#also i don’t see the problem with slightly incomplete recipes

[all-this-panic-still-no-disco]

why does everyone on tumblr hate gbbo… i get paul is a dick but that’s what makes it so funny…

[angrycowboy]

A couple weeks ago, I decided that for my birthday, I was going to attempt to put together some of my favorite things this fandom has created. I say *some* because this is an incomplete list. There are so many wonderful and talented creators in this fandom that this list would go on forever otherwise. If I have I ever reblogged something of yours, flailed in the tags, reached out to via DM or sent you a message, talked on discord or even Twitter, know that I love and adore not only the things you’ve created, but you yourself as part of this fandom.

And now, without further ado…

FIC

memento by @nielrian

I was obsessed with the idea of coming up with the backstory to the photo we see Michael look at in 1x02. When was it taken? Does Alex have a copy? Did Alex bring his with him to the other side of the world? How often do you think Michael looked at his own copy? And Nicki took a little prompt of mine, and wrote an achingly gorgeous piece about one photograph, and it’s significance to Malex in less than 700 words.

a little something to make me sweeter by @partsofthesamecosmicbeing

Camluca + D.E.B.S. is like a recipe for the perfect fic. I freaking love the movie, and when I saw this fic pop up on tumblr one day? I couldn’t even contain my excitement (seriously, the tags on my reblog were just me flailing wildly because it felt like Ly had reached into my brain and written something I wanted to read before I even knew it myself). Casting Alex as Scud and including Malex in the mix just made me love this fic even more.

And the Sun Rose Red by @michaels-blackhat

A Miluca Kissing Kate Barlow AU? SIGN. ME. UP. I adore Christi, and I adore her writing. One day she was like, “miluca kissing kate barlow au?” and the only appropriate answer to that is HECK YES. Michael/Maria is also a dynamic that just works for this AU, given their canon relationship, and Michael’s penchant for fixing things and Maria’s desire to have someone just be there for her. *runs off to re-read fic*

something broken in this town by @irolltwenties

Okay so, Meagn is one of my favorite people in this fandom. We kinda ramble at each other, and one day this happened where she started talking about the parents. About the relationship Jesse, Jim, and Mimi had as kids, as teenagers, as young adults. How they got sucked into aliens and government conspiracies. How they became the people we see and hear about in S1. If you’ve ever had the privilege of talking with Meagn, you know how amazing her mind is, how she takes these characters and the mere scraps we’ve been given in canon with some of them, and creates entire lives for them, and it’s beautiful.

open up my eager eyes by @haloud

It took me a while to get into Mylex, but apparently it was just because I hadn’t read Hal’s series yet. I’m usually terrible about multi-shipping, but once I find a writer that nails the characters down, I could probably read anything they write. And Hal writes all three of them perfectly. (I mean, Hal is just a phenomenal writer in general, but I digress.)

META

Michael’s bisexuality by @chasingshhadows

There’s been a lot said in the fandom about Michael’s bisexuality and how it’s been portrayed. While the show was airing, I was having trouble finding people who felt the same way I did about how it was being shown - that it wasn’t problematic, but that it was good and accurate. Not to mention that it made me feel seen. I tried writing out what I was feeling but nothing sounded right - until Chasing wrote this piece. It was everything I’d been trying to find the words to express, and it remains one of my absolutely favorite pieces of her writing.

Semiotics of Roswell by @hannah-writes

Hannah did this amazing thing where she took the camera work of RNM and analyzed the shit out of it. And in some moments of doubt, where I was still worried about Malex because of the direction the show had been taking, Hannah’s semiotics (or better known as “Why Malex is Endgame”) pointed out how the camerawork for Malex and Echo is very similar, not to mention deliberate as fuck.

Maria Can’t Catch a Break by @ober-affen-geil

I adore Maria Deluca. She has gotten such a bad rap in the fandom because of the “love triangle” business. But fandom in general has done her dirty in that without removing the shipper goggles it is very hard to see that the show has established Maria as a character in her own right, just as much as it has with Kyle and Alex. And that’s why I love Riley’s meta about everything that Maria is dealing with, what she’s going through, and what it’s been like for her to be the one left behind 10 years ago.

GIFSETS/EDITS

i would know him in death, at the end of the world by @vlamito

I don’t even remember now who told me I had to read The Song of Achilles - it was pre-RNM hyperfixation, but I absolutely loved it (I definitely cried while reading it). And then I saw this gifset, oh mah gawd. Mich just has this ability to find quotes from other media and fit them seemlessly into Malex. And the moments she chooses for her gifsets are utter perfection. I think everyone has probably seen this now, but it’s a gifset I just keep going back to over and over again.

Are you okay? by @maxortecho

So I adore Echo. There is something about their softness, the way they look at each other, the way they act around each other that is just beautiful. Mo made this set, and pointed out in the tags that Liz pushes her arms underneath Max like she’s going to hug him, and it broke me. Like, I thought that scene in the finale was heartbreaking enough, but pointing that out? It hurts and I loved it.

Leading Ladies Appreciation by @lsobelevans

Lucie does some amazing things with color that truly make her edits stand out, and stick out in your mind. And it’s one of the things I love about her gif sets especially - it makes them uniquely hers, her own signature if you will. And this edit is no different - the splashes of color, the texture used for the background, the highlighting of the leading ladies is stunning work. 

Same page/Different book by @bisexualalienblast

Let’s just say that picking ONE gifset of Amanda’s is an impossibility for me, okay? Amanda’s sets are the reason I wanted to learn how to gif - her gifs are beautifully colored, they’re crisp, she always picks the best fonts, they’re smooth, and her ideas are stellar. Anyway, she more recently made this set, which just so perfectly illustrates Malex’s issue IN TWO GIFS. That’s it. Their entire problem in S1, right there. Beautiful.

VIDEO

Juice | Women of Roswell by @isakvaltersnake

Katie is a wizard with the video editing. She’s going to be a force when we’ve got more than one season of footage to play around with. And this video is fun and hot and LOOK AT THE WOMEN. They are smart, they are kind, they are flirty, they have agency, and they’re all hella sexy.

Weird Science | Liz & Michael - Science Bros by @soberqueerinthewild

Hands down, this is one of my favorite videos from the fandom, and definitely one of my favorite things Christina has made (though I basically love everything she does). It’s silly and ridiculous and 100% fun. She found every bit of footage in S1 and matched it to the song perfectly. It’s impossible to watch this video and not smile and laugh - it will instantly brighten your day.

MISC

RNM Texts From Last Night by @audreyblanche

I am slightly biased here, because while Irena came up with the idea, I encouraged her to actually go through with it, promising her that the fandom would enjoy it. So because of that it’s next to impossible for me to pick a favorite out of all the ones she’s done for this series (though the one where we settled on the Camluca ship name, as well as one I specifically requested for Malex come close), and I’m hoping that with the new season (and when she returns from hiatus), she can pick this up again.

[cajunroe]

sledgefu + celebrating holidays together 
↳ though they’ve been together for a few years, gene and snafu haven’t celebrated the holidays together, but this year that all changes. and because they’re spending the holidays away from their families for the first time, gene is determined to make it special. he also has an alternative plan for making it special, but that’s something that gene’s been planning for far longer. and though he’s certain that snafu loves him, his plan coupled with the holidays has him on edge. after all, nothing says it’s the holidays like constant panic and frantic action. and gene has both in spades.

Grating a potato shouldn’t be able to bring some near a panic attack, yet here Gene was. With a potato is one hand and grater in another, hands shaking and heart racing, Gene starts grating. It wasn’t the action or the process that was giving him anxiety, but rather what it meant. What tonight meant. It was the first time he and Snafu were celebrating the holidays together and Gene wanted to do everything he could to make sure it was as memorable as possible. They’d been together for the better part of three years, but this is the first time they’d be together for the holidays and since they celebrate different holidays, Gene had been working around the clock to make sure that his boyfriend didn’t feel left out. So, he’s spent the last week, while Snafu was on a work trip, decorating their house, finishing shopping, and now making their holiday dinner. He smiles and supposes owning a restaurant has its benefits. Still, no matter how much he cooks and creates for his career, no meal has ever been more important than the one he’s preparing now. With the beef brisket is in the oven, carrots roasting along side them, he moves onto Snafu’s three favorite foods: latkes, sufganiyot, and butter cookies. He managed to get Snafu’s mother’s butter cookie recipe and worked on the sufganiyot while the cookies cool. He always loved Snafu’s sweet tooth and his inability to control it. He saved the latkes for last so they’re fresh when Snafu finally makes it home. Tonight had to go perfectly, Gene was counting on it. He sets the formed pancakes to the side while the oil heats up. He takes a deep breath before moving onto the next task, perhaps the most important one: icing for the cookies. The success of the night rested upon the icing for the cookies. His phone buzzes in his pocket. Burgie: Leaving the airport now. Be there in a half-hour. Burgie: Snaf is confused as to why me and Bill picked him up instead of you. Burgie: By confused, I mean sad. Gene texts back in a flurry before the oil can get too hot. You: Good. He won’t suspect a thing then. Thanks for the assist Burg. Burgie: No problem. Tonight’s a big night. Anything we can do to help. At the reminder, he takes a deep breath and starts dropping the latkes in the pan. He’s just finished the last pancake when he hears a car door slam. He kills the heat and rushes toward their front door. Snafu bids his farewell to Burgie and Bill and climbs the front porch stairs, exhaustion from flight and work trip hitting him with full force. He’d be lying if he said that he wasn’t hurt that Gene didn’t pick him up from the airport. This is his first Hanukkah away from his family and though he’s more than happy to spend the holidays with Gene, it’s been hard being away from them. He shakes off the melancholy as he reaches their front door and is surprised when the door swings open abruptly. Gene is in his arms before Snafu can do anything more than breathe. Immediately the warmth of Gene’s body combines with the spice of his cologne and the telltale aroma of fried dough, sugar, and potatoes. “Welcome home.” Gene declares gently before pulling Snafu into a soft kiss. Snafu smiles into the kiss and pulls Gene closer into arms. “I have a surprise for you.” Before Snafu could respond, Gene pulled them both into their home. Snafu set his bag down before he looked up and what he saw made his heart skip a beat and his breath catch in his throat. Their house was fully decorated and smelled just like his mother’s kitchen, just like home. Among the classic Christmas decorations were just as many celebrating Hanukkah. A menorah, complete with a set of candles and a Shamash sat dead center above their fireplace, above their stockings. The Christmas tree was adorned with candy canes and dreidels. Among the classic red and green, blue and white stood out just as much. Snafu took it all in, mesmerized and feeling so much like he was at home. “You did all this?” He asked in awe, voice strained with intense emotion. Gene, who had been holding his breath while his boyfriend took in his work, nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, and the decorations are just the beginning babe.” Gene grabbed Snafu’s hand and pulled him into the large kitchen with excitement. Gene was worried about the decorations, afraid he’d done too much or too little, but he knew his food was where he would really shine. The aroma of the kitchen hit Snafu in full force and as he looked from platter to platter, he felt his eyes tear up. He always felt like Gene was too god for him and this did more than prove his point. While he was gone all week, Gene had managed his restaurant and pulled this off. “…and we’re going to decorate cookies after dinner, but first, can you grab the applesauce out of the fridge?” Snafu only caught the tail end what Gene was saying and again felt he didn’t deserve the man in front of him. He doesn’t move, doesn’t respond until Gene grabs his hands. “Snaf? What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong?” Snafu looks up abruptly, into Gene concerned eyes and laughs softly. “No, Gene. Everything is perfect. I just…can’t believe you did all this just for me…for something you don’t even celebrate.” Snafu cleared his throat, emotion once again choking him up and preventing him from fully saying what he wanted to. His latest work trip and time away from Gene had him missing home and the man he loved more than ever before. Any time away from Gene made Snafu feel incomplete. So while he was away, he stopped at a jewelry store downtown and hoped that when he got home, he’d surprise the man he loved more than anyone and show Gene how much he meant to him. As it stood, Gene had his own surprises and was blowing Snafu’s out of the water. “Snaf, if it’s important to you then it’s important to me. If you celebrate it, I celebrate it. I love you and your life is my life. If you’re happy then I’m happy.” Snafu pulls Gene into a heated kiss, pouring all his love into their connection. “I love you so much, Gene. There’s nowhere I’d rather be than here, with you.” Gene smiled against Snafu’s lips. “I hope you’re hungry then. I’ve been cooking all day.” Snafu laughed, “How’s that different than any other day?” Gene threw a towel at his boyfriend. “Because I made all your favorites for the first time and you better lie to me and say they’re better than your mamma’s.” Snafu smiled, “Latkes?” Gene nodded, “Hup. Applesauce is in the fridge.” Snafu looks on the table and sees, “Are those sufganiyot?!” Gene laughed at the excitement as he pulled the brisket out of the oven to plate. “Yes, Snaf, and we’re decorating butter cookies after dinner. Your mamma finally gave me her recipe.” Snafu crowded Gene against the counter, unable to contain himself. No one had ever made him feel so loved and wanted and accepted and cherished and he wanted nothing more than to make Gene feel the exact same way. He hoped his original plan would accomplish that and if it didn’t, he wasn’t sure what he would do. He had a whole speech prepared, planned on wrapping the gift for Gene to open in a few days but he was speaking before his mind could even catch up. “Gene,” he clears his throat and grab’s Gene’s hands, “I was going to wait to do this, but I can’t go another minute without knowing whether or not you want to marry me.” He watches nervously as Gene’s face shifts from shock to warmth to annoyance and finally outrage. Gene slips from his hold and Snafu’s heart drops. He always felt like Gene was too good for him and maybe this was the moment he found out it was true. Then Gene speaks. “This is so typical of you! I spend an entire week decorating the house, shopping and cooking, and planning and talking to your mamma for four hours,” Gene holds up four fingers, “Four hours Snafu! I had the perfect plan. We were gonna eat and then decorate cookies and I was gonna write my proposal on a cookie. A damn cookie! What’s more fitting for your sweet tooth? Not to mention that it’s your favorite sweet. And then you come in and ask me first? The audacity!” Gene’s panting slightly, but he’s been smiling the entire time and Snafu has never been so confused in his life. “So, to answer your stolen question, of course, I wanna marry you. I’ve been ready to marry you since our third date.” It takes several moments for Snafu’s brain to catch up with the last two minutes and the fact that Gene said yes. Once he realizes that Gene’s said yes, he crowds his against the counter, peppering every inch of Gene’s neck and face with kisses. “I swear I’m gonna make you the happiest man in the world, Gene.” Gene stops Snafu’s assault with a warm laugh and pulled him close. “You’ve already done that, Snaf. You do it every day I get to wake up next to you.” Snafu kissed him firmly and poured his love into it as he slipped the ring onto Gene’s finger. Gene pulls away and marvels at the silver band. Gene’s smile widens and he walks around the counter to grab the ring he’d gotten for Snafu. It was an antique silver adorned with two strong intertwining lines. He slides it perfectly onto Snafu’s finger. “Forgive me if I mess this up, but אני אוהב אותך.” The tears that had been threatening the boundaries of his eyes finally fell onto Snafu’s cheeks. He pulls Gene into another kiss, desperate and full of love. “I love you so much, Gene.” Gene smiles, “Prove it by doing the dishes later.” Snafu laughs and kisses his fiancé.

[sheplaysthegames]

20 Questions for Simmers

1.) Favorite Sims Game

While I have played and loved every version of The Sims, I think my absolute favorite was The Sims 2. It was the one I couldn’t put down! The little details and humor are what really stand out when I look back, and I don’t remember having any real problems with it either since the game itself was pretty solidly developed and bugs tended to be squashed quickly. Overall, I was never bored playing The Sims 2 and I still occasionally boot it up just to reminisce.

2.) Yourself in 3 Traits

Ambitious, dog lover, neat

3.) CC or No CC

I play with a small amount of CC. Everything I download is Maxis-match, and I pull pieces out whenever we get new official content that I can use instead.

4.) Preferred Part of the Game

I really like each part of the game and try to spend my time evenly among them. Lately I’ve been building and messing around in CAS more than actually playing though. Oops!

5.) Favorite Expansion Pack

In The Sims, my favorite EP was Makin’ Magic. I was so young when I played that I thought I was incredibly clever for figuring out the pattern to the spells in the dueling arena so that I’d win every time. And I had a lot of fun creating one of each type of potion and then trying them out on the poor, unsuspecting townies!

In The Sims 2, my favorite EP was Bon Voyage. I spent so much time completing every single vacation memento! Some of them were really hard to figure out too, so finishing the collection was really rewarding to me. All three of the destinations were equally fun to explore with their local dances, gestures, foods, and massages. I could really feel the difference between visiting Takemizu Village, Twikki Island, and Three Lakes.

In The Sims 3, my favorite EP was Ambitions. The firefighter career and the new inventing skill were the real highlights to me. I spent weeks creating a Simbot without cheating, and firefighting was a really exciting change from the standard rabbithole careers. Another neat feature was the ability to sculpt statues of Sims. Never-melting ice sculptures looked great in mansions, and of course stone sculptures made great monuments to ‘famous’ Sims in town.

In The Sims 4, my favorite EP (so far) is Seasons. The weather effects are beautiful, the raincoats and rainboots and umbrellas are adorable, kiddie pools are the greatest item ever created, and temperature is just such a vital addition that it's finally starting to feel like a full game for me! Seasons and weather in general also function differently in each world, which is perfect. I didn’t want snow in Oasis Springs, and Brindleton Bay desperately needed fog and rain to feel complete.

6.) Favorite Game Pack

In The Sims 4, my favorite GP (so far) is Vampires. I never really liked this life state before, but this time around they’re fantastic! The abilities help differentiate each vampire from one another, and I love that they don’t have to ask permission nicely before biting a Sim. The sticker cracks and spider webs are also something I’d been wanting to help make places seem less perfect. Overall, the life state seems so detailed and sets a much higher bar for future life states. I don’t even mind paying for each individually if they’re this well-done.

7.) Favorite Stuff Pack

In The Sims 2, my favorite SP was H&M Fashion. Honestly, I just really loved all the new clothing that kept my Sims from constantly matching each other. And building a clothing store with all the cool retail items that came with it was a lot of fun too!

In The Sims 3, my favorite SP was Town Life. The rabbitholes were more modern and added some variety since most of the others were the same building with slightly different colors. I had a lot of fun remodeling my more modern worlds with them.

In The Sims 4, my favorite SP (so far) is Laundry Day. I’m a sucker for realism elements so adding another menial chore for my Sims makes me happy. The laundry system is surprisingly complex, the furniture filled in a lacking farmhouse style I felt was missing from the game, and stackable machines look perfect in apartments. The clothing and hairstyles were also very well-done and I have to actively try not to overuse them on all my Sims.

8.) Least Favorite Expansion Pack

In The Sims, my least favorite EP was House Party. It felt like the smallest addition we were given, and parties weren’t enough for me to explore more than a handful of times before I got bored. As soon as the next EP came out, I moved on to the new content and I don’t think I ever threw another party again.

In The Sims 2, my least favorite EP was Nightlife. It wasn’t bad at all, it was just the one I used the least. My personal gameplay style at the time was incredibly family-oriented and you just don’t take your kids to clubs. I only ever went to the new Downtown subhood for first dates and a few marriage proposals since the date interactions were pretty cute.

In The Sims 3, my least favorite EP was Showtime. I don’t think I ever really played with anything from it. The ‘optional’ online connection where you would send your Sims to someone else’s game to perform really made me mad since some of the items you paid for were locked away behind it and I had no desire to participate. And the whole in-game news feed and achievement system were horrible and really caused problems. The venues were also super glitchy so even when I did give the new active careers a go, trying to complete a performance was almost impossible. Overall, the whole thing felt like more trouble than it was worth.

In The Sims 4, my least favorite EP (so far) is Get to Work. I think my expectations were just too high going into it. The active careers are okay, but none of them make me actually want to follow my Sims to work past the first few days because they get highly repetitive and there’s no real risk associated with them. The retail system also seems a bit lacking. There are very few retail items to use when building a store, although I do have to mention that the clothing mannequins are pretty cool. And actually running it is too easy since you can just instantly restock the items even if they’re unique things that you’ve made your Sims create.

9.) Least Favorite Game Pack

In The Sims 4, my least favorite GP (so far) is Spa Day. It’s not nearly as immersive as the others. There isn’t much to do outside of getting a massage or doing yoga, and both are kind of boring to do repeatedly over and over. It doesn’t expand on the gameplay nearly enough to be categorized as a GP in my opinion; I’d demote it to SP.

10.) Least Favorite Stuff Pack

In The Sims 2, my least favorite SP was Glamour Life. It added the least versatile stuff. Most of my Sims weren’t swimming in cash, so the items, particularly the clothing, were rarely used since they’d look and feel out of place. 

In The Sims 3, my least favorite SP was Katy Perry’s Sweet Treats. I didn’t even buy it and I have no idea why anyone did. The objects were all horrible and cheesy. There was literally nothing good about it. At all. Ever.

In The Sims 4, my least favorite SP (so far) is My First Pet. No matter how many times they deny it, it’s a massive money grab. The furniture set literally completes what they left incomplete in Cats & Dogs! The clothing is for the most part just recolors of what we already have! And to top it all off, there’s just one new critter. They claim four, but it’s the same thing with a different skin overlay. I am perfectly fine with some items in a pack being dependent on owning previous packs so that they can continue to expand on past content. But to release this immediately after the associated EP and for it to pretty much be the rest of the items that we were missing from said EP...certainly seems like they withheld content just to wring an extra $10 from their players. Especially since it wasn’t even mentioned in their quarterly teaser. Haven’t bought it, and will not until it’s on sale.

11.) Custom or EA / Maxis Sims

EA / Maxis Sims are the best! I adore the premades and their unique, weird stories. My favorite thing to do is make them over and put an interesting spin on their storylines while still keeping them recognizable.

12.) Households or Single Sims

Definitely households. I prefer organized chaos with lots of things going on at once! There just isn’t enough to do when there’s only one Sim.

13.)  Free Will On or Off

Free will is always firmly set to off in my game. I’m a dictator when it comes to my Sims and I make no apologies for that.

14.)  Favorite Life Stage

Toddlers. They’re just so darn cute! The expanded skill building this time around is really cool since they actually learn in discernible stages instead of all at once, and I’m still not over their ability to go up and down stairs all on their own. The little mess-makers also have some of the cutest interactions with other Sims and their environment.

15.)  Favorite Life State

Aliens. The first time I ever had a Sim abducted was in The Sims 2, and it terrified me because I had no idea what was going on and didn’t know if he was ever going to come back. Then he was finally returned and popped out an alien baby! It was just so surprising and ever since I’ve had a particular fondness for extraterrestrials.

16.) Favorite Skill

Cooking is probably my favorite skill to build. Something about getting to see what those difficult dishes look like is just fun to me. Since The Sims 4 actually includes 3 separate skills for cooking, gourmet, and baking skills I’ve been having a blast discovering all the new recipes!

17.) Ever Completed a Legacy

Only once, way back in The Sims 2. It lasted a grand total of 16 generations before I wound up making the move to The Sims 3. I’ve tried numerous times since then, but The Sims 3 was too buggy to play a single file that long and The Sims 4 is still missing a couple of key features that I’d like to have before trying again.

18.) Longest Simming Session

When I had more free time (and was significantly younger), I happily confess to wasting away a full weekend playing The Sims 2. These days I’m lucky to get a couple hours a week here and there. Ah the joys of growing up!

19.) Personal Sims Wishlist

There are a few things I’m still really missing for The Sims 4. I’m hoping universities and witches are making a comeback soon as they’re crucial to my planned storylines. Fairies, werewolves, and a beach vacation world would also be wonderful to have but they’re less important to me.

20.) Unpopular Opinion

I don’t miss the open world system from The Sims 3 at all. I’m perfectly happy trading it for every world to be connected. Every save file is a megahood and I find that preferable to a single, completely open world. I also think that it makes the game more stable for everyone, especially lower-end computers. The loading screens are worth it!

[bigtinyworldtravel]

Judging by picture-perfect, colorful squares on Instagram, the freedom of a travel lifestyle is presented as paradise – an endless parade of tropical breezes and fruity drinks, interspersed with exciting adventures that would make anyone envious.  While travel is, indeed, amazing and life-changing and exhilarating and rewarding, social media paints an incomplete picture.

We have learned firsthand what living the life of travel entails.  If you’re wondering if full-time travel is right for you – and if you’re ready for what actually awaits – here is what you can expect.

You will be out of your comfort zone

Whether you travel across the country or around the globe, the environment will be very different from what you’re used to.  You won’t have the comfort of your own bed, the convenience of your familiar beauty products, or the nostalgia of your favorite foods.  Kitchens won’t have the same appliances to which you’re accustomed, you might need to suffer cold showers, and depending on where you go, you’ll have to break the habit of flushing toilet paper.

Your phone won’t work the same way – if it works at all – and you’ll learn how much you’ve taken simple phone number dialing for granted.  And good luck if you need to print anything (boarding passes, visas, tickets, etc.).

People will likely speak differently, even if they are fluent in your native language.  Words with which you’re familiar could get buried in thick accents and local idioms.  You might offend someone without even realizing it.  I know we have on more than one occasion.

You will grow in ways you never expected

People so beautifully different from you will teach you things you never knew you never knew.  You will learn new was to use your own language, and your communication skills will expand exponentially.  You will learn bits and pieces of other languages.  Stay long enough and apply yourself, and you could become fluent.

You will grow to love brand new ideas and gadgets from around the world, and you will adopt some of them into your own life and later wonder how you ever lived without them.

You will be come a problem solving master, and you will become stronger than you ever were before, having survived any number of unanticipated mishaps.  This will make you a natural leader, as you’ll have the confidence of experience and the compassion of wanting to protect others from the worst of it.

You will learn how little you actually need, and you’ll grow to appreciate the freedom of minimalism.

The actual traveling can kind of suck

Buses and ferries and planes, oh my!  Oh, and tuk tuks and cars and trains and rickshaws and scooters and bikes and taxis and good ‘ole fashioned walking!  If you travel long enough, you’ll experience all of these (and more).

Travel days can be long and miserable, and they don’t always go smoothly.  We saw cancelled flights (sometimes the morning of), and our barely touching Scotland consisted of a bus on windy roads with a pair of puking kids (trust me: not fun).  We experienced long layovers, missed buses, wrong train stations, and even standing in the pouring rain at a bus door with insufficient fare in the correct currency – all with 50 lbs of carry-on luggage strapped to our front and back.

Even when the travel is uneventful, it’s exhausting, which is why we try to limit it or break it up as much as we can.

Nothing can compare to the thrill of stepping foot in a new place

But when we finally get there?  I have the word, “strikhedonia” engraved into my travel ring for a reason.  It means, “the love of striking out for a new destination,” and I certainly have that – bad.

When you stay in one place for long enough, you’ll find it begins to feel a bit like home.  The longer you stay, the harder it’ll be to leave.  But if you love travel as much as we do, then you know there’s no joy quite like the excitement of planning for and arriving in a new destination.  So, much as we might sometimes dread the actual traveling, there are far too many new and enticing places to remain stationary for long.

You will long for your favorite foods

Aaron called this dish “kitty litter”

Do you love fresh veggies?  Good luck getting those in the desert of Namibia.  Addicted to bacon?  You won’t find that in Muslim countries.  And don’t expect to find much dairy in Southeast Asia (sorry, cheese lovers!).

We naturally couldn’t eat as healthily as we were used to (especially when tempted by local dishes), and we got very tired of rice with every meal (but it was easy and cheap wherever we went!).  I had an absolute devil of a time trying to find dark chocolate anywhere in South America (though milk chocolate was readily available), and sorry, Europeans… you could use a lesson in what hot sauce actually is (hint: not slightly spicy ketchup).  But I think I was most surprised by my cravings for kombucha on the road (which probably explains why I drank about a gallon of it upon our arrival back home).

Each country has its limitations, and it was a (not-so-)fun exercise to figure out what our meals would look like upon each relocation.

You will discover new tantalizing cuisines

But once you figure out what that exotic fruit actually is (and how to eat it), you won’t be able to stop!  You will find spice combinations you can’t even identify, and the flavors will dance on your tastebuds and haunt your dreams as soon as you leave.

We absolutely love to eat, so we were excited to try all the local delicacies (though I don’t think I’d be brave enough to try bugs or scorpions or 100-year-old eggs).  I couldn’t get enough of Turkish meatballs, and we had more Croatian fritule (fritters) than I’d care to admit.  Italian lasagna, British fish ‘n chips, Argentinian empanadas, Namibian oryx steak….. my stomach is grumbling just thinking of it all!

And you can bring some of these recipes home with you to expand your own meal plans, letting the exotic tastes bring you back to your favorite countries without even leaving your kitchen.

Not everything will be as you expect

Tourism boards put every location in its best light to attract more visitors.  The truth is you’re very unlikely to see that temple without a horde of screaming kids or that famous palace with the jaw-dropping sunset colors.

Everyone always raved about Amsterdam (they still do).  But we just weren’t that impressed.  It was crowded and just not as charming as Rotterdam or Delft.

We were excited to spend the holidays in Switzerland (c’mon.. Christmas and snow with that gorgeous scenery??), only to find out we miscalculated how far from the mountains the town of Basel really is.

The spires of Torres Del Paine is arguably THE reason we were determined to visit Patagonia.  However, after a grueling hike, we arrived at a crowded glacial lake with dreary clouds obscuring the peaks.  The lack of clear weather put a literal damper on the otherwise beautiful location.

If you set your expectations too high, some places are simply bound to disappoint.

Other moments will completely blow you away

Sure, Dublin was a rainy mess the entire time we were there, but the Irish pubs were exactly what we wanted, and we had far more fun than we expected!  I simply couldn’t get enough of the Zadar sea organ – something I didn’t even know existed until we arrived.  Omis was insanely beautiful, and it wasn’t even on our itinerary.

We had a sick kitty during a housesit in Montenegro, but we were thrilled to find the Kotor fortress was completely free of charge during our visit (yay, off-season!).  We got the most incredible leopard encounter in Namibia.  And we were left speechless with the sheer beauty of Fitz Roy after the somewhat lackluster Torres.

We live for these moments, and with time, they will be the ones you ultimately remember.

Something will go wrong

Word to the wise: do not attempt to plan out every detail of your travels.  That is a recipe for disaster, as something will stray from your plans, derailing everything else you had lined up.

Aaron cataloging his stolen gear replacements

A park you want to visit might be closed the one day you’re in town.  A strap of your pack could break.  Lodging could fall through.  Your bus might never show up.

We began our travels by being robbed, and we ended them amidst a pandemic.  We certainly never planned for those things to happen.  The robbery almost stopped our travels before they truly began, and the virus almost kept us abroad unwillingly.

In the end, flexibility is paramount; it’s the only thing that kept us sane.

You will accrue the most fascinating stories

We’ve obviously been through a lot, but it sure makes for some amazing conversation!  While we were stressed and afraid and miserable in those situations as they were happening, we love to regale our battles to our friends (and you!) in the hopes that they find a lesson in them and avoid them, themselves.

These hardships will inevitably make you stronger, but they’ll also make you more interesting.  We were always drawn to those who possessed epic tales; now we’re finding others are drawn to us.

You will miss your friends and family

I hate to be the one to break it to you: life goes on without you.  Babies are born, people get married, barbecues and birthdays and holidays all keep happening.  You will miss some milestones, and you will miss those closest to you.

We had to skip our favorite anime convention (yeah, we’re geeks).  We missed countless hikes with our photo friends.  And for the first time ever, I missed Christmas with my family.

But we also dearly missed our kitties.  I’m so attached to them that I have crocheted tiny replicas to travel with us.  And with an 18-year-old cat, we ran the very real risk of never seeing her again.  Unfortunately, Skype just doesn’t replace purrs and nighttime cuddles.

You will meet incredible new friends

Fortunately, the world is a very large place, full of seven billion people – seven billion opportunities to make new friends.  And leaving those with whom you are familiar will force you to fill that void with exciting new personalities, and you’ll never be lonely.

Some will barely touch your life – someone who’s there for only an instant and is quickly forgotten.  Others will become the new best friend you never knew you were missing.  You will influence and inspire those you meet, and those ripples will have a profound effect not only on those they know but also back on you.

A bartender in Chile.  A tour guide in Germany.  A pair of travel bloggers in Montenegro.  A reader in the UK.  A couple in the Netherlands.  A family in Namibia.  A couchsurfer in Ireland.  A dog owner in Italy.  We are forever changed because of them and so many others.

You will internalize in a way you never thought possible the fact that we are all human at heart.  You will embrace the unique, and you will realize that those who have the least tend to be the most giving.  You will never forget their kindness, and you will become a better person because of it.

You will get sick

Chances are, you’ve already experienced getting sick while on vacation.  We don’t let ourselves fall ill when we have so much to do, so we sometimes crash as soon as we hop a plane and let our defenses down.  Traveling longer only stacks the odds against you.

And let’s face it… You will be exposed to so many new environments so quickly, it’s only a matter of time before some new bug takes you down.  Unless you were a military brat and/or ate Cheerios off the dining room floor as a kid (guilty), you probably don’t have an ironclad immune system.  And if an airborne bug doesn’t do it, just wait until you meet Dehli Belly!

It will force you to slow down

If you travel anything like us, you want to pack as much as you possibly can into every moment.  It’s so difficult to justify taking a break, because: when’s the next time you’ll be there?

But rest is just as important as adventure.

Slowing down lets you take in elements of a place you might otherwise miss entirely.  Besides, longterm travel is a marathon – not a sprint!

You will get tired of traveling

The old adage says, “everything in moderation; too much of a good thing is bad.”  No matter how much you love it, you will find days when you’re simply tired of traveling.  You’ll long for the stability and comfort of your own bed and home, and you’ll want to just be done for a bit.

Slowing down and resting certainly helps in this department (see above), but every so often, even that won’t be enough.  Try to maintain routines when you can, and work in “vacations” back home.

It will all be worth it

Travel is exciting, and it will forever change you.  Sure, it might be uncomfortable sometimes, but you will look back on the memories and know you’ve truly lived.  Perhaps you’ll go crazy being deprived of your favorite caramel lattes and bacon burgers, but the photos will remind you how incredible your life is.  You will build unforgettable relationships, and you’ll be able to tackle so many more hurdles life throws at you in the future with ease.

You’ll know you’ve lived your best life, and you’d never want it any other way.

What harsh realities have you learned while traveling?

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  Are You Prepared to be a Full-time Traveler? - #Fulltimetravel isn't all cocktails on the beach and exciting adventures. Sometimes it sucks. If you're considering it, know the truth before you dive in. #bigtinyworld #honesttruth Judging by picture-perfect, colorful squares on Instagram, the freedom of a travel lifestyle is presented as paradise - an endless parade of tropical breezes and fruity drinks, interspersed with exciting adventures that would make anyone envious. 

[healthcavalier-blog]

Weight Loss with HIIT Training

                                                    How to Lose Weight with HIIT

For most of us, we work for many years to find a nutritional and/or a fitness plan which just works. Meaning it needs to fit into our individual lifestyle so it doesn’t feel like we are restricting ourselves. Many of us have tried “diet” programs only to return to our old habits.

But Why?

Quite simply “diets” are too restrictive and not suitable for the average person. Most diets make us feel like we need to change our lives to revolve around these diets and IT NEEDS TO WORK THE OTHER WAY!!! For long term health, we need to find a solution which fits within our lives with minimal or simple changes.

We need to use long lasting lifestyle changes which produce fast results to keep us motivated. Meaning seeing some results with 1 – 3 weeks, not months. How many of us have got all excited and motivated about a diet or program and when we don’t see results or we get busy old habits return.

The question is how do we break this cycle?

It’s a combination of simple nutrition and exercise. So you’re probably thinking…“but this is what I’ve been doing for years without any results…why will it be different now? I’d be willing to bet you did see results, just not long-term success…right???

Decision Time!!!

While these are simple things by themselves, there is a level of commitment needed to make these simple things part of your life…period. If you’re not 100% committed…I can guarantee you will continue the cycle of another failed attempt. I want to be 100% real with you, give this some effort and you will see results, the level of your individual results will depend on your level on commitment.

Are you ready????, If so, Let’s GO!!!!!!

Know your calories

You could have the best plan in the word but if you don’t know how many calories you need to consume on a daily basis you’re just guessing. Check out this article for some basics to determine calories.

Food Logging

Consistency is king when it comes to weight loss, it doesn’t mean you need to do this 100% of the time, but I’d aim for 90% clean eating. It quite easy to think you are eating healthier than you actual are, so using a food journal app or the old pen and paper to track food in going to help you drastically, especially if you are first starting out. Multiple studies have shown that people who keep track of what they eat lose more weight and are more likely to keep it off permanently.

There are several reasons why this works.

First, and foremost, you become accountable for what you put in your mouth. Think of it as a scorecard of your performance. We have all heard the expression, "numbers don’t lie." When golfers hit the links with a scorecard, they tend to be infinitely more truthful about their game. Keeping a truthful record of your daily food intake provides you with an undeniable scorecard of your performance.

Second, it is virtually impossible for most people to keep a mental tally of everything they eat in a day including calorie values. Take advantage of the power of the pen and write it down as soon as you eat it and keep a running tally. You will be less likely to overeat and consume more calories than you can burn.

Third, it can assist you in finding your trouble spots. Look for trends in your performance. Are you likely to eat more at night? On the weekend? When you are with certain people? Remember, a problem well-defined is 95% solved. If you do not know where you are having trouble, you can’t pinpoint the problem or fix it.

Proteins

Proteins are very important to our bodies. It isn't just for bodybuilders who use them to gain muscle mass. Those who are sick use them to rebuild damaged tissue and even in normal states, our body uses protein for many different tasks.

Proteins are made of amino acids that are folded together. There are essential amino acids - those that our body cannot make, and non-essential amino acids - those that our body can make. Proteins that are made up of all the essential amino acids are said to be complete while those that lack in one or more essential amino acid are incomplete. Complete proteins come from sources such as meat, eggs, cheese, dairy, and soy.

The ideal source should be complete proteins. For most people that isn't a problem. If you are worried about fat intake, try lean cuts of beef, chicken and turkey. For vegetarians, whose main source comes from incomplete proteins, getting a variety of vegetables and whole grains throughout the day will ensure that all essential amino acids are consumed. Also, using soy protein (which is the only complete vegetable source of protein) is very beneficial.

Carbohydrates

Normally carbohydrates are found in all foods except meat products. Recently, some diets have recommended stripping out all carbohydrates from what you eat. Many companies have bought into this and among other things, have introduced low-carb breads. Limiting bad carbohydrates such as sugar from your diet is a positive step but going further and refusing to eat fruits and whole grains can potentially deprive you of cancer fighting foods.

Carbohydrates can be broken down into two main categories; simple and complex. Sodas, candy and even fruits contain simple sugars while whole grains, fruits and cereals contain complex carbs. The main difference between the two groups are their chemical structures. Simple sugars are made up of a few sugar molecules while complex carbs are made up of hundreds and even thousands of these molecules put together. In your body, the end-product of both is glucose.

Another difference between the two is the time needed to digest. If you consume 100 calories of simple sugars, your body can digest it a lot faster than if you eat the same number of calories that are made of complex carbs. This is because simple sugars are closer to the end-product than complex carbs which need more time to digest. Therefore, if you take the meal of simple sugars, you will be hungrier sooner than if you ate the meal made of complex carbs. Making a habit of drinking soda and eating candy can add up to a lot of calories at the end of the day.

Studies have shown that simple sugars contribute to obesity and diabetes, especially in children. It has also been shown that eating the good carbs can shield you from many types of cancers. So, next time you pick up the magazine about the newest low carb claim, throw it away and grab an apple.

Fats

With the low carbohydrate craze, many people have turned their attention to fats. They eat more of it and think its fine. Depending on what kind of fat you are consuming and how much of it you take in, fats can be beneficial or detrimental to your health.

There are three main types of fat. They are saturated, unsaturated and trans fats. Saturated fats come mainly from animal sources such as meat and dairy. At room temperature, saturated fats are solid. Unsaturated fats come mainly from plant sources such as olives and nuts and contain no cholesterol. They are liquid (oil) at room temperature. Unsaturated fats are broken down further in monounsaturated (one double bond) and polyunsaturated (more than one double bond).

You might be asking yourself what a fat is saturated or unsaturated with. A fat molecule (without getting into too much chemistry) is made up of carbon atoms that have hydrogen atoms attached to them.

In saturated fats, all carbon atoms have a single bond to another carbon atom and are also bonded to hydrogen atoms. In unsaturated fats, not all carbons are saturated with hydrogens so double bonds form between carbons. Depending on what carbon the double bond is formed determines the fat's properties.

Trans fat is manmade fat. It is made by taking an unsaturated fat and putting hydrogen through it in a process called hydrogenation. Trans fat is very bad for your health. Whole saturated fat increases LDL (bad) cholesterol and very slightly increases HDL (good) cholesterol, trans fat increases LDL cholesterol and decreases HDL cholesterol.

Meal Planning

Meal planning depends upon several factors like the number of people eating, meal times, special dietary concerns, budget, available foods, recipes on hand and likes and dislikes of everyone who will be eating. Remember I mentioned we need this to fit into our lives, not the other way around, so we need to make sure these healthy choices aren’t going to drastically interferer with family meal planning.

Begin by choosing foods and recipes that you like and know how to prepare well and that fit into everyone’s dietary plans. If one or more people have special needs, like diabetics, plan for substitutions either in the food preparation or food substitution for that individual or for those individuals.

There are a few things to note when making meal choices and menu planning. First, some foods may be advertised a certain way, but that doesn’t mean you can’t experiment. For instance, eggs and sausage can be served for dinner, not just breakfast. And waffles can be made from healthy wheat grains and eaten for lunch with fresh fruits instead of sugary syrup and heavy butter for breakfast.

Add variety, too. Have other family members jump in and prepare meals some nights and on weekends. Kids enjoy making macaroni and cheese, so host mac-n-cheese night on Wednesdays, for example. Then alternate different vegetable combinations, colors and textures to vary the menu on a weekly basis (no need to let boredom take over on Wednesdays with the same routine!)

To help with family food budget concerns, clip coupons from newspapers, weekend inserts, and any place you can find them. Downloaded coupons from the Internet to save money, too, from places like CoolSavings.com and CouponCart.com.

Also, note seasonal food selections for savings. Create menus and meals based upon what’s on special that week or month. Hint: stock up and store or freeze special-priced items and family favorites when possible and storage room and the budget allows. But don’t overdo it. With convenience stores and supermarkets for food shopping in practically every neighborhood anymore, there is no need to hoard. An old saying, haste makes waste might apply if you see a great buy, purchase multiple items, then let them become outdated and must toss them out.

I didn’t mention bland chicken and veggies…did I?

If your considering pasta and steak a cheat meal you are way too restrictive…we are planning for the long haul so it needs to be sustainable. Now this doesn’t mean you should be eating a plate full of pasta and garlic bread everyday…moderation…understood?

Breakfast Options:

Whole eggs and guacamole

Egg whites with salsa

Omelets with lean meat

Oatmeal

Fruit

Protein Shake

Bacon in moderation

Lunch and Dinner Options:

Chicken seasoned to taste and brown rice

Steak and sweet potatoes

Fish and pasta

Steak & Eggs

Turkey Burgers; homemade if possible to keep the sodium low

White Potatoes

Snack Options:

Almonds or peanuts

Beef Jerky

Hard-boiled Eggs

Canned chicken or Tuna; pay attention to sodium content

Fruit

Protein Shake

Popcorn

Veggies & Hummus

This is just a small sampling of some “healthier” foods you can eat. Not too restrictive…right? Obviously, you’re not going to see cheese burgers, chili-dogs, pizza, and fries on your daily menu, but you don’t have to restrict yourself to tasteless foods either.  Weight loss is all about figuring out how many calories and macros you need and eating towards these goals. If you consistently do this, you will lose weight and “Become a better version of yourself”

Training & Exercise

While it’s true nutrition is over half of the equation toward your health goals, exercise is very important to your overall health.

There’s an endless supply of information related to workout routines and exercise. Depending on your goals the routines you decide to follow will vary. For this article, I want to focus on weight loss so I want to talk about High Intensity Interval Training, HIIT for short. If this is a new concept to you let me explain, HIIT is a method of training where you train within your fat burning heart rate zone for 20 – 30 seconds and then 60% - 70% of your zone for 30 seconds and repeat for 4 or so repetitions.

The total length of HIIT routines last under 30 minute, less depending on your fitness levels. We are all busy and we can’t spend hours in the gym or just training, so this is perfect. Just let me mention you can get an extreme HIIT workout in your living room without any weights.

Try this to start:

Box jumps – 20 seconds

Rest – 30 seconds

Incline pushups – 20 seconds

Rest – 30 seconds

Dips – 20 seconds Rest – 30 seconds

Mountain Climbers – 20 seconds

Rest – 30 seconds

Repeat…

If you want to kick it up a notch, do planks instead of the rest period. It will get intense.

Most folks think endurance exercises result in weight loss

HIIT training is one of the best methods for losing weight without spending precious time training or in the gym. Sounds good right…well give it a try and see for yourself. This type of training is totally free, so please give it a try for a few weeks and let me know your results.

The magic which brings this all together

So how do you take this to another level? It’s by using Intermittent Fasting in addition to HIIT. I know that you’re thinking “Fasting” sounds like being restrictive. Honestly it will only feel like that for the first day or so. I do IF multiple days a week and it’s second nature at this point.

There are several methods of Intermittent Fasting, but I’m going to focus on the 16:8 method since this is the one I use. The 16:8 IF protocol is a concept where you eat within a certain timeframe in this case you eat within an 8-hour window. Within this window you still consume the same number of calories you would in a normal day.

The nice thing about IF is you can align it to your schedule. For instance, my feeding window is between 12PM – 8PM, which works well for me. I get up drink some water to hydrate grab a shower and stuff and out the door I go. Then I only consume black coffee and water until lunch.

Don’t think of this as skipping breakfast, you are simply moving breakfast until later in the day, so my breakfast happen at 12PM. You’ll need experiment with your first meal of the day using IF. I find if it contains to many carbs I get super tired, but if I have a moderate amount with protein and fats then I feel great.

A couple options are eggs and avocado or 6oz. lean burger and ½ sweet potato. IF isn’t a free-pass to eat garbage all the time, but it is a bit more forgiving to slips in our nutrition.

Another benefit of IF is having calories left over between 7pm – 8pm. Most people feel like snacking around this time and I’m not an exception. So, I like to eat some type of nuts and beef jerky. If it falls within your calorie/macro breakdown you’re going to see results.

Intermittent Fasting is one of the most effective ways to lose excess fat.

IF can help you get extremely lean and carry a mid to low teen body fat percentage. In addition, this can help you develop a new relationship with food by understanding when you are hungry. Since you are consuming all your food within a smaller window you will feel more satisfied following a meal.

There a ton of information on IF and I’m going to create a blog article specific to this soon.

Conclusion:

Nutrition, HIIT, and Intermittent Fating is a great trio if you’re looking to lose weight or even gain definition. Performing HIIT during your fasting window is a great way increase the benefit of your fasting window.

Use IF to jump start your fitness goals. I personally like IF because it simplifies my meals for the day. I take a lunch and an afternoon snack and I’m set, very simple.

I hope you guys and gals can find value in the above.

As always please consult you primary care physician before starting any fitness or nutritional plan

See ya later!!

-Ron

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OLgNNwIvBw