#(one cinnamon on sale from last year and one pine)

[unfriendlyneighbourhoodbogwitch]

This is the first year that 1) I have recognised and understood that Christmas is my special interest and that hyperfixating on it isn't actually something I need to fix, and 2) I won't have any school or uni work to to over Christmas time. This is gonna be Such A Year

[sfarticles]

Blueberries are a succulent superfood

Check out my latest column

Last week I drove past the winding country road leading to the now-defunct blueberry farm where at least a couple of times during the summer I would stop to pick several buckets of my favorite summer fruit. It reminded me that I have not yet paid homage to the blueberry.

Though July is National Blueberry Month, it is never too late to celebrate this tiny fruit that is packed with many nutritional benefits. And, National Blueberry Muffin Day was July 11, an extra reason to indulge in a freshly baked treat with blueberries bursting with flavor.

Abundant this time of year, the succulent superfood is believed to have multiple health benefits. With a flavor that ranges between tart and sweet, blueberries can be used in myriad ways; the plump ones seem to be the sweeter ones.

There are two types of blueberries, lowbush and highbush. The ones we purchase at supermarkets, farm stands and markets are usually the latter. The wild lowbush variety is smaller and is processed into jams, juices, pie fillings, purees, etc. New England, especially Maine, as well as Canada are known for this kind.

According to the Blueberry Council, 10 states spanning the country produce 98% of U.S.-grown, highbush blueberries.

For those of us who crave blueberries year-round, Florida’s peak production season is March and April; and during our winter, South America is experiencing summer, and their crops are at their peak.

Wild blueberries are the lowbush type and are not planted, as they grow naturally. Living in the Northeast, many of us visit Maine, known for its wild blueberries. Did you know the Pine Tree State provides the bulk of the U.S. wild blueberry crop?

Although the pick-your-own farm is gone, I am still an avid fan of these blue gems. This time of year, my cart at the market usually has a pack or two. A recent sale coerced me to purchase four. With so many on hand and for inspiration, I perused my cookbook collection for recipes.

“Blueberry Love: 46 Sweet and Savory recipes for Pie, Jams, Smoothies, Sauces, and More,” by Cynthia Graubart. (2021, Storey Publishing, $12.95) was perfect. With recipes for jumbo, bakery-style, ginger-blueberry muffins; warm grilled chicken and blueberry salad; succulent pie; or even blueberry vodka, Graubart, a James Beard Award-winning author, created recipes that make blueberries center stage. She shares a few below.

These tips by the author will come in handy:

• Blueberries should be stored unwashed.

• To freeze fresh berries, spread them out on a baking sheet, unwashed and freeze. Rinse before using.

• To boost blueberry flavor, mix in some wild blueberries with cultivated ones in most recipes.This one surprised me…The adage of tossing blueberries in flour to prevent them from sinking in baked goods is ineffective.

Jumbo Bakery-­Style Ginger-­Blueberry Muffins

The headnote says: “These fluffy, big bakery-­style muffins have it all — taste, texture, and eye appeal — and were awarded a blue ribbon in the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival in Maine in 2019. A light zing of ginger, a little zip of spice, and the crunch from the topping of coarse sugar fit the bill. If the muffins aren’t devoured in one sitting, slice one open, toast, and slather with butter for a treat later. These muffins are best made with fresh blueberries.”

Makes 6 jumbo muffins

Ingredients:

3 cups all-­purpose flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 cup milk

½ cup canola oil or other neutral oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon almond extract

2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

¼ cup finely chopped crystallized ginger

Decorating sugar or other large-­grain sugar

Directions:

1. Set an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spray a jumbo six-­muffin pan with cooking spray or coat lightly with oil.

2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Add the granulated sugar and whisk until thoroughly combined, at least 30 seconds.

3. Break up the eggs in a medium bowl with a whisk and whisk in the milk, oil, vanilla, and almond extract.

4. Make a well in the flour mixture and pour the egg mixture into the well. Using a silicone spatula, fold the egg mixture into the flour, scraping the bottom of the bowl at each turn. Mix gently but quickly. Avoid overmixing the batter.

5. Toss the blueberries and ginger on top of the batter and fold gently to incorporate the berries. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pan, filling each cup to the rim. Sprinkle the tops with decorating sugar.

6. Bake for 5 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees  and bake for 25 to 26 minutes longer, or until tops are light golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (avoiding a blueberry). Let cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Serve warm, or transfer to a wire rack to cool for storing. These muffins freeze well.

(Keller + Keller Photography)

Blueberry and Red Onion Salsa

The headnote says: “Grab the chips and enjoy this special summertime salsa. Reserve a small basil leaf or two for garnishing the top of the salsa. Substitute white wine vinegar or another light vinegar if white balsamic is not available.“

Makes 1 cup

Ingredients:

1 cup fresh blueberries

3 tablespoons minced red onion

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

2 teaspoons white balsamic vinegar

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Smash half of the blueberries in the bottom of a small bowl with a potato masher or other implement.

2. Add the remaining blueberries, the onion, basil, and vinegar, and toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

3. Refrigerate until serving. This may be made up to 8 hours in advance.

 (Keller + Keller Photography)

Blueberry, Watermelon, Feta Cheese and Mint Salad

The headnote says: “This salad is summer in a bowl. The red, white, and blue combination brightens any summer meal. For a significant side dish, place this fruit salad on a bed of mixed greens.”

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon honey

2 tablespoons red or white wine vinegar

½ cup extra-­virgin olive oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 cups watermelon, cut into ½ -­inch cubes

1 pint fresh blueberries

6 ounces feta cheese, crumbled or grated

Chopped fresh herbs such as basil, thyme, or rosemary

Directions:

1. Combine the mustard and honey in a small bowl. Whisk in the vinegar. While whisking, slowly drizzle in the oil and continue whisking until emulsified. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

2. Place the watermelon, blueberries and cheese in a large bowl. Serve with the reserved dressing and top with fresh herbs to taste. If making ahead, dress just before serving.

 (Keller + Keller Photography)

Salmon Fillets With Blueberry-­Onion Jam Glaze

The headnote says: “Salmon is a year-­round favorite, and blueberries love vinegar and onions, making a savory topping for the fish. Double the jam ingredients and use extra with any leftovers as an innovative sandwich spread.”

Makes 4–6 servings

Ingredients:

Jam:

1 tablespoon extra-­virgin olive oil

2 onions, sliced

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

1 cup water

¼ cup balsamic vinegar

1–2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Salmon:

4–6 salmon steaks or fillets

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Fresh basil leaves, for garnish (optional)

Directions:

Make the jam:

1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. When hot, add the oil and onions and cook for 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the onions are wilted and starting to turn brown, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2. Stir in the blueberries, water, and vinegar. Increase the heat to medium and cook until the blueberries have softened, about 5 minutes. Season with the sugar and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

Cook the salmon:

3. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. Place the salmon fillets on the sheet and season with salt and pepper.

4. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the salmon (about 10 minutes per inch of thickness), until the salmon is still slightly pink in the center. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and spoon a portion of the jam glaze over each fillet. Garnish with basil leaves, if desired, and serve hot.

(Keller + Keller Photography)

Homemade Blueberry Vodka

The headnote says: “True blueberry flavor shines in this homemade blueberry vodka, making it a great choice for drinking in a blueberry martini (page 68 shares one of the author’s favorite recipes). Plan ahead to infuse the vodka for five days, yielding the most flavorful results.”

Makes 1 (750 mL) bottle

Ingredients

4 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

1/3 cup sugar

2 tablespoons water

1 (750 mL) bottle vodka (about 3 cups)

Directions:

1. Cook the blueberries, sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat until the blueberries are soft and release their juices, 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.

2. Combine cooled blueberry mixture and vodka in a large nonreactive bowl and cover loosely. Let stand at room temperature for 4 hours.

3. Cover and refrigerate for 5 days, or until the vodka has been infused with the blueberry flavor.

4. Strain out the solids by pouring the mixture through a fine-­mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth into a glass jar or decanter. Gently press on the solids to extract a little more juice but avoid squeezing as that releases more sediment. Discard the solids, or reserve them to make No-­Waste Blueberry Butter (This recipe is on page 26 in the book or at https://stephenfries.com/recipes

5.Blueberry vodka keeps for 3 months in the refrigerator or for 6 months in the freezer in an airtight container.

Recipes excerpted from “Blueberry Love” by Cynthia Graubart, copyright 2021. Used with permission from Storey Publishing.

Stephen Fries is professor emeritus and former coordinator of the Hospitality Management Programs at Gateway Community College in New Haven, Conn. He has been a food and culinary travel columnist for the past 17 years and is co-founder of and host of “Worth Tasting,” a culinary walking tour of downtown New Haven, and three-day culinary adventures around the U.S. He is a board member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals. Email him at Stephen@stephenfries.com. For more, go to stephenfries.com.

[the-solarpunk-activist]

So I was scrolling through the Christmas tag and realized I could make a post about our low waste Christmas stuff

Make a pinecone garland. We collect ours from the alley behind the house but you can also collect them from the woods, parks, etc. All you do is take the pinecone and tie a rustic twine around them. You can also use this method for ornaments

Dried orange garland. Compostable and looks neat, you can reuse every year if done right but if you don't, bam compost. I recommend using a cotton twine for extra compost abilities

Same thing with food garland for the tree, use cotton for easily compostable.

Or make a garland for the birds outside! I recommend this link: https://www.thespruce.com/bird-garland-project-diy-385752

Please forgive me for the actual link i have no idea how to hyperlink on tumblr

Vintage! We have an antique store with a vendor who sells ornaments for 1$ no matter what. I've gotten so many cool and unique pieces from her.

Actually a lot of my Christmas decor is second hand, especially keep an eye out at summer yardsales

Thrift gifts! I went to a church sale on the last day so they had a fill a garbage bag for 3$ sale! I completely bought out their mugs and I'm going to fill them with baked goods for my coworkers that work with me on Christmas eve as something extra festive :)

Besties this is popular on TikTok rn but I've been doing it for a hot minute but use tree skirts as shawls or sew together for skirts! Super cute and can find second hand easily enough

Gift handmade items. I love receiving and giving items i made myself

We also reuse wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue paper, etc

You can also use paper grocery bags as wrapping paper along with cotton string

You can decorate packages with dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks (a little pricy though), pine boughs, etc for a little flare

Reused Christmas decor! I shared a couple posts before making this one (paper bag star garland and recycled plastic bottle bells), but you can also make paper snowflakes out of recycled paper, a Christmas countdown chain out of recycled paper, bottle cap art, origami out of old wrapping paper, paper towel rolls painted with some red ribbon to form candy cane sticks, etc. Just be creative!!!

[minaslittleone]

Pictures In My Mind

Pairing: Cordelia Goode X Wilhemina Venable

I'm taking pictures in my mind so I can save them for a rainy day - Stay Beautiful by Taylor Swift

Word count: ~1100

Merry Christmas @isle-of-earle I'm your secret Santa 🎅. I hope you like this little Mina x Delia fic, fluff with a little dusting of angst as requested. I was so excited to get to write for you. I hope you like the title too 😉

Thank you so much to @grilledcheeseandguavajelly for organising this again, amazing job honey

Tags: @lovelypeasantjellyfish @okpaulson @lucyintheskywithxanax @lanawinters-ily @stayevildarling @talulahmae @thesupremeswife @lntlmate @cordeliass

Wilhemina had never been one to see the magic in Christmas. The hordes of screaming children and last minute shoppers. The gaudy decorations and the incessant carols that appeared earlier and earlier each year. The mountains of presents used to buy another year's affection from friends and family. The epitome of commercialism. 

And so Wilhemina never decorated. She avoided Christmas festivities like the plague and refused to tolerate even the first few notes of a festive tune. And she never exchanged gifts. Not that she had anyone to exchange them with. Not until now, not until Cordelia.

But as she stood at the base of Robichaux's grand staircase, quietly watching as Cordelia patiently sat by the fireplace untangling seemingly endless strings of Christmas lights, her opposition to Christmas lay long forgotten. Any occassion which bought this soft, contented smile to her girlfriend's face as she sat bare faced and cross-legged in front of the glowing embers was worth celebrating. 

As with many things since they had begun dating, Cordelia breathed life into Christmas, allowing Wilhemina to see joy and beauty in places she could never have imagined. Silly, trivial things like how Cordelia would automatically prepare two cups of tea now instead of one, would press a soft kiss to her cheek in passing simply because she felt like it, would unconsciously snuggle closer to her in her sleep, would sleepily mumble "I love you" as her last words every night and as her first again the following morning. These things should have infuriated her, should have made her recoil in disdain and disgust like they had for years, decades, past. But not anymore. Not since Cordelia.

No matter what Cordelia seemed to glow, filling everything she touched with beauty and light and hope. And now as stood mesmerised by her Delia once more she couldn't help wonder whether the supreme hadn't filled her with those things too. That maybe the tender blossoming light beginning to take root within her chest, allowing her to open herself up to the good and kind and sweet in the world around her, wasn't Cordelia's doing too. 

For as long as Wilhemina could remember Christmas had been a time of cruel sterility and forced conversation. Her parents' vast house would be decorated professionally, lest even one bauble be out of place. She would be stuffed into an oppressive Christmas outfit that would have been picked out by her mother (or at least by the sales assistant she had asked in the fancy boutique where she had purchased it) that would itch and scratch and never fit properly. She would sit idly as her father and grandfather discussed the state of the world and her grandmother once again rued her unfortunate hair colour (clearly the result of her mother's poor pedigree). Nothing good ever came out of Christmas. Not until Cordelia.

But now as the smell of freshly baked cinnamon cookies mingled with the smoke of the fire and the hint of pine from the as yet undressed Christmas tree Wilhemina allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, this year would be different. Maybe this year would be worth celebrating.

As if the universe meant to reassure her, to quietly whisper "Yes, it's ok. You can trust this" in that very moment Cordelia turned to face her, warm contentment giving way to outright joy as she recognised Wilhemina.

"So what do you think?" Cordelia queried as she dusted herself off and crossed the room to join her girlfriend.

"Beautiful" Wilhemina whispered reverently, pushing a stray strand of hair from her girlfriend's face as she gently leaned in to the proffered kiss.

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't go that far honey, I've barely started."

"I was talking about you" 

Cordelia could feel the blush dance across her cheeks, unable to stop herself from biting her lip and ducking her head. "When did you become such a sweet talker?" She quipped.

"Since I started spending so much time with you" Wilhemina whispered.

For a moment they just stood there, savouring a rare moment of peace in a house bustling with dozens of young witches. Cordelia allowed her head to drop to Wilhemina's shoulder as her arm rested gently around her girlfriend's waist, always wary of unintentionally hurting her.

"Would you like to help me decorate the tree honey?" Cordelia ventured, knowing that Christmas was a potentially fraught subject with Wilhemina.

"I wouldn't know where to start" Wilhemina whispered, "I've never decorated a tree before."

"I hadn't either until I came here" Cordelia offered. "My mother wasn't ever really one for Christmas, or any other annual event that marked the passage of time, if she was even in the country. I spent my first Christmas here just Myrtle and I, all the other girls had family to go back to. I remember her teaching me how to properly space out all the ornaments for maximum effect. I may not have appreciated her taste in ornaments, but I treasured that day."

Cordelia slowly made her way back across the room towards a large box of ornaments placed beneath the tree. After a few moments rumaging she produced a round object carefully wrapped in tissue paper. As she unwrapped it a Christmas bauble adorned in all colours of jewels and crystals appeared, glistening in the firelight. "This was one of her favorites" Cordelia murmured, "I always hated it but now it lets me feel like she is still here for Christmas, at least in some small way."

"She would be so proud of you" Wilhemina murmured, moving to join her girlfriend in front of the tree. "I know I am"

"I'd like to think so" Cordelia offered a somewhat watery smile. "Would you like to help me put it up?"

Wilhemina was noticeably hesitant but the warmth in Cordelia's gaze gave her confidence, reaching out to cup her girlfriend's hands in her own. "Together?" she ventured. 

Cordelia met her eyes and smiled. "Always my love"

[rebelminxy]

Eight Kisses Under the Mistletoe

Pairing: Sam Winchester x Reader

Word Count: 5632

Warning: Fluff and so much more fluffing fluff

Trope: Under the Mistletoe

Rating: Teen

A/N: Pictures are not mine, they were found on Pinterest and Google. Credit goes to the original creators. This was written for @supernaturaltropecelebration​ Christmas Mini Bang. Hope you enjoy it!

My Masterlist

You groaned out in frustration as you looked at the prices on the Christmas decorations you wanted to order. You hit the desk you were currently sitting at in the bunker library in slight annoyance.

“When did Christmas become so expensive?” you groaned out.

“Why are you even shopping for Christmas?” Dean asked from across the room. “We’ve never decorated before, and it's the day after tomorrow."

“Because you guys didn’t have me around,” you stated with a smirk as you got out your chair. “I’ve always made it a thing to at least get a small tree and some snacks to celebrate.”

“Why don’t you just do that?” 

“Because, before this year, I was living out of my car and motels. Now that I am in a cozy place, I am going to go all out for the holidays. But, with all the cases we've had, Christmas snuck up on me and now everything is either sold out or the prices are jacked up."

“Didn’t you celebrate when you were a kid?” Dean asked as he looked up from his laptop.

“I grew up in the system and sadly I lived in foster homes that didn’t make a big deal about Christmas. Just the regular gifts we got from donations and whatever school did."

At your statement, Dean got up from his chair, putting his laptop to the side, and without a word, went towards the hallway. You stood there confused, wondering what was with the sudden jump from him. You looked down at your laptop and checked everything that was on the list, wondering what you could remove to make it cheaper. That moment, Dean walked back into the library with a jacket on, throwing yours at you. 

“Ok, kiddo, let's go and buy everything before Sam gets back.”

“But...I thought…” you stuttered.

“Every kid should have celebrated Christmas at least once in their lives. Plus, Sam will enjoy the whole thing since we've never made a big deal outta it before. It'll be nice to see you two celebrating properly for once."

You smiled widely at Dean and quickly put your jacket on, following him up the stairs and out the bunker.

“You sure we got enough food?” Dean asked as he came into the kitchen with more shopping bags from the car.

“Oh, yeah, we have more than enough! With the turkey and ham, I have cooking, the side dishes AND the dishes Donna and Jody promised to bring, we have enough for everyone to take home a plate and keep us eating for three days at least.”

“Great!” Dean exclaimed as he looked at you. “What about dessert? You can’t have dinner without dessert.”

“Already baked four pies early this morning, two gallons of metropolitan ice cream are in the freezer and baking cake number two in oven number three.”

Dean walked over to the ovens, licking his lips as he opened each door to see everything baking. When he opened the fourth oven door, his eyes went wide to see an apple pie sitting there.

“I thought you said four pies?”

“That one is for you,” you began, laughing as Dean grabbed it and ran out of the kitchen. “BUT DON’T GET FULL! DINNER WILL BE READY IN THREE HOURS AND EVERYONE WILL BE HERE IN FOUR!”

As Dean ran back into the kitchen, Sam came in right behind him, the look of confusion on his face as he examined the decor all around. Dean came to stand by you, pie and fork in hand, pointing up to the mistletoe you didn’t realize that was above you. He gave you a wide smile and kissed your cheek, thanking you afterward as he made his way back out of the kitchen. 

“Merry Christmas, Sam,” you greeted him with a wide smile.

“How...when…” he stuttered as he walked over to stand next to you.

“Day before yesterday, Dean and I went to every store we could and grabbed everything we could when it came to the decorations. We worked on decorating every room in the bunker, minus the ones we don’t really use. Don't worry, we left your room alone."

“And cooking?” Sam asked curiously.

“Well, we were talking during the decorating fun and thought it would be nice to celebrate like a real family. So we decided on dinner. Went out last night to buy as much food as possible and Dean went earlier to get drinks and other extra things.”

“Wow, I’m surprised you convinced him to do all this.”

“It wasn’t much really, just glad he is enjoying it.”

“Yeah,” Sam whispered with a soft smile. “So, who is coming for dinner?”

“Not many. Mary and Bobby are on their way from a hunt, Jody and Donna will be here with the trio and they are coming with more food. Cass should be back any minute with Jack with the Santa hats I asked them to go buy, and I think that’s about it.”

“Not many,” Sam commented as he leaned closer against the kitchen counter.

“Well, the important thing is to celebrate with those we love, right?” you said with a slight blush as you looked at Sam.

“True,” he nodded, smiling. “Well, I am going to shower and get dressed for tonight’s event. Let me know if you need any help.”

As Sam turned to head out the kitchen, you called him back over, watching as he walked back over to stand near you. You quietly pointed up at the mistletoe, causing him to chuckle when he noticed it. He leaned forward and placed a kiss right on your forehead, his lips touching your heated skin. He kissed you longer than necessary, but you honestly couldn’t complain. Once he leaned away, he pushed a lock of your hair behind your ear. He smiled at you and turned to walk back out, leaving you a bundle of nerves against the kitchen counter.

You had an hour left to get ready before everyone would start arriving. Cass and Jack were already there, hanging out in the library with Dean and Sam. You walked over to the library to join them, flinging yourself into a chair next to Sam, letting out a sigh of relief.

“Ham should be done when everyone gets here, but everything else is ready and set.”

“Wait, you really set everything up?” Dean asked with worry. “I told you earlier to call us to help you.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. You guys got the tables set up, all I had to do was put the food out. Turkey stays in the oven to keep it warm, so no touching mister,” you pointed at Dean.

“This will be my first Christmas,” Jack said happily. “Cass, Sam and Dean were just explaining to me where Christmas came from and what people normally do for traditions.”

“Cool! It’s my first big Christmas too. Normally was alone this time of year. But hey, at least I got you guys to celebrate with. And this won’t be the only year we do this! Once the sales go up on decorations I am buying more things for next year.”

“It’s nice to see the bunker-like this, feels even more like home now,” Dean added. “And what is that smell? It kinda smells like Christmas now.”

“It’s scented candles I placed around. To give it that homely feel,” you replied. “I have a cinnamon one in the kitchen, a few small gingerbread ones throughout the hallway and in here, I have a pine-scented one, since the tree is plastic.”

“Smells great,” Dean sighed.

The room went silent as you all enjoyed the relaxing, warm feeling in the library. After a few minutes, you got up from your chair and was about to excuse yourself, when Jack came up to you and suddenly kissed your cheek. It took you by surprise until he pointed above you.

“Cass and Dean said that when you see someone under the mistletoe, you have to give them a kiss.”

“Oh, didn’t see that bugger there,” you giggled in response.

“Sam, you have to give her a kiss since you are also under the mistletoe,” Jack said nonchalantly as he moved back to sit next to Cass.

Sam looked up at you with a shy smile. You shrugged your shoulders and leaned down to give Sam a peck on the cheek. When you started to lean back, Sam turned his head to kiss your cheek, only a few inches away from your lips. You leaned back, sucking your lips in as you fought the urge to sigh. You quietly excused yourself and went to your room to get what you needed to shower and get dressed. 

By the time you were done getting dressed, everyone had arrived. You thought you were late when you heard the noise of folks, but when you looked at your wristwatch, you realized they were just early. You made your way to the library to see everyone standing there, locked in conversations. It was Claire who noticed you, running towards you to give you a tight hug. Jody’s whistle was what made everyone turn to see you.

You decided to get dressed up for dinner, the first time in a very long time. You wore a simple red long sleeve turtleneck and a knee-length white tulle skirt with a big red bow tied around your waist. You wore red peep-toe heels with big red bows on them, your toenails painted red after the quick pedicure you gave yourself. You finally put the flat iron Donna had given you for your birthday to use, letting your hair flow free, Santa hat pinned to the top of your head. Your ears were adorned with small, silver hoops, your only piece of jewelry. Your makeup was simple, eyeliner with a tint of blush and rosy red lips to finish the entire look. 

You became really shy as everyone stared at you with wide eyes and big smiles.

“Told you you would look great in it,” Dean declared as he walked over to you.

He grabbed your hand and twirled you, causing you to giggle. When you both had seen the outfit, Dean insisted that you get it, you arguing it would be too much for dinner. But you were thankful he convinced you otherwise because Sam kept looking you up and down. Everyone else came by and admired your outfit, thanking you for the invite for dinner. Once you greeted everyone, you let them know that dinner was ready and told them to head over to the kitchen, letting Dean know to take the ham and turkey out of the oven. Once everyone cleared out the library, you realized the Christmas playlist you had set up wasn’t playing.

When you turned to go back into the library though, you bumped into Sam’s chest. Because you weren’t used to heels, you felt your body bounce off him and fall back. With your eyes closed, you expected to fall to the floor, instead, you felt strong arms wrap around your waist. 

“You ok, (Y/N)?”

You finally opened your eyes to see Sam’s face inches from yours, his body pressed against yours as he held you. You then realized that he caught you mid-fall and your hands somehow ended up gripping his shoulders. You gasped in shock and quickly nodded your head, sam finally standing straight, helping you to do the same. You got a hold of your balance and quickly removed your hands from him, straightening out your skirt in a moment of nerves.

“Thank you for the save,” you muttered nervously as you cleared your throat. 

“It’s my fault for scaring you,” he replied softly.

“No, it’s my fault for listening to your brother and buying heels. Should have gone with a pair of flats.”

“True, but you really do look beautiful tonight,” Sam replied. “Not like you never look beautiful, I mean,” he began to stutter, causing you to laugh.

“Thank you, Sam means a lot to come from you.”

Sam smiled down at you, a hint of red along his cheeks when he looked up at the doorway. He chuckled and pointed above your head, the small piece of mistletoe hanging right there.

“I knew I shouldn’t have let Dean put the mistletoe up,” you whispered under your breath, blushing furiously. 

“Well, he does get carried away sometimes. Let’s just hope he saved some for himself for when he goes to the bar later tonight.”

You both laughed at his statement, the laughter dying down as you heard Dean calling out for you.

“Well, I better get the music going and head to the kitchen,” you began.

“I can put the music on, you can head to the kitchen,” he insisted. “But before you leave…”

Sam placed a hand under your chin and lifted your face to look up at him. He looked you right in the eyes, his hazel ones shining brightly as he stared into your (Y/E/C) ones. He tilted your face to the side and placed a soft kiss against your cheek, opposite of the one he had kissed earlier. His lips lingered against your skin, causing you to feel a warmth rise from your body. Once he pulled away, he grabbed your nose between his fingers and gently shook your face, teasing you.

“Go ahead, will catch up with you soon,” he said before turning to go put the music on.

Dinner was delicious! Everyone loved the food you cooked, and each person told Sam and Dean how lucky they were to have such a great cook living with them. Donna and Jody’s food was delicious as well. Donna even brought some veal for everyone to try and it was delicious. Of course, Dean went for seconds, but you stopped him when he tried to get a third plate, reminding him of dessert in a few. Everyone was stuffed and relaxing in the library after Dean and Sam picked up the empty paper plates. 

You were leaning against the big door frame from the library to the war room when Sam came over with a glass of water. He handed it to you and you took it graciously. As you sipped on your water, you both watched as everyone interacted with each other. Smiles and laughter echoed in the bunker, the twinkle in everyone’s eyes shined brightly filled with love. Seeing happiness before you, you couldn’t help the swelling in your heart. After years of not knowing what happened to your family, years of being alone, you had finally found your family, your home. 

“What’s with the big smile? Thinking about something happy?” Sam asked with a whisper as he leaned in close.

“Just thinking about the day I met you guys and how grateful I am of you welcoming into your lives. Don’t know where I would be this year if I hadn’t decided to join you Winchesters. Hell, if it weren’t for you being so insistent.”

“I think you were highly convinced after my argument in the motel.”

“You made it seem like I had no choice, Samuel,” you teased at him.

“Wasn’t I right though? We do make a good team, (Y/N), and we all get along. There was no need for you to be alone anymore. We knew the moment we met you, you had to join our little family.”

“And a family I found with you two.”

Sam leaned closer, his head inches from yours.

“Seriously, I’m glad you chose to stay with us. Things have changed for the better with you here.”

That’s when Sam leaned in and gave you a kiss on the top of your head. You pulled away surprised by the action when you saw him look up. Again, right above you was a bit of mistletoe. You rolled your eyes, causing Sam to laugh as he walked away to talk to his mother. You couldn’t help but internally thank Dean for going crazy with the mistletoe since this was the fourth kiss he had given you throughout the night.

By this point of the night, you had a feeling Dean had planned exactly where to put the mistletoe because kiss number five was right on the stairwell after you all took a family picture as a reminder of the night. And it was above the EXACT stair you would sit on whenever you needed quiet time to think. And Dean even made sure you were standing there with Sam right beside you. Unfortunately, Jack pointed the mistletoe out and right when Dean pressed the button for the camera to take the picture, Sam leaned in and kissed the side of your head, your shocked face forever printed on the picture. You begged Dean to take another, but he just laughed and walked away with the camera, hiding it from you.

It was about ten at night when you began to serve the desserts and coffee, Jack and Sam thankfully had cleared the tables in the kitchen so you could put them out. As you were cutting the second cake, Jody came by and gave you a hug.

“Thanks for planning all this last minute, (Y/N). Donna and I weren’t sure about doing this ourselves with everyone always being on a case.”

“Yeah, Sam just got in earlier today from a quick salt and burn,” you replied.

“Yeah, about Sam…” Jody teased.

“Nothing is going on,” you giggled.

“Well, if you ask Dean after that picture, he can’t help but brag about how set up you are right now.”

“I knew he was planning something the moment he said he would handle putting up the mistletoe.”

“Well, at least you aren’t the only one getting caught under them!”

“Yeah, but each time, Sam is near me and honestly, I don’t mind it,” you whispered with a tease.

“I mean, the kid isn’t arguing. Dean said it seems he is more than willing.”

“It’s only because of the coincidence, Jody.”

“Hmm, I beg to differ,” Jody emphasized. “Dean did tell us that the main reason you joined them was after your conversation with Sam.”

“Sam just made it clear. The three of us worked together for so many months, always calling each other up for a hunt. He just pointed out how easy our meetups would be if I just moved in. I mean, we all get along well, we trust each other and I am a mean cook.”

“Yeah,” Jody replied with a chortle. “Can’t argue there.”

“Plus, Dean sees me like a little sister. He always tries to spoil me whenever I tell him about my time growing up in the system. Like, all this was just because I told him that in my foster homes never made a big deal about Christmas. When we arrived at the first store, he filled the cart up with so many decorations, I had to put a few things away!”

“Yeah, he told us about that. Said he wanted you and Sam to experience a true Christmas with family.”

“And that is exactly what we have tonight.”

“But, I can’t help but point out, Sam doesn’t really treat you like Dean does. I know you confided in me about how much you like Sam and that you don’t want to ruin the dynamic between the three of you with romantic feelings,” Jody spoke with a serious tone. “But, my advice to you, don’t hide them anymore. If you ever feel like there might be a sign of affection from him, take that chance.”

“Thanks, Jody,” you murmured with a bright smile. “This is why I trust you so much,” you added as you pulled her into a tight hug.

“Always here for my girls, ain’t I,” she gushed.

“Alright, enough emotional stuff for now. I need to finish preparing this so everyone can get their desserts.”

Once everyone had their fill of sweets and coffee, you went back into the kitchen to clean up. You left everyone stuffed and sitting in a somewhat circle, sharing hunting stories. You were reaching the kitchen, musing on what dessert to pack up for everyone’s to-go platter when you saw Sam serving himself another slice of the fruitcake you had made. You couldn’t help but notice how all the desserts were on the kitchen counter and the tables were put away, the table cloths folded and placed on the table you usually used to eat.

“Looks like someone isn’t full yet.”

Sam turned and gave you a shy smile.

“Too delicious to not want another bite,” he replied with a guilty look on his face.

“Well, I figured you would enjoy it,” you stated with a grin as you walked over to the fridge. Once you opened the door, you pointed at an untouched fruitcake sitting there next to an apple pie. “So, made an extra one for you.”

“You didn’t have to, (Y/N),” Sam insisted.

“Now, when have you known me to only spoil Dean when it comes to food?” you joked placing your hands on your hips.

“Can’t fight you there,” Sam chuckled.

You walked over to the kitchen counter and examined everything.

“Figured you would need the help to move them over since you did pack and put everything away earlier without any help.”

“Well, thank you for your help. But I don’t mind doing all this, really. Just makes me happy to see everyone enjoying everything.”

Sam moved to stand next to you, a piece of fruitcake in hand.

“You are amazing, did you know that, (Y/N)?”

“Amazingly fun,” you joked as you poked his shoulder.

Sam laughed at your tease, placing the fruitcake down on an empty spot on the counter.

“Seriously, though. Not only tonight, every day you make magic. Ever since Dean and I moved in here, it never really felt like home until you came. You warmed up the place, adding a bit of a homely feel with your decorating.”

“Well, we can’t be living in a place that looks more like an old library. And those comforters you guys had looked more like jail beds comforters. You really needed the color,” you teased. 

“Just know,” Sam laughed as he continued. “We really appreciate you being here. Your company has been the best and honestly, I don’t think tonight would have happened if it weren’t for you.”

“Why thank you very much for the compliment Sam Winchester!” you exclaimed with a grin.

Sam nodded his head and grabbed his fruitcake, about to make his way out of the kitchen. That’s when you noticed the mistletoe hanging on the doorframe of the kitchen entrance. You felt a bit of nerve once the thought crossed your mind, but figured this was your only chance to see exactly how Sam might feel. You walked up behind him and right when he walked under the mistletoe, you grabbed him by the shoulder and with all your might, you made him turn to face you.

The next few seconds went by in a flash. You stood up on your tiptoes and leaned forward, placing a kiss on the corner of his mouth. You made it a quick peck, closing your eyes as you did it. Once you were back flat on your feet, you looked up at him. You grinned as you saw his face turned red, his free hand touching the exact spot you kissed him.

“Mistletoe,” you whispered as you pointed right above his head.

He looked up and then back down at you. Without a word, Sam walked right back into the kitchen, leaving his fruitcake in the fridge. As he walked right back to you, he looked down at you, his face serious.

“Go get your jacket and meet me outside by the small pond.”

Before you could say another word, Sam walked out of the kitchen and towards his room. You were slightly confused, wondering why he wanted to go outside this late. But you obediently went to your room to get your fluffy jacket. As you walked towards the garage to head outside, you saw Dean come out of Sam’s room, closing the door behind him. He gave you a huge grin and wiggled his eyebrows at you. Without another word, he walked off towards the library.

You sat on the snow-covered metal bench Dean had forged when he and Sam dug out the hole for the now frozen man-made pond. You had found this small clearing during your fourth week at the bunker, telling Sam how perfect of a spot it was for a pond and a bench to sit at. The following week, the brothers got to work, finishing it quickly. After then, you and Sam enjoyed many silent readings under the sun at that spot. You sat there waiting when you saw the silhouette of someone head your way. You grabbed the handle of the knife in your pocket, ready to defend yourself in case it wasn’t Sam. But thankfully it was him, and laughably, he stood there in the moonlight with a gun slightly raised. Once he saw you, he shrugged and put his gun away.

“Can never be too careful,” he pointed out as he made his way towards you.

“I agree,” you replied as you showed him your knife, hiding it away in your pocket.

“Isn’t that the knife..” he began.

“The one I accidentally stabbed you in the leg with when I thought you were a vampire?”

“Yeah, the very first hunt we saw each other.”

“The exact one. Can’t lose the chance to clone a Winchester,” you winked back.

Sam burst out laughing, grabbing his stomach in reaction. You laughed along with him, enjoying his laughter. You loved watching him laugh, how his whole body went into the action. There was one thing you could always admit to yourself, you loved watching Sam’s reactions. All night you were watching him from afar, how much he smiled and how happy he looked around those he loved. After a few minutes of silence, Sam spoke up.

“I was serious when I said you were the best thing to happen in our lives recently.”

“I know Sam, and I am grateful you convinced me to join your family. Dean is like the big brother I never wanted and…”

“Honestly, Dean and I have different perspectives when it comes to you.”

You fell silent at his words, not knowing what to say.

“Yeah, Dean loves you like a sister. He loves how you go along with his jokes and enjoy anime as much as he does. He loves that he is able to feel that sibling connection with you. And I know he and I are brothers, but he was also my father growing up, so we never really had that chance to just be siblings.”

Sam drew in a deep breath and releasing it, white fog coming from his lips.

“But, the way I see you, I mean, we can never have that sibling connection. And I don’t want that kind of connection.”

You turned your entire body to face him as he turned to look at you.

“It’s weird, but after all the chaos on that first hunt, when I really was able to look at you, something inside me sparked.”

“So, me, covered in guts and blood caused a spark inside you?” you asked teasingly.

“Well, I know it wasn’t the blood and guts,” he chuckled back. “But something had me drawn to you. Hunt after hunt, months of getting to know you, and I was falling deeper, that spark just burning brighter.”

Sam grabbed your hands with his, pulling them on top of his lap.

“The more I got to know you, the warmer my heart felt. Your smile lights up any room you walk into, the way you get super excited by the smallest things. Hell, you even do your best to make hunting fun!”

“I mean, it's not the easiest job,” you whispered.

“True, but you always make the best out of the situation. You are kind, humble, sweet and smart. You know how to be playful and serious when the time calls for it. You are a great fighter and strong hunter. You don’t let the darkness take you over, you control it.”

Sam slid closer, his eyes never leaving yours.

“You are a special woman, one of a kind, and I don’t ever want to lose you. I hope that you will allow me to stay by your side, not just as a friend, but as a man that loves you.”

You gasped at his words, eyes growing wide in shock at his confession.

“I know this is all sudden, but I hope you let me stay by your side and spoil you with love. To celebrate every holiday with, to one day have our own little family, maybe. We know the life we live can be cut short anytime, and I don’t want mine to end before I even had the chance to tell you how much I love you.”

You felt as tears began to prickle at the corner of your eyes, your mouth turning into a wide smile, your heart beating faster. 

“I love you, (Y/N) and I don’t want to miss another day without telling you.”

Sam then pulled out a small box from inside his jacket and handed it to you. You recognized the light blue box and white bow, never looking at the brand name to know he spent some good money on the jewelry. He insisted you open the box and inside was silver diamond victoria key pendant. 

“Sam, you didn’t have to,” you said as you looked up at him. 

“I wanted to,” he replied back as he turned over the key. 

On the back, there were initials etched into the metal. You felt your entire body flip internally as you realized that the initials were his and yours. You looked right back up to him, the tears breaking free.

“You have the key to my heart and I wanted you to know that every time you see this around your neck.”

Sam placed both hands on your cheeks, his eyes shining under the moonlight as he examined your face. You leaned in closer, knowing that what came next would be magical. He leaned in and placed a sweet kiss on your lips. You felt the rush of warmth surround your body, how you felt like you were on cloud nine.

Sam Winchester, the guy who convinced you to stay with him and his brother, the man you fell in love with, the man that haunts your dreams, was here kissing you. This was real, you knew by the way his delicious lips enraptured yours in the kiss. You knew this man was being honest, as his tongue slid against your lips, begging for entrance. You knew this wasn’t any wet dream of yours but the way his tongue finally wrapped with yours once you opened up to him. You knew, in your heart, that Sam Winchester was in love with you by the way he pulled you as close as humanly possible, lifting you up to sit in his lap. 

You kissed for so long, barely breaking apart for air. But once you did, he placed his forehead against yours, you both panting in the cold air. You smiled as you felt his hands wander down from your cheeks to your shoulders, down your arms, and to your own hands. He grabbed them and held them tight as if he were afraid you would be gone.

“So, (Y/N), (Y/L/N), would you give me the best Christmas present ever, and be my girlfriend?’

“Yes, Sam a million times yes,” you exclaimed, wrapping your arms around his neck as he wrapped his around your waist.

You both sat there for what felt like a long time, enjoying each other with kisses and touches. Your hands ached to feel him, his lips barely leaving your exposed skin alone. When you did feel a shiver go down your spine from the chilly weather, Sam stood you up from his lap and guided you back to the bunker, arms wrapped around you to keep you close and warm. Once you were inside the bunker, he took out the box and pulled the necklace from its spot, unclasping it. You lifted your hair up so he could put the necklace on your neck, satisfied when you felt the silver chain drop onto your skin the moment he clasped it.

He grabbed your hand and guided you back to the library never letting you leave his side. Everyone was still there when the clock struck midnight. You both stood at the entrance as Sam cleared his throat. When everyone looked over and saw your clasped hands, Dean was the first to celebrate the good news.

“FINALLY you two get the nerve to make it happen! I was wondering how much longer you were going to be dancing around each other!” he exclaimed with a roar.

Everyone congratulated you both, hoping the best for your new relationship. That’s when Jack pointed above your heads.

“Mistletoe,” he said with a smile.

You both looked to see the mistletoe from earlier still there. Sam looked down at you with a smile as you did the same. He leaned in and gave you a knee-jerking kiss, his arms wrapping around your waist to hold you tightly against him. Once he broke the kiss, he looked into your eyes and whispered.

“Merry Christmas, (Y/N) and I love you.” 

[ainsleymorgan]

『MARILYN LIMA ❙ DEMIGIRL』 ⟿ looks like AINSLEY MORGAN is here for HER SOPHOMORE year as a COMPUTER SCIENCE student. SHE is 20 years old & known to be ORGANIZED, BENEVOLENT, INDECISIVE & OBSTINATE. They’re living in NOLAND, so if you’re there, watch out for them. ⬳ lexi. 23. pst. she/hers. 

we’re back at it again folks! this gal has been bopping around my head for a good long while now - i apologize if this is an incoherent mess. give this a little like and i’ll slide into ur dm’s to plot smth ok ily

stats

— background. (death tw, grief tw, cancer tw)

The Morgans have a long, complicated history. Margaret and Callum meet near the end of college (she’s studying English, he lives in town) and fall rapidly in love. The only problem? Margaret’s engaged to her high school sweetheart. When Margaret ends up pregnant, she pretends like it’s her fiancee’s and has a shotgun wedding. Callum goes off to join the army and pretend like his heart wasn’t just shattered in two.

Years pass - Margaret gets her PhD in English and has another kid (this time with her actual husband). Callum leaves the army, gets married too (and widowed a few years later), has some kids of his own. But then they run into each other at a bar in a city far away from the last one they were in together, and it’s like nothing ever changed.

The two get married almost immediately after the divorce papers are signed, and have two more kids almost immediately after that. Margaret becomes an English professor, and Callum’s content with taking care of the gaggle of children their blended family has produced. 

Five years after the last set of kids, Ainsley and her brother Tristan are born. They’re just as unplanned as their eldest sister was, but no less loved. 

They quickly become the apple of the entire family’s eye, doted upon by their army of older siblings. The twins are late to walking, so they get taken to the pediatrician, who says that they’re so used to being carried everywhere by their family that they haven’t felt the need to walk yet. They’re set down more often, and quickly catch up to be able to run after their brothers and sisters.

Ainsley and Tristan are attached at the hip. Despite the attention from the rest of their family, the two maintain that specific bond only twins can. They make up a language that only they can understand, and throw tantrums whenever they’re out of eyesight of each other. 

They’re happy kids, bright and bubbly. And loud. The house is always filled with screams and laughter. It’s an idealistic life, a perfect family.

DEATH TW // There’s an accident when the twins are nearly five. Nobody knows what happened - they swear they were watching the kids splashing in the lake - but suddenly, Tristan’s gone. His body is found in the water later that day. // END TW

GRIEF TW // Ainsley’s too young to understand what’s going on when they bury him. She gets quiet and shy, a once bubbly little girl drawing in on herself. All she knows is that her best friend is gone, and now there’s nobody to actually talk to.

They move soon after, to a town called Lovell, when Margaret gets a job at the local university. It’s something the family needs, after Tristan, and they hope that the change will help Ainsley open back up again.

She doesn’t, not for a while. She’s thrust into kindergarten, in a new town without her twin there to keep her grounded. Her teachers worry about her social skills - she seems to prefer painting or doodling to playing on the playground with her classmates. But slowly, surely, she starts opening up again as Lovell becomes home. // END TW

The Morgans decide that they like Lovell, and that they’re going to stay. They buy a nice house in a quiet neighborhood, with big trees for the kids to climb on. Ainsley breaks her leg falling out of one when she’s seven (she still has the scar on her knee from where a branch snagged). 

As the kids get older and start moving out of the house, Callum decides he needs a project. He’s always loved cooking and restaurants. So he decides to buy one. Calls it the Main Street Diner (not very creative, but it tells you right where it is!), and starts really integrating himself into the Lovell community.

Ainsley spends nearly every afternoon there, sitting at the corner of the counter after school. Her siblings are old enough to babysit, but they’ve hit their moody teenage phase, and Ainsley wants nothing to do with it. Her mom’s either teaching or grading papers or reading, and that’s boring to a nine-year-old. So diner it is.

She spends most of her time at the counter drawing or painting. Each one is proudly displayed on the wall, marking her progress over time. 

Sometimes she helps with little tasks, like sorting silverware or wiping down tables. Eventually, when she hits high school, she graduates to waiting tables to make some money of her own.

When it comes time to think about college, Ainsley decides she wants to go as far away from Lovell as possible. She knows everything and everyone in town - even some of the Radcliffe students who frequent the diner. Ainsley wants something new and interesting. 

She looks at schools in California, eventually gets accepted to UCLA. Ainsley packs her bags and flies across the country. She learns to miss the comforts of home, but enjoys the independence being on the other side of the continent gives her.

CANCER TW // Halfway through her first year at UCLA, Ainsley gets a call from her mom. Dad’s sick, she says. Cancer. 

Ainsley drops everything and moves back home. She takes a semester off of school to help take care of her dad while her mom continues teaching. He gets better, goes into remission, but there’s still the lingering fear that it’ll come back, that it’ll be worse, that she’ll lose him too. // CANCER TW

So she decides to transfer to Radcliffe. It’s local, in case anything happens, but she can still live in the dorms to keep some semblance of independence. And she gets to go for essentially free. She starts working at the diner again, to keep an eye on her dad, though she claims it’s just to make money. It’s a good set-up, for now.

— personality.

Ainsley is super artistic. Literally constantly drawing or writing or doing something creative. There’s usually paint somewhere on her clothes, regardless of how new the clothing is.

Also has this Thing against making her hobby her career, which is why she’s a computer sciences major rather than an arts major. She grew up watching her mom and dad turn their passions into their jobs, which seemed stressful and like it took some of the fun out of it. So she said no thanks.

She still really enjoys computers and coding - mainly web design. Hopes to become a full-time web designer after college, while throwing in some of the graphic design portions of web designing to sprinkle some of the artsy aspects of her personality.

Despite being a computer sciences major and pretty good with technology, she definitely prefers going analog in most of her life. Writes everything down rather than typing it into her phone or laptop, and goes through a million journals (also owns a million more blank ones).

This bitch definitely bullet journals.

Is a fairly organized person, but her room? An absolute mess. Ainsley says it’s an aesthetic mess (it’s not).

The only part she takes care of is the collection of plants on her windowsill. One of her notebooks is dedicated to their care schedule, and notes on how they’re doing.

Her bag is basically Mary Poppins’ tote, but make it a beat-up Fjallraven she bought during a 50% off sale three years ago. Has literally anything you could ever need in it. Paper, pens, snacks, water, first aid kit, you name it. Need some superglue or a needle and thread? Ask Ainsley.

Is simultaneously super indecisive and super stubborn. Will take a thousand years to decide on something, but once she’s picked it, she’s stuck on it. 

Will die on any hill she feels remotely attached to.

That being said, she’s not a super aggressive person. Is actually pretty calm, still quieter than she was before Tristan. The human equivalent of a warm blanket.

Also super gay. So so gay. 

(But she’s never been with a girl bc she’s got issues w feeling worthy of romantic attention!! Or any attention!!)

This bitch needs to go to therapy.

— wanted connections.

aka the part im so bad at

Where my Lovell locals at?

Friends - pls give this cinnamon roll ppl to fawn over she loves her friends !!

Enemies - idk if she’d think of them as an enemy but let ppl be mean to her so she can be kind of mean back

Crushes - either on her or ppl for her to crush on !! she will pine until the day she dies !!

idk what else im bad at this just love me and love Ainsley

[mollyraesly]

Time with Wolves -- Chapter 18

Just as Thanksgiving had been overshadowed by Robb and questions about his possibly expecting new girlfriend, Christmas was dominated by Robb and his definitely expecting fiancée. Although they still had guests over, it was a rushed affair with more focus on what was to come in the next two weeks than on the day itself. Normally Catelyn spent a generous amount of time shopping to get the best sales and make sure each of her children got two or three fancier items, with a smattering of smaller gifts they’d all come to expect—wall calendars, underwear, fuzzy socks, chapstick, new gloves, wolf-related paraphernalia.

But this year, those little items were nowhere to be found. Instead, they’d gotten mostly gift cards and items they’d need for the wedding, like bowties, emergency first-aid kits, and Advil.

“I’m sorry,” Cat told them Christmas morning after they’d finished opening their presents. “I know this isn’t exactly following tradition.”

“It’s fine, Mum,” Sansa assured her. “We know this year is a bit…unusual.”

“That’s one way to put it,” Arya noted dryly. “I’d say—”

“Arya,” said Sansa, sensing the need to deescalate the situation, “why don’t you help me go get everyone some eggnog?”

Ned gave her a grateful look and then went back to trying to comfort Cat.

When they were in the safety of the kitchen, Arya heaved a sigh. “I hope Robb knows he owes us a Christmas after fucking up this one for us.”

Their elder brother was over at the Westerlings house, having stayed the night with the future in-laws. He was bringing Jane over later in the afternoon to eat with the Starks. Sansa wasn’t sure if it wouldn’t have been wiser to stay away.

She caught Arya eyeing the kitchen knives.

“C’mon, let’s get breakfast ready. The snow outside looks perfect for making snowballs. You and Rickon can challenge Bran to a fight while I help Mom with dinner. Maybe see if Dad wants in.”

Arya dragged her gaze away from the knives. “All right then.” Since her mom was busy helping Mrs. Westerling with wedding preparation—or complaining about being left out—Sansa had taken up a lot of the slack. The first few days, it had been nice to focus on something tactile after her exams. They weren’t her hardest batch of tests, but her Equal Protection Law professor decided last minute he wouldn’t let them bring in their case briefs and they had to do everything from memory—and Prof. Lannister forced her to rewrite one of her papers because she didn’t like the topic Sansa had chosen, namely the importance of portrayals of more traditionally feminine characters in positions of strength in prestige television shows. And all that extra work had made Sansa last couple of weeks of the semester exhausting. But this wedding prep was exhausting in a different way. Almost every conversation she had was about the wedding, and it was frankly getting on her nerves. Sansa normally enjoyed wedding talk and organizing; she had a whole scrapbook to prove it. But everything was so rushed, and the logistics were so complicated that the whole thing just felt stressful, not fun. But there was no way to avoid it—as the entire Stark clan was involved and working their damndest to make this wedding happen. Sansa knew she was starting to tire her friends with discussion of it, and she’d even started to dream about catering menus and napkin colors. “It sounds like you could use a break,” said Gilly sympathetically over the phone after Sansa ranted about the wedding preparations to her for over thirty minutes. The wedding was only five days away now, and she was so ready for it to be over. “Or a lobotomy,” Sansa muttered. Gilly chuckled awkwardly. “Sorry, I’m being a total grouch. You’ve been so lovely to listen to me complain. We’ve barely spoken about you. Oh Gilly, I miss you and the girls.” “I miss you too. Sansa. I wish I were there to watch movies and eat lemon cakes with you, but I’ve got to help my sisters with the farm. Speaking of which, I’ve got to get going. But call me again, if you ever need to let off some steam. You know Brienne, Meera, and I have got your back. Keep your head up, Stark, and remember—it’s up to you to decide how you treat others.” “Thanks, Gilly. You always know what to say. Tell your sisters I say, ‘Happy New Year.’ Love you!” “Love you too!” Sansa took Gilly’s advice and left the house to clear her head and visit Ghost. His exuberance upon seeing her again was more than enough to help her sour mood. And she felt calmer by the minute as she brushed out his long coat with Ghost’s face in her lap. “You are my favorite boy in the whole world, Ghost,” she told him. “And I’ll never not love you.”

As she was getting ready to leave the sanctuary of Ghost’s pen behind, Sansa ran into Mr. Mormont. “Back for another visit, eh?”

“You know I can’t bear to be away from him for long.”

Mr. Mormont shook his head. “Never met a more spoiled beast in my life.”

Sansa just waved her hand.

“Thank you, though, Miss Sansa, for the new hat and scarf,” he said, gesturing to the items she’d scrambled to finish knitting on time for Christmas. “I’ll see you at the wedding in a few days.”

Sansa sighed. “That’s right. The event of the season.”

“I’ll expect a dance.”

That made her smile. “You got it.” When she got home from the reservation, Arya kept her company while she started on dinner. It was just them and Rickon, as her parents and Robb were eating with the Westerlings and Bran was hanging out with Hodor. It was not the most exciting as far as New Year’s Eves went, but she was fine with a drama-free evening. Gendry would be coming over later once he was done with work, and she was hoping to fall asleep on the couch before the ball even dropped.

“What should we eat?” Sansa studied the refrigerator with a frown. She was tired of leftovers of savory dishes. She spotted the maple syrup. “How would you feel about breakfast for dinner?” “I feel very good about that.” “Done.” Arya shuffled around as Sansa pulled out what she needed for French toast. “So when is Dickon getting in?” “Tomorrow at 3. I’m going to pick him up at the train station, and he’s going to be staying in Rickon’s room.” “Gross.” Sansa sighed. “I know. Bran offered his, but he needs the extra mobility and access. Rickon’s room will have to do.” “I’ll help you clean it tonight. I know where Rickon hides all his bugs.” Sansa groaned.  “I’m looking forward to getting to know him better.” “Yeah? I’m glad. It’s such a shame he hasn’t had much of a chance to meet everyone before. I kind of feel like I’m throwing him to the wolves.” Arya laughed. “Gendry will be around for him to talk to, and luckily Robb will be too busy to do anything stupid to scare him off.” Sansa stopped beating the eggs in front of her. She could still remember that night when Robb upended what was supposed to be her first date with Jon; things were never the same after their conversation in the car. She hadn’t thought much about that night—had purposefully tried to push it from her mind till she got so good at pretending it had never happened. But thinking about it now made her realize how angry she still felt, how unresolved her feelings were about Robb’s interference and Jon’s abandonment.

With a flash, she could still remember the feeling, almost like being kicked in the stomach, when Robb had suggested Jon would never actually want to hang out with her had it not been for Ghost and the way Jon had avoided her eye and refused to stand up for her.

Gods, that had hurt.

She wasn’t a pining, lovesick teenager anymore—by any means. But the memory of that pain still ached.

She realized then, whisk in hand, that she did want answers and that perhaps more closure would help her to put that chapter of her adolescence and her whole history with Jon to rest. How much she wanted to sew up that wound and let it heal so she could finally move on.

“Sans?” “What? Oh, sorry. Just got lost in thought.” “S’fine. I just said you’ll have to be careful with Rickon, too. Cause you know, Dickon’s name isn’t exactly...” Sansa rolled her eyes and stirred some cinnamon into her egg mixture. “I’ve known many dicks in my life, but Dickon Tarly is not one of them. He can handle a joke.” “Can he handle five thousand?” The next morning she met up with Margaery to get their nails done. Sansa chose pale pink for her fingernails and blood red for her toes; Margaery went with mauve and gold. As their nails were polished, they flipped through fashion magazines and discussed hair and makeup options for the wedding. “I’m thinking long, glossy curls for the hair and something more demur for the makeup.” “Just you.” “Well, the dress shows so much cleavage, I have to leave something to the imagination.” Sansa rolled her eyes. “Mmhm.” “And what about you?”

“Me? I can imagine your cleavage just fine.”

“Sansa Minisa Stark!” Margaery exclaimed. “You are terrible today. I love it.” Sansa rolled her eyes.

“What dress is worthy of such a person?”

“I honestly wouldn’t get your hopes up. I’m probably going to wear this purple dress I wore to a school dance a couple years ago.” It was a nice dress with long sleeves and a floor-length skirt that would keep her warm. And no one who’d be attending the wedding had seen her in it before. It wasn’t going to drop any jaws, but it was pretty enough. “You aren’t going to get something new?” “There hasn’t been much time.” “Darling, there’s always time for a new dress.” Conveniently, Marg didn’t have any afternoon plans so she went with Sansa to pick up Dickon from the train station. During the ride, they discussed Sansa’s law school applications—in all the excitement she’d barely even registered that she’d already gotten two acceptances via email—and Marg’s plans to take what she learned in business school to open up her own floral shop with her grandmother. “Just better you than me,” Sansa said when she heard the news.  “What? Gran is an absolute lamb.” “If you say so,” Sansa demurred. Margaery clapped her hands. “Enough shop talk. Tell me more about your beau. I saw pictures online. He looks like a complete dish.” Marg shoved a picture of a shirtless Dickon under her nose. “I’d positively pay to lick him clean.” Sansa turned a little pink. In the couple of weeks they’d been apart, she’d almost forgotten how handsome he truly was. “He is...occasionally very dishy.” “Oh, you absolute minx! I wish my date had shoulders like that.” “Who are you bringing again?” “Arianne Martell. I met her in one of my business classes. She’s very beautiful, and we’ve gone on a couple of dates, but it’s more casual. I only asked her—well, because I didn’t want to go alone. I didn’t think I could handle—well, you know, I always did have a crush on Robb...” Sansa knew, of course; her friend had never been shy about telling her all the inappropriate things she wanted to do to her older brother. But Margaery was a flirt; Sansa has always assumed she was joking, or at least exaggerating her crush on him. Now, though, Marg looked like she was fighting back tears. “Marg, I—" Her friend’s face transformed into a beaming smile. “Now, now, I think I see a pair of hulking shoulders at two o’clock. Run to him, won’t you, Sansa dear?” Sansa rolled her eyes but nevertheless did a sort of skipping run into his open arms. He was warm and smelled like roasted coffee and peppermint and held her close. “I’m so glad you’re here,” Sansa whispered into his neck.  “Me too.” “I missed you.” Dickon smiled and pulled away so he could see her face. “Yeah?” “Yeah.” “Can I kiss you—just real quick?” “Please.” Smiling, he leaned down to capture her lips—a little longer than he had said he would. “Happy New Year,” he whispered with his lips against her cheek and at her ear. He was still smiling, but his lips began to frown as he pulled away. “Your friend is watching us, I think.” “Oh, I’m sure she is.” “Should I be worried about what I’ve gotten myself into?” “About Margaery? She’s just the tip of the iceberg.” “She doesn’t look that dangerous to me.” Sansa give him a wry smile. “Even roses have thorns. And you’ve just entered the wolves’ den.” “Good thing I have you to protect me.” “Good thing.” “How are you—really?” Sansa sighed. “My big brother is getting married in a shotgun wedding to a girl I think he only met about three months ago, my parents are absolutely overwhelmed, and my younger siblings are barely keeping it together. I’m as good as can be expected under the circumstances. How are you?” She plastered on a smile, laced her gloved fingers through his, and led him away from the train. “Ready to meet Margaery?” He swallowed nervously. “I think you were right about her being dangerous. She looks like she’s going to eat me.” Margaery must have overheard him because she grinned beatifically and winked at him. “With a spoon, handsome.”

Sansa tried not to laugh at the strangled noise that emerged from Dickon’s throat, but it was too perfectly hilarious. “I’m really glad you’re here,” she told him again.

“Nowhere I’d rather be.”

[kmp78]

Christmas fest in Budapest 🇭🇺

Okay, first things first: 

sadly but not surprisingly the ripple effects from last year´s massacre in Berlin were clearly visible: the Budapest Christmas markets were surrounded by concrete blocks and ever-present police officers were packing not just tasers and hand guns, but also actual machine guns! 

I gotta say, it makes Christmas spirit a bit harder to come by when you have an Uzi in your line of sight at all times... 😔😨

But, it is what it is and all we can do is look forward to better times!  

If you are looking for a budget-friendly, extremely well-located, spotless AND FABULOUSLY NAMED hotel in Budapest, you need not look any further than...

Ehe. 😁

When I was surfing the net for accommodations and came upon this gem... Well, it was a done deal at that point!

The only thing that annoyed me were, shockingly, other tourists! I´m sorry all you Russians out there but I have to say it: learn some ferkin´ manners, Jesus Christ! Is Vladimir banning all citrus fruits from your country or was it just plain greed and nastiness that drove one of your countrymen to dip elbows deep into a bowl of lemons and shove them in his pockets?! Like... really? Couldn´t leave just one for my tea? Not that I would have wanted it anyway, what with his disgusting bare hands having groped them... Sick. 😠

Also the Brits sitting next to me were at their best (?) behavior and judged absolutely everything in sight. Apparently “this English breakfast isn´t proper English”.

Well... DUH! You ain´t in good ol´ Blighty now, guvnor! Suck it up! You can munch on your bangers and mash back home!

And fun fact: almost directly across from our hotel was... 😒

Mom´s comment when she saw these:

“Oh my, those pants are way too short! That looks so stupid! What kind of man would want to wear those?!”

I just wept in silence. She does not need to know. 🙊

MOVING ON!

Some local treats: the Hungarian KFC (shut up) offered something I had never seen nor tasted before called a “Qurrito box” which consists of a semi-Mexican style burrito thingie with chicken and rice and all that good stuff inside - it was really good! 😋

In some more non-fast foody selection, the markets had plenty of amazing and curious offerings!

An interesting observation about the Christmas markets in Budapest: they are very different from their counterparts in Berlin and Vienna etc. in the sense that here the stalls are very “down to earth” and not at all “mass production-like” as they tend to be in bigger cities. 

The goodies and crafts for sale were a lot more personal and homely, which I absolutely adored!

They utilize pine cones, dried fruits, vegetables, meats etc. in all imaginable ways with amazing results! 😍

If air travel wasn´t such a god damn hassle these days and bringing liquids on-board wasn´t a capitol offence, I so would have bought those pickled jalapeno/cabbage/paprika kitties! Look how cute, @ginie62! 😍

And yes, the markets were as picturesque as I had hoped for! 👌

Something that no decent Christmas market could ever be short on: BOOOOOOZE! ☕

To balance out all that drinking, you have to get some filler for your tummy as well, and when in Hungary you absolutely have to go for the most traditional Hungarian food of them all: goulash!

Really tasty and cheap! And on a chilly winter day, it also warms you up inside so win-win! 👌

If goulash does not tickle your fancy, you could try another local treat called lángos which is deep-fried dough topped with whatever you fancy, basically. Could be savory or sweet, anything goes!

I went for sour cream and grated cheese. YAS!

On another day I tried a lángos which was wrapped up in burrito-style, with salami, onions and cheese inside - yet another success story! 👏

And for dessert you have to sample another Hungarian delicacy: chimney cake!

It´s basically a wheat coffeebread which is first rolled around a mold and roasted over an open coal fireplace...

... and then while it´s steaming hot (aka steam rises from the center, making it look like a chimney!), it is rolled around in an assortment of flavoring options, such as cardamon, chocolate, cinnamon etc.

I went for the basic and traditional option aka cinnamon and sugar! Yumz! 👍

And for @kweenbeyass who might want to add Budapest to that bucket list: you´ll be happy to hear that they are extremely tourist-friendly over there! For example, on their main tram lines they have clearly marked all interesting sights along the way (in English) and indications where you have to get off! Very handy indeed! 😉

And any English language help you can get will be a plus, because the language is...

Yikes. 😨

And speaking of traveling: did you know that Budapest has the world´s 3rd oldest metro system? It dates back to 1896, and while it may not look like it belongs in the 21st century...

... I can assure you that it works like a charm! We never had to wait for more than 3 minutes for the next train! Sometimes I did almost wish we did have to wait around a bit longer because the stations were so adorably quaint!  😍

Another fun activity I always enjoy while abroad is lurking around the local grocery stores for all sorts of weirdness, and Budapest did not disappoint in that regard!

Gyros chips? Cheeseburger chips? Hotdog & ketchup chips? Pizza chips?

WHAT?

And this banana has got to be 11 and then some inches...

Ugh. 😵

The Market Hall is also worth checking out, if not for anything else then simply for the vibes of yesteryear. You can really sense the Soviet era still.

Fun fact: they had a random scale screwed to a wall which we could not figure out the purpose for, until we saw that people who had just purchased their potatoes and peas and whatnot marched over to that scale and measured what they had just bought aka they made sure the seller had not screwed them over with the weight of their produce! I guess not all people can be trusted...

And for any communist enthusiast, there were lots of trinkets on offer...

While in town, I discovered they had a Titanic exhibition which I naturally wanted to check out since Leo is my friend-in-law through six degrees of separation from Daddy-o and all.

They had built replicas of the cabins for the richies and the poor folks...

... and had actual items salvaged from the wreck itself! Whoa!

Budapest is also “littered” with fun and curious statues, like this little fella who I met alongside the Danube river.

This guy here had the best business idea! He juggles and entertains in front of cars who are waiting at the red light, and then before the light turns green he takes his hat off and does a quick round from car to car, collecting donations for the little show he put on! Genius! 👏

And while Bucharest may be the “official” residence of Count Dracula, Budapest also boasts some eerily majestic castles.

A nighttime activity you absolutely HAVE TO experience is a trek up to the Fisherman´s Bastion. Holy bejeebus, the views are... yes I will say it... INCREDIBLE. 👀

The Parliament House is also worth a closer look!  🤩

But please do be careful when trekking around after dark as the surrounding park is very poorly lit and there are dangerous steps and ledges all over - we had a near-catastrophic incident which luckily only resulted in a banged-up lip and bruised knees. 🙁

All in all, I can recommend Budapest as a vacay destination to anyone who is looking for a little taste of old time glory and ascetic vibes mixed with modern day comforts and conveniences! 👍

[yourholidaymom]

Your Holiday Mom: Sister Bethany

Hey honey! Take off your coat, its freezing out there! How have you been? Good? Not so good? Well if so just kick your feet up and remember to put one foot in front of the other. I myself have been better, but the holidays have always made it sparkle. During this season, my family and I always bake over a thousand sugar cookies. And decorate them all, give them to neighbors, friends, family. It was so fun last year; we had just moved into a house with the tiniest kitchen you have ever seen! Try making cookies in a one butt kitchen, it is very difficult. As I go off on a rant about baking our corgi jumps its tiny paws onto your leg smiling. The blue collar says ‘toast’ in glitter, jingling in her excitement. Putting your things down we make our way to the velvet couch you snagged at the yard sale we went to this summer.

We make pumpkin pie during thanksgiving and pecan pie. Pecan is always my mom’s favorite. Do you have a favorite pie? Maybe we will make it this year for you. This year we already set up a room for you in the back, technically it’s our roommate Raens room (said like Rain). But they are out with their family for the holidays. Your room is filled with the light sent of pine and cinnamon when we open the door. Giant quilts my mom has made to keep you warm. They are fuzzy and sometimes tickle your nose while we watch Christmas movies. I myself am not really religious, but I love the Christmas and the music and movies. I have planned that we watch all those stop animation movies from the 60s and 70s. My pride flag hangs behind my TV and coco is being made in the kettle.

This year I hope this to be our safe haven from the winter outside. Just us two, and our dog toast; maybe I will be able to finally find my Julie Andrews Christmas record. We will sit in the living room, warm and happy. I know it is very hard to enjoy the holidays when bad things are happening all the time on the second. But I am here and we have literally all night. And our microwave would be happy to reheat our coco if we get busy talking. I still haven’t really come out to my dad or family, but having you here it reminds me that it is ok. You should know that too. As someone in that situation with one foot in the door; I can tell you that’s all is required of you. You trying your best to live your life as you see fit. You representing yourself the way in whatever beautiful expression that is.

So try and sleep enough, drink water, eat something today.

Your Holiday Sister Bethany

Your Holiday Mom: Sister Bethany was originally published on Your Holiday Mom

[erid-search-history]

Baby blues Ch.4

So i know that no one asked for a filler chapter, but here you go you little monsters

Slight mention of injury, past relations with parents, and fluff. you have been warned.

As the leaves began to fall off the trees, and the days got colder, Gwen only got bigger with it. At this point she was able to actually see a baby bump. This had made her decide that it was time to do some more shopping.

Max jumped out of the car, and shivered from the lack of a heater blowing in his face. “God damn it’s cold as s-shit.”

He waited for Gwen by the back of the vehicle, who grabbed his hand gently and lead him out of the cold. “I know, it’s only the beginning of November too. I hope your father is holding up better though. It’s gotta be freezing out there in the park.”

He nodded, concerned now. Hopefully he wouldn’t get sick on patrols.

As they entered the store, a wave of warmth washed over their skin. They let out a couple shivers, before noticing the smell of cinnamon and peppermint that followed.

Christmas decorations flooded their vision. No store window was complete without a deer or Santa. Nope.

Max shuddered at the ugly excuse for a christmas display he saw inside a store. He felt like he could barf at merely the sight of the festive characters.

As they walked through, he noticed an abundance of other mothers with their children. They were most likely trying to get more winter clothes or were simply enjoying the sales. Other than this, it wasn’t all that busy, it still being somewhere around two thirty in the afternoon.

They made their way into a kid’s clothing department, Max rolled his eyes once more.

Gwen smiled, looking for the baby section. “Ok sport, go look around the kids side and see if you can find something to wear when it snows. You grew quite a bit since last year, meaning you’ve probably grown out of your other one by now.” He gave her a half assed salute and started to walk to another section. “I’ll be right here where you can see me if you need anything ok?”

He nodded again and continued.

She could visibly see that he had immediately taken interest in a grey hoodie with the words ‘thirst for the void’ on it. She smiled to herself and picked up a green onesie. It had small pine trees on it with the words ‘lil’ camper’ on it. She knew david was going to throw a fit when he saw, she just couldn’t resist.

She plopped it into the cart and was about to pick out another, but stopped when she heard a small voice yelp in pain. She looked over, and just guess who she saw sitting on the ground. The now concerned women rushed her way over to the small boy to see what was wrong. He sat up, and she put a protective arm around him. “Are you ok? Did you trip on something?” she looked over at what appeared to be one of those dolls that were supposed to be on the shelf in another area.

“Yeah i’m fine, people and their shitty kids need to pick up after themselves though. Seriously david would have a cow if i left something laying around like that. Shit.”

He tried standing, but his movement was stunted.

He had small tears form in the corners of his eyes, and gwen’s heart broke at that.

“Well C’mon, let’s go find you a seat.”

He stood up, and leaned against her, she would have picked him up, but was pretty sure it would murder her back.

He hissed anytime his foot touched the tile floor, and it only caused him to become more agitated. She sat him on a bench, before going back in to pay for their things.

When she came back, he had already began to inspect his swollen ankle.

She sat next to him.

“Does it hurt too much to walk?”

He nods.

“Well, how about I get you into a cart and we can go to the car? You’ll probably need to see a doc, just to make sure it heals properly”

He shook his head, “I don’t wanna ruin this. This is the one day i can actually say i was looking forward to this week.”

He turned a shade of red and looked away, gwen smiled a bit.

“Ok, well.. How about I let you sit in the cart while i finish, it should only take about an hour. Plus, now that I think about it, the doctor’s office might be closed today.”

He nods, and opens his arms to be comforted. She holds him close, and in this moment, she’s happy to be here with max.

They finish buying all of the clothes they need, not that many actually, and head off to a nearby fast food joint.

“Ok, so what would you like to get Max?”

They both decide on hot chocolates and some burgers.

Once they’re home, Gwen gets max to sit on the couch, and pulls out  the first aid kit. He’s set up with his food, a nice holiday special, and his foot propped up on a stool. The heat from a heating pad feeling really nice where it was painful before.. Gwen sat beside him, also enjoying the warmth of the space heater in front of them. She places a hand on her stomach and giggles when she feels slight movement.

Max glances over but says nothing. It’s not like he cares about whatever mushy thing she’s thinking about. Probably one of her doctor thingies again. Barf.

“Hey Max, did.. Did you wanna touch it?”

He’s slightly taken aback by the sudden question, “excuse me?”

“My stomach, i mean. I know it might seem weird, but i’m willing to bet you’ve never been around someone who’s pregnant before me, huh?”

He scoffs, “yeah I didn’t get out much growing up. To be honest, i’m still trying to comprehend the fact that you got pregnant and decided to keep me.”

She frowned, but placed her hand on his.

“It’s ok to be curios max, and we would never replace you. Even if you’re a little shit sometimes, we still love you.” She smirks, “besides, who would be around to help me torment David?”

He giggled and nodded, “yeah, anyone else who even tried would be shit at it, i guarantee.”

He pulls his hand back to his chest, and rubs his fingers together anxiously. He looks to her stomach again, his own in knots.

“So..say I was kinda wondering what it’s like… how would I..?”

She giggled at him again. “I’ll show you, it’s ok.”

She placed a hand over his again and lead it up to the top of her small bump. She dragged it up and down slowly. “You feeling anything move Max?”

He started to shake his head before stopping their hands.

“whoa…..I.. That’s gross.”

He retracted his hand, and folded his arms. Gwen couldn’t help but laugh this time.

By the time she had calmed down, she noticed max was staring at her stomach.

“What is it? Wanna touch the ‘gross’ thing again?”

He shook his head rapidly. “N-no i just, well...do you feel it when it moves?’’

She looked down to her stomach. “Yep, every damn move.”

He paused, but gently reached out again. It was weird, but kinda cool?

Gwen relaxed against the couch,  continuing to watch the movie. “Yeah, just wait til I get bigger. The baby isn’t even due for at least 5 more months.”

He retracts his hand again, and looks down to his foot.

“Damn, does.. Does it hurt when you’re pregnant? What does it even feel like?”

She drinks some co coa out of her foam cup, and shakes her head. “Nah it’s more like..someone is poking you from the inside. It really only hurts my back sometimes but that’s it really.”

As she goes to set her mug down, the front doorknob jiggles and the sound of keys can be heard.

David walked in slowly, not wanting to startle anyone. He smiles at gwen when he sees her.

“Hey guys! Sorry i’m home so late, i was helping miss johnson with her decorations in the park, and you know how, well, scatterbrained she can be!”

He smiles and sets his bags down, taking off his ranger hat and kisses gwen on the cheek. “How were my two favorite people today?”

Gwen smiles when she’s kissed gently by him, and hums in response to the question. “Well, we picked up some clothes today, got a bite to eat and all. Max kinda sprained his ankle, so..”

She looks over at max’s set up, along with david. He frowns and puts a hand over his mouth. “Oh no! Does it hurt? Where is the pain? Can you feel it?”

Max has to push mama bird david out of his face. “Yes, it’s fine. Geez, you act like this has never happened before. Broken bones aren’t that big of a deal david, let alone a sprained ankle.”

He crosses his arms, trying to put on his “i don’t fuckin care about shit” face, but he actually is kinda glad that david cares so much about his well-being.

David frowns again, but chippers up and raises a hand in excitement. Max flinches a bit, but watches carefully.

“Well max, even though i know you don’t want me to know how painful that is, i have something that will get your mind off the pain!”

He smiles at both of them and grabs a box out of his bag. The front is red and has a gingerbread man on the front. “I thought maybe we could put together a gingerbread house!”

Max and gwen look at him confused, and he gives a small chuckle. “Heh, my dad and i used to make these every christmas before he left mom. Those were some of the best years of my childhood.”

He looks to nothing in particular, reminicing back to when he was probably around 4.

Max looks at the man very warily, nodding. “Ok, i guess that sounds ok. At least it involves food.”

“Yeah,” gwen chimes in, “that sounds like it could be something that won’t burn the house down.”

David sighs, “ONE TIME.”

Gwen and max bust out in giggles at the flustered man. Well, at least they’re smiling.

All together it was a nice bonding activity for them, save for the frosting david had mushed in his hair for a week. Max’s ankle had been doing fairly better, and was back to causing mischief in no less than two weeks.

Max was happy, but only hoped it would stay that way...

[tipsycad147]

Essential Oils for Christmas with DIY Recipes and Blends

JENNIFER LANE

What are your favourite Essential Oils for Christmas? I know I love to reach for my fir and pine scented oils along with orange. Oh, the aromatherapy scent is so lovely.

There are nearly endless ways to benefits from essential oils and aroma therapy during the holidays and throughout the year. Here are some highlights on what the best Christmas essential oils are, plus recipes and blends are included that you can enjoy this holiday season.

Best Christmas Essential Oils

1. Frankincense Essential Oil

The holidays can be stressful and chaotic, let the pleasant aroma of this precious oil comfort you and support you in your time of need. Produced by steam distillation of the tree resin, frankincense is beloved during Christmas.

According to the Biblical text of Matthew 2:11, gold, frankincense, and myrrh were among the gifts to Jesus by the biblical magi "from out of the East."

Supports the skin through seasonal changes

Calming and rejuvenating properties

Alleviates sadness and aids in relaxation

2. Fir Essential Oil

There are several fir oils... White Fir (aka Silver Fir), Douglas Fir, Siberian Fir, Fir Balsam, and Fir Needle. One reason I love fir oils is because of the Christmas tree aroma they offer.

Releases congestion and inspires easy breathing

Fights fatigue while stimulating the senses

Soothes tired muscles and relieves inflammation

Related Recipe: Massage Soap with White Fir

3. Sweet Orange Essential Oil

Fruity essential oils are really fabulous and sweet orange is a close tie to tangerine for me. It reminds me of freshly peeled citrus and can always bring a smile to my face. Let it keep your spirit high during the busiest time of the year.

Uplifts mood and relieves tension

Aids in the proper functioning of digestion

Calming action on the nervous system

4. Clove Essential Oil

Clove is a powerful and strong oil, where a drop or two really goes a long way. Its scent can convey a warm and sincere feeling. It is also a very powerful antioxidant.

Great for combating seasonal threats

Anti-inflammatory and local anesthetic actions (especially toothaches)

Creates a feeling of protection and courage

5. Copaiba Essential Oil

Copaiba oil is considered to be a nervous system tonic. This just means that it is calm  and balance emotions and mood. It is also a favourite when it comes to pain and inflammation.

Helps soothe anxious feelings

Promotes clear, smooth skin while reducing the appearance of blemishes

Strong anti-inflammatory property (high sesquiterpene content)

6. Eucalyptus Essential Oil

This is a well known respiratory supportive essential oil, plus it is an immune system stimulant. This is my go to oil when I have a stuffy nose or cold. I love the medicinal aroma that eucalyptus offers. There are various types that you can use, E. radiata, E. globulus, E. citriodara, E. dives, E. smitthi.

Increases alertness and blood circulations (stimulant and rubefacient properties)

Assists with phlegm, congestion, and mucus (anticatarrhal)

Deodorises the home and inspires deep breathing

Read More: Lime Eucalyptus Oil Chest Rub

7. Juniper Berry Oil

Juniper comes from the fruit of the evergreen tree, a berry-like cone that is highly aromatic. The aroma is reminiscent of a walk through the forest.

Reduces emotional and physical stress

Relieve pain and inflammation (great for arthritis)

Use as a digestive aid and to help control emotional food cravings

8. Cedarwood Essential Oil

This woody tree oil is another favourite to have this time of year, especially when it comes to respiratory aliments. Inhale during the cold and flu season to keep nasty germs at bay. It is also known for helping you get a  getting a good nights sleep.

Soothing effects on the nervous system

Aids in the reduction of mucus (mucolytic and expectorant properties)

Supports respiratory and immune health

So many oils, so little time. Some other favourites to use during December and Christmastime are myrrh, nutmeg, peppermint, and cinnamon bark or leaf.

How to Use Essential Oils for Christmas

Here are just a few essential oil blends and recipes to make and use during the Christmas season (and could be used year around!). You can even use essential oils to make DIY Christmas Gifts, get our printable guide here.

Homemade Christmas Massage Oil

What better way to enjoy the holiday but with an aromatherapy massage. This blend of essential oils will help soothe discomforts as well as offer a smell that brings on calm and happy feelings.

8 drops Frankincense

6 drops Copaiba

6 drops Sweet Orange

4 drops Clove

2 oz Jojoba Oil

2 oz Lotion Pump Bottle

Directions: Mix all ingredients into a glass pump bottle or dropper bottle. You don't even need to measure for this recipe, just add the essential oils to your bottle then fill the rest with jojoba oil (up to the shoulder). Shake to blend oils together and be sure to label with contents. Massage onto skin and enjoy the soothing benefits.

Holiday Blend for Diffuser

Diffusers for aromatherapy can make a great gift for loved ones and friends. I personally think every home should have one because they are so beneficial for well-being.You kind find a large variety for sale on Amazon if you need one.

Try this blend of holiday oils in your diffuser for Christmas. Click here for 10 more Christmas diffuser blends (plus a cheat sheet too!).

3 drops Sweet Orange

2 drops Douglas Fir

2 drops Juniper

1 drop Clove

Directions: Add oils to diffuser with water recommended for your diffuser tank.

Holly Jolly Inhaler Recipe

This blend of holiday scented essential oils will help to keep your spirits up and keep sickness at bay.

6 drops Juniper Berry

4 drops Frankincense

2 drops Cedarwood

2 drops Clove

Blank Inhaler

Directions: Add drops of essential oil to cotton wick and insert into inhaler. To use, place the inhaler under nose and deeply inhale the aroma in. Do this a few times. An inhaler blend will usually stay scented for about 1 month as long as you keep the cap on when not in use and keep out of heat.

Stress Free Holiday Roll On

The ease of roller blends make this recipe great to have on your when you are away from home. You can just roll it on and enjoy the festive fragrance. Check out even more Christmas Roller Blends.

2 drops Lavender

2 drop Sweet Orange

1 drop Bergamot

1 drop Peppermint

Jojoba oil

10 ml Roller Bottle

Directions: Add oils to roller bottle and fill the rest of the bottle with jojoba oil. This recipe can last several months to a year, depends on your essential oils expiration dates and the date of your carrier oil.

Christmas Spirit Essential Oil Blend

3 drops Balsam Fir

3 drops Black Spruce

2 drops Sweet Orange

Directions: Add oils to diffuser with water recommended for your diffuser tank.

DIY Hand Santa-tizer

6 drops Fir Oil (any type)

4 drops Sweet Orange

1 tablespoon Aloe Vera Gel

1 tablespoon Alcohol Free Witch hazel (unscented)

1 oz Glass Spray Bottle

Directions: Add all ingredients into spray bottle. Place spray top on and shake bottle well to mix together. Label bottle. To use, shake well and spray 2-3 times on to palm of hand, then rub hands together covering all surfaces. Allow to air dry. Use within one month of making.

Christmas Tree Essential Oil Blend

I like to make essential oil spray that can scent the air with all natural goodness, here's an easy spray bottle blend.

30 drops of Fir or Pine Essential Oil (your choice)

2 tablespoons Grain Alcohol

1/3 cup Distilled Water

4 oz Glass Spray Bottle

Directions: Add all ingredients to spray bottle, shake to mix ingredients together and before each use. Spray is good for a few months. If you omit the alcohol, the recipe will need to be used within 2-3 weeks.

More Essential Oil Christmas Spray Recipes

I love Christmas sprays, so much that I have two dedicated posts to them, check them out here:

Mini Spray Recipes for Christmas

Air Fresheners for Christmas

https://www.lovingessentialoils.com/blogs/diy-recipes/essential-oils-for-christmas-blends-recipes

[reviewsv]

Top 10 Best Twin Bed with Drawers

There is no doubt that you are here looking for the best twin bed with drawers. Or you are getting concern with the space in your house. Before we commence on this product review, there a few things that you should know. Do not just rush to your local store and buy these products. It is worth to mention that there are many manufacturers and dealers in the market. Therefore, buying a similar item is very possible. However, thank you for stopping here and be enlightened about these products.

# Preview Product 1

Sauder Beginnings Platform Bed, Twin, Cinnamon Cherry finish Buy on Amazon 2

Prepac Tall Twin Sonoma Platform Storage Bed with 6 Drawers, Black Buy on Amazon 3

Wood Platform Bed with 3 Drawers, Wood Slat Support, No Box Spring Needed，Twin Size Buy on Amazon 4

Sauder Beginnings Twin Platform Bed, Twin, Soft White finish Buy on Amazon 5

Discovery World Furniture Bookcase Captains Bed with 6 Drawer Storage, Twin, Merlot Buy on Amazon 6

Prepac Espresso Twin XL Mate’s Platform Storage Bed with 3 Drawers Buy on Amazon 7

South Shore Flexible Platform Bed with Baskets-Twin-Pure White Buy on Amazon 8

Twin Beds with Storage Espresso Finish Twin Storage Bed Buy on Amazon 9

South Shore Logik Twin Mates Bed (39”) with 3 Drawers, Pure White Buy on Amazon 10

Rose Upholstered Bed with Storage, Grey Linen, Twin Buy on Amazon

Finding a suitable living space is a luxury and you will have to pay per feet. Additionally, identifying the right furniture might be the toughest task in your life. You will not want your house to be cramped. Therefore, buying a bed with storage might be a great solution. On the other hand, you will achieve a spacious room. Typically, if you reside in a condominium or a small apartment, then we are happy to introduce these products to your world. You can use the drawers for all your storage needs. Just before you remove your wallet, consider our insightful review of the top 10 best twin beds with drawers and you will meet the value of your hard-earned money.

10. Discovery World Captains Bed Furniture Bookcase 6 Drawers Storage

Sale

Discovery World Furniture Bookcase Captains Bed…

$645.00

Buy on Amazon

If you are here looking for a full-size bed that is suitable for any kid’s room, then we are happy you are here. This product is engineered using pine wood for durability and long-lasting. Additionally, it is available in brilliant finishes. Choose the one that will suit your décor needs.

The wealth of storage is ideal for people who need to save on space. All the materials used are non-toxic and will not harm your child. Moreover, the manufacturer designed it using 3D technology. Therefore, all the safety issues are well addressed. Assembling is pretty easy using the manual guide provided for installation. This product is worth your penny.

09. Sauder Beginnings Platform 415465 Bed, Cinnamon, Twin, Cherry finish

Sale

Sauder Beginnings Platform Bed, Twin, Cinnamon…

$169.99

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Sauder has built its name by manufacturing this handsome product. If you are looking for a product with a 1-year warranty, then this might be your best pick. Additionally, it comes in cinnamon cherry finish for a classic look. On the other hand, it is engineered using strong wood for durability and long-lasting. It features very convenient to use under bed storage with large drawers.

It is pretty easy to access the drawers and store your bedsheets and other clothes. Generally, you will find enough room for storing your laundry. This product is also designed to accommodate a twin-sized mattress. Whether you need it in your hallway, bedroom, or guest room you will love it. Consider this product in your next shopping.

08. Novogratz Storage, Kelly Bed, Twin, Linen, Dark Gray

Sale

Novogratz Kelly Bed with Storage, Twin, Dark Gray…

$399.99

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The first thing to notice is the sturdy construction. It comes in different brilliant sizes and colors to choose from. Therefore, it is not hard to choose the one that will meet your needs. There is no doubt that beauty begins with Novogratz Kelly bed.

With this product, you will never have storage issues. This is because it has a large double storage drawer that you can use for anything from bedsheets, accessories, and off-season clothes. The manufacturer has used sturdy wood for durability and long-lasting. We are happy to suggest this product.

07. South Shore Twin Bed Storage Tiara Collection Platform Bed 3 Drawers

South Shore Tiara Collection Twin Bed with Storage…

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Have you ever thought of offering your daughter a princess sleeping comfort in a castle? Now, that is what you will reap with this product. This bed is capable of holding a weight capacity of up to 250 pounds. It features three spacious drawers with chrome handles for an elegant look.

On the other hand, it is available in a white finish which will blend with many decors. If you are looking for a product with a 5-year warranty, then this might be your best pick. Therefore, you can shop with confidence understanding that the manufacturer got you covered. For safety purposes, all the materials used are durable and non-toxic. There is much to reap from this product.

06. La Salle Bed Trundle Storage Twin Captain’s Drawers

La Salle Twin Captain’s Bed with Trundle and…

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Coaster Home Furnishings has accomplished track record when it comes to bed with trundle. This is yet another amazing product designed to meet your needs. This product is available in different brilliant colors to choose form. If you are looking for a perfect product for resting or entertaining, then this is all you need.

Just pull out the trundles and 2 people can comfortably stay all night catching up. Solid wood engineering guarantees you durability and long-lasting. The head and footboard are designed using the lattice frame. No assembly is required since it comes fully assembled. This twin-size bed will meet the value of your money.

05. South Shore Bed 3 Drawers, Cosmos Mates, Twin 39-inch, Onyx

Sale

South Shore Cosmos Mates Bed with 3 Drawers, Twin…

$214.99

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This is an amazing contemporary sophisticated bed that will offer you an elegant look. Typically, this is a modern style that everybody is looking for. When it comes to storage space, the bed features 3 drawers on the side. They come handy for organizing, storing, bedding, and keeping seasonal items.

All the materials used are durable and non-toxic, they will not harm your little one. The manufacturer has used a laminated particleboard that meets the legal standards. additionally, the manufacturer offers a 5-year warranty. therefore, there is nothing to worry about when buying.

04. Prepac Tall Twin, BBT-4106 Sonoma Platform 6 Drawers, Storage Bed

Sale

Prepac Tall Twin Sonoma Platform Storage Bed with…

$445.30

Buy on Amazon

Prepac has dominated the market by manufacturing a handsome product. It is available in brilliant colors and sizes to choose from. Therefore, double-check the size that will suit your needs. The manufacturer has used a durable deep black laminate for a classic look. It can accommodate a twin size mattress. This bed is suitable for sleeping rooms where space is at a premium.

Additionally, the deep drawers can be fixed on the side of your choice. Consequently, you will gain more space where you can store lines, clothing and many more. Assembling this bed is pretty easy using the instruction manual provided. On the other hand, it is available with a 5-year warranty on parts. It is worth to mention that it is manufactured in Canada and all safety standards are met. Therefore, you can buy this product with confidence.

03. DHP Dakota Bed Storage Upholstered Platform Drawers, Faux Leather, Twin

DHP Dakota Upholstered Platform Bed with Storage…

Buy on Amazon

Just before we commence on this product, there is a glowing report online. Many people have bought this bed and they loved it. We also believe it will be your best choice. The manufacturer has designed this product using metal rails, for durability and long-lasting. Although this bed is black, it is also come in other brilliant colors and sizes to choose from. This is a stylish bed you could be looking for. The wooden slats are responsible for air circulation and support.

So, you will have a wonderful sleeping time. Space-saving functionality is at its best. The drawers will offer you enough space for storing your clothes and bedsheets. Additionally, all the materials used are non-toxic and will not harm you. Purchase this bed and reap what it has to offer.

02. Black Twin Platform Storage XL Mate’s Bed 3 Drawers

Sale

Black Twin XL Mate’s Platform Storage Bed with 3…

$388.80

Buy on Amazon

The first thing to notice is the sturdy construction. It comes in different brilliant sizes and colors to choose from. Therefore, it is not hard to choose the one that will meet your needs. The drawers are designed to run smoothly on the metal rollers that are inbuilt.

For durability, it is engineered using high-quality wood for durability and long-lasting. Assembling is pretty easy using the instruction booklet provided. Additionally, the 3 drawers under the bed will offer you enough storage space. It is also designed to accommodate the twin-sized mattress. Consider this product in your next shopping.

01. White Twin Storage Bed 3 Drawers Mate’s Platform

White Twin Mate’s Platform Storage Bed with 3…

Buy on Amazon

The manufacturer has used a durable white laminate for a classic look. The white color will blend with almost all décor. It is available in brilliant colors and sizes to choose from. Therefore, double-check the size that will suit your needs. The drawers will offer you enough space for storing your clothes and bedsheets.

These 3 drawers are designed to run on the metal rails. Assembling is a breeze using the instruction booklet provided. It is worth to mention that it does not come with a headboard. It is very attractive and will add a touch to your bedroom. Just try it.

Final Consideration

At this juncture, we are sure that you can make a prudent decision when buying. You should also consider the product that you can easily afford and maintain. Consulting other users might be a great idea before you remove your wallet. Nonetheless, all our suggested products are durable and the best in the market. You will never go wrong with us.

Preview Product

Discovery World Furniture Bookcase Captains Bed with 6 Drawer Storage, Twin, Honey Buy on Amazon

Sauder Beginnings Platform Bed, Twin, Cinnamon Cherry finish Buy on Amazon

Novogratz Kelly Bed with Storage, Twin, Dark Gray Linen Buy on Amazon

South Shore Tiara Collection Twin Bed with Storage – Platform Bed with 3 Drawers – Pure White Buy on Amazon

La Salle Twin Captain’s Bed with Trundle and Storage Drawers White Buy on Amazon

South Shore Cosmos Mates Bed with 3 Drawers, Twin 39-inch, Black Onyx Buy on Amazon

Prepac Tall Twin Sonoma Platform Storage Bed with 6 Drawers, Black Buy on Amazon

DHP Dakota Upholstered Platform Bed with Storage Drawers, Black Faux Leather, Twin Buy on Amazon

Black Twin XL Mate’s Platform Storage Bed with 3 Drawers Buy on Amazon

White Twin Mate’s Platform Storage Bed with 3 Drawers Buy on Amazon

amzn_assoc_ad_type = "link_enhancement_widget"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "reviewsbev-20"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "3e59198f4c79820f458bcf3ad2abec5b"; amzn_assoc_placement = ""; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US";

[binsofchaos]

The City Cook: Rock the Pantry

Welcome To My Pantry

Here's what I currently have in my pantry:

My Pantry Cupboard

When we moved into our apartment my very handy husband built me a floor to ceiling cabinet that fills a shallow space adjacent to the fire exit door in our kitchen. It's 25-inches wide, 6-inches deep and has twelve shelves. It is, relatively speaking to anything I ever had before, enormous. Compared to my friend Katherine's pantry in Connecticut, it is the size of a spice rack.

This cupboard currently holds:

On the top shelves -- 6 quarts of New Jersey tomatoes, 4 half-pints of peach jam, and 4 half-pints of red pepper jelly, all canned by moi last summer

Canned goods -- chickpeas, cannellini beans, artichoke hearts, oil-packed tuna, anchovies, sardines, San Marzano tomatoes, canned cherry tomatoes, tomato paste

Back-ups of things I always use and never want to run out of -- Hellman's mayo, Johnny Harris BBQ sauce, boxed chicken stock, Dijon mustard, Near East tabouli, tahini, cornichons, roasted red peppers, capers (to cook with), caperberries (for martinis), chutney, panko, breadcrumbs, fish sauce, red wine vinegar

Standbys (things I use often but not always but still want to have on hand) -- Gaea jarred olives, Davina tapenade, Tiptree seedless raspberry jam, peanut butter, Heinz Chili Sauce, lingonberries, cooking chocolate, yeast, bouillon cubes

Shelf-stable things -- honey, salt, vinegars (cider, rice wine, sherry, balsamic), pomegranate molasses

Tall bottles that fit on the bottom shelf – extra EVOO, canola oil, passata (tomato puree), spare CO2 canister for my Soda Stream machine, dry vermouth

I have a smaller, second kitchen cabinet that primarily holds baking ingredients and things that don’t fit in the tall, skinny cupboard:

Canisters of all-purpose flour, sugar

Light and dark brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, molasses, cocoa powder

Pastas, couscous, fregola, rices, grains

Large or awkward-sized jars of spices bought in bulk-- dried mint, 2 kinds of oregano (Sicilian and Greek), Espelette pepper, Egyptian cumin, hot sauces, red pepper flakes

Crackers, nuts, tea

I have a separate spice rack, one of those built into an otherwise useless sliver of space, that holds my other spices. I have my favorite spices and spice mixes that I replenish often enough so that they're fresh, although to be safe, I write their purchase date on the bottom of each jar with a Sharpie: garlic powder, black peppercorns, cinnamon (both sticks and ground), saffron strands, cayenne, paprika, ground ginger, coriander, sumac, fennel seeds, za'atar, curry powder, chili powder. Invariably, when doing my January purge, this is where I’ll find spices that I bought for one recipe and then never used again, making them stale and needing to be tossed, like whole nutmeg or a jar of Herbes de Provence bought on a vacation in Aix-de-Provence four years ago.

My Refrigerator

Sometimes I read interviews with famous people who are asked what they have right now in their refrigerators and the answer is a chilled still life of a piece of Parmesan and Champagne. If you opened mine today or any other day, you would find both of those items but much more:

Lemons

Eggs. Large, organic and brown.

Bacon

Flat-leafed parsley, thyme, rosemary

Yogurt. Usually Greek and either whole fat or 2%.

Half-and-half

Butter. Always unsalted organic and sometimes also salted French or Irish.

Mustards. Dijon, coarse, and with horseradish

Mayonaise. Hellman's, either full-fat or "light"

Miso

Coffee beans

A bottle of dry white wine, usually pinot grigio, just for cooking, and a bottle of Lillet, just for me

Bottles of water chilling to be zapped with our Soda Stream. I am addicted.

Opened containers of various condiments: fish sauce, maple syrup, sesame oil, hoisin, Worcestershire, horseradish, ketchup, sriracha, pickled jalapeños, sweet relish

Cheeses. French feta, Pecorino, the above-mentioned Parmesan, cream cheese, Friendship 1% cottage cheese (other cheeses come and go but these are my essentials)

Capers, cornichons, pickles, caperberries

Panko, breadcrumbs

A bag of organic carrots and stalks of celery

Bottle of salad dressing (my own vinaigrette that I make every few days in batches)

My Freezer

I'm lucky in that I have a rather large freezer at the base of my refrigerator and I make aggressive use of it. That means I almost always have a variety of chicken and meats on hand and I date them and then rotate them out, replacing things as I use them, usually buying when on sale. I try not to lose track of what's in the freezer but sometimes do and end up having three pork tenderloins in there at once.

Still, this is what I have there today and it's typical of what I usually keep around:

Package of Defour puff pastry

Two quarts of homemade chicken stock, made 3 months ago.

Duck fat from the last time I roasted a whole bird, which was 6 months ago.

Bags of vegetables: petite peas, artichoke hearts, spinach, pearl onions

Two quarts of tomato sauce made last summer with local NJ tomatoes. It's a basic sauce with no seasonings aside from garlic so I can use it in any number of recipes.

Butter. At the moment, two sticks of organic unsalted.

Nuts. Pine nuts, a bag of pecans from Schermer’s in Georgia, and a bag of amazing Bronte pistachios I bought on last fall’s trip to Sicily.

Pesto. Three small containers made in July when local basil was in season and inexpensive. This will taste like summer when I soon use it.

A plastic bag of Parmesan rinds I collect and add to soups, especially minestrone.

Meats: 1 lb. of ground lamb, 1 lb. of ground beef, 1 duck breast, 1 package of ground duck (I make Bolognese with it), 4 boneless chicken thighs, 2-pound piece of pork belly, 1 boneless NY strip steak, 2 on-the-bone pork chops from the Hudson & Charles butcher shop on Amsterdam Avenue

A 1-pound bag of wild shrimp from Whole Foods

Two ice packs used on my recently re-injured knee

No ice cream.

My Countertop 

I have a large white porcelain bowl in which I keep aromatics, usually red onions, yellow onions, garlic, ginger, and shallots.

[wineanddinosaur]

Great Notion Brewing Company’s James Dugan Is Motivated by Hops

“People called our IPAs ugly, dirty, some would even ask for their money back without even trying them,” James Dugan, co-brewer, Great Notion Brewing Company, says of his early days making New England-style IPAs in Portland, Ore.

When Dugan, Paul Reiter, and Andy Miller opened Great Notion in the former Mash Tun Brewpub space in 2016, most Portland craft beer drinkers thought of IPAs exclusively as “clear, packed with crystal malt, and aggressively bitter, with those sharp pine and grapefruit-pith flavors,” Dugan says.

Great Notion persisted with patience. “We would say, ‘Just close your eyes, drink the beer, and really think about what you’re tasting,’” Dugan says. “And customers came around to them… Customers who thought they didn’t like IPAs realized there was a difference between bitterness and hoppiness.”

Thanks to Great Notion’s turbid trophies, including Ripe, Juice Box, and Juice Jr., local acceptance quickly grew to national attention. Now the brewery is among the style’s most prominent producers — cans are highly coveted currency among traders — and a trailblazer among Portland brewers. “You can’t really find a brewer around here that doesn’t make at least one [hazy IPA] now,” he says.

Great Notion also brews up sour ales Blueberry Muffin and Strawberry Taffy, as well as breakfast-inspired imperial stouts spiked with maple syrup and coffee (Double Stack), or toasted pecans, brown sugar, and cinnamon (Sticky Bun). The sour Heart of Hold won a silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2016, and Double Stack won the same award in 2017.

With demand far outstripping supply, Great Notion added a second production facility early last year. Its taproom and restaurant will open to the public this spring. The 20,000-square-foot space includes a 30-barrel brewery that helped increase production to 2,300 barrels in 2018, up from 950 barrels the year prior.

Still, the only way for beer enthusiasts to taste Great Notion’s lineup is to go directly to the source: Nearly every drop of beer is sold on-site, and almost all of it packaged in 16-ounce cans.

“We want to continue to focus on selling all our beer directly,” Dugan says. “Our customers have driven our success, and we’re incredibly grateful for their passion and never-ending thirst. This model of direct-to-customer sales began in the Northeast and has worked its way west. It gives us the opportunity to retain control of our product and sell the freshest beer possible to the customer.”

This commitment to deliver beer at its peak is not lost on fans, as waiting lines for releases of limited-edition ales routinely start to form outside the brewery hours before. “I feel truly humbled by the show of support,” Dugan says. “It’s crazy to think we were brewing these recipes in my garage three years ago, and now we still can’t make enough.”

So what does Dugan do when he’s not revising recipes or chatting with customers? Here, he tackles our Lucky Sevens questions and shares what motivates him as a brewer, the best (and worst) beers in his fridge, and why he thinks hazy IPA plus nigori sake is a no-brainer.

1. What’s your desert-island beer?

Firestone Walker’s Pivo Pils. IPAs don’t age very well, but stouts and lagers do. But if it’s tropical and hot and you’re stuck on a desert island, you’re not really likely to reach for a rich pastry stout. Pivo is crisp, refreshing — just a great example of a modern pilsner. It’s a beer I wouldn’t tire being around for long periods.

2. What’s the beer that made you fall in love with beer?

Pliny the Elder from Russian River. I lived in Oakland before Portland, and at least once a week my friends and I would go to a local bar called Ben & Nick’s because there was a fresh keg of Pliny. At the time, Pliny was the only beer that blew me away with its hop profile. Piney, fruity, dry — just completely hop-saturated. Plus it was a double IPA, which I’m a real sucker for.

Something I’ve always admired about Russian River is that Vinny [Cilurzo, brewmaster and co-owner] has always been forthcoming to homebrewers about his ingredients and recipes, which is something we’ve tried to do with our own processes. Back when I was homebrewing, I tried an all-grain version of Pliny. It came out nothing like Vinny’s and after the third time I gave up, knowing I’d be just as happy just drinking the original.

3. FMK three beer types: IPA, pilsner, sour?

I would f*ck IPA. It’s a very sexy style that turns me on and inspires me. Hops are what motivates me as a brewer.

I would marry pilsner. Pilsner is very trustworthy, a solid communicator. I would feel very comfortable making a lifelong commitment to a pilsner.

This is a tough one, but I guess I would kill sour. Though I don’t want to kill any beer style, honestly.

4. You’re on death row. What’s your last-supper beer?

Bottle Logic’s Fundamental Observation. For me, this is the epitome of a barrel-aged imperial stout. It’s essentially a meal: so rich and thick, full of flavors like toasted marshmallow, vanilla bean, oak, and chocolate. It hits all the basic food groups — at least those of a brewer creating barrel-aged imperial stouts.

5. You can only drink one beer for the rest of your life. What is it?

I have to pick our Ripe IPA, a beer that’s very special to us. This is a beer that started off as a homebrew recipe and ended up winning first place in Paste Magazine blind tasting of over 300 IPAs, something I’m so proud of. This is a beer that represents the history of my homebrewing but also the evolution of our company, the many people that have used it to build and grow us to where we are now, and to where we’re going in the future. Plus it’s just fucking delicious. We’re really proud of it.

6. What’s the best and worst beer in your fridge right now?

I don’t have a worst beer. I love all beer. For best, I would say our collaboration with Bottle Logic, Paisley Cave Complex, which is a hybrid of our Blueberry Muffin sour and their imperial stout process. I’m real proud of the collabs we do.

7. If you could no longer drink beer, what would be your beverage of choice?

Nigori sake. I’m heavily intrigued by sake production. If we ever have the time, we want to build a sake branch of Great Notion. I think there’s great potential for sake-hazy IPA hybrids. Nigori is creamy and thick and hazy; it would be the perfect complement to a hazy, juicy IPA. I’ve actually blended Ripe IPA with a local nigori, from Momokawa, and it tastes phenomenal. It’s uncharted territory and something we definitely want to explore in the future.

The post Great Notion Brewing Company’s James Dugan Is Motivated by Hops appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/great-notion-hazy-ipa-sour-beer/

[bethestaryouareradio]

Making Scents

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” Marcus Cicero

With all of the disasters and tragedies of this year, logic seems to have disappeared. The senseless shootings of innocent people and the devastating California fires have rendered so many of us feeling helpless and hopeless. But in times of turbulence, besides the consolation of close relationships with family and friends, I advise my clients to turn to two things––gardens and books. 

The smoke from the Camp and Paradise fires has been so thick and suffocating, that spending time in the garden has been impossible. Continued alerts have been pinging on my cell phone warning me of the dangers of breathing toxins. The alerts advise avoiding being outdoors as the air quality is hazardous to our health. The sky is gray and gloomy with harmful haze reminiscent of Beijing.  When the sun pokes through the smoke, it is a roiling red.

To combat the noxious air, I have been freshening my home with the calming aromas of handcrafted potpourri and herbal sachets. Although making scents does require time and considerable cleanup, potpourri, wreaths, and sachets make beautiful hostess gifts and holiday decor. Be prepared for magnificent earthy scents wafting to your nostrils as you style your ingredients. To fashion your own rustic creations, choose sweet-smelling botanicals with strong colors that will dry well. If you enjoy burying your nose in a flower or herb, these are specimens for your project.

My recommendations for making lovely potpourri include:

rose

lavender

chamomile

nigella

sage

thyme

liquid amber

rosemary

bay

tulip

orchid

bougainvillea

daffodil

oregano

yarrow

eucalyptus

amaranth

lemon leaves

marigold

nasturtium

I also like to dry citrus rinds and add whole buds of small flowers to the mix. Remove petals from stems and dry on a cookie sheet. If you are in a hurry, you can heat your oven to 150-200 degrees and put the pan in the oven until the flowers are dry, but not cooked. I prefer to allow them to dry naturally on a counter in my garage as I find the fragrance is fuller and lasts longer. 

Once all the leaves, flowers, and herbs are dry, it’s time to design various “flavors” of potpourri. I make seasonal potpourri in varying color schemes and smells. For holiday scents, add cinnamon sticks, shaved nutmeg, or other spices.  You can also spritz the mixture with a few drops of your favorite essential oil and toss with your hands before adding the ingredients to jars, bowls, netting, or clear wrap to give as gifts.

With the sweet perfume of my garden inside my house, I can turn my attention to books.

As you’ve probably read, I published my 7th and 8th books recently, an extreme endeavor to publish two books in one year while still working on numerous other projects, yet somehow the task was accomplished! Book One in the Garden Shorts Series, Growing with the Goddess Gardener is filled with 24 months of inspiration, tips, photos, and stories that you can use now in times of distress. The second book is Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers Celebrating Gifts of Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World. This book illustrates how similar the various generations are and offers insights on how we can all prosper to make this world a better place.

I am shamelessly promoting these books in this column for three reasons: 

1. They will make fabulous, life-enhancing gifts for the holidays. (Buy them at http://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store)

2. The proceeds from sales of all of my books benefit Operation Disaster Relief to help the victims of the California wildfires recover. (http://ow.ly/X0Ia30mF4zZ)

3. I will continue to donate copies of my books to Operation Disaster Relief that is spearheaded by the volunteers of the top-rated local charity Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3. (http://www.BethestarYouAre.org)

To borrow a tagline from Sow True Seed, these books are “open-pollinated, untreated, and GMO-Free!” And they are filled with ideas, exercises, and fun activities that you can do indoors even when the air is unbearable outside or the weather is insufferable. I encourage you to support disaster relief by buying copies of the books and start enjoying making scents and sense.

Cynthia Brian’s Gardening Guide for December

BANISH the winter blahs with Amaryllis. Try something different with Nymph Amaryllis that showcase distinctive heavily petaled flowers on strong stems.

LOVE the actress Judi Dench? You can now buy her special rose. a sun-kissed shade of apricot with a fragrance of cucumber and kiwi from David Austin Roses. http://www.DavidAustin.com

DECORATE with living plants. Popular and easy to grow specimens include Split-leaf Philodendron and Fiddle-leaf Fig to Palm, Dieffenbachia, Zeke, and Snake Plants.

MAKE wreaths from cuttings from redwoods, cedars, pines, and fir. Prune your trees and use the boughs!

MOW lawns short as the grass is dormant. Winterize with an application of fertilizer to help the grass survive and thrive during the cold months. 

ADD color to the winter garden with asters and cyclamen.

LOOKING for plants that will grow in your area? Use Plant Finder at https://www.highcountrygardens.com/

REVIVE your soil with mulch and plant a cover crop on bare dirt to bring nutrients and pump carbon into roots to feed microorganisms. 

GROW sage (salvia officinalis) for culinary and prescriptive enjoyment. Place in full sun with well-drained soil, water occasionally when you notice the leaves curling, and harvest stems above new growth. Don’t but into the wood or the plant will die back.

BUY copies of autographed copies of Cynthia Brian’s first edition books with FREE shipping and extra freebies all benefiting disaster relief at http://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store.

PICK sweet-smelling narcissus as they begin to bloom to freshen your bathrooms. PROTECT frost tender plants with burlap, blankets, or sheets.

DISCOVER the lotus flower. This time last year I was in Cambodia where every establishment showcased glorious arrangements of lotus symbolizing purity, enlightenment, and awakening. We could use more of this botanical symbol of peace and protection.

BREATHE easier with a harmonica class to increase your lung power. Contact Jack Pawlakos, jepawlakos@gmail.com.

CONTINUE being grateful for being alive and living in wild California.

Read more: http://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1220/Digging-Deep-with-Cynthia-Brian-Making-scents.html

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing.

Cynthia Brian

Cynthia Brian, The Goddess Gardener, raised in the vineyards of Napa County, is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are1® 501 c3. 

Tune into Cynthia’s Radio show and order her books at www.StarStyleRadio.com.

Buy a copy of the new book, Growing with the Goddess Gardener, at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store. 

Available for hire for projects and lectures.

Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com

www.GoddessGardener.com

[goddessgardener]

Making Scents

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” Marcus Cicero With all of the disasters and tragedies of this year, logic seems to have disappeared. The senseless shootings of innocent people and the devastating California fires have rendered so many of us feeling helpless and hopeless. But in times of turbulence, besides the consolation of close relationships with family and friends, I advise my clients to turn to two things––gardens and books.

The smoke from the Camp and Paradise fires has been so thick and suffocating, that spending time in the garden has been impossible. Continued alerts have been pinging on my cell phone warning me of the dangers of breathing toxins. The alerts advise avoiding being outdoors as the air quality is hazardous to our health. The sky is gray and gloomy with harmful haze reminiscent of Beijing. When the sun pokes through the smoke, it is a roiling red.

To combat the noxious air, I have been freshening my home with the calming aromas of handcrafted potpourri and herbal sachets. Although making scents does require time and considerable cleanup, potpourri, wreaths, and sachets make beautiful hostess gifts and holiday decor. Be prepared for magnificent earthy scents wafting to your nostrils as you style your ingredients. To fashion your own rustic creations, choose sweet-smelling botanicals with strong colors that will dry well. If you enjoy burying your nose in a flower or herb, these are specimens for your project.

My recommendations for making lovely potpourri include: rose lavender chamomile nigella sage thyme liquid amber rosemary bay tulip orchid bougainvillea daffodil oregano yarrow eucalyptus amaranth lemon leaves marigold nasturtium

I also like to dry citrus rinds and add whole buds of small flowers to the mix. Remove petals from stems and dry on a cookie sheet. If you are in a hurry, you can heat your oven to 150-200 degrees and put the pan in the oven until the flowers are dry, but not cooked. I prefer to allow them to dry naturally on a counter in my garage as I find the fragrance is fuller and lasts longer.

Once all the leaves, flowers, and herbs are dry, it’s time to design various “flavors” of potpourri. I make seasonal potpourri in varying color schemes and smells. For holiday scents, add cinnamon sticks, shaved nutmeg, or other spices. You can also spritz the mixture with a few drops of your favorite essential oil and toss with your hands before adding the ingredients to jars, bowls, netting, or clear wrap to give as gifts. With the sweet perfume of my garden inside my house, I can turn my attention to books. As you’ve probably read, I published my 7th and 8th books recently, an extreme endeavor to publish two books in one year while still working on numerous other projects, yet somehow the task was accomplished! Book One in the Garden Shorts Series, Growing with the Goddess Gardener is filled with 24 months of inspiration, tips, photos, and stories that you can use now in times of distress. The second book is Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers Celebrating Gifts of Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World. This book illustrates how similar the various generations are and offers insights on how we can all prosper to make this world a better place.

I am shamelessly promoting these books in this column for three reasons: 1. They will make fabulous, life-enhancing gifts for the holidays. (Buy them at http://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store) 2. The proceeds from sales of all of my books benefit Operation Disaster Relief to help the victims of the California wildfires recover. (http://ow.ly/X0Ia30mF4zZ) 3. I will continue to donate copies of my books to Operation Disaster Relief that is spearheaded by the volunteers of the top-rated local charity Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3. (http://www.BethestarYouAre.org) To borrow a tagline from Sow True Seed, these books are “open-pollinated, untreated, and GMO-Free!” And they are filled with ideas, exercises, and fun activities that you can do indoors even when the air is unbearable outside or the weather is insufferable. I encourage you to support disaster relief by buying copies of the books and start enjoying making scents and sense.

Cynthia Brian’s Gardening Guide for December BANISH the winter blahs with Amaryllis. Try something different with Nymph Amaryllis that showcase distinctive heavily petaled flowers on strong stems. LOVE the actress Judi Dench? You can now buy her special rose. a sun-kissed shade of apricot with a fragrance of cucumber and kiwi from David Austin Roses. http://www.DavidAustin.com DECORATE with living plants. Popular and easy to grow specimens include Split-leaf Philodendron and Fiddle-leaf Fig to Palm, Dieffenbachia, Zeke, and Snake Plants. MAKE wreaths from cuttings from redwoods, cedars, pines, and fir. Prune your trees and use the boughs! MOW lawns short as the grass is dormant. Winterize with an application of fertilizer to help the grass survive and thrive during the cold months. ADD color to the winter garden with asters and cyclamen. LOOKING for plants that will grow in your area? Use Plant Finder at https://www.highcountrygardens.com/ REVIVE your soil with mulch and plant a cover crop on bare dirt to bring nutrients and pump carbon into roots to feed microorganisms. GROW sage (salvia officinalis) for culinary and prescriptive enjoyment. Place in full sun with well-drained soil, water occasionally when you notice the leaves curling, and harvest stems above new growth. Don’t but into the wood or the plant will die back. BUY copies of autographed copies of Cynthia Brian’s first edition books with FREE shipping and extra freebies all benefiting disaster relief at http://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store. PICK sweet-smelling narcissus as they begin to bloom to freshen your bathrooms. PROTECT frost tender plants with burlap, blankets, or sheets. DISCOVER the lotus flower. This time last year I was in Cambodia where every establishment showcased glorious arrangements of lotus symbolizing purity, enlightenment, and awakening. We could use more of this botanical symbol of peace and protection. BREATHE easier with a harmonica class to increase your lung power. Contact Jack Pawlakos, jepawlakos@gmail.com. CONTINUE being grateful for being alive and living in wild California.

Read more: http://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1220/Digging-Deep-with-Cynthia-Brian-Making-scents.html

  Happy Gardening. Happy Growing.

Cynthia Brian

Cynthia Brian, The Goddess Gardener, raised in the vineyards of Napa County, is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are1® 501 c3.  Tune into Cynthia’s Radio show and order her books at www.StarStyleRadio.com.

Buy a copy of the new book, Growing with the Goddess Gardener, at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store. 

Available for hire for projects and lectures. Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com

www.GoddessGardener.com