibimbap, Thai chicken and rice, falafel wraps, tacos, crepes and more. To help narrow the scope, it might be wise to consult a list like this one by Thrillist or to peruse this site dedicated to Portland’s food trucks before venturing out for your pod adventures.

VISIT

Powell’s Books Be sure to spend an afternoon at Powell’s, the world’s largest independent purveyor of new and used books. There are four locations in the city, but the one to visit is certainly the flagship in the Pearl District, which spans an entire city block and contains over one million books! Don’t leave without popping in to the Rare Book Room, which contains an impressive collection of autographed first editions and other collectible volumes.

View this post on Instagram

November 6 is around the corner. Get ready to vote! (link in bio) #powellsrecommends

A post shared by Powell's Books (@powellsbooks) on Oct 18, 2018 at 10:58am PDT

Portland Japanese Garden This five-hectare traditional Japanese garden, complete with koi ponds, a bonsai terrace and mini pagoda lanterns, is a joy to wander around. I recommend getting a guided tour because there’s so much to learn about the various Japanese traditions and styles that have been incorporated into the garden, which was built in 1963. While you’re in the neighbourhood, be sure to go across the street to the Rose Garden, the longest-running rose test garden in the United States, home to over 650 different varieties of roses.

View this post on Instagram

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."- Albert Camus — We're still awaiting the arrival of autumn, but in the meantime, share your favorite pictures of fall colors! — #fallcolor #fallcolors #portlandjapanesegarden #japanesegarden #japan #strollingpondgarden #lantern #travelportland #traveloregon #oregon #portland #pnw #oregonpnw #travel

A post shared by Portland Japanese Garden (@portlandjapanesegarden) on Oct 6, 2018 at 9:01am PDT

Natural wine bars Portland is having a major natural wine moment, which helps explain the proliferation of natural wine bars like Dame, Ok Omens, Sardine Head, Bar Norman and Ardor. Natural wines are made with minimal intervention, which means they’re organic and sans chemicals and additives. Wines can be intimidating, especially a whole new category of them, but these bars make it all fun and approachable. Want a particularly casual wining environment? Head to Sardine Head, which is Portland’s first natural wine dive bar.

View this post on Instagram

we love the whole world of wine, but this month we’re celebrating the talented, kind people making wine in our own backyard. more delicious by the year…with an expanding view of what can be grown. we’re pouring all of these wines by the glass! come sip or gulp.

A post shared by DAME (@damerestaurant) on May 3, 2018 at 5:24pm PDT

Mount Tabor Head to Mount Tabor, which is technically a dormant volcano vent, for a not-too-strenuous hike among Portland’s lush landscape of firs, maples and cedars. Be sure to check out one (or all) of the three reservoirs in the park, and halt along the way to take in the impressive view of the city down below.

View this post on Instagram

Hood. 🌲🌲🌲⚘

A post shared by Diane Rios (@dirios8) on Oct 27, 2018 at 12:25pm PDT

The post <em>FASHION’</em>s Guide to Portland, Where All Things Local Truly Shine appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

FASHION’s Guide to Portland, Where All Things Local Truly Shine published first on https://borboletabags.tumblr.com/

[lindyhunt]

FASHION’s Guide to Portland, Where All Things Local Truly Shine

Portland is a city for many tastes, proclivities and interests. If you’re the outdoorsy sort, rejoice in all the trails, slopes and lakes. If you care about the environment, you’ll be guaranteed to meet kindred spirits at every turn. If you’re a fan of local, small-batch goods, well I feel sorry for your wallet. And if you’re into food, saddle up, because there is SO much ground to cover. One through line you’ll probably pick up on by the end of a visit to Oregon’s largest city is the emphasis on all things local: whether it’s the restaurants that source their meat and produce from nearby farms or the stores that carry goods from homegrown businesses and retailers or the bars that champion wine from Oregon’s own biodynamic vineyards. Here’s a quick snapshot of some of the spots I explored on a trip to Portland over the summer, which should serve as a handy guide for whenever you’re headed to the City of Roses yourself.

SHOP

Wildfang You may have spotted their hugely popular ‘Wild Feminist’ t-shirts out on the street or on social media. The female-founded company specializes in menswear-inspired clothing for women and female-identifying people but it’s their politically-driven feminist messaging that gets the most love. Most recently, they put out a special collection encouraging people to vote in the midterm elections, and over the summer, raised $250,000 for refugees at the US-Mexico border with their “I really care, don’t you?” jacket. Swing by either of the brand’s two Portland locations for some badass goods.

View this post on Instagram

WHO'S READY TO GIVE A LITTLE HELL TOMORROW?!

A post shared by WILDFANG (@wearewildfang) on Nov 5, 2018 at 7:00am PST

Frances May This impeccably curated boutique in downtown Portland carries a slew of local designers with an eye on sustainability, from their own in-house line fashioned out of vintage fabrics to Kate Towers, whose pieces are hand-dyed and made of natural fibres, to Older Brother, a brand known for its eco-friendly, gender-neutral separates. In addition to clothing, Frances May carries shoes, sunglasses, bags and jewellery from local and international labels like Rachel Comey, Another Feather, Batsheva and Common Projects.

View this post on Instagram

Plenty of light and foliage and fall fashions in the shop RN. Come soak it all in today 11-7 🍂

A post shared by Frances May (@francesmayshop) on Oct 27, 2018 at 11:31am PDT

Schoolhouse Electric The headquarters of Schoolhouse—purveyors of eclectic furniture, lighting and home decor—are in a 115-year-old brick factory building. Not only are their one-of-a-kind pieces made onsite, but the building is also home to the brand’s flagsip store, a homey space where you’re likely to walk away with all manner of great finds, from quirky lamps to cool art.

View this post on Instagram

In our Portland flagship store you’ll see beloved vintage finds we’ve collected over the years. Our hope is that one day, our own Schoolhouse pieces will live on similarly as treasures for the next generation to cherish. #schoolhouseliving.

A post shared by Schoolhouse (@schoolhouse) on Aug 13, 2018 at 9:39am PDT

EAT

Tusk “Locally sourced, aggressively seasonal” boasts this Middle Eastern restaurant, and they deliver on both counts. The airy, light-filled restaurant is the ideal space for brunch, where you can enjoy dishes like The Cypriot (halloumi and spicy lamb sausage with eggs) and Mujadara (a combination of rice, lentils, crispy onions, labneh and sumac). Pretty much every single thing about this restaurant is Instagram bait, from the fresh, vibrant food to the earthy plateware to the space itself, awash in millennial-approved pastel hues.

View this post on Instagram

Kibbe Naya with green wheat, endive, raw lamb, turmeric yogurt, chips || #ayerscreekfarm #tuskpdx

A post shared by Tusk (@tuskpdx) on Oct 29, 2018 at 6:40pm PDT

Tasty n Alder One of the most beloved restaurants in the city, Tasty n Alder’s food is legendary. Carve out a solid chunk of time to dine here, so you can enjoy a range of dishes at leisure. A few items you mustn’t miss: their chocolate potato doughnut (trust me), the radicchio salad with bacon lardons, manchego and a six-minute egg, and the steak and cheddar eggs with cornmeal pancake and jalapeno butter.

View this post on Instagram

Tasty Steak N Cheddar Eggs. 🍳 . . . #tastynalder #portland #pdx #pdxeats #tastyfood #brunch #regram from @relishedafrica.

A post shared by Tasty N Alder (@tastynalder) on Aug 1, 2017 at 11:10am PDT

Pepe Le Moko A great spot for late-night eats and cocktails, this below-ground speakeasy seats just 36 people, so be sure to call ahead for a reservation. Oysters are their specialty, but I highly recommend ordering their cumin-roasted pistachios as a table snack. They’re seriously addictive.

Heart Coffee Roasters Portland’s no stranger to great coffee, and Heart’s one of the best specialty roasters in the city. They source their beans from countries like Guatemala, Ethiopia and Colombia, and have three locations in the city where you can get your fix.

View this post on Instagram

Shelves are stocked with a great selection of beans! Stop by any of our locations and grab yours for the weekend✌🏼

A post shared by Heart Roasters (@heartroasters) on Aug 10, 2018 at 7:58am PDT

Salt & Straw If you leave Portland without sampling the ice cream at Salt & Straw, you may as well not have visited at all. This small-batch ice cream shop with multiple locations has some of the most interesting flavours you’ll ever try: pear and blue cheese, Arbequina olive oil (apparently Oprah’s fave!), and even salted caramel Thanksgiving turkey.

View this post on Instagram

Behold, Salted Caramel Thanksgiving Turkey! The main course of our Thanksgiving menu, this creamy, salty-sweet ice cream is full of delightful, finger-licking flavor—we fold sweet and buttery turkey brittle into a turkey fat caramel ice cream, creating an astoundingly authentic flavor you’ll want to wrap up and take home for leftovers. Get your tail feathers in here and dig in!

A post shared by Salt & Straw Ice Cream (@saltandstraw) on Nov 5, 2018 at 12:02pm PST

Food trucks Portland has over 500 food trucks, most of which are clustered into areas locals refer to as “pods.” Check out a pod or two to sample foods like Korean bibimbap, Thai chicken and rice, falafel wraps, tacos, crepes and more. To help narrow the scope, it might be wise to consult a list like this one by Thrillist or to peruse this site dedicated to Portland’s food trucks before venturing out for your pod adventures.

VISIT

Powell’s Books Be sure to spend an afternoon at Powell’s, the world’s largest independent purveyor of new and used books. There are four locations in the city, but the one to visit is certainly the flagship in the Pearl District, which spans an entire city block and contains over one million books! Don’t leave without popping in to the Rare Book Room, which contains an impressive collection of autographed first editions and other collectible volumes.

View this post on Instagram

November 6 is around the corner. Get ready to vote! (link in bio) #powellsrecommends

A post shared by Powell's Books (@powellsbooks) on Oct 18, 2018 at 10:58am PDT

Portland Japanese Garden This five-hectare traditional Japanese garden, complete with koi ponds, a bonsai terrace and mini pagoda lanterns, is a joy to wander around. I recommend getting a guided tour because there’s so much to learn about the various Japanese traditions and styles that have been incorporated into the garden, which was built in 1963. While you’re in the neighbourhood, be sure to go across the street to the Rose Garden, the longest-running rose test garden in the United States, home to over 650 different varieties of roses.

View this post on Instagram

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."- Albert Camus — We're still awaiting the arrival of autumn, but in the meantime, share your favorite pictures of fall colors! — #fallcolor #fallcolors #portlandjapanesegarden #japanesegarden #japan #strollingpondgarden #lantern #travelportland #traveloregon #oregon #portland #pnw #oregonpnw #travel

A post shared by Portland Japanese Garden (@portlandjapanesegarden) on Oct 6, 2018 at 9:01am PDT

Natural wine bars Portland is having a major natural wine moment, which helps explain the proliferation of natural wine bars like Dame, Ok Omens, Sardine Head, Bar Norman and Ardor. Natural wines are made with minimal intervention, which means they’re organic and sans chemicals and additives. Wines can be intimidating, especially a whole new category of them, but these bars make it all fun and approachable. Want a particularly casual wining environment? Head to Sardine Head, which is Portland’s first natural wine dive bar.

View this post on Instagram

we love the whole world of wine, but this month we’re celebrating the talented, kind people making wine in our own backyard. more delicious by the year…with an expanding view of what can be grown. we’re pouring all of these wines by the glass! come sip or gulp.

A post shared by DAME (@damerestaurant) on May 3, 2018 at 5:24pm PDT

Mount Tabor Head to Mount Tabor, which is technically a dormant volcano vent, for a not-too-strenuous hike among Portland’s lush landscape of firs, maples and cedars. Be sure to check out one (or all) of the three reservoirs in the park, and halt along the way to take in the impressive view of the city down below.

View this post on Instagram

Hood. 🌲🌲🌲⚘

A post shared by Diane Rios (@dirios8) on Oct 27, 2018 at 12:25pm PDT

[newssplashy]

Guy Smarts: What is the mediterranean diet, and can it help you lose weight?

Last June, many asked themselves that question when the New England Journal of Medicine retracted a major 2013 study that claimed the Mediterranean diet reduced your risk of heart attack and stroke.

It's been said that the Mediterranean Diet, which focuses on plant-based foods and lean proteins like fish and chicken, can help you lose weight and slash your cancer risk. But is the Mediterranean Diet really worth the hype?

Last June, many asked themselves that question when the New England Journal of Medicine retracted a major 2013 study that claimed the Mediterranean diet reduced your risk of heart attack and stroke. Because the 2013 research did not meet the standards of a randomized, control trial, there wasn't enough evidence to support the study, the retraction stated.

At the end of the day, however, Sean Heffron, MD, preventive cardiologist at NYU Langone Health, says the Mediterranean Diet is still the healthiest way to eat.

Wanna try the Mediterranean Diet? Here's what you need to know. 

What to eat on the Mediterranean Diet

 The Mediterranean Diet emphasizes heart-healthy foods like nuts, fish, and olive oil, and limits intake of red meat, butter, and added sugar. For this reason, it might be difficult to adapt the Mediterranean diet if you typically subsist on Seamless or frozen dinners.

But Heffron says that "any shift away from a nutrient-poor, refined-food heavy diet toward a Mediterranean-type diet is likely to be beneficial." You can start small by increasing your veggie intake or switching from refined grains to whole grains. 

Here’s a look at the most common Mediterranean Diet staples, according to the Mediterranean Diet pyramid.

Grains: One to two servings of whole grain bread, pasta, rice and couscous are eaten at every meal.

Vegetables: Include two servings of vegetables in a variety of colors at both lunch and dinner. (For reference, one serving is roughly a half cup of cooked veggies, or one cup of raw veggies.) Traditional Mediterranean choices include kale, eggplant, artichoke, beets and sweet potatoes.

Fruit: Fruit is eaten as a dessert, with one to two servings recommended after lunch and dinner. Opt for fruits like apples, apricots, dates, figs and pomegranates, which are common in the Mediterranean region.

Fats: Instead of eating chips or processed snacks, get your fats from heart-healthy sources like olive oil and nuts. Limit your olive oil intake to between one and four tablespoons a day. (That includes oil used for cooking.)

 Meat: You should be getting your protein from omega-3-rich sources like salmon, tuna mackerel, and anchovies. Limit your red meat intake to only a few times per month.

Dairy: Under the Mediterranean Diet, you can eat three servings of low-fat yogurt, cheese, or milk per week.

What are the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet?

 1) Your heart health improves.

Time and time again, studies show that the Mediterranean diet protects your heart. That's an important perk, since heart disease is the leading killer of men in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

One preliminary study from the American College of Cardiology sheds light on that statistic even further: After following more than 2,500 Greek adults aged 18 to 89 for 11 years, researchers found that nearly 20 percent of men who participated in the study either developed or died from heart disease.

Plus, the diet emphasizes canola oil, walnuts, and fatty fish, all of which contain omega-3 fatty acids, a type of fat that can help lower your triglycerides (a type of fat in your blood), keep your blood pressure stable and your blood vessels healthy, all of which benefit your heart in the long run, according to the Mayo Clinic.

2) Your penis performs better.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common symptom of heart disease, because once plaque starts to form and build up in your blood vessels, the super small blood vessels in your penis are some of the first to get blocked up, says Jamin Brahmbhatt, M.D., a urologist at Orlando Health.

Research supports this idea: In one study, Italian scientists asked 35 men diagnosed with ED and metabolic syndrome-a term used to describe a cluster of risk factors associated with heart problems-to eat lots of Mediterranean staples, like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and fish. Another 30 men with just metabolic syndrome followed a control diet instead.

After two years, one third of men who ate the Mediterranean diet regained normal sexual functioning, the study found. The researchers aren’t sure why this is, but they hypothesized that foods full of fiber and antioxidants work to reduce inflammation in your body, which helps promote healthy blood flow, the study authors say.

 3) Your brain ages slower.

Brain food is a real thing, according to a review published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition. Australian researchers looked at 18 different studies examining the Mediterranean diet’s impact on brain functioning and found that people who stuck to the diet experienced slower rates of age-related cognitive decline and had a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, eating Mediterranean foods was associated with better working memory and attention.

Many Mediterranean diet foods reduce inflammation in your body, and scientists believe this protects nerve cells in your brain from deteriorating, research from Spain suggests.

4) Your vision can improve.

Antioxidants in Mediterranean-approved foods like dark leafy greens, oranges, peppers, and sweet potatoes are great for your vision, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Plus, people who eat just one serving of fish per week have a 31% lower risk of developing early age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a type of eye damage that’s the leading cause of vision loss for people 50 and older, a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology suggests.

The reason? Eating more omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in both fish and nuts, may protect your retinas from cell damage.

5) Your colon cancer risk drops.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. But eating certain foods may reduce your odds of developing the disease in the first place, according to preliminary research from the European Society for Medical Oncology.

After surveying 800 people being screened for the disease or undergoing colonoscopies, scientists found that those with advanced colon polyps - a clump of precancerous cells that form on the lining of your colon or rectum - reported eating fewer Mediterranean diet foods and more red meat.

In fact, eating at least 90 grams of whole grains per day can slash your colon cancer risk by 17 percent, according to a report from the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research. The reason: fiber in whole grains keep you regular, which may minimize the chances of developing cancer-causing mutations in your digestive tract, the report authors note.

That said, your diet can only take you so far. Colonoscopies can save your life, so the best way to catch colon cancer early is by getting screened for it regularly.

6) Your kidney function improves.

Your kidneys don’t get enough credit: they’re constantly working to filter out extra water and waste from your blood, while producing hormones that keep your blood pressure in check and your bones strong.

Yet chronic kidney disease, or long-term kidney damage, affects more than 30 million Americans.

The good news is that those who closely followed the Mediterranean diet reduced their risk of developing chronic kidney disease by 50%, according to a study of 900 people in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. This may be because fruits, vegetables, nuts, olive oil and fish have been proven to lower inflammation in your body, a known contributor to chronic kidney disease.

7) You could lose weight.

Most doctors tout the importance of eating fruits and vegetables, so it’s no surprise that the Mediterranean diet can help you drop a few pounds. A study of more than 7,000 adults published in The Lancet found that people lost more weight on the Mediterranean diet without counting calories compared to those on lower fat diets.

The Mediterranean is particularly effective at reducing belly fat, which is more harmful to overall health and raises your heart disease and type 2 diabetes risk

source http://www.newssplashy.com/2018/08/guy-smarts-what-is-mediterranean-diet.html

#News