#AND THEN I AM GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST HOMEBODY FOR LIKE 2 WEEKS AND NOT DRIVE ANYWHERE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[maddogmp3]

hello google how to not be stressed over plans that are not stressful. thank you

[captain-k-jones]

Quarantine Tag Game

I’ve been tagged by @astarkey to complete this. Thanks, lovely. Sorry it took a minute to get to it. 

If you’re staying home, who’s there with you? My husband and twin 9-year-olds plus our two dogs. 

Are you staying at home from school/work? Yep. I work in education and we all have been sent home. My kids are also doing school from home so we are 100% quarantined and doing what we can do to stop the spread of this thing. 

Are you a homebody? Oh yes. I love being home and rewatching tv or reading.

An event that you were looking forward to that got cancelled? I am a huge baseball (GO RED SOX) fan so I was pretty upset with the delay of the season and opening day. The biggest one though was a three day heavy metal festival I was going to attend. I am a huge Slipknot fan and they only tour for so long before they do a hiatus. They were going to be there so I was pretty upset.

What movies have you watched recently? I am watching Beethoven with my kids right now. We have a weekly movie night so I watch a movie with them every week. So far we have watched the Night at the Museum Trilogy, Fury, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Sweet Virginia, Shot Caller, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before: Part 2, Jurassic Park, Twister, Deadpool, and likely a lot more that I am forgetting. 

What shows are you watching lately? I am always rewatching The Punisher. I literally watch at least one episode everyday. Also: Daredevil, Supernatural, Black Sails, Ballers, The Office, The Walking Dead, Spartacus (Starz), Scrubs, Once Upon a Time, From Dusk till Dawn, and so so many more. 

What music are you listening to? Everything heavy metal. I am on a HUGE Trivium kick right now -- check out The Heart from Your Hate, The Sin and the Sentence, Pull on the Heart Strings of Your Martyr, and To the Rats. Also: Slipknot, Metallica, Rob Zombie, Megadeth, Killswitch Engage, and Korn.

What are you reading? Tons and tons of Fanfic. Currently I am jumping between any and all Kastle fic I can find as well as any Shane Walsh fic. I also throw in the occasional Sethkate fic when I feel like it. 

What are you doing for self-care? Locking myself in a room to get some alone time away from my husband and kids. I am totally being serious here. I learned a long time ago that I am a very independent person and for the sake of my mental health I need time everyday where I can be alone and only do what I want to do. So even though it is hard to accomplish I try to do that everyday. Also, I am making sure to make time to do things I love like reading fanfic and watching tv. I have started to let my kids watch certain shows so they can enjoy them with me (they are loving Supernatural right now and they LOVED The Punisher (yes, I skipped all the sex scenes -- I’m looking at you, Mr. Russo -- and if it got too violent). But so far we are doing okay. Lastly, I have been spending at least an hour a day in our hot tub to force myself to relax. 

I am going to tag the following (with absolutely no pressure to do it -- I won’t be upset at all): @neatmonsterr, @witchygagirl, @carry-the-sky, @lt-sarai, and @laschatzi

I hope everyone who reads this is staying safe and healthy through this very difficult time. 

[samttuummaa]

Quarantine Q&A

Tagged by @psicygni, let’s go!

Are you staying home from work/school?

Yes. Stay home, stay healthy!

If you’re staying home, who’s there with you?

My husband, though he works at a hospital so he is still out there on the daily.  My 2 year old son and my 5 year old daughter, keeping me feeling simultaneously lucky and grateful, and THIS close from pulling my hair out.

Are you a homebody?

mmm, kinda. With kids, I like being on my own, but preferably outside. I am very okay with social distancing, but gosh if I don’t miss going to the library, and the museums, and the zoo, and our parks! And taking my kids to outdoor school and watching them play in the woods with their friends. Without kids, yes, I would be super content going into full hibernation. 

What movies have you watched recently? What shows are you watching?

Knives out, the new Little Women one, which I actually really enjoyed, and Troop Zero, which was all kinds of good for my heart! 

And we binged The Mandalorian after we caved and got our internet back up and got Disney+. 

An event that you were looking forward to that got cancelled?

Vacation to the Riviera Maya to see my family. The beach! the archaeological sites! The kids with their grandparents! And a half marathon around beautiful San Juan Island!!! And another half on the Cascade Mountains!!! And even the 10k in town :( Virtual runs are NOT where it’s at, lemme tell ya, and I have fallen from the running wagon, and rolled away towards my couch.

What music are you listening to?

This week has been a loop of Either Ella Fitzgerald (me), or Macklemore (my kids). I introduced them to Moby recently, so there are requests for him every now and then, too.

What are you reading?

Jane Eyre, fics I am beta-ing, Beyond the birds and the bees (because mom), and the Zoe and Sassafras series (first chapter books for the kids and looooving it!)

What are you doing for self-care?

Picked up my guitar again, and it has been surprisingly easy this time around!! Very pleasantly surprised about that one. I try to run outside, but mostly just walk with the kids. I do not like running in the sun. BUT, honestly the biggest self care thing has been just finding ways to be outdoors because springtime in Seattle is the bee’s knees. SO MANY FLOWERS! SO MUCH GREEN! SO MANY FRAGRANT PLANTS AND TREES! SO MANY PRETTY BIRDS! SO MANY CORKSCREWED PENIS DUCKS! AND THE MOUNTAINS!!

@natrogersfics @jbuffyangel what are you up to?

[kunoichi-ume]

Quarantine Q & A

I was tagged by @dingoat, thanks for asking! I haven’t been on tumblr much lately so it’s good to hear how you are doing. 

I am gunna go ahead and tag anyone who wants to share because its both late and some of these might be more personal/real world than some people wanna say? Either way, if you wanna share go for it!

Are you staying home from work/school?

So I was working, but now I am not... exactly? It’s weird. I got a job (lead teacher in a preschool class for four year olds) literally the same friggin week they cancelled school and the never-ending escalation of stricter rules fell into place. First job in... 4 years and two days in things went crazy. Then we had a freaking earthquake! It wasn’t bad, no one was hurt, but it was scary and did not do my anxiety any favors. For two weeks I was working, with the like... 2-4 kids still coming to class but this week our center became an Emergency Child Care Center to provide free childcare for the kids of doctors, nurses, all those essential professions (our center is even right next to the biggest hospital in the state) and after talking to my husband we decided it was best if I worked from home on training and planning future curriculum because if I got something from one of the kids or parents I can’t exactly distance myself from him in our apartment.

If you’re staying home, who’s there with you?

My husband and evil cat, he is working remotely from home and she is... sleeping whenever she isn’t making it hard for me to write or stitch shit.

What movies have you watched recently?

I haven’t really watched any movies recently, unless you count kid movies during quiet time while I was working (even saw some of Tarzan, the Disney cartoon version I have never watched before).

What shows are you watching?

Funny enough, I just finished Parks and Rec with the hubby. He chose Community for our next show but we have also been watching Jeopardy episodes and playing “spot the serial killer”. 

Are you a homebody?

Yeah kinda, I like being at home and as long as I can get out every so often I am okay. What I really miss is being able to go see my family. I miss my nieces so much and I have a baby nephew who is growing crazy fast while I am not getting to see or love on him.

An event you were looking forward to that got cancelled?

So far no, though like @cinlat I am getting concerned about the trip we have planned this summer. Hopefully the world gets it’s shit together cause I wanna meet her and explore the insanity that is her side of the country (cause it sounds like a whole different world over there).

What music are you listening to?  

Kid friendly pop and Disney music? Other than that I haven’t been listening to a ton of music lately. When playing video games I am listening to training videos or youtube clips about how the world is doing. 

What are you reading?

Well.... I’ve read like 4 books in the last two days? Cause I had to read all four entries in the Guardian Security series and then found The Kings of the Guardians series that is actually the previous series for it so now I can find out how all the other dudes lives went down. Oh and Paladin just came out and I dragged that out a few days.... Obviously I read a lot, my Goodreads goal this year is 200 books and I am at 143 according to my Kindle app.

What are you doing for self-care?

Reading lots of fun, “happy ever after” guaranteed romance books, watching the Great British Bake Off for the soft vibes, playing Diablo, tinkering with fanfic ideas (Torian is adopting a baby Rishii for him and Noara to raise now apparently and I love it) and making a new tissue box cover for my class with dinosaurs on it :D

And wine. Because wine.

[harry-leroy]

Quarantine Questions

I was tagged by @dragonslover98 (and I think @babinicz also tagged me in this but I have no idea... it’s been a wild week for school and I am throughly sleep deprived). Thank you both! 

1. Are you staying home from work/school?

Yes ma’am 

2. If you are staying home who is with you?

Mom, Dad, Brother, and my total chaotic mess of a dog 

3. Who would be your ideal quarantine mate?

Productivity ahahaha 

4. Are you a homebody?

Yeah... (we’re gonna sell my car at the end of the summer if I get to go abroad because I do not use it enough to justify having it). So far, staying at home has not been too difficult for me. 

5. An event you were looking forward to that got cancelled?

Many things, but I think the biggest one that has definitely been cancelled is the Mahler 2 Resurrection symphony that our orchestra was going to do at the end of this month. It’s just such a beautiful piece, and I think it’s a piece we need in 2020. If you haven’t heard it, give it a listen! 

6. What movies have you watched recently?

I’m going to watch the movie Love. Wedding. Repeat. on Friday (because that’s when it comes out - and I’m super excited for it!). I’m currently having to watch Alfred Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt for a class though... 

7. What shows are you watching?

None at the moment. 

8. What music are you listening to?

French pop/jazz music and a lot of Bizet’s Carmen. 

9. What are you doing for self-care?

Trying not to go as crazy on every assignment like I normally do. Scaling back on some projects. Lighting candles! 

10. What are you reading?

Molly of One Tree Bend by Bessie Marchant and Black Skin, White Masks by Frantz Fanon 

Tagging @suits-of-woe, @forcebros, @upstartpoodle, @skeleton-richard, @maplelantern, @themalhambird, @shredsandpatches, @princess-of-france, and whoever else wants to do it! 

[caatws]

quarantine tag game

i was tagged by @salty-af-ace <3

1. Are you staying home from work/school?

yep, both my internship and classes are online/remote now. zoom university class of 2020 what’s good

2. If you’re staying at home, who’s there with you?

i’m quarantined with my roommates, who happen to be some of my closest friends. while i am grateful for that, i do miss my family and wish i could see them, esp bc i wasn’t planning to move home post grad so irdk when i can see them next.

3. Do you have pets to keep you company?

no unfortunately :/ i wish i could be with queso the cat but he’s at home with my immediate family

4. What do you miss the most?

a lot of things....but definitely the end of my senior year of college. i was supposed to be doing a lot of graduation-type events on campus this month, leading up to the big day next month, but now we have none of that. similarly, i miss my friends, bc many of them returned home quickly during or after our spring break so my goodbyes were either very rushed or nonexistent :/

5. When was the last time you left your home?

i haven’t like Gone Out To A Place since the day before easter (got takeout food), but in terms of physically leaving my apartment i went to my car to do my therapy appointment via zoom back on friday

6. What was the last thing you brought?

i bought one of the new cropped sweatshirts from the black widow movie merch line at hot topic! it just dropped last week and my life has nothing else these days okay 🙄 also i had enough gift cards to pay for the whole thing heheh

7. Is quarantine driving you insane or are you finally relaxed?

i am far from relaxed my friend my mind and body are dying

8. Are you a homebody?

i actually grew up in a pretty homebody-type family, so i am to an extent; at the same time, because i’m normally living life going to college in a major city with a good amount of friends, i typically go out way more while i’m at school rather than stay in, so this sucks!

9. What are movies you have watched recently?

one of my roommates wanted to do an mcu movie marathon but she’s moving out in like 2 weeks so we’re doing an expedited version (designed by yours truly). this weekend we watched im1, thor, catfa, and avengers 2012. we’re watching catws tonight and i’m fuckin Stoked

other than that, i’ve been catching up on some 2019 films - midsommar, little women, and parasite!

10. An event that you were looking forward to that got cancelled?

there’s....a Lot. probably the biggest and most obvious would be my literal college graduation, and next would be all the other events we had planned for this month preceding that to celebrate seniors at my school in their respective communities. so it’s just an all-around Bummer

11. What’s the worst thing you’ve had to cancel?

one of my close friends from high school was supposed to fly down to visit me for a few days and we were gonna go to disneyland - but then disney closed down just days before she was supposed to come, and the virus was spreading so fast, we just canceled the whole trip altogether :(

12. What’s the best thing you’ve had to cancel?

hm i guess the “best thing” was that, because they canceled the rest of the semester at the end of our spring break, they canceled that following week of class? so we had a nice week-long break to sit at home and do nothing

13. Do you have any new hobbies?

i’ve been doing a lot of puzzles with my roommates. i also got them obsessed with mahjong for like a week. other than that i just play a lot of animal crossing

14. What are you out of?

we are not out of it but we are gonna need a lot more alcohol soon bc i am Tired!

15. What music are you listening too?

been listening to a lot of t swift - specifically lover and a couple other songs - which ik makes me a basic white girl but her lyrics just be speaking to me these days 😔

16. What shows are you watching?

mainly odaat and b99 since new eps are still coming out weekly. other than that i’ve just been rewatching a couple old shows like hannah montana and other disney channel classics. i also have seen parts of love is blind, the circle, tiger king, and zoey’s extraordinary playlist while my roommates were watching LMAO

17. What are you reading?

i recently read a wlw ya novel that i actually bought at a book store (very strange bc i haven’t bought a book for pleasure reading in Years LMAO) - the summer of jordi perez. other than that i’ve just been reading (and writing) fanfic aha

18. What are you doing for self care?

reading/writing fic, consuming an unhealthy amount of dark chocolate on a regular basis, and playing animal crossing

19. Are you exercising?

literally not at all! :^) a bitch is tired 24/7

20. How’s your toilet paper supply?

it could be better for an apartment of 5 ppl. but we’ll survive for now...

21. Have you made any changes to your hair during quarantine?

no but i wish i had the resources to semi-properly cut my hair cuz i wanted to get it cut short during this month and now i can’t :(

tagging: @novasforce, @justanalto, @barillapasta, @briel-arson, & anyone else who wants to do this! also feel free to skip this if i tagged you and you’re like nah LMAO

[pyxyltheamoeba]

Quarantine Questionnaire

Tagged by @wanderingnork like two weeks ago, but better late than never! Tagging @thedevilsviolinist, @lysslynne, @ghosttheconfusedteenager and anyone who wants to do this!

Are you staying home from work or school?

Yep! Chilling out, doing college online -- to be honest, it’s a nightmare, but it’s also my last semester before I graduate, so we’re just hanging in there as best we can. If you are staying home, who is with you? Mom, Dad, and older sibling @wanderingnork Are you a homebody?

YES. However, I am not this much of a homebody, and it’s starting to drive me a bit crazy, so I’m forcing my family to participate in things like Trivia Night, and Star Wars Night!

An event that you were looking forward to that got canceled?

I WAS GONNA GO SEE A STARTSET CONCERT IN MAY AND I WAS SO EXCITED I’VE LOVED THEM SINCE 2014 AND THIS WAS GOING TO BE MY FIRST TIME ACTUALLY GETTING TO SEE THEM LIVE. To be fair, it isn’t cancelled so much as delayed, BUT STILL.

What movies have you watched recently? What shows are you watching?

Just watched the 2019 new musical rendition of Pride and Prejudice -- 10/10 I actually bought it because it was wonderful! I also watched the 1999 Mummy a few weeks ago. Show-wise, I’m rewatching the campaign 2 of Critical Role since they’re on hiatus, but I’ve honestly been doing podcasts more than anything! Mbmbam, TAZ, Join the Party, the APA podcast, the Shakespeare Globe podcast, TED Radio Hour, RadioLab, all good stuff if you need something to listen to! What music are you listening to?

Right now, the biggest thing is All Time Low’s new album, Wake Up Sunshine -- Trouble Is and Monsters are complete bangers. I’ve also been listening to Autumn Orange (you can find them on Spotify) while I’m doing homework, and I’ve also found this guy named Ahmed Alshaiba who does some rocking oud covers of pop songs. Also Starset. Also Adam Lambert’s new album Velvet is just a fucking bop! What are you doing for self-care?

Hmmm, what a great question. I’m a tired, overworked college student, so self-care kind of consists of making sure I’m showering, keeping a regular sleep schedule, and staying in contact with friends. 31 days and a wake up until the semester is over, so I’m just counting down the days!

[bentenharuki]

I generally don’t do these but...

I will do this because it’s a badge of honor and a thank you for @todayintokyo who gives me a daily vibe out of my second fav Country in the world (first one is my own, of course. My messy, chaotic, genius Italy).

So for everyone interested (I won’t tag people either... if you are among my 250+ readers, do it as freely as you like to share this unexpected hard time along others. Sharing makes us all feel less stranded I guess :)) 

1. Are you staying home from work/school? Yep. My University (Milano Bicocca) holds in-house lessons and curses and also exams and testing are/will be online. What I miss most are the lab works and the exchanges with foreign schools. I took one a few months ago in London and I was supposed to have another in May but... NOPE, of course.

2. If you’re staying home, who’s there with you? I am alone in my apartment. At first it was supposed to be shared rent with somebody else but then my parents just bought this out and lent it to me. I know. I am spoiled. But very grateful for what I have. I always try to give back the best I can because no one has merits in being born in a family instead of another. (pieces of second-rate philosophy in all my LONG answers courtesy of my mum and her influence on me. She’s a University Professor and her field is.. guess what.. ETHICS PHILOSOPHY)

3. Do you have pets to keep you company? Nope. Not allowed. But I like cats. Cats. CATS. They are elegant, refined, very clean, and they give you consideration and affection ONLY if they like you. I prefer to conquer somebody’s love instead than to have it by default. Then I am naturally a cat person instead of a dog’s. But I like all animals (I like snakes as well, so my range is pretty wide ;)), even though I don’t feel missing any in  house. Generally I would be out of home most of the day and no pet would be happy in staying that much alone. I miss my grandparents’ kitty tho :)

4. Who do you miss the most? Family. Friends. Meeting new people when out. And... (is it fine to say it?) Well... in these lockdown times I miss... human touch. (You get what kind). I was seeing a guy when this all started and my old boyf also came back into the picture somehow. All on hold. And I avoid to think how that makes me feel because even in case I’d figure it out, what comes if one can’t act on the awareness? Exactly. So I put it all in a LONG pause. But yeah... I miss contacts. A LOT.

5. When was the last time you left your home? I go out every Thursday to buy all my grocery stuff. I am very methodic. My supermarket is pretty near and it’s BIG and I get there right before it opens (well... one hour almost before it opens, so I can be among the firsts in line). I look like a ninja: very sporty and technically dressed (like for a running competition!) with clothes and shoes which are easy washable, tech mask (it is for cycling competition, with filters specifically medical: the mask is washable as well after you’ve used it, while the filter is obviously not), cotton fit gloves and over them medical gloves (I can’t wear directly medical gloves because my skin is very sensitive and I suffer from nickel allergia, which makes latex gloves a NO NO directly on skin), teck googles which cover also the side of my face (those are from cycling items too) and of course PODS in my ear because I can’t live without music :)

6. What was the last thing you bought? I bought online a few garden tools for my biggest balcony. I have ZERO skill with plants (and I am supposed to become a biologist... the nerve! LOL) but I am keen at making grow at least rosemery for my recipes. I have a little peach tree and it is all fine so far. I have hope I can do better and anyway I have time now ;)

7. Is quarantine driving you insane or are you finally relaxed? I try to keep my routine as it was before. I wake up and perform all my tasks exactly as I was doing before this all started. I am VERY organized and to lax on that would ruin me, so I carefully focus on what I can control the best I can. It feels strange to say it maybe but... this way my mood isn’t particularly affected by this heavy revolution in my (and everyone elses’s) life.

8. Are you a homebody? NOPE. I love people, I love my Milan and its being always full of people everywhere. I love living in my town a TON, I love meeting friends anywhere, go dancing, I love to live my University life in this beautiful and renewed part of Milan; I like being surrounded by my people and meeting new ones. So being stuck at home would seem insufferable for me. But I learnt from this (there’s always something to learn in any experience) that I can be surprisingly ok with staying home too. I came to know better my neighbors. I feel a sense of community with everyone living nearby and I have come to love my domesticity too. It was a surprise for me first ^.^

9. What movies have you watched recently? In Italy, Italia 1 channel has had the WONDERFUL idea to rebroadcast all Harry Potter saga every Monday and Thursday. Today and tomorrow there are the last two installments, so I can say that is what I looked out the most for as in movie things these past weeks (funny how I never particularly adored the books of HP, I mean, I liked them but... being a Tolkien’s devotee Rowlings’ literary efforts always seemed lackluster to me.. and still I have always liked the movies. It’s incoherent I know ;)). But I have Sky at home so I can watch whatever movie I like to whenever I want to. And that leads to VERY little watch actually. I am reading a ton though. I watch what passes on in the National channels actually, out of digital and cable and decide to watch it or not. For instance last Friday Rai 1 (main Italian Channel) broadcasted one of my fav movies from the past three years, GIFTED (with Chris Evans and Octavia Spencer) and I rewatched it with immense pleasure.

10. An event that you were looking forward to that got cancelled? OLYMPICS. I was supposed to be back in Japan with a a couple of friends and my bro for experience the Olympics (especially the volleyball tournaments) between July and August and that got (of course) cancelled. We plan to move it all to next year of course. But it hurts SO MUCH because it was easily what I was looking forward to BEST for all 2020. Hands down.

11. What’s the best and worst thing you’ve had to cancel? Look up. For the other question, I never plan things I don’t like (or at least I try my best not to) and I almost never find myself in the position of being happy for something I had going on which I had to pass due to circumstances. I am a very honest (sometimes to the point of bluntness, though with age I got trained in the fine art of diplomacy, which for me is declined especially in the “IGNORE WHAT IS NOT WORTHY degree) person and if there is something I don’t like I tend to not get involved with it in the first place.

12. Do you have any new hobbies? Eh... the longest list... I love so many things. Sport don’t count as hobbies to me because I treat them as part of my daily life constantly. So take them off. I like to write, to draw, to paint... I like reading, I like learning... I am a tech geek; I like gaming (but that I have to cut it or it would absorb me too much)... I like TRAVELING (that is cut off too of course nowadays), and many other things so I guess I don’t literally have SPACE for new hobbies. My many ones makes it impossible to fall for new things though lately I am becoming a better cook out of needs ;)

13. What are you out of? My lists are made as soon my things become “two items in from having 0″. This way I can’t run out of anything. Did I say already I am a HUGE control freak? THAT ;)

14. What music are you listening to? My itunes collections lists so far 12376 ALBUMS. Then I have the random songs. Latest one I bought (because I buy them all) is Achille Lauro’s latest 16 Marzo 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb-9RESbeWA

I am also listening a lot to one of my bro’s fav bands Radiohead and as usual a lot to my beloved Imagine Dragons. My mum and dad are also telling me to listen to Bill Withers (who recently passed away) whole discography because he was amazing. I love many music genres. I love ALL which makes the spirit soar and rage and evolve and love and cry and hope.

15. What are you reading? So far in quarantine I read 5 books. I have now to start ORIGINS by Dan Brown. I pick the books I have left unread randomly and that was the pick this time (people gift me with books constantly because they know I am a bookworm when I have spare time).

16. What are you doing for self-care? Keep loving myself and life and the world exactly the way I used to before this all started.

17. Are you exercising? Yup. Tapis roulant, golf training, stepper (all in my house lucky me) and mat and weight training. I have a routine for which I have to train at least one hour a day. NO EXCEPTION. I miss swimming but I will do. I am also in recovery after January’s knee meniscus intervention so my schedules are also taking that into consideration.

18. How’s your toilet paper supply? I'm OK. :)

19. Have you made any changes to your hair during quarantine? Nope. I love to stylize my hair but I don’t have specific cuts. It grows long and then I play with them hairstyles: braids, buns, ponytails, partitions and the likes.. But I have bleached hair and I had to follow my hairdresser advice because I can’t allow ugly roots to take dominance of me ^.^ So I bought the necessary to self bleach them. No need to say as soon as I will be able to, Hairdressers and Massages and SPA will be my first destination ^.^ (beside visiting family and friends of course).

I am fairly sure I put lots of typos and mistakes in this but I have my online lesson just starting in 8 minutes and I can’t review this (I generally never do it anyway). So forgive me and have a beautiful day ;)

STAY SAFE OUT THERE!!! Hugs K.

[the-introvert-cafe]

Depression Diary #2

So I know I said I would try to make this a weekly thing, but I slipped up last week. Here we are on Hump Day, a week and a half later. Anyway, these things related to my depression for the time since my last post...

1) Journaling

I journaled every day last week! That’s something small but it gives me a sense of accomplishment. I like writing about my day and writing down my feelings.

2) Hung out with a friend all day

I’m an introvert and usually that means I’m a homebody. One of my friends came to town for a concert, and the day of we hung out for about 12 hours. We went to the IKEA, the mall, lunch and dinner, and I didn’t have any anxiety attacks! Additionally, I actually had no problem leaving the house. A couple months ago I wouldn’t have been able to leave the house for that long, if at all.

3) Pushed through a rough day

Last Friday was a rough day for me. I did not want to get out of bed, so I stayed in a couple hours than I normally do. However, I was still able to get out of bed. That day I learned how to do a complicated science conversion problem, read a book, painted, and showered.

4) Exercised

I exercised twice last week, and twice (so far) this week. I am trying to develop a workout regimen, working out every other day. It’s only partially working out but I’m still pushing through.

5) Created art

This week I have been getting back into drawing and last week I started painting. This is something I didn’t use to have the energy for.

Disclaimer: this post is in now way trying to say that your depression isn’t valid if you aren’t doing these things. This is just me documenting what the small accomplishments I’ve had. If your biggest accomplishment is eating and drinking water, then gold star! I’ve been there before. There will be better days, even if it does seem like an eternity. Keep going!

Always remember that your feelings are valid, and you do matter!

[imaginexwwe]

One Sided Love 2|4 (SETH ROLLINS)

(ANON) 2|2 as requested. Seth realizes he made a big mistake and actually loves Y/N (ANGST)

__________

Warnings: NONE

__________

Here I am, back home.

Back where I belong.

And honestly should’ve stayed.

“Dad…” I said in a complaining tone, after having my short lived stay with Seth being brought up, yet again. “I’ve already said what happened, me repeating it isn’t going to change anything.” I finished with a slight glare directed towards him.

I wasn’t the child to give their parents evil looks but from time to time, I felt that they deserved one or two.

Especially in this moment when it’s like a game of good cop, bad cop is being played out in my kitchen.

My dad being the bad cop.

Mom being the good cop, only because she’s barely said more than three words since hearing about the break up.

And me of course being the suspect that’s being interrogated.

Only thing missing was the bright light they shine in your eyes to make you squirm.

“I know sweetheart. I just don’t get it. One day you’re happy in love, basically packing up your entire life to be with him, now you show up home heartbroken over some break up…” My dad paused to give me a taste of my own medicine, well sorta, with a questionable look instead of a glare. “It just doesn’t add up.”

Well that’s what happened, I mentally shouted to him.

My lie may not sound realistic enough for him.

But that’s all he’s getting.

Because its the best i could come up with, while I was away crying my eyes out in a lonely hotel room.

“Break ups aren’t meant to make since. Hell sometimes I feel like life’s not even supposed to make since, cause mines sure doesn’t right now. But like I said a million times.” I obviously exaggerated. “I just realized traveling everyday wasn’t for me. I’m a homebody, and when I brought that up to Seth, it started a argument we couldn’t come back from. We were just both confused over a lot of things.”

Thankfully I’m not anymore, I concluded to myself while I fought back the painful realization from Seth.

My dad nodded for the first time since he’s stepped foot in my house.

Before that it was nothing but him shaking his head, and running his hands over his face while listening to my lie.

“Alright, Y/N.” He said doing it again. The head shaking thing, that is. “I’m just happy you’re back home. You don’t need to be chasing any guy unless that’s the guy who’s willing to give you his name.”

“Your dad’s right…” My mom’s soft voice was heard as the number of times she’d spoken rose to a shocking four.

I forced a smile before standing up.

“I know that now.” I mumbled.

__________

“Looks like it’s just you and me.” I sighed while my eyes focused on my reflection in my mirror.

My shirt held up, admiring my still unnoticeable pregnant belly.

Yes, pregnant.

This baby was still my biggest secret, and the real reason behind me running off to be with Seth.

And nope my parents don’t know.

I had just found out I was almost two months pregnant and the thought of being a family clouded my more realistic thoughts causing me to flying out literally the next day.

Cause see, I’m not 100% that girl that does something that most would see as irrational, but I am the girl that would do the most irrational things if that meant I had a chance of bringing a baby into a loving family.

With a loving dad.

All things considered when I look back on my childhood.

Being raised in two separate houses.

With step parents, that I honestly didn’t care too much about, especially my step dad.

Which lead me to being permanently moved to my dad’s, after my mom chose the side of her new husbands over mines after the fighting got to be too much.

Then I had to deal with my step mom, who wasn’t that bad compared to what I was dealing with but I still didn’t like her.

And to top all of that, neither, my mom or dad’s new marriage worked.

They both still ended up alone.

So yeah, I wanted this baby to have more.

To have happiness.

Or the happiness that I didn’t have as a child.

Doesn’t look like that would happen considering I couldn’t even keep Seth in my arms a good five minutes to tell him the news.

“But we will be okay…” I said with a real smile this time, as my hands rested on my belly. “Mommy promise.”

I had made a promise I intended to keep.

After all, if after all I had gone through with my parents, and was still able to have things work out and forge a solid loving relationship with my mom, I can make sure my baby has happiness.

Without having a dad.

__________

“Seth. What are you doing here…?” Y/N’s asked the man his daughter once loved, and who he, to be honest, never liked.

The older man watched as Seth smiled, and tried his best to get a good glimpse into the house.

A huge bouquet of Y/N’s favorite roses in his hands.

Even as the question came from his mouth, Y/N’s dad knew what the answer was.

He’s been on the other side of this situation one too many times.

He’s back for my daughter.

“I uh…” Seth cleared his throat, his chest rising and falling as he took in a deep breath. “I came to talk to Y/N…” He brought the flowers up holding them up between the older man, and himself. “I came to get her back. I was stupid and I said somethings but I love her and–”

Y/N’s dad shook his head.

Not because of Seth showing up here unexpectedly, or cause of him standing her confessing some love for his daughter but because she wasn’t here.

“Y/N doesn’t live here anymore, Seth.” He said with no emotion towards the younger man, even after he watched the roses slowly come down from between them and the smile fade from his face. “She moved almost four months ago.”

Seth nodded, glancing down at the ground for a few seconds before lifting his head back up.

“Well, can I get her address or something? I just really need to see her.”

Again Y/N’s dad shook his head, almost starting to feel bad for the younger man in front of him.

“Seth, my daughter’s not in New York at all so–”

“I understand that and I don’t care if she’s not in New York, I just–”

“You don’t understand…” The older man spoke sounding more stern. “Whatever break up you and my daughter had, left her heartbroken and she’s finally getting over that, so you suddenly showing up on my doorstep wouldn’t help the situation, just like me giving you her address so you can fly to her won’t help. The only thing that will help is you giving up on whatever made you come here. She’s happy again. Without you so let her go.”

Seth frowned taking in what he was just told.

“It’s not your call…” He shouted after being told to give up on the love of his life.

He did that once and it was a big mistake that he wished he realized the second she walked out of his hotel room.

“When it involves my daughter and my gran–” Y/N’s dad caught himself, quickly covering up his almost slip up. “When it involves my family, it involves me.” He corrected himself.

Both men threw silent glares at one another before one finally gave in.

Or gave up.

“Fine. Can you at least give these to her?” Seth asked, almost shoving the roses to Y/N’s dad. “I’m sure you’ll see her before I do.” He said making it clear in his own way that he felt he was being lied to about Y/N leaving the city.

Y/N’s dad nodded before taking the roses from Seth, soon closing the door and leaving him outside.

_________

Babe I know the way we left off was uncalled for, much like my behavior towards you. But you scared me when you told me you had packed up your life to fully share it with me. I just wasn’t ready to do the same. At least that’s what I thought in that moment but seeing you walk out that door, I knew I had messed up. I just couldn’t force myself to follow you. But I’m so sorry and I’m ready to make this right starting off with making you my wife…

_________

Y/N’s dad finished reading the card that was stuffed into the roses.

That must’ve been the part when he got down on one knee. He thought to himself while getting up from his seat in the living room.

The card was a sweet gesture but for Y/N’s dad it only made him question what really went on between them.

He had already known that what his daughter was telling, wasn’t or couldn’t be the truth.

She’d stayed gone on the road with Seth for sometimes weeks at a time, so why would a few days make a difference?

That was just a truth he would probably never know.

“Just like my daughter would never know of Seth’s visit, the roses, or this card.” He concluded out loud to himself while dropping the bouquet and the card that Seth poured his heart into, into the trash, and letting the lid slam down.

Part of him knew he shouldn’t have made that decision, that a phone call to Y/N would be better, that way she could make her own decision.

But he’s a dad.

A dad that doesn’t want to see his daughter hurting all over again.

Over the same guy.

So he walked away from the trashcan feeling a new found confidence about his actions.

Dads sometimes gave to make difficult decisions and this was his.

_________

Tag List: @panic-angel3314 @princesstoniii @pookiepookie8 @monochrome-decadance @cam0flug3 @finnbalorsbabygirl @blondekel77 @calwitch @eshia16 @moonchildcorbin @littleprincess1621 @gurl-writer @jadalecki-jackles

[smireyac]

fuck this year man u dont even get cute emojis in the title this time

so lemme just start by saying fuck 2020 

now that we’re on the same page, lets get into it

so i dont have to explain all the reasons why this year sucked bc u just need to google 2020 and there will be a million reasons why it was TOTAL FUCKING GARBAGE...... usually when so many people collectively say a year sucked ass, i can be like “oh it wasnt *all* bad for me, personally” haha not this year!!! 

its super fucking depressing to look at how hopeful and positive i was about 2020 a year ago..... ofc there was no way for me to have known it would all go to shit but i still really appreciate the tone i had set... reading over the previous reflections and seeing how harsh and negative i was @ myself made the softness of last years post super refreshing.... 

now i said i dont *have* to explain all the ways 2020 was shitty, but i am gonna explain the biggest reason this year was shitty for me, personally..... it might seem really small in comparison to the ways 2020 was shitty as a whole on like a global scale? but really the biggest reason 2020 sucked ass was i didnt get to really hang out with any of my friends in real life for 9 out of the 12 months of the year.... and really it was like the first week of march that shit hit the fan so like really it was only 2 months that we got to see each other....... if u rmbr p much every previous retrospective post ive made, there was a big emphasis on friends..... ive come to realize that im actually a very *extra*verted person??? despite my overall shyness and homebody attitude, i would always choose to hang out with people over being alone so stay-at-home orders FUCKING SUCKED??? when we all thought it would be over in a couple weeks, maybe a month it was fine?? hey its a good time to draw or catch up on that reading and/or writing i said i was gonna do maybe even start learning to drive?? it’ll be no big deal THEN it wasn’t over in a month and it wasnt gonna BE over anytime soon and no one important was doing anything about it and its an election year and black lives have always mattered and yet everything is so uncertain and

[inhale]

[exhale]

this year was..... a lot...... too much in fact

in 2018, i had said that i watched vox’s video on the year in 5 mins and cried... if i watched this year in five minutes, i dont think i would be able to breathe...... 

SO instead of making myself CRY..... lets try to think about any GOOD things that happened and think about what we can do to make 2021 good for ourselves:

GOOD THINGS THAT HAPPENED:

-i *didn’t* lose my job!! sad that so many others cannot say the same but im trying to make myself feel *better* not WORSE so i got to keep my job and i actually work more hours than before so!!

-i actually *did* learn to drive this year!!!! and im pretty good at it??? for someone that just started this year anyway?? i probably *would* have my DRIVER’S LICENSE right now if it weren’t for a surge in cases in a certain STATE that i happen to live in......... but w/e its fine i get more time to practice and im ~~**DEFINITELY**~~ going pass my test and get my license ~whenever it is that i can reschedule my dmv appt~

lmfao its so funny that last year, i was absolutely *dreading* learning to drive but i so fucking get why everyone was like ‘you need to learn how to drive’ i legit love it so much???? ive always been a car person but that was like purely for the aesthetic but now that i can drive im just....... WOOOW this really is what freedom feels like.... like ik that public transportation is amazing and i will always champion it but nothing beats being purely in control of your destination.... i also wanted to buy myself a car for my birthday even tho i couldnt really drive yet but then sien had to fix smthg on her car and it was EXPENSIVE AF and my mom was like “u dont need to buy a car yet” so i put the brakes [haha] on that... but soon... once i get my license,,, then i will have u my love................. so with that being “my most serious goal of 2020″ im glad i did it

-i was one of lucky ones and got unemployment when i couldn’t work so i have a lot of money saved in the bank??? pls no one steal my identity i wanna use that money to buy myself a car and/or for when we move out 🤞🤞 we’ll just have to wait and seeeeee....................

-i had mentioned playing dnd last year too and thats been going STRONG as hell thank goodness....... we couldnt keep playing in person but when we moved it to online, not only did we actually get to hang out a lot more, we made more friends??? introduced new people to the group?? its so good and in fact probably the only thing that kept me even a little bit sane this year...... 

-this is more of an honorable mention than an accomplishment but im this 🤏close to catching up with critical role and thats partially thanks to the pandemic lmao sooooo ??? 

aaaaaaand thats p much it lol i didnt really accomplish any of my other goals bc reasons................. but!!! as cliche as it sounds, with a light at the end of the tunnel, im confident that i can turn that all around this year.... so if 2016 was the year of change, 2017 was the year of getting used to shit, 2018 was the year of getting *too* used to shit and 2019 ended up being the year of friends, 2020 was the year of absolute shit and it doesn’t fucking count....... i learned a lot this year, biggest lesson of all is that life is short and if i were to have died at any point last year, what the fuck would i have to show for it??? so usually i end up giving a theme or name to a year after its done but this time im determined to make 2021 into what i want it to be SO i am declaring this year, the year of our lord 2021, the year of new experiences!!!! what the fuck does that mean you ask? well ill tell you!!! im gonna try new things this year!! make a very pointed effort to do things outside my comfort zone?? and for my goals this year, im going back to my old way of making a huge list of stuff u wanna do and seeing how much i can actuallly accomplish!! now i said theres a light but we really dont know when all this shit will end and life will go “bAcK tO nOrMaL” so whos to say ill get to accomplish any of it? at the same time, there are plenty of stuff on the list that i can do within the pandemic set parameters so!! lets see this list!!

2021 GOALS:

[check boxes bc there is no plain box emoji lmao]

☑️ read new books!! i’ll keep last years goal bc i didnt meet it and i have good reads now which tells me i just need to read 1.5 books a month to reach that goal!! huzzah!

☑️ watch new shows and new movies b4 u end up watching shit you’ve already seen a million times... i bought an old planner for 2020 instead of 2021 by accident but i hope it will help keep track of the movies/shows along with the books too!

☑️ listen to new music!! this years spotify wrapped was garbo it only had like 3 albums and a bunch of other shit i always listen to so i gotta fix that lmfao

☑️ write new stories!! i am comforted by the shit ive been writing for the past like 7 years but if my screenplay class taught me anything its that there are a lot of stories to tell and i got so many ideas floating around in this noggin!! instead of an arbitrary word count, why dont i say write idk 3 new stories, start to finish, in whatever medium idc screenplay, short story, comic, twine WHATEVER!! do it!

☑️ eat new food!! lmao this one seems the most silly to me but ive never had indian food, ive never had [not really anyway] korean food, i want to find new restaurants and eat new food!!! yum!

☑️ go on a road trip!!

☑️ visit some place ive never been before!!

☑️ go on a hike??

☑️ go to mexico again

☑️ ride a scary rollercoaster you previously wouldnt have

☑️ go to a club

☑️ get silly drunk fr 

☑️ FUCK IT go on dates!! self date friend dates sister date cousin dates R- Romantic... dates ??? FUCK IT!!! YEAH!! DATE ALL UP IN THIS BITCH!!

☑️ learn to use blender

☑️ animate something 

☑️ make a big painting

☑️ cosplay ???? AHH

☑️ learn to roller skate lmao u bought the skates and were so excited for them!! 

☑️ go somewhere SUPER DARK and go see some real stars!!!! 

☑️ and to top it all off, throw the airbnb house party that we’ve been talking about for MONTHS lmao 

hmmmm,, i think thats a good enough list for now ?? another thing i wanted to accomplish.... that im scared to speak into existence bc then i cant back out of doing it...........and it doesnt align with the whole “new” spirit of 2021 but.......... i want to like start making apartments for rent????? like i want to have something of it to show by, if not the 8th anniversary then by the end of the year HHUFF THERE I SAID IT......... no turning back now.......... 

alright its almost midnight on.... whats this? its already jan. 1st??? lmao yeah fuck it i didnt keep up with anything i normally did this year who cares i made up the rules i can break them too lol  

so yeah 

we’ll see what this year brings us,,,,

hoo boy

[starry-starry-night24]

Thank you @paopufruittt for the tag. I have no one to tag so whoever wishes to do it may do so.  What do you prefer to be called name wise? My name is Kimberley but I’m pretty easy going with names. I have many many nicknames (including Kiki, Fifi, Billie and more. Honestly as long as it’s not offensive you could call me anything and I would probably respond to it When is your birthday? February 24th Where do you live? On the outskirts of London, UK Three things you’re doing right now? This tag game, on a discord chat with my friends regarding animal crossing and playing Animal Crossing Four fandoms that have your peak interest right now? MLQC, any of the Ikemen games, Animal Crossing, Haikyuu How has this pandemic been treating you? It’s been so-so. I’m very much a homebody so not having to go out and socialise much? GREAT. More time to play video games? AMAZING!  However, not being able to see my partner? horrible. Not being able to see my family? horrible. Not being able to go to my work and be with my kids? HATE IT. But overall it’s not been too bad.  A song you can’t stop listening to now? I mean I’ve just been listening to the All 80′s station on Amazon Music (I love me some 80′s) so don’t have a particular song on repeat at the moment Recommend a movie. Oh my gosh I have too many! Any Studio Ghibli movie (but personally my fave is Kiki’s Delivery Service), Footloose, Fly Away Home, ANY DISNEY MOVIE (in particular Hercules, Lion King and Lion King 2), Billy Elliot (I must have seen that film a million times and I still love it. Definitely my comfort film) How old are you? 26 :) School, University, Occupation, Other?  I work in a nursery (1-5 year olds) and I love it so much. It’s hard work BUT SO WORTH IT! Do you prefer heat or cold? Heat. Heat. HEAT!!! Give me the sun, the warmth. I am perpetually cold so I need the warmth.  Name one fact about you that others might find unusual. the only thing I can think of is that I always connect words to songs and will start singing them randomly (or whistling the tune) - I personally don’t think this is unusual though?  Are you shy? HECK YES. I’m very introverted and have social anxiety. It takes a long time for me to come out of my shell but if I’ve known you for a long time and I get comfortable around you I am the complete opposite.  Do you have preferred pronouns? She/her (but honestly I don’t care as long as it’s not offensive) Biggest pet peeve? Lying. I am a very truthful person who wears their heart on their sleeve. I am also very trusting (sometimes TOO trusting) and I have been hurt many many many times by people lying. Don’t get me wrong, lying about the little stuff I don’t mind too much (I may get a little bit annoyed) but it’s the big stuff. If you break my trust, that’s it. I’m done.  What is your fave ‘dere’ type? I don’t think I have one in particular...maybe Tsundere? I do tend to like the tsundere characters in anime.  Rate your life 1-10, 1 being really crappy and 10 being best it could ever be. Currently a 5/6? I haven’t seen my partner in over 10 weeks, I’ve not seen either of my best friends for months. I’ve not been to work since march and am constantly worried about money EVEN though I’m getting paid. And today I woke up to find my  biological dad (an arsehole of a man) sent me a friend request on facebook even though I told him explicitly to “fuck off out of my life” when I turned 18 because of all the shit he put me through. (needless to say I rejected and blocked him) However, I have lived through worse so it’s not too bad. What is your main blog? This is my main blog List your side blogs and what they are used for. I have no side blogs, so please excuse the shitshow that is my blog as I post all my likes/fandoms onto my blog.  Is there anything you think people need to know about you before becoming friends with you? I’ve been through a lot of shit in my life so can empathise with anyone. I am an open book so if you want to ask just ask, I will always answer. If you need someone to listen I’m here (I won’t promise to try and give advice but I’m a shoulder to cry on and someone to vent to if that is what you need.) 

[consulting-celiac-in-the-tardis]

13 New Healthy Habits That Changed My Life in 2018

New blog post! Now that the New Year is almost here, New Years Resolutions are a common topic of conversation...and while I rarely make a strict resolution, I do love making small changes to my everyday routine that add up to a BIG impact. So I thought I’d join The Mighty’s #52SmallThings challenge and share 13 small healthy habits - in diet, exercise and just everyday life - that made my life a 1000% better this year.

Like always, I want to make it clear that I'm not a dietician, nutritionist or doctor. I'm just a girl with two chronic illnesses who likes sharing what lifestyle choices help me thrive, mentally and physically! So if you do want to make big changes in your life in 2019 (or even enact some of the bigger changes in diet, exercise, etc. that I mention in this post), I recommend talking to a medical professional first. But if you're looking for ideas of healthy New Years resolutions or small tweaks you can make in 2019 that could improve your whole life, keep reading to find inspiration in what habits worked for me!

1. Replacing half of my TV time with audiobooks.

My college roommates could attest to the fact that I used to be addicted to Netflix, Hulu and other streaming sites. I’m a natural multitasker, so I’d always have some show playing in the background as I blogged, did chores, cooked or surfed the web. And I still watch TV shows regularly (check out my list of awesome food-related documentaries on Netflix if you need new show recommendations!). However, I’d say I watch a quarter of what I used to...and that’s because I’ve started listening to audiobooks instead!

Not only does this let me read more books during the school year (when I rarely have time to physically “read” anything beyond my assigned books) but audiobooks have also been shown to improve critical listening, comprehension, vocabulary, pronunciation - whether you're a student or an adult reader. Plus, listening to audiobooks could also save you money in the long run if you stop paying for cable or pay for just one streaming service. I get all of my audiobooks from the library using OverDrive, so I’d highly recommend seeing if your library offers the same OverDrive resource.

2. Finding teas that I actually love to drink.

I actually have my sister to thank for starting this healthy habit since her Christmas gift to me last year was a big bundle of gluten free, decaffeinated tea. Before her gift, I always wanted to like tea but never drank it regularly. This past year, though, Bigelow's Lemon Ginger Herbal Tea + Probiotics and Orange & Spice Tea have become my favorite way to warm up on a very cold day in Minnesota. Plus, I’ve found that drinking a warm cup of tea is a great way to practice self-care on days when my stomach or digestion is acting up. So whether you’re trying to stop drinking coffee and want to get your caffeine from tea instead or just want the health benefits that can come from certain types of tea, drinking more tea is an easy New Years resolution or small, healthy habit to try.

PS - that glass straw is from Foods Alive, for whom I serve as an ambassador, and it is super awesome!

3. Being LESS strict with my diet.

I know that especially around the New Years, people are usually trying to eat healthier and cut out a lot of the treats they’ve been enjoying during the holidays. But I’ve been taking a different approach in 2018 - and it’s been working so well, I don’t plan on changing it in 2019: I’ve been eating a little bit of anything and everything (that’s gluten free). Like I’ve written about before, I’ve experimented with a LOT of different diets since my celiac disease diagnosis. I’ve tried paleo. I’ve tried eating super clean with little to no processed foods. And for a lot of 2017 and 2018, I ate vegan. But in the latter half of last year, I continued loosening up on my diet. I ate meat when I felt like it and more ice cream in one semester than I probably ate in all 2017. I experimented with different gluten free foods, like hummus and freezer meals. And you know what? I’m happier. I’m at a healthier weight (more on that below). And it's been pretty freakin' delicious to eat ground turkey with my dinner or ice cream with my night snack.

This isn’t to say that you should go crazy on whatever foods (if any) you’ve been limiting lately. And obviously there are some foods that DON'T do well with people (like gluten for people with celiac disease), and it IS an act of self-care to avoid those triggers. However, I did want to share my experience to show that eating “perfectly” or eating a certain diet isn’t always better than just eating what your body craves and going with the flow.

4. Establishing a regular weight-lifting routine.

One of the other biggest reasons I think I gained some curves and muscle in 2018? I started lifting weights on a regular basis...and progressively lifting heavier. I’ve flirted with the weight room since junior year of college, but I always did more cardio than weight lifting. And I still do a good amount of cardio (this gal loves a stair stepper workout!), but leg injuries forced me to dive deeper into the realm of weight lifting, and I’m really glad they did! I’m certainly no pro at lifting weights and still don’t lift very heavy compared to many people, but I love how strong I feel now and getting to challenge myself by slowly racking up the weight.

Nowadays, it seems a LOT more socially acceptable for women to lift weights and use the weight room at gyms. However, it definitely can feel intimidating to walk into a weight room full of huge dudes who all seem to know exactly what they’re doing. Just know that getting to see and feel yourself getting stronger is so worth that initial discomfort or the days it takes you to figure out weight lifting equipment and proper form. Gaining some extra curves along the way has just been a bonus!

5. Listening to podcasts when I'm working out or doing chores.

This year also marked the start of my love for podcasts. While I listened to them every so often before, now I go through a handful of episodes each week, and it’s definitely given me some new topics to bring up in conversations. Plus, depending on the podcast I listen to, I often feel less alone about certain struggles I’m going through (like the general chaos of life in your 20s) and learn new skills related to mindfulness, meditation, gratitude, etc.

Of course, it is important to give yourself a break and not be listening to something every single minute of your day. But if you want to replace some of your TV with informative or entertaining podcasts, or just want to learn some new facts in your spare time, some of my fave podcasts right now are:

Trader Joe’s (Inside) - all about Trader Joe’s, as told from various employees on the inside 

How I Built This - each episode features an interview with a new entrepreneur about how they succeeded at building their company or brand 

Freakonomics Radio - in-depth conversations with various experts on interesting topics ranging from the obesity crisis to the connection between religion and happiness 

Oprah’s Supersoul Conversations - it’s Oprah and she’s interviewing a bunch of crazy cool people about deep takeaways they’ve gotten from life 

That's So Maven - I only just discovered that The Healthy Maven (an awesome blog) has its own, equally awesome podcast all about health, wellness and everyday life.

6. Saying "yes" to social events I initially felt on the fence about going to.

To be completely honest...I’m a homebody. 9/10 Friday nights, I’m chilling in my apartment with Netflix and homemade granola. But in 2018, I tried to say “yes” to more invitations, even if they were out of my comfort zone. And as a result, I... ...stayed up until 2 AM dancing at a club in downtown Minneapolis. ...went to a concert held by one of my professors and discovered that tipsy people really like my fuzzy black scarf.

...almost froze seeing Christmas lights in Mankato but also managed to see some real-live reindeer! ...am visiting a special someone in San Diego for part of my Christmas break. (And if you notice that I'm a bit quiet on the blog/social media next week, this visit is why!) I wouldn’t say that everything I said “yes” to in 2018 was a complete success. But I’m going to start 2019 with a heck of a lot of good memories that I wouldn’t have made if I’d said “no” to everything that was a little out of my comfort zone.

7. Saying "no" to things I felt like I SHOULD do...but actually didn't want or need.

At the same time, though, healthy living for me involves saying “no” to a good amount of social or work invitations. The truth is, grad school is exhausting...especially when you’re also working several jobs and have two chronic illnesses. So a lot of the time, I can’t do all the things I want to. I still feel guilty sometimes for not being a “good enough” MFA student since I miss so many department-related events. And a big part of me wishes I could live off of 4 or 6 hours of sleep like other college students and dedicate those extra hours to blogging more or doing more freelance work or spending more time with friends.

But my body doesn’t work like that. And if you have your own health struggles or just have the tendency to say “yes” to things out of obligation instead of actual enjoyment...maybe the best New Years resolution is saying “no” more. Staying in on a Saturday night if that’s what your mind or body needs. Making friends with people who understand when you need some alone time. And, at the most basic level, saying “yes” to your own needs BEFORE saying “yes” to anything else. Personally, I know that’s one “goal” I’m always going to be working on, including in 2019!

8. Starting each morning with a solo dance party.

This year of grad school, I’m teaching an 8 AM Intro to English Composition class. And I’m not gonna lie. Sometimes it’s hard to get myself out of bed, across campus and excited to teach that early in the morning. This last semester, though, I’ve started playing even just a few minutes of my favorite songs when I wake up, and I think it’s definitely helped make me a little more motivated to head off to class. Research even reports that listening to music that you like triggers the release of dopamine, or the “happy hormone” in the brain. So the next time you have an early morning you’re not looking forward to or just need a pick-me-up anytime in the day, groovin’ to some of your favorite tunes might help!

9. Foam rolling after every single workout.

I don’t really have much to say about this except do it. 2018 was the first year that I actually committed to foam rolling any time I do a leg workout, and it has seriously done wonders for my soreness and healing from my leg injuries.

10. Eating more plant-based protein...but not restricting myself from meat.

I already mentioned this a little bit earlier on in the post, but it was a big enough change to deserve its own bullet. If you follow me on Instagram, you probably noticed that over the past year and a half, I’ve been eating more hummus and beans than my old favorite of sweet potato salmon sliders. During that time, I love that I was able to slowly increase my stomach’s tolerance for legumes (by eating a verrrrry small amount of beans and then working up) and I’ve really enjoyed experimenting with new plant-based foods like pulled BBQ jackfruit or homemade hummus.

But over the last few months, I’ve added meat back into my diet. And you know what? I’ve found that’s what works best for me. Now I'm not saying that a vegan diet can't work for people or isn't a good idea. If you don't want to eat meat or eggs or dairy and that works for you, great! And I can honestly say that a vegan and gluten free diet can still be super delicious. But if 2018 taught me anything, it's that every body thrives on a different diet. And I just hope that anyone who wants to experiment with a new diet in 2019 or make a healthy eating New Year's resolution remembers that!

11. Sharing regular phone calls with old friends.

I was warned about how hard it would be to stay in contact with college friends after graduation, and that’s definitely true. Last year, though, I tried to make it more of a priority to catch up with old friends and it felt super rewarding. As anyone who’s ever been (or is presently) in their 20s knows, it’s a really weird time. People are doing everything from still living at home with their parents to getting married and having kids to starting their career to being in school like me. And during weeks when I feel really unsure about what the heck I was doing with life, it helps a lot to have someone to talk to who knows me but is now doing something totally different than I am.

12. Turning off push notifications for my social media apps.

I’m not gonna lie. I spend a loooot of time on my phone. But one step that did help in 2018 was turning off push notifications for social media apps. A 2015 study actually tested the effects of saying "no" to push notifications and found that people were more productive and less distracted in the first 24 hours. And when researchers checked in with study participants one year later, two-thirds had chosen to keep their notifications off, increasing their long-term chances of being less stress and more focused. Now, I wouldn’t say that muting notifications has turned me into a super productive superwoman. But I think it does help keep me from getting distracted by every Facebook comment or Instagram direct message when they happen - and, at the very least, no harm was done by turning my push notifications off!

13. Celebrating the moments when I walk by the mirror and think, "Dang girl, you're lookin' good!"

Body image with celiac disease is always a complicated topic, and I definitely haven't discovered the secret to self-love with chronic illness. BUT in 2018, I did get a lot better at celebrating the moments when I do feel at home in my body, no matter what surprises it throws my way. And here's the biggest thing about self-love and self-care I learned in 2018: it doesn't have to be complicated! It doesn't require fancy face masks or a morning ritual of staring at the mirror and saying everything you love about your body. It can be as simple as taking a selfie or taking an extra moment to smile in the mirror on days you're feeling really good.

If you want to step up your whole self-love and self-care routine, check out my posts (here and here) on some simple and quick self-love activities you can try. But don't forget to get the most out of the little moments, too, when you feel awesome and can celebrate that vibe!

My Biggest Goal for 2019

Even as I'm finishing up this post on Christmas Day, it blows my mind that 2018 is almost over. It was not a perfect year (is there even such a thing?!?) but it was a year full of growth and laughter and adventures and challenges and successes...and new healthy habits that I'm definitely going to keep up in the New Year! Like I said earlier in this post, I rarely make New Year's resolutions, and that isn't changing in 2019. But I do like picking a word to focus on...and in 2019, my word is going to be "open." Open to new opportunities, even if they scare me or aren't what I was planning or expecting. Open to changes in my routine, even if routine is what I'm most comfortable with.

And, of course, open to discovering more habits that will help me live a happy, healthy life! What's one healthy habit that's changed your life? Tell me in the comments! via Blogger http://bit.ly/2ERawqq

[iprayunceasingly-blog]

The Siena Option: What one saint did in the face of a troubled Church

New Post has been published on https://pray-unceasingly.com/catholic-living/catholic-news/the-siena-option-what-one-saint-did-in-the-face-of-a-troubled-church-2/

The Siena Option: What one saint did in the face of a troubled Church

Siena, Italy, Dec 26, 2018 / 05:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- When St. Catherine of Siena was alive in 14th century in what is now Italy, it looked like it was the end of the world.

The Bubonic plague was sweeping through Europe in waves, which would ultimately wipe out 60 percent of the population. The Papal States were divided and at war. Rich churchmen were buying their positions; bishops were making sure their family members would succeed them. The pope had been living in France for 70 years, and though he would return to Rome, the Western Schism happened shortly after, with three claimants to the See of Peter.

“She lived in really terrible times,” Fr. Thomas McDermott, O.P., a St. Catherine of Siena scholar, told CNA. “And people really did think it was the end of the world.”

The state of the world, and the Church today, is different, though in some ways no less troubled. The new wave of sex abuse scandals and their alleged cover-ups have rocked anew the Church throughout the world.

When St. Catherine talked about the Church, she often referred to it as the Body of Christ, in the tradition of St. Paul, McDermott noted.

“She says the face of the Church is a beautiful face, but we’re pelting it with filth,” he said. “It has a beautiful face, that’s the divine side of the Church, but we human beings are pelting it; we’re disfiguring the body of Christ through our sins.”

While the current abuse crisis and related scandals have left many lay Catholics wondering how to respond, some Catholics have suggested looking to the saints – like Catherine of Siena – for guidance.

Who was Catherine?

Catherine was born March 25, 1347, the 25th child born to middle-class parents in Siena; about half of her siblings did not survive childhood.

At a young age, she became very devout, and resisted her parents when they attempted to have her marry the husband of one of her sisters who had died. Instead, she chose to fast and cut off her hair to make herself less desirable. She would ultimately vow her virginity to Christ, and experienced a mystical marriage to him around the age of 21.

Instead of entering a convent, however, Catherine chose to live a life of prayer and penance at home as a tertiary, or third order, Dominican. She spent several years in near-seclusion, in a cell-like room under the steps in her parents' house, spending her days in dialogue with Christ.

After several years of this at-home novitiate of sorts, while in her mid-20s, she heard Christ telling her to lead a more public life.

“He said now you have to go out and share the fruits of your contemplation with others,” McDermott said. “That’s very Dominican, it’s from the Summa of St. Thomas Aquinas.”

Catherine obeyed, and rejoined her family in their daily activities. She also began to serve the poor, and soon became renowned for her charitable works. She gathered a following of young men and women – many of them from rich families of high social status – because they enjoyed her warm personality and her holiness.

Catherine goes public – and gets political

Once she stepped back into a more public life, she became more connected and in tune with the happenings in the Church.

At the time, Gregory XI was living in Avignon and was at war with the Republic of Florence. He placed it under interdict; essentially the equivalent of excommunicating a city – they were cut off from receiving the sacraments, among other sanctions.

Through her life of prayer and her consultation with her spiritual directors, Catherine began corresponding with papal representatives and the pope himself, attempting to broker peace in Florence and advocating for reform where she saw corruption.

“The papal nuncio to Florence in Catherine’s time is grossly hated by the powerful families in Florence, and he’s hated because the powerful families feel that they’ve been mistreated by the Pope,” said Catherine Pakaluk, an associate professor of economics at Catholic University of America and a devotee of St. Catherine.

“She’s writing to the nuncios, she’s writing to the pope, and she’s trying to prevent this internal Catholic war between these parts of the Papal States,” she said. “And this is before the Great Schism when things get really bad.”

Tempers and tensions were so high that the papal nuncio of Florence was eventually skinned alive in the streets.

“So when we think about things today and how shocking and horrifying (they are), you know, things were pretty bad then,” Pakaluk noted. “The nature of the particular crimes is different, but the tensions were really high and these folks were quite violent.”

Catherine was drawn into the Church politics of her time not because of a misplaced sense of ambition, McDermott said, but because she loved the Church as she loved God.

“It wasn’t her motive to be involved in the politics of the Church, but what was best for everyone and for the church led her into politics,” he said. “But it’s not like she was interested in politics itself.”

As part of her attempts at solving the problems of the Church, Catherine joined the call of many other Catholics of the time for the Pope to return to Rome.

After some correspondence, Catherine set out on foot with her followers to go meet with the pope in person.

“It was a remarkable thing for Catherine who was a homebody to take off on foot for France with her disciples, but she was prepared to do anything for the Church because the Church was the Body of Christ,” McDermott said.

After scores of people pleading with the pope to return to Rome between 1309 and 1377, St. Catherine seemed to prove most persuasive.

During her visit, Catherine referenced parts of the pope’s dream, about which he had told no one.

“It was astounding to him (that she knew about the dream) and he took that as a clear sign from God that he was speaking to him through this woman,” McDermott said. So after decades of exile, within a few weeks of Catherine’s visit, the pope packed up his things and headed back to Rome.

“She’s a great example of a laywoman who had strong convictions about the Church and was not timid about expressing them,” said Dr. Karen Scott, an associate professor of Catholic Studies and History at DePaul University in Chicago.

“It was a very different situation from today, so it would be a mistake to think that it’s an automatic equivalent” to the problems of the current Church, Scott told CNA.

“She was living a long time ago and it was a different time and a different Church and different historical set of circumstances…but she was aware of all sorts of problems with the clergy and she believed they ought to be reformed.”

The legend of the opinionated laywoman

What Catherine excelled at in her correspondence with the pope and other clergy was her ability to balance her no-punches-pulled critiques with her profound respect for the Church and the papacy, Scott said.

“There’s a beautiful balance between clear thinking and the ability to see the flaws…but at the same time to be enormously respectful of the Church and the papacy in particular and to base all of this on her deep spiritual life, a life of deep prayer,” Scott said.

“She’s a laywoman who had strong opinions and views on (Church matters) and took action, and amazingly they paid attention,” Scott added. Amazingly, because she was an uneducated lay woman from a modest background who wasn’t particularly well-known.

“They listened to her because what she was saying was so obviously right and sincere and coming out of her prayer and the Gospel,” Scott said.

In total, Catherine wrote at least 381 letters in her lifetime. Three years before her death, she also began dictating “Il Libro” (“The Book”), a collection of her spiritual teachings and conversations with God that became known as “The Dialogue”.

A significant portion of her Dialogue, chapters 110-134, gives insight into her thoughts on the Church reforms needed at the time. Catherine relayed that the “Eternal Father” (how she frequently refers to God the Father) had told her that the biggest problem facing the secular priests of her time was money, while the biggest problem facing priests in religious orders was homosexuality.

Her frank critiques were considered so indelicate that they were excised from many of the English translations of her book, McDermott said.

“She was writing this in the 1300s, she believes it was dictated to her by the Eternal Father, and she’s always a direct hitter, she doesn’t hold anything back,” McDermott said.

But while her dialogues contain punchy critiques of the clergy, she also urged respect for them at the same time, as they are “Christs” on earth who bring Jesus to the world through the Eucharist.

“You should love them (priests) therefore by reason of the virtue and dignity of the Sacrament, and by reason of that very virtue and dignity you should hate the defects of those who live miserably in sin, but not on that account appoint yourselves their judges, which I forbid, because they are My Christs, and you ought to love and reverence the authority which I have given them,” the Eternal Father told Catherine, as recalled in her Dialogue.

While Catherine was successful at bringing the papacy back to Rome and brokering peace between Florence and the Eternal City, the period known as the Great Schism, or the Western Schism, would begin just two years before her death.

“It wasn’t crystal clear who the real pope was,” McDermott said, noting that even some saints who are now canonized had sided with opposing claimants at the time. “So that must have also seemed like the end of the world.”

“St. Catherine was totally horrified,” Scott said, “because for her, Church unity was really essential.”

During this time, French cardinals had elected a leader as the Pope, and later on, the Council of Pisa also elected a claimant. St. Catherine sided with the claimant residing in Rome, Urban VI, and moved there in the last few years of her life to advocate for him and offer intense prayer and penance for the Church.

When she died in 1380, a result of illness brought on by her extreme penances, the western Church was still in schism, and would remain that way until the conclusion of the Council of Constance in 1418.

“Some historians, I think specifically less faithful ones or who don’t have a life of faith…will say well Catherine really failed, because her goal was to bring the Pope back to Rome to heal the divisions in the Church, but how could she have succeeded if the greatest schism of the Western Church occurs after she dies?” Pakalu said.

“I don’t know that’s quite the right view. We never know the hypothetical of history, we never know what would have happened without Catherine’s influence, and she does at least initially bring the Holy Father back to Rome before she died and that was pretty important,” she said.

“My guess is that the Church was able to survive the Great Schism because she got certain things lined up before she died.”

Catherine’s lessons for Catholics today

“What would she say today? I think that’s a dangerous question,” Scott said, “because we can’t say how she would relate to the current issues and complex questions, except that she would know very well what the moral stance is, that bishops and priests and lay people should all follow.”

Catherine would set the highest of standards for honesty and integrity and pastoral concern for the laity, Scott said, as well as the highest standards “for avoiding schism and being close to the papacy.”

“Beyond that I think she would advise people to take the time to pray and discern and not have knee-jerk reactions to things,” she added.

Pakaluk said that she thinks there are three lessons to be learned from Catherine’s life and example, with the first being that any activist role in Church politics must be rooted in deep prayer and love for the Church.

“I wouldn’t say don’t get involved until you’re as holy as Catherine … but to do activism or public ministry without that deep commitment to prayer would be completely absurd and would not be faithful to her life or her example,” she said.

The second lesson, she said, would be to take the long view of history. The Church has survived hard times and scandal before, and she can survive them again.

“I am horrified at outraged at what I’m seeing and hearing about” regarding the current scandals, Pakaluk said.

“But I’m not personally disturbed, my faith isn’t challenged, because I’m so familiar with (ages) in the Church’s past, particularly and especially the one that Catherine lived through, in which there was so much corruption and so much disappointment on the part of the faithful with respect to the hierarchy and some members of the clergy,” she said.

“So it doesn’t disturb me because I think well, why would it be different? Why would we think we’re better? Why do we think we’re completely immune to some of the things that have occurred in the past?”

The third thing Catholics can learn from St. Catherine is that it is possible to be a saint even in the most trying times in the Church, Pakaluk said.

“She’s there in Heaven, she ran the race, she made it,” she said. “We can look at her not only like ‘we can do it too’, but she’s our older sister, and we can follow her and ask her to intercede for us.”

McDermott said that Catholics should be heartened by St. Catherine’s witness because even while she prolifically wrote about the problems of the Church, she never once hinted that she was thinking about leaving.

“She would’ve said don’t leave the Church, this is the human, sinful side of the Church that is being reflected. And the good of the church – stay and purify it,” he said.

“Our love for Christ and the Church – the two are inseparable – is shown in hard times when it doesn’t feel very good to be a Catholic, that we keep on walking with Christ and the Church.”

This article was originally published on CNA Sept. 16, 2018.

CNA Daily News – Europe

[demitgibbs]

Raising the Bar: Twist Toasts 25th Anniversary

In the nightclub industry, it’s rare to find a venue celebrating five years in business, let alone 25. But Twist will be doing just that on Wednesday, June 27. Owners Richard Trainor and Joel Stedman have assured me that this will be a party for the ages.

“In our wildest dreams, we never thought Twist would go 25 years,” says Trainor. “It’s been an extreme honor to be part of this community for so very long. We could have never done it without our amazing crew. But of course, we owe everything to our fantastic guests, who join us day after day, night after night from around the world. May the lights never go dim, let’s keep the party going forever.”

It sounds like the anniversary blowout this week will make a good start on that goal. Complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be flowing when the doors open at 9pm. The first 200 guests will also receive a special 25th-anniversary DVD, mixed and produced by everyone’s favorite Twist VJ, Nathan P. Smith. Collectors’ items!

The evening will also feature special performances by many of the stars who have made Twist so successful over the last quarter century. Resident DJ Sushiman will provide the music for the evening, and there will be shows by the infamous TP Lords in the main room. Downstairs in the Latin Room, Josefina and cast will be bringing the laughs with La Fiesta de la Croqueta Comedy Show.

But not all the stars will be on stage Wednesday night. “We’ve always thought that no matter who you hire as entertainment, it’s really the bartenders that are some of your biggest stars,” says Stedman.

“Nathan has been with us nearly 20 years and Mario more than 10. This is a classy team that brings it every night they work. Derek started out as a bar back when I was bartending many years ago, and we’ve been working together ever since. Derek and relative newcomer David create a unique team that keeps their guests giggling all night. Aquiles started very young and has grown into a real star. Antonio and Aquiles have made a sensational team in the Bar 5 Latin Room that has proven to be super popular. We celebrate all of our great teams of bartenders that make it happen night after night.”

We sat down with a few of these superstars behind the bars.

David and Derek behind the bar

David, Cocktail Bar

What’s it been like working with Derek all these years?

Derek’s greatest quality is that he is genuine. Definitely one of a kind. I’m happy to work alongside him each week. He’s been an amazing friend.

How did you get your bartending job?

I applied at an open casting and was chosen out of many applicants. I got lucky.

How long have you been there?

Nearly seven years now.

What’s the best thing about working at Twist? 

My favorite part of the job is meeting so many different people from all over. And having a family relationship with my coworkers.

Tell us something people would be surprised to find out about you?

I’m a geek but not a nerd.

Your bar is now smoke-free after 10pm. How’s that going?

Personally, it’s amazing. I’ll probably live longer. I think most people expect a nonsmoking environment. Since our bar is in the first room you enter at Twist and it’s nonsmoking, people don’t think twice about it. Twist has a place for everyone. 

What’s your favorite drink to make and why?

Martinis are my favorite because you gotta put your hips into it when you shake. A perfect pour makes for bragging rights and smiles all around. 

What’s the best pick-up line you’ve heard across the bar?

My favorite is, “Are you from Tennessee? Because you’re the only 10 I see!”

Derek, Cocktail Bar

How long have you worked alongside David?

Nearly five years now.

What’s that been like?

It’s been a blast. We get along so well. We have a lot of fun and we take care of each other. We’ve got each other’s back.

How did you get your bartending job?

One of our managers, John Roberts, was a friend of mine. He introduced me to Joel, who was bartending at the time, and I met Richard Trainor.

What’s the best thing about working at Twist?

The feeling of family among the staff — and getting to meet new people from around the world. I love working here!

What’s your favorite drink to make and why?

I love making Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, Long Island Ice Teas, Cape Cods, Cube Libres, and Margaritas. And opening bottles of beer!

What’s the best pick-up line you’ve heard across the bar?

So many pick-up lines! “Is your momma a chicken? Because you’re eggcellent.” “Are you sure you’re not a parking ticket? Because you’ve got fine written all over you.”

I like the funny ones that make me laugh. The really good ones will even give me the giggles when I think about them later.

#td_uid_1_5b2bbbfb6cde1 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 { background: url(https://hotspotsmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Twist-B-160x120.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; }

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Nathan and Mario taking a break

Nathan, Video Bar

How long have you worked alongside Mario?

Almost a decade. He did move to New York for three years, but we never stopped communicating so I never really count that time apart. 

What’s working with him been like?

It’s been great. There’s nothing like forming a true friendship at work and having that relationship flourish outside of work as well. When Mario and I are together behind the bar, we work really well together. And at the end of our shift, we have the best time joking and letting go of all the stress.

How long have you been at Twist?

I’ve worked here for 18 years as of June 16. 

What’s the best part of working there?

I’ve grown up here. Literally. And Richard Trainor has guided me in work and in life. Honestly, he’s been one of my main supports, and that makes Twist feel like my second home. I am a very lucky man to be able to say that.

Tell us something people would be surprised to find out about you?

I’m a homebody, I live for my three Italian Greyhounds and my cat. Most people believe bartenders are wild and crazy people, but I’m the complete opposite.

What’s your favorite drink to make and why?

My favorite drink to make — and I know my fellow bartenders will not agree — is a Mojito. I love sweet drinks, and I make a killer Loaded Mojito. It goes down smooth but has a kick to it.

What’s the best pick-up line you have heard across the bar?

I have yet to hear a good pick-up line. I think when a true connection is made a pick-up line is not necessary.

Mario, Video Bar

How did you get your bartending job at Twist?

A friend introduced me to the general manager and, as they say, the rest was history.

How long have you been there?

I’ve been working for Twist 11 years.

What’s the best thing about working there? 

The best part is all the great people I’ve met. I’ve made some of my best friends while here.

What’s your favorite drink to make and why?

A Lemon Drop: raspberry, blueberry, or good, old regular. They taste so good and they hit the spot. My customers seem to really love them.

What’s the best pick-up line you’ve heard across the bar?

A customer once told me he lost his keys and left his phone and wallet in the car. He said he lived 30 minutes away, and he asked if he could stay at my place until his brother woke up to bring him his spare key in the morning. [Laughs.] By closing time, he had miraculously found his keys.

What’s the funniest thing that’s happened on the job?

A friend came down to visit, a friend who said he could hold his liquor. I told him I thought he was overdoing it a bit, but he didn’t listen. He quickly went from fine to throwing up all over himself. And he made it worse by using his hands to try and hold it in.

Later, he said it was because he just had a big dinner and ate too much — and “the Fireball shots reacted to it.” [Laughs.] I think he learned his lesson.

#td_uid_2_5b2bbbfb6dd41 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 { background: url(https://hotspotsmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Twist-C-160x120.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; }

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Aquiles (right) with his partner in pouring, Antonio

Aquiles, Bar 5 Latin Room

How did you get your bartending job at Twist?

I didn’t at first. My first attempt I was only 20 years old, so I had to wait till I was of age to be reconsidered. That’s when I went back for a second interview. I met with Richard and Joel and, despite my lack of experience, they decided to give me the opportunity and train me for two weeks in order to decide if I was qualified for the job.

How long have you been there?

Twelve years.

What’s the best part of working at Twist?

The diverse crowd of people from all over the world. And the staff also makes it great. Everyone gets along, giving it a fun and natural everyday flow.

Tell us something people would be surprised to find out about you?

I collect action figures.

What’s your favorite drink to make and why?

Long Islands. They take longer to make than a simple drink. But they require some craft, so making them can be entertaining for both bartender and customer.

What’s the best pick-up line you’ve heard across the bar?

“Are you tired? ’Cause you’ve been running through my mind all day.”

What’s the funniest thing that’s happened on the job?

Watching Katy Perry go around the entire club giving away beers to customers was pretty funny. And somehow surreal.

Twist’s 25th Anniversary Party starts at 9pm on Wednesday Jun 2 at Twist (1057 Washington Ave, Miami Beach). There’s never a cover. For more info: TwistSoBe.com.

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/06/21/raising-the-bar-twist-toasts-25th-anniversary/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.tumblr.com/post/175109136985

[hotspotsmagazine]

Raising the Bar: Twist Toasts 25th Anniversary

In the nightclub industry, it’s rare to find a venue celebrating five years in business, let alone 25. But Twist will be doing just that on Wednesday, June 27. Owners Richard Trainor and Joel Stedman have assured me that this will be a party for the ages.

“In our wildest dreams, we never thought Twist would go 25 years,” says Trainor. “It’s been an extreme honor to be part of this community for so very long. We could have never done it without our amazing crew. But of course, we owe everything to our fantastic guests, who join us day after day, night after night from around the world. May the lights never go dim, let’s keep the party going forever.”

It sounds like the anniversary blowout this week will make a good start on that goal. Complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be flowing when the doors open at 9pm. The first 200 guests will also receive a special 25th-anniversary DVD, mixed and produced by everyone’s favorite Twist VJ, Nathan P. Smith. Collectors’ items!

The evening will also feature special performances by many of the stars who have made Twist so successful over the last quarter century. Resident DJ Sushiman will provide the music for the evening, and there will be shows by the infamous TP Lords in the main room. Downstairs in the Latin Room, Josefina and cast will be bringing the laughs with La Fiesta de la Croqueta Comedy Show.

But not all the stars will be on stage Wednesday night. “We’ve always thought that no matter who you hire as entertainment, it’s really the bartenders that are some of your biggest stars,” says Stedman.

“Nathan has been with us nearly 20 years and Mario more than 10. This is a classy team that brings it every night they work. Derek started out as a bar back when I was bartending many years ago, and we’ve been working together ever since. Derek and relative newcomer David create a unique team that keeps their guests giggling all night. Aquiles started very young and has grown into a real star. Antonio and Aquiles have made a sensational team in the Bar 5 Latin Room that has proven to be super popular. We celebrate all of our great teams of bartenders that make it happen night after night.”

We sat down with a few of these superstars behind the bars.

David and Derek behind the bar

David, Cocktail Bar

What’s it been like working with Derek all these years?

Derek’s greatest quality is that he is genuine. Definitely one of a kind. I’m happy to work alongside him each week. He’s been an amazing friend.

How did you get your bartending job?

I applied at an open casting and was chosen out of many applicants. I got lucky.

How long have you been there?

Nearly seven years now.

What’s the best thing about working at Twist? 

My favorite part of the job is meeting so many different people from all over. And having a family relationship with my coworkers.

Tell us something people would be surprised to find out about you?

I’m a geek but not a nerd.

Your bar is now smoke-free after 10pm. How’s that going?

Personally, it’s amazing. I’ll probably live longer. I think most people expect a nonsmoking environment. Since our bar is in the first room you enter at Twist and it’s nonsmoking, people don’t think twice about it. Twist has a place for everyone. 

What’s your favorite drink to make and why?

Martinis are my favorite because you gotta put your hips into it when you shake. A perfect pour makes for bragging rights and smiles all around. 

What’s the best pick-up line you’ve heard across the bar?

My favorite is, “Are you from Tennessee? Because you’re the only 10 I see!”

Derek, Cocktail Bar

How long have you worked alongside David?

Nearly five years now.

What’s that been like?

It’s been a blast. We get along so well. We have a lot of fun and we take care of each other. We’ve got each other’s back.

How did you get your bartending job?

One of our managers, John Roberts, was a friend of mine. He introduced me to Joel, who was bartending at the time, and I met Richard Trainor.

What’s the best thing about working at Twist?

The feeling of family among the staff — and getting to meet new people from around the world. I love working here!

What’s your favorite drink to make and why?

I love making Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, Long Island Ice Teas, Cape Cods, Cube Libres, and Margaritas. And opening bottles of beer!

What’s the best pick-up line you’ve heard across the bar?

So many pick-up lines! “Is your momma a chicken? Because you’re eggcellent.” “Are you sure you’re not a parking ticket? Because you’ve got fine written all over you.”

I like the funny ones that make me laugh. The really good ones will even give me the giggles when I think about them later.

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Nathan and Mario taking a break

Nathan, Video Bar

How long have you worked alongside Mario?

Almost a decade. He did move to New York for three years, but we never stopped communicating so I never really count that time apart. 

What’s working with him been like?

It’s been great. There’s nothing like forming a true friendship at work and having that relationship flourish outside of work as well. When Mario and I are together behind the bar, we work really well together. And at the end of our shift, we have the best time joking and letting go of all the stress.

How long have you been at Twist?

I’ve worked here for 18 years as of June 16. 

What’s the best part of working there?

I’ve grown up here. Literally. And Richard Trainor has guided me in work and in life. Honestly, he’s been one of my main supports, and that makes Twist feel like my second home. I am a very lucky man to be able to say that.

Tell us something people would be surprised to find out about you?

I’m a homebody, I live for my three Italian Greyhounds and my cat. Most people believe bartenders are wild and crazy people, but I’m the complete opposite.

What’s your favorite drink to make and why?

My favorite drink to make — and I know my fellow bartenders will not agree — is a Mojito. I love sweet drinks, and I make a killer Loaded Mojito. It goes down smooth but has a kick to it.

What’s the best pick-up line you have heard across the bar?

I have yet to hear a good pick-up line. I think when a true connection is made a pick-up line is not necessary.

Mario, Video Bar

How did you get your bartending job at Twist?

A friend introduced me to the general manager and, as they say, the rest was history.

How long have you been there?

I’ve been working for Twist 11 years.

What’s the best thing about working there? 

The best part is all the great people I’ve met. I’ve made some of my best friends while here.

What’s your favorite drink to make and why?

A Lemon Drop: raspberry, blueberry, or good, old regular. They taste so good and they hit the spot. My customers seem to really love them.

What’s the best pick-up line you’ve heard across the bar?

A customer once told me he lost his keys and left his phone and wallet in the car. He said he lived 30 minutes away, and he asked if he could stay at my place until his brother woke up to bring him his spare key in the morning. [Laughs.] By closing time, he had miraculously found his keys.

What’s the funniest thing that’s happened on the job?

A friend came down to visit, a friend who said he could hold his liquor. I told him I thought he was overdoing it a bit, but he didn’t listen. He quickly went from fine to throwing up all over himself. And he made it worse by using his hands to try and hold it in.

Later, he said it was because he just had a big dinner and ate too much — and “the Fireball shots reacted to it.” [Laughs.] I think he learned his lesson.

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Aquiles (right) with his partner in pouring, Antonio

Aquiles, Bar 5 Latin Room

How did you get your bartending job at Twist?

I didn’t at first. My first attempt I was only 20 years old, so I had to wait till I was of age to be reconsidered. That’s when I went back for a second interview. I met with Richard and Joel and, despite my lack of experience, they decided to give me the opportunity and train me for two weeks in order to decide if I was qualified for the job.

How long have you been there?

Twelve years.

What’s the best part of working at Twist?

The diverse crowd of people from all over the world. And the staff also makes it great. Everyone gets along, giving it a fun and natural everyday flow.

Tell us something people would be surprised to find out about you?

I collect action figures.

What’s your favorite drink to make and why?

Long Islands. They take longer to make than a simple drink. But they require some craft, so making them can be entertaining for both bartender and customer.

What’s the best pick-up line you’ve heard across the bar?

“Are you tired? ’Cause you’ve been running through my mind all day.”

What’s the funniest thing that’s happened on the job?

Watching Katy Perry go around the entire club giving away beers to customers was pretty funny. And somehow surreal.

Twist’s 25th Anniversary Party starts at 9pm on Wednesday Jun 2 at Twist (1057 Washington Ave, Miami Beach). There’s never a cover. For more info: TwistSoBe.com.

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/06/21/raising-the-bar-twist-toasts-25th-anniversary/