#milk rice is sexy too. dancing as well

[avengerscompound]

Running to a Standstill - 14

Running to a Standstill: A Captain America Fanfic

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Buy me a ☕ Character Pairing:  Bucky Barnes x Steve Rogers x F!Reader

Word Count:  3331

Rating:  E

Warnings: Smut (MM, frottage, oral sex, anal fingering)

Synopsis: While on the run from an unknown organization trying to take your son, you meet two super-soldiers.  While they try to help you get to the bottom of who is hunting you and your son, feelings come out and admissions are made that make your personal life even more tricky.

Chapter 14

Steve woke before both you and Bucky.  He would normally get up and go for a run, but there was something too inviting about staying curled up in bed with both of you to resist.

Bucky had ended up in the middle, cuddled around you while Steve spooned him.  Seeing him now, wrapped around you, reminded Steve of when they were still boys and hadn’t acknowledged how they felt.  Steve would often wake up with Bucky draped over him.  Steve had never liked feeling that small.  He wondered if Bucky had liked being able to hold someone like that.

The bedroom door opened and a bleary-eyed looking Geo cuddling his tablet.  He stuck his thumb in his mouth and just stared at the bed.

“Hey, G,” Steve said, softly.  “You wanna climb in here with us?”

Geo shook his head and point at the door before shoving his thumb back in his mouth.

Steve smiled and untangled himself from Bucky.  It wasn’t as easy as he thought, and Bucky grumbled and shifted closer to you.  It was interesting.  He’d walked in on Bucky sleeping a few times since getting him back and Bucky had always jolted awake and gone into a defensive position, prepared to be attacked.  Yet here he was, deep asleep and not waking for either someone entering the room or being shuffled around.  Steve wondered if Bucky was just more attuned to what was happening and who was with him, or he was just so relaxed that his usual expectations of being attacked had just failed to be set off.

Steve followed Geo out into the living room and the little boy went straight to the kitchen and pointed up at the cupboard where Steve kept his cereal.  “You want some breakfast, buddy?”

Geo nodded and pointed again and Steve opened the cupboard.  The array of cereal had definitely expanded since you moved in.  He used to have granola, corn flakes, and cheerios.  Now there were  Honey Bunches of Oats, Rice Krispies, and Lucky Charms in there too.  “Which one do you want, G?”

Geo still wasn’t talking.  He just pointed again and Steve started to touch the boxes in the hope that Geo might nod when he touched the one he wanted.

“Captain Rogers,” FRIDAY announced.  “Geo wanted me to tell you he wants Lucky Charms.”

Steve chuckled and got the box from the cupboards.  “Thanks, FRIDAY,” he said.  “You not ready to talk yet, Gee?”

Geo shook his head, his thumb firmly planted in his mouth.

Steve grabbed a plastic bowl and poured the cereal into it.  “That’s okay.  You don’t have to talk to anyone.”

He added milk to the cereal, grabbed a spoon, and set Geo up at the coffee table with a box of apple juice.  He turned on some cartoons and Geo just sat quietly watching Scooby-Doo as he ate.  Steve went back into the kitchen to try and figure out what he’d make for everyone else.  He wasn’t really much of a cook.  Or a cook at all.  He liked to joke he could make a peanut butter sandwich and it would end up burned.  While he considered what he could handle that was more than just toast and cereal, he put on the coffee.

You and Bucky emerged from the bedroom still looking like you were both not quite awake.  Bucky came straight to the kitchen while you went and kissed Geo good morning.

“Were you trying to make breakfast?”  Bucky asked.

“I was thinking about it,” Steve said.  “It’s the thought that counts right?”

“You tell that to my stomach, pal,” Bucky teased and started pulling things out of the fridge.

“Thanks for getting Geo his breakfast,” you said, coming into the kitchen. “What are we making?”

“I was thinking omelets,” Bucky said.  “We can put what we like in them.”

“Sounds perfect,” you agreed and grabbed a bowl and started cracking eggs into it.  “So I was thinking…”

Steve looked over at you.  There was an edge to your voice that told him you were overthinking things again.

“I’m really worried about Geo starting to see you as … well dads I guess,” you said.  You spoke quietly, clearly not wanting Geo to overhear.  “At least not until we’re all absolutely sure this is it for all of us.  And it’s far too early for that.  I was already concerned about him forming too strong bonds with everyone here.  I don’t want him to start getting separation anxiety on top of everything else.”

“So what were you thinkin’, hon?”  Bucky asked, looking up from the cutting he was doing.

“Well, I’m staying here because it’s not safe too.  But ideally, I wouldn’t be living with Steve,” you explained.  “I’m wondering if I should start sleeping in Geo’s room again.  Not always.  Just… so he doesn’t get the image of us in bed together connected with the way parents sleep in the same bed in TV shows.  You know?”

Steve nodded, though he couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

“I think maybe you shouldn’t sleep over all the time either, Buck.  Just … you know?”  You said.

Bucky nodded too and rubbed your back.  “I get it.”

“But I think this could be good for us too, because… I think we should also spend time together as couples.  Particularly you two.  I think you have to … explore some things together without me,” you explained.  “You know what I mean?”

Steve couldn’t fault your logic.  There had been so much he and Bucky had missed out on and even though he’d enjoyed the sex he’d had with you both, there were probably things they needed to try one-on-one too.  It was good to make sure the bonds with each other were as strong as the bonds as a trio were too.  “It makes sense,” he agreed.

“Good,” you said, sounding relieved.  “So I don’t know, maybe some nights we all sleep here, some nights it’s just me and Bucky, and some night you guys sleepover in Bucky’s apartment.  And we just… take turns with this being Geo’s home.  Does that … is that okay?”

“It’s a really good idea,” Bucky agreed.  “And trust me, the last thing we want to do is hurt Geo.  So we’ll be careful.”

“Thanks, Bucky,” you said.  “I mean, I want this to work…”

“Of course you do,” Steve said.  “We all do, but you’re right to protect him.”

“So, uh…” Bucky said, getting a pan out.  “How do we decide?”

“Yeah, that’s tricky,” you said.  “Don’t want people to feel left out, so how about tonight, that is if you’re both available, you guys go on a first date.  You have a lot of time to make up.”

“You really wouldn’t mind?”  Steve asked.

You shook your head.  “Geo and I can watch a movie and have an early night.”

“Alright, Buck?  What do you think?  Want to go out for dinner with me?”   Steve asked.

Bucky smiled.  It was genuine and Steve could see the love he felt reflected back at him.  “I’d love to, Stevie.”

Steve took Bucky to a jazz club in the end.  It was dark and loud and very difficult to talk, but Steve didn’t feel like he needed to talk to Bucky.  He and Bucky had talked and talked and talked and talked.  It was time for all the other things they’d missed out on.  The holding hands on the table.  The sharing bites of each other’s food.  The cuddling.  The stolen kisses.  He needed to have the dance.  He wanted the dance he had failed to get in all his years on earth.

The jazz club was perfect because of how dark and loud it was.  He didn’t have to worry about saying the wrong thing or having people’s eyes on him.  The food was good but not outside his comfort zone, so he didn’t have to worry about the wrong choice.  Most importantly, he could dance to music that was familiar to him with the man he had been in love with since 1935.

Steve had chosen familiar foods.  It was food he’d imagined would have seemed so fancy to him back when he was a kid.  A shrimp cocktail for starters and rib-eye steak for his entree.  He even ordered a martini, like he was playing at being a spy and this was the persona he needed to fit.

Bucky was a little more daring, ordering grilled asparagus with goat’s cheese to start and mussels served in a garlic and white wine broth for his entree.

It almost didn’t matter in the end though.  They sat close to each other on their tiny table and they switched plates back and forth as they ate.  Steve got all the things he’d imagined when he was young when he thought about going out on a date with Bucky.  Only no one cared that it was two men sitting there, holding hands and stealing kisses.  The floor was always packed with people swing dancing.

They were finishing up their meals when Bucky leaned into him.  “Are you actually going to ask me to dance, pal?”

Steve smiled and his face flushed. “Will you lead?  I still don’t know how.”

“Yeah, Stevie,” Bucky said, standing and offering Steve his hand.  “I’ll lead.”

Bucky led Steve around the dance floor, spinning him and dipping him.  The more they danced the more comfortable Steve felt and the better he got.  Until they were both laughing and jiving together in the crowd of people.

The music changed from something up-tempo to something slow and sexy.  For a moment Steve considered sitting down.  It was one thing to jitterbug with Bucky, it was another completely to slow dance with him in front of all these people.  Bucky didn’t seem to question it for a second, he just pulled Steve close and put his hands on Steve’s hips.  They slowly swayed together on the dance floor, cheek-to-cheek.  The smell of Bucky’s cologne, warm and woody, mixed with the salt on his skin, seemed to cut through the smell of sweat and alcohol and cooking that otherwise dominated the room.  It was just him and Bucky, and while part of him wished you were here too to be part of this, he appreciated that it was just Bucky.  It felt right.

“I want you to take me home,” Bucky whispered against Steve’s ear.  Normally Bucky saying something like that would make Steve worry he was in the midst of a panic attack.  There was something completely different about it this time.  Something dark and sexy.

Steve took his hand and led him off the dance floor.  He settled the check as quickly as he could and the two made their way back out and flagged down a cab.

Bucky kept nosing at Steve’s cheek and trying to initiate a kiss.  Steve wasn’t ready for that yet.  Not so publicly.  It wasn’t Bucky.  He’d be the same with you too.  Public displays of affection made him feel awkward.

“Stevie,” Bucky teased, nipping at Steve’s earlobe.

“Just be patient,” Steve said, nudging Bucky.

The car pulled up at the front of the Avengers Tower and Steve paid while Bucky tried to drag him out of the back seat.

When they got into the elevator Bucky pushed him up against the wall and kissed him hungrily.  Steve couldn’t stop smiling into Bucky’s lips even as the other man fumbled at his belt and dragged him close so their hips touched.

The elevator opened and Bucky practically dragged Steve down to his apartment.  “So eager, Buck,” Steve teased as he let Bucky pull him through the door into his apartment.

Bucky’s apartment was always impossibly clean, but pretty homey.  The couch was a soft black leather but most everything else was timber.  A mixture of stained ash, cedar, and white paint.  He had art on the walls.  Mostly photography or vector art of cars or motorcycles, but there was a sketch Steve had done of the view down the street from Bucky’s fire escape.  It was a recent one and done by memory.  Something Steve had drawn in the hopes of prodding Bucky’s memory.  There was also a calendar on the wall set on the wrong month with a print of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.

“I just -“ he looked over to the bedroom.  “-you know?”

Steve laughed and began to unbutton Bucky’s shirt. “It’s not like we did that very long ago.”

“Yeah,” Bucky said, grabbing the waistband of Steve’s pants and dragging him toward the bedroom.  “And it was good.  And now I want to do it again.”

Bucky started to kiss Steve’s neck as he unfastened his pants and Steve pushed Bucky’s shirt off.  Steve trailed his fingers along the scarring that connected Bucky’s arm to his shoulder.  Bucky flinched and took Steve’s hand and moved it down to his side.

“Sorry,” Steve whispered, kissing Bucky’s neck.  “Does it hurt?”

Bucky shook his head.  “No… well yeah, always.  But not more when you touch it.  I just hate it.  Don’t want to be reminded of it now.”

“I’m sorry,” Steve said.  He got it.  It was a constant brutal reminder of what had happened to him.  What he’d lost and how he’d been changed.  Steve got sensitive about people pointing out his looks after he had the serum when they ignored him so much before it.  The arm and the scarring would be much worse than that.

“Don’t worry,” Bucky said and brought his lips to Steve’s.  They kissed passionately.  Their lips moved against each other’s, as Bucky pulled Steve back towards the bed.  Steve unfastened Bucky’s fly and pushed his pants down.  When Bucky was down to just his boxer briefs, he pushed Steve back onto the bed and straddled his lap, kissing him hungrily as he ground his hips against Steve’s.

Steve was still fully dressed and his cock began to strain against his pants.  He could feel Bucky’s erection with each roll of the other man’s hips.  It rubbed against Steve’s and a little wet patch began to form on Bucky’s underwear.

Steve ran his hands down Bucky’s back and gripped his ass, pulling him firmer against him.  “Fuck, Steve… I want you…” Bucky groaned.

“I’m yours, Buck,” Steve whispered.

Bucky began to frantically undress Steve, fumbling with the buttons of his shirt and the buckle on his belt.  Steve lay back and tangled his hands in Bucky’s hair, letting him take the lead.  When Bucky had finally stripped Steve of his clothes, he looked down into his eyes and ran his metal hand over Steve’s chest.

Steve was achingly hard but a little unsure what to do next and it looked like Bucky might be feeling a little lost too.  Steve pushed Bucky’s boxers down and wrapped his hand around both their cocks and began to pump them in his hand as they were pressed together.

“Fuck, Stevie,” Bucky groaned.  “That feels so good.”

Steve rolled them both over so he was on top.  “I want you to feel good,” he whispered and began to kiss Bucky’s neck.  Bucky reached over to his bedside table and fumbled around as Steve began to kiss his way down Bucky’s chest.  There was a crash as the drawer fell to the ground and Steve looked up startled to see Bucky holding a tube of lubricant up almost triumphantly.

“What do you want?”  Steve asked, taking it from Bucky.

“Stretch me,” Bucky said, the hint of pleading in his voice.

Steve nodded and slicked his fingers with the thick gel.  Bucky wrapped his arms around his knees, lifting them so Steve had better access to his ass.  Steve teased his fingers over Bucky’s tight hole and very slowly began to ease one inside.  Bucky closed his eyes and his head fell back with his lips slightly parted.  A soft low moan escaped his lips and Steve couldn’t help but admire how beautiful Bucky looked when he let himself enjoy something.

Steve dropped his head down, pulling Bucky’s cock into his mouth.  He licked a salty bead of pre-come off the head of Bucky’s cock, savoring the taste of the man he’d been in love with for so long and appreciating the fact he was finally getting to have this.  He eased his finger in deeper, moving it in and out as he slowly bobbed his head up and down on Bucky’s cock, testing his own limits as he tested Bucky’s.

Bucky gave himself to his pleasure.  Relaxing into it.  He squirmed under Steve and moaned loudly.  It was happening very quickly.  Steve had only gotten his finger into one knuckle when Bucky’s cock began to throb in Steve’s mouth.  Steve kept the same steady pace.  He wanted Bucky to enjoy this.  No pain.  No shame.  Just pleasure.  He moved his finger in and out, pushing it in a little more each time but never forcing it.  If Bucky clenched, he’d pull back, when he relaxed, Steve would push in deeper.

He took Bucky’s cock deeper into his throat, gagging a little as he did.  His mouth stretched around his thick shaft but he enjoyed it.  His own cock was hard and leaking as he pleasured Bucky.  Bucky’s moans became panting and his hips started to buck up into Steve’s mouth.

“Steve,” he moaned.  “Stevie, I’m gonna come.”

Steve moved a little faster and sucked a little harder and with a loud moan, Bucky arched his back and came, his cock releasing straight down Steve’s throat.  There was so much, and Steve swallowed it all, saving the thick and salty mess.  He moaned as he pulled off and slid his fingers from Bucky’s ass.

Bucky almost jumped up pulling Steve into a passionate and frantic kiss.  “Fuck, Stevie,” he mumbled between kisses.  “I wanna do you.  Can I?”

“Yeah,” Steve laughed, Bucky’s lips still firmly on his.  “Yeah, Buck.  I’d like that.”

Bucky guided Steve onto his back and scrambled down Steve’s body.  He quickly slicked the fingers with the lube and dropped down, sucking Steve’s cock.  Steve groaned at the warm, wet pressure of Bucky’s mouth.  He kept his eyes locked on him, enjoying the view as Bucky sucked up and down his cock.  Bucky massaged Steve’s asshole as he bobbed his head up and down on his cock.  It sent a warm tingled running through Steve, and his head felt pleasantly fuzzy with it.  There was a slight burn as Bucky’s finger eased in.  Steve hadn’t been expecting how completely good that would feel, even the slight pain that happened the deeper Bucky pushed his finger was the good kind, like after a good workout.  He groaned and began to roll his hips up into Bucky’s mouth.  Bucky let him push in deeper and started adding a second finger.  The burn was more but Steve enjoyed that too.  He moaned loudly, letting himself really experience it.

As Bucky’s fingers moved deeper and faster in and out of Steve’s ass, Steve began to pant and his cock twitched and throbbed.  Bucky moaned as it began to leak precum down his throat.  Bucky’s fingers touched on this sweet spot inside Steve and Steve gasped and jerked his hips.  “Fuck!” I cursed, and he came hard and without warning.  His orgasm seemed to start in his gut, something he’d never experienced before.  The intensity of it shocked him.  Bucky choked and pulled back, spilling Steve’s come on his stomach.

Bucky pulled his finger out and collapsed down on the bed beside Steve.

“That was…”  Steve hummed.

“Mmm,” Bucky agreed.

Steve sat up and kissed Bucky’s stomach.  “Let’s take a shower.”

Bucky smiled and got up with him.  As they went into the bathroom Steve felt warm and grateful that you’d given this time alone.  You were right, you all needed that.  But still, he was looking forward to tomorrow when it would be all three of you again.

// NEXT

#steve rogers #bucky barnes #bucky barnes x steve rogers x reader #bucky barnes x reader #steve rogers x reader #stucky #stucky x reader #captain america #the winter soldier #captain america fanfic #the winter soldier fanfic #fanfic #fanfiction #reader insert #smut #running to a standstill

[maravillastrishia5]

"The man and the woman."

I always hated noise.

Dark and silence was my solace. But here I am with my friends, in this cluttered arena-known as the underground bar room. Dancing and kissing are everywhere. Defeaning music I've here were breaking into the wall. The air was mixing some smoke of cigarettes and lust people. No one in this area today was in their sane minds except for me.

I scan with my tip toes searching for a place that I can relax but unfortunately, I failed. Why did I agree to this? I just need a friend who can understand me. I wasn't exactly thrilled and enjoyed for being here. I walked out with angry written all over my face.

When I'm walking to search some taxi to going home. I saw a large group of boys who follows me. I suddenly felt fear and scared that's why I run as fast as I can but one guy caught me and hold a grip with me. I felt tremble like my whole body will be collapsed any time. I shouted some help but there is no one who wanted to help me. fortunately, an angel that send God to save me has come. but the fear I'm feel a minute ago disappeared when the time I saw his deep granite eyes that can make a woman swoon. His aristocrat nose. The sexy lips that curved into a sexy smile and of course his quiff style hair this man is downright gorgeous. My fears and scared that I almost felt covered into a sweet romance.

He manage to win those punks and bastard group of boys.

Then my heart beat faster when he walks toward on me saying"Miss are you Ok ? Are you hurt? He handed his hands to help me to stand .

Thank you for saving me. How can I repay your kindness. Mr??

Just call me Bench with a smile on his face.

Just one date for a beautiful lady like you.

I widen my eyes in shock on what I hear?

Ww-What??

A date? Nooo. I won't do that.

Money??? How much.? I can give you that.

Bench eyebrows furrowed.

I refused Ms.??

Rose Buenavista Sanchez

Then I will called those group of bastard again. Nooo, please i can do everything but not a date bench.

That's what I want! A date Rose. By the way, You can run but you cannot hide from me. I warned you I'm serious.

Okay . I will be your date in a month. But shhh...stop .

bench grinned..Deal? Deal with handshaking with their hands.

In the next morning, I'm still in shock on what happened yesterday I become his date but I don't have a experience and it against my will to do that too.

Arrghhhh

I can't do this. The phone ringing. hello any.? I need help. What is it ?? There's someone who wants to date with me and that guy is the only one person who saved me yesterday to those bastards. What?? Yesterday ? What happened? Hmm there a group of boys wants to rape me but thanks God there someone who helped me. And that is Bench Montero

Bench Montero you mean the owner of Airjeam Airlines and luxury hotel in Singapore.?? Yes ..omyhadd!!!! rose you got hit a jackpot ..ohhh I'm jealous on you plus he has well toned body and six abs. And for the advice just do want he wants rose. And I think he's a good guy for you because he help you by the way to those punks. remember?

Yeah .yeahh Irritated all over on my voice. Goodbye Anny ,then I hung up.

On my morning routine I eat a a lot Vegetables and just a bottle of milk and jogging for an hour after I going to bath.

I'm just wearing some floral dress with a ponytail style and just a simple makeup.

"Message Ringtone" I got a test message of unknown.

I open and read it." Hey Rose, good morning let's date today..😘

My mood breaks my twilight zone when I saw the message. And I know its bench the prick.

. Haysss shit !

I'm sorry I have an important event to attend.

I can't go with you maybe next time. I replied.

what event? he says. Auction for animal health welfare. Hmm. I can go with you because I invited too. I think were destined to each other rose. bench teasingly laughed at me.

Noooo way..

Yess way I conclude. I will go as my partner date and that's final. Okayyy sir irritated all over my voice..Where did you live ? I'm going to your house in a 30 minutes later. What ??? The deal?? Remember ? And please just follow what is my command.

Okay.In a Velez condo unit r-436.

Thanks and see u later rose.

Before 30mins. Someone doorbell on my apartment and i know it already who will be coming .my guessing is correct. Its bench. i saw him wearing some black tuxedo that make sure you well drole and see his well- toned body. I pitch my cheek if its true or not but it hurts.

I opened it . Hey !!Bench come in. But he didn't respond in me and he's acting weird annoyed face. ohhh .. just for a minute .okay bench replied.

let's go we were gonna be late I'm fix already. I'm wearing a red sexy back dress and makeup on it.

Wait!!! Turn around rose. Bench command. And I turn around too. stop!!. Just u know change your outfit now it's very revealing and lustful dress.

Mr. Bench Montero for your information I like my outfit today.!! Okay?? I don't own your permission of how or what kind of dress I'm going to wear..

Okaayy I'm not gonna help you if there someone who wants to rape you again.

Are you threaten me Bench!.

nooo!! I'm just telling the truth.and now change your outfit.

And now I'm gonna change my outfit because of this prick bastard bench. I lost my excitement for going on that event.

When we are in the event

Nervousness rises to a whole new intimadating level and I feel my hands tremble in anxiety. My mouth was shut tight due to the dryness and my feet were. Close to running numb in my three inch heels. I walk with my arm in Bench's arm and stare at the brightly lit hall which screamed luxury and sophistication. A beautiful chandelier were shining from the high white ceiling and welcoming every guest . the marble ball beneath my feet reflected the light that created an exquisitive delightful aura around the huge hall filled with high class who looked perfect in their equally outfits. The waiters dress black were offering some drinks shock obviously branded nature..

When the auction started.

in a whole day of auction all I do is to drink and eat some delicious food in that time . I'm so bored and I don't have friends in the auction so I'm freely to do what I want today. But sadly, speaking of the devil bench walking towards on me.

Hey.. where were you? You did not tell me you're leaving my side. Bench talking but i know his angry.

Ohhh . I forgot to tell you. I'm hungry thats why I'm eating sorry . sarcastically tone.

Let's go. We should go home now. Bench said.

ookay..

In the car

Bench..??..for breaking the silenced.

Hmm do you have a girlfriend.??

Nope.

Hmm? do you like someone already ? Shyness overload in my face.

Yes. Replied

Okaayy.. I replied too.

Byee bench thank you for tonight.

Your welcome ..wait rose!

He pinned me against the wall by bench's body. his minty breath falls on my face as his chest rises and falls rapidly. The tuxedo still held between us and is separating us but I can feel his heartbeat against my chest as he stares into my eyes intensely.

I forgot to tell you . You're beautiful and a quick smack landing on my cheek. I frooze on what bench do to me. I don't know how I react or feel about it. W- Why ? Did u do that?

Bench started to laugh. You're so numb rose. I like you and you're so cute when your blushing. With a wink have a sweet dream rose. See you tomorrow.

Until now I'm feels I had a butterfly in my tummy. My cheeks feels hot . and I don't know what is happenning to me. It just a kiss rose. It has no meaning okay? Right? Yeah. Yeah.. You need to sleep because you have a class tomorrow . good night self.

In weeks had passed my feelings for him has in a deep already until now I'm afraid if he accepted me as his girlfriend.

But this time Bench has decided to pursue this day. He organized and arrange the settings and the place of his confession in his feelings.

Bench texting on rose.

Rose can we meet today at the garden neat restaurant in 9am ?. see you.

Rose seen his message.

Okay see you later. I replied.

when bench saw the message . this is it. I need to be ready.

In the restaurant .

What do you want to order sir?? waiter said.

Hmm? one Nasi lemak for me and hainanese chicken rice for my lady. One carrot cake and two order of hokkien prawn mee.

Do you want to try our one singapore signature dish called chili crab?

Yeah. Sure one order of chili crab and 2 orders of moon cake. Take out. Said to dark

Is that all sir?? Yes thats all..okay I'll be back in a shortly. Have a good day .

While they are waiting their order. There are talking some stuffs and personal .

Here's your order sir . thank you.

Hmm its look yummy . I said

Let's eat .

After their eating.

Hmm ..rose.

Yes ..what is it?

Can you be my girlfriend?

Cough.. W-what? Are you serious.

The eyebrows of bench furrowed.

Yes . I'm really serious.. he stand then kneel in front of me begging can you be my girlfriend.? I really really love you . I think I'm fall in love in you when the time I saw u at the cafe reading some novels but I can't go towards in you because shyness overload in me. And the fact that I'm just a stranger. Then the time you need some help I never doubt I run toward on you and fight for you to those pricks. And when i get the a opportunity I grab it. While smiling .

And ask you again can you be my girlfriend?

Unable to process my brain on what I hear. He's been attracted to me but he can't go toward on me . because his just a stranger . I chuckled.

Yess. . I smiled back at him.

Ohh mygodd.. Finally. Smile draw on his face. I'm the happiest person today

..woooooohhh.. He kissed me in the lips.

And I respond on him .

I love you Rose . I will never hurt you nor leave you. I love you with all my heart. Remember that okay? .

Yes I. will remember that bench. I love you too.

After the confession of bench I can't describe my feelings today. I can't believe that I'm his girlfriend .seriously. God.. Thank you ..

Months later. Bench and rose decided to get married.

But before the wedding rose's conclusion is correct. She's pregnant. She's happy ,cried , excited .. All her emotion mixing. Ohh God I'm excited to announce it to my bench.

Unfortunately, bench got an accident and died on arrival. When rose knew the news she's collapsed and got in the hospital.

Nurse where's bench I need to see him? Begging for nurse .

Any come inside in the room .nurse give us a minute. . rose relax.! just relax everything will be alright.

Please answer me. Where's the fucking bench?

Just please tell me .. I will be a good girl if you tell where he is. Please tell he's okay. Right ?? I was begging and pleasing to Anny.

After a minute any answered.

" He's gone ."

Those two words made my world stop spinning. "What do you mean!!?. My mind can't no - it doesn't want to process that kind of information. You're joking. Right?I mean he's can be gone.."

Any looked down." I'm sorry rose."

Noooo he can't be dead.. Its not a good joke any.

I'm not joking rose. I'm serious. Anny said

laughing and crying . its just a joke right? that not a funny Anny.

"It isn't a joke and funny either. Anny looks sad ; she can see tears in her eyes. hE was already 70percent and thirty percent alive when we reach the hospital. They manage to stabilize him but it wasn't enough.

You can't keep crying like this. You'll stress yourself out. You're baby managed to survived . its a miracle. You need to be strong because that the only connection you have with Bench Montero now.

I remain unmoving in my bed. As I cried my heart out of pain. no one can calm down but bench is my strength. No one can stop my tears from falling. Not Anny who never leaves me by my side nor his best friends who came all the way from thier homes just so they console me and not my mother who hugged me and begged me to be okay.

I'm in pain and it won't go away the pain that easily. I might be in this hellish pain for the rest of my life for losing my only mani ever loves.

Bench Montero .. Why did you leave me?. Tears fell from my eyes again.

I can't stop crying and still excruciating pain. My heart still aching and dying.

Rose .its Anny

Theres someone hugged me. Rose were here rose. Si Gladz her best friend too.

Rose please stop crying . it can affect your baby.

I remain silent.

Leave!! Please leave me alone. Please.

My thoughts are filled with Bench and their memories together. My heart ached again. I can feel it bleeding.

Rose let's talk .

please Pity on yourself .

wit my blanked face. I want to see bench. My tears doubled.

No Anny said. Your pain still in fresh. You are stress and pregnant.

I sobbed. "Maybe he's not gone. Maybe your just kidding me and--. ".

Accept it ..damn it rose. He's gone. He's dead . please accept the reality. Cold tone voice of Anny.

The baby I will take her without his father.. Anny hugged me.

Sshhhh.. Stop crying rose.

I let my tear flows as I embraced the ultrasound of my baby together with my phone full of pictures of bench.

Rose didnt know how she would move on after this hell that she's going through.

She has to be strong.... For her baby. She can fail bench she has to make him happy without he's gone.She need to endure it.

Its hard to cope,accept and move on . its hard to accept the fact that she's no longer talk to the man i loved.

Two months had passed I can't moved on with her life..My baby is the only one reason why I forced to wake up and fake braveness and strength. No one knows I breaking inside. I doesn't want to burden my family.

Bench might not be by my side anymore, but thats okay.I have my supportive friends, bestfriends and loving family also my baby.I'm very lucky to have this people in my life. Maybe... It won't be hard to move on and accept the fact bench is already gone and I will never see him again.

Never. Ever.

Her last goodbyes in bench's funeral.

I love you bench I will never forget you . don't worry I will take care of our baby. And still,your the best man I ever knew. Thank you for the memories together .thank you for loving me in a short while . I love you. and goodbye.i will see you again but not this time .. Again I love you and I miss you bench.

five years had passed

I was heal and happy again because of her. I'm happy now and contented of what I had I have a daughter named Krishna Neron Sanchez. She's becoming 7 years old today.

The end

[bloodelves88]

Trip to Taipei/Hualien/Taichung/Puli, Taiwan (Part 3)

Part 1 here (Hualien). Part 2 here (Taipei). Part 4 here (Taichung/Puli). Part 5 here (Puli). Part 6 here (Puli/Taichung/Taipei).

Day 4

Woke up around 9:30am today. One of my friends wanted to go somewhere to buy tea leaves and left earlier to buy it while we waited in the hotel room. That friend came back around 10:15am, and we left to find breakfast. We went to a bread shop and I bought a baguette sandwich and some other thing I don’t remember. 

We ate while walking, and we headed off to Pingxi/Shifen. It takes a little less than two hours to get there, so it’s a pretty long journey.

Anyway, Shifen is known for two things. Its street food and releasing sky lanterns. You’re supposed to write your wishes on the lantern, then a fire is lit under it and you release it. It floats off into the sky... never to be seen again.

We didn’t release any lanterns. 

I only bought one street food item, and it was some ice cream with peanuts wrapped in a pancake. It’s pretty nice. The ice cream isn’t really ice cream though, it’s more like some sort of sorbet. I have no idea. 

We managed to see someone’s lantern (and wishes) burn to ashes. All these lanterns are being released in between two rows of two storey buildings (photo below), so there’s always a risk of the lanterns hitting the buildings. The typhoon was also due to hit today, so it’s particularly windy. 

Anyway, for some reason we decided to go to the Pingxi waterfall first instead of having lunch. It’s 2pm now. For this whole trip, our meal times are all messed up 😅

My friend’s cap got blown away and off the bridge that goes across this lake, never to be seen again 😩. Ah well.

Another suspension bridge. This one swayed from side to side rather much. 

A small waterfall on the way to the main one.

The swing on the left oh the above photo works, so we sat on it. It’s been a while since I sat on a swing. This one isn’t as nice though. I think the single person ones are nicer.

There’s a mini street food area just before the waterfall here. 

I bought a frozen dragon fruit. I thought it was ice cream but it just turned out to literally be a frozen dragon fruit.

Papaya on the tree. People actually wrapped it up already. Lol.

Doggies! Animals are very prevalent in Taiwan. They roam around freely, and owners bring them around freely. It’s great. It’s particularly cute when their owners put their pets in their bags and carry them around. They also sit in the bags while on motorbikes. 

First glimpse of the Pingxi Waterfall. It’s really wide and majestic.

And then the typhoon hit(?) I’m not really sure if it’s the typhoon, but the rain was going sideways and the winds were really strong. Fortunately there was shelter nearby and it only lasted 10 minutes or so. 

The above waterfall photo is from above Waterfall Obeservation Area 4. We decided to go to the Natural Experience Area to see what it’s about.

It turned out to be a hut, and a pathway with named plants.

Anyway, down to the Observation Area 1.

And then Observation Area 2.

Then Observation Area 4.

You can get really close here. I love the first drop of the waterfall. It’s so neat and calm and pretty. 

Anyway, that’s pretty much it for the waterfall. It’s now 4pm and we still haven’t had lunch 😅

We went through the mini street food area and my friend suggested to eat there. I didn’t really want to, since the street food didn’t look to my liking. It was mainly fried stuff.

We continued back to Shifen. We saw a cafe and just decided to enter.

We decided to sit all the way inside the cafe... and what’s this?

A cat corner!

I was pretty amused by this cat. He kept trying to stick his paw out to grab food. I think he somehow threw some food out of his cage. Later he sticks his paw out to touch the corner of the walls. Really cute and amusing.

We ordered waffles to share, and a rice dish to eat. 

The waffles are not bad. Could have been crispier though.

A fat cat suddenly walked in o.o. I think he followed the shopkeeper in. He came out and chased the cat out.

I ordered braised pork with rice. It’s pretty good, but really filling because there’s a lot of rice.

Random cats hiding under an umbrella on our way back. There were also people releasing fireworks nearby. Didn’t manage to get a picture or video of that though.

Anyway, back to the train station, back to Taipei. We decided to change our tickets to Taichung today, since the tickets we bought weren’t actually fixed yet. It’s paid for, but you still need to go to the counter and decide on a time for the tickets you want. We decided to get the tickets for 12:31pm. And since we were back at Taipei Main Station again, we decided to walk down Taipei City Mall again. This time, the other side of it (it has 2 lanes).

Sumikko Gurashi is really popular in Taiwan. They’re everywhere. Stickers, bags, plushies, gachapon, claw machines, motorbike helmets... Understandable, since they’re so cute.

Custom skinned consoles are always a joy to look at. And look at that copper controller, it’s really sexy.

Then we came across someone dancing. He was playing Just Dance using the Kinect. The Kinect is really a wonderful piece of equipment, too bad it kind fizzed out and died. There were people behind him following the dance as well. He danced really well, he’s not some amateur.

Then we came across a retro shop. Oh boy I’ve never seen most of these before.

Ancient Relics, these things.

They also sell the games to go along with the consoles. So if you want to access some of the past, I don’t think you’ll have any issues here (I’m assuming the consoles work).

I also bought a White Blood Cell. Not an actual one, but the guy from Hataraku Saibou. 

Then, we came across an Indonesian section. I was kind of perplexed by this. Hmmm.

Interesting.

Then I saw some people carry really huge ice creams, and I tried to look for the shop. NT$35 for a double scoop at that size?! A must buy. There were three shops side by side, and one of them had a queue of over ten people, so nope.

 I forgot to take a picture before eating it, so here’s a smaller half licked one. It’s matcha on top and chocolate at the bottom.

Dinner time! We walked back to Ximending and went into one random shop.

I ate the chicken noodles, and my friends ate the other two. 

I also ordered some milk tea with pearls. I mean it’s Taiwan, the origin of milk tea. How could you not order it?

It was much later than we thought, as we spent too much time walking around in Taipei City Mall. We planned to go to the arcade at night and it closes at 11pm. It’s now 9:30pm. Yup, a messed up meal time again.

My friend left an umbrella in the shop we had dinner at, so we had to go back to find it. Fortunately, the umbrella was still there. 

Anyway, arcade time!

The unique thing about this arcade is that it has a batting cage, and a BB gun shooting range. 

My friend who’s interested in baseball went to play in the batting cages, and I went with my other friend to explore the arcade. The arcade wasn’t really interesting, the games aren’t that fun. We played the taiko drums, which wasn’t fun because it was too easy. Then my friend decided to play this game where you guide a ball through a course and try not to let the ball fall off. It’s a scam! It falls off at totally unexpected places. There’s already obvious places it could fall off from, and they aren’t easy to avoid. But they just had to make it harder with unexpected traps.

After that, we wanted to try the guns, but it was too close to 11pm and they weren’t accepting anymore players. We went down to the arcade just one level below, which wasn’t very interesting either. The doors closed to leave a small gap by then. Getting chased out.

Anyway, back to the hotel, and the end of day 4.

Part 1 here (Hualien). Part 2 here (Taipei). Part 4 here (Taichung/Puli). Part 5 here (Puli). Part 6 here (Puli/Taichung/Taipei).

#holiday #taiwan

[bebaexoexo]

Shit Oh Sehun did in 2017

-Mistook Jeonghan (svt) for Johnny (nct)

-Movie date with suho

-Slayed at the gaon chart award show with a solo dance

-Paris vacation/date with suho

-Got called best dressed man at a Louis Vuiton catwalk and then proceeded to spend the next day walking around Paris with a hood, baseball cap and a cowboy hat on his head all at one time

-Revealed his bed time snuggle routine with Suho, no shame attached

-Was supposed to debut as an Actor Oh in February, but didn’t…

-Was supposed to debut as an Actor Oh in March, but didn’t…

-Got an award for being himself (popularity award)

-Was supposed to debut as an Actor Oh in April, but didn’t…(NoT EvEn a FRackin TraIleR)

-Waved to a tablet instead of the camera, tried to play it cool by continuing to do so

-Posted about his big chilli… 0.0

-Got 15 points on a drawing game while everyone else got over 100 (he drew love hearts and wrote ‘I’m sorry’ for everything and still couldn’t accept being last)

-Howled because of sour pickles

-Members accuse him of being the prime suspect when food goes missing in the fridge, he agrees

-Used binoculars the wrong way round and couldn’t understand why he couldn’t see (Suho to the rescue and an embarrassed osh as a result)

-Gets driven around by big brother chanyeol

-CAN SING (might as well be in exo’s vocal line)

-Biyak Biyak 4 lyfe

-Rubbed his head on a random guy’s stomach (who looks like he’s his sugar daddy)

-Made suho sad because he didn’t go to a premier with him, but went to a festival with Chanyeol and guy whose stomach he rubbed his head on

-Danced (????) at said music festival. By dance I mean chicken fingers at the crowd wtf @ exo’s main dancer

-Can ya tell iv given up on the debut of Actor Oh

-Graced his instagram with such artistic pictures of rice, spoons and cereal

-Only one ft BoA returns

-KING OF SPOILERS sehun the cereal rice (kokobop) poster

-KING OF SPOILERS PT2 dancing the dance with kai can you all please stop this isn’t good for me

-Comments ‘is this exo’s official account?’ On exo’s official account

-“What did you do in preperation for this album?” “Loyalty”

-Passionately talked about eel reproduction

-“Favorite fruit?” “Water with ice”

-Gave flowers to the members because he’s their cute baby omfh (it was a punishment but same thing)

-*gives Kai a rose* “it fits you, you’re sexy and dark red suits you”

-Baekhyun confirms Sehuns big DIACK

-“Sehun has absolutely no interest I’m women. How do I know? Sehunnie said he has no interest in women”- Baekhyun

-Bragged about a really good noodle place, took 30+ people to eat and payed for them- but the food was disappointing

-“Say something to the EXO-L for their birthday” *sehun claps*

SUPER ELLE

-*brags about his dog at every chance he gets, literal protective father to vivi* “I am a cat person”

-EXOTOURAGRAM AKA SEHO AND FRIENDS

-“We’ve been roommates for 6 years I want to cross the line”

-Producer Oh

-“I’ve arrived!” \(-°o°-)/

-Date in NYC with suho (ft the third wheel JD)

-Pulls out chair for suho

-“Its enough just to film me, suho’ s voice in the background is fine”

-Couldn’t believe that a waitress in NYC can’t speak Korean

-Theatre date with suho (ft the late third wheel JD)

-Kicks suho out of their room

-SBS power fm- more like 2 hours of sehun whinning and crying from embarrassment while suho laughs

-“I really like chocolate milk. I think it’s love”

-“Sehunnie is upset~ upset~ really really upset… huhuu” AEGAO KING WHAY

-“I’ve been having a hard time too. At times like this, we should all embrace each other. There’s something I always tell the members and that is to to ‘hug/embrace (me)’. Let’s cheer each other on, got it everyone? Cheer up always and yea, that’s it” and this is why we love our baby

-Sehun irl- “I love all my hyungs to the moon and back #se-rang-hai-yo” Sehun in manwha- “who cares”

-LA date with suho

-DING DONG

-“Let’s goo” \(^o^!)__

-Just sehun trying to control his face while riding the drift car

-King of being HOT, calm and panicking at the same time when their car stalled

-Also Oh Sehun driving someone hold me

-Heart-shaped sweatpatch on his back

-“Excuse me… sir… ketchup ketchup yahh… thank you”

-“The hardest time isn’t when we have a lot of schedule but when the members have different opinions (argue). It saddens me a lot”

-Me me da

-Fan- “do sehun and i have something in common?” Sehun- “we’re human”

-Las Vegas date with suho

-Volunteers suho to go sky diving first like the little shit he is

-Wears a dress shirt and leather shoes to sky diving

-Acts like he isnt shitting himself on the zipwire

-Shamelessly wore nothing underneath an easily unzip-able hoodie

-MC Oh

-“Who is the scariest hyung?” “All of them”

-Tries to prank suho by putting a sticker on him, fails misrebly and then loses the sticker

-White suit blue shirt

-Chanyeol saying Sehuns voice is so good he wants to produce him PLEs

-Teary eyed sehun as eXO WIN RHE PRIME MINISFERS AWARD WWKBDUDBDJ

-Hello councellor MC’s @ seho “stop touching eachother are you guys coming out right now?”

-Sehun @ LVTN

-Gets customised bags from LVTN

-Sehun @ Moncler (also makes the CEO come out just to take pictures with him we love a powerful man)

-Peace signs in his pockets when hes told not to do it

-Doesnt follow seungri back on insta because aesthetics

-Omfg okay elyxion antics begins here

-SHIRTLESS SEHUN IMDG THAT BOY JUST THREW OFF THAT JACKETS WTF I JUST GOT OUT OF WORK AND THATS THE FIRST THING I SEE ON INSTA WTF OMG MY HEART I DONT EVEN KNOW WHATS GOING ON YET BUT I SAW FOKKIN RIPPED SEHUN AND SHIT THATS JISTVTJE LIFE OMG THIS IS GONNA BE LIT

-Wrote and co produced his solo In At thE CONCERT COZ WE LOVE A TALENTED KING

-Lovingly strokes suhos face during touch it

-Comforts kai, upset because he made a mistske in his solo, during cmb

-Danced to ka-ching with CBX

-Suho “after our concert ended at midnight yesterday, sehun and i went back to our door and boiled 20 eggs. 2 adult men peeled them seriously and ate 10 eggs”

-Kisses baekhyuns neck

-Eats pizza at the concert after holding back for months, members happy give us one last chance at seeing THE ABS

-Went crazy and got chanyeol too drunk on his birthday

-Fansites “please dont crop our watermark we work really hard for these pictures” Sehun ;)

-Cute instalive of him just trying on the filters and telling us not to be stressed and play

-SEHUN IN DEAR HAPPINES OMG GREY SEHUN IS DA BESTZ IN A THIN WHITE SHIRT OMG

-“OK!! goo” *pouts*

-“Hey dog, look at me~”

-“Cheese many manyyy”

-*is just standing there posing* Photographer “youre cute”

-Didnt know it was just him, kai and baekhyun in the lightsaber mv

-“Sehunnie makes the most delicious soju” byun baekhyun

-LEON KOREA

-Makes a personal training room in their dorm that can barely fit his own ass

-Supports suho at his musical despite both going through a tough time

-Struggles with the rudolph hat

-SINGING IN UNIVERSE YES DAS MA BETCH

-Subtly strokes suhos face on a national award show

-Make chanyeol kneel whenever he wants something from him. We love our king

-Curly haired solo on mbc gayo

-A beautiful family picture from Oh Sehun to end 2017

——–

Cr. Lerandomexotic

I had a lot of fun making this, just thought i needed to record sehuns never ending loveble antics etc

Feel free to add whatever else i missed

Hopefully he’ll just keep getting crazier next year too, and exo themselves will grow to be greatet and stronger

Like, reblog & excel

#exo #sehun #2017 #yes i really did spend 1 whole year making this post #no i dont have any regrets #this was my time well spent #dont tell me this didnt make yall smile #istg #i wasnt even trying to ship seho but theyre just like best friends #40% of this post is #seho #your welcome #ahahahhahaha #oh sehun #suho #kai #do #kyungsoos #chanyeol #baekhyun #chen #yixing #lay #xiumin #kokobop #power #universe #elyxion #cbx #funny

[thotyssey]

On Point With: Carmen Sidemi

This hilarious drama queen-turned-drag queen is taking over NYC nightlife one venue at a time. Dishing it all about her drag family and the pros and cons of everythingin the biz, it’s the fabulous Carmen Sidemi!

Thotyssey: Hey Carmen! How was Gay College Tuesday at the Ritz this past week? You guest performed while your mama Terra Hyman hosted. Carmen Sidemi: Oh! It was so much fun, We had two amazing DJs, Steve Sidewalk and Mikey Mó. I also never realized how hot The Ritz gogo boys are until last night -- definitely some serious eye candy. Of course, working with Terra Hyman, my drag mama, is always a kiki.

They are cute there on Tuesday nights! Like, the only twinky gogo boys left in NYC, it seems. I was thinking the same thing. Someone posted about how all the gogo boys are so big and muscly nowadays. So now, I can tell them where to find the sexy twinks. Though, if you know me, you know I LOOOVE a big set of arms and thick fingers. Lol, there's something for everyone in this city! 

So Carmen, you're at that point in your drag career where you're starting to pop up everywhere.

Definitely, that’s what I love about NYC. It has certainly been a crazy year.

How long have you been Carmen now?

I've been doing drag since late July of 2016, and my original name was Shaneeda Blank. I changed it to Carmen Sidemi about 2-3 months after starting drag. In the beginning when I only saw your name on Facebook, I pronounced it "Suh-dem-ee," like you were some Polish deli or something. I laughed when I first heard it out loud. HAHAHA. Yes, I’ve gotten that before. I have so many great stories about people trying to pronounce my name. Sheila Tack gave up trying and just called me Barbara. And during the Invasion on Fire Island, the host announced me as Carmen Si-Demi. I milked it with a big laugh, mimed "Inside Me" as best I could, and she got it along with the crowd. It was a great moment.

That's the key to a great drag name!

I agree. I love when it takes people a second to get it.

So, where's you're hometown, and what were you like growing up? Oh, man! Well I'm a Florida native, born in Pembroke Pines, and I grew up in South Beach until we re-located back P. Pines in my early teens. 

Growing up, I was -- and still am -- very dramatic. About halfway through awards shows, I start pretending like I won and end up sobbing in the mirror, giving full acceptance speech realness. My bedroom was a place where I could be myself and live my fantasy! 

In school I loved attention, but was always battling with that because at the same time I didn't want to be noticed -- people made fun of me for being feminine. It felt like a constant game of tug and war.  

However, I have to say I was so lucky because my parents and family loved and supported me always. I also had/have two childhood friends that are still so amazing. That's important, I'm glad for that! 

When do you come to NYC? 2009, when I went to the one and only AMDA. I left for a year and a half after graduation for some theatre work, and then moved back in 2013. All of that feels so long ago, OMG! Every drag queen in the city went to that school, it's crazy! Do you know any queens on the scene today that were in your classes? She's a newer queen: Chola Spears. We were best friends in school. We lost touch, but then I saw her out one night in drag and we are living. 

I didn't go to school with Marti Gould Cummings, but I remember during orientation seeing her picture on the alumni wall with some of the greats that came out of the school. So crazy how things come full circle.

 How did you meet Mama Terra?

Oh god, that was the beginning of it all, I feel like. I work at the West End, and when I started there a few years ago they had such a great lineup of amazing girls! Terra was hosting a competition, Brita and Sasha Davenport were hosting "C'mon Wednesday," and Alexis Michelle and Schwa de Vivre were hosting "Super Woman." Terra and I quickly became besties, and would hang out all the time at her place and play video games and Catan till 4am. That group of girls really introduced me to NYC drag/nightlife and made a huge impact. From there, I met Jasmine Rice LaBeija from the RRRRRRoyal Haus of Labeija, and she really took me under her wing and helped me SO MUCH! That's a great pedigree! What was your first number in drag, do you remember? I actually still use it sometimes, It was a "Letter of the Day" inspired number, and the letter of the day was “C.” Then it goes into basically calling everyone a cunt. 

Oh werk, so you had the funny mixes on day one!

I love working and making mixes, and telling a story from my own perspective, if you will.

You're quite a high energy queen, splitting and death-dropping and constantly moving... were you always a dancer?

I can just see the eye rolls from these shady queens in regards to me being called a dancer. People use the word "dancer" very loosely, in my opinion... no shade. 

I did always love to dance; I took about four years of salsa in middle/high school before getting into tap, ballet, etc. But I'm very humble when it comes to calling myself a "dancer" because it's not something I do often, lol! But I will split the house down for sure, henny!

You did a great number for Miss Lady Liberty this summer... it had, like, five wig and costume reveals! I always think about how stressful it must be to keep track of the timing of all those reveals during  numbers like that. Not to mention having  to waddle out there in the beginning like a human lasagna with all that shit bolted down so it doesn’t look like five reveals! GIRL! I had HAD IT that day. I was being such a bitch because I was so hot, and no one understood because I was trying not to spoil it. As far as timing: the song I used was pretty easy to find the timing, so it just made sense to me. It also helps to rehearse the costume and wig reveals at home couple times. I do love watching those videos; my ass looked so good that night, lol! Th next time I did Lady Liberty, I decided I wasn't going to put too much pressure on myself and just do something simple. It was actually one of my favorite performances. Of course I did do a costume reveal!

Sometimes it just takes one reveal to sell it! I like the light blue flowy, witchy robe thing you wear. Are you a designer/seamstress of your looks? HAHAHA. Oh, My summer Poncho? I bought that fabric in every color. I can draw clothes, and can sew basic things, but I'm certainly not a seamstress. I learned a few things from a costume designer in Florida, and even MORE from Jasmine Rice... YouTube helps too! Every drag queen knows, or should know, stretch fabric. Here that, queens! Generally speaking, I feel like you are a like a drag queen’s drag queen. A lot of other queens in the city are really into what you do!

I wanna shout out to some people who have excepted me so open-heartedly to the drag community, and taught me so much! They were booking me when I had no experience! Terra Hyman, Jasmine Rice, Lola Michele-Kiki, Dusty Ray Bottoms, Marti G. Cummings, Brita Filter, Ari Kiki, Tammy Spanx, and Kizha Carr. I'm so grateful to know these talented people. 

An amazing group of queens! 

Did you go to Drag Con?

I DID! My very first one. I went on Sunday and was so lucky to get to work the Gypsy Wigz booth. They styled a beautiful custom-dyed wig for me, and I just pranced around enjoying all the drag. My best moment was eating a chili dog while walking the pink carpet. If anyone thought I didn't have talent, now you do. 

Yas Mama! So, it's about that time of the season when local girls start to disappear on a Mystery Cruise, while by sheer coincidence Drag Race starts filming in California. It seems like throughout the past few seasons, there have been more and more New York girls disappearing... and if our collective hunch is correct, nearly half of Season 10 will be New York queens competing. And on top of that, now we're gonna have a new show to watch exclusively about NYC drag, Shade! Is this an exciting time to be a queen in NYC, or is this all kind of a lot? I can't F******* wait for this season! I definitely think right now is an exciting time for drag in many places, but especially NYC. I'm so excited to see so many girls I know, work with, and respect on Shade. It’s really going to get to showcase what queens really experience when choosing this as a career. 

It's funny, I always hear people say "Drag Race fucked up drag,” and I can understand that perspective. But we also get to see so many new shows pop up to make up for the girls who might have other things going on.

Well, you certainly got stuff going on that we should talk about! First off, you've been giving shows at Icon in Astoria for a bit, and now you have a Weekly 6-9pm Sunday spot there, Stay Drunk Sundays. Love that show name! How do you like it at Icon? It went through a change of management and a huge revamp not too long ago.

I love Icon. The staff and the owners have been so generous to me, I'm so grateful. I heard about a few horror stories from the past, which I won't dwell on because no one involved has any ties to the place, so all I'm gonna say is: come back and give it another try. Especially Sunday! How many chances do you get to go out after a boozy brunch, put on some heels that we provide, do at least 30 seconds of a number, and you get a shot? It's such a good time. Two weeks ago, a straight man and woman celebrating their engagement with some friends came by, and THEY ALL did a Spice Girls number. I've had a few new queens pop in to do a number. It really is such a safe space for everyone. Oh, and they have 2-4-1 drink special from 5-8!

And your show there sounds like a lot of fun. As for Thursdays, we can find you hosting Gayme Night at Atlas Social Club with Scotty Em.

Yup, I just added Gayme Night on Thursdays to my weekly schedule. We finally got rid of that bitch, Holly Box-Springs. LMAO, I’m just kidding! To spill some tea, we actually went on two dates before either of us did drag. I love that girl. 

But back to Atlas, I'm there Thursdays for trivia and all sorts of games, 8-12. We give away drinks, special prizes, and JUST added a few gogo boys to serve up trade realness. I'm thinking of new ways to make it my own; I want to have a Twister tournament one night! That would be fun! Another drag Holly, Ms. Dae, used to host "naked" Twister at Phoenix! 

OMG! I love her, she has one of the BEST senses of humor.

Okay, anything else?

No special events, other than my two weekly gigs I have right now. A few things are up in the air. It’s funny, I like to call myself the "Sandra Bullock of Drag," because a lot of my gigs are super last-minute bookings if someone can't make it! Which, girl, I’m grateful for! So, I would encourage following me on Instagram or adding me on Facebook to keep up with where I'll be. Last question: What's the worst thing about drag for you, and what's the best? The worst part of actually being in drag is, sometimes, the corset after three hours. But I would say that really the hard part -- and this is gonna sound cheesy -- is battling with myself to not compare what other people have going on, and just be proud of my friends AND myself.

 It's hard sometimes, because its rare when you work in a field where your friends are your colleagues. When we aren't in drag and go out, most likely I'm kiki'ing with other queens. But a lot of the times, we are competing [in pageants or weekly competitions] for cash money. So you’re rooting for your friends, but trying to pay your damn rent. 

The best part about drag, and why I started doing it... simple. I get to conceive performances that tell a story from my perspective. I get to do it on my own time, on my own terms. And when people laugh and cheer, it makes me so happy. I feel understood. A few times the audience will be enjoying a number so much, it will make me hesitate on my next line, because I get so excited. 

But we've all had those nights when the audience is looking at you like your fucking crazy, which is also exciting because its an opportunity to make new choices that you wouldn't have made otherwise.

Thank you, Carmen! Awesome! Thanks so much for having me on your blog!  

Carmen Sidemi hosts “Stay Drunk Sundays” at Icon (6pm) and “Gayme Night Thursdays” at Atlas Social Club (8pm). Check Thotyssey’s calendar for other upcoming gigs, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

On Point Archives 

#onpointwith #carmensidemi

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The NYC (Quarantine) Dinner & A Movie Guide added to Google Docs

The NYC (Quarantine) Dinner & A Movie Guide

Dinner and a movie has meant different things at different times. In junior high, it meant being dropped off at a movie theater, eating a pan pizza with Milk Duds, and holding hands with someone until our palms developed their own microclimates. More recently, it meant hanging out with a friend who was too tired to go out out, or realizing that, like your kids, you also know Frozen 2 by heart. Now, for just about anyone with a TV, movie night is the norm. Because let’s face it, there isn’t much else to do. So we’re here to make sure you’re doing dinner and a movie right. Below, you’ll find our picks for great delivery, and a classic movie to pair with it. We’ll be updating this regularly.

All restaurants featured on The Infatuation are selected by our editorial team. The NYC (Quarantine) Dinner & A Movie Guide is presented by Uber Eats. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, supporting our local restaurant community has never been more important. Uber Eats customers can now give directly to the restaurants they love at checkout. 100% will go to the restaurant. Order now to support. See app for details.

   Featured In The Ultimate NYC Delivery & Takeout Guide See all our guides the spots Contra $ $ $ $ American  in  Lower East Side $$$$ 138 Orchard St. 8.6 /10

Movie Pairing: Booksmart (Hulu)

“Booksmart is a fun and deeply enjoyable movie that I could easily watch weekly, but it does feature many things you cannot currently do, such as: stopping by an elaborate murder mystery party, going to a teen rager at someone’s aunt’s empty house, attending a high school graduation, and having a sleepover at your best friend’s house. Sorry if that’s depressing. As an antidote, I recommend pairing this with the novelty of a delivery option that doesn’t exist in normal times, like “Contrair,” the Contra/Wildair delivery pop-up. They’re doing great-sounding dishes like waygu steak salad, toasted rice ribs, and golden crab congee, and you can get a bottle of wine to go with it as well.” -HR

 Teddy Wolff Hwa Yuan $ $ $ $ Chinese  in  Chinatown $$$$ 42 E Broadway 8.3 /10

Movie Pairing: My Cousin Vinny (Prime)

“If you’ve never seen this courtroom comedy, it’s worth watching for Marisa Tomei’s monologues alone (0:59:26, 1:05:30, and especially 1:42:27 are your sweet spots). Could you just Youtube “Marisa Tomei My Cousin Vinny?” Yes, you could, but then you’d miss out on all of the tasty drama that unfolds when a college kid accidentally shoplifts a can of tuna. If, like me, you’re also sick of canned tuna right now, order some Chinese food. It’s all Tomei’s character Lisa Vito seems to crave, even in rural Alabama, and she’d be proud of you. I’d go with soup dumplings and crispy beef from Hwa Yuan.” -AS

 Mekelburg’s $ $ $ $ American ,  Bar Food ,  Sandwiches  in  Brooklyn ,  Williamsburg $$$$ 325 Kent Ave 8.3 /10

Movie Pairing: Up (Prime)

“While my Dachshund-Jack Russell, Gus, may not be as articulate as Dug from Up, we’re still able to come to some basic understandings. Namely, this is his house, and I’m just living in it. As such, I intend to keep him happy. A good way to do that is to feed him food that he has no business eating, like wagyu roast beef or part of a duck banh mi from Mekelburg’s. Little does he know, it doesn’t require much of a sacrifice because overordering is pretty much a given here. This Williamsburg spot also delivers dog food (and other groceries), but Gus has made it clear that he prefers dry-aged burger meat, tracking it tirelessly from door to couch, only occasionally getting distracted by ‘squirrel!’” -MT

 Teddy Wolff Archie's Bar & Pizza $ $ $ $ Bar Food ,  Pizza  in  Bushwick $$$$ 128 Central Ave 7.7 /10

Movie Pairing: Fleabag (Prime - the proceeds go to a British fundraiser for healthcare workers and artists)

“Whether or not you’ve already been indoctrinated into the holy church of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, you should spend 75 minutes of your now-monotonous life watching the original stage version of Fleabag on Amazon. It’s a one-woman show, so all you’ll get is Phoebe, a chair, an excellent red knit sweater, and the occasional voiceover. But it’s just as mesmerizing and painful as (if not slightly raunchier and more impressive than) the TV series. Order something warm and messy to match Fleabag, like a thick, cheesy pizza from Archie’s. Also, if you don’t want to eat dinner while you ponder the artform of taking sexy pictures of one’s vagina in a handicap bathroom stall or hear about guinea pigs with erasers up their butts, we’d recommend eating towards the beginning of the show or maybe just growing up a little. You’re going to love it.” -HA

 Order delivery   Emily Schindler Katz's Deli $ $ $ $ Sandwiches ,  Deli  in  Lower East Side $$$$ 205 E. Houston St. 8.2 /10

Movie Pairing: When Harry Met Sally (Prime)

“Listen, now is not the time to watch something new. I’m leaning hard into the cinematic equivalent of comfort food, and for me, When Harry Met Sally is as comfortable as the many perfect ’80s sweaters worn in this film. As an added bonus (or maybe a risk, depending on your current emotional status), it will also transport you to a simpler, happier, rom-com-ier version of New York City. In honor of this movie’s most iconic scene, the correct delivery pairing here is obviously Katz’s Deli, where it was filmed. Pastrami sandwiches and fake orgasms for everyone.” -KL

 Order delivery  Joyface $ $ $ $ East Village $$$$ 104 Avenue C

Movie Pairing: The Last Days Of Disco (Prime)

“I’ve seen The Last Days of Disco so many times. It’s probably unhealthy. But right now, it’s exactly what you need. As the title suggests, this movie is about the early-’80s disco scene in New York, and I assume it’s not very historically accurate. Still, you get to see NYC (a nice change from the inside of your apartment), and the soundtrack is full of songs that are scientifically classified as ‘bangers.’ Just listen to ‘Doctor’s Orders’ by Carol Douglas, and try not to dance. The obvious pairing for this movie is a Disco Kit from Joyface (which includes 12 cocktails and a disco ball), but if you don’t want to spend $165 on a party for one at your apartment, get a bunch of chicken fingers from Sticky’s. And find some vodka, or something.” -BK

 Taste Of NY Nowon $ $ $ $ Korean  in  East Village $$$$ 507 E 6th St Not

Rated

Yet

Movie Pairing: Good Burger (Netflix)

“If you need 95 minutes of pure joy right now, watch Good Burger. Kenan & Kel are in their comedic prime, Carmen Electra’s stunt double shows promise, and the slapstick sound effects elevate the film from ‘poorly-acted suburban adventure’ to a nostalgic ’90s treasure. But I have to admit that none of the food in this film about two competing fast-food joints seems evenly remotely edible - except for Ed’s secret sauce, which I’ve wanted to try since I was eight years old. It looks a lot like the kimchi mayo on Nowon’s elusive double cheeseburger, which is now readily available for delivery and takeout online. If you want to get one for your own Good Burger screening, I recommend springing for two - that way you won’t have to spend 90 minutes of the film regretting how quickly you ate the first one.” -ND

 Hao Noodle & Tea $ $ $ $ Chinese  in  West Village $$$$ 401 Avenue of the Americas 7.3 /10

Movie Pairing: The Farewell (Prime)

“In The Farewell, Awkwafina’s character Billi travels from her home in the U.S. to her family’s house in northern China, to say goodbye to her grandmother who is unaware of her own terminal cancer diagnosis. It’s a poignant story about family and loss and living far away from people you wish you could see more, but it’s also very funny. And what feels like at least half the movie’s most important scenes take place over a meal. To eat along accordingly, I’d order a bunch of food from Hao Noodle, which is the New York outpost of a restaurant group in China. Definitely get the Le Shan Chicken and any of the noodle dishes.” -HR

 Noah Devereaux Raku $ $ $ $ Japanese  in  SoHo $$$$ 48 Macdougal St 8.1 /10

Movie Pairing: The Darjeeling Limited (HBO)

“Dysfunctional families and monogrammed luggage are Wes Anderson’s bread and butter. In The Darjeeling Limited, three estranged brothers traverse India in search of their mother who abandoned them to become a nun. In short, the brothers are stuck on a train with an 11-piece set of their dead dad’s luggage. Everyone has annoying quirks (like laminating daily itineraries and repeatedly listening to an ex-girlfriend’s answering machine), but surely nothing can top whatever microaggressions are bubbling up in your current quarantine situation. So when the person you’re holed up with asks if you’re really going to make quesadillas again, order some udon from Raku (it’s hard to nag while slurping), put this movie on, and feel understood.” -AS

 Order delivery  Black Swan $ $ $ $ Bar Food  in  Bedford-Stuyvesant ,  Brooklyn $$$$ 1048 Bedford Ave Not

Rated

Yet

Movie Pairing: A Matter Of Life And Death (YouTube)

“This movie is so goddamn sweet, and David Niven - with his pencil mustache and wispy baby hair - is a f*cking treasure. So steal some mascara from your roommate, apply a healthy amount, and let it run down your face as Niven’s young British pilot falls in love with an American radio operator, then goes to heaven and argues for his right to remain among living. As a food pairing, I’d go with some Maltesers, several bags of Monster Munch, and a crispy fish sandwich from the Black Swan, an exceptional English pub in Bed-Stuy.” -BK

 Order delivery   Noah Devereaux Bamonte's $ $ $ $ Italian  in  Williamsburg $$$$ 32 Withers St. 7.7 /10

Movie Pairing: Moonstruck (Prime)

“Is it just me or is everyone revisiting Moonstruck right now? I also recently hopped on this unhinged Cher-And-Nicolas-Cage train, and my only regret is that I didn’t pair it with Italian food. There’s so much about this movie that just does not make sense (basically every dialogue scene, the idea that Cher would be engaged to a total doofus, the plot itself, etc.) - but if there’s one thing that makes it feel relatable, it’s how good and comforting all of the food looks. Which is exactly why you shouldn’t watch Moonstruck without some pasta of your own in front of you - I’d go with Frankie’s 457, or for an even more classic choice (to go with such a classic film), Bamonte’s.” -KL

 Emily Schindler Somtum Der $ $ $ $ Thai  in  East Village $$$$ 85 Avenue A 7.6 /10

Movie Pairing: Clue The Movie (Prime)

“Would you like to scream with the fervor of a 1940s film noir actress? We say go for it. Great, now that that’s out of the way, continue your cathartic and mysterious evening with Clue The Movie. About 50% of the dialogue in this cinematic masterpiece is shrieked rather than spoken, and it goes nicely with spicy papaya salad and larb moo from Som Tum Der. No matter how many times you’ve seen Mrs. Peacock and the gang run around a spooky mansion, you’ll always find new ways to be confused by the blackmail scheme. Not to mention, young Tim Curry is an absolute fox.” -HA

 Marea $ $ $ $ Seafood ,  Italian  in  Columbus Circle ,  Midtown $$$$ 240 Central Park S. 8.8 /10

Movie Pairing: Point Break (Hulu)

“When Bodhi falls backwards out of the airplane and tells Johnny Utah, ‘Adios amigo,’ that really is Patrick Swayze making the jump. And when Keanu screams “F*ck it!” and jumps out after him without a parachute, cinema reaches a height that I’m not sure can ever be matched. It’s not just the raw drama - this is the culmination of Johnny Utah’s character development, from straight-laced Ohio State quarterback to night-surfing adrenaline junkie. To fully appreciate this turf-to-surf progression, order the fusilli from Marea in Midtown. The bone marrow matches Johnny’s midwestern sensibilities, while the octopus is briny enough to make you feel like you could be beachside with Bodhi and Anthony Kiedis (yes, of course the Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman is in this masterpiece).” -MT

 Order delivery  Cafe Rue Dix $ $ $ $ French ,  West African  in  Brooklyn ,  Crown Heights $$$$ 1451 Bedford Ave Not

Rated

Yet

Movie Pairing: Atlantics (Netflix)

“Atlantics is a horror drama about a bunch of girlfriends who are possessed by the spirits of their dead boyfriends. Seeing the iridescent glow in the eyes of these zombified young women as they haunt the streets of Dakar both mesmerize and terrify me. That’s exactly why I wish I had ordered a plate of mafe from Cafe Rue Dix online while watching this film. The Senegalese spicy beef stew in peanut butter sauce is so creamy and vibrant, I sometimes feel like it’s taking over my body. It’s probably just the spirit of the cow telling me to eat less meat.” -ND

 Order delivery

via The Infatuation Feed https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/dinner-and-movie-delivery-nyc Nhà hàng Hương Sen chuyên buffet hải sản cao cấp✅ Tổ chức tiệc cưới✅ Hội nghị, hội thảo✅ Tiệc lưu động✅ Sự kiện mang tầm cỡ quốc gia 52 Phố Miếu Đầm, Mễ Trì, Nam Từ Liêm, Hà Nội http://huongsen.vn/ 0904988999 http://huongsen.vn/to-chuc-tiec-hoi-nghi/ https://trello.com/userhuongsen

Created April 18, 2020 at 02:58AM /huong sen View Google Doc Nhà hàng Hương Sen chuyên buffet hải sản cao cấp✅ Tổ chức tiệc cưới✅ Hội nghị, hội thảo✅ Tiệc lưu động✅ Sự kiện mang tầm cỡ quốc gia 52 Phố Miếu Đầm, Mễ Trì, Nam Từ Liêm, Hà Nội http://huongsen.vn/ 0904988999 http://huongsen.vn/to-chuc-tiec-hoi-nghi/ https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xa6sRugRZk4MDSyctcqusGYBv1lXYkrF

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14 Vegan Cheese Brands that Will Make You Want to Ditch Dairy

Hiya Gorgeous!

I love cheese! Grilled cheese, cheese pizza, mac n’ cheese, cheese boards… all of it.

I know what you might be thinking: “But Kris, I thought you were vegan. Do vegans eat cheese now?!” Well toots, I’m not talking about just any old cheese. I’m talking about vegan cheese, and that’s what today’s article is all about!

The plant-based food market has taken off over the last couple of years. Vegan alternatives to animal products are popping up at grocery stores and restaurants all over the place. It’s been so exciting to watch this progress. And when it comes to vegan cheese, let me tell you that we’ve come a looooooong way from some of the stuff I tried to stomach back when I first went vegan.

Most vegans would probably agree that cheese is one of the hardest foods to cut when you’re getting started. I regularly hear from folks who say they’d like to try a plant-based diet, but just can’t imagine giving up cheese. People who are lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy face the same challenge. Luckily, vegan, dairy-free cheeses are easier to find, more varied and much tastier than ever before.

But with more options come more decisions, so navigating the vegan cheese aisle (here’s hoping that one day there WILL be a whole aisle dedicated to it!) might feel like a guessing game. You don’t want to empty your wallet or compromise on taste. I know that nutrition is top of mind for you too, so you might have questions like, “What is vegan cheese made of?” and “Which vegan cheese brands offer the healthiest options?”

Well, whether you need slices for your sandwiches, schmear for your bagels, goodies for a fancy cheese plate or any other variety of vegan cheese, I’ve got your back. My team and I have tried and tested lots of brands over the years, and we want to share that wealth of knowledge with you! So today we’re covering…

My favorite vegan cheese brands, including info on how they stack up from a health perspective

Advice for cooking with vegan cheese and the best options for different purposes (like which shreds melt the best on pizza, how to make the perfect vegan grilled cheese and so on)

And resources for making your own vegan cheese, just in case you want to get creative in the kitchen!

But before we get into all of that goodness, let’s tackle the question that I suspect is on many of your minds…

Is vegan cheese healthy?

The short answer is YES! Plant-based cheese can absolutely be a great addition to a healthy diet. That’s especially true when you compare it to its dairy counterpart. Cheese comes from dairy milk and dairy milk comes from cows (or goats). That milk is specifically designed to nourish baby cows and help them grow, just like human mothers’ milk has everything human babies need. For that reason, the proteins in dairy can be hard for people to digest. Many folks don’t even realize that dairy might be causing their persistent, unexplained digestive discomfort.

Dairy is also often loaded with growth hormones and antibiotics that the factory farming industry uses to churn out as much as they can, as cheaply and quickly as possible. This isn’t true for all dairy products, but it’s the case for many of the options available on grocery store shelves.

I’m not here to convince you to go vegan. My mission is really just to encourage you to eat more plants. So if you replace even some of the dairy cheese you’d usually eat with plant-based alternatives, then I’ll be doing my happy dance!

What is vegan cheese made of?

Critics of vegan alternatives often argue that they’re fake and highly processed. And yes, those products DO exist. But there are plenty of brands out there using wonderful ingredients like nuts, seeds, vegetables, probiotics and more to create vegan cheeses that are just as good (if not better!) than the dairy alternatives. I’ve also noticed more products popping up that are free of common allergens like nuts and soy, so no one has to miss out… phew!

Why eat vegan cheese?

I’ve found that including dairy-free cheese helps make a vegan diet more sustainable. That’s a huge win in my book because I believe that a plant-based diet is one of the healthiest, most compassionate ways to eat. The more satisfying and scrumptious we can make it, the better.

And finally, I’d be remiss not to mention how much healthier vegan cheese is for our planet and furry friends. Many authorities agree that choosing a plant-based diet is the most effective and powerful way an individual can reduce their environmental footprint. And animal agriculture is often inhumane, unsafe and unsanitary—especially when it takes place on factory farms. So every time you choose vegan cheese over dairy, you’re helping to reduce animal suffering. You don’t have to go full vegan to make a difference, just do what you can while keeping this info in mind!

Sometimes vs. Often: Our Crazy Sexy Cheese Categories

I worked with my fabulous nutrition team to put each of the brands I’m sharing into one of two categories: Sometimes or Often. These are our recommendations for how frequently to include them in your diet—emphasis on recommendations! You know yourself best, so ultimately it’s up to you (and your integrative doc) to decide what you eat and how often. You might see certain ingredients that you prefer to avoid and that’s ok! The good news is, there are plenty of options available, so there’s a vegan cheese brand here for everyone.

The vegan cheeses in the Often category include only simple, natural and whole-food ingredients. As far as our Crazy Sexy team is concerned, these options can be regular staples in a healthy plant-based diet. Yum!

The Sometimes category is for plant-based cheeses we also enjoy, but not necessarily on an everyday basis. Their nutritional profile might not be quite as sparkling as the Often options, or they might include certain processed ingredients that some people prefer to limit.

But you can rest assured that this list is free of cheeses that I’d never eat. The options in the Sometimes category are fine in moderation. I wouldn’t share something if it contained ingredients I avoid altogether… and I did exclude some brands for that very reason.

Now that you know how the categories work, let’s sink our teeth into some creamy plant-based treats!

14 Vegan Cheese Brands that Will Make You Want to Ditch Dairy

Kite Hill: Best Vegan Cream Cheese (Often)

You might have seen Kite Hill’s line of almond-based dairy alternatives at your local grocery store. This wonderful brand has continued to expand over the last couple of years, so their yummy yogurts, dips and cheeses have gotten easier to find. Lucky us!

I love Kite Hill because all of their products are gluten- and soy-free, and non-GMO. They also don’t use any artificial flavors, colors, preservatives and sweeteners. You’ll notice xanthan and guar gum in their ingredients lists—both are plant-based and considered a better option for thickening and stabilizing than many other additives.

Why I love it: Kite Hill makes the best vegan cream cheese I’ve ever had. It’s perfectly light and creamy at the same time. My favorite flavor is the chive, but they also offer plain, everything and jalapeño!

Violife: Best for Vegan Grilled Cheese (Sometimes)

This is another vegan cheese brand that has gained popularity in the U.S. over the last couple years. And rightfully so—their slices and shreds melt beautifully, making them perfect for any of your favorite ooey gooey dishes. I also love that Violife is available in other countries around the world… yay for accessibility!

Violife’s products have been certified by the non-GMO project and don’t contain any gluten or soy. They’re also free from preservatives. We categorized them under Sometimes because Violife does use non-GMO modified potato and corn starches, which some people may prefer to limit or avoid. The Just Like Feta block doesn’t contain any modified food starches though, so that one makes it to the Often category!

Why I love it: Violife’s Mature Cheddar and Smoked Provolone Slices make the meltiest, most delicious vegan grilled cheese ever! But they do melt much more slowly than dairy cheeses, so the key is to cook ‘em low and slow. Keep the heat at medium-low or even low, cover your pan and be patient. Just make sure to watch your bread closely and flip it if it’s getting too crispy.

Miyoko’s: Best Artisan Vegan Cheese for Cheese Boards (Often)

Miyoko Schinner is a legend in the vegan world. She was considered an expert on plant-based cheese long before her brand showed up in grocery stores (you may have heard of her cookbook, Artisan Vegan Cheese). So it goes without saying that I was pretty excited when I heard that she was putting out her own cashew cheeses… and they did not disappoint!

Miyoko’s products are all organic and non-GMO. They’re made with great ingredients like organic rice miso, fermented rosemary, plum and oregano (natural flavor preservation!), and live cultures. These vegan cheeses were made to shine on an appetizer platter. I’d go with the Classic Double Cream Chive and Smoked Farmhouse paired with whole grain crackers, fig jam and olives. Ok, now I’m drooling!

One thing to keep in mind: In my experience, Miyoko’s cheeses are all very tangy. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but something to be aware of if you have an aversion to tangy foods.

Why I love it: Miyoko’s has been teasing nut-free products for a while and it looks like they’re almost here! I’m looking forward to trying the new pepper jack and cheddar options this spring.

Daiya: Best Vegan Cheese for Pizza (Sometimes)

If you’ve had any exposure to the vegan food world, you’ve probably heard of Daiya! This brand was here for us long before the dairy-free cheese boom, so of course I had to shout them out. You can find Daiya in most grocery stores, which makes them a great go-to for last-minute meals. We categorized Daiya as Sometimes because they do use safflower oil, which isn’t the healthiest oil around. Their cheeses also contain vegetable glycerin made from other processed oils.

There’s also a Daiya divide in the plant-based community. Some people love it, some people… really don’t. The main complaint I’ve heard is usually about the taste and texture, so you’ll have to try it for yourself. I think it’s a good option, but if I had the choice between Daiya and something like Violife, I’d definitely go for the latter.

Why I love it: Daiya comes out ahead of other brands in one important department—the Mozzarella Style Shreds are the best vegan cheese for pizza. In my experience, they melt faster and more evenly than other shreds. Let me know what you think if you try it out on pizza night!

Treeline: Best Spreadable Vegan Cheese (Often)

Treeline makes artisan cheeses good enough to share cheeseboard space with Miyoko’s, and that’s no small feat! All of their products are certified non-GMO and don’t contain any gums, thickeners, artificial preservatives or oils. They’re also 100 percent gluten- and soy-free.

Treeline has two types of plant-based cheese: The soft, French-style nut cheeses make a perfect snack when spread on crackers or a crusty baguette. Then there are the aged nut cheeses, which are more firm and pair well with fruit for an elevated appetizer. I love the Cracked Pepper flavor!

Why I love it: Treeline’s soft cheeses have a hidden talent—they can transform into mouthwatering sauces! Take a peek at this recipe for an example.

Whole Foods 365: Best Budget-Friendly Vegan Cheese (Sometimes)

Whole Foods knows the plant-based market is taking off, so why not get in on the action? I wasn’t sure what to expect when they released their slices and shreds, but I must say that I was pleasantly surprised! These vegan cheeses melt well, and the slices are also good on cold sandwiches.

Whole Foods says that all plant-derived ingredients in their 365 products are sourced to avoid GMOs. That sounds to me like they do their best to avoid GMOs but aren’t guaranteeing they never use them—but I’m just reading between the lines! Their vegan cheeses do contain modified potato and tapioca starches.

Why I love it: The 365 Plant-Based Smoked Gouda is right on the money flavor-wise. And speaking of money, this house-brand alternative is comparable to Violife but notably cheaper.

Even more vegan cheeses to tempt your taste buds…

I explored six of my go-to brands in-depth to help you learn what to look for at the store, as well as the many ways you can use vegan cheese. But there are SO many other fabulous options out there, I couldn’t possibly highlight them all in this article! That said, here are a few other brands that are worth checking out:

Sometimes:

Field Roast’s Chao slices are delectable on sandwiches. I love the Tomato Cayenne flavor! These dairy-free cheeses are made with fermented tofu, so skip them if you’re sensitive to soy.

Follow Your Heart is another staple in the vegan world. They have a great variety of cheese slices—the Pepper Jack and Garden Herb are my personal faves. Follow Your Heart does use modified food starches as well as less-than-ideal oils like canola and soybean.

When I think of So Delicious, I usually think of their plant-based yogurts. But this brand also offers plant-based cheese shreds that some vegans swear by. They do contain palm oil and we weren’t able to find out if it’s sustainably sourced.

Often:

The Honest Stand makes delightful dips with all natural, organic veggies and nuts. What could be better? We love the Cheddar Style Dip over here at Team Crazy Sexy.

Trader Joe’s Cashew Fiesta Dip has a unique strength: It’s good hot OR cold. I like to warm it up in the microwave (just 30 seconds at a time so it doesn’t burn), then stir in some salsa and serve with veggies or organic tortilla chips.

Brie is a must for most cheese lovers, and wildbrine has you covered with their cultured cashew alternative. This vegan brie is organic, gluten-free and comes in three varieties (classic, beet and shiitake). Bonus: wildbrine cheeses are made in-house with their own probiotic cultures.

Reine Royal’s in-store availability is limited, but they have an online store filled with lots of enticing options. This brand uses stellar ingredients too, and everything is made without fillers, starches, gums, preservatives or artificial ingredients. I can’t wait to try the Fauxgonzola!

Spero is special because they make cheeseboard-worthy treats with sunflower seeds. Many of the artisan-style cheeses on the market use almonds or cashews, but now folks with nut allergies can enjoy fancy vegan cheese too. The Goat gets five stars from me!

Wondering how to make vegan cheese?

I’m grateful for all of these vegan cheese brands because they’re as convenient as they are delish. But depending on where you live, your access to these products might be limited. Plus, there’s nothing quite like homemade food. You get a sense of pride from knowing you made it yourself, and you have total control over what goes into the recipe. Plus, you’re saving on packaging, which Mother Earth certainly appreciates!

Making cultured vegan cheese does take time, but it can be a really rewarding experience. And if that’s not for you, there are plenty of quicker recipes to choose from. If you want to learn how to make vegan cheese, check out these cookbooks:

Artisan Vegan Cheese by Miyoko Schinner

This Cheese is Nuts! by Julie Piatt

One-Hour Dairy-Free Cheese by Claudia Lucero

Crazy Sexy Kitchen by moi! This isn’t an all-cheese cookbook like the others, but I included recipes for Cashew Cream Cheese, Cashew-Pine Nut Ricotta and Truffled Parmesan. Don’t miss ‘em!

Vegan cheese for everyone!

It would be an understatement to say that I’m excited about the progress we’re seeing in the vegan cheese world… I’m over the moon! Making plant-based foods more accessible is the best way to introduce folks to how delicious and diverse a vegan diet can be. And if trying a surprisingly yummy dairy-free cheese convinces even a small percentage of people to choose plant-based meals sometimes, the environmental savings could be huge. Not to mention how many innocent animal lives could be spared! Who knew that kindness could taste so good?

Your turn: What other vegan alternatives should I write about? Ice cream, milk, burgers?! Let me know what you most want to learn about in the comments below!

Peace & cheesy choices,

The post 14 Vegan Cheese Brands that Will Make You Want to Ditch Dairy appeared first on KrisCarr.com.

[thedrowsydoormouse]

As per tradition, @anangelamuse-castiel-spnfam and I answer every question on the question thingies we reblog.

lantern - how did you meet your best friend? What were your first impressions of each other?

I have multiple best friends but I’m going to talk about the one who’s head is currently in my lap (aka the hubby). We were introduced by a mutual friend when they came over to check up on me while I was going through a depressive spiral after I found out my ex cheated on me with his ex. My first impression of him was that he was super cute and really sweet. My first impression of her was that I loved her and wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.

frost - if you could give some advice to your younger self, what would you say?

Wear more black. Don’t even bother with the boho phase. Skip college and just go straight to finding an agent. Start using cbd oil way sooner. There’s only one guy who’s worth a second chance so don’t even bother dating all the others because you will get hurt. Don’t go on Forbidden Journey because it will give you PTSD. 

maple - is there a hobby / skill that you’ve always wanted to try but never did?

I always wanted to learn to play piano. Every other hobby or skill I’ve wanted to try I did. But piano was tricky because they’re expensive and we didn’t have room for one. 

harvest - what fictional character do you most identify with? Why?

Dean Winchester. We both love plaid and vintage cars and good whisky and pie and we both have the same type (dark hair, blue eyes, total dorks) and we both have parent issues and love classic rock and a whole host of other issues. Plus he’s sexy!

fireside - if you had your dream wardrobe, what would it look like?

It would look like my sim’s wardrobe but better with tons of black and red and plaid and (faux) leather and it’d be super sexy! Also thigh high boots. My wardrobe now is really close and getting closer!

cider - a food that you disliked as a child but now enjoy?

Fancy sushi. I used to only eat California rolls but now I’ll eat just about any kind of sushi and regularly eat sashimi (raw fish with no rice) and nigiri (raw fish with rice).

amber - share an unpopular opinion that you may have.

K-pop sucks. And not just the music but the entire industry is fucked up and controlling in an abusive way and leads to normalizing nearly impossible beauty standards and a version of perfection that is toxic and leads to an increase in eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and dysmorphia not to mention the sexualization of things commonly associated with young, underage girls which leads to a normalization of pedophilia and an increase of young girls trying to grow up too fast and all things associated with that. I hate it.

fog - how well do you think you’d do in a zombie apocalypse scenario?

I’d hope I’d do pretty ok. 

jack-o-lantern - if you could look like any celebrity, who would you choose?

I plan on being famous one day so I’d say myself!

spice - have you ever encountered a house that you believed to be haunted?

The house I live in is currently haunted as is my family’s beach house. 

orchard - share one thing that you’d like to happen this autumn.

The Halloween party at the Huntington doesn’t suck this year and is actually worth going to. Also Disneyland annual passes.

crow - which school subject do you wish you had an aptitude for?

I was actually freakishly good at almost every school subject except for PE but I never actually tried in that class because I hated it. If I had put effort in I probably would’ve been really good at that, too!

bonfire - describe your dream house.

Custom built victorian mansion in a vibrantly gothic jewel tone color scheme with massive closets, a huge kitchen, a super cushy master bedroom and bathroom, a big room for entertaining, and a dance studio.

cinnamon - if you had to live in a time period different than the present, which would you choose and where?

I’d want to live in the late 30′s and into the early 40′s in either Brooklyn or here in LA. 

cobweb - (if you’ve graduated) do you miss high school?

Not really. I miss the structure of it because I often find myself super bored with nothing to do but I don’t miss anything else. 

cranberry - what’s one physical feature that you get complimented on?

My hair. I’m super proud of it because it’s super long and has a super pretty curl and is a really pretty deep purple-y red color that perfectly compliments my skin tone.

maize - share the weirdest encounter you’ve had with a stranger on the street.

When I was 17 I was in New Orleans with my family on vacation and some random drunk Cajun man came up to me and we had a full conversation in French which confused my brother to no end! It was hilarious!

quilt - how do you take your tea (or coffee)?

It depends on the tea but no matter what I always have sugar in it. For black teas I like a little soy milk. Green teas I take with just the sugar. Herbal teas depend on the flavor but usually sugar and maybe a little lemon. And when I’m sick I do lemon with honey instead of sugar.

pumpkin - do you think that humans are inherently good or bad?

It depends on the person. In general they’re good. But some people are just born bad and there’s nothing anyone can do to change that. Usually those are the ones who wind up getting into positions of power like CEOs of huge companies or President of the United States and wind up fucking everyone else in the ass with a cactus. The other ones that are born bad become rapists and serial killers. Or cops but those are the same thing as the last two things I listed except they get away with it because of corruption and abuse of power.

moonlit - are you a neat or messy person? Is your room / house orderly?

I like controlled chaos. My room is filled with a lot of clutter but everything is in it’s own space and I know exactly where everything is. 

flannel - have you ever gone on a bad date?

Way too many for my liking.

cocoa - if you could have any type of hair, what colour and cut would you have?

I would have the hair I have now. Super long, curled, and dyed a deep purple-y red color.

ghost - is there someone that you miss having in your life?

Yes.

[thewindsoftravel-blog]

Brazil Travel Guide

Tall and tan and young and lovely The girl from Ipanema goes walking and

When she walks, she’s like a samba When she passes, each one she passes goes

O Brasil!

Miles and miles of golden coastline doing samba with the tropical rain-forest. The might of the Iguacu falls. The mystical men and mammals of the Amazon. The seduction of Salvador. Feisty jacares (alligators) of the Pantanal. The isolated beauty of Ilha Grande. Cachaça, O espírito de felicidade. The perennial Brazilian smile and the flirtatious Portuguese. And above all, god himself standing tall and smiling at his creation.

Where is it?

General Information

[table id=6 /]

Tourist Visa Requirements

[table id=CR7 /]

PLUS

Letter from Employer or University (for students)

Cost: Rs. 6,400. (I paid $20 (~Rs. 1350) in Quito, Ecuador)

Validity: 90 Days

Visa Process Time: 10 days

For more information: TOURIST VISA (VITUR)

Why go there?

Beaches, Amazon, Culture, Party, Diversity, Jungle, Football, Cachaça, Samba, Waterfalls

Highlights

Rio de Janiero: The city that has it all. The statue of Christ the Redeemer, golden sands of Ipanema, cachaca at Copacabana, tropical rain-forest, infamous favellas, and samba from sunset till sunrise. Rio will breathe the carioca energy into you and make you dance to its tune

Amazon: The jungles of the Amazon hides mysterious creatures, untouched indigenous tribes and pristine flora. Amazon is every explorer’s dream and every child’s curiosity. Manaus in the north-west is the launching point into the Amazon

Foz do Iguacu: Enormous waterfall that boggles your imagination. You stand in the midst of water roaring down all the mountains around you. It makes your heart beat faster and leaves you teary-eyed with nature’s beauty flowing with the falls

Salvador de Bahía: Brasileños have a wild spirit of their own. In Salvador this wild spirit finds it’s African soul. Salvador was the first port of call for slaves from Africa. Thus, here you find the beautiful fusion of two cultures. Churches, capoeira, drumming and Bahian cuisine are the highlights here

Off The Beaten Path

Chapada Diamantina National Park: About 400 km west of Salvador de Bahia, this national park is an introduction to the other Brazil – dusty roads, dry landscape, and forgotten outposts. Chapada Diamantina has something for everyone – waterfalls, stalactite & stalagmite caves, 3000 year old cave paintings, trekking trails, snorkeling in marble caves and table-top mountains. Come here to indulge into a bit of Brazil beyond the beaches and jungles

Pantanal: The other jungle that gets overshadowed by the big brother Amazon. Pantanal is the largest tropical wetland in South America. The chances of seeing wildlife is higher here than the Amazon. Jaguars, capybaras (largest rodent), jacares (alligator), and hundreds of birds can be found in these wetlands. Tours leave from Cuiaba and Campo Grande in western Brazil

Other villages of Ilha Grande: Ilha Grande, an island with rain-forest, waterfalls, and golden beaches, is an off the beaten path destination in itself. But, if you want to go beyond the beyond, then skip avoid the crowds at Vila do Abraão. Rather spend time in one of the other villages – Dois Rios, Araçatiba or Lopes Mendes – to get an authentic island culture experience. Life in these villages feel a million miles away from the 21st century

Food and Beverage

Buffet: Restaurants all over Brazil have pay by kilo/pound buffet. There are a wide variety of vegetarian options to pick from. You pay according to the weight of your plate

Acaraje: A must try black-eyed peas and onion fritter fried in red palm oil, served with spicy sauce

Vatapá: Bread crumbs, ginger, pimenta malagueta, peanut butter and onions cooked in coconut milk and palm oil. Confirm with the seller that it doesn’t contain any meat

Creppe de Tapioca: A crepe of tapioca. A bit like dosa. You can add numerous toppings, sweet and savory, to the crepe

Acai Bowl: Food orgasm in the Brazilian way. A thick acai smoothie topped with tropical fruits and crunchy nuts. You just can’t have enough of this bowl of beauty

Pao de Queijo: Round bread with stuffed cheese. Goes well with Brazilian coffee

Arroz de Feijao: Your trusty old friend in South America – rice and beans. Ask the waiter if they make Feijao with meat. (Feijao tem carne? – Feijao has meat?)

Cafezinho: Liquidy coffee served in small glasses. Reminded me of cutting chai. Brazilians love sugar, so ask the server for less or no sugar. (um pouco acucar: less sugar) or (nao acucar: no sugar)

Cachaça: Since rum is too boring, Brazilians add a bit of their spirit to it. Cachaça is distilled from fresh sugarcane juice which gives it more body and flavor. Rum, on the other hand, is distilled from molasses. Cachaça from the state of Minas Gerais is very special

Caipirinha: Brazil in a glass – sweet with a bit of tang and the effervescent wild spirit. Cachaça, sugar and muddled lime served over ice. Sip a lot of this while soaking the sun as your feet rest on the silver sands

Infused Cachaça: Many bars infuse their cachaça with local fruits and herbs. They are served in shot glasses. I definitely advocate trying infusions of fruits, berries and herbs that you never heard before. My friend tried an aphrodisiac infusion and later 😉Drink of Immortality: Cachaça Aphrodisiacal Infusion

Destinations in Detail

Rio de Janeiro (Star Attraction)

“God made the world in six days; the seventh he devoted to Rio”

The words get lost in the silver sands of Copacabana beach. The sentences fall short of the Sugarloaf mountain. Alphabets aren’t enough to describe the seduction of Rio. When God himself is proudly smiling atop the city, what can a mere human say about the city.

Rio is sand, surf, samba, and sensuality. If you want to experience God’s own kingdom, do come.

Rio De Janeiro Travel Guide (Coming Soon)

Foz do Iguacu (Iguazu Falls)

“Water water everywhere, this is unlike anywhere”

It is hard to find words to describe the majesty, magnificence and the fantasismo of the Falls of Iguazu. As the bus winds closer to the falls, you hear the prowl and the roar of Iguazu. The first view will leave you wide-eyed, in awe of the sheer amount of water and the way it finds to unleash it’s might. Iguazu falls is a set of waterfalls spanning across 2 km on the Brazilian side. Once you get on the catwalk, you are truly in the cradle of Iguazu. Let go of yourself, the espirito magnetismo will glide you through the heart of the falls.

Chapada Diamantina National Park (Off The Beaten Path)

One of the truest off the beaten path experiences in Brasil. It is the Brasil you never imagine. Dustbowl, wild-wild-west, table-top hills, 500m deep stalactite caves and 3000 year old mysterious cave paintings. Chapada Diamantina is a national park that has it all. It can keep you busy for a week. And, here you will truly be exploring the other Brasil miles away from white-sand, samba, and neon-light parties.

Chapada Diamantina National Park Guide (Coming Soon)

Salvador de Bahia

Take the sexy modern Brasil and add half a bottle of 400 year old Africanism. You get a cultural cocktail to swarm your senses. Capoeira, a blend of martial-arts & dance is performed here in plazas. Bahian cuisine is an ode to western Africa and it will appeal to all tastes with unique dishes not found anywhere else in Brasil. The Salvadoran music and energy keep you up until the wee hours of the morning. And, the old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well.

Bonito

Bonito in western Brasil is an eco-touristic dream. Snorkeling in crystal clear waters of a river with a wide variety of fresh-water fishes. Rappelling down a hole to enter a hidden lake. Visiting a Macaw nesting site. Bonito is a bit expensive in comparison to other places in Brasil.

Pantanal

The less popular but equally magnificent cousin to the Amazon, Pantanal is the largest wetland in the world. <Define marshland, have a page defining different ecosystems>. Pantanal is a sure-footed area to visit if you are interested in wildlife. Alligators sunbathe on riverbanks. Cute Capybara families, the largest rodent in the world, cross the roads. Giant anteaters, armadillos and tapirs are found sniffing the sands. And the creature that takes the crown here is the Jaguar. Yes, if you are lucky, you might spot a Jaguar in this land of submerged islands. If you are a John Grisham fan, then you must have heard about the Pantanal in his book ‘The Testament’

Sao Paulo

The financial heartbeat of the nation. It has couple of good museums, an alley with cool graffiti, and a local market selling fruits, vegetables, nuts, cheese, meat and restaurants serving Brazilian dishes. As an attraction in itself, I will recommend you SKIP IT.

Porto Alegre

Come this far south if you are heading to Uruguay. How to get to Uruguay from Porto Alegre (Coming Soon!)

Brazil Travel Guide was originally published on Winds of Travel