#the con is this weekend so I’ve been cooking up tons of these over the month

[myonmukyuu]

Markers #12

#the con is this weekend so I’ve been cooking up tons of these over the month #I’ve started learning to draw with a dip pen which is really satisfying 😊 #love live #love live nijigasaki #shioriko mifune #Mia Taylor #Lanzhu Zhong #r3b1rth #my art

[prettywordsyouleft]

Working Together

Prompt: #190 for anon - “You didn’t text me back, so I’m here.” 

Anonymous said:

Can I request #190 for Lee Jong Suk? Take your time!

Pairing: Lee Jongsuk x reader

Genre: best friends to lovers / office au

Warnings: none

Word count: 1812

You were surprised when Jongsuk turned up at your work, heaving in deep breaths to settle his erratic breathing. You noticed the beads of sweat on his forehead and took hold of one of his forearms, feeling how warm he was through his hoodie.

Looking around himself quickly, he then dragged you into your office, shutting the door behind him. “Sorry, I uh – you didn’t text me back, so I’m here.”

“Text you back?” you repeated, now noticing the bag on his arm. Your eyes widened. “Did you…?”

Nodding, he set the bag down on your desk. “You said it was a really important meeting today, right? I didn’t want you to be disadvantaged in any way.”

“So you ran here?”

“Well, I couldn’t hail down a taxi on my way,” he simply answered, pulling out the files you had left on your desk at home.

You didn’t know whether you wanted to laugh, cry or kiss the man before you. So many emotions ran through you and now that your best friend had caught his breath, he regarded your expression, running a hand through his hair.

Jongsuk then attempted a smile. “I mean, since I’ve not landed the right job yet, it makes sense I help you with yours, right?”

“Still, this is so thoughtful. I could have gone in without them but… thank you. I’ll make it up to you by cooking dinner!”

Jongsuk shook his head. “No, let me. I’ve already got some meat out defrosting on the bench.”

“Fine,” you answered too easily, preferring his meals over your own. Whilst you were adept as Assistant Director here at the firm, you had never prioritised the kitchen – or really any domestic chores. Thankfully, when Jongsuk moved in with you at the start of the year, you had noticed he filled in those weaknesses of yours.

You were immensely grateful. Smiling at him, you placed a hand on your hip. “What can I do for your good deed?”

“Be home on time or I’ll eat it on you,” he responded easily, hugging you before waving you off. “I’ll let you get back to your busy schedule.”

“And to your domestic one,” you fare-welled, listening to his chuckle as he closed the door.

Patting the files, you began to prepare for the acquisition meeting.

It wasn’t the first time, nor would it be the last. You hadn’t realised how much you relied on Jongsuk, or how easily he fulfilled any of your needs. You were a well-oiled machine, both at home and with your increased demands at work. You didn’t want to openly admit it, but with him not working anything more than some freelance work here and there, it helped you out immensely to be able to turn to him for anything you needed.

“Ooh, even bringing me coffee on your trip in,” you enthused, removing the takeout cup from the tray he extended in your direction. Taking a sip, you savoured the aroma and warm feeling happily. “Godsend.”

“Well, I figured by now, you’d need a caffeine refuel.”

“You’re the best, have I told you this?”

“At your service, madam,” Jongsuk answered with a grin, placing his drink down on the table and moving in behind you. With his hands instantly finding the knot in your shoulders, Jongsuk leaned over your shoulder, staring at the document on your screen. “Just, how much do you get paid for this job?”

“Why?” you wondered, staring up at the side of his face curiously. “Want my job?”

“I think you need someone to help you with it. There are four errors jumping out at me right now.”

“What?” Turning your attention to the screen, you let out a little whine. “Again?! I don’t have the time for my errors. If I could type as fast and accurate as you, I could…”

“You could what?” Jongsuk asked distractedly, too busy now editing the piece over the top of you.

You smiled. “Have you heard about that last job application?”

“It was a no. Apparently, I’m too qualified for the position.”

“So, nothing on the horizon?” you continued and he hummed to confirm this. You shifted in your chair, staring up at your best friend, wondering why you hadn’t thought of this earlier.

He was capable, reliable and more importantly, Jongsuk knew what you needed before you did. Your smile grew. “Work for me.”

“I’m sorry, is there a position available here?” Jongsuk darted his focus to your face and then back to the screen. “Don’t give me a pity position, Y/N.”

“It’s not out of pity at all. You picked up my dry cleaning, organised my desk at home which made me more productive over the weekend, and you know my coffee order spot on. Work for me as my assistant. I don’t have one currently because I don’t know how I’d feel giving over my tasks to someone else. With you, however, I’d have no problems. It’s a win-win situation!”

“Is it?” he murmured, seriously contemplating your offer. “What about us?”

“What do you mean?”

“We live together. If we also work together, won’t that be too much?”

“Why? We’ve never had problems with spending a lot of time together. We basically have breathed the same air for most of our lives. What’s going to be different about this?”

He sighed. “You’ve never been my employer before.”

“I have too!” you proclaimed and Jongsuk moved just enough so he could look at you with a raised eyebrow. You smirked. “When I was eight, I employed you to help me run my lemonade stand.”

“We were kids!”

“Did I not pay you for your time?” you mentioned airily and your best friend rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, okay, so I was thrilled with that fifteen bucks back then, but I’m not eight anymore, Y/N.”

“I’ll pay you well.”

“Money is nice but I don’t know if it’s right for us.”

“Why? What’s stopping you?” you asked pointedly and he diverted his gaze away from yours.

It was how you differed. Whilst you respected and were often grounded by his reserved personality compared to your bold one, it sometimes frustrated you that he would do this. Jongsuk wasn’t nearly as impulsive in decision-making as you could be. You knew when to make a choice on the spot and when to sit on something, however, he would categorise everything into internal pros and cons lists before committing to anything.

Eventually, Jongsuk smiled. “Tonight, over dinner. Let’s talk more.”

“Fine, but don’t overanalyse it too much!” you called as he departed, leaving you admiring his handiwork on the document before you.

You needed him.

When you eventually arrived home later that evening, you were surprisingly anxious. You hadn’t heard from Jongsuk much for the rest of the day, and when you came in, he didn’t greet you at the door. It was silly how accustomed you had gotten to these simple gestures, and hurrying to take off your boots, you moved into the living space of your home and around the corner into the kitchen.

Your nose instantly scrunched up at the smell and Jongsuk turned to wave you off. “Don’t come in here! I messed up dinner.”

“You, messing up in the kitchen?!” you remarked, unable to hide your amusement or listen to his request to leave. Rounding the island counter, you cringed when you found the burnt pot in the sink. “Oh, this is bad.”

“I don’t need to be told the obvious.”

“Good thing we have a ton of coupons for Chinese. Should I order some in?”

Once seated with your meals, you noticed Jongsuk wasn’t eating much. Sighing, you placed down your utensils and placed your elbows up on the table to help with your hands now supporting your head. “What is it?”

“It’s not that I’m not grateful for the offer. If it was anyone else, I’d accept it without any issues.”

You didn’t hide your disappointment. “Because we’re best friends you can’t work with me?”

“I’m in love with you, Y/N,” Jongsuk confessed, staring across the table at you a little hopelessly. You broke into a smile and he grew a little guarded.

“I know.”

“Wait, what?”

“I know you love me.”

“I meant more than as a friend, Y/N,” he reiterated and you nodded.

“I know that too.”

“Why are you so calm about this? Most people would either react in surprise and swoon or reject their friend for falling in love with them.”

“Am I like most people?” you questioned, still smiling. “I’m not going to reject you like you are with me.”

“This isn’t a business transaction, Y/N. They’re feelings.”

“Ones that I feel for you as well so I’m well aware of what they are,” you commented and Jongsuk’s spoon clattered to the tabletop.

“You can’t just say it like that!”

“Why, Mr Romantic, did you want something more?”

He groaned. “This is why I can’t work for you. You’re not even taking my feelings seriously. We can’t work together since you’ll never see me as a man who can lead you well.”

“I already do see you like that though, Jongsuk,” you admitted and he stopped complaining, falling silent as you eased into your feelings. “I might seem like the bolder one of us both. And maybe in some situations, I am. But you know who holds me up? It’s you. From getting things for me whenever I ask, to knowing what I need before I do, I can’t do this without you. I rely on you for more than you realise. Everything you do makes my heart want to jump over to yours. You’re definitely a man, and even if you don’t realise it, you lead me all too well.”

“I do?” he breathed, his contemplation of your speech resulting with a small smile. “You follow me?”

“How many things have you put in place for me that I’ve adopted completely? I follow your principals in life more than anyone else’s. Of course, you do.”

“Okay, so in conclusion, you love me like I love you and this doesn’t put you off any from working together?”

You nodded, getting up from your seat to find one on his lap. Wrapping your arms around Jongsuk’s neck, you leaned in close enough to kiss yet held off just enough to answer him. “As I said earlier, there’s only one person who can organise me in this world, and that’s you.”

“Can I kiss you now?” he murmured and you hummed, already reaching for his lips. It felt better than you had ever fantasised, and you could tell that Jongsuk was equally stunned when he pulled away, now breathless.

“So will you work with me, if I work with you?” you asked, Jongsuk’s hands on your hips tightening.

“A partnership?” he offered and you grinned.

“One for life.”

_________________

All rights reserved © prettywordsyouleft

[Drabble Game Masterlist] | [Kdrama Actors Masterlist] | [Main Masterlist] | [Request Guidelines]

#kwritersworldnet #lee jong suk #lee jong suk imagines #lee jong suk scenarios #lee jong suk fiction #lee jong suk fanfic #lee jong suk fluff #kdrama imagines #kdrama scenarios #kdrama fiction #kdrama fanfic #kdrama fluff #korean actor

[televisionrulesthenation]

S1E6 - “Harrison B. Harding of Camp Crowder, MO”

Original air date: November 6, 1961

Episode recap

A man shows up at Rob’s office unexpectedly. His name is Harrison B. Harding and he says he knows Rob from the army. He says he knows Laura too. Rob doesn’t remember him but acts like he does.

Harrison insists on taking Rob to dinner. Rob calls home and Laura has already started a roast. Rob invites Harrison and his wife to his house for dinner.

Harrison and his wife come for dinner. Rob still can’t remember him. Rob and Laura excuse themselves to the kitchen. Rob begins to worry Harrison is a con man. Richtie joins the Hardings in the living room. Rob and Laura eavesdrop to see if the boy can pick up any intel.

Harrison starts asking Richtie where his dad keeps his watch. Richtie takes the Hardings to the bedroom to show them his parents jewelry. Rob starts a series of phone calls to the police to report a robbery.

The Petries move to the living room. Rob opens the brown paper bag Harrison has been carrying since he saw him at the office. The bag is full of jewelry. They eavesdrop from the living room the conversation in the bedroom. Harrison takes Rob’s watch and tells Richtie to keep it a secret.

Everyone comes back to the living room. Harrison reveals himself to be a jeweler and finally starts offering all sorts of army details that proves he is not a con man. He worked the projector at the army hall where Rob MC’d events. Harrison was even there the night Rob and Laura met. Rob suddenly remembers him. Harrison takes out his jeweler lense thing and fixes the engraving on Rob’s watch which is why he was being so secretive about it. It’s been bothering him for years that he messed up the engraving.

The police show up but Rob sends them away. Somehow the night ends up with everyone laughing and having a good time and not awkward at all.

Everything is about me

When the four of them, Rob and Laura and Harrison and his wife, got together, they were so dressed up. Then men were in suits, the women in dresses and heals. Laura blew everyone away with her outfit as always. But everyone looked nice.

I have been spending a lot of time at the soccer fields lately. Our three kids have practice over four nights over two different fields. Then the weekend brings games.

I dress like a slob. T-shirt. Baggy shorts. Comfortable walking shoes.

This seemed normal to be for the past while. And I didn’t talk to many people anyway, just walked around with my AirPods in.

But now our youngest two are on travel teams and we are getting to know the parents better. So I am talking to people, making strong acquaintances, potentially a friend or two.

And when I look around, some parents are actually dressed OK. Not for 1960s sitcom dinner party standards. But in a nice casual or nice active wear kind of way. 

(One dad overdoes it in the hipster direction, but at least he doesn’t look like a slob.)

And I realize I can do this. It’s not like I even have to spend a ton of money on clothes. Just wear something respectable. And I’m now realizing that work from home since March 2020 has devolved my work attire which bleeds over to slob wear at the soccer fields.

I need to present a better image.

Episode observations

Life before cell phones

Harrison just pops in at an old friend’s place of business unannounced and expects to be seen. Presumably now they’d have one another cell phone numbers and text. Or at least reach out via socials and arrange something.

Clothes and fashion

This blog would probably be better if it was just pictures and commentary on Laura’s outfit each episode.

Vocabulary lesson

Harrison keeps calling Rob “you dog” or “you old dog” as a term of endearment. I assume the dawg/dogg slang of the ‘90s to present evolved from this 1961 usage, but I can’t be sure. And I’m not John McWhorter, so I’m not going to research it.

Best joke/funniest moment

After Harrison leaves Rob’s office, and Rob tells Buddy and Sally he doesn’t remember Harrison from the army, Rob starts thinking out loud of where he might know him. Buddy says with a straight face, “hey, maybe he was one of the enemy.”

Definitely Buddy’s best joke so far. Might be my favorite joke of the series so far.

Other assorted thoughts on life in the 1960s

Laura says she hates to waste food, but the 2021 version of this story definitely involves them going out for dinner rather than hosting at home. Laura would save the roast in the fridge to microwave the next day. And it wouldn’t be a roast, it’d be chicken. And she probably wouldn’t have even starting cooking the chicken yet because she was just going to do some 30-minute recipe, so she’d just save the ingredients for the next day. And she was never going to cook that chicken and was were planning on getting takeout the whole time. And the kids have soccer practice and there’s no way they could go out to dinner on moments notice anyway. OK, I’ve tied myself into knots on this one.

The police show up to a suburban home pretty quickly to check up on a possible robbery. Seems highly unlikely nowadays.

Final thoughts

I wonder who the Harrison B. Hardings are in my life.

#s1 #e6 #the dick van dyke show #sticom #tv #dick van dyke #mary tyler moore #1960s #marriage #friendship

[canaryatlaw]

okay. well. today was all around pretty good. I woke up to my alarm at 8:30 am and got out of bed despite my tiredness, put the breakfast order into uber eats, and Jess showed up soon afterwards. Food came, and we ate while prepping for our hour of the podcast marathon at 10. I threw the basic ingredients together to make tomato sauce and had that on the stove for dinner so it could cook all day and be super good. Once it was time we tuned into the live chat and everything and started talking. Since we really don’t have that much to talk about still so we talked about the upcoming content we’ll get at SDCC now that we know the pilot will be being screened and we’re getting a panel and signing, so that’s all very exciting. From there we kinda transitioned into a more general topic about cons and the importance of centering queer women in stories about queer women, kinda building off the conversation we had with Dot-Marie Jones a few weeks back, which included some fairly heavy shading of Clexacon which I give exactly zero fucks about because they deserve everything they have coming for them. From there we just talked about our expectations for the show in general based on the info we have so far and interacting with the live chat and the questions they had. So it went pretty well, I was satisfied with it. Once we were done Jess headed out because she had to run to the city clerk’s office to get some sticker for her car which was gonna take like two hours or some shit like that. So for a while I got some work done, finished editing the brief and sent it in to my boss, so I’m officially out of actual work to do until he gets back to me, which is probably a good thing really because it means I can actually get done some of the many things I should be doing but haven’t done yet because I’ve been using all the time that I would do those things to work, mainly finish my clothing switch over and cleaning my kitchen, which is such a hot mess right now. So once I finished I started the process of pulling my winter clothes out of my dresser so I can put the summer clothes in. I realized I have like, a ton of skirts in the bottom of my pants drawer that I never actually wear but keep there on the belief that maybe I’ll wear them some day, but I probably never will so I’ll have to thin those out some. I just have to keep all the work clothes in there because who knows when I might need some professional clothing. So I got through some of that before messaging Jess and planning to get lunch with her. We went to the drag bar/hamburger place because since it was the afternoon there’s no chance we could get caught in one of the many shows they do (not because we wouldn’t like the show, just that Jess feels like we’re obligated to stay for the whole thing and last time we ended up there for like, 3 hours lol. so that was good, we definitely over-ordered appetizers and I barely ate my actual meal, but I brought it home with me so it’ll probably get eaten at some point. Once we finished we returned to my apartment where Jess bugged me into playing the new BTS World game on my phone, so I decided I would at least have fun with this and read all the dialogue out loud very dramatically and pronounced the boys names as they were spelled in the game (there’s this weird thing with however the game got translated they didn’t use the like, generally accepted spellings of their names in English because some of them don’t translate perfectly, so oo’s get turned into u’s and some k’s get turned into g’s and vice versa, so instead of Yoongi and Jungkook they have Yunki and Jeongguk) which Jess thought was the worst but most amusing thing ever and was between bouts of laughter and begging me to stop doing it 😂it was very entertaining. So that went on for a while before we realized we still had some time to kill before the assemble podcast hour, so we decided to watch Krypton season 1, which I’ve seen but Jess hasn’t and tbh I didn’t remember it all that well lol. so we got through the first like 3 and a half episodes I think. My mental timeline of what happened when in the series was definitely off, but oh well. Around 7 I started making the rest of dinner, which was pretty easy, but sadly with the addition of other ingredients the sauce ended up being too salty and I was very sad about this because when I had tasted it prior it was like out of this world good, so that was a disappointment but oh well, know now for next time to be careful about that. So we ate what we could before the podcast started slightly after 8. so this was when all the hosts from the different podcasts on the network all got on the live show together and just do a kind of season sum up, and we played dc comics madlibs which was hilarious, and then go over our favorite and least favorite characters or new heroes or seasons of what show and such, which is always super entertaining to hear people’s different opinions on these things, and of course there are plenty of jokes interjected in between all of it. So that ended up going until like 10:30 when we finally signed off, and we ended up making like $2,252 for the charity (it was at $2,242 but I donated the last ten bucks so it could end in 52 because dc comics) which was pretty awesome. Everyone was pretty tired at that point so Jess went home, and I just like lazily laid on my couch for a bit before starting to get ready for bed, and now I am here. I’m super excited about going to pride tomorrow, I can sleep till like 9 which is better than some mornings at least but it’s now 1 am and I am pretty damn tired, so I’m definitely going to bed now. Goodnight dears. Hope you’re having a great weekend.

#daily journal #June 2019 #Jess tag #Rachel's podcast adventures

[kirawritesaboutevanstan]

Sebastian SMASH

A/N: This story was inspired by this post. People seemed to love the idea of Sebastian SMASH and I did too. So I thought why not make it an actual mini story. Is it a drabble? I don't know. Anyways, here it is.

Summary: When your husband comes home after a long weekend, he finds you in the kitchen and offers to help. But he has an ulterior motive...

Pairings: Sebastian Stan x Reader ( you beautiful self )

Warnings:  Mentions of sex, is there a swear word in it?? I don't remember.

Word count: Around 1300

Want to read my new series? Here’s the link.

Interested in reading more of my stories? Well you can find them right here

TAGLIST IS OPEN for both my permanent and my series. Currently, those are the only taglists I have. Contact me either by an ask or message specifying which one you prefer x

(Gif is not mine. It’s just there because just look at how cute he is! ) 

You were walking around in the kitchen in your new floral apron, one you were very excited about having bought. It was so pretty and soft that you just had to use it the minute you got home. Luckily you were supposed to cook dinner giving you the perfect occasion to wear it.

You strut around with pride and excitement collecting the ingredients you needed for your homemade pizzas. Your husbands favorite food, and you wanted to treat him after him being away for the whole weekend at Comic-con Seattle. Setting everything nicely up on the counter you begin cooking.

A few minutes into chopping a ton of vegetables and preparing your homemade tomato sauce the front door opens. Your ever so dashing husband's voice calls out for you, and you yell back telling him you are in the kitchen. He appears, and when you turn around to face him you momentarily lose your breath at the sight of him.

He looked terrific but so exhausted. The bags under his eyes were so prominent that it was apparent how little sleep he had gotten. But he had a big smile on his pretty face those perfectly pink lips of his curving upwards as he shuffles over to you. Engulfing you in a warm and tight embrace, burying his face in your neck taking a deep breath and relaxing as you wrap your own arms around him. Holding him tight into your body as he snuggles in further. "Hi pretty bird" he mumbles and presses one kiss on your neck.

"Hi, handsome. How was Comic-con?" He hums and presses a few more kisses on your neck.

"Fun, exhausting, crazy and filled with love" Sebastian replies as he yawns and pulls away to look at you. You caress his cheek, and he smiles a closed-mouthed smile. "You look exhausted baby, but I'm glad you had fun" He chuckles and leans in for a kiss. He presses his lips to yours in a gentle but very tender kiss, one that took your breath away. Then you hear some heavy bubbling coming from the kitchen, and you pull away, wiggling out of his arms as you mutter "shit the sauce" and runs over to the kitchen. He follows you as you stir the tomato sauce, sighing a relieved sigh when it's all okay and not ruined.

"You need help?" Sebastian offers, being an excellent cook himself you gratefully accept his offer, not knowing of the mischievous plans in his mind. 

You instruct him to cut the onions as you focus on the sauce. He finds a cutting board and a knife. Your back is turned to him, so you don't see the smirk on his face as he peels the onions. When they are all peeled and ready to be cut, instead of picking up the knife he grabs the meat hammer instead. Turning to look at you holding the hammer and one onion.

"Hey, babe?" You turn around to face him, and he holds the meat hammer in his hand. "Do you want the onions chopped or SMASHED?" He asks grinning a very mischevious smile. You scowl at him.

“Sebastian no” you warn him, only eliciting a smirk from the man.

“Sebastian yes” he retorts and grins even wider.

"Sebastian don't you dare. I just cleaned the kitchen" But your words fall on deaf ears as he laughs and puts the onion on the table. 

He yells "Sebastian SMASH!" as he brings the hammer down hard on the poor innocent onion, sending bits flying everywhere. Some bits even hitting you in the face and your brand new apron. The look on your face must have been one of shock and despair because Sebastian laughs so hard at his little stunt and your facial expression that he has to hold onto the table to make sure he doesn't fall over. His laughter is loud and booms throughout the apartment as you just stand there glaring at your idiot husband.

"You are cleaning that up yourself asshole," You mumble as you turn your focus back on the sauce. He is practically choking with laughter behind you as he tries to gather himself. When he has finally calmed down, he notices your angry stance and starts feeling guilty.

He walks over to you trying to soothe you, wrapping his arms around your stomach and resting his head on your shoulder.

"I'm sorry my love. Don't be mad" he whispers in your ear, but you ignore him completely. He presses a few kisses to your neck. You ignore him still. "Don't be mad. I'm sorry. Forgive me, my love," You continue ignoring him. More kisses and apologies, but yet you still pretend he doesn't exist. He presses a ton of sloppy drooly kisses to your cheek, making it very hard to ignore him. But then you get an idea. You, without he notices, lathers your hand in some tomato sauce. You turn around in his arms, his worried blue eyes stare into yours, you send him a smile and pretends to lean in for a kiss. He lights up at your sudden forgiveness, but when he closes his eyes instead of pressing your lips to his, you smear the handful of tomato sauce on his face. His eyes shoot open, and he stares at you with wide eyes. The confusion in his eyes is priceless, and you burst out laughing. He brings one hand up to his cheek and gathers some of it on his finger, laughing in disbelief. Then his eyes meet yours, his filled with trouble and yours widen in panic.

"Oh, darling. You should not have done that. This means war baby." Before you can react, he has grabbed you and is rubbing his face all over your chest and neck, smearing your new apron in the sauce. You squeal and tries to escape, but his iron grip is too strong. You squeal and push his head, but he just keeps rubbing it all over you like a cat greeting its owner.

"SEBASTIAN STOP!" You yell in a high pitched voice, and he would have taken you seriously if it weren't for the giggles escaping your mouth as you try to push him away. He pushes you up against the counter still holding onto you tightly. "You started it. This is your punishment for smearing me with food" Sebastian tells you, smirking and still covered in sauce. "I did not start it! You did! With your Sebastian smash, what are you? Hulk?" You argue, your voice is a few octaves higher than normal. He laughs and moves closer. "Well, that is true. I did smash an onion." He moves even closer and whispers. "Do you want me to be hulk? Because that can be arranged" Smirking at you. You glare at him and laughs. "You are the worst, no more Sebastian smash in the kitchen okay?" You tell him laughing, and he grins while nodding. You look down at yourself, and you notice the state of your apron and makes a sad little "aww" noise. "This was a new apron" You pout, and he grimaces at you. "Sorry..." He presses one kiss to the corner of your mouth and says. "Maybe we should take a shower? We are covered in this stuff." You nod and you are about to walk past him when he grabs your wrist, pulling you into him again. He whispers into your ear " If I'm not allowed to do Sebastian smash in the kitchen, can I do it in the bedroom instead?" he pulls away to look at you, and you laugh at him. "Depends on what kind of smashing you mean. If you want to smash me with a meat hammer like that poor onion, then no." He grins again. "What if I use my meat hammer?" You burst out laughing at his dirty and not very sexy words. "Oh my god, do not refer to your penis as a meat hammer. That's just wrong" He laughs with you. "Okay okay, you're right that is awful. but still, Sebastian smash?" His eyes glisten with hope, desire, and mischief. "Yes, Sebastian smash" He cheers and grins. "But not with a meat hammer and never in the kitchen again" You add and he grins before kissing you hard, leading you to the bedroom for a new version of smashing. The shower and food could wait.

Fin x 

Feel free to leave any feedback you wish; I would love to hear your thoughts. xx

* A line through your name means I couldn’t tag you for some reason. Also, message if I’ve forgotten to tag you. And if I repeatedly can't tag you and I've contacted you with no response I will remove you *

Permanent Taglist: @holland-stan-posts / @bibegone / @sergeantjbuckybarnes / @hannahll14

#Sebastian Stan #Seb Stan #sebastian stan fanfiction #sebastian stan imagine #sebastian stan x reader #sebastian stan fluff #seb stan x reader #seb stan fanfic #seb stan fluff #seb stan imagine #fluff #seb stan fic #sebastian stan fic

[amazingsweets]

PROS AND CONS OF USING A GROCERY DELIVERY SERVICE

This past weekend my plate was overflowing. I had so much stuff I needed to get done and a whole lot of laundry was piled up needing to either be washed or folded, or both. Then we ran out of milk, then eggs, then cocoa powder when I was most desperate for a cup of hot chocolate. The bread finally ran out, as did the parmesan cheese. Our food supply was running low and I just didn’t have time to pack up the kids to head to the store.

Over the past couple of months my neighbor has been telling me about how fantastic our local Best online grocery store in Pakistan is. You tell them what to buy, they do the shopping, charge your card for only what’s in stock, and they bring it to your door at a time slot you request. I knew it was finally time to try the online grocery store , so I did, and I loved it!

If you’ve ever been curious what grocery delivery service is like, I’m happy to give you the many pros and the few cons I’ve found from my experience with online grocery shopping from my local store. If your store offers it, they may have some different policies and procedures, so make sure to check it out to see how it compares.

PROS OF ONLINE GROCERY SHOPPING

Meal Planning Made Easy: I’m horrible with meal planning, mostly because there’s always that one item I forget to pick up, or I forget to add a side dish with the main dish, or because I go shopping hungry and want everything, especially everything they are demoing, and all of the sale items! Ok, maybe not everything, but I do impulse shop and then I have way more food than I need for the week and my meal plan falls apart.

Impulse Buy Reduction: Since I already mentioned that I often impulse buy, online shopping has reduced this. I add items in my cart, then I can review it at any time and remove things I realize I don’t need. In the store I would have to either walk it all the way back to the aisle it came from (not going to happen) or give it to the cashier (and I hate to make more work for people) so, I end up buying it. When I can remove stuff with the click of a button, that makes it easy and I’m much less likely to pick up those extras. That means less wasted food and more money saved.

Instant Access to Online Sales: One thing I loved about my local online grocery shopping is that they list all of the weekly deals and digital coupons right there for me to access. The sale price is given to me automatically. Plus, since I have a store card that is linked to my account, all of my card benefits are automatically applied! Score!

Delivery is Free! Okay, it’s free when I purchase over $100 in grocery delivery service and since that’s usually what I spend when I go to the store, this isn’t bad for me. It’s not all bad for those orders under $100 either as long as you’re not using it all the time. It’s only $5 for them to shop for you and deliver your order. Sweet!

I Can Throw Things in My Cart When I Feel Like It: I love that when I run out of something at home I can just pull up my cart and add it there. Then, next time I log in, it’s already in the cart! No more forgotten products at the store because it’s already in the cart.

I Can Give Directions to My Shopper: I love that I can give notes to my shopper. I can let them know what substitutions are acceptable if something is out, or if I just want them to skip it. I can tell them flavors I like or don’t like, I can give them insights into my cooking habits, so they know what size of something to pick up for me.

CONS OF ONLINE GROCERY SHOPPING

Can’t Use All the Coupons: I do not consider myself a couponed, but I do clip the occasional coupon. Unfortunately, with my local store, they accept coupons in store, but not for the online ordering. It makes sense since there is no way for them to scan and verify the coupons prior to purchase. However, they do offer a ton of online digital coupons, many that are equivalent to what I would probably clip, and I can load those onto my store card and they will be instantly applied at checkout. For the self proclaimed couponed who probably has multiple coupons for a single item type, you’re better off going in the store to claim your savings.

No Alcohol Delivery: Sadly I can’t order my favorite wine and have it delivered to my door, but that would be awesome! Due to legalities they can’t deliver alcohol, but you can order it online and then do store pick up. They’ll bring it out to your car! It’s not quite the same as delivery, but it will do!

I Like Wandering the Aisles: For this sedentary for my job working girl, I enjoy getting out of the house to the store to walk aimlessly up and down the grocery aisles. It’s a change of pace, a change of scenery for me, and it’s actually quite relaxing, unless there happens to be a huge holiday or a big game that day. My only fix for this is to take the hour I would have been at the store and do a workout at home. Not a change of scenery, but at least it gets me moving.

No Instant Gratification: Sometimes I get the brilliant idea that I need to make nachos and I need to eat them now. I don’t know what it is about nachos, tacos and pizza, but they seem to have that effect on some people (no, I’m not under the influence, I just like yummy food). When I order online, depending on what time I’m ordering, I may have to wait until the middle of the next day to enjoy that food I’m ordering. In that case, I’m probably better off running to the store.

I Miss the Hands On Comparison Action: Sometimes product ingredients update and they aren’t updated online. Sometimes I want to look at two products side by side to compare nutritional values. Sometimes I want both items and I just need to hold them in my hands until my brain gives me the signal and tells me which one I want more. Sure I can look at some of this stuff online to help me make decisions, and I love that they have it all there, but when I’m not the one in the store, I miss out on seeing a little detail that might change my mind on something.

Overall, I love online grocery shopping best grocery delivery service I found is Howmuch. ! I’ll still go into the store to pick some things up, for example this weekend is Friendsgiving, and as predicted, I still haven’t figured out what I want to bring to the table. This means last minute I’ll figure out my recipe, run to the store for ingredients and whip it all up in record time with seconds to spare making my entrance and serving my contribution. Ok, I’m sure I’ll be early, I usually am, but it’s still fun to think I live on the wild side sometimes.

[uniquequotesonlife]

Travel Experts Reveal 10 Ways To Save On Travel

We’re not mathematicians, but we’re pretty sure the following theorem holds true: There is an inverse relationship between how badly you need a vacation and how comfortably you can afford one. That is, the more you need a vacation, the less likely you are to be in the financial position to pull one together. That’s what it feels like in our experience, anyway. Call it the algebra of exhaustion.

iStock But what if there’s a tricky workaround? What if you could take that sorely needed week away and come home to a livable bank account? We reached out to a handful of travel agents and vacation writers to see if the dream is achievable—and it turns out, it just may be. If I had had to pay for hotels, vacation rentals or even hostels in each of these expensive cities, I would never have been able to afford the trips. Here’s what we learned, all boiled down into 10 thrifty tips that’ll save you hard-earned cash on your next getaway:

1. Remember the Rule of Tuesdays.

Tuesday is an important day of the week in the world of air travel. If you can travel on a Tuesday or even Wednesday, you’ll probably get the cheapest flight of the week. Generally, people do their traveling on Thursday, Friday, or over the weekend. Demand drives prices up, so you’re more likely to find a cheap flight during off-peak times—usually a Tuesday or Wednesday.

iStock At least, that’s what we’ve always heard. But is it really true? Yes, according to news outlet CNBC. While there’s no magic day to purchase the best deals, the cheapest days to travel are Tuesday, followed by Wednesday, and then Saturday. Airlines use algorithms to determine prices, and these are constantly being updated based off of sales and availability, says travel writer and vice president of travel company Pruvo, Doron Nadivi.

iStock.com/scyther5 “There is also an old myth about ordering 57 days prior to travel. Both of these suggestions are not true,” Nadivi tells us. “Last year I booked a flight from Costa Rica to New Zealand…, returning from Bangkok to Costa Rica months prior to travel. I put an alarm to check 57 days before departure and the exact same flight number, same route, same website cost four times more.” Of course, there are always the many price tracking sites out there. Some sites even show long-term price estimates for flights, so you can plan your vacation around your budget.

iStock Still, the real trick when purchasing a flight is to follow through when the price is good. If you see a great deal, get it, now. Chances are it’ll be gone in a few hours. The “book on Tuesday six weeks out” rule may be inaccurate, but there’s plenty of technology available to get you where you want to be for the best possible price. Use it.

2. Hit the shoulder season.

What’s the shoulder season, you ask? We explain—plus give you a few quick tips on how to avoid the tourists and get affordable flights—in the video below:

3. Be a little impulsive.

There are pros and cons to this tried-and-true technique for a quick escape from the day-to-day grind. But asking for a “cheap ticket to anywhere” doesn’t work like it used to.

iStock Once upon a time, you could walk up to a ticket counter and get a cheap, last-second deal for an undersold flight. It was great if you didn’t much care where you were going. But those days are over. Today, most flights are overbooked, and last-minute flying can actually be more expensive, not less. Still, the days of the 11th-hour deal aren’t over entirely. It’s just that you have to use technology to take advantage now. Try signing up for your favorite airline’s email list. That way you’ll see any last-minute specials, and you can easily build a trip around what’s cheap. You can also check out coupon sites like Groupon, or LivingSocial for luxurious, planned getaways for a fraction of the normal price.

iStock To improve your odds of scoring a deal, try to visit less popular cities. For instance, Aspen, Colorado is a beautiful ski town, but it’s also busy and expensive. Why not hit the slopes in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, or Brian Head, Utah, instead? You can beat the crowds, save some cash, and discover new places with this tactic.

4. Ditch the hotel.

Hotels are great, but with a new generation of travelers hotels have taken a hit. Just like Uber and Lyft are changing the world of ground transportation, Airbnb and VRBO are laying siege on the hotel industry.

iStock Through these and similar services, you can find great deals on short-term house rentals instead of booking a bunch of hotel rooms for larger travel parties. There are also smaller sites in most every major city that will have a listing of units that are available for travelers to rent. Do your research and you’ll find the options are practically endless—and very affordable. You can also use home-sharing apps and basically stay in a new city for free “in exchange for caring for someone else’s home and pets,” says author and world-traveler Kelly Hayes-Raitt, who traveled the world for four years straight while reporting her book, Living Large in Limbo, and racked up quite a few tricks during the process. “I get unpaid accommodations, a kitchen to make my own meals and other homey perks like free cable and DVDs, use of a car, and no nickel-and-dime fees hotels tack on.”

Nishant Choksi for The New Yorker There are sites to set up accommodations for travelers to house-sit, or to actually swap homes for a period of time. This is a great way to get to know a new city without spending a ton of money. “During the past eight years, I’ve house-sat in London for two months during the Olympics, Berlin, Amsterdam, Hanoi, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Osaka,” Hayes-Raitt tells us. “If I had had to pay for hotels, vacation rentals or even hostels in each of these expensive cities, I would never have been able to afford the trips.”

5. Get off the plane.

If you have some wiggle room for your travel plans, let the gate attendant know. That way you can be put on the short list if they need volunteers. If you’re flying on United or Delta, you can bid on how much money it’d take for you to give up your seat. After the David Dao debacle of 2017, United Airlines has raised the cap on how much they’re willing to pay for passenger seats on overbooked flights to $10,000. That would make for some vacation.

iStock In the moment, there’s often the panic-induced sense that all you want to do is reach your destination, but if you psych yourself up to sit around the airport for a couple of hours to make some serious miles or money, then you’ll be good to go. With everything going on after the United incident, you should know that airlines do have the right to remove any passenger (except for people with disabilities and unaccompanied minors).

6. Brown bag it.

We know a granola bar isn’t the same as that breakfast burrito you could buy at the airport, but it could save you a good chunk of change. Airport food tends to be more expensive than the already-pricey food at professional sporting events and theme parks, so if you have some time to spare, make yourself a meal and bring it. Some food is okay to pass through security, and if you have kids, you can always bring powdered milk and make them a drink in the airport instead of hitting up the terminal’s Starbucks. If you don’t have time to make something yourself, you can still pass over the expensive airport-specific restaurants.

iStock One of our favorite options is going to Subway and getting a footlong sandwich, then eating half at the airport and half on the flight. You can save yourself some good money this way. (Just don’t get the tuna; your fellow passengers won’t thank you for that.)

http://istock.com/amriphoto After you arrive at your vacation spot, take advantage of any local grocery stores and cook for yourself. Purchasing food, even pre-made meals, at a grocery store instead of eating out all the time will save you a fortune while you’re traveling.

7. Hydrate on the cheap.

Everyone knows you can’t bring liquids through security, including water. But you can bring an empty water bottle and fill it at a water fountain or fill station.

iStock It’s crucial to drink up on the plane; people tend to get really dehydrated when they travel because of the recycled air, the altitude, and the fact you don’t really drink a lot of liquids while you’re in flight (no one likes asking people to get up so they can use the restroom). This will keep you hydrated and save you from buying a $4 bottle of water.

8. Find new ways to get around.

Asking a friend to pick you up from the airport is almost as bad as asking them to help you move. Nobody wants to do it, but most people don’t feel like they can say no. However, in most major cities, there is public transportation that can take you to and from the airport.

iStock If you don’t have easy access to public transportation, you can try to take an Uber or Lyft, which will often save you some money compared with a taxi, which may overcharge via a large airport tax. Be aware, though, that in some cities, Uber and Lyft cannot pick up passengers from the airport.

iStock Do some research on your destination’s transportation before you go. Both the Google Maps app and the Citymapper app can provide you with information and schedules for trains, busses, and more. Where possible, take the monorail, subway, or bus instead of a taxi. Alternatively, you can always take the opportunity to explore the city on foot and walk to your final destination.

9. Take a cue from extreme couponers.

There are coupons for literally everything. If you know you’re going to be in a new city, take advantage of the ones that are for first-time customers only. Apps like Groupon and LivingSocial have deals for activities and food that could cut your costs in half.

iStock Another way to go about saving money on food is searching hashtags on Instagram for specific locations. If you find food pics that look appetizing, get in touch with the restaurant and see if they have any special deals or happy hours.

10. Book directly.

Airlines often offer more flexibility and cheaper fees than third-party sellers. A lot of websites will scour the internet for the best deals—which is great if you’re short on time or organizational skills—but then you usually get stuck with few options and little flexibility, since you’re booking through a third party.

iStock The best thing to do is use a search site like Skyscanner or Google Flights to find the cheapest flight, then head over to that airline’s website and book directly through them. When you book direct, you’ll get cheaper flights, and usually more flexibility and options for your trip.

iStock.com/YakobchukOlena These tips won’t just save you money on vacation. They might bring down the cost of a trip just enough that you can safely afford it in the first place. Follow our experts’ advice, and you could balance the equation that allows for a truly restorative—and much-deserved—adventure. Read the full article

[amethystiridescence]

I am so happy.

My life has always been very relatively fortunate. I know there’s no comparison to all sides of a spectrum so its only with my limited perspective and subjective opinion that I can reflect on my circumstances. Its just for the sake of juxtaposition that I mention any of my subjectively negative life-affecting things. With some warning this is to be a very indulgent ramble as I just want to savour how impossibly incredibly wonderful life is right now.

For a start, I finally live somewhere where I can be relaxed and also call it home. After my parents divorced when I was 10 until I was 25, I lived with my mother. She has taken it upon herself to compensate in a very overbearing way for the lack of a father figure in mine and my brother’s lives. It’s left me paranoid, resentful, strained and absolutely living and breathing anxiety and I desperately needed to move out but money and a stop-start pattern in my career after Uni made it impossible. Through sudden circumstances I suddenly had somewhere I could move into and live in my best friend’s beautiful house. I am eternally grateful and forever in his debt for letting me live in such an amazing place. It’s such a roomy and bright place, and he let me turn it as homely as possible. I got to decorate the kitchen in pink and green and light pine, and I made the living room light and dark blue with tons of nerdy books and old school consoles. I have an old PS1 dance mat and Spyro.

My bedroom is unbelievably gorgeous, and my boyfriend who lives with me across the hallway with his own space built me a window seat which I’ve wanted ever since I read an illustrated copy of the Secret Garden when I was 5. I’ve covered my room in fairy lights, printed polaroids of my Instagram, and I sit on my window seat in the sunshine since it faces south and I read with scented candles. I can actually keep flowers in my bedroom now without them dying from lack of sunlight and I buy different colour carnations every few weeks. My boyfriend is going to put up bird feeders outside my window soon. He makes curries with coconut milk and sticky rice and I cook garlicky seafood noodle broths, and occasionally we all inhale one huge takeaway pizza each whilst watching Friends.

I also live in the most beautiful part of the UK. The sea is less than a mile from where I live to the south, and the moors are less than 10 miles to the north. Everything is wide, green and natural and beautiful on the moors and the wild ponies happily eat from your hands.

I went bodyboarding in the Cornish waves the other weekend and the water was so warm and so blue. I also went swimming in my city’s adorable local seaside lido pool in the hot sun the other week. Eddy bought us hot dogs and slushies.

I now have a huge group of fantastic friends and I’m still not sure how I’ve managed to become part of such a incredible group of people. Thanks to a string of aggressive and manipulative bullying in secondary school, my own socialising skills were shot to pieces and I didn’t make friends easily. When I first moved house I felt lonely and without friends and I was panicking about new people. So when I found the University Amateur Dramatics society by pure accident, I couldn’t believe my luck. For some crazy reason they actually seem to like me and want me to be part of their incredible family. They’re all so talented, passionate and affectionate, and I feel honoured to be able to call them my friends. They even encouraged me to act in plays, and my newfound sense of humour and ability to make people laugh still surprises me after several months.

A few of us went swimming and cliff diving together on the moors in a crystal clear running river in a heatwave a couple of weeks ago. I’m going to a wedding reception party with a few of them soon. They gave me a special creative contribution award on their Awards Night with the most amazing speech even though I’ve only been part of them for a few months. I haven’t felt this confident in myself in years and I owe them all so much for that.

As stated before, my career of choice is very stop-start. I went from no experience to a magazine cover, from waitressing to a stint on Game of Thrones prosthetics team to stacking shelves in Tesco for a couple of months. I seized a more stable less relevant job and held onto it hoping I’d manage to do creative things and unfortunately I ended up much unhappier in the job than I thought as I ended up only really doing computer work. The only solace I had was being able to raise a baby crow from a chick and have his company throughout one of the dullest work summers I’ve ever had.

I was stifled and felt stuck, especially since I kept trying to win this 6 month scholarship at a huge makeup school in Hollywood, and I came so close to winning and kept on just missing the mark. When I came the closet I’ve ever been and lost for a third time this year after getting so hopeful in the light of my work going incredibly viral, I was so deflated and planned to leave the job for the first irrelevant thing I could find just to break the unhappy directionless monotony. And then it all happened. I got contacted by a huge entertainment company requesting me specifically to come work for them as a costume designer and makeup artists for international performances, based half hour away from where I live. I’ve been there 2 weeks and I’ve been feverishly creating everyday with and the days just fly by. I’m even going with my team to Texas next month to do the makeup for the event that I’m creating the costumes for. I might even go places like Kuwait or Dubai as well. I can hardly believe my luck. And as if that wasn’t incredible enough, I’ve had a private sponsor contact me about the failed scholarship attempts and kindly offer to sponsor me for a month’s worth of classes at the school next year. So I’m going to work extra hard and pay for an extra month of classes when I fly to Los Angeles in the spring next year. I can’t believe I’ve actually been granted so much generosity and kindness and that I’m now a professional costumer and that I’m going to Hollywood in less than a year.

I start my VISA application this week.

And honestly, I still look back on the work I’ve achieved off my own back this year and I can truly say I’m so proud of what I’ve made. Cosplay is so important to me and I’m so blessed that I can take it and turn it into a career.

We still go Comic Cons at least once or twice a year and I love every second of them.

The boys got really keenly into cosplay this year and made cosplays they adored wearing so much that they went from wearing them for just the one day to all three days of the Con. I’m so proud of them and I love how much they enjoyed themselves.

I got specially invited to a huge London Comic Con at the end of this month as a cosplay guest and I’m staggered by how generous they’re being with covering all my expenses including a plus one. I feel weirdly famous and humbled by the kindness. I can’t believe I’ll be a guest alongside so many real celebrities such as Christopher Lloyd, Alyson Hannagan, Benedict Cumberbatch and my idol Doug Jones.

I am giddily madly and blissfully in love and I feel so warm and strong and sure of it when I remember how unhappy I used to be. It is a huge shame that my previous and longest relationship ended as needlessly bitter as it did. It really didn’t have to happen that way. I wish I had been mature and less scared of being alone and less inclined to retreat into the devil that I knew for all those years. I had no idea how badly matched we were after growing up differently and growing naturally apart. We just didn’t work together and it was making me so unhappy, frustrated at myself for thinking it must have been something wrong with me when in actual truth I just needed different things from a relationship. Consequently I only realised how badly unhappy I was only after I left it.

But Eddy is everything I’ve been needing and more. He is so patient with my whacky temperament, stubbornness and silly quirks. He is the calming, affectionate, assuring bedrock of my life, and my own self-image is so much better for his constant gentle reminders that I am warmly and passionately loved and always seen and even more importantly I can be totally myself without being resented. He encourages me to keep doing everything that I love doing, and he never misses a trick when I’m feeling upset or distracted. He always looks so happy to see me, and his smiles are infallibly genuine and light up the room. He is so ridiculously intelligent and yet he never ever uses it to make anyone feel inferior or show it off. He is so unbelievably unfazed by how anyone sees him and nothing ever embarrasses him, I’ve never seen someone so chilled in their own image such as him. It doesn’t matter how upset or stressed I am, he can instantly calm me down and break past my aggressive stubbornness or soothe my shame.

I love him for the way he can ballroom dance. I love him for the way he loves to cook and still finds time in between stirring saucepans to wrap his arms around me and dip me towards the floor even if its just to get an indignant squeak out of me. I love him for the way he animatedly talks about facts, history, art and gaming logistics with ease and humour as if its not things to be recited, its things to be actively and keenly discussed. I love him for the way he is shameless about what he loves, whether its a beautiful piece of art or a really bad internet joke.

I have a cupboard specially for all my teas. I have over fifteen types and three types of hot chocolate. I serve the hot chocolates with mini marshmallows. I keep a list on my phone of all the silly stuff Eddy has said that’s made me laugh. I’ll publish it one day.


I got to decorate the house with autumnal decorations last autumn after mum wouldn’t let me do it at hers. I put orange maple leaves everywhere and real pumpkins displayed with dried leaves. I regularly lit cinnamon and apple scented candles. We had a pumpkin party with toffee apples and toasted marshmallows on a bonfire in the garden. I carved the silhouette of a crow into a pumpkin.

One of my friends from the society lent me a book that made me cry. I’ve bought my own copy. She makes amazing cakes and looks like an elf queen. I’m going to her birthday BBQ tomorrow.

My cosplay got featured in a magazine again.

I got a new duvet cover with the Little Mermaid on it, and a phone power bank shaped like a unicorn. I can love pink, girly pastel things again without feeling embarrassed. I love having pink hair.

We had an incredible Christmas tree last year. I made and ate so many Devils On Horseback and drank a lot of mead.

Eddy took me ice skating for my birthday. We went to see his favourite band in concert at the same place a month later. That following evening he massaged my achy post-heels legs. We listen to the same band when we cook together. He loves to sing along to any music.

It snowed before my birthday again. We went up to the moors early in the morning and it was absolutely breathtaking. We rolled around in the snow and I petted the snow-dusted Dartmoor ponies.

I had a phonemail with my best friend of 20 years earlier today. She’s coming to stay with us for a week soon. Her voice hasn’t changed since we were 13. She still smells like she did when we were 6. We went to the Tower of London as invited by the Ravenmaster himself and met one of the ravens. We also went to see a Steven Spielberg tribute Philharmonic Orchestra concert later that day. She drew me whilst sat on the tube.

I caught the cherry blossoms this year on really warm days. Eddy shook the tree over me so I got coated in pink petals. I got iced matcha from Starbucks later that day.

I acted in a play that started with everybody laughing then finished crying. I loved every second of it and I loved my cast and I loved the play itself. I love acting now.

I think Eddy’s family likes me. They took me to Disneyland the other week for Eddy’s sister’s hen party. Eddy’s mum fixed my skirt for the wedding and she also fixed my dress for the wedding of Eddy’s other sister last year. Both his parents cried and hugged me when I told them about Hollywood.

I bought a scrapbook with unicorns on it. I’m going to print of as many polaroids as possible to stick in it with glitter glue. I’ve been covering everything in rainbow, Pokemon and dinosaur stickers.

I never want to forget feeling this happy.

[siemprelluvia]

This week we’re talking about food! (Doesn’t it all look awesome?)

So here’s the thing about food: There’s a lot that I haven’t gotten to try yet, and a lot that I haven’t gotten pictures of yet. But that’s okay, I’m going with what I’ve got!

Food, in my opinion, is one of the best ways to represent culture. The ingredients in a dish and the methods used to prepare it can say a lot about where you’re from and what you’re accustomed to. How you serve that dish, what time of the year and what setting you eat it in, and who you serve it to can tell stories about social structure, day to day life, holidays, family... anything, really. Everything comes from context.

The context I have observed in my homestay is this: breakfast is served at 7:30, but you don’t have to eat right away. Lunch comes between 11:30 and 2pm, and that serve time depends on what you’re doing in the day. Dinner is at 7:30. You can eat early or you can eat late, but the food is ready and waiting at 7:30. Meals can be eaten individually or as a group- the only one that is consistently eaten as a group is dinner. Also, the television is on at most meals. It’s usually playing the news in the morning and a gameshow called EEG at night. At 8 pm, the telenovelas start. And Gaby loves to watch them with you as you finish your dinner.

Some recurring trends I’ve noticed are the ingredients. Avocado, mainly. Probably around half of the meals I’ve eaten have contained avocado in some way, shape, or form. Frankly, I’m thrilled. I love avocado. (Fun fact! Avocado is called plata in Peru) I’ve also noticed tons of tomatoes. Also a favorite of mine. Tomatoes get sliced up fresh and placed in salad- both cooked and fresh- or layered on sandwiches, or served up as a garnish. Tomatoes are everywhere. I see a splash of red in my food and it’s most definitely a tomato. And on the topic of tomatoes, I’ll mention ketchup- it’s sweet! Ketchup in the US is kind of a vinegary flavor that highlights the acidity of tomatoes. Here, the second ingredient is sugar. Far from being a bad flavor, sweet ketchup actually pairs great with mayonnaise- which usually has some lime juice in it!

 And now for an A-to-Z of some of the highlights of Peruvian cuisine!

 Ají de gallina: shredded chicken in a creamy yellow sauce made from yellow chilis (ají amarillo), cheese, and milk. Often served with bread or boiled potatoes, occasionally garnished with walnuts. I had this for the first time over boiled potatoes in Chincha, and it was absolutely delicious! Not at all spicy, but full of wonderful chicken, cheese, and ají flavors.

 Alfajores: crumbly sandwich cookies made of flour or cornstarch cookies filled with manjar blanco (caramel-like, similar to dulce de leche, a reduction of milk and sugar) and covered in powdered sugar. I haven’t had any Peruvian alfajores yet, but I have made them before! If you like shortbread cookies and caramel, these are the treat for you.

 Anticuchos: popular street food (and favorite of Carlos). Cuts of stew meat or beef heart marinated in vinegar and spices such as cumin, ají, and garlic that are skewered and grilled. Often served with boiled potatoes or bread. I haven’t tried any yet, but I fully intend to before I leave!

 Arroz con leche: rice pudding! My favorite iteration of this so far is arroz zambito- rice pudding kissed by the sun. It’s traditional rice pudding that is sweetened by chancaca and flavored with coconut, raisin, and aniseed. We were served arroz zambito when we went to Mundo Libre in Pachacamac. It’s a warm dessert, but the perfect end to a meal.

 Causa: a potato dish usually made as a potato cake or stuffed roll. Yellow potatoes blended with oil, lime juice, and ají amarillo are used to make a paste, which is the causa itself. The type of causa I had in Chincha was a roll stuffed with shredded chicken, served cold. An odd experience, but very good.

 Ceviche: an extremely popular seafood dish, characteristic of coastal regions such as Lima. I haven’t eaten any ceviche yet, as it is seafood, but I’ve heard it’s quite good if you enjoy fish. There are many different types of ceviche, but they are typically made from fresh raw fish that has been cured in citrus juice and spiced with ají or chili peppers.

 Chicha morada: classic Peruvian beverage made from purple corn. Made with sugar, cinnamon, and clove, and served with pretty much any meal you choose. Takes a little getting used to, but absolutely delicious! Personally, I think it pairs best with savory meals.

 Chicarrones: fried pork belly or intestines. In Peru,  it is boiled with seasoning until no water remains, then fried in its own fat. I haven’t had them yet, but they’re another popular street food and favorite of Carlos.

 Chifa: a Peruvian take on Chinese cuisine! Think of all the Chinese food you have in the United States… and make it sweeter. I’ve had Chifa one time since I’ve been here and honestly… I mostly ate the wontons. Everything was really good, but the wontons were excellent. Also, chifa tends to be served with Inca Kola!

 Churros: best found at a street cart in Parque Kennedy. There are tons of different types of curros, but my favorite are hot and filled with melted manjar blanco. S/. 2.50 in Parque Kennedy and worth every centimento.

 Cuy: guinea pig. Straight up guinea pig. Again, not something I’ve eaten yet. It’s a big food source in the Andes, but less so here on the coast. Give me a few days- I’m headed to Cusco and I’m going to try it.

 Empanadas: stuffed bread/pastry that can be baked or fried. Empanadas can have a ton of different types of fillings. I’ve had chicken and I’ve had cheese, and they’re all delicious. One curious thing about the chicken empanadas is that they nearly always have quail eggs inside with the chicken filling. It takes a little getting used to, but it’s good.

 Inca Kola: practically the national drink of Peru. Seriously. Inca Kola was made in Peru in 1935 and has since exploded throughout Latin America. The true flavor of Inca Kola is lemon verbena, but everyone tastes it slightly different. The flavor is commonly referred to as cotton candy or bubblegum. It’s definitely a drink that needs some adjusting to. After three weeks, I’ve found that Inca Kola is probably my favorite soft drink. It smells like bubblegum and tastes like… well, tastes like Inca Kola.

 Lomo saltado: beef stir fry typically served with rice. Can also be made with chicken (which I prefer). The meat is thinly sliced and fried with onions, tomatoes, soy sauce, and ají amarillo. Each time I’ve gotten any type of saltado, it also has French fries. And each time I’ve gotten saltado, it’s been delicious.

 Mazamorra morada: a popular dessert  made from purple corn and fruit. I haven’t eaten any yet, but it supposedly tastes like blackberry pie filling. It tends to be thickened with flour or corn starch and spices with cinnamon and cloves (like chicha morada) and served cold.

 Papa a la huancaína: a cold dish that consists of boiled potato slices covered in Huancaína sauce. The sauce is yellow and creamy, as its base is the ají amarillo pepper. It is often served with hard-boiled egg quarters, a black olive, lettuce leaves, and tomato slices. Typically an appetizer and not a main dish. I’ve had these potatoes several times, and each time it surprises me that they’re cold. Even so, they are by far one of the most tasty and iconic foods I’ve had here in Peru.

 Papa rellena: a type of croquette. In Peru it is a baked potato dough filled with chopped beef, onions, eggs, and whole black olives, with cumin and other spices. Once stuffed, the potato ball is deep-fried and is served with an accompanying ‘salsa criolla’ or ají sauce. We had papas rellenas for dinner a few days back, and while they were a little odd, they were pretty good. I could definitely get more behind this dish if it had slightly less black olives.

 Picarones: vaguely circular pieces of deep-fried dough. Kind of like a donut, actually, but crispy and covered in honey. Picarones are served hot from the fryer, but the honey is always cold. I’ve had street picarones and I’ve had restaurant picarones and both are delicious. I fully intend to find a recipe and attempt to make some back home.

 Pisco sour: the actual national drink of Peru. Though I am of legal drinking age here in Peru and I have had a couple of drinks in safe company, I have not tried pisco sour. I’m not sure if I will while I’m here, but I’d like to find a way to brink some pisco back to the states so I can mix up the drink for my parents. Pisco sour is a cocktail. The base liquor is pisco, which is mixed with fresh-squeezed lime juice, simple syrup, and egg whites. These ingredients are shook in a cocktail shaker with ice, then poured into a glass (sans ice) and garnished with Angostura bitters. Served straight up.

 Tejas: a dumpling-shaped sweet created in the Ica region. The filling is typically a whole walnut and manjar blanco, and the exterior is a sugar-based shell similar to fondant. There are versions of tejas that are accurately named chocotejas, as the exterior is made up of a chocolate shell instead of a sugar one. I got to try some chocotejas this past weekend when I was in Ica, and they were excellent! If I thought they could survive three more weeks and a plane ride to the US, I would have gotten some to bring home.

[jerkbitchidjitassbutt]

Moments (Part 8)

Characters: Jensen x Reader; Jared Padalecki; SPN Cast members

Anon Request: Hello, I was wondering if i could request a Jensen x Fan Reader fic were they meet at a con. There they keep running into each other. Thank You.

Summary: Attending a convention has always been a dream - and that dream is now a reality. Little did you know a clumsy run-in would lead to meeting one of your favorite actors. Who knows what the weekend will hold.

A/n: Fluffy feels. So many.

I consider this an AU, as Jensen is single in this fic. This is completely a work of fiction, and I wouldn’t want his reality to be any different, this is purely for entertainment.

Catch up here: Moments Masterlist

“I know that the whole point—the only point—is to find the things that matter, and hold on to them, and fight for them, and refuse to let them go.”    ―    Lauren Oliver, Delirium   

“So… you ready for that drink?” Jensen asked.

“Absolutely.” You replied, fully ready and willing to exit from behind the curtain of the ballroom and sneak from the hotel.

Before you could move, Y/f/n’s voice boomed from behind you, “Hold up there, sir. I need a conference with my bestie before you sweep her away.”

“Dude…” you said through gritted teeth. “What are you doing?”

“Ah uh… don’t even. I get a minute.” She shushed you, pulling you aside.

Jensen nodded his head at Y/f/n, “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dare intrude.” He laughed as Jared came to his side.

“Good boy.” Y/f/n responded, to which you rolled your eyes and mouthed an apology. Jensen gave you a lopsided grin and nudged you towards her.

As if she hadn’t tugged you by your elbow enough this weekend, she did so once again. When she felt comfortable you were out of earshot of the boys, she simply stared at you.

“What?” You asked, after what felt like an eternity.

“What do you mean, ‘What?’” She asked matter-of-factly.

You looked at her, dumbfounded. “You pulled me over here, insanity Barbie!”

“Well? Where are you two going?”

You shook your head fanatically. “Nope. Uh uh… I am NOT telling you so you and Jared can follow us. No way.”

“Come on, Y/n! I gots to know!”

“No ma’am.” you said, bopping her nose. “I don’t even know yet, but there is no way you’re tagging along.”

She simply glared at you mischievously and modestly replied “Alright.” Which, of course, you trusted about as much as you’d eat her cooking. She burnt a hard-boiled egg once. How you do that? No clue, but she did it. So, you raised an eyebrow at her, and came to the conclusion that you’d have to dip into your own bag of tricks to ditch her.

When you turned back towards Jensen, it looked as though Jared was relentlessly bugging him, so when he met your eyes, he nodded and diverted his eyes to the side, as though to signal for the two of you to leave. Cliff lead the four of you out the side exit as to avert the crowd that was still in the concert hall, as Louden Swain was still performing, screams and cheers still sounding throughout.

“We’re going to take you out the service entrance, so that you aren’t met with any cameras, okay?” Cliff mouthed over his shoulder.

“Sounds good.” Jensen said nonchalantly.

That, however, was a realization for you. You could be photographed with Jensen. Nerves began to boil under your skin and you started to fidget, a bad habit of yours and one that must’ve been blatantly obvious.

“Hey, are you okay?” Jensen asked, placing a hand on your shoulder, worried that you were having second thoughts about going out with him.

“Huh? Oh, yeah! I’m fine!” You said, not-so-convincingly.

He paused in his tracks, and moved both of his hands to rest calmly on your shoulders, “What is it, sweetheart?”

You took a breath before realization donned on you and hit you like a ton of bricks. Not only were you at a convention, not only were you standing in front of Jensen Ackles, you were going on a date with him… one he asked you on. You looked into his emerald eyes and suddenly felt increasingly calm. He just called you sweetheart, and he was looking at you at this moment like the only thing he cared about was your comfort. It was only the first date, but you’d deal with whatever came your way. You felt safe with him. This was real.

“It’s nothing.” You said with a genuine smile. “Really, I’m good. Excited, but good.”

His features lit up with a dazzling smile, “Yeah?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

His hand enveloped yours and squeezed as Cliff ushered you towards the service elevator to take you down to the ground floor. Once he checked the surroundings, he signaled for you to emerge, Jared and Y/f/n following you off the elevator.

Jensen nudged your shoulder before spinning towards them and exhaling, “Well, guys. I think this is where we leave you.”

“Yeah, thanks for walking us down.” You smiled at Y/f/n, sending a telepathic message with your eyes for her to get lost.

Jared cleared his throat and donned a grin, “Yeah… Sure, y’all have fun. We’ll catch you later.”

You gave Y/f/n a quick peck on the cheek when she whispered, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, and if you do, do it twice.”

You flicked her arm and Jensen bumped fists with Jared before tucking you beneath his arm with his hand locked tightly on your waist. The two of you climbed the stairs from the exit door, with Cliff standing at the base of the concrete steps, leaning against the railing. He gave you both a salute, to which Jensen responded. You had a feeling he was going to hang out there for a few minutes to keep an eye on you. The night air was cool, the wind flowing through the back alleyway that you were walking down towards the crowded city streets.

When you had put some distance between you and Cliff, Jensen dipped his head to whisper, lips slightly ghosting over your ear, which caused a furious shiver to run the length of your spine, so much so that you had to mentally comprehend that he had said, “Do you think we need to make a run for it?”

“Hold on, let me check.”

You slyly glanced over your shoulder to see two unmistakable silhouettes peering out of the service door.

“Yep. The double mint twins are spying.”

“Ugh. Alright…” he sighed. “Do you trust me?”

You pulled back a bit, looking up at him in the pale light of the alley. “What?”

“Do you trust me?” He said, his face mere inches from yours and shining in the dim light of the alley.

Don’t think about Aladdin, don’t think about Aladdin.

“Yes. I do.”

He gave a crooked smile, and chuckled, “Okay… Up here, make the left turn into this little side street, then bolt, okay?”

“Got it. Let’s James Bond this shit.”

“Damn, you’re awesome.”

Thankfully, it was dark, so he couldn’t see the furious blush that tinted your cheeks.

“Okay. Ready?” He said, shifting to grip your hand tightly. “1… 2… 3, GO!”

A giggle escaped your lips as he pulled you down the street, hearing a loud “NOT COOL!” from Jared behind you. It took a long stride from you to even try to keep up with Jensen’s speed, even though you know he was purposefully going slowly so you could stay with him. Suddenly, you were in the crowded sidewalk of downtown, not too far from the hotel.

“Come on, this way. I’ve got an idea.” Jensen said, pointing toward one of the main intersections.

“Come on, this way. They went down this alley.” Y/f/n shouted. “Jared! Hurry up!”

“I’m coming, spider monkey! Gah, you’re fast!”

“Where’s Cliff?”

“He said, and I quote, ‘Y’all are on your own.’” Jared responded in a low, gruff voice; his best imitation of his bodyguard. “You know, maybe we should give them some privacy.”

“And we will, I just want to make sure no one is following them.”

“Um… We're following them!”

She scoffed. “Nah. Protecting them. Looking out for them. That’s all.”

“Come on, you’ve got to admit, this is some Mission Impossible level stuff, here. Perfect for a code name.” Jared proposed.

“Jared…”

“Seriously. Operation slice and dice.”

“Where do these even come from? They don’t really make sense. We want to ‘slice and dice’ our best friends?”

“No! Slice and dice other people.”

Y/f/n paused about halfway down the alley and looked up at the man towering beside her, “So, we’re psychopaths?”

“No… it… just…” he said with puffed cheeks, exasperated. “Whatever, okay? No code names.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

She snuck quietly, but hurriedly, against the brick wall of the adjacent building. She jumped slightly when the familiar dun dun dun da dun of the Mission Impossible theme rang through her ears. Next to her, Jared stood with the screen of his phone lighting up his bright smile, thoroughly proud of himself for his genius.

Y/f/n couldn’t help but laugh. Even she couldn’t believe that she had grown so close to members of the cast over the last day and a half.

When they emerged onto the busy street, they looked from one direction to the other, skimming the crowd for your figures.

Down the block, you and Jensen exhaled a side of relief when they went in the opposite direction from you, which you could see from your vantage point of a small, tucked away doorframe of a bookstore that was closed for the day.

“You know, they could both use a lecture in boundaries.”

“Definitely.”

You let out a breath you had been holding from scurrying down the street, and became very aware of Jensen’s proximity. His chest was pressed to your back and the scruff of his chin was close to your temple. Tucked within the shadows of the, the two of you were hidden in the darkness from the populated main street. You looked up to find Jensen’s eyes already trained on yours in the small glimmer of light streaming from the street lamp on the opposite side of the street. You turned slowly in the small space while he maintained his stance, one arm coming to rest beside your head to brace himself, while the other snaked around your waist. His tongue swept across his bottom lip quickly as his eyes shift from yours to your lips, and back again.

“Y/n… I…”

“Yeah?” you asked, breathlessly.

He paused before nervously asking, “Can I kiss you?” he whispered.

Although your mouth was parted slightly, you couldn’t manage to utter a sound, so you simply nodded.

With your affirmation, he pressed his body firmly against yours, sandwiching you between himself and the brick building, removing his weight from his arm so he could run his fingers through your y/h/c hair. You closed your eyes at the sensation as his hand came to rest along your neck and jawline.

His full lips ghosted every so lightly across yours, almost tentatively, but sensually.

A small whine managed to escape your lips, which Jensen correctly took as a positive sign. He closed the gap even further, if it was possible, capturing you in a passionate kiss as your hands moved beneath his jacket. The warmth of his skin caused a tremor to quake through your body. His tongue grazed your bottom lip, silently asking permission, which you granted happily. He explored your mouth tenderly before slightly biting your bottom lip. In response, you lightly raked your nails under his shirt along his lower back, eliciting a low groan from deep within him while his hands traveled further down your hips.

It was quickly becoming heated, before a loud shout from a large truck driving by caused you both to pull away quickly, chests heaving as you panted. A group of young twenty-something men were hanging out the windows of the lifted, muddy Ford, throwing their fists in the air and yelling about the bachelor party they were attending.

You bit your lip to stifle a laugh, but it didn’t help when Jensen began to chuckle, the vibrations of which could be felt through every limb of yours.

He tucked his finger below your chin and pressed a short, but tender kiss to your swollen lips, before taking your hand in his. It seemed to fit perfectly around yours, like a puzzle piece. The two of you stepped out of your hiding spot into the light, continuing down further to the busier shops and bars.

Wrapping his arm comfortably around your waist, he spoke, “Hey, I know we had agreed on a drink, but would you be open to something else?”

“Changing the plan, huh Ackles? What do you have in mind?” You smirked.

“Well, that depends on you, actually. How do you feel about… arcades?”

You practically gaped at him, “Do you like getting your ass kicked at air hockey?”

He scoffed loudly, “Oh, I don’t think so, babe. I’m the king of air hockey.”

“Well, then you’re on… babe.” You teased with a wink. “Let’s go.”

He smiled vibrantly and ran to the crosswalk, leading you to large arcade. It had the traditional markings of the arcades you used to go to as a kid: the neon lights and carpeting, basketball nets, and skee-ball. This one, however, had a full bar and pizza shop, so Jensen stopped and got you a couple of beers before finding an open air hockey table.

Setting his beer on the edge, he raised an eyebrow at you, “Alright little lady, you ready for this?”

“Put your game face on, honey. Its about to go down.”

Unfortunately for Jensen, you weren’t being modest when you said you’d kick his ass. What he didn’t know was that you and your Dad used to play in your basement growing up… all the time. You knew all the tricks and maneuvers of the table, and since this one slanted slightly to the right, you were able to beat him easily and repeatedly until he finally conceded.

You threw the striker onto the table and held your fists above your head, “BOOM! Suck it!”

He held his hands up in mock surrender, “Okay, okay. You win!”

Taking a sip of your beer, you eyed him over your glass. “Hmm, okay.” You said, slowly licking the remaining foam from your lips. “What might my prize be, sir?”

Jensen coughed slightly, tugging on the collar of his shirt. You smiled to yourself as a flush rose to his cheeks. You put a bit of extra sway in your hips as you rounded the side of the table.

He shuffled slightly and put on a cooled down façade and met you in the middle. He donned a questioning look and proposed, “How does pizza and ice cream sound, for a start? It has been a few hours since dinner, so…”

You couldn’t help but giggle at the look of excitement on his face at the prospect of food. You adjusted his jacket collar and nodded, “Sounds great.”

Jared and Y/f/n had long given up on finding the two of you, resolving to give you some privacy and enjoy your date. It seemed that you got away from the hotel safely and avoided the prying cameras that were stationed at the front entrance. Jared took Y/f/n to meet up with some of the other cast members at a bar, all of whom were delighted to hear that Jensen had taken you out.

“Wait a minute…” Kim said, “You tried to follow them? Jared, I know he’s your brother and all, but dude, no cock blocking, okay?”

“We didn’t follow, per se…” Y/f/n justified, stirring her drink. “We just wanted to make sure they didn’t get into any trouble.”

“Oh, girl. I know how that is.” Briana said. “Y/n’s new to this. I understand why you’d be worried. But J’s got her; he’ll take care of her. I promise. Give them some space.”

Jared nudged her shoulder, “We got them together, and that was the goal of Operation Texan Heart, wasn’t it?”

“I know. I’m just protective sometimes.”

“Don’t worry. I understand. I’ve been that way with Jensen for a while now, but they both seem good for each other. And they’ve got us to help, when needed.”

“You’re right. But know this, if your bro hurts my sis, there will be hell to pay.” Y/f/n pointed at him as she sipped her drink. “By the way, Operation Texan Heart…. I like it.”

Jared threw his fists in the air, beaming like a kid who just won the giant stuffed teddy bear at a carnival.

After you finished your multitude of games, pizza and beer, you and Jensen strolled down the block back towards the hotel, a vanilla ice cream cone in his hand, a strawberry in yours, the other two intertwined with each other. It was late in the evening at this point, but you were practically buzzing with energy. You had never had such a fun date in your life. It was into the a.m. hours and the streets were quite a bit less crowded than previously, but the two of you still ducked into the alleyway and Jensen phoned Cliff to let you in the back entrance. You sat on the steps as you waited for him and finished your dessert, chatting like you had known each other for years.

“Can I say something, Y/n?”

You smiled sincerely, “Of course. What is it?”

He paused, as if trying to find the right words, “I want you to know that this isn’t something I normally do.”

Your face fell a bit, not entirely sure where he was going with this. This could be the, this is a one-time thing or I’ll only be here this weekend type of deal. Ever observant, though, Jensen saw the worry etched into your features.

“No! No… sweetheart, I don’t mean that as a bad thing. I just want you to know that even though I go to conventions everywhere, I don’t make a habit of having beautiful women run into me at every one and then trying to woo them with my snazzy wit, arcade skills, and ice cream.”

You blushed furiously and laughed, “Because so many women would kill to be with a man who has your ticket-winning abilities.”

“As a matter of fact… exactly 5. 5 women would kill for a man with my game-winning talents. I don’t know how they found me, or why they all share such an affinity for murder, but they’re there.”

Jensen radiated at the sound of your laughter when it echoed amongst the walls of the building and scooted you closer to him, vowing to make you laugh as much as he possibly could.

He placed a kiss to your forehead and lifted your face to stare into his eyes, “Y/n… you’re special to me. I know we’ve only known each other for a very short time, but I haven’t felt this way about anyone before… and… If you’re interested, I’d really love to see you again. I know I’m not ‘normal’ because of what I do for a living, and that asking you to be involved with me would be asking a huge favor on my part… and call me crazy, but I feel like everything makes sense when I’m with you. You’ve awoken something within me that I’m not sure ever existed before. So, whether you choose to see me again or not, I want to say thank you for that.”

You weren’t in the habit of being an incredibly emotional person, but no one had ever said anything so meaningful and heartfelt in all your years. A single, stray tear fell from your eye, glistening in the light that hung from above the exit door. He lifted his hand gently to lift it from your cheek, before tracing the outline of your face with his fingers.

“Jensen… I’d love nothing more than to see you again.” You sniffed.

He connected his lips to yours, caressing the apple of your cheek tenderly.

When he pulled away, he met your eyes and asked; “I know we’ve got the panel in the morning, but how about breakfast?”

“I’d love that, really.”

Cliff showed and let the two of you in, giving you both a sincere smile as you strolled through hand in hand. While you were waiting for the elevator, Cliff excused himself to take the stairs. Jensen gave you a knowing smile and shrugged his shoulders, silently thanking Cliff for giving you both some more time together, alone. He shuffled on his feet a bit and glanced your way once more as you nervously bit your lip. He wasn’t ready to say goodnight, so he took a leap.

“I know it’s late, but how would you feel about watching a movie with me?”

Your heart pounded in your chest as he took your hand, assuring you that you could say no, but you weren’t ready for the night to be over either.

“Can I pick?” you asked coyly as the elevator arrived.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, sweetheart.”

To Be Continued…

Tagging (if I tag you and you don’t want to be tagged, let me know. If I don’t tag you and you want to be tagged… well, that too):

Forever Tag List: @angelkurenai @winchester-writes @busybee612 @iwantthedean @ashleymalfoy @daydreamingintheimpala @kbrand0 @deandoesthingstome @growleytria @jackburtonsays @jojomonsterbunni @growningupgeek @driverpicksthemuusic @d-s-winchester @iwriteshortstuff @jodyri @caitsymichelle13 @like-a-bag-of-potatoes @jotink78 @ incarcenatedangel @ vaisabu @blackmagicbutterfly75 @sing4mejensen @ winvhesters @ awsomeuserwithoutaname @ royaldragontamer14 docharleythegeekqueen @ iamflanneltrash @ lakama15 @ winchesterprincessbride @ grimesftwinchester @ shadowandsoul @ smoothdogsgirl @ wevegotworktodo @ jpadjackles @ kickasscas67 @ tardis-is-mine @ its-my-perky-nipples @ ellen-reincarnated1967 @ a-moose-in-plaid @ rattyretro-blog-blog @ mrswhozeewhatsis @ jj-trickster sandlee44 @ pandazombie69 @xtina2191 @ nerdysandwichqueen @ rcook195 @elwmjfr110611 @ jfrank1048 @ selma-jean @ fucking-name-i-dont-know @ pretty-odd-jenn @ fernandasvaldi @ team-free-will-family @castielbabyangelface @maraisabellegrey @faithlovesupernatural @mariajoseplg @irishdoll80  @supernatural-jackles @smoothdogsgirl @okay-okay18

Moments Series: @winchesterprincessbride @wonderless-screwup @supernatural-jackles @tiffanycaruso @sandlee44 @angelus320 @pandazombie69 @themes87 @nerdysandwichqueen @tardis-is-mine @incarcenatedangel @deansbaekaz2y5 @the-doctors-fallen-angel @wevegotworktodo @faithlovesupernatural @dailyn32102 @knowbodynos007  @ okay-okay18 @ team-free-will-family @caityrice @dancingalone21 legsinger @priestly-winchested @irishdoll80 @darkx143 @kickasscas67 @ clariedelalune @its-my-perky-nipples @vilemalapert @ mguz25 @ halespecterwinchester @ squirrel-or-moose @ weirdpizzaking @ lakama15 @spnfangirl1965 @emmapnwp @cumberbabe92 @ vilemalapert @i-less-than-three-you @cascar24 @b-enfield14 @a-moose-in-plaid @pulgapelayo18 @tjforston @illshakeyouallnightlong-dean @royaldragontamer14 @supernatural-crazed890 @moonstonemystyk @cherrick11 @katymacsupernatural @tsunshunkami @mrsclintontbarton @raeganr99 @deanlover7712 @ explicithoran @bakabozza @i-wasnt-in-your-ass @katymacsupernatural @cherrick11 @moonstonemystyk @fernandasvaldi @volleyball4ever8 @selma-jean @smoothdogsgirl @frecklesgonewild @ xxxeatyourh3artoutxxx @ inmysparetime0 @ m00sesquirre1 @ anokhi07  @jensensjaredsandmishaslover @kickasscas67 @jj-trickster @ashleearmand @grimesftwinchester sympathyforluci @spn--dw @rattyretro-blog-blog @fernandasvaldi @boredoutofmymindstuff @mariajoseplg@ iamflanneltrash @ wearingmywings @empyrean-devil @fox316 @mrsclintontbarton @superfandomsunited @volleyball4ever8 @superwhomerlockinuum @harleenquinzzel  chelseypaigeake @gillygirl14

If I forgot your tag or it didn’t work, please send me a message so I can fix it! As @i-wasnt-in-your-ass so brilliantly said, the tags are now longer than an early 2000s emo song title, so it’s getting to be a bit much. Let me know if there are any issues!

#Jensen #Jensen Ackles #jensen and jared #jensen ackles supernatural #jensen fluff #jensen fanfic #Jensen x You #jensen x reader #jensen x y/n #jensen ackles x you #jensen ackles x reader #jensen ackles x y/n #SPN #spn convention #spn cast #spn blog #SPN FANDOM #spn fanfiction #spn fanfic #SPN Family #spn fan fiction #supernatural #supernatural cast #Supernatural Dean Winchester #supernatural convention #dean winchester #dean winchester fic #dean winchester fanfic #dean winchester fanfiction #dean x reader

[johnnypovolny]

Lima (A big disorganized hodgepodge of memories...)

-I bought a surfboard! The other day I successfully paddled all the way out in the weaker current near the dock (which is still scary because you have to avoid getting pushed under the pylons of the restaurant) and into the large break way out offshore and catching like a 10-12 foot wave, easily the biggest wave I’ve ever surfed, so that was super exciting. It’s also just beautiful watching the fish jump and the cormorants dive for small fry, the sunset behind the islands off the coast, and the evening swarm of paragliders on the cliffs of the Malecon.

-I’m starting to make friends: I have a group of guys I met at the outdoor workout equipment in the Malecon who train together (and the group is growing). Our whatsapp group chat is nicknamed Los Hermanos Sudados (the sweaty brothers), which i think is hilarious (mostly because it was my idea). The guy I’m closest with (Jhon, a personal trainer from Venezuela) invited me to the beach with his wife and some friends last weekend and afterward we had dinner on the open air patio at their house and played cards. I also spend a lot of time with my neighbors Andres and Ricky, and have been on a couple of fun dates with girls I met at the surfing beach.

- A lot of the fancy/expensive restaurants that are on the 50 best list (Astrid Y Gaston, Osso)  are very good but in my opinion not worth the big tab or the hype. The really impressive food for me has been at the more economical places like the dumpling tacos at Bao, fresh fruit, chupe, and ceviche in the Mercado Surquillo, lomo saltado in the menu del dia places, and the sandwiches and juices (pina or mango and grenadilla) at El Enano and El Chinito. Though my pumpkin risotto and pollo saltado at Tanta was incredible: that’s probably been my favorite higher-end meal.

-People here love grey Scottish terriers. I’m not sure if this dog is like a fashion or status symbol but they seem to be everywhere (like Subarus in Portland.)

-I live about 2 blocks from Parque Kennedy (the unofficial heart of Miraflores) and there are always people walking, buskers (watched an amazing group of 4 female singers kiling a harmony), street vendors selling sandwiches and anticuchos, and of course the wild cats (yeah, cats) that live in the park and are cared for by the people of the city. The city has a really live energy in general. There’s a bustle that makes it feel a little bit like if New York City was a surf town. So far, there’s literally nothing I don’t like about this town. The food is incredible, the prices are cheap, my apartment is amazing, the weather (and the women) are gorgeous, the sea is close by, and the people here are the most friendly I’ve met in my travels since Thailand. Everyone is helpful, kind, and extremely open to being friends right away (and the old ladies in the market call me “papito” and “mi amor”, which I find extremely adorable and welcoming). And in addition, I just really feel connected to the place I’m living, which is really fun- for the first time in my travels I have like my own place to live, walk past and greet the same people multiple days in a row (like the lady who sells arroz con leche, I need to learn her name). The one thing I haven’t really done much of is explore the nightlife, so I’m excited to make that happen soon!

-One evening, Fernanda (a friend from my surf beach) and I went to Malabar, the 38th best restaurant in Latin America. It’s a concept started by a chef called Pedro Miguel Schiaffino that focuses on recreating dishes from around the world using ingredients from the amazon and on avoiding preservatives, dyes, etc to create totally natural dishes. FINALLY, a high end restaurant that was worth the price tag! To me the fun of the meal was the contrast: in types and strengths of flavors (explosive strength from produce, subtle aromatics from herbs, etc), textures, and even temperatures. We had 6 things: Tika Masalu: a “banana ceviche”, raw sweet banana topped with cherry tomatoes, an aromatic herb that had a little bit of a thai/vietnamese food vibe, salty dried banana leafs that reminded me of nori, and a bright yellow sweet sauce. Jamon de Paiche: a cured “ham” made from the paiche, which is a giant amazonian river fish that gets to be between 7 and 15 feet long as an adult. Pato in Aji Negro: a braised or roasted leg of duck and a strip of rare seared duck meat with blackberries, more tiny herbs, a rich brown reduction, and some sort of crunchy roasted and crushed nut that also seemed like it would be really good in a desert with chocolate and caramel. Cocolon: AMAZING. A salty, savory, intensely flavorful stew of rice then fried in a large patty so the outside got crispy, served with shrimp, this sort of pork jerky, fried banana, and a “chorizo” (again made from paiche), and a drizzled in reduction/gravy made from the accompaniments. This is what I’ve always wished paella would taste like: something more approaching jambalaya. in terms of flavor intensity, but savory instead of spicy. Chocolate dessert (can’t remember the name) : A dense pastry of some sort of crumbly rust topped in a squishy white sweet filling (maybe coconut based?) and topped with a dome of dark chocolate but done with almost the squishy, pleasantly resistant texture of marshmallow. On the side was a crunchy roast nut that tasted kind of like caramel corn. This was one of my favorite contrasts of the night: the gooey chocolate-marshmallow texture with the crunch of the nuts. Coco y Pina: a coconut shell served with a sort of creamy, sweet flan made from coconut. The flan was served piping hot with a citrusy, bright, and freezing cold dollop of pineapple ice cream on the top and a drizzle of some sort of thin, sweet, brown sauce (might have just been simple syrup made from brown sugar). The contrast of this was insane also, hot, creamy flan and cold, tart ice cream. I also had a very passable old fashioned, which after months of not drinking any good whiskey was so welcome. Fer had a really cool drink made from gin with citrus  juices, some sort of salty ingredient derived from cacao, and aromatic herbs in it, served tall: really complex and delicious. It was also really nice to have company, someone to agree with me and debate with me on the food, share the experience, and swap stories and chat together while we enjoyed. 5 STARS FOR DINNER AT MALABAR. 

-My buddy Joanie that I met doing the salt flats tour in Bolivia came into town this week and we met up to go to the Parque de Las Aguas with some of the people from her hostel. The park is this huge greenspace with tons of different fountains, including a traditional circular one with arcing jets and a parthenon-esque backdrop, a tunnel of jets you can walk through, and a huge row of vertical jets that are lit up in rainbow colors and then every hour perform a show where videos of peruvian people and destinations are projected onto a curtain of fine mist, the jets performed dances of color change and movement, and lazer lights are used to create 3D animals and shapes in the curtain of water. We had a really good time walking around exploring (and in the harrowing cab ride on the way there, where we were nearly compressed between two buses merging towards each other), then afterward we got some mexican food near parque Kennedy. Super nice to see my friend again! 

-Went surfing on Saturday and got two of the best waves of my life, back to back: they were still green when I caught them (fast moving swell that hasn’t crested and broken yet) so I got the amazing feeling of riding down the steep face from the top as the wave as it broke and then turning to chase unbroken portions of the face, pushing down with my weight to stay on the wave as it got less strong and then feeling following waves catch up and pick my speed up again. I rode probably 150 meters on each one and it felt so amazing- I finally felt like a real surfer for the first time. I love that “aha” moment in sports, music, etc- when you’ve been putting time and effort into something really difficult and you get the first glimpses of what it feels like to actually succeed. Amazing. After my session, Fernanda and I went to go watch the Neon Night, a night time surfing championship, lit up by the huge on the water at Playa Roquitas. We got there in time to watch the women’s and then the men’s finals. SO COOL. The guys especially were insane to watch: they absolutely charge along the face of the waves, stomping over and over to gain speed, and the curving up to leap off the top of the cresting wave and spin 3’s and even 5’s, impossibly landing and riding out in the whitewater. There was stage set up with a neon background and huge spotlights going into the sky and we watched a local band from Chorrillos (pretty well known based on the number of people singing along) perform a sort of rock-reggae-latin blend that I really enjoyed (I don’t like pure reggae very much but this was enough of a mix that it was really enjoyable and fit the tone of the event really well).

-Andres taught me to cook lomo saltado: cube the meat and rub with salt, pepper, and cumin. Add to a pot with sliced onion, tomato, soy sauce, and a splash of pisco or beer, stew down! Make rice and fry potato wedges and eat everything together!

-Got a couple more really good waves recently- I’m starting to be able to occasionally catch a wave as it crests and really drop into it from the top, which is a crazy sensation- I went one day when the waves were huge (we got a safety advisory text from the city of Lima civil defense service to stay off the beach because of abnormally large waves and all the surfers were like “nahhhh.. We’re getting in”). Caught a wave that like fell out from under me and it was amazing! 

-Hung out with Sam and Erin a couple times when they were in town: once we got lunch in Mercado Surquillo and then in the evening met up with them and Fernanda to go out for many different beers and play ride the bus. Another time met up with them and their friends Kirsten and Nick to have beers at Nuevo Mundo, drink more beers at their hostel, and go to Chifa Hou Wha all together for a big chinese food extravaganza. I like all four of those Kiwis- they’re immensely open, interesting, and lovely people. I especially love to talk to Sam- he’s one of those people who just has tons of information and cool stories about the things he’s passionate about, and we have a ton of interests in common.

-Had a day of surfing where I met an older guy named Pablo, who’s a farmer and has a duck hatchery and almost got robbed on the highway one time. Caught some amazing waves including one where i was like pumping and riding along the face all the way to the end of the right break, screaming and hollering the whole time and afterwards he was impressed that I’ve only been surfing for a few months because I’m already standing up quickly! It was a day where I felt really in control and felt all the practice I’ve done paying off!

-OSKAKA: This is the best restaurant in Lima. I went solo the first time and had an amazing experience: an amazing drink with this sort of crushed pink sorbet on the top, steak and quail egg nigiri, shrimp nigiri with parmesan, ceviche made from smoked tuna and crispy sweet potato and these little balls of something that looked like salmon roe but green and with a yuzu ponzu sauce that will haunt me for the rest of my life, incredible slow cooked ribs, mixed seafood sauteed in spicy japanese butter served in shells on a bed of rocks interspersed salt on fire (yes, on fire), and so many other good things. I liked it so much that Sammya and I went back like a week later and had about 8 more things. Some highlights that I hadn’t tried before were a salmon and shrimp roll with this citrusy, creamy white sauce poured all over it that was insane and a spicy whitefish nigiri. I also had this drink that was like a rum old fashioned and came served out of a barrel over a ball of cacao ice (super tasty but not too different, just really loved the presentation). I had the same server (Leslie) both times, who was fantastic, and sat at the sushi bar where you can watch all the prep happening, so it’s like dinner and a show. Both times I went here, I left feeling that for once I got my money’s worth at a high end restaurant. 

-I watched Peru play a Copa America game on a big screen set up in the street next to parque kennedy and loved that experience- it’s fun to experience this part of the world has for the sport. I also watched a few games (including a Colombia match) at El Parcero- it’s a Colombian bar so when they scored things went WILD and the sassy lady next to me kept pouring me tequila shots from their bottle service

-Close to the end of the trip, Andres invited me to this event in Chorrillos called The Toro Fest. Earlier in the day, for which I didn’t make it in time, there was bullfighting (Ricky participated and almost got stabbed with a horn). Then in the evening when I arrived (with Andrea, a really cool, down to earth girl I met and danced with when I went out to the bars in Barranco with an American friend named Nate), there was this competition happening in a little ring surrounded by crowded plywood bandstands lit by a string of warm yellow bulbs hanging along the top railing. First was singers, then drummers, then dancers. Basically people from the crowd would sign up and on your turn you had to go in, chug a beer, and then perform in the thing you’d signed up for. After watching you the crowd would be asked “Se queda o se va?” (“Should they stay or should they go?”) and roar its judgement. It was really fun- there was a guy with a huge afro who played the cajon like crazy and then a pair of dancers where the guy was a professional and was such a good lead got paired with a really talented girl who could follow super well, so they looked completely choreographed after never having danced together before. Andrea and I drank some beers and had a blast watching everyone- I wanted to join the singing competition but it was ending when we arrived. After the competition, everyone headed over to the main stage where we got to watch a live salsa band (apparently a super well known peruvian group)- a huge group of latino guys of various ages with horns and percussion in jean jackets, led by this high-energy black singer with a shaved head. They were awesome- It felt so much more electric dancing to a live group, we danced a ton and had a blast!

Overall- I really loved this city. I maybe stayed a little too long, but it was a lovely place of food, friendship, and adventure. 

[nerdarchy-blog]

Hello! The Nerdarchy crew is back home from Indianapolis and back to work on all our nerdy projects. Gen Con 2018 was an incredible experience for Nerdarchists Dave and Ted, Nerditor Doug and Intern Jake, and we wanted to share some of the highlights from our excursion to the Best Four Days in Gaming. Our favorite thing about conventions is meeting up with and hanging out with friends from all over the place; seeing all the awesome roleplaying games, art and other swag; and the incredible costumes and cosplay. But more than anything, the best part is hanging out with thousands of fantastic folks from around the world to celebrate nerd culture. Down below you’ll find links to a lot of the stuff mentioned in this recap, in case you’re interested, plus a photo gallery of our adventures at Gen Con 2018.

Working vacation at Gen Con 2018

Rolling into downtown Indianapolis for Gen Con 2018 was a special treat for all of the Nerdarchy crew in attendance. For Nerdarchist Dave and me, the now-familiar territory felt like a home-away-from-home. The Indiana Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium, the Gen Con Block Party and all the surrounding hotels were decked out as always, ready for the tens of thousands of us to enjoy the Best Four Days in Gaming. For Nerdarchist Ted and Intern Jake, it was their first time attending so they got to experience the wide-eyed amazement at the size and scope of the event.

After hotel check-in, the crew wasted no time getting down to business though — we were there to enjoy ourselves, sure, but we had serious work to do. With the studio equipment in tow, we set up a makeshift studio in the hotel room to shoot as many videos as we could over the weekend. With so many amazing people in town, we had to get some of them on camera. Intern Jake scheduled set visits like a champ, contacting and coordinating a ton of creators who stopped by to talk nerdy with Nerdarchists Dave and Ted.

Instead of doing interview-style shoots though, we produced a string of videos like our regular daily content to discuss the same kind of helpful topics, tips and tricks we usually do, except with a special guest sitting in for one of the Nerdarchists. Stuff like designing monsters for D&D, live streaming roleplaying games, creating pantheons and deities, running the best game ever, and creating an urban campaign (with a bit of insight into the upcoming Waterdeep: Dragon Heist) are just a few of a videos you’ll see in the coming weeks. There were so many guests, it’s hard to remember them all! But here’s a few to watch for on the Nerdarchy YouTube channel in the near future:

Keith Baker

Monte Cook

BJ Hensley

Ryan Schapels

Dan Dillon

James J. Haeck

Sarah Dahlinger

Brian Stillman

Andrew Armstrong

Rob McCreary

All in all we shot about 24 videos between Thursday and Sunday! There’s a bunch more cool people who swung by the set and we’ll be posting those videos in the weeks to come. Stay tuned to Nerdarchy for those!

Hanging with friends new and old to celebrate nerd culture

Pretty much everywhere we went, the crew ran into someone we knew and had great experiences spending time with them. If you enjoyed any of the official video content from Gen Con 2018, you can give thanks to our buddy Bill Allen. He and his crew handled videography for the official Gen Con Twitch channel. Bill was super busy all weekend making sure everything ran smoothly. But we managed to sneak in some time with him on Wednesday night. He’s an awesome guy, and his job as an educator means he brings student creators along to learn while doing. How cool is that? His students get fantastic experience behind the scenes at big events like this, plus chances to network with industry professionals and help build their future in the field.

Along with Bill, we hung out with our friend Cody Lewis from the Taking 20 YouTube channel. Cody was there with his wife, who got to see another side to her husband’s endeavors. Fans of Cody’s work stopped to say hi and thank him throughout the weekend, which is an awesome feeling for any creator. On top of all that, his wife played her first RPG session at Gen Con 2018! She played a barbarian in a Second Edition Pathfinder Playtest game and genuinely loved rolling her first critical hit against a kobold.

Another night, unMadeGaming’s Mike Hunt co-organized a Twitch streamer meetup with fellow streamer Speedy, where a whole bunch of people showed up to celebrate together and get to know one another. Andrew Armstrong from Dawnforgedcast, Grant Ellis, MsGingaNinja, Jorphdan, Askren, Ted from Nerd Immersion, Eric Vulgaris, and a whole bunch of other people hung out. It wasn’t just for Twitch streamers exclusively, or even gamers. There were streamers who make pottery, streamers who make quilts, authors, game designers and more. It was really terrific to meet and spend time with so many creative people.

On Saturday night, Nerdarchist Dave and I wound up at a party hosted by Peter Adkinson. There were a ton of people at the shindig. Our friends Satine Phoenix and Ruty Rutenberg were there, Kyle Vogt, Matthew Lillard, Dwarven Forge founder Stefan Pokorny, Ivan van Norman, filmmaker friends Kelley Slagle and Seth Polansky and a throng of others. I had a wonderful time geeking out about layout design and editing with Chris de la Rosa from Hunters Books, and Nerdarchist Dave did what he does best — making new friends and talking shop. (Okay, maybe tied for best — he’s a pretty good Game Master too!)

Nerdarchists Dave and Ted ran into a ton of people they know on the convention floor, and fans stopped for photos or to say thanks to the guys for doing what they do. So may awesome people we know had booths at Gen Con 2018 too! Everytime we turned around, there was someone we knew. Creature Curations’ Brian Colin, the entire Starcalled Studios crew, Jetpack 7’s Aaron and Sarah Hubrich, Dan Dillon and Stephen Rowe manning the Kobold Press booth, Rone Barton at the booth for…you know what? I don’t recall exactly. There was a bunch of different stuff there.

A very special sighting for me was Jared Sorensen at the Burning Wheel booth. I’d been hoping to catch Adam Koebel there, since he was sharing the booth with his Dungeon World RPG. He wasn’t around, and as I turned the corner I caught sight of an indie RPG called Lacuna Part 1: The Creation of the Mystery and the Girl from Blue City. I literally exclaimed “Holy $**t!” when I saw it. Years ago, after I saw the film Inception, I immediately felt like I had to find an RPG similar to the world of the movie. I discovered Lacuna Part 1 while searching for such a game. It’s a really terrific RPG where you travel into dream worlds looking for anomalies and insidious thought-creatures. The guy at the booth asked me how I knew the game and I was gushing about it before realizing he was the creator, Jared Sorensen! This was one of my most fond convention memories right away. Jared was super cool and we talked about games for a while, and he gave me a sticker and patch of his game company logo, Memento Mori.

Lauren Erwin (@ThatSaltyGinger on Twitter) and Nerditor Doug, two original members of the Iron Dabbers.

Oh! And I ran into D&D party fam! Late one night heading back to the hotel I spotted Lauren Erwin in the hall. She is an original member of the Iron Dabbers, a D&D party from the live stream Secrets of Castle Greyhawk game I play in every Thursday on The Greyhawk Channel on Twitch. It was super cool to see her. I love that campaign and although Lauren wasn’t able to continue (she’s a busy lady!) she’ll always be an OG member of the crew and I am happy to call her a friend.

And we got to see the premiere of Eye of the Beholder: The Art of Dungeons & Dragons! Nerdarchist Dave and I were among the first people anywhere in the world to see this phenomenal documentary by our friends Brian Stillman, Seth Polansky and Kelley Slagle. IT IS AWESOME. If you have ever played D&D, you will love this movie. They traced the history of D&D art back to the beginning and talked with dozens and dozens of artists whose iconic work has been bringing the game to life for over 40 years. And I’m not the only one who thinks this film is the most — it won the Gen Con Film Festival award for best documentary.

All of this only scratches the surface of everything and everyone we saw at Gen Con 2018!

Awesome RPGs and other stuff

For me and Nerdarchist Ted, filling out bags with new games, minis and other swag is one of our favorite convention activities. I don’t have a complete rundown of Nerdarchist Ted’s haul, but I know for sure he got a whole slew of minis. On top of his own gets, many creators donated items to add to the Nerdarchy giveaway vault. Make sure to check out the Saturday Quests & Adventures live chats on the Nerdarchy YouTube channel and stay informed about these giveaways. We do them all the time so there’s lots of chances to get all sorts of great stuff.

This year I tried to be a little more conservative with my purchases. Usually I come home with twice as much luggage as I arrive with, but I reigned it in a bit for Gen Con 2018.

For starters, I picked up two Kickstarters I backed. Masters and Minions from Jetpack 7 and Kids on Bikes deluxe edition with the Powered Character Deck are two things I couldn’t wait to get my hands on. The PDF versions were sent out already, but there’s something special about having the physical books in hand for any RPG product. Masters and Minions is gorgeous. No surprise there, as the artwork in Jetpack 7 stuff is always top notch. The book is packed with detailed NPC creatures and the forces serving them, featuring design work from Aaron Hubrich, Jim Pinto, David Adams and one of my favorite creators, Dan Dillon. I’ve been waiting to get my hands on this one particularly to check out Grissek’k The Orc Queen, which does not disappoint. My other favorite master and minion combo is The Created. Check out this book if you like fleshed out villains for your Fifth Edition games!

Kids on Bikes is another one I hotly anticipated. Anyone who knows me knows I’m one of those D&D nerds who is comfortable using those rules for all sorts of genres beyond fantasy. So beyond the D&D ruleset, my favorite sorts of RPGs are modern-era (or close to it) games featuring regular folks in extraordinary circumstances. Kids on Bikes is all about regular people confronted with irregular situations like the supernatural, along with a group-controlled character who has special powers. It’s a toss up between this and Tales from the Loop for the one I like the best. But if I’m honest, after reading through them both I might take a bit from column A and a bit from column B. Kids on Bikes contains a ton of awesome ideas for creating characters and group dynamics, making it a valuable resource for roleplaying games in general.

Outbreak: Undead Second Edition from Hunters Entertainment and Renegade Game Studios is the other RPG I added to my collection. Truth be told, I didn’t know anything about it but the book is slick, and after flipping through it looks like a suggested style of play is taking the players themselves as characters and imagining a zombie apocalypse in your own hometown. Told you I like those sorts of games 😉 What really sold me though is the layout and design of the book. It has a lot of cool thematic and artistic elements making it fun to look and read through. And guess what? The person who wrote it and contributed to graphic design and layout is Chris de la Rosa — the guy I would wind up talking with the next day at that Peter Adkinson party!

On the same whim I picked up Arboretum, a tabletop game by Dan Cassar. Never heard of it, didn’t demo it but got it nevertheless. Why? The art intrigues me. The cover has a big purple tree and a multitude of colorful symbols around it, and the back shows the various card types, also trees of various colors. The goal of the game is to “create carefully planned paths for your visitors to walk as they take in the colorful explosion of buds and leaves.” Doesn’t that sound wonderful? It’s a competitive game, but with all the players competing to create something beautiful, it sounds like a delightful way to spend 30 minutes.

One game I did demo was the Final Fantasy Trading Card Game. I loves me some Final Fantasy, so I had to try it out. It’s really fun! Cards feature all the characters you’d imagine like Cloud, Lightning, Squall, Tidus, Yuna, Garland, Sephiroth and pretty much every character from all the games including Dissidia, Tactics and more. It was easy to understand and pick up, but of course like any card game there’s deeper strategies to discover. I got two decks so I’d have enough to play with friends, one featuring Lightning and the other Cloud. Also, I got a free Kain card for doing the demo. Dragoon FTW! On a side note, it just struck me while at Gen Con that many FF protagonists are named after atmospheric conditions. Derp.

I also came home with two Atmar’s Cardography dungeon decks from Brian Colin/Creature Curations. These are really special to me, because I was part of the team that brought them to life! Brian is an amazing person, and I did some editing work on the project. These are very cool products, basically huge dungeons with a room on each card. You can play through the whole thing following a preconstructed pattern, or follow small mini-dungeon setups, or just deal out rooms randomly as you go. There’s one for the Fiery Pits, a volcanic dungeon, and another for the Icy Divide, a frozen labyrinth. PDF guidebooks are available for both Fifth Edition and Fate. The adventures are designed to take place in Brian’s World of Revilo, a fantasy realm he created with his son while telling bedtime stories. It’s really amazing. Coming up, he’ll be launching a Kickstarter for three more sets as well. While at the booth, some passersby stopped to take a look and since the booth attendant was occupied, I explained the decks to the two people who came by. The attendant made their way over and commended my on the salesmanship. (I’m pretty familiar with them!) Also I got to meet Isaac Skaggs in person, another creator on the team.

Of course, I had to get myself some dice because…dice. It’s a tradition for me at any convention. For Gen Con 2018 I went with Elder Dice: Astral Elder Sign. They’re pretty snazzy and come in a spell book box you can use for a dice tray. Hopefully I’ll be able to snag a Yellow Sign of Hastur set at some point too. I missed the Kickstarter for them but maybe with a little eldritch luck things will pan out.

The last two things I picked up are both pieces of art. The first was a print from Voidbug, an illustrator who had an awesome selection of vibrant, ethereal art. Choosing one from everything she had to offer was tough, but I’m more than happy with the one I got and can’t wait to hang it up in the office. The second piece of art was one of Chris Seaman’s Cameo Creeps. Chris is a phenomenal artist who’s done a bunch of work for D&D, Magic: The Gathering and other games. One of my favorite pieces of D&D art is by him, the tiefling Star Pact warlock from fourth edition D&D. His Cameo Creeps are tiny monster paintings inside cameo frames. There’s a ton of them, making this choice even harder than my Voidbug print. In the end I went with Lady Wanda Glubberneck. She’s got an aquatic look reminiscent of sahuagin, one of my favorite D&D monsters that I’d been talking with someone about earlier that day.

Best part of Gen Con 2018

All parties, get-togethers, events, games and fun new stuff aside, there’s one thing about Gen Con that’s better than all of it combined. Being a nerd and enjoying this culture with so many others is absolutely priceless. By and large, the nerdy community is supportive of one another, encouraging, and welcoming. When we invite others to our games or accept invitations to theirs, we’re making new friends and connecting with new people. They might look different, or see the world different, live vastly different lifestyles or whatever. But overwhelmingly, one similarity is despite any of these differences we can all come together to share these fun and often deeply personal experiences. You can always find a fellow nerd to remind you that you can do anything you set your mind to, you can be you — the best you — and that’s a great thing. Maybe I have rose-tinted glasses on a bit, but I know there’s a heck of a lot more good out there than bad, and my fellow nerds do a fantastic job of showing it.

Round up and wrap up

Here’s a bunch of links to check out some of the stuff I mentioned above. And I also want to know about you! Did you go to Gen Con 2018 and have some awesome stories to share? Or have you gone in the past, or plan to go in the future? I’d love to hear about your best Gen Con memories, or any of your favorite convention stories in the comments below. And if you got any photos of the Nerdarchy crew from the convention, please share them and tag us on social media!

Official Gen Con Twitch channel

Hunters Books/Hunters Entertainment

Kids on Bikes

Jetpack 7

Arboretum

Final Fantasy Trading Card Game

Atmar’s Cardography

Elder Dice

Voidbug — Keep an eye on streams with me, Nerditor Doug, to see which print I got!

Cameo Creeps

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Like this?

Did you enjoy this post? Nerdarchy’s awesome volunteer staff of writers and editors do their best to create engaging, useful and fun content to share. If you like what you find here on our site, consider patronizing us in a good way through Patreon.

On top of reaching our goal of paying our writers, pledging gets you exclusive monthly content for your D&D game, opportunities to game with Nerdarchy, access to patron-only channels on our Discord and more.

With your generous support we’ll continue to create quality content between our YouTube channel and blog, invest in equipment to increase recording quality, and keep creating original publications and products to enhance your tabletop roleplaying and gaming experience.

Thank you for your consideration and as always, until next time stay nerdy!

[amazon_link asins=’0786966254,B07BK9KY3G,0983317992′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’nerdarchy-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’c7f0ee73-9ad4-11e8-9c3e-877831a210ea’]

The games, cool swag, parties, and Nerdarchist Ted polymorphed into a cow #truestory there's one thing above all else making #GenCon2018 the Best Four Days in Gaming Hello! The Nerdarchy crew is back home from Indianapolis and back to work on all our nerdy projects.

#Gen Con

[jeantparks]

Living aboard a boat vs. living on land, how is it different?

 When Randy and I first decided to live aboard a boat, we really had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Well, actually my parents were living aboard at the time, so we did have “some” idea: we thought it was going to be all vacations and sunsets but we really didn’t think about the day-to-day aspects of living aboard. Thankfully, we adapted very well and thoroughly enjoy this lifestyle but I will tell you that it is quite different than living on land in a home. How does it differ? Read on below…

We live in tight quarters

It goes without saying that space is an issue and when you have a spouse, child, and dog living in tight quarters with you, things can get a little claustrophobic. Our main cabin is very spacious by most boating standards for boats our size, but in the summer when the doors are sealed and AC running, it can get a little cramped. Sometimes if I need a little space, I can simply retire to our aft cabin and watch a movie down there while the boys stay in the main salon. In the winter, it isn’t as much of a problem since we usually have all the hatches and doors open and we spend more time outside. The result I think is that we’ve learned to get along with each other in even the most trying situations and we’ve all become a little closer with one another as well.

Good ole’ boat plumbing

Randy unclogging the v-berth head just an hour before our wedding

As you can imagine, plumbing on a boat is very different than on land. We have a 200-gallon water tank with a 10-gallon hot water heater. At the marina, we can fill our water tank as often as we like, but with a 10-gallon hot water heater, we still need to take Navy showers if all 3 of us want to shower with hot water. Water pressure isn’t so bad since our pump works pretty good but we are always conscious of water use at land or sea. We never leave the sink running while brushing our teeth like we used to on land.

We have a 40-gallon holding tank for our waste which gets pumped out by the marina on a weekly basis. We have one electric head in our aft cabin and one manual pump head in the v-berth. Our toilets are hooked up to use salt water for pumping. We’ve heard fresh water is better since there is less of an odor and because of that odor, we’ve rigged our electric toilet to not use any water to flush. We use fresh water out of our shower head to flush waste instead. Marine toilets are very finicky—it seems to be a common complaint around most live aboards and cruisers and someone is always crying about having to unclog a toilet. Perfectly flushing toilets on a boat is like sighting the Lockness Monster…probably will never happen.

We have a “laundry day”

When I lived in a house with a washer and dryer there was never a “laundry day”. I washed and dried clothes whenever I wanted throughout the week so it never really fell on one day. Now that I live on a boat without a washer and dryer, I actually a have 1 day a week (usually a Friday) that I do the laundry. We are lucky to have nice laundry facilities at Snook Bight and once a week, I pile our laundry into a cart and head down the dock. If you are cruising or live in a mooring field, it’s a little harder because you must first get your laundry to shore by dinghy. One good thing I find about using a laundry facility is that if all 4 washers are open, I can knock out 4 loads in an hour and a half, something you can’t do at home.

Cooking on a boat can be challenging

I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with cooking (just ask Randy). It’s something I enjoy when I have the time, i.e. on weekends or on vacation but during the week when I’ve got a million things to do for work and a ton of chores, it just falls short on my list of things I care about. With 1 hungry boy and 1 hungry husband, I’ve learned to make the most of it. In our galley, I have a two-burner electric cooktop which replaced an old propane stove and a convection microwave. We also have a Magma Cabo gas grill, which I absolutely love and use quite often. Even though our microwave has the ability to bake, I’ve never tried it. For some reason I just can’t see it working the same as my stove in the house and so, I never bake. Most meals are cooked on the grill using the microwave to nuke rice or other sides. On very windy days, I have to plan a meal to cook on the cooktop since it rules grilling out. This can cause some power issues (see below) sometimes when I want to use both burners and the microwave and sometimes I have to cook things in shifts. Don’t get me started on the lack of counter space for meal prep, that’s a whole other story…

We have to manage our power consumption

One of the first things Randy and I learned was how to manage the power on Blue Turtle. It never even dawned on me that I couldn’t run everything on the boat at the same time like at home. I can’t tell you how many times we tripped the breaker trying to run something on electric. Even hooked up to shore power, we only have two 30amp 125 Volt DC hook-ups which power the lights, hot water heater, refrigerator, bilge pumps, etc. Running hi-usage items like the microwave, air conditioners or blow dryers can definitely trip breakers. We had to learn which items drew more power and which items couldn’t be run at the same time because they were hooked to the same breaker. Those first few months felt like we were constantly flipping switches by trial and error until we got the hang of it. We joke that if we were to ever rent out Blue Turtle (we wouldn’t) it would have to come with a 300 page manual about what can and can’t be used at the same time. For instance, in the summer with one AC running, I can run the cooktop stove but not the microwave at the same time. We’ve been known to switch off the AC long enough to nuke the rest of dinner before switching it back on. We’ve also found that we can’t be running both AC units while I blow dry my hair, one of the units must be shut off. Movie and popcorn? Nope, not at the same time. We have to switch off the TV mid-movie in order to run the microwave for popcorn. This is all while connected to shore power in the marina. Running on inverter or generator while at anchor is another story altogether.

We are more active

Riding bikes to dinner on the beach

I’ve always been pretty self-motivated to run or go to the gym, but a byproduct of living aboard is that you are generally more active than you would be in a home. We have a pretty long dock walk to get to land, so just by going out to our car, walking to the grocery store or taking the laundry up, we get in a lot more walking now than we ever did before. At our home on land, we never did this type of walking. Sure, I went to the gym, but I drove there. I drove to the grocery store and we drove to restaurants to go out to eat. We now walk to the grocery and if we want to eat out, we ride bikes or walk—something we would never have done in our old home. Trying to get that 10,000 steps? With living aboard a boat, it’s no problem.

We organize and clean more often

Just like in a house, we have to dust, scrub and vacuum. You would think that because a boat is so much smaller it would be easier to clean. It really isn’t. Now, I can very quickly vacuum the rugs and clean the countertops for a quick fix if we have company coming but deep cleaning can take a whole day. A whole day to deep clean 3 cabins you ask? Yes. See, boat interiors get dirtier more quickly, especially in the cooler months where we leave our doors and hatches open all the time. Dust and dirt blow around in the interiors and don’t get me started on the mold and mildew. I’ve spent over 2 hours cleaning mildew off our interior mini blinds. Also, with a messy kid and shedding dog in such a small space, I have to clean a lot more often. I find that I have to keep up with cleaning onboard more than I ever did on land. Boats also have so many nooks and crannies compared to a land home with furniture. Our boat is 42 years old and I’m convinced that I am still cleaning out 40 years worth of dust that rises up out of the bowels of the hull.

I also find that I have to organize and de-clutter more often than in a home. Living in tight quarters, things can get out of hand quickly. Every item has a place it needs to go or our main salon and cabin become very messy.

We take vacations in our home

Sophie comes with us on all trips aboard Blue Turtle

One of the perks I’ve found of living aboard is that when we go on vacation, our home travels with us.  This means that I don’t have to pack or worry about forgetting something at home. We just have to plan where we want to go, provision for how long we’ll be gone and drop the dock like and go.It also means we get to take our dachshund, Sophie, along with us. I always love the adventure of exploring new places and anchorages, all while in the comfort of our own home.

Trips aboard Blue Turtle are also less expensive (assuming nothing goes wrong with her). We spend very little on fuel and if we anchor out, it costs us nothing. Our trip to the Dry Tortugas and Key West for 3 weeks costs us less than a 7 day trip on a commercial cruise.

We  have an amazing view

Ok, you might be lucky enough to have a home on the beach or a beautiful lake with a great view. But for us, this was never a possibility. Our view at our old house consisted of houses on three sides and a giant wall enclosing a maintenance facility for the neighboring golf course. A waterfront view on Fort Myers Beach was something we could never have afforded until now. Now, we live across the street from a gorgeous beach and wake every morning to see manatees and dolphin playing. When we are out on hook, our view is even better—sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, beautiful barrier island beaches and crystal clear water in the Keys.

No matter where we are we always have an amazing view

Living aboard a boat has many pros (that view!) and cons (ugh, plumbing!) and it’s definitely not for everyone. You have to decide what priorities you have and what you can and can’t live without before making the decision to live aboard. It’s definitely been a lifestyle that we’ve had no regrets about accept that we wish we had done it sooner.

The post Living aboard a boat vs. living on land, how is it different? appeared first on Blue Turtle Trawler. Read More Here ….

The post Living aboard a boat vs. living on land, how is it different? appeared first on YachtAweigh.

source http://yachtaweigh.com/living-aboard-a-boat-vs-living-on-land-how-is-it-different/ from http://yatchaweigh.blogspot.com/2017/04/living-aboard-boat-vsliving-on-land-how.html

[janetgannon]

Living aboard a boat vs. living on land, how is it different?

When Randy and I first decided to live aboard a boat, we really had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Well, actually my parents were living aboard at the time, so we did have “some” idea: we thought it was going to be all vacations and sunsets but we really didn’t think about the day-to-day aspects of living aboard. Thankfully, we adapted very well and thoroughly enjoy this lifestyle but I will tell you that it is quite different than living on land in a home. How does it differ? Read on below…

We live in tight quarters

It goes without saying that space is an issue and when you have a spouse, child, and dog living in tight quarters with you, things can get a little claustrophobic. Our main cabin is very spacious by most boating standards for boats our size, but in the summer when the doors are sealed and AC running, it can get a little cramped. Sometimes if I need a little space, I can simply retire to our aft cabin and watch a movie down there while the boys stay in the main salon. In the winter, it isn’t as much of a problem since we usually have all the hatches and doors open and we spend more time outside. The result I think is that we’ve learned to get along with each other in even the most trying situations and we’ve all become a little closer with one another as well.

Good ole’ boat plumbing

Randy unclogging the v-berth head just an hour before our wedding

As you can imagine, plumbing on a boat is very different than on land. We have a 200-gallon water tank with a 10-gallon hot water heater. At the marina, we can fill our water tank as often as we like, but with a 10-gallon hot water heater, we still need to take Navy showers if all 3 of us want to shower with hot water. Water pressure isn’t so bad since our pump works pretty good but we are always conscious of water use at land or sea. We never leave the sink running while brushing our teeth like we used to on land.

We have a 40-gallon holding tank for our waste which gets pumped out by the marina on a weekly basis. We have one electric head in our aft cabin and one manual pump head in the v-berth. Our toilets are hooked up to use salt water for pumping. We’ve heard fresh water is better since there is less of an odor and because of that odor, we’ve rigged our electric toilet to not use any water to flush. We use fresh water out of our shower head to flush waste instead. Marine toilets are very finicky—it seems to be a common complaint around most live aboards and cruisers and someone is always crying about having to unclog a toilet. Perfectly flushing toilets on a boat is like sighting the Lockness Monster…probably will never happen.

We have a “laundry day”

When I lived in a house with a washer and dryer there was never a “laundry day”. I washed and dried clothes whenever I wanted throughout the week so it never really fell on one day. Now that I live on a boat without a washer and dryer, I actually a have 1 day a week (usually a Friday) that I do the laundry. We are lucky to have nice laundry facilities at Snook Bight and once a week, I pile our laundry into a cart and head down the dock. If you are cruising or live in a mooring field, it’s a little harder because you must first get your laundry to shore by dinghy. One good thing I find about using a laundry facility is that if all 4 washers are open, I can knock out 4 loads in an hour and a half, something you can’t do at home.

Cooking on a boat can be challenging

I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with cooking (just ask Randy). It’s something I enjoy when I have the time, i.e. on weekends or on vacation but during the week when I’ve got a million things to do for work and a ton of chores, it just falls short on my list of things I care about. With 1 hungry boy and 1 hungry husband, I’ve learned to make the most of it. In our galley, I have a two-burner electric cooktop which replaced an old propane stove and a convection microwave. We also have a Magma Cabo gas grill, which I absolutely love and use quite often. Even though our microwave has the ability to bake, I’ve never tried it. For some reason I just can’t see it working the same as my stove in the house and so, I never bake. Most meals are cooked on the grill using the microwave to nuke rice or other sides. On very windy days, I have to plan a meal to cook on the cooktop since it rules grilling out. This can cause some power issues (see below) sometimes when I want to use both burners and the microwave and sometimes I have to cook things in shifts. Don’t get me started on the lack of counter space for meal prep, that’s a whole other story…

We have to manage our power consumption

One of the first things Randy and I learned was how to manage the power on Blue Turtle. It never even dawned on me that I couldn’t run everything on the boat at the same time like at home. I can’t tell you how many times we tripped the breaker trying to run something on electric. Even hooked up to shore power, we only have two 30amp 125 Volt DC hook-ups which power the lights, hot water heater, refrigerator, bilge pumps, etc. Running hi-usage items like the microwave, air conditioners or blow dryers can definitely trip breakers. We had to learn which items drew more power and which items couldn’t be run at the same time because they were hooked to the same breaker. Those first few months felt like we were constantly flipping switches by trial and error until we got the hang of it. We joke that if we were to ever rent out Blue Turtle (we wouldn’t) it would have to come with a 300 page manual about what can and can’t be used at the same time. For instance, in the summer with one AC running, I can run the cooktop stove but not the microwave at the same time. We’ve been known to switch off the AC long enough to nuke the rest of dinner before switching it back on. We’ve also found that we can’t be running both AC units while I blow dry my hair, one of the units must be shut off. Movie and popcorn? Nope, not at the same time. We have to switch off the TV mid-movie in order to run the microwave for popcorn. This is all while connected to shore power in the marina. Running on inverter or generator while at anchor is another story altogether.

We are more active

Riding bikes to dinner on the beach

I’ve always been pretty self-motivated to run or go to the gym, but a byproduct of living aboard is that you are generally more active than you would be in a home. We have a pretty long dock walk to get to land, so just by going out to our car, walking to the grocery store or taking the laundry up, we get in a lot more walking now than we ever did before. At our home on land, we never did this type of walking. Sure, I went to the gym, but I drove there. I drove to the grocery store and we drove to restaurants to go out to eat. We now walk to the grocery and if we want to eat out, we ride bikes or walk—something we would never have done in our old home. Trying to get that 10,000 steps? With living aboard a boat, it’s no problem.

We organize and clean more often

Just like in a house, we have to dust, scrub and vacuum. You would think that because a boat is so much smaller it would be easier to clean. It really isn’t. Now, I can very quickly vacuum the rugs and clean the countertops for a quick fix if we have company coming but deep cleaning can take a whole day. A whole day to deep clean 3 cabins you ask? Yes. See, boat interiors get dirtier more quickly, especially in the cooler months where we leave our doors and hatches open all the time. Dust and dirt blow around in the interiors and don’t get me started on the mold and mildew. I’ve spent over 2 hours cleaning mildew off our interior mini blinds. Also, with a messy kid and shedding dog in such a small space, I have to clean a lot more often. I find that I have to keep up with cleaning onboard more than I ever did on land. Boats also have so many nooks and crannies compared to a land home with furniture. Our boat is 42 years old and I’m convinced that I am still cleaning out 40 years worth of dust that rises up out of the bowels of the hull.

I also find that I have to organize and de-clutter more often than in a home. Living in tight quarters, things can get out of hand quickly. Every item has a place it needs to go or our main salon and cabin become very messy.

We take vacations in our home

Sophie comes with us on all trips aboard Blue Turtle

One of the perks I’ve found of living aboard is that when we go on vacation, our home travels with us.  This means that I don’t have to pack or worry about forgetting something at home. We just have to plan where we want to go, provision for how long we’ll be gone and drop the dock like and go.It also means we get to take our dachshund, Sophie, along with us. I always love the adventure of exploring new places and anchorages, all while in the comfort of our own home.

Trips aboard Blue Turtle are also less expensive (assuming nothing goes wrong with her). We spend very little on fuel and if we anchor out, it costs us nothing. Our trip to the Dry Tortugas and Key West for 3 weeks costs us less than a 7 day trip on a commercial cruise.

We  have an amazing view

Ok, you might be lucky enough to have a home on the beach or a beautiful lake with a great view. But for us, this was never a possibility. Our view at our old house consisted of houses on three sides and a giant wall enclosing a maintenance facility for the neighboring golf course. A waterfront view on Fort Myers Beach was something we could never have afforded until now. Now, we live across the street from a gorgeous beach and wake every morning to see manatees and dolphin playing. When we are out on hook, our view is even better—sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, beautiful barrier island beaches and crystal clear water in the Keys.

No matter where we are we always have an amazing view

Living aboard a boat has many pros (that view!) and cons (ugh, plumbing!) and it’s definitely not for everyone. You have to decide what priorities you have and what you can and can’t live without before making the decision to live aboard. It’s definitely been a lifestyle that we’ve had no regrets about accept that we wish we had done it sooner.

The post Living aboard a boat vs. living on land, how is it different? appeared first on Blue Turtle Trawler. Read More Here ….

The post Living aboard a boat vs. living on land, how is it different? appeared first on YachtAweigh.

from http://yachtaweigh.com/living-aboard-a-boat-vs-living-on-land-how-is-it-different/ from https://yachtaweigh.tumblr.com/post/159729418611

[yachtaweigh]

Living aboard a boat vs. living on land, how is it different?

  When Randy and I first decided to live aboard a boat, we really had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Well, actually my parents were living aboard at the time, so we did have “some” idea: we thought it was going to be all vacations and sunsets but we really didn’t think about the day-to-day aspects of living aboard. Thankfully, we adapted very well and thoroughly enjoy this lifestyle but I will tell you that it is quite different than living on land in a home. How does it differ? Read on below…

We live in tight quarters

It goes without saying that space is an issue and when you have a spouse, child, and dog living in tight quarters with you, things can get a little claustrophobic. Our main cabin is very spacious by most boating standards for boats our size, but in the summer when the doors are sealed and AC running, it can get a little cramped. Sometimes if I need a little space, I can simply retire to our aft cabin and watch a movie down there while the boys stay in the main salon. In the winter, it isn’t as much of a problem since we usually have all the hatches and doors open and we spend more time outside. The result I think is that we’ve learned to get along with each other in even the most trying situations and we’ve all become a little closer with one another as well.

Good ole’ boat plumbing

Randy unclogging the v-berth head just an hour before our wedding

As you can imagine, plumbing on a boat is very different than on land. We have a 200-gallon water tank with a 10-gallon hot water heater. At the marina, we can fill our water tank as often as we like, but with a 10-gallon hot water heater, we still need to take Navy showers if all 3 of us want to shower with hot water. Water pressure isn’t so bad since our pump works pretty good but we are always conscious of water use at land or sea. We never leave the sink running while brushing our teeth like we used to on land.

We have a 40-gallon holding tank for our waste which gets pumped out by the marina on a weekly basis. We have one electric head in our aft cabin and one manual pump head in the v-berth. Our toilets are hooked up to use salt water for pumping. We’ve heard fresh water is better since there is less of an odor and because of that odor, we’ve rigged our electric toilet to not use any water to flush. We use fresh water out of our shower head to flush waste instead. Marine toilets are very finicky—it seems to be a common complaint around most live aboards and cruisers and someone is always crying about having to unclog a toilet. Perfectly flushing toilets on a boat is like sighting the Lockness Monster…probably will never happen.

We have a “laundry day”

When I lived in a house with a washer and dryer there was never a “laundry day”. I washed and dried clothes whenever I wanted throughout the week so it never really fell on one day. Now that I live on a boat without a washer and dryer, I actually a have 1 day a week (usually a Friday) that I do the laundry. We are lucky to have nice laundry facilities at Snook Bight and once a week, I pile our laundry into a cart and head down the dock. If you are cruising or live in a mooring field, it’s a little harder because you must first get your laundry to shore by dinghy. One good thing I find about using a laundry facility is that if all 4 washers are open, I can knock out 4 loads in an hour and a half, something you can’t do at home.

Cooking on a boat can be challenging

I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with cooking (just ask Randy). It’s something I enjoy when I have the time, i.e. on weekends or on vacation but during the week when I’ve got a million things to do for work and a ton of chores, it just falls short on my list of things I care about. With 1 hungry boy and 1 hungry husband, I’ve learned to make the most of it. In our galley, I have a two-burner electric cooktop which replaced an old propane stove and a convection microwave. We also have a Magma Cabo gas grill, which I absolutely love and use quite often. Even though our microwave has the ability to bake, I’ve never tried it. For some reason I just can’t see it working the same as my stove in the house and so, I never bake. Most meals are cooked on the grill using the microwave to nuke rice or other sides. On very windy days, I have to plan a meal to cook on the cooktop since it rules grilling out. This can cause some power issues (see below) sometimes when I want to use both burners and the microwave and sometimes I have to cook things in shifts. Don’t get me started on the lack of counter space for meal prep, that’s a whole other story…

We have to manage our power consumption

One of the first things Randy and I learned was how to manage the power on Blue Turtle. It never even dawned on me that I couldn’t run everything on the boat at the same time like at home. I can’t tell you how many times we tripped the breaker trying to run something on electric. Even hooked up to shore power, we only have two 30amp 125 Volt DC hook-ups which power the lights, hot water heater, refrigerator, bilge pumps, etc. Running hi-usage items like the microwave, air conditioners or blow dryers can definitely trip breakers. We had to learn which items drew more power and which items couldn’t be run at the same time because they were hooked to the same breaker. Those first few months felt like we were constantly flipping switches by trial and error until we got the hang of it. We joke that if we were to ever rent out Blue Turtle (we wouldn’t) it would have to come with a 300 page manual about what can and can’t be used at the same time. For instance, in the summer with one AC running, I can run the cooktop stove but not the microwave at the same time. We’ve been known to switch off the AC long enough to nuke the rest of dinner before switching it back on. We’ve also found that we can’t be running both AC units while I blow dry my hair, one of the units must be shut off. Movie and popcorn? Nope, not at the same time. We have to switch off the TV mid-movie in order to run the microwave for popcorn. This is all while connected to shore power in the marina. Running on inverter or generator while at anchor is another story altogether.

We are more active

Riding bikes to dinner on the beach

I’ve always been pretty self-motivated to run or go to the gym, but a byproduct of living aboard is that you are generally more active than you would be in a home. We have a pretty long dock walk to get to land, so just by going out to our car, walking to the grocery store or taking the laundry up, we get in a lot more walking now than we ever did before. At our home on land, we never did this type of walking. Sure, I went to the gym, but I drove there. I drove to the grocery store and we drove to restaurants to go out to eat. We now walk to the grocery and if we want to eat out, we ride bikes or walk—something we would never have done in our old home. Trying to get that 10,000 steps? With living aboard a boat, it’s no problem.

We organize and clean more often

Just like in a house, we have to dust, scrub and vacuum. You would think that because a boat is so much smaller it would be easier to clean. It really isn’t. Now, I can very quickly vacuum the rugs and clean the countertops for a quick fix if we have company coming but deep cleaning can take a whole day. A whole day to deep clean 3 cabins you ask? Yes. See, boat interiors get dirtier more quickly, especially in the cooler months where we leave our doors and hatches open all the time. Dust and dirt blow around in the interiors and don’t get me started on the mold and mildew. I’ve spent over 2 hours cleaning mildew off our interior mini blinds. Also, with a messy kid and shedding dog in such a small space, I have to clean a lot more often. I find that I have to keep up with cleaning onboard more than I ever did on land. Boats also have so many nooks and crannies compared to a land home with furniture. Our boat is 42 years old and I’m convinced that I am still cleaning out 40 years worth of dust that rises up out of the bowels of the hull.

I also find that I have to organize and de-clutter more often than in a home. Living in tight quarters, things can get out of hand quickly. Every item has a place it needs to go or our main salon and cabin become very messy.

We take vacations in our home

Sophie comes with us on all trips aboard Blue Turtle

One of the perks I’ve found of living aboard is that when we go on vacation, our home travels with us.  This means that I don’t have to pack or worry about forgetting something at home. We just have to plan where we want to go, provision for how long we’ll be gone and drop the dock like and go.It also means we get to take our dachshund, Sophie, along with us. I always love the adventure of exploring new places and anchorages, all while in the comfort of our own home.

Trips aboard Blue Turtle are also less expensive (assuming nothing goes wrong with her). We spend very little on fuel and if we anchor out, it costs us nothing. Our trip to the Dry Tortugas and Key West for 3 weeks costs us less than a 7 day trip on a commercial cruise.

We  have an amazing view

Ok, you might be lucky enough to have a home on the beach or a beautiful lake with a great view. But for us, this was never a possibility. Our view at our old house consisted of houses on three sides and a giant wall enclosing a maintenance facility for the neighboring golf course. A waterfront view on Fort Myers Beach was something we could never have afforded until now. Now, we live across the street from a gorgeous beach and wake every morning to see manatees and dolphin playing. When we are out on hook, our view is even better—sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, beautiful barrier island beaches and crystal clear water in the Keys.

No matter where we are we always have an amazing view

Living aboard a boat has many pros (that view!) and cons (ugh, plumbing!) and it’s definitely not for everyone. You have to decide what priorities you have and what you can and can’t live without before making the decision to live aboard. It’s definitely been a lifestyle that we’ve had no regrets about accept that we wish we had done it sooner.

The post Living aboard a boat vs. living on land, how is it different? appeared first on Blue Turtle Trawler. Read More Here ….

The post Living aboard a boat vs. living on land, how is it different? appeared first on YachtAweigh.

from http://yachtaweigh.com/living-aboard-a-boat-vs-living-on-land-how-is-it-different/

[uniquequotesonlife]

Travel Experts Reveal 10 Ways To Save On Travel

We’re not mathematicians, but we’re pretty sure the following theorem holds true: There is an inverse relationship between how badly you need a vacation and how comfortably you can afford one. That is, the more you need a vacation, the less likely you are to be in the financial position to pull one together. That’s what it feels like in our experience, anyway. Call it the algebra of exhaustion.

iStock But what if there’s a tricky workaround? What if you could take that sorely needed week away and come home to a livable bank account? We reached out to a handful of travel agents and vacation writers to see if the dream is achievable—and it turns out, it just may be. If I had had to pay for hotels, vacation rentals or even hostels in each of these expensive cities, I would never have been able to afford the trips. Here’s what we learned, all boiled down into 10 thrifty tips that’ll save you hard-earned cash on your next getaway:

1. Remember the Rule of Tuesdays.

Tuesday is an important day of the week in the world of air travel. If you can travel on a Tuesday or even Wednesday, you’ll probably get the cheapest flight of the week. Generally, people do their traveling on Thursday, Friday, or over the weekend. Demand drives prices up, so you’re more likely to find a cheap flight during off-peak times—usually a Tuesday or Wednesday.

iStock At least, that’s what we’ve always heard. But is it really true? Yes, according to news outlet CNBC. While there’s no magic day to purchase the best deals, the cheapest days to travel are Tuesday, followed by Wednesday, and then Saturday. Airlines use algorithms to determine prices, and these are constantly being updated based off of sales and availability, says travel writer and vice president of travel company Pruvo, Doron Nadivi.

iStock.com/scyther5 “There is also an old myth about ordering 57 days prior to travel. Both of these suggestions are not true,” Nadivi tells us. “Last year I booked a flight from Costa Rica to New Zealand…, returning from Bangkok to Costa Rica months prior to travel. I put an alarm to check 57 days before departure and the exact same flight number, same route, same website cost four times more.” Of course, there are always the many price tracking sites out there. Some sites even show long-term price estimates for flights, so you can plan your vacation around your budget.

iStock Still, the real trick when purchasing a flight is to follow through when the price is good. If you see a great deal, get it, now. Chances are it’ll be gone in a few hours. The “book on Tuesday six weeks out” rule may be inaccurate, but there’s plenty of technology available to get you where you want to be for the best possible price. Use it.

2. Hit the shoulder season.

What’s the shoulder season, you ask? We explain—plus give you a few quick tips on how to avoid the tourists and get affordable flights—in the video below:

3. Be a little impulsive.

There are pros and cons to this tried-and-true technique for a quick escape from the day-to-day grind. But asking for a “cheap ticket to anywhere” doesn’t work like it used to.

iStock Once upon a time, you could walk up to a ticket counter and get a cheap, last-second deal for an undersold flight. It was great if you didn’t much care where you were going. But those days are over. Today, most flights are overbooked, and last-minute flying can actually be more expensive, not less. Still, the days of the 11th-hour deal aren’t over entirely. It’s just that you have to use technology to take advantage now. Try signing up for your favorite airline’s email list. That way you’ll see any last-minute specials, and you can easily build a trip around what’s cheap. You can also check out coupon sites like Groupon, or LivingSocial for luxurious, planned getaways for a fraction of the normal price.

iStock To improve your odds of scoring a deal, try to visit less popular cities. For instance, Aspen, Colorado is a beautiful ski town, but it’s also busy and expensive. Why not hit the slopes in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, or Brian Head, Utah, instead? You can beat the crowds, save some cash, and discover new places with this tactic.

4. Ditch the hotel.

Hotels are great, but with a new generation of travelers hotels have taken a hit. Just like Uber and Lyft are changing the world of ground transportation, Airbnb and VRBO are laying siege on the hotel industry.

iStock Through these and similar services, you can find great deals on short-term house rentals instead of booking a bunch of hotel rooms for larger travel parties. There are also smaller sites in most every major city that will have a listing of units that are available for travelers to rent. Do your research and you’ll find the options are practically endless—and very affordable. You can also use home-sharing apps and basically stay in a new city for free “in exchange for caring for someone else’s home and pets,” says author and world-traveler Kelly Hayes-Raitt, who traveled the world for four years straight while reporting her book, Living Large in Limbo, and racked up quite a few tricks during the process. “I get unpaid accommodations, a kitchen to make my own meals and other homey perks like free cable and DVDs, use of a car, and no nickel-and-dime fees hotels tack on.”

Nishant Choksi for The New Yorker There are sites to set up accommodations for travelers to house-sit, or to actually swap homes for a period of time. This is a great way to get to know a new city without spending a ton of money. “During the past eight years, I’ve house-sat in London for two months during the Olympics, Berlin, Amsterdam, Hanoi, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Osaka,” Hayes-Raitt tells us. “If I had had to pay for hotels, vacation rentals or even hostels in each of these expensive cities, I would never have been able to afford the trips.”

5. Get off the plane.

If you have some wiggle room for your travel plans, let the gate attendant know. That way you can be put on the short list if they need volunteers. If you’re flying on United or Delta, you can bid on how much money it’d take for you to give up your seat. After the David Dao debacle of 2017, United Airlines has raised the cap on how much they’re willing to pay for passenger seats on overbooked flights to $10,000. That would make for some vacation.

iStock In the moment, there’s often the panic-induced sense that all you want to do is reach your destination, but if you psych yourself up to sit around the airport for a couple of hours to make some serious miles or money, then you’ll be good to go. With everything going on after the United incident, you should know that airlines do have the right to remove any passenger (except for people with disabilities and unaccompanied minors).

6. Brown bag it.

We know a granola bar isn’t the same as that breakfast burrito you could buy at the airport, but it could save you a good chunk of change. Airport food tends to be more expensive than the already-pricey food at professional sporting events and theme parks, so if you have some time to spare, make yourself a meal and bring it. Some food is okay to pass through security, and if you have kids, you can always bring powdered milk and make them a drink in the airport instead of hitting up the terminal’s Starbucks. If you don’t have time to make something yourself, you can still pass over the expensive airport-specific restaurants.

iStock One of our favorite options is going to Subway and getting a footlong sandwich, then eating half at the airport and half on the flight. You can save yourself some good money this way. (Just don’t get the tuna; your fellow passengers won’t thank you for that.)

http://istock.com/amriphoto After you arrive at your vacation spot, take advantage of any local grocery stores and cook for yourself. Purchasing food, even pre-made meals, at a grocery store instead of eating out all the time will save you a fortune while you’re traveling.

7. Hydrate on the cheap.

Everyone knows you can’t bring liquids through security, including water. But you can bring an empty water bottle and fill it at a water fountain or fill station.

iStock It’s crucial to drink up on the plane; people tend to get really dehydrated when they travel because of the recycled air, the altitude, and the fact you don’t really drink a lot of liquids while you’re in flight (no one likes asking people to get up so they can use the restroom). This will keep you hydrated and save you from buying a $4 bottle of water.

8. Find new ways to get around.

Asking a friend to pick you up from the airport is almost as bad as asking them to help you move. Nobody wants to do it, but most people don’t feel like they can say no. However, in most major cities, there is public transportation that can take you to and from the airport.

iStock If you don’t have easy access to public transportation, you can try to take an Uber or Lyft, which will often save you some money compared with a taxi, which may overcharge via a large airport tax. Be aware, though, that in some cities, Uber and Lyft cannot pick up passengers from the airport.

iStock Do some research on your destination’s transportation before you go. Both the Google Maps app and the Citymapper app can provide you with information and schedules for trains, busses, and more. Where possible, take the monorail, subway, or bus instead of a taxi. Alternatively, you can always take the opportunity to explore the city on foot and walk to your final destination.

9. Take a cue from extreme couponers.

There are coupons for literally everything. If you know you’re going to be in a new city, take advantage of the ones that are for first-time customers only. Apps like Groupon and LivingSocial have deals for activities and food that could cut your costs in half.

iStock Another way to go about saving money on food is searching hashtags on Instagram for specific locations. If you find food pics that look appetizing, get in touch with the restaurant and see if they have any special deals or happy hours.

10. Book directly.

Airlines often offer more flexibility and cheaper fees than third-party sellers. A lot of websites will scour the internet for the best deals—which is great if you’re short on time or organizational skills—but then you usually get stuck with few options and little flexibility, since you’re booking through a third party.

iStock The best thing to do is use a search site like Skyscanner or Google Flights to find the cheapest flight, then head over to that airline’s website and book directly through them. When you book direct, you’ll get cheaper flights, and usually more flexibility and options for your trip.

iStock.com/YakobchukOlena These tips won’t just save you money on vacation. They might bring down the cost of a trip just enough that you can safely afford it in the first place. Follow our experts’ advice, and you could balance the equation that allows for a truly restorative—and much-deserved—adventure. Read the full article