#bella cucumber

[st4rguy]

firecracker

[tandytoaster]

NEW BABY NEW BABY NEW BABY

[saint-ambrosef]

newbie's guide to produce

for all my peers who were not taught how to shop for veggies and fruit on a budget and struggle to use them before they go bad:

(disclaimer: prices are approximate based on where i live in the Southern US. costs may be higher in your area, but the comparison of cost should still be valuable.)

cheap produce year-round:

roma tomatoes. if they look under-ripe you can leave them on the counter for a few days. keeps in fridge for about 2 weeks. $1/lb.

cucumbers. around here they're 50-60 cents each. go bad quickly though, about 1 week in fridge.

celery. two bucks for a head. starts to get sad after two weeks in fridge. only makes sense if you like to snack on celery or make soups often.

corn. whole ears are like 20cents each mid-summer, otherwise just get frozen. $1.50 for a lb.

peas. get these puppies frozen for $1.50/lb. good protein, too.

romaine lettuce. one head is good for several small salads, about $2 and lasts a week in fridge. the big boxes/multi-packs may seem like a better deal but not if it all goes bad before you can eat it.

onions. kind of a given but you can get regular yellow varietals for less than a buck per pound. will last for 1-2 months in pantry.

potatoes. you can get 5lb bags of russets for three bucks. sweet potatoes are a lil over $1/lb. last 2-3 months in pantry; if they grow sprouts, you can cut those off and still eat it.

bananas. dirt cheap. a small bunch (4-5) costs like a dollar. if they go over-ripe before you eat them all just get less or get a few green ones (p.s: you're allowed to break them off larger clumps).

radishes. $1.50 for a little bundle. greens get wilty after a week, roots will last 2 weeks (you can use both parts).

hot peppers. poblano, jalapeno, etc., are often quite cheap and you usually don't need very many anyways. few weeks fridge or counter.

cheap produce when in season:

summer squash. in summertime (duh), zucchini and yellow squash are like $1.25/lb. only last a week or so though in fridge.

winter squash. actually in season in fall, these are your butternuts and acorn squash. less than $1/lb then. lasts in pantry for months.

green beans. in warm months they can be on sale for $1.50/lb! last 1.5-2 weeks in fridge? (kinda depends on the shape they're in)

kale. it's a cool-season green that commonly is on sale in colder months. $1.60 for a big bunch, about 1.5 weeks in fridge before it gets seriously wilty. (can be eaten cooked or raw!)

apples. fall/winter, usually at least one variety on sale for $1.25/lb. last forever.

oranges. most citrus are winter fruits. $1/lb. will last forever in your fridge.

strawberries. spring. at their peak, i can find them for $2/lb. otherwise they are too expensive.

watermelon. $8 for big 10lb melons. they can take up a ton of space though and need to be refrigerated once cut/ripe.

cantaloupe. another summer star! $1.50 each on sale. they will slow ripen in the fridge but you do have to keep an eye on it.

pineapple. $1.50 in summer time. might be ripe even when still a bit green, ready when they smell noticeably ripe.

pears. fall season, sometimes into winter. $1.20/lb. last 1-2 weeks on the counter or forever in the fridge.

pomegranate. in winter time they can be found for $2 each. tricky to peel though.

peaches. and nectarines (which are just fuzzless peaches). $1.25/lb in summer and will last for weeks in your fridge.

eggplants. summertime veggie, you can get for $1.50 when they're on sale. otherwise a bit pricey. keep in fridge for 2 weeks.

mid-range produce:

cabbage. three bucks for a 2-lb head but you can get a lot out of it. will keep 3-4 weeks in the fridge but any exposed cut sides will start moldering after a week.

mushrooms. white button or baby bella. $1.50 for 8oz. keep in mind, mushrooms halve in size after cooking. ~2 weeks though.

avocados. if you live in the South like me, small hass varietals are 60-80 cents apiece in winter. ripe when it gives just a little to squeezing (you can't go off color alone).

broccoli. fresh is $1.70ish per head and lasts a week in fridge. frozen is $1.50/lb but might be kind of mushy.

most greens. spring mixes, spinach, arugula, etc can really vary in price but often fall into a few bucks at least per bundle/package. in a fridge's humidity drawer they last 1-2 weeks.

kiwis. i love them but they're a bit pricey for their size. 50 cents each. their keep depends on how ripe they are at purchase.

expensive produce:

asparagus. one of the most expensive veggies. sometimes in spring you can get it for $2/lb (a steal but still a bit much). lasts 1.5 weeks.

brussel sprouts. same as above.

red or yellow bell peppers. they are used sooo often in recipes and it annoys me. often $1.50-2.00 each. last a long time in fridge.

caluiflower. three bucks for a head. yikes!

green beans. when they're not in season, they are like $3/lb.

snap peas. same as above, except they never seem to be on sale.

raspberries. go bad in 3 days and cost an arm and a leg. sometimes when they're in season you can get them for like $2 per half-pint as a treat.

blueberries and blackberries. even when they're in season, they're still $2 per pint.

grapes. they can sorta be affordable in the fall season for $2/lb, but otherwise they're double that. and usually you have to commit to buying several pounds. last 2 weeks in fridge.

plums. i love them so so much but they're only in season for like 2 weeks of the year it seems and they're like $3/lb.

inexpensive accoutrements: (for garnishes, seasoning, etc)

limes. 25cents apiece. they'll start to dry out after 1 week on the counter so keep them in the fridge unless you will use it soon.

lemons. usually 50cents each for the small varietals. keep same as above.

green onions. less than a dollar for a bunch, and you can easily regrow a few times at home if you stick the white rooted end in water by a window.

cilantro. 50cents. will last WAY longer (1-2 weeks) if you keep it in a mug of water in the fridge.

parsley. 85cents. same as above.

obviously sticking just with popularly available produce across the country. it's not an exhaustive list but can give you a bit more perspective on what produce you should be focusing on if you're trying to work with a tight grocery budget. good luck!

[feveredvisions]

Arms

(Harry Da Souza x Jan Da Souza) | Contains Spoilers

Summary: After a long day spent buried in secrets and war plans, Harry Da Souza crawls into bed beside the woman he’s hurt more times than he can count and still calls home. As the threat of gang warfare between the Stevensons and the Harrigans looms, a rare moment of vulnerability cracks through his walls. Haunted by a violent past and a love he never thought he deserved, Harry finds himself clinging to the only thing that ever made him feel real: Jan’s quiet, unrelenting arms. Author's Note: Spent the entire week at work writing this. Squeezes my heart everytime. I like to think that Harry and Jan gets to have this moment together somehow. Main inspo for this was the song "Arms" by Christina Perri and a dash of "Dancing Away With My Heart" by Lady A. Go play them in a separate tab/your streaming app while reading this for the feels. Aaand do let me know if you wanna be added to my taglist for future Harry Da Souza fics and other characters Tom has played. I'm also open for requests! I hope you enjoy and thank you so much for reading my work xx

The devil prowls after hours.

Harry Da Souza sits with it while he eats a cold cucumber sandwich at the kitchen counter. After thoroughly washing and scrubbing his hands clean,  of course. Staring through the marble as he chews, swallows, washes it down with a glass of full-cream milk. The word rattles around his skull like a bullet in a tin can. The Harrigans and the Stevensons, circling each other like starving dogs. Harry? He’s smack in the middle—lieutenant, fixer, commander-in-chief, ready to command fire if this thing really blows.

Upstairs, Jan is asleep. Or pretending to be. These days, it’s hard to tell.

He washes the plate, leaves it to dry in the drying rack. He knows she hates waking up to dirty dishes.

He pads upstairs quietly, toeing off his shoes at the door and quietly entering their bedroom and closing the door, shrugging out of his jacket and the rest of his clothes. Changing into his nice comfy silk pajama blouse and house shorts. Keeping his Rollex, his wedding ring, and his necklace he rarely takes off unless it's to be cleaned. Their bedroom is dim and illuminated by the soft moonlight and the soft warm light coming from the lamp beside the bed which he flicked off. The faint silver moonlight remains. His wife’s back turned to him, her silhouette a soft curve under the duvet.

Harry slides in beside his wife with the careful precision of a man used to moving without being heard. Every movement and apology.

For a moment, he just lies there. Then, gingerly, he reaches for her. His arm slips around Jan’s waist, pulling her back against his chest. She doesn’t stir, not at first. Harry exhales, his nose brushing the nape of her neck, breathing in the faint trace of her perfume. Something floral, expensive. The kind of thing he buys her because nothing but the best, even if she barely wears it for him anymore.  

He squeezes his eyes shut as his mind sprinted. The war, the family, Bella bloody Harrigan. His daughter’s schooling. Jan’s solicitor waging some sort of psychological war with him by sending drafts of a separation agreement.

He refuses to surrender to the practicality of it. Well, it wasn't at all practical for his ego. He doesn't quit. He either resolves. Or shoots the problem right in the face and leave no traces of its existence. That's not their marriage. Divorce absolutely was not a solution. Especially not now when everything is so easily within reach and could easily be taken away from him. The rest can go to shit. He’s keeping his family close where he can monitor them and keep them safe.

Then Jan stirs. A slow shift of weight, a quiet inhale. Harry stills, but she doesn’t pull away. Instead, she turns in his arms, facing him now in the dark.

For a long moment, they just look at each other.  Jan’s eyes are half-lidded with sleep, but there’s something sharp in them, too. She always sees through him before he gives her an answer.

“You’ll keep us safe, right, Harry?” Her voice is thick from sleep, but the edge is there. The one she’s honed over years of biting her tongue. There was no point arguing with him. He's like a wall that had gotten tougher to get through as the years passed.

The question hangs between them, unspoken. He answers it anyway.  

“Yeah, babe,” he murmurs, thumb brushing her hip. “Course I will. Always.” It’s a lie. Or maybe it’s not. He doesn’t fucking know anymore.  

Jan watches him, her gaze tracing the lines of his face like she’s searching for something. Then, quietly she speaks again. “I can practically hear the gears shifting in your head. Running in sports mode.”  

Harry huffs a weak laugh, nuzzles her shoulder. "Been running since I was a kid, sweetheart. Never found the brakes."

“Mm.” She doesn’t push. Doesn’t question further. Just lets the silence sit between them, thick with everything they don’t say.

Then Jan shifts closer. Her hand finds his chest, fingers curling into the silk fabric his pajama blouse. Not pulling him in, not pushing him away. Just there.

Slowly and carefully, Harry lifts his arm. An invitation. Jan hesitates. Then she moves into him, tucking her head under his chin, her body slotting against his like they’ve done this a thousand times before. Maybe they have. Maybe they’ve just forgotten how.

✦•················•✦•··················•✦

Juvenile Detention Centre – 1998

Harry Da Souza was seventeen the first time he learned that silence could be a weapon. But before that, he always puts up a fight. Never bowing down to anyone especially not to a copper.

The guard, Bastard, Harry called him in his head, because names had power and he refused to give him one—had a habit of lingering too long during headcount. His fingers dug into Harry’s shoulder like he was testing the give of his bones, his breath sour with cheap whiskey.  

The bastard's rules were: You don't look at me unless I tell you to; You don't speak unless I ask you to; You don't fucking breathe unless I let you. But rules didn't stop the Bastard from cornering Harry in the showers; from slamming him into the tiles hard enough to crack rib; from grinning when Harry choked on his own blood.

And Harry, fifteen and already sharp as a shiv with one eye swollen shut, lip split, had looked the bastard dead in the eye and said, "Piss off, you fat cunt” and disdainfully spat at the officer's smug face. Fuck the silence. 

"You're a nasty little rat, Da Souza. But l'II teach you some manners.”

That earned him two more weeks in solitary and by the third month, he had stopped fighting back.

The day Harry got out, Jan was waiting for him at the gates. The sky was blue and blinding. Quite a harsh welcome back to the civility. His duffel bag slung over one shoulder, limping slightly. Still too lean. Bruises blooming along his cheekbone, a cut across his lip healing ugly. He hadn’t slept the night before nor in the last three months. Not properly. You don’t sleep in a place like that where the guards have keys and inhumane sadistic grudges.

They gave him back his clothes, a plastic bag with a shirt that didn’t fit anymore as he’d managed to work up on his strength and build with the others; trainers with the soles curling, and his dignity left rotting somewhere in the back wing of juvenile lock-up.

And waiting just outside the gate, like a fucking mirage was Jan. Prim in her stupid little blazer and pleated skirt, leaning against the hood of her father's Jag like she hadn't just skipped a class to be here. Like she hadn't spent the last six months writing him letters he had read but never answered. Like she doesn't care picking up her…wayward friend or…whatever the fuck Harry was.

"The fuck are you doing here?"

Jan didn't flinch. Just tilted her head studying him like he was a particularly difficult maths problem. "You look like shit.”

“Cheers, babe. Knew I could count on you for a warm welcome.”

Her eyes swept over his hunched shoulders, the way he held his ribs, his guarded stance like he expected another blow from behind.

And then hesitantly, gently, she stepped forward and opened her arms. Not demanding. Just open.

"The fuck-” Harry flinched. He hadn’t been touched with kindness in months. Maybe ever. But she didn’t press, didn’t tug, just waited. He stepped into her. Slowly. Like a beaten dog walking into safety. And when her arms wrapped around him, something in him cracked.

His throat tightened up and blinked his stinging unshed tears away. He didn’t cry. Couldn’t. But for a second, the world and the pains in his body muted. No guards, no cold floors, no muffled screams in the night. Just Jan. Her clean perfume. The steady rhythm of her breath. Her soft hand brushing up and down his back in the most careful manner, like she didn’t want to scare the wolf she'd just coaxed into her lap.

"Shut up," Jan muttered into his shoulder. Her arms were tight around him, her grip almost painful. He smelled a lot like antiseptic and fucking bleach. What had they done to him? "Just shut up, Harry."

He should've pushed her away. Should've laughed in her face. Instead, he kept silent and moved his hands to hold her waist.

♡

Jan drove a stupidly nice car for a seventeen-year-old. Leather seats. Heated. His muscles unclench without permission as he sank into the passenger side. His bag in his lap.

“Didn’t have much to say.”

“You were in for six months, not six years.”

“Felt longer.”

She glances at him. Her hands clench the wheel. “Did they…was it bad?”

A pause. He shrugs. “You don’t wanna know, Jan.”

He turns to look at her, smiling faintly and cruelly. “How’s the car, then? You drove it with any boys while I was gone?”

Jan scoffs. “Piss off.”

Just as she hits a bump, Harry lets out a low chuckle and groans, clutching his ribs. “Christ. Watch it. I’m delicate.”

She shoots him a look. “You’re not delicate. You’re dramatic.”

“You've changed so much, babe.”

"Don't fucking ‘babe’ me."

"Alright, sweetheart.”

♡

Jan’s house was empty and smelled like lemons and money. Her parents off on some cruise in Saint Tropez, staff given the week off. Just the two of them in a Kensington townhouse. She ushered him into the lounge and knelt in front of him with a first-aid kit in her hands like she’d been waiting for this moment to tend to an wounded patient.

“I got certified in First Aid last week,” she said brightly, trying too hard to sound normal. Like it's no biggie.

"Do I look like a quiz to you?"

She ignores him, dabbing antiseptic onto the bruises blooming like oil slicks across his ribs. She tries to be gentle but her hands tremble. She couldn't ignore the darker, meaner bruises with deep, sick purple colour wrapping around his ribs. He watches her face go pale.

“Christ, Harry.”

“Don’t take me to a hospital. I mean it.”

“My uncle’s private clinic then. Discreet. They won’t ask questions—”

He kissed her just to shut her up. Just to stop the worry in her voice because it made something in his chest ache worse than the bruises.

Then her hand slapped him before she could think. Not hard. Just instinct. Shock.

"What the hell, Harry?!"

"Thought you’d be used to boys all over you by now. Uni and that. Don’t tell me no one’s snogged you behind a vending machine."

"What’s it to you? It’s not like we’re a thing."

"Right. Not a thing. Just you chauffeuring an ex-con like I’m your wounded puppy."

Jan doesn’t answer. Instead, she grabs the front of his shirt, pushes him back into the chair, and straddles him. Her legs tremble but her eyes don’t. She kisses him clumsily, hungrily. Clambering into his lap like she was a girl with bleeding pride and aching hands, desperate for something real. For someone she realised she's always wanted.

Harry smirked against her mouth. “Which do you prefer, posh girl? One boy or a pack of ‘em?”

Jan pulled back, red-faced. Her voice shook. “I missed you.”

Harry stopped. Everything slowed.

“Where’d you learn to kiss like a rabid animal?”

She looked down, suddenly shy.

“…I watched the girls at uni. Some of them. With boys. Behind the arts building. I don’t know. Shut up.”

He stared at her. Jan. His Jan. And he was in awe. “You’re not like them,” he told her softly. “You don’t throw yourself at blokes. You see things.”

Pause. “You like me?”

She nodded.

Harry’s voice dropped. Warm. Real. “Then, when you kiss someone you like,” he says softly, careful to brush her cheek with the unscabbed part of the back of his hand, “they should be savoured.”

Their lips meet again in a slow, gentle kiss. Harry kisses Jan like he means it. Like she’s the only softness he’s ever known. Jan melted into him. And for the first time in his miserable, fucked-up life, Harry Da Souza felt clean.

And for once, he isn’t the damaged boy with a record and a scarred ribcage. He’s just a boy. Kissing a girl. One who waited. One who saw the truth he never let anyone in to see.

✦•················•✦•··················•✦

"You remember that day? When I got out of juvie?" he asks.

Jan nods. "You kissed me like you meant it," she says.

“Nah, you did,” Harry lightly teased her, earning a chuckle from her. He lets it last for a moment. Fleeting. Fades fast.

"How do we fix things then, Harry?"

He doesn’t answer. Because his solution isn’t a solution at all. It’s keeping her close by any means necessary. It's grabbing onto the version of Jan who used to hold his face like he was something soft.

"You shouldn’t’ve kissed me that day," he says suddenly. “You kissed me like I was worth saving. I believed it. I still fucking believe it when I’m near you.”

Her face softens for the first time in weeks. "Then come back to me, Harry."

He swallows hard. "I never left."

Jan’s fingers curl into the fabric of his shirt, pulling him in. Letting her arms wrap around him like she did back then. Like she’s still that girl and he’s still that boy, scared and battered. "You matter to me, Harry. You always have." Then she leans in. Slow and unsure, pressing her lips to his like she’s searching for something still buried beneath the wreckage.

And Harry lets her kiss him like it’s still that night. Like they’re seventeen again. Like the city isn’t about to go to war. And maybe, just maybe, their love can survive all this shit.

[couldtransitionsaveher]

CUCUMBER from CUCUMBER QUEST

JUSTIFICATIONS:

"it'd be cool. i think she'd change her name to bella maybe, its a variety of cucumber so it fits her theming (very important)" - Anonymous

"So theres a lot I could say about her but I’ll focus on this. Gender is kinda a theme in cq, and the expectations of the roles cuco and her sister almond are forced into due to the cycle are very important. (The cycle being this whole repeating heroic quest, that keeps happening through resurrection, immortality, and whatever else)

Its kinda the entire premise that cucumber and almond do not conform to the previous iterations of the heroes. These roles are even more obviously GENDER roles in the prologue. Its this whole thing with almond not being allowed to do what she wants as it doesn’t fit her role in the cycle as “hero’s little sister” and cucumber not being allowed to do what she wants because she’s gotta be the hero! Her father talks about “becoming a man” and its just. A really easy reading.

The expectations of her role in the cycle are to “be a hero” and “to defeat the villains”, ones that wear on her heavily, causing her to kinda shut down in later chapters. She want’s to be strong enough to protect her friends and not have to hurt anyone else to do it.

And you see cucumber and almond are not the only ones who feel like this! nononono, infact A lot of the other characters, specifically, one of the characters who is canonically trans, ALSO FEELS LIKE THIS. she, Rosemaster, is exaused with having to play the villain, she hates is. And due to the nature of the cycle as a repeating event, and her being immortal, meaning she unlike our heroes, experiences this again and again. She doesn’t want to hurt others, she hates the expectations that she sees the nightmare knight (her creator/boss/father figure) has for her, and she just wants this all to be over. I’m not getting too in-depth, this isn’t about her, but you see what i mean?

Cuco’s got all kinds of allegory going on.

Idk if this is a good case but i had fun." - @st4rguy

Reminder: Submissions are always open! Submit here!

[peepingcreek]

Poor Things.

list of things:

She would of had her period, and had A TIME understanding it

She was beautiful and fuckable every second of her adult life, not once did her maladies make her stinky, drip, rot, putrify or otherwise act like something organic.

She would have experienced pain and anguish at the invasion of a penis without any foreplay. Not mild curiosity.

She would NEVER have reached for the cucumber. Not as a toddler.

She had no reason to welcome back Godwin and his assistant. True enlightenment to her past would have brought horror and disgust, a dark mixture of confusion, not immédiate forgivness and reintegration.

All of the sex scenes were shot like a porn, not from her perspective encountering the male body for the first time.

Exihibitionist lesbianism is not true feminist enlightenment.

Bella would have tried to understand love, not just her Clitoris. Being a human nécessitates encountering love, even if you don't feel it yourself.

[tia-amorosa]

Sunset Died - Bachelor/Clavell/Wan

cold days and full bellies

A few days later. Nick and his wife kept their word. All the stock was divided up among the surrounding households. They had to do a lot of math, as some households were larger than others. “I still can't believe it, you were right from the start with your assumptions”.

“Yes, and I could bite my own ass for not having looked into this room much earlier. They could have divided things up even better, I tried to get what I could"/ ‘It's okay, there's good stuff in there, you can make something out of it’/ ”Well, canned food. But at least there were pickled cucumbers, just right for you, right?”

Pauline had to smile a little. She thought it was kind of sweet that he was thinking of her. “Do you mean because I'm pregnant? I haven't had any particular cravings in all this time and I don't really like pickles"/ ‘hm, stupid…’/ ”It wasn't wrong to bring them. I think the children will like them. They were most happy about the cookies"/ ‘Children love sweets, that's obvious’.

Pauline changed the subject for a moment. Because there was still this important matter. “Have you… actually been to see Morgana?"/ ”phew, no, I haven't had time for that yet. Is it that important with the check?"/ ”She just wants to test everyone in turn. General check, please…"/ ‘hm, fine with me, I'll go over tomorrow’. She knew that Xander was one of those men who didn't like going to the doctor. But it was important.

A little later. While Pauline was preparing dinner, the children came home. “Oh man, it smells so good, I'm really hungry"/ ”I'll be ready in a minute. You didn't eat very much for breakfast this morning either"/ ‘yes, I didn't have much of an appetite.’ For Michael, things couldn't go fast enough again that morning. He really wanted to spend time with Peter.

“and what did you do?"/ ‘I went to the gym… with Peter’/ ”hnhn. You really spend every spare minute together, huh?"/ He became a little embarrassed. “If it's possible…then yes. “/ “It's normal when you're in love… I'm happy for you both anyway”/ “Yeah, only Xander still thinks it's weird”/ “hn, right, but he's getting used to it. So, we can eat, will you put the plates on the table?"/ ‘mhm’…

They sat down at the table together. “What's that? The portion is quite small…"/ ”a rich rice dish. Believe me, the portion may be small, but I'm sure it will fill you up"/ ‘hm, okay’… even if Michael was sceptical that the portion might not be enough for him, he later realized that Pauline was right. Sometimes it's the ingredients that make the meal.

Later, after dinner. After they had washed the dishes together, Bella wanted to feel Pauline's tummy again. It had grown quite a bit in the meantime. “Hello baby, did you like the food that much?"/ ”hnhn, I'm sure you did. Have I told you what it's going to be?"/ ‘No, not yet’.

“I'm going to have a girl. But don't tell anyone, okay? I want it to be a secret for a while longer"/ ‘A secret?’/ ‘Mhm’. Bella looked at Pauline's stomach and grinned a little. “O.K., I won't tell anyone, not even Darlene. And do you have a name for her yet?"/ ”hmm, not yet, I think I'll decide when she gets here. Now get ready for bed”.

After the children had gone to bed, the adults also retired, together… “And you… Do you really want us to sleep in the same bed again?"/ ‘Before this sofa ruins my back, yes… besides, it's cold’. She smiled a little sheepishly.

“That's right. When do you think the first snow will come?"/ ‘If it were up to me, it wouldn't have to come at all.’/ ”hnhn. Which side do you want to lie on?"/ ‘I don't care, as long as I don't freeze to death’. She smiled a little and then they went to bed together without any ulterior motives. They just wanted to feel each other's warmth. Even though their house had also been fitted with a stove, the warmth had not yet reached all the rooms.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

End of this Part

@greenplumbboblover 😊

[keepingupwiththecullensblog]

🌟🚗 Welcome back to “Keeping Up with the Cullens”! Today, we’re diving into one of the wildest, most unhinged moments from Edward Cullen’s Vampire Road Rage Extravaganza. I know I talked about this before, but seriously, it’s so out-of-control that it deserves its own post. If you thought your morning commute was stressful, just wait until you hear about the Cullen family’s high-speed race through Phoenix, where everything that could go wrong does—and then some. 🏎️💨

Here’s the basics: Edward’s in full-on panic mode, driving like he’s in the final lap of the Daytona 500 because Bella’s life is hanging by a thread. 🧛‍♂️💔 Alice is in the passenger seat, casually dropping visions about all the ways this could go horribly wrong, but don’t worry, she’s cool as a cucumber. Meanwhile, Jasper is trying his best to calm Edward’s nerves with his mood-manipulating powers, but it’s like trying to soothe a tornado. 🌪️😱

In the backseat, we’ve got Emmett and Jasper acting as rearview mirrors because Edward decided to rip the actual mirrors off the car in a fit of vampire frustration. They’re ready to pounce on anything that gets in their way—or just keep an eye out for the inevitable pile-up they’re about to cause. 🚗💥 Carlisle, usually the calm and collected doctor, is in on the chaos too. He ends up “drugging” a woman on the road because, surprise, they have to steal yet another car—this time hers. 🩺💉

Oh, and let’s not forget the 10-car pileup they cause along the way, but don’t worry, Alice assures everyone that there are no fatalities, so it’s all good! Just your average day in the life of a vampire family on a mission, right? 🚨😅

I’ve seen people on YouTube trying to describe this madness, but no one can quite capture just how chaotic and over-the-top it really is. If you want to truly experience the intensity and absurdity of it all, you’ve got to listen to the audiobook. Jake Abel, who narrates Midnight Sun, absolutely nails Edward’s freak-out. You’ll feel like you’re in the car with them, holding on for dear life. 🎧😂

I’m sad, but I’m also excited to re-read New Moon now that I know how much Edward hates lying to Bella and how hard it was for him to leave. Seriously, the whole thing makes me want to cry just thinking about these hospital scenes. 😭💔 So watch out for my first post on New Moon—there’s so much more to dive into!

[hoperays-song]

Required Information Sheet For The Human AU: Ryan

General Information:

Last Name: Willis

First Name: Ryan

Middle Name: Oliver Biāo

Nickname(s): Ry or Biāo

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Gender Identity: Cisgender

Sexuality: Gay

Birthdate: September 24, 2003

Ethnicity: Chinese American 

Dietary Style: Pescatarian 

Known Languages: English, Haitian Creole, ASL, and Cantonese.

Appearance Information 

Hair Color Hex Code: #AC4F02

Curl Texture: 1b

Eye Color Hex Code: #051902

Skin Tone Hex Code: #EABB94

Beauty Mark(s): Freckles

Glasses/Contacts: Yes

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 130lbs

Build Type: Inverse Triangle

Clothing Aesthetic: Soft Boy and Light Academia

Education Information:

Past Education: Kickenclobber School of Dance

Current Education: Redshore University

Major(s): Performing Arts - Dance

Minor(s): English Literature and Gender Studies

Enrollment Status: Virtual College Freshman

Career Information:

Past Employment: Contracted Professional Show Dancer

Current Job: Contracted Professional Show Dancer, Troupe Leader, and Actor

Dream Job: Dance Troupe Leader and Professional Dancer

Company: The Phoenix Dance Troupe

Current Employer: The Majestic Performing Arts Theatre

Extracurriculars: Volunteer at Green Lake Animal Shelter and Assistant Dance Teacher at In Motion Dance Studio

Parentage Information:

Biological Parent 1: Lila Xiu Willis ‘nee Mays

Relation: Biological Mother

Relationship: Close

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Career: Dance Studio Owner/Dance Teacher

Birthdate: December 12, 1984

Biological Parent 2: Daniel Grayson Reynolds

Relation: Biological Father

Relationship: Nonexistent

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Career: Professional Model/D-List Actor

Birthdate: April 3, 1978

Step-Parent 1: Ellie Farah Willis

Relation: Married to Biological Mother

Relationship: Close

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Career: English Literature Professor at Redshore University

Birthdate: February 19, 1982

Sibling Information:

Sibling 1: Amy Fabienne Mei Willis

Relation: Biological Half Sister

Relationship: Close

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Education: Quartz Elementary School

Birthdate: August 15, 2016

Sibling 2: Bella Roseline Ai Willis

Relation: Biological Half Sister

Relationship: Close

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Education: Heartfield Daycare

Birthdate: November 29, 2018

Assorted Information:

Best Friend(s): Perry Myeong (since age 5) and Johnny Taylor (roommate)

Favorite Color(s): Sage Green and Lavender

Favorite Animal(s): Royal Bengal Tiger and Sepia Typica Cuttlefish

Favorite Food(s): Sichuan-Style Cucumber Salad, Húnán Duò Jiāo Yútóu, and Diri Ak Djon Djon 

Favorite Sweet(s): Haitian Sweet Potato Bread, Blackcurrant Sochew Bar, and Espresso Oat Milk Dark Chocolate Bar

Favorite Drink(s): Green Bubble Tea with Sesame Boba, Strawberry Watermelon Sparkling Water, and Krema

Favorite TV Show(s): World of Dance, Dateline: Secrets Uncovered, Criminal Minds, House Hunter International, Heartstopper, and Beat Bobby Flay

Favorite Movie(s): Crazy Rich Asians, The Prom, Center Stage, Wall-E, and The Emperor’s New Groove 

Favorite Song(s): Struck by Lightning by Sara Keys and Cavetown, Holy Water by Noah Davis, Sneakers by Knox, Shut Up and Dance by WALK THE MOON, and Prom Dress by mxmtoon

[allthingsorganic2024]

An excerpt from T. Colin Campbell's seminal book, "The China Study"

Chapter 12: How to Eat

"When Tom, my youngest son and collaborator on this book, was 13 years old, our family was in the final stages of a slow shift to becoming vegetarian. One Sunday morning, Tom came home from a sleepover at a close friend's house and told us a memorable story. The night before, Tom was being grilled in a friendly way on his eating habits. The sister of Tom's friend had asked him, rather incredulously, "you don't eat meat?". He had never justified his eating habits; he had just gotten used to eating what was on the dinner table. As a consequence, Tom was not practiced at answering such a question, so he simply answered, "no I don't," without offering any explanations. The girl probed a bit more, "so, what do you eat?". Tom answered with a few shrugs, "I guess just...plants." She said, "oh," and that was the end of that.

The reason we enjoy this story is because Tom's response, "plants," was so simple. It was a truthful answer but couched in an entirely untraditional manner. When someone asks for the glazed ham across the table, he doesn't say, "pass the flesh of the pig's butt please." And when someone tells his children to finish their peas and carrots, he doesn't say, "finish your plants." But since our family changed our eating habits, we've come to enjoy thinking of food as either plants or animals. It fits well into the philosophy of keeping the information on food and health as simple as possible. Food and health are anything but simple in our country. We often marvel at the complexity of various weight loss plans. Although the writers always advertise their plans' ease of use, in reality, it's never easy. Followers of these diets have to count calories, points, servings, or nutrients, or eat specific amounts of certain foods based on specific mathematical ratios. There are tools to be used, supplements to be taken, and worksheets to be completed. It is no wonder that dieting seldom succeeds. Eating should be an enjoyable and worry-free experience and shouldn't rely on deprivation. Keeping it simple is essential if we are to enjoy our food.

One of the most fortunate findings from the mountain of nutritional research we've encountered is that good food and good health is simple. The biology of the relationship of food and health is exceptionally complex, but the message is still simple. The recommendations coming from the published literature are so simple that we can state them in one sentence: eat a whole foods, plant-based diet while minimizing the consumption of refined foods, added salt, and added fats, examples of which will be provided in the following table. Eat all you want, while getting lots of variety, of any whole, unrefined plant-based food.

Maximize

General category: Fruits

Specific examples: orange, okra, kiwi, red pepper, apple, cucumber, tomato, avocado, zucchini, blueberries, strawberries, green pepper, raspberries, butternut squash, pumpkin, blackberries, mangos, eggplant, pear, watermelon, cranberries, acorn squash, papaya, grapefruit, peach

Vegetables

Flowers. Specific examples: broccoli, cauliflower

Not many of the huge variety of edible flowers are commonly eaten.

Stems and Leaves. Specific examples: spinach, artichokes, kale, lettuce (all varieties), cabbage, Swiss chard, collard greens, celery, asparagus, mustard greens, Brussel sprouts, turnip greens, beet greens, Bok choy, arugula, Belgian endive, basil, cilantro, parsley, rhubarb, seaweed

Roots. Specific examples: potatoes (all varieties), beets, carrots, turnips, onions, garlic, ginger, leeks, pinto beans, white beans, legumes

Seed-Bearing Nitrogen-Fixing Plants. Specific examples: green beans, soy beans, peas, peanuts, Adzuki beans, black beans, black eyed peas, cannellini beans, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, lentils, pinto beans, white beans

Mushrooms. Specific examples: white button, baby Bella (cremini), promini, portobello, shiitake, oyster

Nuts. Specific examples: walnuts, almonds, macadamia, pecans, cashew, hazelnut, pistachio

Whole Grains and Breads, Pastas, etc. Specific examples: wheat, rice, corn, millet, sorghum, rye, oats, barley, teff, buckwheat, amaranth, quinoa, Kamut, spelt (hulled wheat)

Minimize

Refined Carbohydrates. Specific examples: pastas, except whole grain varieties; white bread, crackers, sugars, and most cakes and pastries

Added vegetable oils. Specific examples: corn oil, peanut oil, olive oil

Fish. Specific examples: salmon, tuna, cod

Avoid

Meat. Specific examples: steak, hamburger, lard

Poultry. Specific examples: chicken, turkey

Dairy. Specific examples: cheese, milk, yogurt

Eggs. Specific examples: eggs, and products with a high egg content (that is, mayonnaise)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Supplements. Daily supplements of Vitamin B12, and perhaps Vitamin D for people who spend most of their time indoors and/or live in the northern climates, are encouraged. For Vitamin D, you shouldn't exceed RDA recommendations.

That's it! That's the diet science has found to be consistent with the greatest health and the lowest incidence of heart disease, cancer, obesity, and many other Western diseases.

What does minimize mean? Should you eliminate meat completely? The findings from The China Study indicate that the lower the percentage of animal-based foods are consumed, the greater the health benefits -- even when that percentage declines from 10 percent to zero percent of calories [i.e., consuming even small amounts of animal-based foods, as low as ten percent of your calorie intake, has been linked to future chronic disease incidence]. So it's not unreasonable to assume that the optimum percentage of animal-based products is zero -- at least for anyone with a predisposition for a degenerative disease. But this has not been absolutely proven. It is true that most of the health benefits described in this book have been realized at low -- but non-zero -- levels of animal-based foods.

My advice is to try to eliminate all animal-based products from your diet, but not obsess over it. If a tasty vegetable soup has a chicken stock base, or if a hearty loaf of whole wheat bread includes a tiny amount of egg, don't worry about it. These quantities, very likely, are nutritionally unimportant. Even more importantly, the ability to relax about very minor quantities of animal-based foods makes applying this diet much easier, especially when eating out or buying already prepared foods.

While we recommend that you not worry about small quantities of animal products in your food, we're not suggesting that you deliberately plan to incorporate small portions of meat into your daily diet. My recommendation is that you try to avoid all animal-based products. There are three excellent reasons to go all the way:

Following this diet requires a radical shift in your thinking about food. It's more work to just do it halfway. If you plan for animal-based products, you'll eat them, and you'll almost certainly eat more than you should.

You'll feel deprived. Instead of viewing your new food habit as being able to eat all the plant-based foods that you want, you'll be seeing it as in terms of having to limit yourself, which is not conducive to being on the diet long-term.

You will, within a month or so, perhaps a little more, actually break the physiological addiction we acquire from eating large amounts of fat and refined carbohydrates."

[parfumieren]

Flora Bella (Lalique)

In her preface to Perfumes: The A-Z Guide, Tania Sanchez comments on the instinctive tendency of perfume consumers to opt out of scents that challenge our self-perceived identities. In her opinion, the risk-free road leads to boredom, "like obsessively matching your shirt and socks every day." To shake things up a bit, she suggests occasionally wearing the absolute opposite of what we think suits us.

I thought this was very sound advice, until I remembered that the absolute opposite of what I think suits me is a floral—any floral. Were I to accept this challenge, I’d have to find a flower I could commit to.

I found myself lured by Sanchez' take on Lalique's Flora Bella, a "sleepy little greenish violet" made interesting by icy notes of milk and helional. To a lifetime disciple of warm Spice Road orientals, Flora Bella sounded like one hell of a stretch. Yet I returned time and again to reread and ponder that oddly compelling description. The more I pondered its mystery, the more I had to experience it firsthand.

True to its icy nature, Flora Bella arrived during a snowstorm. I restrained myself from opening it immediately, figuring that if I'd married myself to this total stranger in haste, I might as well repent in leisure. But in the end, there’s only one way to test the concept of wedded bliss: get in bed.

Flora Bella’s opening -- an assertive chord of daphne and tuberose -- misled me initially into thinking this might turn out to be your regulation bridal bouquet. Then I became aware that these sweet floral notes were suspended in something crystal-clear and infinitely cold. It held them aloft and separate, preserving their scent without allowing it the slightest expansion. Flowers in an ice storm: merciless.

After an entr'acte of fresh cold cucumber and approaching snow, we launched into Scene Two: an extraordinary accord of heavy cream in a stainless steel bowl that has been placed in the freezer to chill before whipping. No extraneous flavors and very little sugar mar this milky, opalescent semifreddo. It only sweetens as it dries down, but in a taunting, deliberate sort of way-- retreating beyond your grasp even as your hunger for it grows.

Flora Bella is truly a lunar phenomenon, aloof and breathtakingly beautiful. Its glow is akin to the adularescence of moonstone, the satiny chatoyancy of polished selenite, or -- most appropriately -- the blue-gold-pink aura trapped within Lalique Sirènes glass. It stops you in your tracks like a long, cool stare from a beautiful stranger's eyes; it holds you at arm's length even as it penetrates your heart.

---------

It's been thirteen years since I wrote the above review. Yet it seems to me as though its main character has been a part of my mythical landscape for millenia. The love I bear for Flora Bella -- paired with my dependence upon its ability to neutralize all manner of the blues -- has led to a dangerous sort of complacency: Run out of Flora Bella? Impossible! There's PLENTY!

I admit I've been extravagant -- encouraged, to be sure, by my naive belief that 100 ml. is a practically inexhaustible amount of perfume. I've gone through two bottles in a decade-plus and lost count of the number of decants I've shared with friends. I've applied hundreds of extra spritzes to my own self in the blithe belief that there's tons of it left.

But there isn't. I'm on my last bottle. Last, ever-- because Flora Bella has been long discontinued. The level of perfume in it declares an unavoidable truth.

How does perfume become personified in our minds? From the very first, I have envisioned Flora Bella as a naiad: fluid, fickle, evasive. I have privately referred to her as "the mermaid perfume" and worn her on vulnerable days when I wished to absorb some measure of her alien, Aquarian untouchability. The sea-change seems to occur as readily as that which I undergo with Arabie (silent temple-keeper treading the labyrinth) or Puredistance Antonia (sacred kore joyfully gathering flowers for Persephone). This cannot just be my imagination. Whether by chance or by design, these spirits must reside in the perfume.

And like gods of old, their motives often lie beyond mortal understanding.

In the best tradition of the siren, Flora Bella will consent to remain in my company only up to a point. Eventually she must return to the sea; we both know it. One day soon, to the tune of my tear-stricken, utterly futile pleading, she will up and vanish… the path of her departure erased by the remorseless surf.

Farewell, sea-creature rich and strange.

Scent Elements: Mandarin, bergamot, pink pepper, daphne, frangipani, tuberose, vanilla, white musk, amber

[bakingmakingmachine]

Some of my planned low calorie, weight loss meals over the few months [most are less than 300*, some are up to 500^]:

Latte*- sugar free vanilla syrup, matcha powder, unsweetened almond milk, honey, cinnamon

Sweet/Savory salad*- chopped granny smith apple pieces, chopped walnuts or cashews, dried cranberries, crumbled goat cheese, honey, dijon mustard, salt and pepper, spring salad mix

Savory protein salad^- arugula/spinach mix, english cucumber, roma tomato, crumbled goat cheese, lite mayo, chipotle aioli, salt and pepper, capers, green olives, kalamata olives. Optional^: cooked chicken or boiled egg

Potato dish*^- gold potatoes, seasoning, hot sauce, dairy free shredded cheese, Canadian bacon

Stuffed mushrooms*- whole baby bella mushrooms, crumbled goat cheese, chopped walnuts, panko breadcrumbs, seasoning, lemon juice, spinach

Baked acorn squash*- (I can't believe it's not butter, plant butter, or butter) a form of butter, crumbled goat cheese, sage, seasonings

Protein pasta*- palmini pasta, chicken breast, lemon juice, spring mix, garlic, seasonings

Protein bars/balls*- banana, PB2 powder, cocoa powder, honey, oats, sugar free syrup

Bagel*- thomas bagel thins, artichoke hearts, crumbled goat cheese, plant cream cheese, spinach, seasonings

Dessert bark*- dairy free dark chocolate and honey. Optional toppings to mix in: walnuts, dried cherries, sea salt, pretzels, oats, vegan mini marshmallows, PB2 powder

Almond crackers and spread*- almond flour cracker thins with spread: artichoke hearts, plant cream cheese, seasoning, spinach, lite mayo

Egg salad sandwich*- sara lee delightful white bread, 2 boiled eggs, 2 boiled egg whites, lite mayo, seasoning

Couscous*^- couscous, cucumber, red onion, green olives, capers, kalamata olives, lime juice, seasoning, spinach and arugula, crumbled goat cheese. Optional^: add chicken breast, chopped boiled egg, tuna, etcetera

Tempeh tacos*^- seasoned and pan cooked tempeh, low carb balance soft taco tortillas, spinach, dairy free shredded cheese, hot sauce, smashed avocado, red onion, roma tomato

Snacks*: Kashi Go protein & fiber chocolate crunch, nonni's bakery dark chocolate almond biscottis, smart pop mini bag popcorn, apple cinnamon quaker oats with almond milk, 2 cookie packs milano dark chocolate cookies, made good soft baked chocolate chip oatmeal bars

[shirtsbargain]

Sizzling Summer Stock: A Retailer's Guide to Keeping Shelves Cool and Customers Cooler

Ah, summer season! The season of sun, fun, and... Frantic shoppers trying to find the appropriate outfit. As a retailer, you are probably feeling the warmth already. But fear no longer, fellow style purveyor! I am here to help you flip your store into an oasis of fashion with customers flocking in like seagulls to a seaside picnic.

Polo Shirts: Not Just for Preppy Golfers Anymore

Let's begin with the Mighty Blank Polo shirt. These collared wonders are just like the Swiss Army knife of summer time style - they do it all! From backyard barbecues to informal Fridays, polos have got your customers included. Stock up on a rainbow of colours and fabric to make human beings feel cooler than a cucumber in a freezer. Brands like Port Authority and Sport-Tek offer polos so comfy, that your customers would possibly forget about they may be wearing shirts in any respect!

Blank Tees: A Canvas for Creativity (and Pit Stains)

Ah, the standard T-shirt. It's the tofu of the fashion world - bland on its very own, but oh-so-versatile! Stock up on wholesale t-shirts and watch as they fly off the shelves quicker than ice cream on a hot day. From artsy sorts seeking out a new canvas to corporations trying to slap their logo on something, all people needs a good blank tee. Gildan, Bella Canvas, and Next Level have got you included with tees so gentle, they'll make your clients want to hug themselves.

Sweatshirts: Because Summer Nights Can Be Chilly (and Mosquito-y)

“Sweatshirts in summer?”I listen you cry. Trust me on this one. Those balmy evenings can flip nippy quicker than you may say “brain freeze”. Light blank hoodies are ideal for the ones “I ought to have brought a jacket”; moments. Stock up on neutrals that will go together with the whole thing - like Champion and Hanes sweatshirts. They are comfier than a warm hug from grandma but way much less awkward.

Activewear: For When "Getting in Shape" Means More Than Just Round

Summer is when everyone suddenly remembers their New Year's resolution to get fit. Be ready with activewear that'll make them look good even if they're just "training" for a marathon Netflix session. Go for moisture-wicking fabrics that'll keep them dry... or at least make their sweat look intentional. Sport-Tek and District have gear so stylish, your customers might be motivated to use that gym membership.

Workwear: Because Someone's Gotta Build Those Summer Patios

Not everyone gets to lounge by the pool all summer. For those brave souls working under the sun, sturdy workwear is a must. Stock up on high-vis vests brighter than a traffic cone and shirts tougher than your grandpa's war stories. Carhartt and Portwest make gear so rugged, it might outlast the buildings your customers are working on

The Grand Finale

There you have it, folks! A summer stock list is more diverse than a music festival lineup. Remember, variety is the spice of life (and retail). Offer a smorgasbord of options and watch your summer sales sizzle like a hot dog on the grill. 

Now go forth and conquer this summer season! May your shelves be full, your customers be happy, and your air conditioning never fails. Happy selling, and may the retail gods be ever in your favor!

[lqfiles]

THE NEW PART? HELLO? HELLOOOO? Omg my heart… the tension… the grip on her wrists… bringing her closer… THE NAMES? he’s so downbad and he doesn’t even know it yet omg i know he’s gonna tell everyone to fuck off except y/n and i love that for them

like their bickering is so… idk how to explain it but i can picture it so well in my head and it feels like a conversation i would hear (and, again, it’s paced so well) in person

and ngl the fake texts where he was calling her names and she’s telling him to stop… it reminds me of when my best friend told my bf (we were friends then but we bickered a lot) what i liked being called and he wouldn’t stop calling me that name… and now we’re dating 🧍🏻‍♀️ ily i love books that just bring back happy memories 😭

the tension… you write so well and i hope you know how talented you are 🫶🏼🫶🏼 literally. like the pacing, the subtle little details about them hating each other but still wanting to irk the other is so well done, talented 🫵🏼 HOW MANY WORDS IN NCT DREAM? YEAHHHH

everything’s going so good, so well paced and you need to process that in your head

- 🫧

(bella’s napping rn after eating some cucumbers and after running around in circles)

I FEEL LIKE I SUCCEEDED LETS FREAKING GOOOOO, tbh i felt like this this chap could’ve been better ngl, originally it was 2.2k words going into much more plot but i was like “no one is reading all that..” so i had to cut some parts out and try to not pace it too quick 😭 i’m glad the conversation felt real tho, i always imagine the characters saying the dialogue in the scene, that’s how i usually work on my stuff loll. tbh haechan is already starting to be down bad because the fact that he is going out of his way to annoy her with a nickname that’s meant for ENDEARMENT already says something.. 🌝

AAAWWWW THATS SO CUTE 😭😭😭 can’t believe i just took your experience and implemented it into this fic that’s crazyyy.. the way i was planning on making the nicknames win y/n over too like she has a slight weakness for them and with her growing attraction for haechan you already know she will be weak, that’s so cute tho, i’m happy you have such a cute memories of your pre-relationship!!

every time you point those little things out i feel like ive succeeded because that’s exactly what i want people to notice >o< you just made me day bae ily i hope your day goes well and thank you for the feedback <33 say hii to bella for me once she wakes up!!!

[eviesessays]

7. Who are the best cooks in your family?

My aunt Mary was a great cook.  She was the wife of my mother’s oldest brother, Jack Schreyer.  My maternal  grandparents, Peter and Anna Ottenbritt Schreyer immigrated to Canada from Bergensdorf, Germany in early 1900.  The Canadian Government was giving wheat farmers land in exchange for bushels of wheat at harvest time.  Land in the prairies was plentiful and wheat was scarce .  It was just five years before my grandfather owned his farm outright.  He continued to enlarge his holding so my uncle Jack and my aunt Mary inherited a very large wheat farm.  Aunt Mary was in charge of the vegetable garden.  She also milked the cows and killed the chicken for dinner.  She made sauerkraut in a wooden barrel and she churned her own butter which was the greatest tasting butter ever.  She made quarts of dill pickles and preserved jars of every vegetable to use through the long cold Winter in Ladywood, Manitoba.  She baked her own bread, both black and white.  She shared with me the joy of what is still today my favorite sandwich, cucumber on black bread.  She made the very best perogies always smothered in onions, butter and sour cream. My aunt Mary was an incredible cook.

My mother was a great cook.  Every Sunday there was a roast of beef or chicken for dinner.  She breaded pork chops that were tender enough to cut with a fork.  I still don’t know how she could do that.  Her talents escaped all her children except perhaps my brother, Carl.  He was not a gourmet cook  but an adventuresome outdoors man.  He hunted and fished .  He made an annual pilgrimage to Bella Coola in British Columbia to catch his limit of sockeye salmon.  He canned and smoked sockeye and Coho salmon. He hunted deer and moose .  He  cut meat into ribs and roasts and made his own sausage. He had a smoke house and smoked some meats.  Later in his life he began making wine.  His primary choices were raspberry and Saskatoon berry wine.  I liked his fish and meat much better.  I do not know of any special culinary talents of my other siblings.  Once when Michael and Dora visited Warner, Michael and I decided to make a watermelon, cantaloupe, champagne punch.  By the time we finished tasting it along the process I dont think we were reliable judges of our product.

Of my children, Peter makes great turkey chili.  that is his entire repertoire.  Heather abdicated her cooking chores to John when she returned to work.  They are now retired but John is still cooking.  Robin’s husband, Bob was a great cook and did all of it.  He also did all the shopping.  He continued until a few weeks before he died after a long battle with brain cancer.   Jaylyn is the best cook of all my children and her husband is equally as good. They serve epic dinners that  are better described as feasts.  

Then comes the next generation and I think Anne is the greatest cook.  There is no challenge that she will not tackle.  I would not even consider planning a, “leg of lamb” dinner, but no hesitation from Anne.  There is no spice, herb, grain  or exotic vegetable too hard to find or no equipment  too much of a nuisance.  Anne’s significant other, Dan is a chef and readily admits Anne is a better dessert cook.  Her Tiramisu is incredibly delicious and her carrot cake melts in the mouth. I think Anne is the best cook in the family.  Hillary makes delicious and exquisitely beautiful cakes.  Kalote makes delicious salads and breakfast sandwiches and both are probably better cooks than i am aware of.  Digger has a most eclectic diet.  Having spent several years in Japan, he has a repetoire of rice recipes.  Harry and Will are appreciative partakers of any meal prepared by others.  Anne is the best  cook.

[alicenowonderland]

FOOD BLOG #17

📍Quatro Bella Cafe 🦋 Ilang-ilang St., Lumangbayan, Calapan City 🌸 One of the best spots here at Calapan. I really love it here even if it is my second time to dine here. 🌷🌸 Mababait na staff (may inassist pa silang senior 🥺), good food, instagrammable place, not crowded and spacious ☺️ Just like I want it. Napaka-peaceful ng lugar na ‘toh. Chill lang ganon. Papasok pa kaya medyo malayo sa hustle and bustle streets 🕊🌸 A perfect place to meet with any occassion since may kaniya-kaniyang aesthetic ‘yung place. May indoors, outdoors, closed door meetings, cafè settings... name it!

Just a thought! I am not sure why it is called Quatro Bella but I think because there are four sisters and the four settings (?) each represents the sisters 😅. Just a theory! 😂

SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE 🍝 Will eat spaghetti bolognese until I perfected the pronunciation of it. Meaty, saucy, ang sarap din nung toasted bread!! All ingredients are fresh and tasty. Nakakabusog na yung isang meal. Idk if busog ba akong kumain or nakakabusog talaga yung isang servings.

⭐: 5/5

PESTO 🍝🤌 Kimmy approved! Masarap naman according to her. Nakakabusog din talaga nga siguro yung isang servings knowing we both have big appetite.

⭐: 5/5

HAWAIIAN PIZZA 🍕🍍 Hindi generic yung lasa, hindi rin matamis unlike ibang Hawaiian Pizza. Lasang pizza pa rin without the amount of overflowing sauce. I like this one. Brittle yung crust pero soft yung bread. Tala approved din.

⭐: 5/5

GREEN APPLE BOMB 🍏💣 Masarap! Kaso yung sa padulo patamis na siya ng patamis and parang may nainom ako na something powder (?) or baka syrup iyon? IDK how to explain. It is something like that. Dapat siguro hinahalo muna bago inumin. Sobrang malaki rin iyong drinks if you will have a meal and they only have one size for drinks. So I suggest, if hindi risk-taker ang tyan mo, you buy your usual drinks. But if you want to explore, like me, go! Buy everything on the menu.

⭐: 3/5

CUCUMBER LEMONADE 🥒🍋🥤 This is Kimmy’s drink. I tasted it before when we went here, lasang Lemonade and nakaka-refresh din naman. Same taste din lang sa ibang cucumber lemonade.

⭐: 4/5

Overall ⭐️: 5/5