#Hacks For Wedding Decor

[shaadiwish]

Want To Cut Cost On Wedding Decor Without Dulling The Moment? Fret Not! ShaadiWish Has Some Useful Tips Straight From Wedding Decor Experts!

[a-thousand-eyes-and-one]

asoiaf characters who could hack it as a starbucks barista:

— jon. runs that shit like the navy. schedules five minute scream-cry sessions for himself in the supply closet but everyone pretends not to notice bc it kinda seems like its working for him. keeps accidentally charming the regulars

— arya. only ever works closing shift bc if you put her on morning/lunch rush she yells at customers. cleans like a crazy person and leaves the place spotless. WILL put a nick in your car’s tire valve with a box opener if you make her count the till

— loras. makes GREAT coffee and can smooth things over with irate middle aged women very easily. however if ur gay avoid his location bc he cannot stop himself from being catty its in his BLOOD. also:

— dany. hits her (painstakingly decorated) dab pen in her car before work so she’s very zen. however she Is the coworker you sic on asshole customers bc she’s very good at making them feel stupid and also never caves and gives out free drinks

asoiaf characters who could NOT hack it as a starbucks barista:

— sansa. is the aforementioned caver. always turning up the heat because she’s cold even though literally everyone else is sweating like pigs. stayed on a couple months because it turns out mean customers calm down when she starts to cry #prettygirlhack but eventually quits because she hates cleaning the bathroom

— theon. uniquely bad at his job. writes his number on every other cup he hands out even to people wearing wedding bands or ACTIVELY WITH THEIR PARTNER IN THE STORE (has been beaten up like four times doing this). never ties off the garbage correctly. uses too much water when he mops and has slipped in it and twisted his ankle multiple times. is a soundcloud rapper and is always trying to get the manager to play his music in the store

— robb. nobody wants to fire him because hes genuinely a great guy but he takes eighty million years to make one drink and he’s always comping shit for his girlfriend who comes in all the time

— jojen reed. okay at the job but is always saying ominous shit to customers and is passive aggressive to whoever closed the previous night no matter how good of a job they did. quit because someone else got fired for showing up to work high and he didnt want to be next

[jinxxsims]

Hoo-boy. 500 Followers. When I made my first conversion and started this blog a little over half a year ago, I never really expected to hit this milestone ever, much less this quickly. Thank you for following. Thank you for downloading. Thank you for still keeping this community alive a million years after the game came out. This download is for each and every one of you... I hope you find at least a thing or two to add to your game.

So... what is it you get? 

• Chaise Magnifique Chair (Base Game, Seating > Dining Chairs) • Table Magnifique (Base Game, Surfaces > Dining Table) • From Your Not-So-Secret Admirer Flowers (Base Game, Decorative > Plants) • Groovy Times Barstool (Base Game, Seating > Miscellaneous) • Hungry Like the Duck (Base Game, Decorative > Sculptures) • Saught Drafting Chair (Base Game, Seating > Dining Chair) • Sitting Pretty Chair (Base Game, Seating > Dining Chair) • Cloud Cutie Mirror (Base Game, Decorative > Mirror) • The Commissioner Chair (Base Game, Seating > Dining Chair) • Fobbs 500 Placard (Get to Work, Decorative > Wall) • The Diligent Doctor’s Desk (Get to Work, Surfaces > Desk) • The Plainly Perfect Pedestal (Get to Work, Surfaces > End Table) • Firmith Sculptih (Get Together, Decorative > Sculpture) • High Ground Barstool (Get Together, Seating > Miscellaneous) • Monument Plaques (City Living, Decorative > Sculpture) • Brindleton Bay Model (Cats & Dogs, Decorative > Sculpture) • Man’s Best Friend (Cats & Dogs, Decorative > Sculpture) • The End to End Table (Cats & Dogs, Surfaces > End Table) • Typical Nautical Divider (Cats & Dogs, Decorative > Miscellaneous) • Holla Lava Dining Table (Island Living, Surfaces > Dining Table) • Frat House Frolicker (Discover University, Surfaces > Dining Table) • The Whole Truth Mirror (Discover University, Decorative > Mirror) • Bougie Burlap Chair (Eco Lifestyle, Chair > Living) • The Mark of the Plaque (Eco Lifestyle, Decorative > Sculpture) • Snail’s Pace Fireplace (Cottage Living, Appliances > Miscellaneous) • Yore and Yesteryear Fireplace (Cottage Living, Appliances > Miscellaneous) • Faceted Lotus Ceiling Lamp (High School Years, Lighting > Ceiling) • Rustic Sleeper (Outdoor Retreat, Seating > Bed) • Ill-oooominate (Spa Day, Lighting > Ceiling) • Scientific Sprout (Dine Out, Decorative > Plants) • Vampire Monument (Vampires, Decorative > Sculpture) • Brick Fireplace (Parenthood, Appliances > Miscellaneous) • Camade Ensueno (Jungle Adventures, Seating > Bed) • Unidentified Lamp (Strangerville, Lighting > Ceiling) • Light of the Marasenna (Realm of Magic, Lighting > Ceiling) • Tactical Screen (Journey to Batuu, Electronics > Miscellaneous) • S.I.Mac P.R.O. (Dream Home Decorator, Electronics > TV & Computer) • Seven Years Unlucky Mirror (Werewolves, Decorative > Mirror) • Swooning Grand Piano (My Wedding Stories, Hobbies > Creative) • Coolala The Defender Stage Prop (Get Famous, Decorative > Sculpture) • Freezer Bunny Stage Prop (Get Famous, Decorative > Sculpture) • Meduso Stage Prop (Get Famous, Decorative > Sculpture) •

Some notes: The Saught Drafting Chair had been converted before by TNW​, but it was just the mesh. I went ahead and re-converted it and included all the recolors. The vampire statue was previously converted by @kalimero78 as a fountain. My conversion is strictly a statue. The Monument Plaques from City Living were each individual objects. I converted one and made the rest recolors. I had previously converted the Freezer Bunny stage prop, but it was my first ever conversion... and it had more than one mistake. I’ve reconverted it and the other stage props and made slaved clones at 75%, 50% and 25% size. The ridiculously huge full-size is the master for each, so you must have those for the smaller ones to show in game. 

If it was at all within my ability to make something functional, I made it functional. All fireplaces light, as do the lights. The laptop works. The tactical screen is decorative. The grand piano is cloned with Argon’s hack and is functional. 

All recolors are included. Each object is in an individual folder containing swatches of each recolor, so you can pick and choose what you want to keep. Files are quartertile enabled. Files are compressorized. 

Download the 500 Followers Gift

[bitchsister]

im sad im gonna bother you. i know you have plans for the boys in EYY so i have to trust the vision and go along but im so anxious ���� anyway uhm lucky charms!curtbuckygale going out for dinner together but gale is unaware that curt is wearing a little remote controlled vibrator until curt excuses himself to go to the bathroom and bucky lets him in on the secret and gives him the app to play with 😁

Hello my wedded darling. I will drop everything and do anything for you. So here you go. ILY. I raise you a request for more gay sex drawings thank you xoxox

🔌

🏴‍☠️ If this stuff bothers you, don’t fricken read it : butt plugs, lowkey exhibitionism, getting horny as hell in public

This had happened plenty before.

Well, dinners with Gale, that is.

What hasn’t happened yet is this.

“Do you think he’ll notice?” Curt asked, his lip between his teeth as he sat in the passenger seat of Bucky’s Jeep, windows tinted damn near to the point of being illegal because the two of them couldn’t just wait until they got home on a few too many occasions.

“Notice what?”

“The plug.” Curtis rolled his eyes, but had found himself drooling at the sight of Bucky, driving with his left hand on the wheel and his right on Curt’s inner thigh, a cigarette dangling from his lips. “What the fuck else?”

He only smoked when he was stressed, but refused to talk about the case he’d been hacking away at with Gale for months now — it seemed every turn had led them to a dead end.

Curt wanted to be let into that world.

He wanted to help.

He wanted to ease Bucky’s worry, tell him they’d win. That it’d be alright.

But Bucky had stood firmly on his belief that intertwining his love life and work could only complicate things.

“Maybe.”

Curt reached between his own legs, fingers dancing over Bucky’s knuckles. “You need a drink.” He whispered, realizing rather quickly despite being en route to one of the most sought after restaurants in the city, Bucky still couldn’t focus on anything besides the stack of files on his desk in his study.

“M’sorry, Angel.” He let out an exasperated sigh, shaking his head to clear it. “You’re right, honestly. Need a drink.”

Gales car had already been in the lot, and Bucky spotted it once he handed his keys off to the valet. “Parked his own car.” He chuckled, opening the door for Curt. “Cheapskate.”

Gale was a miser of sorts. He liked spending his money on certain things, and being thrifty with others. This is precisely the reason he still lived in the same studio apartment he moved into his sophomore year of college — if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.

Food, though.

Gale loved going to nice dinners and luckily, so did Bucky and Curt.

So, they’ve made their nights out a routine. The second Thursday of each month.

Sometimes more in between, but always, without fail, the second Thursday.

“You’d be late to your own funeral.” Gale lifted his gaze from the cocktail menu to look at Bucky who’d plopped down around their rounded table covered in a crisp white tablecloth, and decorated lavishly with wine glasses and mise en place of silverware.

Then, he looked at Curt, going soft. “Hey.”

Gale was still getting used to the feeling of seeing the two of them differently. His desires no longer needed to be buried or hidden away — he was free to wink, to brush knees, to let his gaze linger without fear of being caught in the act.

“Hey, Galey.” Curt gave him a finger-wave as he pulled his chair up closer to the table, eyeing the menu in front of him but finding himself feeling overwhelmed.

Lucky Charms had been his idea of a treat.

He was still getting used to all of this.

The Jeep, Range Rover, a kitchen larger than the entirety of his dorm room.

Medical massages, saunas, acupuncture.

Sometimes, he had to remind himself to breathe.

“You’d like this, Curtie.” Bucky pointed to what looked like gibberish to Curt, who tilted his head to get a different perspective but it was simply no use.

Luckily, he was not picky.

A six course dinner was not what he was expecting, but being warmed from the inside out by rounds of Old Fashioneds and Gales favorite mezcal cocktails, he’d drawn a bubble around them — just the two of them in his sights, and the gorgeous plates of food presented in front of him.

Bucky fed him from his fork, Gale kept sharing his drinks. Beneath them, the earth vibrated. Hearts swelled. Cheeks grew warmer.

It wasn’t until Bucky had pulled his phone out of his pocket for the first time that evening and excused himself for it that Curt had been been plucked straight from his little pink cloud and plopped right onto his ass that started to vibrate.

“Fuck.” Curt mumbled into his Kampachi crudo, his fork clanking against his plate when he did.

“Ope,” Gale pulled his couple glass away, assuming the cocktail he’d been passing back and forth with Curt had caused his clumsiness. “Cutting you off.”

Curt forced a laugh, every ounce of blood in his body drawn to his reddened cheeks as he stuffed them full of more food as a distraction.

“Clumsy, little one.” Bucky clapped his palm against Curt’s thigh, feeling the low hum vibrating his very very bones when he did. “Keep it together.” He whispered in his ear when Gale had been momentarily distracted by the wait staff, buzzed and chatty enough to talk to a wall.

It came out in a desperate whimper, “It’s too much.”

Bucky shook his head, “It’s not.”

They let this guy be a lawyer?

Curt moaned into his hands, his fork clattering near his feet and giving him a reason to duck beneath the table to grab it.

When he popped back up, it’d already been replaced.

I’ll take that for you, sir.

All he could do was stutter.

T-thank you.

“Good boy. Using your manners.” Bucky made Curt face him again, hooking his fingers beneath his jaw and feeding him a forkful of something. “Even like this.”

Minutes passed, but it felt like hours. He writhed, wiggled, whined.

Eventually, Curt had more or less jumped out of his seat, “Gotta piss.” He grumbled, manners flying right out the window when he waddled away to hide himself and catch his breath.

“What’d you do?” Gale rose his brows, clearly distressed by Curt’s behavior. He seemed a little upset, by the looks of it, but Gale had been so caught up in side conversations with anybody who came to fill their waters or crumb their table that he’d missed important context.

“Nothin’.” Bucky shrugged.

“Well, it had to be something.”

“Nah.”

“He hurt himself boxing, or something?” Gale took a sip of water. “He was walking like he had something up—“

They stared at one another.

One, two, three seconds passed.

“Something up what, Gale?”

“Something up his ass.”

Bucky chuckled, his expression far too cheeky and smug. “Riiiight,” he drawled.

Gale scooched closer, eye to eye with Bucky. “You don’t have him all stuffed up here, too, do you?” His voice was a low whisper, but it sounded harsh. “My god. Let the poor thing breathe, Bucky. I’d never seen ‘em the way he was last night. We’re going to kill him.”

Still, he hadn’t yet realized the extent of Curt’s sexual appetite.

With work beating Bucky into the ground, it was a miracle Gale had finally been sucked into their little bubble — Curt was reared up and ready to go, no matter the time, no matter the place.

Too often had Bucky been reminded of his age because of it, but adored it nonetheless.

“It’s a new one.” Bucky pulled his phone from his pocket again and slid it toward Gale who forced his eyes to adjust when he gazed down at the screen.

“What’s this?”

“It comes with an app.”

“An app?”

“Yeah, an app.”

It took longer than he would have liked to explain the idea, but once Gale had understood, his eyes lit up. “So — it’s on two right now?” He admired the development of it, commending whoever had sat down and created it for perverts like the three of them. “And ten is the most, right?”

Lovely job. Really.

“Mhm.” Bucky had given control over to Gale, like the passing of a sacred torch. “Have fun.” He took a sip of his wine and greeted Curt with a solemn nod once he’d sat back down, courteously apologizing for his absence.

It didn’t matter, though.

Just as dessert had dropped, Gale got trigger happy.

It’d sent Curt practically into a spiral, being fed ice cream by Bucky while Gale played with him from across the table. He didn’t question how Gale had found out.

He’d sold himself out.

His brows furrowed, his skin grew damp.

His neck craned from where he sat beside Bucky to look up at him, desperate and whiney. “He’s gonna make me catch a fuckin’ indecency case.” He gripped Bucky’s forearm, unable to look at Gale because that would seal the fucking deal.

He’d be done for.

“You’re in the right hands, then.” Bucky grinned, resisting the urge to take full advantage of comedic timing and slide him a business card, which Curt had always carried his own stack of.

College kids are poor unfortunate, financially burdened souls.

Any chance Curt could get, he’d egg on a situation, like the time Natalie from his mechanics class had been mugged outside of her sorority, on campus property.

You should sue ‘em. I know a guy.

Though, as of late, Bucky had been taking on higher profile cases rather than simple civilian ones. His clients were facing death penalties, not fighting college campuses for not having proper security.

“Ohh,” Bucky tsked, coming to realize Gale had turned it up several notches since Curt could hardly keep his eyes out of the back of his head. “Look at you.”

And then, back to zero again.

He caught his breath.

“Galey, please.” Curt blinked rapidly, forcing himself to focus. “I’m —“ he ground his ass against his chair, his heart in his throat. It threatened to fall from his mouth, throbbing and bleeding for the two men that fawned over him like he’d hung the moon. “No more.”

Gale was absolutely not going to listen.

The familiar hum re-entered, and as their dessert course continued, Curt had found himself in tears.

The good kind.

Enough was enough when Curt had tried to crawl over the table, turning when he’d been scolded to lick Bucky’s neck instead — he’d become rabid, and it quickly resulted in two Amex black cards thrown in unison over a receipt, drinks slugged, and a Curtis dragged out of the front door.

“You two fuckin’ scumbags.” Curt accused, wagging his finger at them before he grabbed onto their sleeves and tugged them toward Bucky’s jeep once Valet had brought it around.

Gale was leaving his car and coming home with them.

That was final.

They crawled into the backseat together while Bucky drove, eyes flickering to the rearview every now and again to watch, mostly catching sight of Gale who looked just as ditzy as Curt was inside the restaurant.

“You think it’s funny, don’t you?” Curt had already unzipped Gale’s dress pants and tugged his hardened cock free before he shimmied out of his own clothes and climbed on top of him, the sound of leather against skin beneath them.

“I don’t think funny’s the word.”

Bucky reached back, without looking, and took the plug out of Curt for safe keeping as he knew well enough that it’d roll beneath a seat somewhere if he didn’t, never to be seen again.

This, of course, had left Curt feeling so empty.

Immediately, he found Gales cock in his fist, and then inside of him. They’d fogged the windows and caused poor Bucky the distraction of a lifetime, Curt using a pliant Gale however he needed. Frontwards, backwards, pulled on top of him, under him, sideways.

Gale sputtered all types of nonsense once he overflowed into Curt who was thrown back onto the backseat where Gale knelt on the floorboards between his legs, licking him clean.

“Our Galey is so thoughtful, Curtie.” Bucky parked in the garage, turning to look at the two of them. “To clean you up for me.” He grabbed Gale by the neck and kissed him, licking the taste of tequila and cum from his mouth.

[ingek73]

King Charles looked for heroes to honour – and picked William, Kate and Camilla. Laugh? Cry? You choose

Can we really say Britain has a modernised monarchy when archaic titles are being handed out as if it were 1348, not 2024

Wed 24 Apr 2024 13.11 CESTS

I wonder if I should award myself an honour, something grand-sounding. How about Most Excellent Keeper of the Belfry? It has a nice ring about it, even if I have done nothing to deserve it. That latter consideration is of course no bar to our fossilised royal family who have this week breezily been giving themselves ludicrous sounding honours as if this were 1724, not 2024.

Camilla is now, as of yesterday, the Grand Master of the Order of the British Empire. What empire, you might ask? Rockall was Ronnie Barker’s pithy response, and that was about 40 years ago.

Kate is now a Companion of Honour, an award reserved for those who have excelled in the world of the arts, medicines, or science. Is this perhaps for creative doctoring of photographs?

The Duchess of Gloucester – there’s a household name – has been made a Member of the Order of the Garter, an Order created by the king in 1348 to reward his court favourites (while, incidentally, beyond the palace walls, much of the population was dying from the Black Death).

William has not missed out either (even if Harry has). The Prince of Wales is now Great Master of the Order of the Bath. Well it won’t wash.

The honours in themselves are absurd, and make the mythical Ruritania look like a beacon of modernity. So much for the spin from the palace that the monarchy was going to be modernised under Charles. Perhaps the latest medals are to be made from recycled precious metals?

Even more absurd, if that is possible, is the notion that the royal family can with a straight face award medals to themselves.

Take the Royal Family Order. This is awarded to female members of the royal family simply for being female. And for being a member of the royal family. Not a terribly high bar if you happen to be female and are born or marry into the family.

Then there are the military honours and decorations. Charles himself has accumulated dozens of medals, enough almost to sink one of the battleships under his command as a five star admiral. Oh, and he is also a five star general in the army and a five star air chief marshal in the RAF.

What stupendous military service or acts of bravery have led to this avalanche of medals? Well, he did captain a coastal minesweeper several decades ago for a short period. And he has only crashed a plane once.

The royals in fact have amassed between them over 100 military medals and decorations, and for what? Prince Edward, the Royal Honorary Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry, has never seen active service and even dropped out of his Royal Marines course because he couldn’t hack it.

Prince Andrew, to be fair, did merit his South Atlantic medal for service in the Falklands War. But did anyone stop to question whether it was a good idea, in 2011, when he was mired in accusations relating to his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and serious questions were being asked about his self-serving activities as the UK’s trade ambassador, that he should be awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, a highly prestigious award in the archaic hierarchy of these things.

This latest set of nepotistic awards makes the royal family look ridiculous, arrogant and breezily self-serving. It also illustrates graphically how our monarchy is still an imperial one, wedded to a distant past and totally out of touch with modern Britain.

Moreover, giving themselves high honours like loose change when they have done nothing to deserve them serves to cheapen the value of the honours received by those who do deserve them. What is your one medal for outstanding bravery worth when Charles can pin dozens to his chest?

The whole honours system, started in 1348, has been about patronage. This easy corruption of the ideal of merit so graphically and repeatedly shown by the royals in their own favour is consequently mirrored further down the ladder, as prime ministers hand out life peerages and knighthoods to their mates, and to those who have given their party large amounts of money.

A proper honours system which allows society to recognise outstanding achievement is very worthwhile. But we don’t have it. Those who deserve and receive honours are lost in the trivial, the corrupt and the absurd.

I am reminded of an old television advert whose punchline was: “Award yourself the CDM – Cadbury’s Dairy Milk.”

Norman Baker was the Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes from 1997 to 2015

[britcision]

I had the funniest fucking dream and also I am now mid-sad

So my sister and I, we do not get along irl; never did as kids, everyone said “oh you’ll be best friends once you’re grown up”, we do not speak to each other even both at the same family dinner

(This is not what the sad is for it’s stage setting)

So I dreamed we were setting up her wedding (and true to life, I did not like her, but I was helping out and doing my best) and one of the tasks involved in this planning was going to dinner in a restaurant

(I am immunocompromised, this has happened to me twice in five years and only with precautions)

I was not allowed precautions

But a couple tables away were two large tables fucking DROWNING in large and noisy men

And for some reason I immediately recognised these loud and noisy men; they were my brothers, and we were angels - not as in good things, as in Supernatural style bullshit, and I’d skipped out right at the beginning and none of them saw me since

Note: human family not aware of any of this

And I knew they’d all be super happy to see me, and know I was okay, and if it was all of them at once they’d probably try and make me come back with them

But you know what else?

One on one I could probably get them to do anything I wanted cuz they missed me

(This has never been a lived experience this is the sad)

So I waited til one got up, wandered past and asked if we could chat while the others were busy arguing, and we snuck off outside

And he kept trying to drag me back but I just kept walking towards the church and told him if he went back for the others he’d only lose track of me so he folded and we just kept hanging out and chatting

And so as to avoid detection and comment, he disguised himself as a decorative backdrop I was carrying around to set up

And that was working great, we chatted a lot about the family and getting home and I had to explain how weddings work

And the ceremony started and everything was EXTREMELY physically all over the place so I got the brother to make a flashlight for me that we pretended was part of the backdrop and I had to “focus” it to keep the light big and illuminating my sister as we chased her around

(This took the form of poking and muttering at said brother to stop being a little bitch and pretending I was adjusting a lens)

And then it was time to go find my Nana and set up to record sister leaving the church with her spouse

So I casually abandoned backdrop-brother somewhere and went back to the restaurant to steal another one

(I think one of the others clocked me while I was kidnapping)

And again we got outside and we were chatting and he was asking what I’d done all this time and I couldn’t stop giggling as I told him what I’d done with backdrop-brother

(Sister had now picked him up and was carrying him around and having a lovely time)

And asked other brother to help me find my human grandmother

And he was helping, and then we witnessed Drama. Because we saw my Nana, and we saw the groom’s dad deliberately redirect her away from the doors

And obviously I was ECSTATIC, now it’s a wedding there is WEDDING DRAMA

(Pretty sure father-of-the-groom was actually disinvited from the real wedding or nearly disinvited for cheating so it tracks)

And I was explaining the concept of wedding drama to my other brother while we hunted down Nana aaaaand contemplating rescuing backdrop-brother from my sister

And then the rest of the angel siblings caught up and kept trying to sweep me away, but now there was Wedding Drama and we were Intrinsically Involved so we couldn’t leave and I just kept the walk-purposefully-so-you-look-like-you-belong hack going

And we got through the wedding, got all of the shots, eventually rescued backdrop-brother and brought him somewhere he could get out of disguise, and generally had a lovely time

And then I woke up and I didn’t wanna but I’m not allowed to go back to sleep cuz I have already had so much and I’m not allowed more, says my brain

(i was asleep for about 3 hours)

And I’ve just. Never had anyone miss me to the point where I could lead them on a crazy adventure and they’d just go with it

I do semi-regularly grab people and go on crazy adventures, don’t get me wrong, but that’s because they also want crazy adventures, not just because they loved me

And it was nice having siblings who cared and wanted me around

[storm-cellar]

oooh my god i just remembered back when sims mobile first came out i was big into aot and shipped jeanmarco, so naturally i made them in game and speedran their relationship so they could get married, but before the wedding i had to earn a bunch of money for the wedding quest itself and decorations. now i had like three irl days to come up with the money and in the face of this inevitable grinding 13 y.o me said fuck that noise and downloaded a hacked version of the game off the internet that gave me infinite money, finished the quest, bought a bunch of expensive decorations and set up a beautiful backyard venue for the occasion. all was in place, i would wait one more day so i could get the outfits set up and then it was time.

and then on the eve of the wedding there was an update to the game and since mine was hacked it couldnt download said update. so that was the time ea killed my yaoi wedding dreams in cold blood

[mousemilf]

Can I ask how you started baking as a side hustle?

yeah! i started out mostly doing friends and familys bday cakes for free, and then i started getting asked by people who had tried the cakes. i just kind of put it out there that im available to do custom cakes for pretty cheap and it travels by word of mouth. when i was first trying to grow it, i also donated some cakes to events and brought them with my business cards for people to see, so if they liked the cake they could reach out. its still mostly friends-of-friends and acquaintances that order from me, and a lot of the time w close friends ill barter for it lol.

theres a LOT of people doing cakes out of their home, so my angle is to have my little unique things that stand out, like i do fancy labor-intensive icings that not a ton of people offer and i use unique flavors a lot. it's definitely not for everyone and i get that, but im not going for mass appeal, and i hear from a lot of people who hate normal american buttercream+sponge cake that they like what i do :3

my mom, who has experience w bookkeeping, helped me design a pricing sheet for ingredients, but theres also lots of online tools that will price ingredients and labor for you. i do have to pay myself less hourly for small cakes in order for my prices to mirror commercial bakeries more closely, because my shopping + cleanup time works differently. i typically make more per hour at my full time job unless im doing a huge wedding cake like today.

as far as training goes, ive worked as a cake decorator mostly since college. if youre gonna learn online, stay away from tiktok and mommy baking blogs PLEASE. and be wary of shortcut/hack techniques. if someone says theyve worked in commercial bakeries, their advice is probably solid. we have established techniques for a reason (usually structural integrity.) ive been thinking abt making tutorials myself but im lazy.

lastly, i've accumulated most of my tools from estate sales and thrift shops. i alwayssss check for baking stuff at those places. if u buy everything new from craft stores and stuff, itll be hard to even break even.

anyway sorry for the super long rambly response i hope literally any of this was the info u were wanting!

[hackerqueen]

Memories

After receiving an invitation to Hannah and Thomas' wedding, MC tries to get back to her life, but the demons of her past catch up with her faster than she could have expected.

author's note: previous part, thanks to which you can better understand the situation

warnings: slight mention of mental health issues

HANNAH DONFORT

&

THOMAS MILLER

with full hearts,

joyfully invite you to their wedding

I burned holes in the invitation I received with my eyes. I don't know how much time has passed since I sat on the couch and in my trembling hands I grabbed a card decorated with beautiful floral patterns full of colors. They were different from how I felt now. My world was devoid of any colors when I read the first lines of the invitation. When I reopened old wounds. When I reopened my heart to memories and a weird town called Duskwood.

I swore to myself that I would burn them as soon as I got back from the psychologist. I was so sure it would come easily to me. So why have I been sitting in front of the fireplace for over two hours now, wondering what time the next flight would be?

MC, no.

For five years I have been trying to put my life back together. Forget everything the missing Hannah Donfort case has brought to my life. Because this case has completely and irrevocably destroyed my old life.

After the mine explosion, Richy's funeral, and Jake's loss, I'd become a shadow of myself. When I looked in the mirror, I didn't recognize myself. Soon I began to fight my despair with alcohol and parties. I tried to find my dying need and longing for Jake in other men. But no one compared to him. I didn't even know what he looked like or what he sounded like. So why was I so fucked up that I couldn't forget him?

But after two hard years, the first rays of the sun came. I realized that I needed professional help to move on. I wanted to feel alive again, not just existing. Of course, there were times when in the evenings I would sit staring at a blank wall and reminisce. I was reminiscing about the good times spent with my old friends. All the small talks with Jessy. Jokes with Richy.

But there have been no dark moments for so long. I moved on.

And then, as usual, it had to fucked up. Ceremonial, with fireworks fucked up.

My pointless staring at the cluster of letters was interrupted by the loud vibration of my phone. I snapped out of my trance and checked who had disturbed the storm in my mind.

RYAN: You, me, dinner, wine and a movie?

I sighed heavily, trying to force a smile.This news reminded me that Duskwood had done me nothing good. I won a whole new life in which there was no room for either of them.

MC: You don't have to ask twice!

I clenched my jaw as I stared at the fireplace as flames engulfed the wedding invitation. They burned an old part of me.

* * *

I dressed as quietly as I could so as not to wake the boy who was sound asleep. It was almost three in the morning, and I didn't want to stay at Ryan's. I didn't want to wake up next to him in the morning, have breakfast together, and then say goodbye when we both had to go to work. Why? I told myself that I just wasn't made for relationships. I really wanted to believe it. I didn't want to be a bitch who used others for her own pleasure.

That fucking invitation made me think about him again. Even a moment ago, when I was fucking a boy who is in love with me, I was thinking about someone else. I thought about the black-haired wanted criminal who had hacked my mind as well as my heart.

As I was at the door, I heard his hoarse voice.

– I'll never be anything more to you, will I?

With a heavy heart, I turned to look into his brown eyes, where I saw no hatred. I saw understood pain. Because both Ryan and I knew that in the reflection of his brown irises I was still looking for those wistful blue ones.

* * *

I closed the door to my apartment and without even taking off my coat, I walked towards the living room. I glanced briefly in the mirror, again not recognizing myself. I had just broken another person's heart and my face remained stone and so... distant.

– Fucking Jake. – I spat out my first emotion in a long time. Unfortunately, it was anger.

I reached my hand into the drawer where I kept the medication the psychiatrist had given me. My movements were programmed. I've done it millions of times. Without any emotion, I spilled two white pills and placed them on my tongue. Just as I was about to swallow them, my eyes fell on the bar across the room. And it was only a moment. Impulse.

I rushed over to it and opened it. I pulled out the first bottle of vodka I came across and opened it quickly. I didn't even wonder anymore. I spat out two pills that rolled across the floor, then pressed my lips to the neck of the glass. I furrowed my face, feeling the terrible burning in my throat, but I didn't stop. I kept drinking.

I drank until I stopped feeling a little bit.

Common sense screaming for me to stop was completely silenced. At least until I heard my phone vibrate again. I was ready to explain to Ryan that our relationship, although not official, was a mistake and I had never felt anything for him, but I was confused to see that someone texted me from an unknown number.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: MC?

What the fuck? Who are you and why do you bother me drinking another goodbye I caused?

Yes, do I know you?

Deja vu, right? That's how it all started five years ago.

It's me, Lily. I am sorry for writing so late. Did you get an invite?

My breathing quickened. Lilly Donfort broke the tense silence between us after five years.

I did.

I answered briefly and coldly, but I couldn't help it. I also couldn't get out of the conversation and block the blonde's number, even though common sense told me to. But heart and reason rarely listen to each other.

I know you want nothing to do with us.

No shit sherlock.

But it's really important

I snorted and quickly typed out a reply.

I'm not solving your problems anymore

I know

It's about Jessy

My eyes opened tighter. I didn't even have the strength to pretend that the mention of Jessy hadn't moved me.

She's in really bad condition

MC, I'm begging you, only you can help her

One day, five years ago, Jake was right once again. I let my emotions cloud my judgement. So it was this time.

No matter how much time passed, the traumatic events connected me with Jessy forever. With a fragile, red-haired girl whom I had only ever seen cry at our friend's funeral.

Swallowing another sip of alcohol that hurt my throat painfully, I bought a plane ticket to a dark little town called Duskwood.

"There's no good reason in make believing

That we could ever exist again"

Conan Grey

[fuckyeahfightlock]

if you get this, answer with three random facts about yourself and send it to the last seven blogs in your notifs (if you want to🖤)! anon or not, doesn't matter, let's get to know the person behind the blog✨

Here's one fact about me right now:

I'm back on my bullshit playing The Sims. I have been faithful to The Sims 3 for a million years (I played The Sims when it came out, and The Sims 2, but The Sims 3 was my fave), but currently I'm playing The Sims 4 for the first time. I only play the base game (I don't like to spend real money on imaginary stuff) and currently I'm playing the scenarios.

I just finished Making Money (start with §0, end up with §1,000,000). I started with three young adult women, called the scenario "Roomies Get Rich" and because I'm a pure purist, they started with literally nothing. I put them on an empty lot with no house, so all they had were their cellphones. They got jobs, harvested local plants to create a garden (by the end of the scenario they were making about §40k every other day on their gardening side hustle), and showered/used the toilets at the gym. At first their empty lot had a toilet, a single bed, and a fridge just out there on the grass. By the end, they were in a 3 bedroom house.

Ember and Chandler married each other and Tia married three times just to get people to move in--and bring their money. Tia was not well liked and it was hard to convince anyone to date her! Eventually the couple divorced because Chandler cheated (not my fault! I did not even see this going on at a party they were having!) and Tia swooped right in to marry Ember (I stayed up past midnight on a school night to build a wedding venue). Chandler met and married another woman, a young adult named Alex who somehow had a son who was also a young adult??? (moved in with only §10k but she was an astronaut making like §1100/day at her job).

By then my original three were elders. The game started warning me it was time to get their affairs in order, and they only had about §650,000. I was (pure purist!) determined that at least one of my original three had to make it to the million, so I never bothered giving any of them children and I only put up with outsider Alex because of her high-paying career--she was NOT going to be the only one alive when they hit the mil! Tia drank a youth potion that killed her instantly (hot tip, don't try to turn yr very elderly elders' clocks back this way). Her widow, Ember, died a few days later, was brought back for a day, died again, came back for like an afternoon, then died for the final time. One thing I hate about the Sims 4 is when someone dies all you hear is crying in that house for three whole days. Someone is ALWAYS crying and it becomes annoying. Chandler and Alex HATED Ember, yet still they were constantly getting into bed to Cry It Out.

Ember was my Level 10 gardener, so after she died, the cowplant didn't get fed (Chandler was afraid of it) so it died. I wanted to leave its skull there in the garden for aesthetics, but you know I sold it for §250 because it was getting down to the wire and, as ever, every simolean counted. I sold all the art on the walls, I sold the microscope and crafting table (side hustle! Before Tia died she was banging out §377 wooden bathtubs every other day) and chess table. I sold an extra bed and an end table and all the extra decorations/awards Tia had earned in her Criminal career (very low paying and I didn't realise she would not be able to just go around stealing stuff from other houses or public lots! After she retired she freelanced in computer hacking stuff). When there was only about §50,000 to go I considered selling off literally everything in the house (the rugs, the wallpaper, the sinks and toilet and certainly the TV and computer), but that didn't seem purely pure even though it would technically have worked.

I think it was selling off a crop of flowers, veg, and fruit from the garden that finally put them over the top. The only thing I didn't have by the end was potatoes! I never got seeds for them and couldn't find them in the park in Willow Creek, where I was told they grew wild. There was the cowplant for a while, the Forbidden Fruit (if they eat it they become a PlantSim for five days), trashfruit, birds of paradise, dragonfruit, pomegranates. . .even mushrooms despite my phobia about fungus. Ember even got all the magic beans and grew the Mystical Plant Portal which is a really pretty, huge, pink-sparkly weeping willow style tree--so massive it barely fit on the tiny lot (did I mention I really had to cram planters and trees onto this tiny, tiny lot where the house took up like 95% of the space???)--which I wish you could just plant when you're building; I'd put them everywhere. It was so big it clipped through the wall of the third little bedroom/office, and you can't delete or move it.

So in the end, Chandler was the only one of the original Roomies who lived to Get Rich, but she made it! She also had her cute astronaut wife and several days left to live before the Grim Reaper came for her. I quit the scenario as soon as it ended; I was ready to play something else.

(All of this, and my actual favourite part of playing The Sims is building! I'm not great at it but I love building and decorating houses and other buildings. The Sims 4 has some quirks but so far it's the best interface for building and I have built some decent houses--or, in "Flip This House!" style, I'll buy one or take one from the gallery, use that motherlode money cheat a million times, and remodel the house completely--adding upper stories to make more rooms is my specialty. My kid saw me building one of my houses and asked me to build her one, so I did that for her on her laptop while she was at school one day--the whole second floor was a "teen hangout" sort of like a mini apartment, with the bedrooms and a big common area for TV, gaming, music, and art. My kid also does not mind spending [my] real money on imaginary stuff, so she has a million Sims 4 expansion packs and kits I do not have, like horses, and cats/dogs, and holidays, and I don't know what all.)

Anyway.

I'm back to playing The Sims.

[merrybrides]

Dollar Store Wedding Decor Hacks to Decorate Your Reception for Less

Throwing a wedding ceremony and reception can be an expensive proposition due to the long list of expenses. There are so many items to buy, from the attire to the catering to the decorations, of course!

Your decorations are one of the main expenses that can add up quickly because there are so many ways you can decorate a wedding venue. From flowers, a backdrop, lights, balloons, ceiling decor, and more– the list of potential wedding decoration ideas is endless!

Regardless of your budget, you can start saving money by creating some of your wedding decorations yourself. And to save even more, you should try DIYing your decorations with products from the Dollar Store! Why spend all your money on decorations when you can easily buy and make them yourself?

When you make your own wedding decorations, you get to show your guests your creativity and talent. Your decor will be original, unique, and extra personal since you made it with your own two hands. Plus, all the money you save can be spent on the things you care more about, like a talented photographer, elevated catering, or even an extra fab honeymoon!

Dollar Store Wedding Decor Projects: DIY Hacks for Budget-Friendly Decorations

If you’re on board with creating your own wedding decorations using Dollar Store products, you’ll definitely want to peruse this list of ideas. Below are some dollar store wedding hacks you can use to cut your wedding expenses!

Vases with Submerged Flowers or Floating Candles

If you’ve been to a few weddings, you’ve probably seen many flower decorations. Submerged flowers might be one style you’ve seen before. They make a wedding look more luxurious and grand. Creating submerged flower centerpieces is a super easy DIY project you can make yourself with these Dollar Store items!

You don’t need many materials when making your submerged flower centerpieces. The main pieces you need are vases and flowers. Depending on your desired look, you can add glass stones, rocks, or glass beads to the bottom. Include floating candles on the top if you want to make it look fancier. Different types of flowers will help to further personalize the effect. The great thing about this project is that it’s super simple and doesn’t require much time.

Supplies:

Tall vase or bubble bowl

Faux flowers or fresh flowers

Beads, pebbles, rocks, or glass stones

Floating candles (optional)

Wire cutter

Directions:

Arrange your flowers in your vase to see if you need to trim the stems. Use a wire cutter to snip the stems to a length that allows them to display fully in the vase without sticking out of the top.

Once you measure and cut the flowers to fit, you can pour the beads or rocks into the vase.

Place the flowers in and arrange them to your liking.

Fill the vase with water.

If you want, add a floating candle to the top to give off a luxurious effect.

Last but not least, clean the vase to remove any fingerprints on the glass.

Mason Jar Luminaries

How about turning your reception into a starlight theme by lighting up the wedding venue with some mason jar lights? It makes any setting feel more romantic and magical. These Dollar Store mason jars can be set up on tables or decorated on the dance floor. Your guests will love the atmosphere created by these sweet little luminaries.

Supplies:

Mason jars

Fairy wire lights

Flowers, glass beads, or anything else you want to put inside

Directions:

Remove the mason jar lid and place the fairy wire lights into the jar.

Turn on the lights and reseal the lid.

Optional: you can fill the bottom of the jar with pebbles or flowers to make it look more festive.

Voila! Super simple fairy light luminaries that cost around $2.50 each!

Beautiful DIY Floral Wreaths

Floral wreaths are quite the trend. You can use a wreath as a wall decoration or even as a centerpiece. A DIY wreath is easy to make with only a few materials, yet it makes a noticeable impact in any room.

In pictures, floral wreaths might look complicated to create, but in reality, they are quite simple. You can find tons of tutorials on Youtube to assist you in making these stunning decorations, or check out the floral wreath tutorial from Alison of Bloom Culture Flowers. Using faux flowers allows you to make as many of these as you need ahead of time. Plus, they can easily be stored until you need to use them for the big day!

Supplies:

Faux flowers

Foam ring or metal hoop

Twine and ribbons

Wire cutter

Hot glue

Directions:

Arrange the flowers on the metal hoop or foam ring.

Trim the flowers with a wire cutter if needed.

If you are using a metal hoop, use a ribbon, raffia, or twine to tie the flowers to the hoop.

If you use a foam ring, you can use a hot glue gun to attach them to the ring.

Once done, you can add ribbons as tassels to give it more details.

DIY Picture Frame Lanterns

Did you know you can make a lantern out of picture frames? You just need picture frames to glue together. Four frames can be used to make a simple box which you can use to add flowers or candles inside.

When it comes to dollar store wedding decor, this is one example of something that can yield a high end look on a budget! It’s an innovative piece that you and your partner can personalize. With beautiful centerpieces like this, you’ll surely get many compliments for these extravagant, picture-perfect lanterns.

Supplies:

4 picture frames

Spray paint or paint (optional)

Hot glue

Candles, moss, flowers, lights, or any decor you want to put inside (optional)

Directions:

Take the backing off each frame

Optional: paint or spray paint the frames

Glue each side of the frame to create a cube with the four frames

Place any decorative elements inside!

Chalkboard Signs

Who needs a fancy sign when you can make a simple DIY sign? Whether displaying a message, using it as a table number or food signs, you can use a chalkboard sign instead of an elaborately printed one. The best part about a chalkboard sign is that when you mess up a word, you can erase and rewrite it. It’s also minimal and goes with every type of surface.

Supplies:

Chalkboard signs

Chalk or Chalk Pens

Directions:

Decide what signs you need, and then personalize your signs by writing a message or label in Chalk or Chalk Pen! Easy peasy.

Floral Covered Paper Lanterns

If you want to wow your guests, these flower lanterns might do the trick! You can make them as centerpieces or hang them from the ceiling to give the space a magical atmosphere. This project can be completely personalized to suit any wedding theme, color scheme, or vibe. Select the flowers or accents that work with your vision and personalize your lanterns to your heart’s content!

Supplies:

Paper lanterns

Faux flowers

Hot glue gun and glue

Tassels or ribbons (optional)

Directions:

Glue the flowers on the lantern using a hot glue gun.

Place your lanterns on tables as centerpieces, or hang them for a floating look.

Optional: if you plan on hanging the lanterns, you can add tassels or ribbons to the bottom of the lanterns for further embellishment!

Color Dipped Flower Vase

You don’t need a big extravagant flower vase to set the mood for your wedding. Instead of a huge vase, why not make multiple small ones that take your wedding to the next level? Simply purchase small glass vases and spray paint or dip the bottoms of the vases into the paint color of your choice.

Add glitter to the paint while wet for a dash of sparkle! Place single stems of your favorite flower into the finished vases for a decoration that is super simple and looks great. The is one dollar store wedding decor project that’s low effort but high impact!

Supplies:

Glass vases

Paint (color of choice)

Glitter (optional)

Gemstones (optional)

Painter tape

Directions:

Decide where to add paint and use the painter’s tape to section off the part you want to paint.

Paint the part that you section off and wait for it to dry          

Add other decorative elements you want to add to the vase, such as glitter or gemstones.

Table Numbers

If you have many guests, you might need to have table numbers for all of them. You don’t need to make fancy table numbers to help your guests navigate the space. You can make a lovely table number within minutes with only a few things.

Supplies:

Picture frames

Paper to print

Directions:

Print all your table numbers to the size of the picture frame

Cut them out and place the sheet into the picture frames

DIY Fringe Balloons

Backdrops for photo shoots often include flowers or balloons, but having a backdrop custom-made can be extremely expensive. Ballons with tassel fringe are super easy to make with supplies that are inexpensive to buy. All you have to do is blow up the balloons and tie strings and tassels to them. It’s as easy as counting 1, 2, 3! Once you have multiple balloons done, you can arrange them to fit your aesthetic.

Supplies:

Balloons

Tissue paper

Ribbon

Scissors

Directions:

Blow up the balloons and attach them with a string. Anchor them so they don’t float away.

Fold the tissue paper in half and into an accordion fold. Then cut the tissue paper, but not all the way. About halfway through!

Open up, and you’ll see the fringe you created.

Roll the fringe up and tie it with a ribbon at the end. Add fringe all the way down the string of the balloon.

Tissue Paper Flowers

If getting real flowers is out of your budget, you can substitute them for fake flowers or make them out of tissue paper. Tissue paper flowers are very easy to make and add a touch of color or visual detail to any space. The best part is you can get tissue paper very affordably and in a wide variety of colors, so you can easily customize this project to fit your wedding theme!

Make tissue paper flowers for a photobooth backdrop, as pomanders to use as aisle decor, or even to create a wreath or centerpiece! The options are truly endless, and since tissue paper flowers are so affordable to make, you can really create a big impact without a big expense.

Supplies:

Tissue paper

Scissors

Floral Wire

Hot Glue

Styrofoam balls

Ribbon

Directions:

Stack multiple sheets of tissue paper in front of you and accordion fold 1-inch sections of the tissue paper.

Secure the center with floral wire.

Use your scissors to cut a round edge at the ends

Fan out the folds and start separating the layers until it looks gorgeous!

Attach multiple flowers to styrofoam balls to make pomanders, adhere them to a wall as a backdrop, or any other creative use you can think of!

Hurricane Candle Holders

Decorations like candle holders can be more expensive than you think. You could scour thrift stores for various styles if you’re after an eclectic look. Or, if you’re looking for something more uniform, the easiest way to save money is to make them yourself. You not only get to save money, but you get to personalize the way you like it to match your wedding theme.

Using affordable glass candle sticks from the Dollar Tree, you can make elevated hurricane vases like the ones pictured above, or even faux flower topiaries! Leave them clear glass, or finish with paint, or attach ribbons or gemstones with hot glue to further customize.

Supplies:

Glass candleholders

E600 glue or hot glue

Glass vases

Ribbons or gems (optional)

Paint (optional)

Directions:

Optional: paint or spray paint your glass candleholder if you don’t like the clear glass look

Stack your glass candleholders (alternate them) and glue them with the E600

Optional: you can tie a ribbon or glue some gemstones if you want to glam it up a bit.

More DIY Dollar Store Wedding Decor Projects

Getting crafty and making DIY wedding decor from dollar store products can significantly lower the cost of your wedding! Save money, express yourself creatively, and personalize your wedding by creating some of your decorations yourself.

A wedding doesn’t have to be expensive if you know how to be resourceful and put together a luxe look, even on a budget. Sometimes you need to be creative and think outside the box to cut back on your wedding expenses. By using the dollar store hacks above, you’ll surely save tons of money that can be put somewhere else, like your honeymoon!

[online-at-the-perfect-time]

Hello there! I was wondering...What would Griff, Zeph and Cricket be up to these days? Like in the year of 2023 and considering they've entered their thirties? Both with,- and without MC :D

HI!! love this question :3 (sorry it took so long to answer, you'll see why when you see how massive this post is LOL)

So it's 2023, Griff is 43, Zeph is 42 and Cricket is 40 years old! TLDR (this post is extremely long so sorry!): WITH MC - Griff - Griff left big firm and founded a charity surrounding programming/helping houseless kids get off the street. MC live & work together, married with no kids! (like to home reptiles though!) /// Zeph - Zeph left e-sports as a player instead with the help of MC became an e-sports coach & owns his own games (most TTRP) shop!. Has one kid with MC! (Zeph takes them to LARP camp) /// Cricket - Cricket did a PhD programme after his degree, went to do field work for a few years. Got married to MC in a museum, had three kids together. Cricket decided to be a stay at home dad until kids were older, then he became a professor! WITHOUT MC - Cricket - Decided to leave his PhD programme early, tried to be a professer but he works in the museum instead! Adopted twin boys and raises them alone. Not looking for a romantic partner, whatever happens happens. /// Zeph - Zeph worked at gamestop for a while after quitting e-sports, opened his own game (mostly TTRP) shop, had to sell a few of his rare figures since gamestop didn't pay so well and he didn't have many savings left over. Fell in love with a man, a regular in his shop. Together for over 10 years and have 2 kids by 2023! /// Griff - Single bachelor life, designed an app and sold it for a small fortune. Started his charity although didn't really get to be too big, didn't put in the time for it to grow. Fancy apartment, badly decorated. No kids! [full post below ]

With MC -

Griff - Griff was working for a big firm in his 20's, he hated it though. MC helped Griff start his own small company, it was all focused on his chartity.

Griff's company was all about teaching vulnerable kids valuable skills, so the kids who were unhoused would come in a few times a week to learn programming and then the company would help the kid get a job/help write their resume.

Griff was happy doing this. In his spare time he even learnt about ethical and non-ethical hacking.

Sometimes, to impress the kids he worked with he'd hack into his shitty old companies that treated him and his co-workers like trash and make a bit of a mess of the place. Griff started the charity after seeing unhouse kids at the metal concerts he went to.

MC and griff had a small destination wedding and moved into a beautiful home, it was big and furnished as if the pair had lived there for years, whilst still maintaining griff's style.

MC and griff decided not to have any children, they instead home snakes and other reptiles. It's enough for them. They live happily together, it's a nice life :) /// Zeph - Zeph eventually realised the e-sports scene was being taken over by younger people, when he was in his early thirties he decided to retire from professional e-sports. For a while he became a bit stuck and wasn't sure how to progress in life, he went back to his dad's shop for a few years. MC researched things online and together they both found out Zeph could become an e-sports coach! That seemed like the perfect transition for him. He coached a few times a week and then eventually opened up a games, primarily TTRPG, shop! MC and Zeph spend their weekends sitting by Ebay bids waiting for their rare dice sets! They collected a lot of figures together, MC got more and more into anime and that side of the internet thanks to being with Zeph! And Zeph never really left, if anything he got more into it as well!

MC and Zeph decided to just have the one kid, seemed enough for them :)! Since their kid was old enough, Zeph has taken their child to LARP camp (it started off as mostly a thing for zeph, but eventually their kid got super into it as well!) /// Cricket - Cricket soon finished his degree after he and MC began a relationship and for a while wasn't sure what to do next. Although it didn't take long for Cricket to find a PhD programme he was interested in! After his PhD programme was finished he jumped straight into full time work, he began his career as a palaeontologist! Working directly out in the field, which luckily wasn't too far from his and MC's home. MC and cricket decided to look online to see if they could get married in their local museum, it seemed like the perfect place for the pair. Thankfully the museum was totally on board! It was a small wedding, Cricket's family wasn't very large at all, it was cosy, it was perfect. After a few years doing his field work Cricket decided to step back from that side of palaeontology. Instead since the pair had 3 three kids Cricket decided when they were all quite young to become a stay-at-home dad. When the kids got a bit older he decided he would become a university professor, specialising in palaeontology of course! MC and cricket have a wondeful life together, it truly is everything they wanted and more! Although the pair weren't super inolved with anime anymore they still watched it occasionally with their kids, it is a nostalgic thing mostly nowadays :)!

Without MC -

Cricket - Cricket sped through his degree and managed to graduate a few months early, he immeidiately hopped into a PhD programme without giving himself much of a break between finishing his degree and hopping into his PhD. Cricket eventually became a bit burnt out about a year into his programme, he took a break, a year off, maybe that would help he thought. It did help but it made Cricket realise maybe a PhD programme wasn't for him, school was great and all but it was he time to move on. He decided to see if he could take a job as a professor at the local university, he got a part-time position but eventually that didn't work out for him, it felt too dull for him. His last stop was his local museum, he did a trial shift and loved it! He began working at the museum and did not think he could love work so much! Eventually Cricket decided, he wanted a child. After years of waiting and hoping he had finally got the call he'd been wating for, twins! He adopted twin boys and decided that he was happy being a single father to them. Cricket wasn't super interested in romance, it would happen when it would happen and if that was never that was fine with him too! Cricket and OrionsTouch stayed in contact and kept being the best of friends. OT helped Cricket keep his love of anime and although it wasn't as big a hobby as it once was, it was nostalgic for the both of them and they loved reminiscing. It is a lovely life :) Would things be different if Cricket had stuck out his PhD programme? Maybe? But the life he has now was more than enough :). /// Zeph - For a long while Zeph was feeling sort of burnt out from his e-sports career, it kept feeling like he was just doing it because it was what he was good at not because he wanted to. In his early 30's he decided to retire. He worked at a gamestop for a few years before he decided to open his own game store. He had to put up a few of his own figures at first, he didn't really want to but gamestop didn't make him tons of money so it was his best bet. He thought he could always find them online again, if his shop did well. After a few years of working long nights and even some weekends he started seeing the same regular customer popping in. Zeph couldn't bring up the courage to talk to this attractive person and just hoped they would start the conversation first. The customer walked up to the counter after weeks of just popping in and looking around. He had decided to purchase a rare comic Zeph had just gotten in, Zeph plucked up the nerve and started talking about how this was from one of his favourite series. It wasn't long before the pair went on their first date. By 2023 the two guys had been together for just over 10 years :)! They decided to have two kids together and live happily ever after! Maybe things would have turned out differently if zeph had made other choices, ah well...best not to dwell /// Griff - Griff went to work in his late 20's for a big firm. Whilst working for this big firm he decided to make an app, maybe it would do well but his corporate life was draining him a bit and he just wanted a personal project. Griff finished the app, sold it and make a massive lump sum and quit working at the firm forever. He's extremely wealthy, lives in a nice apartment (although he's bad at furnishing so the place looks like he just moved in, even though he's lived there for at least a decade). He still owns and drives his car he had in 2005, it's pretty broken. It's falling apart but he just won't replace it for some reason. He has no kids and is still single most of the time. He's happy, he loves his life but maybe there's something missing, he can't quite put his finger on it.

[anjaliroongta]

How to Have a Realistically Eco-friendly and Ethical Cerebration- Part 2

Some more hacks on how to have an eco-friendly wedding or celebration.

For some time now, I have been planning an eco-concious wedding. Now, I couldn’t get innovative with it because we moved the date and suddenly I was on a time-crunch and because my family insisted on certain things, looking at you conventional decor, I tried to be sustainable as far as possible. For example, requesting that the decor vendor reuse the drapes from other celebrations, even though…

[andersonfam777]

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[catchydesignhillstuff]

Design and Print Perfect Flat Cards for Any Occasion!@Zazzle #zazzlemade...

📸 Make your holiday greetings extra special with our custom flat cards! 🎄 Save big with 15% off using code JUNE24SAVING. Create something unique this season! Elegance Express Flat Cards https://bit.ly/3xgqvLf VividVisions Flat Cards https://bit.ly/3KBCGWa Inspire Impressions Flat Cards https://bit.ly/45CrWk9 -====================================== #carddesign, #flatcards, #diycards, #printathome, #cardmaking, #designideas, #cardtutorial, #craftcards, #customcards, #personalizedcards, #occasioncards, #printguide, #diyprojects, #uniquegifts, #creativecards Design and Print Perfect Flat Cards for Any Occasion! ✨ Looking to craft stunning flat cards that leave a lasting impression? Whether it's for birthdays, weddings, holidays, or just to saythank you,' this video shows you how! 📸💌 Hey, creative minds! In this step-by-step guide, we're diving deep into the world of flat card design and printing. No more generic store-bought cards—your special occasions deserve custom creations! What You'll Learn: • 📏 Design Basics: Tips on selecting the perfect color palette, typography, and layout to make your cards pop. • 🎨 Creative Tools: An overview of design tools like Canva, Adobe Spark, and even Microsoft Word. • 📸 Using Photos: How to incorporate high-quality images to add a personal touch. • ✒ Text Tips: Crafting heartfelt and impactful messages that resonate. • 🖨 Printing Techniques: From home printers to professional services—find out what's best. • 📄 Paper Quality: Choosing the right cardstock to enhance your design without breaking the bank. • ✉ Envelopes and Extras: Elevate your card game with the perfect finishing touches! Why You'll Love This:@Zazzle #zazzlemade #personalizedgifts • Budget-Friendly: 🤑 Who says quality design has to be expensive? Learn budget hacks that don't compromise on style. • Easy to Follow: 👨‍🏫 Our step-by-step instructions make it easy for beginners and a breeze for pros. • Unlimited Creativity: 🌈 Unleash your creativity and create cards that people will cherish forever. • Personalized Gifts: 🎁 Make every celebration unforgettable with a touch of personalization. Tools You'll Need: • 📱 A computer or smartphone • 🖨 A printer (optional for DIY printing) • ✂ Scissors or a craft cutter • 📄 Quality cardstock • 🖊 Pens, stickers, or any decorative items Join the Creative Journey! 🔔 Don't miss out on more DIY projects and creative hacks! Smash that SUBSCRIBE button and hit the notification bell. 👍 Like this video if you found it helpful! Drop a comment with your favorite flat card design tip or any questions you might have. And hey, don’t forget to SHARE with your crafty friends! Connect with Us: • 📸 Instagram: #digitalmarketshops • 💬 Facebook: #catchydesignhills ________________________________________ Tags: #FlatCards #DIYCards #CardDesign #PrintingTips #Crafts #HomeMadeCards #DesignTutorial #CreativeGift Hit play, and let's get creative together! 🎉🖌 ============================================= ________________________________________________________________________________ Thank you for watching! Stay tuned for more creative tutorials. 🎨🖨 ===================================== #customflatcards, #personalizedcards, #8x4cards, #customcards, #flatcards, #uniquedesigncards, #cardcustomization, #creativecards, #customprintcards, #flatcardoptions, #specialoccasioncards, #customizablecards, #cardprinting, #personalizedgifts, #flatcarddesigns

[essentialcatering]

10 Budget-Friendly Wedding Catering Hacks

Planning a wedding is an exhilarating journey filled with dreams of love, commitment, and celebration. However, amidst the whirlwind of excitement, the reality of budget constraints often sets in, especially when it comes to catering—an integral part of any memorable wedding experience. From embracing buffet-style dining to harnessing the bounty of seasonal ingredients, these budget-friendly wedding catering Melbourne hacks promise to elevate your wedding culinary experience while keeping costs in check. 

Opt for Buffet Style

Buffet-style catering offers several advantages over plated meals, particularly when it comes to cost. With a buffet, you can eliminate the need for individual plating and serving staff, reducing labour costs significantly. Additionally, buffets allow guests to serve themselves, which can create a more relaxed and casual atmosphere. Work with your caterer to design a buffet menu that offers a variety of options to suit different tastes and dietary preferences.

Choose Seasonal Ingredients

One of the easiest ways to save money on wedding catering is by selecting seasonal ingredients for your menu. Seasonal produce is not only fresher and more flavorful but also more affordable, as it is typically abundant and readily available. Work with your caterer to create a menu that highlights the best seasonal ingredients, whether it's a summer salad bursting with ripe tomatoes or a hearty autumn stew filled with seasonal squash and root vegetables.

DIY Appetisers

DIY appetisers are not only cost-effective but also fun and interactive for guests. Consider setting up stations where guests can build their own bruschettas, assemble their own fruit and cheese platters, or even create their own mini sliders. Not only does this approach save money on catering staff, but it also encourages guests to mingle and interact with each other.

Embrace Food Trucks

Food trucks have become increasingly popular at weddings in recent years, and for good reason. Not only do they offer a wide variety of delicious options, from tacos to gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, but they also tend to be more affordable than traditional catering options. Plus, food trucks add a fun and unexpected element to your wedding reception, making it a memorable experience for you and your guests.

Limit Alcohol Options

Alcohol costs can quickly add up, so consider limiting your bar options to beer, wine, and a signature cocktail or two. You can also opt for a consumption-based bar, where you only pay for what is actually consumed, rather than a flat rate per person. Additionally, consider offering non-alcoholic alternatives like sparkling water or lemonade to keep costs down.

Serve Brunch or Lunch

Hosting a daytime wedding can be a budget-friendly option, particularly when it comes to catering. Brunch and lunch menus tend to be more affordable than dinner menus, featuring items like eggs, pastries, and salads. Plus, who doesn't love a mimosa or bloody mary bar? Hosting a daytime wedding also allows you to take advantage of natural lighting and outdoor venues, further enhancing the overall ambiance of your special day.

Skip the Champagne Toast

While a champagne toast may seem like a wedding staple, it's not necessary to impress your guests. Consider skipping the champagne toast altogether or offering a more budget-friendly alternative like sparkling wine or prosecco. Most guests won't even notice the difference, and you'll save a significant amount of money in the process.

Go Minimalistic with Decor

Decor costs can quickly spiral out of control, so consider taking a minimalist approach to wedding decor. Simple and elegant decor not only looks chic but also helps you save on rental and floral costs. Opt for timeless pieces like white table linens, candles, and greenery, which can create a sophisticated and romantic ambiance without breaking the bank.

Choose a Non-Traditional Venue

Venue costs can be one of the biggest expenses when it comes to wedding planning, so think outside the box when selecting a location for your reception. Consider non-traditional venues like parks, beaches, or even a friend or family member's backyard. These venues often have lower rental fees and may offer more flexibility when it comes to catering options, allowing you to save money without sacrificing style or ambiance.

Negotiate with Caterers

Don't be afraid to negotiate with caterers to get the best possible deal for your wedding. Ask about package deals, discounts for off-peak seasons, or any current promotions they may be offering. Many caterers are willing to work with you to meet your budgetary needs, so don't hesitate to ask for a better deal.

Planning a budget-friendly wedding doesn't mean sacrificing quality or style, particularly when it comes to catering. By implementing these 10 clever hacks, you can serve up a delicious and memorable feast for your guests without breaking the bank. With a little creativity, strategic planning, and willingness to think outside the box, your wedding reception will be a celebration to remember for years to come, without leaving a dent in your wallet.