#appreciate the color coordinated-ness

[im-literally-so-dun]

UP NEXT, MY TYJO @encre-sanguine

[eolewyn1010]

Downton Abbey Fashion 45 - evening dresses in 1922

I wanted to give Cora a post to herself, presumably because I can’t do math. But I’ll just throw in the ladies I cannot get in with the girls’ evening dresses.

Starting with Nellie Melba. I think she only wore this one outfit during her time on screen, presumably because they could only afford Kiri Te Kanawa for a few hours. But I read somewhere that she’s wearing an original. And if so – wow, what a nice ensemble they picked for her! Maybe as an apology for how nonsensically her character was treated on the show, but anyway, this sky blue coat with the dramatic collar and the little bit of trim is a beauty combined with the golden gown. The latter is heavily embroidered, but it’s all tone-in-tone to keep it from looking cluttered, and then there is this gorgeous tiara that I hope so much is also an original, because that’s some of the most beautiful art deco could do.

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Onward to Cora, who also has some beautiful art deco jewelry with that glorious pendant, but that’s pretty much the highlight of her outfit because I still think Cora struggles with 1920s styles. Like, this is nice and all; velvet looks fantastic with some light on it, but evening dresses on this show are notoriously poorly-lit, so we have another drop waist sack-shaped blob. I like the buttons down her sleeves and the neckline.

I wish I could remember if this was purple or black. The neckline beading and the chiffon is definitely black, so there’s that. Did Cora wear that for anything except firing Nanny Shitface? Because I really couldn’t find anything in better lighting for this dress.

This velvet is actually dark blue, although that may not be obvious at first sight. I really appreciate that she chose silver silk satin gloves for this instead of black. The top element that makes up the yoke and the sleeves seems to be made out of a shawl, and it’s pretty in and of itself with the black twig embroidery; I just think it could have been set on in a nicer way than this straight horizontal line. I do love the necklace though – I’m weak for these little tassel ornaments.

We’re gradually going from black up through the dark shades to lighter ones; it’s possible Cora is still sticking to a certain half-mourning etiquette even when it’s not obvious in her day wear. But the dark blue silk satin and chiffon is quite pretty, and Cora repeats the necklace from before. These swirly beading lines down the front V are new, and they give this a little sparkling extra.

And now it’s light blue chiffon and silver beading, in zigzag lines so Cora can have a playful design element for once. The pendant in the first picture is potentially quite lovely, but I can’t see it very well. This one I actually prefer with black gloves, as it’s worn in season 5 when Cora also adds a black necklace to it.

I don’t know how this color is called. I mean, the base layer that peeks out at the skirt and neckline is periwinkle, but that on top? Dusty greenish grey…? Eh, anyway. This dress is quite interesting because it has a lot going on beyond its charming silver sunflower embroidery when Cora wears it during their little house concert. These long, slit sleeves that drag almost like a train, a sort of brooch with jewels and pearls that holds up the ruching of her skirt. This is fancy get-up; Cora wears a tiara to it and a necklace that honestly looks a little the evenstar pendant on an overlong pearl necklace. And then when the dress returns in season 5, the sleeves are gone entirely. The neckline is lacking that under layer looking out from it, making me think they turned the back into the new front. Okay. Just, why?

I can count the occasions on which Cora has worn red on one hand, but perhaps she’s coordinating with Mary, who’s also wearing red in that scene. A semi-nice evening dress; I think it’s no news at this point that I’m not a fan of the designs that emphasize the rectangle-ness of these dresses, as the beading here does. Why not let the spirals spiral free over the dress? The rest is not that noteworthy, chiffon sleeves, drop waist, long necklace with a tassel element. We know that. I approve the skirt volume though. What can I say; I like gathered skirts. And flowery hair pins.

Hm, this one is boring. Cora doesn’t lean quite so much into outdated fashion elements as Rosamund and Violet do in London, but she doesn’t get any more experimental either. This is just a smooth, loose tube of fabric that has some embroidery and beading around the neckline. At least it’s a nice neckline. And the necklace has one of those nice drop-shaped crystals on it.

I should stop complaining about dresses that don’t have a lot of interest but are at least rather flattering, because then I usually get slapped with something like this that has a lot of decoration going, rhinestones and pearl trim and a brooch on her hip and all that, but looks kinda ugly. I think white is my least favorite color on Cora, at least standing on its own. She looks like a ghost granny. Cora, darling, this kind of jewelry would have warranted black velvet as a backdrop! Look at this big-ass necklace and the tiara; she’s pulled out all the stops for the season finale.

Much better. A lovely shade of blue, and the tiara even looks like Cora chose it to specifically match the silver scallops on the yoke of her dress. Interestingly, while the yoke is pretty certainly embroidered, I think the leaves motif down the body is woven into the fabric.

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Let’s look at what Freda Dudley Ward wears, shall we? The poor woman who gets reduced to her role of being the mistress of a royal. She does wear a nice dress though; that blue-bronze brocade is beautiful, so I’m not at all mad that the cut isn’t doing much. Rose must’ve liked it, too, because in season 5 this inexplicably becomes her dress. Not sure how I feel about Freda’s round silver hair adornment; I think I prefer the traditional headband or tiara format. But it sure is an excellent match to the necklace.

Okay, where the last dress went with understatement because of the sweet fabric, this one is an entire overstatement. Is there an inch of this that is not beaded? Freda is shimmering all over, in scales, in a band marking the drop waist, the trim around the neckline, everything. I wouldn’t have minded a little more gold shade in this quite cream-colored affair, but it is very pretty. Can’t see the tiara too well, but I think it has a flower element at the center.

This is the tiara of which I can actually get some good shots, but we’ll get to that. First, I’ll quickly go over this also cream dress that isn’t doing much the last didn’t already did. In fact, it’s significantly less glittery. I do enjoy these little flowers down the front, but ngl I like her better in blue.

So I get another blue dress! Well, it’s leaning toward purple, but it’s glorious; look what they did with the silver weave! And also, draping. I want to see her dance in this. Can you imagine how that volume looks in motion? How the shimmering fabric looks in motion? Freda is repeating her tassel ornament necklace to this and this very beautiful tiara that looks costly enough that it could’ve been a present from His Highness. I’m just a tad surprised that she’s wearing it so high atop her head. I thought the fashion of the time was to pull a tiara like that all the way down to the brow.

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This young lady was an extra who only showed up for that one evening. It’s just that her dress intrigues me and I wanted to include it. I can’t really believe that they designed this particularly for the episode; the structured skirts are so unusual for the time that I’ve only seen them on the show in the events surrounding Rose’s debut. And why would you draft up something so peculiar for a background extra? So, is this an original? With its weird stiff skirt and hip paniers? With its beaded suns and irregular brown zigzag stripes on the front? I am fascinated.

[likethecastle]

one thing I really appreciate about rtd era doctor who is just how NORMAL the sets often look:

there have been at least three separate people I’ve known whose bedrooms had this vibe: the incredible clashing between different shades of pink, the dark carpet, the messiness, the poor lighting filtering through that dark curtain—I know how it feels being in this room.

I painted my room this exact color in 2008/2009. martha’s organized, but she’s a student and it’s a cramped space—she arranges her shelves the best she can, but her stuff is just stuff and doesn’t perfectly match. when I’m at school I have to dry my laundry in the middle of my room exactly the same way!

yup, that’s what every break room I’ve ever had at work looks like, with the mismatched tupperware and posters and questionably-clean microwave.

sylvia’s house is obviously intended to be coordinated, but with a nonprofessional’s taste. you can see the little pumpkins in the background from halloween, there’s a printed tablecloth at the table, the counters are that realistic mix of cluttered and clean. 

even in a fancy office, we’ve got the ugly fluorescent lighting that’s not really doing anyone favors, the crooked potted plants, the sporadic beige and white walls, the random workplace posters above the printer and trash cans.

people sitting in weird places because there aren’t enough seats around the tv! the cat tower with kitty litter shoved in the corner! the overstuffed table! the slightly-crooked picture frames! this IS the vibe of being stuffed into a too-small room with company over.

I don’t know, I just love how they unapologetically show the messiness of normal life on camera?? I feel like the unglamorous-ness of it grounds the show so much?! it’s just so much fun watching a bunch of fantastical sci-fi things play out against mundane settings I see every day.

[exoticarmyofcrowns]

BTS tag

Tagged by the wonderful Ness @vante-love thank you, cutieeee ✨💖🌸

1. First BTS Song?

Boy in Luv! I found them like a week or two after they released it lol Tae straight up attacked me with his growls and I would never have had it any other way 😌

2. First Bias?

Seokjin bc I was soooo captivated by how gorgeous he was. And then I had a crisis when WoH came out bc he and kookie looked damn good in that mv

3. Current Bias?

All of them

4. Bias Wrecker?

All of them 

5. Put the members in order of your bias list.

I won’t even dignify this with an answer lol I don’t even have a definite bias what makes you think I’m capable of this decision lmao

6. Favorite BTS Song?

This is just like the bias question but honestly Tomorrow. Six years later and that song still gives me chills (also the choreo is really just the icing on the cake)

7. Favorite Underrated BTS Song?

Ooooooh damn this is hard.... basically anything off of Dark & Wild, that shit was a masterpiece! And I feel like we don’t talk enough about Tomorrow bc she is a queen and deserves all the recognition ALSO NEVERMIND BC THAT ONE MAKES ME EMO AF

8. Favorite BTS Song of “Wings”?

Oh man........... I think it’s First Love. Yoongi’s story and the way he raps is just... it’s truly a transcendental experience

9. Favorite Song of LY Her, LY Tear, and LY Answer?

LY Her: Pied Piper

LY Tear: Paradise

LY Answer: I’m Fine 

10. Favorite Song of MOTS Persona and 7?

MOTS Persona: Mikrokosmos bc it makes me c r y 

MOTS 7: I genuinely cannot pick so I won’t lolol but Filter and UGH! make me feel like a bad bitch so take that as you will 💁🏽‍♀️

11. Favorite MV?

Does Daechwita count bc I genuinely think it is lolol but no my actual favorite BTS mv is probably IDOL bc the fuck you’s in that song are phenomenal

This is where shit gets hard(er) so ahhhhhhh 

12. Favorite Dancer?

It’s really a toss-up between Hobi and Jimin. I love Jimin’s contemporary pieces, the way he moves is mesmerizing (his performance at the 2019 MMA’s genuinely made me cry like a baby). But Hobi’s body is unreal like how he manages to coordinate his limbs like that???? WOW

13. Favorite Vocalist? 

GAhhhhh this one is so hard bc I l o v e all of our boys’ voices. Like Jin’s voice is incredibly stable and warm, very bright in sound with a really lovely tonal quality. Tae’s deep timbre and resonance is honestly gorgeous. Jungkookie has a voice really suited to pop and slow ballads, like his voice is so versatile and gentle and breathy and beautiful. But I think my favorite is Jimin. He has such a unique tone and he has this almost counter tenor-like quality, esp when he’s in his upper register, it’s really stunning and almost sparkles.

14. Favorite Rapper? 

Okay wtf how can I choose?! Tbh before bangtan, I never really liked rap but getting to know these boys, esp Joon and Yoongi’s stories about their journey with music, really made me appreciate it more. Like Hobi didn’t even want to be a rapper and he has SUCH an interesting flow that I love. Namjoon’s way with words really made me appreciate rap as a method of storytelling. He’s truly so clever and really talented. BUT I think Yoongi is my favorite. His experiences, the stories he tells, his voice inflections, his delivery, it’s all so raw and real. One of the greatest rappers of all time, in my humble opinion.

15. Favorite Hair Color on Each of the Members?

Namjoon: purple was SUCH a good look for him, esp that like faded lavender mullet from ON 😩

Seokjin: blonde Jin will always be superior idc

Yoongi: mint yoongi was iconic so i would like to see it again but also black and like a soft brown really suit him, i think

Hoseok: red and like that soft brown (forehead showing ofc)

Jimin: pink and that really beautiful sunset-like shade he had for BWL 🥺

Taehyung: the blue hair from BWL sent me to an early grave. also i LOVE the long black curly hair on him

Jungkook: cherry kook was super cute but his black hair is SOOO good

16. Favorite Choreography?

I NEED U, Spring Day, Tomorrow, Baepsae (👀👀), Boyz with Fun!!!!!!!!! 

17. Favorite Ship?

I don’t really have one bc they’re all so cute and I basically ship ot7 but here are some of my favorite gifs of different ships so get ready for spam!

Tagging: @flowerkth @hopefish15 @sunshope @dreamerxfimprobabledreams @sweetpeajeon @jaebeomcult @chunghamor @svgalips @cliffordbuttcheek @heavyinmyarms @memeofthesoul @namugguk @moonlytae @mystically-mysterious @yoonkitty

[betateens]

Top Ten Best Dressed Movies

By Savannah Barrett

There are definitely movies out there where I’ve hardly paid attention to the storyline because the costume design is just too good to not appreciate. Here are some of my personal favorites. 

1. The Great Gatsby (2013)

How could you not love the glitz and glamour of the roaring 20′s fashion recreated in the 21st century? 

Costume Design by Catherine Martine and Muiccia Prada

2. Moulin Rouge (2001)

The never ending wardrobe changes and extreme details in every character’s clothing is what makes this one my favorites. 

Costume Design by Catherine Martine and Angus Strathie 

3. Marie Antoinette (2006) 

Set in 1700′s France, the costumes portray the royalty and frivolousness extremely well, even winning the movie an Academy Award for Best Costume Design. 

Costume Design by Milena Canonero 

4. American Hustle (2013)

Based around a 1970′s team of loan sharks and scammers, the style is authentic 70′s, featuring provocative dresses with flashy designs and hairstyles true to the time. 

Costume Design by Michael Wilkinson

5. Chicago (2002)

A dramatic storyline with 1920′s themed costumes to match the intensity of the plot. Won a well-deserved Academy Award for Best Costume Design. 

Costume Design by Colleen Atwood 

6. Heathers (1988)

With matching plaid outfits and color coordination, this movie represents the preppy-ness of the 80′s. 

Costume Design by Rudy Dillon 

7. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

Known for the iconic long black dress and diamonds that was designed by Hubert de Givenchy, this movie has a classic style.

Costume Design by Hubert de Givenchy 

8. Grease (1978)

The charming, innocent Sandy goes from wearing sweaters and full 50′s skirts to a famous black skin tight suit. 

Costume Design by Albert Wolsky 

9. Clueless (1995)

This 90′s movie encapsulates a plethora of outfits during the time, including plaid, preppy looks and grunge, slouchy ensembles. 

Costume Design by Mona May 

10. The Fifth Element (1997)

This French science-fiction movie creates a futuristic style, unique in its own way. 

Costume Design by Jean Paul Gaultier 

[emilycorner328]

10 Small Apartment Bathroom Decor Ideas and Decorating Tips

t is possible to say that certain problems and difficulties come to the fore when it comes to the decoration of the bathrooms, which are one of the most special and most functional rooms of a house. Designing the perfect bathroom is often more difficult than designing the perfect living room or bedroom. There are, of course, multiple causes of these difficulties.

First, bathrooms are private spaces used for very specific functions. Designs where these specific functions cannot be performed perfectly will always create problems. Another reason is that the smallest area is designed as a bathroom in order not to shrink the square meters of social living areas, especially in apartments. In other words, when it comes to bathroom decoration, it is a fact that we try to create a functional and useful area, and also a stylish and beautiful looking area, which is mostly in a small area and this is a very difficult task.

On top of all these, bathrooms must be humid and wet areas by nature, and the necessity to create a moisture-resistant decoration for a healthy bathroom. In other words, when it comes to bathroom decoration, we are talking about being able to create a healthy and hygienic at the same time with a material quality while creating a maximum function in the minimum area, as well as creating an environment that is open to work, spacious and beautiful looking. So what are the sine qua non of this challenging task? How should a perfect bathroom be?

How Can You Decorate Small Apartment Bathroom

It might sound nonsensical for me to recommend enormous divider workmanship for a minuscule bathroom, however trust me, one bigger part is preferable in a little space over a lot of small bits of divider craftsmanship that will just make a feeling of messiness and occupied ness in the space.

Presently, obviously, there are special cases to this contingent upon the bathroom, however on the off chance that you need a no-muddle simple answer for divider workmanship for your small bathroom, I recommend picking one significant piece that has an effect over a small piece, or a few small pieces.

Because you’re leasing an apartment doesn’t mean you can’t tidy up your bathroom or discover approaches to make a small apartment bathroom look greater. Transform your bathroom into a space you anticipate entering toward the beginning of the day or unwinding in the wake of a monotonous day at work.

What’s your preferred sort of workmanship? Vintage prints? Cubist works? Workmanship nouveau? Hang whatever makes you excited in the bathroom to appreciate smaller than usual exhibition while you brush your teeth in the first part of the day.

The shower window ornament you pick altogether changes the manner in which your bathroom looks. Except if the dividers are painted an intense shading, avoid plain white; rather, pick a give window ornament your preferred example, regardless of whether that is stripes, polka specks, blossoms or oceanic creatures.

Carpets and towels serve a significant capacity in any bathroom, yet they are additionally an incredible method to include shading and surface. Bathroom towels and carpets should coordinate the shower window ornament to make a room that looks business-like.

On the off chance that you have a window to work with in your bathroom, dress it up. The window treatment should supplement the shower drapery, however it shouldn’t be the indistinguishable texture. Consider a treatment that you can open and close effectively to control the light level and security.

In the event that the bathroom lighting comes up short, get a light source from another room. It turns into that a lot simpler to put on cosmetics or shave or your face toward the beginning of the day and the light adds to the bathroom decor also.

There are numerous things you can do to ensure that the small apartment bathroom feels exquisite and unwinding. In any case, the most significant part, all things considered, is to guarantee that it doesn’t appear to be claustrophobic or obsolete. A small space that is likewise dull and gawky can hose your day immediately. That is accurately why you need a bathroom which is as merry as your humble bedroom and the remainder of light-filled current apartment.

There is no uncertainty that in any minuscule space or room, white is the shading that we frequently go to. Yet, the second most well known decision in minuscule bathrooms, and as it should be, is blue in its many lighter shades and colors. The possibility of a blue and white bathroom delivers the pictures of a rich spa-style setting and this give the small bathroom a loosening up visual intrigue. You can either pick the lighter shade of blue as the essential shading in the bathroom and let white assume a lower priority, or you can paint it white and utilize astute flies of blue as brilliant accents.

A great many people don’t have the advantage of an enormous or even medium-sized bathroom, which represents an intriguing issue of how to decorate such a small space. Decorations can without much of a stretch become mess in such a restricted space. To rouse your best thoughts, we’ve shared our preferred approaches to decorate a small bathroom.

There’s a great deal you can do so as to your bathroom by utilizing artistic tiles. On the off chance that it doesn’t accompany a mirror, you might need to buy a small one for the ledge. A little bathroom includes the further test of a confined space.

Alternatives you may decide to place in a bathroom or potentially a little kitchen in the guesthouse. The bathroom will simply require a couple of changes to have the option to be the new house for your washer and dryer. Arranging a small bathroom shouldn’t be a huge activity, however by the by, it wouldn’t damage to sort first.

[thiqgruvz]

Interview With an Advanced Music Student

The interviewee requested that this song be linked for your enjoyment while reading. Hope you enjoy!

This week, I’ll be interviewing one of my own music students, a talented young musician and visual artist who grew up both in Iran and in the U.S. She plays the piano brilliantly, with roots firmly planted in both western classical training and the jazz idiom, and with another flavor loosely reminiscent of Persian Traditional music that makes her approach to music making unique. Although she’s not yet 20, her playing is sensitive and emotional in a way that betrays her own breadth of experience and meticulous emotional awareness, much like captivating pull of her gentle yet mysterious shaded drawings. Although she’s requested to remain anonymous, she’s agreed to do this interview with me, for which I’m very grateful and excited, as I feel that her perspective is unique and refreshing, and a wonderfully relatable example of the human experience from living a life colored by an enormous variety of experiences and skillsets (including speaking three languages by the time she was 15) while slowly becoming more and more drawn to an art form until fully committing and rapidly evolving into a force to be reckoned with.

Q: How did you first come upon the piano? I recall you once mentioned that your family moved into your current house and the old owners had left their baby grand piano behind. Did you have access to a piano before that sparked your interest, or was it mostly curiosity until circumstances brought an instrument to you?

A: Actually in Iran, we moved to my grandparents’ house for a year, and we had a piano there because my grandma played piano. I used to dance as she played, and that got me into it. We moved to our apartment and got a piano there, which is where I started taking lessons, but that only lasted a few months. The teacher was sort of mean and she discriminated because she saw me as American. My next brush with it was in school where I got a rudimentary understanding of technique and started getting more into playing.

Q: How about visual art? When did you realize you felt an affinity for drawing?

A: I always liked to draw. My mom really encouraged us to do art and was very supportive of our artistic outlets. Even as early as kindergarten, it was also emphasized in school as well. I took drawing classes in Iran briefly, but it was mostly copying existing drawings and I quickly became bored, but continued drawing and making other visual arts on my own.

Q: When we first met, you already had a solid background in music despite relatively little formal training. Could you describe some of your earliest influences? What caught your attention about musical expression as a whole?

A: Well, my whole family was into music even though they didn’t really play instruments or study. They always had a respect for music and my mom introduced us to music from all over the world, from traditional to pop. My grandmother also used to love to sing and would teach me rounds to sing with her. When I was little, I wanted to grow up and become a musician, although at the time I was focused on vocal. The beginning of my education in public school introduced me to the basic mechanics of instrumental music in the form of melodies and chords on piano.

Q: As you improve as a musician and composer, what aspects of the craft have you realized were drastically more or less reccurrent themes than you thought they would be upon first exposure?

A: Before my public school experiences, I sort of though that music just happened. Like it came naturally and people expressed themselves how they might express thoughts but without the grammar…As soon as I tried writing my own however, I realized that structure was very much a part of it and that I needed to learn about this structure in order to express myself in a controlled way, much like the grammar I thought I was escaping.

Q: Were there things that seemed hard in the beginning but after practice were not, or things that seemed easy, but further nuance or higher standards for technique made difficult? And conversely, did you ever feel an improvement in technique hindering expressive capabilities that came naturally to you before you began training?

A: At first, I found the coordination of the two hands to be extremely challenging. I still think it is, but it definitely improved with practice, although it could be intimidating. I find that on the flip side there is a certain exercise-i-ness that comes into my playing as a result of stricter exercise type things I play during practice. I sometimes wish I could just play and not worry about my technique, but I’m always self-conscious about my technique when it comes to fluidity on the instrument.

Q: As you reach new levels, how has your perspective about the meaning of what you do changed?

A: Um… I’ve definitely taken music more to heart if that makes sense. It’s helped me to appreciate music a lot more as I learned about the challenges and teamwork involved… it made me respect musicians on a whole other level. Through training and becoming more aware of musical concepts, I’ve also really started viewing it more as a spiritual thing than “just music,” whatever that may mean to people. I guess music means many different things for many different people. Once I got really into it, it started to shape my life though and has taught me a lot of self-discipline. It’s also taught me a lot about self-worth and self-esteem. It motivates me to continue in my daily life when I face adversity outside of a musical context.

Q: Do you think your individual sound or identity as a musician relates more to your own cultural lens, such as real life experiences with your family and others in Iran and in the states, or more to the music or other art you’ve consumed and been influenced by? Further, if you think your art is mostly informed by other artists, what role do you believe your own life experiences play in the musical decisions you make? After all, your music is ultimately your expression of yourself in some form or another.

A: I think it’s a bit of both to be honest… I feel like my life experiences help me put more emotion into my work. I’m not really thinking of anything in particular about my life when playing necessarily, but music is absolutely about telling a story, and I think the emotional stories I tell with my music definitely have some basis in things I’ve lived. Listening to other musicians, I’ve definitely borrowed aspects from the work of other musicians that have resonated with me and found my own expression in their voices. I think on some level the collage of my heroes represents me.

Q: I feel like as our level shifts, although we’re always struggling with and working to improve at something, the things we can empathize with, excuse, or even not notice change. As a student who’s rapidly improving and grappling with challenging and complex topics, what advice do you have for students who are a little bit earlier in their journey than you are now?

A: Definitely keep pushing, even if you wanna throw your instrument out of the window. The more I pushed, the more I became competent at expressing myself musically, and I think a lot of my frustrations had come from the inability to do that. Practice things that challenge you, because even if it hurts and makes you feel bad to struggle with something like that, it’s the only way to move forward. That idea of pushing through adversity taught me about the world in addition to just music. Between that and the stories I’ve heard behind particular pieces of music and artists, I realized that music has a profound impact on people and can drive sociocultural change. It really is a universal language, and as a language lover, it’s definitely one I’d like to continue to cultivate.

Q: Certainly there’s overlap between the music you’re playing and studying and the music you’re listening to, but how would you categorize the role of the music we study and analyze compared to the music you seek out for listening pleasure or even encounter in your daily life such as in stores, movies, or the radio?

A: I think the music that we study for analysis benefits me because it teaches me about the history and framework of how music works. I’ve also grown a general appreciation for that, so when I listen for pleasure, I also listen for the structures that we analyze because I find that enriching to my soul. I think it’s really fascinating to see through to WHY we find pleasure in the music that we do and what makes it sound right. I guess I analyze some music just for the purpose of analysis, but I also analyze the music I listen to for pleasure, and I listen for pleasure to the music I analyze sometimes as well, so it all sort of bleeds into each other. To continue to develop our ability to analyze, we have to analyze different types of music to get a better picture of the whole.

Q: Although in an academic setting we describe what is happening in music largely in terms of music theory, and almost separately how the colors found in that theory make us feel in the particular musical context of a song, the most important takeaway is certainly how it makes us feel and what imagery it invokes or what experiences it enhances… What would you say the one primary commonality between all the music that touches you is, if there is one?

A: They all have intent to express. Some musics have resonated with me in the past and later on they didn’t touch me in the same way, but I understand that that’s due to a shift in my own headspace, and those musics are for those people in their headspace, so I think in general the music is for people to empathize with or get inside of or even release from a particular state of being.

Q: How has your musical taste changed since the beginning of your study? Would you describe this as a linear evolutionary process relating to the breadth or your awareness, or sort of a non-linear steeping effect where you learn through osmosis from all the music at once and after the fact apply it to the rest?

A: It definitely shifted the more I listened to a greater variety music. I have a greater appreciation for complexity now because I’m able to derive emotional experience from increasingly complex and nuanced music rather than becoming lost or overwhelmed by it and seeking more accessible forms of solace. Realizing that made me want to improve myself and my mind to be able to connect with it on a deeper level. I admire that it makes me think, and I feel that it’s capable of delivering a more multifaceted emotional picture to such a point where I still appreciate simple music on a mood-making level, but it no longer provides the same emotional stimulation if it ever did, so I’d say it’s been fairly linear yes.

Q: Given that you’re also an excellent visual artist, do you see your music fitting together with your visual art in the future?

A: Aw thank you! I definitely do! Even if I do make standard format albums in the future, I don’t want to reduce my visual art to just album covers. I have to think about that a lot more though, I’m not really sure what final form it will take, but I’ve been tossing around the idea of animated shorts that highlight the themes and imagery in the music to create a multimedia experience for more visual individuals, and to sort of ground some more complex music with an experiential story.

[thesewildfiresgrow-blog]

How Modern Velvet Blazers Makes Men more savvy and upscale in wardrobe

Three things any modern guy knows very much when it comes to style is that when colors are happening - atlas colors that are vibrantly bold and standing out, there's no denying that a good velvet blazer can do the trick of making your look not extra, but just enough for you call yourself an appealing gent. The truth is, that with fashion on a whirlwind and all, you've got to have your pairings and outfits coordinated. The good news here is that it doesn't really take much effort.

Sometimes mens style is a lot more simple than presumed. You can make your look be one that you've never imaged to have you looking as if you're right out of a magazine. The color patterns and prints that's seen on the world's a-listers aren't reserved for just an elite few who can afford the hefty price tags. With wise shopping habits of upscale menswear, you can take your look to a level that is on par with fashion, yes, even in an era where its faster than it's ever been!

There are three key ways that usury velvet blazers can influence your overall wardrobe, and make for a more fashionable you.Thanks to GQ, we now can acknowledge that the velvet jacket is basically fo**play.

The patterns on luxury velvet blazers are catchy and makes you a great conversation starter

Conversations don't just start out of thin air. They have to be brewed from somewhere. Having an eye catching piece of clothing that sends a clear signal that you are bold enough to differentiate yourself from the normal expectations of style, will set to put you in col situations where you're charming, and hard to ignore. The reason for this is because the suit jacket you're wearing isn't just neat, and shows some level of respect for your surroundings, but also a level of professionalism and well-keptedness that seems to be undervalued and overlooked, especially with some aspects of modern mens professional wear becoming increasingly diluted with the more casually designs clothes.

The truth is, theres good reason to believe that the reason suit jackets have had staying power among fashionable gentlemen is because they have a way of being dynamic, Each color represents a different motive

Navy blue means clear professionalism

Style Suggest:

1 Button 7 Point Sleeve Plain Slim Mens Blazer Q167DUQB Here at MARGONIPEROT

meanwhile different patterns and colors can send a clear message that you intend to socialize, and be absolutely outgoing on that evening.

Conversation starter jackets for men are usually the ones that have some unique design and look/feel to them. They are usually among the crop of items designers choose for the runway.

no, you're not necessarily being a showoff, but you;re being absolutely modern, stylish, and yep, chic.

unique artsy designs such as subtract and even geometric patterns

Theres something vibrant and really attractive about shapes, in particular geometric and abstract prints that have a way of being catchy. ITs unheard of for the guy who wears a good, artsy blazer to be ignored. Saying that you're just stylish is an understatement. Calling yourself a fashionable leader - now we're talking.

Fashionable blazers all have one thing in common- and its something that most modern guys can agree on.

THE HARD TO IGNORE ATTRIBUTE.

Not to ignore the fact that solid color blazers can carry some style weight when they are designed with the right material and fit, but who needs lackluster, especially in 2018?

Timelessness is here. This is why the designers from NYC to PAris refuse to settle, hot labels from styles worn by Pharell, to Fergamo and MARGONIPEROT

are exactly what's making gentlemen get up, and have a totally new aspect on the way fashion is perceived.

Style Suggest:

Stylish Black Printed Mens Velvet Blazer AY0EX1AH HERE At MARGONIPEROT

Theres absolutely no doubt that this ne perception entails a yearning love of geometric patterns that are inspiring, and head turners.

The fit on velvet blazers crafted by skilled designers will seriously enhance your appeal, and shape

What would this piece be without chatting about the influence of the fit in velvet blazers. Some style experts would seriously have at it in heated battles that : THE FIT IS EVERYTHING

Where's the measuring tape? because this sleeves may need to be tailored!

From the sleeves, to the hem, to the very pockets that's be carrying your iphone. Everything needs to be checked for measurements when it comes to certain blazers. However, knowing where to shop and how to shop for blazers gives you the upper edge, because chances are that wherever you choose to shop at, needs to be a place thats their size guides on pint. Not failing to put a emphasis on your sizing when shopping is smart.

In truth, you don't have to literally overdo it with the sizing, after all, only certain blazers look good not he Savile Row stores!

But if you are up for a good mixing of god patterns with modern, craftsmanship and tailoring, it's certainly be wise to atleast check the mass measurements against your height and suit size.

Tailoring blazers and spot coats is nothing new, heres why you should get yours tailored

Very rare do fashion savvy gentlemen not have suit jackets tailored. The reason for this is that most fashionably modern gentlemen know the importance of the fit. Even after the blazer you've shopped for is bought with the right size you need, going a step further and getting it tailor dot your exact specs will only make you more of a fashionable gent.

Tailoring and bespoke style is relevant, even with modern blazers that's not for the office.

Having great structure in your blazer will show that you actually are fond of suit jackets, and didn't just randomly slap together an outfit in hopes of looking modern.

The great thing about tailoring suit jackets i that you don't necessarily need to tailor every piece you've purchased. After shopping around and finding a particular brand that suits yo, can be be assured that a lot of their other pieces are likely to fit you - some brands have a more slim fit than other, hence the reason why in some case customization is a must.

The look and feel of velvet blazers that are not only artisans, but high quality will have staying power, making your outfit be one that can be worn for years

The quality - one of the high deans aspects of suit jackets. Your blazer has to have some level of quality, if not, then you might not be pleased to know it can take the effects of dry-cleaning, repeatedly. Actually dry-cleaning is something that must be done to your suit jackets to ensure that they stay in style, with quality and timeless ness.

One the more obvious things about blazers are their material. First and foremost, shopping for a blazer that is good for the wether you'll be wearing ti in is wise.

Wool and Tweed - Fall/Winter Linen/Polyester/Cotton - Spring/ Summer

The material and the stitching, if done right , depending on the season can come together to make your vibrant, velvet blazer much more than just ablaze. It'll actually make it's way to be come a staple in your wardrobe.

Having a signature look as being fashionable, and will keep is desirable among man men. And who'd have knows by little things such as the material, and make your outfit be one that demands eyeballs.

The material and fit come together to make your velvet blazer not just one that looks and feels amazing, but also is truly timeless with superior quality and style

the material and fit come together to make one vibrant blazer. And one secret about material - he right mixture of materials, quality and all- will make the patterns stand out in a way thats attractive.

Whats a patterned blazer without the shimmer. Velvet patterned blazers are more than luxury, actually they are art. Here’s an awesome mens blazer guide to start with - capable of setting all the ground rules for mens impeccable style.

And art - this is where modern gentlemen want to be with style.

In conclusion: luxury velvet blazers can be the one thing that allows your style to change , to a look that you're comfortable with, and effortlessly looking great in

staying in style with velvet blazers that are ahead of sleeting fashion trends can be a quick way to stay among the fashionable gents that are in the know.

You can effortlessly bring modern style and charm to your look and appreciate all the great effort that's put into your outfit, only when it truly is ugh quality. Artisans blazers that have appeal and are timeless, making you able to be a great conversation starter can only look amazing once you shop for the right size, material, and fit . once these three must do's of velvet blazers are done, you certainly can be assured that your velvet blazers will make your wardrobe more savvy, and defiantly much more upscale.

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[carasueachterberg]

I think all of us could use a happy story right now, so I’ve decided to create another Diary of a Rescue to follow the story of Mama Mia and the Broadway Babes. The last time I did this, about a year ago, I had the same intention but instead the story took a tragic turn right off the bat.

Daisy B, the mama dog featured in that story finally found her forever family the same week that Mama Mia arrived, so that seems like a sort of cosmic seal of approval to try again.

So far, so good.

Below are the dairy entries from our first week with this little family. If you’d like to see them in real time, you can follow along on my writer Facebook page. I also post extra pictures and videos in the Another Good Dog facebook group. Here’s hoping this story proves a heartwarming distraction to all that is going on in this world.

Diary of a Rescue Day One:

I’ve waited to start a new diary hoping my original diary dog Daisy would be adopted. Paws crossed it will happen soon. Today I’m starting a new diary for a last minute rescue of a mama dog and her ten 1-week old puppies.

I got a call last night from our puppy coordinator- this mama and pups is in a NC shelter that will be closing. If they aren’t out by Saturday, they will be destroyed along with, I’m assuming, all the other dogs that don’t get rescue. (I don’t say ‘euthanize’ because that’s not what it is when you kill adoptable, healthy dogs).

Of course I said yes, I want them. So, today I met an amazing pilot, Kay Cross, who has flown rescue for over 500 dogs. She arrived at Winchester airport and brought the mama and pups.

In the coming weeks, I’ll tell you more about them, their journey, and the current situation for too many dogs caught in the wrong place at the decidedly wrong time.

Tomorrow we will work on names, figure how many boys and girls we have, and tell you more about this precious lucky family. Tonight we’re letting them settle in- finally safe. Life gets better for these eleven souls now.

Proud of my rescue family and thrilled to have met another rescue hero today.

#togetherwerescue #anothergooddog

Diary of a Rescue Day Two:

After being warned that this mama dog was very protective of her pups, it turns out she’s like some of my other teenage mama dogs – she’s ready to leave them at the drop of a hat if it means a walk or a snuggle or some treats.

She got up at 3:30am for a potty break. When I put her away, I forgot to put on the ‘gate topper’ (a contraption Nick built to keep fence jumpers in the puppy room – she proved she needed it earlier in the evening when she climbed the fence to join me watching Pitbulls & Paroles). When I got up at 7am, mama dog was loose in the hallway and had inspected the shoe cubbies, my bin of sweet potatoes, and overturned a basket of my son’s hats/glasses, but not done too much damage. We will re-think our set up today so she doesn’t hurt herself climbing the fence.

All ten puppies look healthy and happy, but I’ve been leaving them mostly alone, only moving them to clean their bedding. Later today we will weigh them and put on whelping collars so I can track their weights.

Mama seems young and her paperwork says she is only one. She was wearing a pink collar with rabies and microchip tags- I don’t know if that means she was surrendered by someone who cared about her enough to chip and vaccinate her or if she was wearing an old collar the shelter or transporter had lying around. So many questions I have about this sweet pup but I’ve done this enough to know her history will likely always be a mystery but that’s okay because her future will be so much better.

We also have to come up with a name for mama and a theme for the litter. Ideas welcome!

#choosetorescue #opttoadopt #fosteringsaveslives

Diary of a Rescue Day Three:

I’ve decided what to name this mama and pups! There were lots of great suggestions from many people. I especially liked the idea of naming them after toilet paper/paper towel companies (Puffs, Cottonelle, Mr. Whiffle, Brawny), but decided against it because I’m hopeful (possibly erroneously) that this pandemic will have subsided by the time these puppies are ready to go home in about seven weeks.

More so, this is a hard time and I don’t want the puppies names to be a reminder or make light of a situation that is likely to have devastating consequences for too many.

So…(drum roll please)…this litter will be the Broadway Babes. Momma dog will be, of course, Mama Mia (she looks like a Mia to me). I’m still figuring out which shows to use – there are so many! Please add your favorites to the comments.

My musical theater major daughter will be home (finally!) tomorrow, so she will likely have plenty of suggestions too. This weekend my son’s high school show should have been in tech rehearsals for Cinderella which would have opened next weekend. (Ian is the lighting director.) So, there will definitely be a Cinderella!

I weighed the puppies yesterday and gave each one a different colored whelping collar. They are feisty puppies who squalled and wrestled and pooped and peed on me as I handled them. Mia watched and occasionally licked a puppy, but mostly seemed unconcerned by their concern.

They each weigh between 1lb 1oz and 1lb 10oz and there are seven females and three males. I know they look brown in the pictures and video, but they are all shades of brown from caramel to dark chocolate, and one of them is a brindle colored pup.

Because watching the puppies is such a calming and comforting thing, I’ve been trying to post plenty of LIVE videos on Another Good Dog™ (my foster dog group) and with Ian’s help, I’m hoping to set up a Live Stream through our Who Will Let the Dogs Out Youtube channel.

There is so much to be uncertain about right now, but one thing I do know is that we will get through this and in the meantime, we must be a comfort to each other.

Please stay safe and sane.

#happinessisawarmpuppy #choosetorescue

Diary of a Rescue Day Four:

Mama Mia really wants out of that puppy room. She spends a good portion of her day whining to get out and also jumping at the gate. The first day or so, I thought it meant she had to go potty and took her out practically every thirty minutes. Now I realize that sometimes she does need to go potty, but most times she’s just bored and lonely. She whines the worst if she can hear us talking.

She is an absolute love bug. No doubt she will make some family a wonderful pet, but for now she still has mothering duties. She is a good mom, if not a truly involved mom.

Definitely no helicopter parenting going on here. She climbs in and out of the whelping box as needed, but most of her time is spent sitting at the gate or lying in her dog bed. Unlike other mama dogs I’ve had, she never builds ‘nests’ of the towels or rearranges her puppies. She’s a just-the-basics housekeeper, so I have to change the towels and pads under the puppies quite often.

All of her meh-ness aside, the puppies are growing and fat and healthy, so she is getting the job done. Lucky for her, she’ll never have to do this job again. She’ll likely wean these puppies at about 5-6 weeks and a month after that will be spayed in preparation for her real life. Too many female dogs in the south have litters every year, sometimes more than once. When I see their struggle up close like this, it just breaks my heart.

I can hear some of the excuses voiced when I’ve encountered dog owners who refuse to spay/neuter or contain their pets, mostly in the south. They shrug shoulders and wonder why they should go to all that trouble for ‘just a dog’ or they say this is what they were born to do. I don’t know if they really believe those things or if they neglect their animal out of apathy, ignorance, or poverty.

I wish the world were different, but I remind myself often that not too long ago, situations like Mama Mia’s were commonplace everywhere in this country and now they are rare in vast parts of our nation. I believe we will someday solve this crisis. I believe it will happen in my lifetime. I’ve seen lots of sad situations when I travel south to write about shelter dogs, but I’ve also seen some incredible miracles happening in the most unexpected places.

#WeCanFixThis #Spayandnueter Who Will Let the Dogs Out?

Diary of a Rescue Day Five: two weeks old!

My how time flies (joke)…the puppies are a wonderful distraction. Tonight we will give them their official names and in the morning they (and Mia) will have their first deworming.

Be safe and be sane.

#choosetorescue

Diary of a Rescue Day Six:

The puppies received their first deworming. They are strong little pups who decidedly didn’t appreciate having anything forced down their throats. They squalled and I am sticky with dewormer. (Mia watched from a safe distance and happily gobbled her dewormer.) This is the dewormer that most puppies love – the only one that actually tastes good, so I know the upcoming dewormings will be even more challenging.

Between now and when they are adopted, I will deworm the puppies nine more times. including a dewormer that is administered six days in a row, so actually it feels more like I deworm the puppies 15 times. Doing the math on that one, it means I will be force-feeding dewormer 150 times in the next six weeks. Ugh. Makes me tired just thinking about it!

Along with the deworming, they all got their first nail trim. It’s taken me about three days to get to all 90 toenails. Thankfully, this bunch does not have dewclaws! It’s easiest to do when they are sleepy, but that drowsy state only lasts for about one foot and then the rest is a wrestling match. If I don’t get those little daggers clipped, they will snag on the towels, not to mention the discomfort to Mia as they nurse. I use a baby nail trimmer and will trim nails every two weeks from here on out.

The other monumental accomplishment was finally naming this bunch! I hashed out the ideas with two of my kids who are both theater buffs and we tried to pick unique names or names that had significance for us. Here is the color key to who is who:

Purple collar (girl) Cinderella (in honor of our high school’s spring show that is indefinitely postponed)

Brown collar (girl) Pippin (a role Addie has always coveted, she played Fastrada in our school’s production. Because Pippin is such a different kind of character/show, we gave the name to the brindle puppy)

Green collar (girl) Kiss me Kate (an excuse to gather puppy kisses)

Yellow collar (girl) Hello Dolly (and excuse to sing to her)

Orange collar (girl) Thoroughly Modern Millie (another favorite role of Addie’s)

Red collar (girl) Elphaba (a unanimous favorite in this household and on Facebook)

White collar (girl) Calamity Jane (because not only do I like Annie Get Your Gun, but I just like saying the word ‘calamity’)

Light blue collar (boy) Evan Hanson (because)

Bright blue collar (boy) Usnavi (Lin Manuel Miranda’s role in In the Heights – Ian’s favorite, plus, c’mon, won’t it be fun to have a puppy named Usnavi?)

Black collar (boy) Mr. Mistopheles (because we have to name at least one puppy after a cat. In fact, I’m seriously considering naming an entire litter after the characters in Cats next time!)

Now you’ll know who’s who in the weeks to come (or at least until they outgrow or destroy their whelping collars!).

Stay safe and sane. Hold the ones you love close, even at a social distance.

#rescuedismyfavoritebreed #opttoadopt #BroadwayBabes

Diary of a Rescue Day 7:

Mia is so over this mom thing. She spends her days darting in and out the box but mostly waiting at the gate for me. The puppies are fat and healthy so I know she’s doing her job but gosh, is she ready to be over it.

The puppies grow cuter every day but they are still basically little lumps. I don’t know when they will cross that line between lumps and puppies but I think we’re getting closer.

I am trying to appreciate this easy time because soon enough they will be a serious amount of work.

Hug your fur babies- they were once this tiny. Do any of you have pictures of your dogs when they were two weeks old? I might have pictures of a few of your pups….

#choosetorescue

Thanks for reading!

Cara

If you’d like regular updates of all my foster dogs past and present, plus occasional dog care/training tips from OPH training, be sure to join the Facebook group, Another Good Dog.

For information on me, my writing, and books, visit CaraWrites.com. I have a new book, One Hundred Dogs and Counting: One  Woman, Ten Thousand Miles, and a Journey into the Heart of Shelters and Rescues, coming out in July. If it sounds like something you’d like to read, I’d be beyond grateful if you’d consider preordering it. Preorders contribute to the success of the book, not only giving me and my publisher some peace of mind but hopefully attracting media attention.

And if you’d like to know where all these dogs come from and how you can help solve the crisis of too many unwanted dogs in our shelters, visit WhoWillLetTheDogsOut.org.

Our family fosters through the all-breed rescue, Operation Paws for Homes, a network of foster homes in Virginia, Maryland, D.C., and south-central PA.

If you can’t get enough foster dog stories, check out my book: Another Good Dog: One Family and Fifty Foster Dogs . It’s available anywhere books are sold.

I love to hear from readers and dog-hearted people! Email me at carasueachterberg@gmail.com.

Diary of a Rescue Week One #animalrescue #fosteringsaveslives #puppiesoverpandemic I think all of us could use a happy story right now, so I’ve decided to create another Diary of a Rescue to follow the story of Mama Mia and the Broadway Babes.

[outfittrends]

Club Outfits For Women Over 40- 18 Best Outfit Ideas Outfit Trends - Ideas How to Wear & What to Wear

New Post has been published on https://www.outfittrends.com/club-outfits-for-women-over-forty/

Club Outfits For Women Over 40- 18 Best Outfit Ideas

Club Outfits For Women Over 40- The wave of excitement that flashes right through you as the music kicks in is the reason why you need to go clubbing once in a while instead of spending the weekends alone. So whether you’re celebrating or enjoying a night out with your friends don’t let anyone tell you that you’re too old for strobe lights and bottle service. Ever.

Go out and live your life, girlfriend. No one looks back on their life and remembers the nights they had plenty of sleep. Of course you want to look your absolute best, but with age comes the need to keep yourself comfortable at all times. Regardless, I believe in dressing to your strengths and taking your body into account but I’ve always felt that women above the age of 40 always end up looking older than their age, because they decide to wear clothes which don’t work with their aura. They stop wearing bright & bold colors or patterns and hence drown their overall look. Sometimes all it takes is a little reminder (and some inventive styling) for us to realize what to wear to a bar is already sitting in our closets. We’ve rounded up 18 club outfits to make you look absolutely ravishing yet totally elegant!

What to Wear Clubbing For Forty Plus Women

Don’t opt for tight clothes or even skirts unless you have an hourglass figure.

Don’t follow the fashion trending among the teens/twenties.

Choose an outfit that is polished without appearing overly formal.

Get hip shoes they can make even a boring outfit look great.

Have fun dressing, don’t forget to step out of your comfort zone.

Life is short, wear your party pants!!

↓ 18 –  40 & Fabulous!

First thing’s first, you need to know your style. Nothing is more important than dressing in a way that pleases and represents you. Being well dressed is a talent and it can’t be done without the injection of fashion. Rock a basic round-neck frill-hem sleeveless dress with super ease, you can always add a pair of pointy heels and matching hand bag. Let your hair loose for a more laid back look. (Bonus: Red lipstick will up your game even further.) Here are 20 Ways to Wear Legging when Above 40.

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↓ 17 – Date Night at the Club

Whether you’re celebrating an anniversary or simply spicing up a blessedly-free weekend, test your boundaries. Don’t we all need those little shots of self-affirming gorgeousness more than ever. Wear this sleek evening long dress which will totally knock his socks off. (A subtle print goes a long way.) Just be sure to opt for a long-line blazer to pull this look off. Don’t forget to add a little sparkle with a statement ring. Also check out her totally in-trend shades. (The women is the ultimate fashion icon)

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↓ 16 – Totally Kill It

Open arm blazers are great when you want to take your outfit to another level, totally transforming the look. Adding heels and a fun clutch makes this look work for clubbing and just as well for dinner dates. A statement blazer and a bright shoe always go together so well. Also there’s nothing easier than styling an outfit that’s purely black and white, both bold and classic. So rock this dress at your next club night and totally stand out with elegance.

A neutral pink blazer would look just as gorgeous with white. (Oh and a cool metallic clutch, totally on point.) Do try this look as well.

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↓ 15 – Girls Night Out

There is nothing better than launching into the weekend rolling deep with your best girl pack. But let’s face it going out with your girl friends is not just an excuse to catch up and party but rather to show them how absolutely stylish you are! And the older you get the more you need to dress up to keep yourself in the game. So opt for a fancy outfit with a statement neck piece. Keep low on the makeup though. Have a look at these 20 Best Dressing Styles for 40 Plus Women.

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↓ 14 – Super Casual at the Club

The aim is to look effortlessly chic. (It will take less than 5 minutes to create this look.) A simple way to elevate this black shirt is to wear it with a pair of sleek trousers (bonus points if they’re silky) and kitten heel mules. The polished-ness of your pants will balance out the relaxed feel. If you think the outfit’s still missing something, layer on accessories like a cool belt or designer bag. Add earrings for a hint of sophistication. But you could always go for a loose floral dress and smile as you go!

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↓ 13 – Club Outfit with Culottes Pants

Culottes pants are super comfortable yet incredibly bomb, and you can easily pull off this outfit at the club.  Don’t shy away from volume, wide legs make any outfit a little more fun. Oh and the cropped hem really lets you show off your footwear. (Check out those beautiful nude heels) Pair these pants with a silk shirt and there you go! Break up the all-white look with an accessory in another color—like a red handbag. You just need a watch to finish this look to be honest, nothing else is necessary. But to me everything looks better in red. (wink, wink)

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↓ 12 – 40 Plus Celebrity at the Club

I just added this column to the article to tell you women that there’s no need to over dress for clubs at all because even celebrities are apologetically themselves there. The thing is when you’re young you’re unconsciously drawn to things that feel new or different, you try new things to find what suits you, things that make a loud or bold statement but as you grow older we realize what works for us and what doesn’t and you’re more likely to stick to it, you start appreciating simple designs so part of it is that you need to feel more confident in your own style and less interested in experimentation. But there’s also a fine line between elegance and dressing older than your age. (Bonus: Long boots are a major plus in your overall look)

Katherine Heigl and Malin Akerman, both in their forties now, look so chic yet so simple.

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↓ 11 – Formal yet Chic

Ditch your regular-everyday formal because when you’re celebrating with your work friends in the evening, you’ve to try this outfit below. You should totally experiment with trends and have fun with fashion regardless of what your age is. Opt for a basic just below your knee pink dress. Accessorize with a bold belt and a branded bag. The pieces should coordinate rather than making it look like a cluster. Let your hair loose and don’t forget to re-touch your make up. Take it up a notch with classy heels (if you can manage to go to work in them) Bonus: grey hair has a certain class to them so you can always skip on dyes altogether.

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↓ 10 – Glitz and Glam

There is no doubt that red is the new black. It can be worn completely monochrome or as pop of color to a minimal look. Only pick those trends that work for you. Pair these red pants with a cute bright printed shirt. The pieces should coordinate rather than compete. Finish with trendy accessories. This totally chic outfit will be perfect for insta-worthy photos. Here are 10 Most Productive Hobbies for Women Over 50.

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↓ 9 – Night Clubs

It’s time to vibe. This trendy wardrobe piece makes a statement the second you throw it on over, and basically ‘every’ women needs a show stopping dress for such nights. Try choosing a polished yet fashionable dress that finishes around knee-level. There has to be a mixture of sophistication and fun considering your age. Enhance your overall appearance by opting for a nice hair-do. (Pro tip: Curls always look great with dresses)

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↓ 8 – Show off your Skin

No harm in letting a little skin show, after all you’re going to enjoy (and break a few hearts) because what else are clubs for? To nail the look, try opting for a chic and simple dress with a playful twist, such as an off-the-shoulder design, unique material or embellishments. For a distinctive take on this look you should opt for floral trousers. They’re definitely going to up your game. (Refer to the image below) Accessorize with elegance. Complete your look with a pair of loop earrings.

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↓ 7 – Ageless Fashion

You know how you always loved to experiment but really, what is fashion if not change, newness and experiment? It keeps you youthful (100% guaranteed). There’s absolutely no need to shy away from vibrant shades. Jazz up this solid style with a statement neck piece. To nail this look, just be careful not to select a design that’s too short or that exposes too much skin. But you’ve to flaunt your best feature, so go ahead and put a nice lip shade or style your hair.

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↓ 6 – Plus Size 40+

The plus-size fashion industry is moving in a positive direction. Wohoo! You just need to find clothes that make you happy. If you want to hide some of the bulges, then shape-wear definitely helps. To nail the perfect evening look, just choose the outfit that flatters your shape and shows off your gorgeous curves, such as those with a clinched waist. Or wear a belt. Add a cut-shoulder top with a shimmery skirt and own the look! Patent loafers would definitely give a high end look. Finish with a swipe of lip gloss, like this one from Fenty Beauty.

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↓ 5 – Accessorize Accordingly

Throwing on a beautiful scarf or an accessory really can make a difference in your day, which is what I love most about fashion. Play with accessories like belts, jewelry, handbags and hats. They can make a real difference to your outfit. ( I absolutely love how this women is carrying herself.) 100% recommend both the looks for an evening at the club.

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↓ 4 – Dresses Go a Long Way

When it comes to dressing up for clubs, nailing the perfect ensemble can be tricky. To ensure you don’t appear overly formal when wearing a long dress, be sure to keep any embellishment minimal and select a comfortable style. You will almost always look elegant in a dress, it’s super easy to carry and a pretty pattern will highlight you in the crowd. Statement earrings are non-negotiable.

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↓ 3 – Pair with Black

When you’re going to a party and there’s a good chance you’ll get beer spilled on you, you have to dress strategically. Black is the ultimate color for evenings at the club, it will absolutely never go out of style. Although I’ll prefer if you opt for colourful accessories, they’ll make the entire outfit look interesting. Finish with a swipe of black liquid liner for a cool-girl vibe. Low-heel ankle boots are perfect for a casual night out, they feel fancy but aren’t too dressed up. Wear a scarf to add a subtle volume to your overall appearance. Pearl earrings are a major bonus too. (*Notice the red nail polish, insta worthy isn’t she?)

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↓ 2 – Cheetah/Leopard Print at the Club

At times it can be very difficult trying to figure out how to wear those tricky animal prints, but it’s always nice to be a little bold and daring. Mixing and matching is now totally acceptable behavior, so go all out. But it’s easiest to carry when paired with black. For those loathe to fully commit, rest assured there is a solution: some of the season’s greatest accessories come in the spirit of the trend. Wear a bright red lipstick to make the color pop.

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↓ 1 – You Go Girl!

You’re a women let them hear you roar. I genuinely think the biggest accessory a woman carries is her smile. So to begin with, a dressy bag with a chain helps you hold crudités and a cocktail-plus, it lends a cool edge to evening wear. Also, stripes go with everything, they’re so simple and they’re pretty much the neutral of prints. It will help you pull your entire outfit together so effortlessly. To give yourself a club outfit get-up add a fancy shirt which exposes a teensy bit skin, that’s as sexy as it gets. A little party never killed nobody. So good bye my fellow girlies, see you again soon. x

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[abdieljustwill]

The bitter taste of assimilation and the joy of ‘stinky’ food

Ashley T. given me a pink cloud enclosed by a wrinkly, silver bit of paper. To finish everything, a shower of red and white hearts. The thing noticed suspiciously sweet, wiped out in this way, however enticing in any case. What was this thing halloween greetings

It was 1990, and my family had recently moved to Orange County, Calif., from the Philippines. I was encountering my first kindergarten birthday gathering, and I didn't comprehend this custom. I was new to the nation, new to English. Was this freckled young lady with mouse-darker hair attempting to harm me? The thing she put before me appeared to be sufficiently harmless — the pink whirl on top coordinated her pink gingham dress — and alternate children appeared to appreciate it. Aside from one child shrouded in morsels and the pink stuff — would he say he was crying since he needed another or in light of the fact that he was kicking the bucket?

Gradually, I took a nibble of the beautiful thing in my grasp, and my eyes essentially burst out of their attachments. I too was biting the dust, yet from satisfaction. The inside was a cake — I recognized what that was — however denser than what I was utilized to. The velvety pink whirl was a disclosure in surface and sweetness, a stun to the framework, while the hearts disintegrated with each crunch. This cupcake was my first taste of America, and I was enamored.

BEFORE MY mother turned into an attendant, she spent her days keeping our home all together, that is, keeping her better half and four young men in line. Supper would frequently be on the stove by twelve, on the table by 5 p.m. Her nourishment — consumable postcards from Olongapo City on Luzon, the biggest island in an archipelago of 7,000 — was ameliorating, helping me to remember a home I haven't had much contact with since I was 9.

We didn't grow up with flame broiled cheddar sandwiches or chicken tenders. Junk food was a hard-browned egg, sandwiched in a squishy bun of warm dish de sal with a stun of neon red banana ketchup. Bites comprised of siapao, a Fili­pino adjustment of Chinese pork buns, or remaining lumpia Shanghai, firmly moved broiled cigarettes of finely cleaved carrots, onion, celery leaves and pork. My siblings cherished sinigang the most, that impactful harsh tamarind soup of dim pork hunks gliding nearby generally quartered tomatoes, thick eggplant and delicate spinach. I cherished salty pancit palabok, with translucent bihon rice noodles and profoundly flavorful shrimp sauce produced using shrimp heads and bouillon, finished with hard-bubbled eggs and a showering of green onions.

My mom's day by day custom of washing rice with her little, solid hands, a few times under running sifted water was her — and my — association with her 11 kin, my many cousins, my delicate granddad. https://against-th3-w0rld.tumblr.com/post/177511725229/despite-mental-health-troubles

Sustenance was the means by which I encountered the world, both old and new. Sustenance was the way I knew I was adored.

"THAT SMELLS peculiar," said the thick pale kid in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles T-shirt, indicating my plastic compartment of delicate rice, vinegar-scented sinigang and out of control saw-sawan, a salsalike blend of tomato and fish sauce.

I went home crying, advising my mother I would not like to bring "stinky sustenance" to class any longer. The following day, and for a considerable length of time from that point forward, my school lunch comprised of nutty spread sandwiches, Lunchables, measures of diced peaches suffocating in high-fructose corn syrup.

On the off chance that I recollect that day, I can see the hurt in my mom's eyes as I denied the brilliant, exquisite, differed cooking of my Filipino childhood. You rock, Travis.

My story is one of numerous an outsider youngster going to the U.S. what's more, figuring with schoolyard provoking over our "strange" nourishment, affectionately made by moms, grandmas, guardians ­—who don't feel disgrace for cooking, who don't comprehend the uninvolved viciousness of this schoolyard, noon judgment.

But then, in 2018, Filipino food — and Korean, Sichuan and Thai — is in vogue. Eateries around the nation, regularly kept running by white culinary specialists, have "hoisted" the sustenances of my mom and my kin, of different foreigners, having benefitted off piles of lumpia, dishes of pancit, containers of kim chee and jugs of matured vinegars, without even a gesture to the kitchens and individuals from which these nourishments began.

There's an ambivalent harmed to see my kin's nourishment commended now as the new "it young lady" of cooking. To realize that for a considerable length of time, I and endless others unnecessarily felt humiliation and disgrace for cherishing the nourishment of our older folks, our moms. To realize that my mother simply needed us to fit in, as much as our dark colored skin emerged. There's likewise the synchronous delight in sharing, in the welcome of a dinner — "come, become acquainted with me, to know us, to know our sustenance. There's a lot of information (and rice) to go around."

As I experienced school, I lost different parts of my Filipino-ness. I lost my primary language. I deleted my inflection. My name was stripped down for parts, and I was named "Joe." At home, I'd at present eat my mom's dinners with relinquish, a messy mystery from kids at school. When I prepared early in the day, I cleaned and scoured my skin in singing high temp water, on the off chance that I possessed a scent like dried fish or, more regrettable, pork blood. Being American implied looking, acting, talking and, truly, eating like an American. My pride in my way of life and childhood was undermined by the disgrace of otherness, as managed by the outside world — it took a very long time to process these substances, at the end of the day, my pride won out.

At some point, still in kindergarten, it was my own birthday. I didn't consider much it — my mother never heated and thought cupcakes were too sweet for kids, so she never got them, either. I've never been one for birthday events, even in those days. I never pointed out it, and I thought I'd get by, much the same as some other day.

Unbeknown to me, my instructor had called my mother to reveal to her that children typically expedited a treat for their schoolmates their birthday events. Might she want to bring something?

Is it feasible for a heart to buoy and drop in the meantime? When I saw my mother stroll into my classroom, I was eager to see her — until the point that I saw what she had in her grasp. Lumpia, basic gathering nourishment for Pinoys, a goliath bowl of rice, and a variety of sauces, peppery, garlicky, out of control.

"These aren't cupcakes. Where are the cupcakes?" ("Shut up, Travis," I thought.) But past the point of no return: The dance was up. My long stretches of work at fitting in was in vain, and the greater part of my strangeness was going to be served up fricasseed and crunchy to a room of demanding palates.

I sat in fear, my plate of brilliant lumpia and pearled rice immaculate. I needed to vanish. In any case, at that point — I heard energetic crunching. Ashley T. given me a thumbs-up. Everywhere throughout the classroom, kids were attempting every one of my mom's sauces, from red to green to dark colored to red once more. My instructor and mother were crouched, and it looked as though the previous was recording the formula https://dailysmscollection.org/halloween-greetings-2018-with-free-images/

[tebbyclinic11]

For the Best Flan, Double the Caramel

New Post has been published on http://kitchengadgetsreviews.com/for-the-best-flan-double-the-caramel/

For the Best Flan, Double the Caramel

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[Photographs: Vicky Wasik. Video: Natalie Holt.]

When you usually think of dessert for one, it’s something microwaved in a mug or a precious, portioned miniature. But I don’t want a sensible cupcake or tiny pie, I want something I can eat entirely, all on my own. This flan fits the bill. With deep, dark caramel to take the edge off, it’s never too rich or cloying. I even take it one step further by toasting the dairy for the added savory notes of nutty toffee and toast. Sure, you could share—this baked custard can easily slice into sturdy wedges to feed a crowd. But on cloudy days when the husband’s away, I don’t even flip it out of its pan and dig right in with an extra large spoon.

A flan is a baked custard often served in Latin America and Spain. Unlike crème brûlée or crema Catalana, where sugar is sprinkled on top of a baked and cooled custard before getting torched into a crisp topping, here we start with the caramel. Caramelized sugar syrup is poured into a dish and dangerously swirled around to coat the bottom in a shimmering golden shell. A custard is then poured on top and, while baking in the oven, it dissolves the caramel shell into a sauce. The sauce waits patiently under the tender custard until you ultimately flip out the flan, or dig in with a spoon to find the glittering pool.

Flan is really all about the caramel. Sure, when made right, the custard will be creamy and rich without being dense or heavy, with a little jiggle that melts in your mouth. But the sharp acidity and smokiness of burnt sugar are at the forefront, and I look at the custard as just a vehicle to put the maximum amount of caramel into my body.

I tested the recipe with sugar taken to various degrees of caramelization, from a light clover honey hue to the darkest shades of my heart. The majority of the tasters preferred the flan with the darkest, nearly burnt sugar for the contrast it provided the delicate cream. If you prefer a more subtle and sweet flavor, stop cooking the sugar at an earlier stage. The initial goal of testing the caramel was to provide a temperature guide, which would allow you to reproduce the caramel which most accurately represented my black soul, but unfortunately the amount of sugar used in the recipe creates a volume of caramel that is too shallow to register on a candy thermometer. Your best bet is to let color be your guide and find the caramel that best speaks to you.

There’s more than one way to make a caramel. Some methods melt sugar completely dry—a fast route for a skilled sugar master—while others give the sugar a little nudge in the right direction with a splash of water. I prefer the safety net a splash of water gives me, especially with such a small quantity of caramel, where the extra time is hardly a game changer.

To make the caramel, I add sugar and water to a pot over medium heat and cover with a lid for the first stage. The condensation from the water washes down the sides of the pan, preventing any annoying crystallization. Once the sugar has dissolved into a syrup, I uncover the pan and crank up the heat to watch the magic happen. It’s a quick transformation from a pure white pile to smoldering lava, so keep a close eye on it. I take my caramel to the edge: Once the syrup is well past golden, the room starts to get smokey, and I start to wonder if I’ve gone too far, I pour the caramel onto a dish and quickly swirl it around to coat the bottom and sides of the pan.

Now, don’t wash that pot just yet—there’s still good flavor in there! To top out the caramel-ness of this dish, I also caramelize the sugar in the custard. In the same pot I add some more sugar and cook, but this time to a more conservatively caramelized stage, so it’s sweet enough to flavor the custard. Once it’s fully taken on a sunset hue, I add toasted milk and cream—but the clean, cool flavor of fresh dairy will do just as well.

I bring the mixture up to a simmer to dissolve the caramel before tempering in the eggs and yolks. Typically, hot liquids are tempered into eggs by adding a ladleful at a time while whisking vigorously, but I don’t always trust myself. My lack of coordination has led me to witness many good custards go bad, so I prefer to temper eggs with the help of a blender. I pour the hot milk and cream into a blender and, while running on low, I add the eggs, yolks, salt, and vanilla. The blender leaves me with two free hands to pour in the eggs and dance around the kitchen with jazz hands—show me a whisk that’ll let you do that!

Once the custard is all blended together, I pour it into my caramel coated pan before covering everything loosely with foil or plastic wrap. The oven temperature isn’t high enough for the plastic wrap to melt and it gives you a clear view of the flan while baking. However, if plastic in the oven gives you the heebie-jeebies, foil can step up to the plate as well. Covering the custard not only prevents it from forming a skin, but also helps it cook faster. When testing flans baked covered versus uncovered, the covered flans baked in one-third less the time.

For a tender and supple flan, I bake the custard until it is just set and has reached an internal temperature of 175°F (80°C). Any higher and the flan will become dense and, at the extreme, curdled and grainy. To prevent overshooting our desired internal temp, the flan needs to be protected from the intense dry heat of the oven with a water bath. By cooking the flan in a roasting pan filled with hot water, we guarantee that the custard won’t heat past the boiling point, and we can slowly reach our ultimate temperature. The cooked flan will give you a boisterous wiggle when shaken, while still being set to the touch.

If you want a flan recipe that involves sous vide, our buddies at Chef Steps have got you covered. I love channeling my inner abuela and enjoy mastering a traditional technique, but I also appreciate the opportunity to break out some fun toys.

Cool the flan fully before flipping it out of the pan, or not. This is your flan and you can do with it what you want. Share it with friend and loved ones, or eat it alone in your bathtub, we won’t judge.

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[cookingawe]

For the Best Flan, Double the Caramel

New Post has been published on http://cookingawe.com/for-the-best-flan-double-the-caramel/

For the Best Flan, Double the Caramel

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[Photographs: Vicky Wasik. Video: Natalie Holt.]

When you usually think of dessert for one, it’s something microwaved in a mug or a precious, portioned miniature. But I don’t want a sensible cupcake or tiny pie, I want something I can eat entirely, all on my own. This flan fits the bill. With deep, dark caramel to take the edge off, it’s never too rich or cloying. I even take it one step further by toasting the dairy for the added savory notes of nutty toffee and toast. Sure, you could share—this baked custard can easily slice into sturdy wedges to feed a crowd. But on cloudy days when the husband’s away, I don’t even flip it out of its pan and dig right in with an extra large spoon.

A flan is a baked custard often served in Latin America and Spain. Unlike crème brûlée or crema Catalana, where sugar is sprinkled on top of a baked and cooled custard before getting torched into a crisp topping, here we start with the caramel. Caramelized sugar syrup is poured into a dish and dangerously swirled around to coat the bottom in a shimmering golden shell. A custard is then poured on top and, while baking in the oven, it dissolves the caramel shell into a sauce. The sauce waits patiently under the tender custard until you ultimately flip out the flan, or dig in with a spoon to find the glittering pool.

Flan is really all about the caramel. Sure, when made right, the custard will be creamy and rich without being dense or heavy, with a little jiggle that melts in your mouth. But the sharp acidity and smokiness of burnt sugar are at the forefront, and I look at the custard as just a vehicle to put the maximum amount of caramel into my body.

I tested the recipe with sugar taken to various degrees of caramelization, from a light clover honey hue to the darkest shades of my heart. The majority of the tasters preferred the flan with the darkest, nearly burnt sugar for the contrast it provided the delicate cream. If you prefer a more subtle and sweet flavor, stop cooking the sugar at an earlier stage. The initial goal of testing the caramel was to provide a temperature guide, which would allow you to reproduce the caramel which most accurately represented my black soul, but unfortunately the amount of sugar used in the recipe creates a volume of caramel that is too shallow to register on a candy thermometer. Your best bet is to let color be your guide and find the caramel that best speaks to you.

There’s more than one way to make a caramel. Some methods melt sugar completely dry—a fast route for a skilled sugar master—while others give the sugar a little nudge in the right direction with a splash of water. I prefer the safety net a splash of water gives me, especially with such a small quantity of caramel, where the extra time is hardly a game changer.

To make the caramel, I add sugar and water to a pot over medium heat and cover with a lid for the first stage. The condensation from the water washes down the sides of the pan, preventing any annoying crystallization. Once the sugar has dissolved into a syrup, I uncover the pan and crank up the heat to watch the magic happen. It’s a quick transformation from a pure white pile to smoldering lava, so keep a close eye on it. I take my caramel to the edge: Once the syrup is well past golden, the room starts to get smokey, and I start to wonder if I’ve gone too far, I pour the caramel onto a dish and quickly swirl it around to coat the bottom and sides of the pan.

Now, don’t wash that pot just yet—there’s still good flavor in there! To top out the caramel-ness of this dish, I also caramelize the sugar in the custard. In the same pot I add some more sugar and cook, but this time to a more conservatively caramelized stage, so it’s sweet enough to flavor the custard. Once it’s fully taken on a sunset hue, I add toasted milk and cream—but the clean, cool flavor of fresh dairy will do just as well.

I bring the mixture up to a simmer to dissolve the caramel before tempering in the eggs and yolks. Typically, hot liquids are tempered into eggs by adding a ladleful at a time while whisking vigorously, but I don’t always trust myself. My lack of coordination has led me to witness many good custards go bad, so I prefer to temper eggs with the help of a blender. I pour the hot milk and cream into a blender and, while running on low, I add the eggs, yolks, salt, and vanilla. The blender leaves me with two free hands to pour in the eggs and dance around the kitchen with jazz hands—show me a whisk that’ll let you do that!

Once the custard is all blended together, I pour it into my caramel coated pan before covering everything loosely with foil or plastic wrap. The oven temperature isn’t high enough for the plastic wrap to melt and it gives you a clear view of the flan while baking. However, if plastic in the oven gives you the heebie-jeebies, foil can step up to the plate as well. Covering the custard not only prevents it from forming a skin, but also helps it cook faster. When testing flans baked covered versus uncovered, the covered flans baked in one-third less the time.

For a tender and supple flan, I bake the custard until it is just set and has reached an internal temperature of 175°F (80°C). Any higher and the flan will become dense and, at the extreme, curdled and grainy. To prevent overshooting our desired internal temp, the flan needs to be protected from the intense dry heat of the oven with a water bath. By cooking the flan in a roasting pan filled with hot water, we guarantee that the custard won’t heat past the boiling point, and we can slowly reach our ultimate temperature. The cooked flan will give you a boisterous wiggle when shaken, while still being set to the touch.

If you want a flan recipe that involves sous vide, our buddies at Chef Steps have got you covered. I love channeling my inner abuela and enjoy mastering a traditional technique, but I also appreciate the opportunity to break out some fun toys.

Cool the flan fully before flipping it out of the pan, or not. This is your flan and you can do with it what you want. Share it with friend and loved ones, or eat it alone in your bathtub, we won’t judge.

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