islaricci

[islaricci]

Isla admired her friend and her capability to raise a family the way she was. She was lucky she had Johnny, because he seemed to be a supportive husband. She laughed a little at her words. "You know I'd be more than happy to babysit!" She offered, "Even if it is just for a couple of hours while the two of you have a date night or something." She shrugged before wiggling her brows. "Wouldn't be the worst idea."

THE END

"I know." She smiled at her best friend. They had been there for each other so much over the years and that would never change. Their friendship only got better as they aged. Shaking her head, Stevie smiled at her. "I appreciate that, but it's okay. It's nothing Johnny and I can't handle. Though, if you ever want a practice run, you're always free to babysit." She laughed. @islaricci

[islaricci]

Isla liked the idea of the shop doing a giveaway of some sort. Perhaps she could get Alli involved with some of her jewellery if she’d like. She had to make a mental note remembering to ask her next time they worked together. "Hm, I was thinking some of the locally made jewellery but maybe a gift card as well! Maybe I can even do a first and second place!" She grinned in excitement. "Thank you babe! I don't know what I'd do without you." @elianxbrowne

THE END

"I'll keep that in mind." He nodded with a smile at his soon to be wife. "We can make champagne work or iced coffee," whatever she was feeling in that moment, Eli would make it happen for her. He always would. "A giveaway, that's a great idea." He grinned at Isla. Seeing her dreams come true and approach the one year anniversary of those dreams coming true, he couldn't be more proud of her. "People love the idea of winning something, even if it's just a gift card." He tapped his fingers in a thoughtful manner, "You could even do a couple of small surprise prizes, like a thank you for supporting us type thing." @islaricci

[islaricci]

Isla gasped before she chuckled at his statement. “The Italian in me is screaming right now, but I know you are right.” She told him with a laugh. “Oh trust me, I know. Without him, I’d likely still be living off of take away and my mother’s cooking.” Not that her mother’s cooking was bad, but not ideal at her age. Her eyes widened when he told her he’d ran into his ex. “Wait what?” She said, “Why is she here all of a sudden? That is a bit random, isn’t it?”

Hasad chuckled with Isla's words, "Some people aren't meant for the kitchen and that's okay," he teased with a lighthearted laugh. "At least you'll have Eli to make up for it," he joked back in response to her words. At his question, his expression shifted only slightly as it became a little more thoughtful. "I've been settling in since two-thousand and nine," he laughed softly, "though even after all these years, life has a way of shaking things up. I ended up running into my ex-girlfriend that was supposed to move with me to Kismet Harbor and never showed up." @islaricci

[islaricci]

Isla hoped Stevie was right, or at least that they’d make children. At this point it felt like that had been trying and failing, but Isla tried to reason that she was in no rush, even if deep down it felt like she was. “I know, and I appreciate that so much.” She smiled. Stevie had always been her rock, and would always continue to be so. “Is there anything I can do to help? If you ever need me to like stay over and help in the night or something, I absolutely can!” She offered. @steviexwagner

She nodded with a grin. "You guys will make beautiful children." That Stevie knew for sure. She nodded at her and smiled. "It's always nice having that community around. You know I'll always been here for you for anything you may need." She told her best friend. "They're good. Sleeping a little better now, but still not as much. Definitely different than when Zoe and Logan were their age and even Naomi, but that comes with the territory." @islaricci

[islaricci]

Isla nodded, “Oh ever since I saw this movie once as a teen where someone traveled through Northern Italy to Switzerland!” She told him, pretty sure it was a movie, but it could just as well have been a show of some kind. “I know right? Though I’d much prefer champagne myself, or and iced coffee.” She chuckled, “I don’t think a lot can match that view.” Honestly, Isla had been so busy with purchases and researching vendors, she hadn’t had much time to put much thought into the stores one year anniversary. Another reason why she was so fortunate to have Eli in her life. “Oh a giveaway! Maybe one of those everyone who buys something during our anniversary month is automatically entered into a giveaway of a gift card or something?” @elianxbrowne

Eli couldn’t help but grin at Isla’s excitement, his chest warming at the way her eyes lit up. “Yeah? Switzerland’s been on your list too, huh?” He leaned in slightly, matching her energy. “And yeah, I’ve seen that train—it looks unreal. Imagine just sitting there, drinking coffee, watching the Alps roll by? Sounds like a dream.” At the mention of the discount, he tilted his head, considering it. “A storewide 20% off is solid, but maybe we could make it more engaging? Like a giveaway or a ‘spend this much, get a gift’ kind of deal? People love feeling like they’re getting something extra.” @islaricci

[islaricci]

Closed | @le0nxrd0perez

Isla had just finished up refreshing the window display with some of the news the store had received recently. She exhaled a small breath as she stepped outside to check what it looked like from the outside and draped her arms across her chest while she studied it for a moment. When she spotted someone in the corner of her eye, she looked over at them to try capture their attention. “Can I ask your honest opinion on something?” She decided to ask with a soft chuckle, “What do you think about the display window? I feel like it is missing something..”

[islaricci]

Isla smiled at the other, "That is usually the best way to go about it." She said with a nod, having grown up to watch some of the boy on the football team be pushed from their parents into it more than they seemed to enjoy it. "A pole and reel.." Isla repeated while she had followed the man along over to the correct section. "Any of these in particular that you'd recommend?" @charliesxdavis

He smiled he knew Houston wasn't his blood but still could have love of baseball and have skill for it from his own. "It may be a while, but he will find his thing." Charlie wouldn't mind if it wasn't some sport. "We do..." he just wanted the boy to be happy and find his own calling. "Alright we can help with that" he teased with Houston. He walked over to the fishing area. "We can get him a good pole and reel." that was always a good gift and something a fisherman would like. @islaricci

[islaricci]

Isla chuckled, “In all fairness it is usually the experience I get whenever I come home to my parents as my mother doesn’t trust me anywhere near her kitchen.” She half joked, even if it was justified. “Hm maybe that is the answer to all my troubles." She laughed, though Elian did do a better job than her at the moment whenever he cooked, at least in her opinion. "That sounds like a good idea! Let's do that!" She smiled. "How has it been being back? You settling in okay?" @hasadxaslan

Hasad laughed with Isla's words, "And that's exactly the kind of experience you should want to have," he found himself grinning at her. "Now if you need me to give Eli some cooking lessons, you just let me know," Hasad teased with her. "Rose is good," he picked up the menu, "I'm not too picky," he told Isla, "I was thinking we could get a flight to share, get a few different kinds to try. What do you think?" @islaricci

[islaricci]

Isla grinned when he said Italy was on the list, before her eyes grew wider at the mention of both Germany and Switzerland. "Gosh, Switzerland? I have always wanted to go there!" She said, "Did you know there is a train you can take from the north of Italy through to Switzerland?" She asked, having seen clips of it on her social media, which of course made it look gorgeous. Isla nodded, "I was planning on maybe doing a discount week or something? With 20% off the entire store or something like that?" She said, "But I am open to ideas if you have any?" @elianxbrowne

"Italy is on the list again," he chuckled softly with the excitement that Isla brought to the table. "Germany and Switzerland as well," he continued on, "hoping at least two out of the three projects will kick off this summer and one later this year." It was all about the quarterly cost. "I'll never be surprised," he was grinning at Isla all the same, loving how passionate she was about her job. "It's coming up on the one year anniversary that the store's been open. Are you going to do anything special?" @islaricci

[islaricci]

Isla looked at her with a grin and a nod. “I am honestly so excited for it. I mean can you imagine how cute our babies would be?” She chuckled lowly, but she was confident enough for that statement to be true. Besides, Elian was the most beautiful man she had ever laid her eyes on. She nodded a little. “I guess it might help having some family nearby.” She thought aloud, knowing her mom would probably practically move in for a while. “I think that is good advice.” She smiled. “How are the twins?” @steviexwagner

"What?!" Stevie said a little loudly but was careful not to be too loud that she would wake the sleeping babies nearby. Hearing the news, she was so happy for her best friend and excited too. "That's so exciting, Isla. I'm so happy for you guys." She grinned before laughing a little and sitting back in her chair. "I feel you want me to lie and say that it is, but it's not. Sure, some days are better than others, but it's not easy by any means. You just have to find your own system for things and be prepared for nothing to ever go like you expect it will." @islaricci

[islaricci]

Isla smiled while watching him go in for another bite, making his statement even more passable and not just him being bias. She chuckled before shrugging, “I will for sure do my best!” She told him. Listening to him tell her about his day, she smiled. “What prospects are you looking for for summer? Is it Italy again?” She asked maybe a tad hopeful. “Well we got some early spring deliveries for the store.” She grinned, “So if I am broke by next week, don’t act all surprised.” She added with a laugh as she couldn’t help herself. @elianxbrowne

"Well we can leave it to the desserts for you," he teased his soon to be wife with a bright grin, "It will look beautiful no matter what you do," he agreed, "and taste amazing," he reached for another bite, unable to help himself. "My day was good," he told her, "quiet start to the year," which he didn't mind, "gave me some time to catch up on some emails from the weekend and a few new project prospects coming up this summer." He continued to tell Isla, "What all made your day eventful, besides making this delicious pie." @islaricci

[islaricci]

Isla smiled a little as she watched the child for a moment before looking back at the man. "Hm I guess only time will tell." She said with a grin shaped across her lips. "That is what all parents want for their kids, isn't it?" She added, gripping onto the strap of her handbag that was hanging over her shoulder before she looked ot her side. "Oh, um--" she chuckled, "No, I was looking for a present for my brother. I think he likes fishing though.. If he doesn't he could always start." @charliesxdavis

Hearing her, he smiled as he looked at what she was looking at before he chuckled. "I mean, right now, it's a close one he can already kick very well, but we will see what happens from that." he smiled. "I don't care what he will do as long as he's happy and safe" he said with a smile. "But are you looking at getting into fishing?" he asked as she was in front of the fishing stuff. @islaricci

[islaricci]

Isla chuckled before feeling her stomach sting slightly at the comparison of it being a symptom of a pregnancy brain, however she kept her face the same as she looked at her. "Yeah, something like that--" She said, "Or so I have been told I guess." She had not yet been blessed with a child of her own, though not for the lack of trying recently. "Can I get you anything else?" @lilianaxjackson

Liliana offered the other a thankful smile when she didn't make a fuss over picking up her cutlery. There could've been plenty of people to judge her for being 'lazy' or making a big deal out of it in a different way. But she appreciated the low key moment, as well as the comforting in shared experiences. "Kind of like putting your car keys in the fridge, right? Definitely been there. Pregnancy brain can be the worst." Even though she'd do anything to get back to that time. The world felt like a scarier place knowing she couldn't fully take care of her daughter, the way she had always dreamed she could. @islaricci

[islaricci]

Once Hasad explained how he usually preferred to cook over experimenting with alcoholic beverages, Isla had to let out a small chuckle in amusement as for her it tended to be the opposite. "We could not be more different from that point of view--" She began to explain, "Because I much prefer sitting back, sipping my wine, while watching others cook for me." But since getting engaged, Isla had been trying to do both. Her chin was resting into the palm of her hand that was supporting itself on the table, while the other tapped her fingers over the surface of the table while pondering his questions. "I got to admit, I have recently taken a liking to rose wine." Not having been something she had had too much of before. "What about yourself?" @hasadxaslan

starter for @islaricci

location: cunnamore vineyards

"I have to admit," Hasad began with a playful grimace, easing into his chair across from Isla, "wine tastings aren't exactly my forte." He chuckled, his tone light as he leaned forward slightly. "I always focused on the cooking side of things—perfecting dishes, experimenting with spices—but I never really explored beer, wine, or cocktails." His smile widened as he rubbed his hands together, a spark of genuine curiosity lighting his face. "But I've heard amazing things about Sanjit's pairings. People say his wines practically dance with the flavors on your plate." Hasad tilted his head, his eyes warm and inquisitive. "What about you? Is there a wine you're especially excited to try tonight?" His brow arched as he waited for her answer, clearly intrigued by her perspective.

[islaricci]

Isla was looking to exchange one of the presents she’d bought her dad for Christmas as apparently the fishing rod she’d settled for, he had bought himself just a few weeks before the holidays despite her specifically asking him what he wanted. Looking around the shop, she was trying to decide between some fishing hooks and a box to keep the hooks in when she noticed the man with the young boy. Smiling a little to herself, she decided to intervene. “Do you reckon he’ll be a football or a basketball player?” Isla asked, giving the young boy a small wave. @charliesxdavis

Today, he had Houston at Athletic Edge with him. Chantel had some work to do and things to do that she couldn't do with a nearly one-year-old. "Se,e buddy, this is fun, isn't it?" he said as he held him and looked around the sports shop. He would only have the little boy a couple hours before the sitter would get off and be able to pick him up. "See, in a few years, you can work here?" he said as he showed Houston around. Naming some the equipment and what sport it was used for. "See, you will be pros soon," he chuckled.

@islaricci

[islaricci]

Isla was as usual dropping by the cobblestone cafe to pick up her lunch. She had been waiting for the staff to finish off her green juice and packing her salad, but the sound of metal dropping had her turn her head towards the sound. Letting her eyes glance to the woman who soon after excused herself. “Of course!” She smiled, leaning down to pick it up only to place it back onto the table in front of her, but within reach. “I do that all the time myself.” She chuckled. “Not here, but like in general.” @lilianaxjackson

Liliana sat by herself at the cobblestone, which remarkably had a moment of quiet. Barely any people around. She told Travis it was okay if he left to do some things, after all, they still had to get some things out of town despite her current situation. She could only move her right half, which was all she needed to lift her cup of tea. In a clumsy moment however, she decided now was the time to put her cup on the outside of the saucer, causing it to send the teaspoon flying. She cursed under her breath, for she was restrained to her wheelchair. "Excuse me." She asked, clearly embarrassed. "Could you pick up the spoon for me? Moment of clumsiness." @islaricci

[islaricci]

Isla chuckled, “I honestly don’t even think I should help with the actual food for the wedding.” She didn’t trust herself and her skills when it came to cooking, or rather lack there off, in the slightest. “But I am glad we at least agree on that, because I think it is a cute idea.” She imagined a cake stand with small cakes all over, matching their color theme. “How was your day? As eventful as mine?” She chuckled, leaning over to kiss her fiancée’s cheek. @elianxbrowne

"I do really mean that," Elian answered with a nod of his head. He'd not lied to Isla when it came to anything she made and he wasn't going to start now. Even with her mishaps in the kitchen, he'd been honest about them. "It's amazing." He smiled at her, "I think that's a great idea," he agreed, "I know I can't help, you shouldn't let me help," he laughed as his baking skills were far less superior, "but I fully support the idea." @islaricci