#dry powdered water

[goshyesvintageads]

Carnation Milk Co, 1956

[geesenoises]

The 500 different things that go into a strategy to keep water in my body in my mid 30s 💀

[eggpea]

i am slow cooking the most delicious of concoctions in the kitchen rn

(my tags are so long lol whole half ass recipe down there)

[cultivating-wildflowers]

I have a rosebush in my garden that came eith the house, and during the first three springs and summers I lived here it never bloomed. Like Valancy Stirling’s rosebush, it shows plenty of growth, good strong green branches, but not a single bud. The last two years I cut it down almost to the dirt because all it did was get in the way.

This year it has buds.

[yuhi-san]

Puting water in befor the pill is so bizzar to me it never even occured to me??

[beroidae]

crafts lust won out again and can i just say i am the smartest person in the world

[foodflavorin]

South Indian Lemon Rice

[frownyalfred]

The Cave at midnight. Cut to Tim, dry-scooping espresso powder straight out of the bottle without looking away from his laptop.

—

Kon, holding the phone closer to his ear and ducking into a closet: so you’re saying Bruce doesn’t do this?

Clark, on the other end of the line: not really. I mean, he drinks coffee sometimes. I’ve actually never counted how many cups he—

Kon: so I just give him more water, right? to dilute it?

Clark: …that sounds right?

[kedreeva]

Watching a post on FB about chickens not eating a food their owners got them, and people telling this person "just don't give them more until they eat it" and "they'll eat it if they're hungry enough" and thinking about how if someone asks about a toxic plant in their yard these same people will swear chickens "know what's good for them" and "they won't eat stuff that's bad for them." And somehow these two things live together in their heads with no conflict. Well which is it? Does your chicken know the feed is bad or can they not tell when things are good or bad for them?

I went through several feeds looking for one my birds actually liked that I also liked. The one they're on now is sound but they also seem to really enjoy it. They don't anymore, but they used to dig/sort through chows, spill a bunch, only eat it when they really had to. That's miserable, I think. What a miserable existence, to be expected to eat food you dislike every day with no control over it, no ability to change it. And it's deemed okay, because you're not willing to die over it so you're just being picky.

If your fowl are avoiding eating a feed, maybe it's not a good feed or maybe they don't like it. Maybe try a different one and see if you can find one that's decent but also tastes good. Try pellets vs crumble vs mash. This person was feeding mash (a powdery food meant to be served wet) dry and it had whole grains in it the birds were picking out. Of course they're going to pick out the whole grains and leave the dry powder behind. I would, too. It's not hard to give them some water with their chow. I do it near daily with crumble and the birds lose it, they love that stuff. It's so easy. It's such a little thing. Sometimes I just wish I could shake someone through a computer screen until their teeth rattle.

[nil-the-glitch]

actually yknow what, no. this is not being limited to discord, yall get it too.

some general cooking tips (in which there is a brief senshi posession):

moisture is the enemy of crispy skin. pat dry with paper towel, and if you have the time and spoons, give a thorough but even coat of baking powder and let sit uncovered in your fridge overnight. this will dry out the skin nicely. for pork belly, create a tight foil boat so that only the skin is showing, and cover in salt to draw out moisture, repeating a couple times if necessary.

furikake seasoning, for the fellow rice lovers, is just nori (seaweed), sesame seeds, sugar, and msg/salt. you might have most if not all of these things already in your kitchen.

chai spice mix is just cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, & allspice.

pumpkin spice is just cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.

to cure your own bacon, you only need water, white and brown sugar, and a non-iodized salt - himalayan pink salt is not iodized, if you cannot find butchers curing pink salt. from there, you can add any seasoning/flavoring you want.

the truly adventurous may cook their rice in green tea for a fresh clean taste.

you can tell if a fish is truly fresh by their eyes - clear and bright is fresh, while cloudy is older or potentially has been frozen.

it's cheaper to buy a large block pack of ramen from your local asian market and repackage the bricks into sandwich bags, than to buy a box of individually packaged ones such as maruchan or top ramen.

when buying meat, look at it's fat content - more fat marbling usually means more tender + flavorful.

you can save onion skins and other vegetable scraps to make your own broth with. you can also save bones for this. mix and match ratios to create your ideal flavor.

bay leaf will always make a soup or broth taste better, but Watch Out (they are not fun to bite into on accident).

msg is, in fact, not The Devil, that was just a racist hate campaign against the chinese and other oriental races. it's literally just a type of salt. it is no more dangerous to eat than any other type of salt.

washing your rice is important because it not only improves flavor and texture by removing excess starch, but it also helps reduce any residual pesticides or dirt, or even insect fragments (please remember that rice paddies are essentially giant ponds that all kind of things live in and swim around. you should also be washing all your produce in general.)

please salt your cooking water for pastas, it just tastes better and you will be happier for it.

boiled potatoes are also improved by salt water.

if you hate vegetables, please consider trying them fried in butter or perhaps bacon grease. it is healthier to eat them fatty than not at all.

healthy food does not in fact have to taste miserable. thats a lie. they are lying to you. free yourself from your blandness shackles. enter a world of flavor.

[thehmn]

Advice nobody ever asks for but every time I tell someone they find it extremely useful:

If you want to get rid of ants in your house mix a cup of icing sugar and a cup of potato starch 50/50 (dry, no water) and spread it near the holes where the ants get into your house. They won’t be able to separate the sugar and starch and will feed their larvae with the mixture. The starch will kill the larvae. So you won’t see results right away but if you keep it up you’ll get rid of them over a few weeks. I make a batch every summer to combat ants in my kitchen.

Because the mixture is non-toxic to humans and other mammals it’s perfect if you have children or pets. God knows my dogs eat anything on the floor and this way my only worry is they might get cavities if they get into my pest control powder.

[osohchoso]

Gym Rat!

Personal Trainer!Choso x F!reader

Content: no use of y/n, working out, dry humping, praise, unprotected sex (p in v), multiple positions, creampie

Personal Trainer!Choso whose hand brushes against yours when you reach for the last container of chocolate protein powder in the grocery store. He notices your shy smile as you quickly retract your hand, assuring him he can have it.

Personal Trainer!Choso who insists you buy it, practically shoving the protein powder into your own cart as you object. As much as he prefers the chocolate flavor over the vanilla option, he would gladly sacrifice his preference if it made someone as beautiful as you smile again.

Personal Trainer!Choso who can’t stop himself from gushing about his passions when you compliment his shirt, the tight black fabric sporting the red arrow logo of his in-home gym. He can feel the heat rising to his cheeks as you give him your undivided attention, wide eyes glittering with interest.

Personal Trainer!Choso who offers to train you when you explain your New Year’s resolution is to build more muscle. He asks for your phone number so he can send you his website, wanting to prove to you he is legit and credentialed, not some creep trying to lure you into his basement. 

Personal Trainer!Choso who wants to sweeten the deal, assuring you the first session was free. He just wanted an excuse to get to know you better. He practically chokes when you accept without hesitation, planning to be at his house tomorrow evening.

Personal Trainer!Choso whose mouth goes dry at the sight of you standing in his house, your curves concealed in a tight matching work-out set, leaving nothing to the imagination.

Personal Trainer!Choso who preaches the importance of stretching before beginning the workout. He models a few exercises aimed at your quads and hamstrings, examining your form with an appreciative gaze.

Personal Trainer!Choso  who stands closely behind to spot you during your squat routine, whispering words of motivation as you adjust the barbell on your shoulders, it’s heavier than you’re used to. "You can handle it," his gruff voice assures you.

Personal Trainer!Choso  who scolds you immediately when your ass brushes against the front of his shorts, sending a shiver racing through him, he educates you on dangers of your improper technique. He doesn’t hesitate to put his hands on you as he adjusts your form. One strong hand grasping your inner thigh to widen your stance, the other firmly pressed to your back to prevent you from bending your spine.

Personal Trainer!Choso who doesn’t realize how dirty it sounds when he said, “you can take it deeper than that,” while challenging you to squat lower.

Personal Trainer!Choso who can’t force himself to look away when you take a sip of water, your shaky hands spilling it down the front of you. The fabric of your shirt clinging to your breasts and soaking through to the skin underneath.

Personal Trainer!Choso who couldn’t believe his ears when you asked if he would be uncomfortable if you continued the workout without your shirt, his eyes widening in surprise as he finds out the sports bra underneath also matched your outfit perfectly.

Personal Trainer!Choso who watches the way your glutes twitch and shake with each rep of your hip thrusts, your out of breath gasps music to his ears.

Personal Trainer!Choso who is feeling cocky, claiming he could hip thrust your weight easily, a smirk crossing your face as you take him up on that challenge. His shoulder blades pressed to the sideways bench and feet planted firmly on the floor as he invites you to sit on his lap, arms crossed behind his head in an arrogant display.

Personal Trainer!Choso who, to no one's surprise, effortlessly dips you up and down as if you weighed nothing on top of him. "Told ya so," he boasts but doesn't stop.

Personal Trainer!Choso who can feel your heat radiating onto his hard bulge with each thrust up. The spandex of your leggings does little to shield the shape of your cunt from him. He guarantees you can feel him too, judging by the way your teeth dig into your bottom lip and your nails grip his shirt.

Personal Trainer!Choso who can’t stop the involuntary groan that comes rolling off his tongue, trying to play it off as a typical grunt you would hear from other weightlifters.

Personal Trainer!Choso who starts to get a little too confident, thrusting faster and faster as he watches your face twist in enjoyment. Your own hips grinding against him as you seek more friction. Both becoming so lost in the sensation that he almost drops you. His hands flying to grip your ass, fingertips digging into the pliable flesh as he holds you against him.

Personal Trainer!Choso who can’t believe his ears when you are the one to suggest an idea for a "better workout".

Personal Trainer!Choso whose mind can't comprehend how he got into this situation. His shorts and boxers discarded and back still pressed against the bench as you lower yourself back onto his lap, his swollen tip easily slipping inside your entrance.

Personal Trainer!Choso  who resumes his repetitions, his nails biting into the skin at your hips as he holds you down on him, frantically burying himself deep inside your heat. He wishes he could rip that sports bra off your breasts, wanting to watch how they bounce on each messy thrust instead of being held hostage by the tight material.

Personal Trainer!Choso whose legs are about to give out, unable to hold his position any longer. He grasps your waist and presses your back to the foam tiles covering the gym floor. Gripping your legs and pushing your knees up to your chest. Pulling himself out just to drive back in even harder, tip bullying your cervix on every mean shove.

Personal Trainer!Choso whose calloused thumb was rubbing rough circles on your clit while he continued to slam into you, your loud moans filling the air alongside the sound of skin slapping skin. He can feel the way you were clenching around him, practically sucking him in. You were just as close as he was.

Personal Trainer!Choso who fucked you through your orgasm, refusing to let up pace as he whispered praises. “Such a good girl for me, you take me so well,” all while he nears his own climax. He can’t bring himself to pull away from your wet heat, painting the inside of you with hot ropes of cum.

Personal Trainer!Choso who collapses onto the foam tile next to you, chest heaving and drenched in sweat after the intense workout routine you both shared, a small chuckle escaping his lips as he says, “good thing we stretched first”.

Personal Trainer!Choso  who can't stop the smile forming on his lips when you ask when your next ‘training session’ will be.

banners by @adornedwithlight

Visit my masterlist to explore my other fics :)

Taglist: @lavenderdaydream97

[ms-demeanor]

Hey also you know that post about getting better at cooking and handling meat and stuff?

Meat is really expensive and it goes bad pretty quickly.

If you're a new cook and you're trying to figure out how to pan-fry something so that it tastes good, might I recommend tofu?

I'm not saying "treat tofu like meat and try to replace all your favorite meat dishes with tofu" (though, I mean, if that sounds good - go for it), I'm saying "it's a lot easier to practice heating a pan and flipping objects in a pan for a meal and seasoning objects in a pan when the objects in the pan cost two dollars instead of ten dollars."

Tofu lasts a lot longer in the fridge than meat does, is easy to season, and you can easily learn how to pan-fry it into a tasty snack (or main course) and only requires a little extra prep. You can also pretend that the tofu is raw meat (the texture isn't dissimilar) and start practicing for things like how to take it out of a package or cut it on a sanitizable surface, etc.

My favorite way to cook tofu is to press extra firm tofu for at least half an hour (you can get a cheap tofu press for around ten dollars, or you can put it between two plates with some books on the top plate - this is that extra prep i was talking about - tofu cooks best if you press the excess water out), then slice a 14oz cake of it into 8 slices. I lay these flat and sprinkle cayenne pepper, mushroom powder, and smoked paprika on all of the slices, then I rub it in and flip the slices and season the other side the same way. I cook it in a frying pan with a thin layer of avocado or olive oil over medium heat, flipping every two minutes until the flat sides start to crisp up a little. Just before the last flip I add about a tablespoon of tamari sauce (you can use soy sauce, I've just got allergies) to the pan, sprinkling it over the tofu so that both sides get a little bit of sauce on them.

I have that with steamed vegetables and with jasmine rice (with two teaspoons of rice wine vinegar per 3 cups of dry rice and 4.5 cups of water). I also make a honey-siracha-mayo sauce that I dip the tofu in.

It's really good. And now I end up eating leftover rice and sauce with fried eggs for lunch at least two days a week and that's also really good.

This has become one of my go-to low spoon foods because it's so easy to make, it's filling, it tastes good to me, and it has become extremely easy for me to keep a stock of tofu in the fridge compared to the effort of keeping un-expired meat in the fridge.

I find that a 14oz pack of tofu feeds two adults for one meal, though I can stretch that to three meals if I'm the only one eating.

It makes a very cheap, filling, easy dinner that I can keep the ingredients around for without too much concern for food waste or anything going bad (the tofu that I get lasts about a month in the fridge and these days I just buy three packs every time I'm at aldi and cycle in new stock - it costs $1.50 per pack)

If you're interested in becoming a better cook, rather than worrying about actual high-risk products like raw chicken that can be seriously dangerous and also cost a fair amount, tofu has a pretty low barrier to entry while also being a good way to learn on a new ingredient that has some similar properties to raw meat.

[sprytesukii]

18+ | dry humping with nagi ……. | cw. afab!reader (no pronouns used), dry humping (duh), finger sucking, other stuff lol | ~800 words

you’re usually the one in the relationship to initiate your sexual interactions. if you were an outsider, you’d assume it was because nagi was lazy or didn’t have much of a sex drive.

the reality is closer to the opposite.

nagi almost always wants to have sex. his baseline levels of horny are at a degree most people have to work up to, so he tends to keep it to himself. lets his partners project their sexual preferences onto him and, if necessary, supplements with daily (often multiple times a day) jerk off sessions.

it’s never really been a problem for him. sure, his nonchalant-bordering-on-disinterested aura attracts a lot of people with low expectations and even lower sex drives, but he’s been managing.

masturbating works. so. it’s fine.

or, it was, until he met you.

you’re the only one to - for lack of a better phrase - match his freak.

he doesn’t know how you clocked him — it’s like you smelled the big dick, marathon sex, overstimulation is just a suggestion from a mile away and his sex life has been completely transformed.

still, old habits die hard, so he finds himself waiting for you to initiate which leads you both to moments like this.

you jump him the second he gets home from practice, pushing him against the door and nipping his bottom lip.

a little noise of pleasure escapes him and he can feel your pleased grin. he’s dizzy with it, with you, and even though the door has just barely closed behind him, his cock plumps up in his sweats.

his duffel bag drops to the ground with a thud. as you kiss down the side of his neck, salty with the sweat from practice, nagi belatedly tilts his head away from you, effectively dislodging you from your ministrations.

you pull away easily, but when you look up at him with blown pupils and a little pout, he almost folds all over again.

“i’m gross,” he says instead, sounding a little more breathless than he’d like. “and you haven’t even kissed me yet. properly.”

the pout in your lips stretches into a wide smile, as you stand on your tiptoes, wrapping your arms around his neck. this time, he goes easily, your noses brushing against each other.

“you know i like the way you smell after practice sei,” your nails drag against the nape of his neck. he shudders. “sorry for not kissing you. won’t happen again.”

it most certainly will, nagi knows it, knows you, but he doesn’t care, not when you’re pulling him in and pressing your lips together.

in the back of his mind, he’s aware his lips are chapped and that he probably tastes like the lemon lime electrolyte powder he mixes in his water bottle, but it all fades as your lips move against his.

it’s chaste at first - a gentle moving, a little sticky from your gloss - but it quickly picks up steam.

your tongue darts out to trace against his lower lip, the wet drag sending shivers up his spine, and he opens up to let you in.

you slip your tongue into his mouth, curling it around his own in a slick slide that feels like sex itself.

kissing you is all-encompassing. it chokes nagi up, makes it hard for him to think, to focus.

he pants, open mouthed, letting you get your fill. you trace his molars, his canines, the roof of his mouth, until he’s so hard that he’s leaking through his boxers and sweats.

desire rises up in him, like a tidal wave, urging him past his usual complacency to take over. he grabs your face, holding you in place so he can ravage your mouth.

you like it when he gets like this. eager. hungry. even now, nagi can feel the choked sound you let out into the kiss, can feel the way your knees buckle, giving him more of your weight.

he takes it easily, his free hand gripping the hair at the nape of your neck while the one on your face slides down to span from your cheek down to your throat, keeping you still.

you moan again, this time more audibly, and nagi’s head spins. the push and pull you two have makes him feel crazy, hornier than he’s ever been every time you do this.

“mmh-“ you pull away from him, your lips making a wet smack, a string of spit connecting you. nagi hones in on it, bringing his thumb up to break it. feeling possessed, he pushes the digit past your lips, stroking it against your tongue. the tongue that was just in his mouth. his cock throbs.

“seishiro,” your words are garbled around his thumb so he reluctantly pulls it out, but something compels him to bring it, soaked in your saliva, to his own mouth.

nagi sucks it and the taste of you mixed with the heat of him has his eyes fluttering shut. he hears you whimper at the sight he must be making, but self-consciousness can’t even touch the realm you’ve created. it’s only the frantic tug to the hem of his shirt that breaks the moment, his eyes opening to half mast.

“wanna hump you, sei.”

a bolt of heat strikes him right between the legs. he takes a steadying breath. then another. he feels high, even though he’s never been (athlete’s body and all that).

all he can manage is a nod, his self control slipping even though he’s holding tight to it with both hands. you’re delighted at his agreement (as though he would say no to you - as though he even could), and you take his hand, tugging him to the couch.

nagi goes where you direct him easily, sitting on the couch where you quickly straddle his lap.

he thinks you’re going to kiss him again, suck on his tongue like you would his cock, but you surprise him.

you remain sitting upright and you just look at him. your eyes are hazy and unfocused from the arousal, but the gaze is heated. you keep staring as you slowly, deliberately, grind down against his bulge.

it feels good — better than clothed grinding should. he can feel the heat from your core, your own sticky, wet arousal that’s seeped through your bottoms meeting his.

nagi has to fight to keep his eyes open as his hands clamp around your waist, pulling you down more firmly against him. you gasp, his tip nudging your clit, and your hands thread tighter in his hair.

“you’re so big,” you whimper, bearing down against his lap. “i always forget.”

he knows that can’t possibly be true, not with how often you do this (he stretched you out on his cock this morning before practice, the early morning sun just barely filtering through the curtains), but it flatters him anyway. makes his dick kick in its confines.

nagi doesn’t bother answering you, the need to cum and to make you cum outweighing anything else at the moment. his grip tightens as he thrusts up against you, dragging your clothed cunt up and down his length like a toy.

you’ve gone quiet too, now, besides soft moans and choked gasps. with every rut against you, the closer he gets to getting that release.

he can tell it’s not going to take much for you — could tell that by the way you attacked him the moment he got home — by the way your leggings have gone entirely tacky at the center, pulses of slick pouring free.

it’s a heady feeling, that he’s making you feel like this. he bites his lip while picking up the pace, moving you against him as though he’s trying to fuck you through your clothes.

nagi’s hitting your clit with every pass, if the way your legs shake where they hold you above him is any indication. one of his hands slips beneath your shirt to cup a tit, his thumb rubbing against your nipple, and that’s it.

“sei—“ it’s quiet and shaky, the cry of his name, as you cum all over him and yourself. he humps you through it, watching you, unable to look away.

you’re beautiful like this. in the throes of pleasure, caused by him. it’s a feeling only eclipsed by watching your face as he cums inside, marking up your womb. he’s the only one who gets to do so, who has ever done so, and that knowledge makes him feel insane.

when he gets his, though, it’s near silent. it creeps up on him, watching you, but it’s overwhelming.

he nearly blacks out with the force of his orgasm, his cock kicking out ropes and ropes of cum into his boxers, seeping through the thin fabric.

cumming with you is always like this. now, he doesn’t even bother masturbating, because it’s not even worth it. not when you make him feel like this.

it takes a minute for him to come down, and when he does, you look smug as hell.

“came a little soon didn’t you?” you’re like a cat who got the cream (pun intended), and it would maybe be endearing if this wasn’t nagi you were talking to.

he rolls his eyes, before flipping you off his lap and onto your back on the cushions, your breath leaving you in one go.

you look up at nagi, incredulous, and he stares back at you as he grinds down onto your sodden cunt through your clothes. you let out an overstimulated hiss, even as your legs fall open, giving him more access.

“oh,” you moan softly, and he forces a harder thrust against you, his arousal creeping back in like a well worn coat. your eyes widen slightly and nagi feels his blood boil.

yeah. oh.

[holyblonded]

family bonding day | stargirl

pairings: alexia putellas x teen!reader, olga rios x teen!reader

summary: it’s family day in the putellas-rios household, possibly the most important one

warnings: talk of childhood trauma, violence

notes: this was in fact written in one day after yall inspired me. thank you to the anon that requested the older sister estrella hcs 🙏🏾🙏🏾

Alexia sighed as the warm morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the bed. She was perfectly comfortable, her head resting against the soft pillow, a warm weight pressed against her chest. She tilted her head slightly, pressing a soft kiss onto Olga’s hair, listening to the gentle chirping of birds outside.

Off days were always so peaceful… until 8:47 a.m.

Alexia cracked open one eye and turned her head to the alarm clock on the nightstand. 8:46:59 a.m.

She groaned, shutting her eyes again. “Why me, God?”

Like clockwork, the bedroom door flew open with a dramatic slam, revealing you in all your chaotic glory dressed in your oversized elephant onesie, your special blanket wrapped around your shoulders like a cape.

Olga, who hadn’t even stirred, simply lifted one arm in invitation, blindly patting the empty space between her and Alexia. Without hesitation, you sprinted toward the bed and launched yourself onto it with an ungraceful thump, landing squarely between them.

Alexia grunted at the impact, her peaceful morning shattered, while you smugly snuggled into Olga’s side, sticking your tongue out at Alexia like a brat.

“It’s like clockwork with you,” Alexia grumbled, rubbing her face as if she could physically wipe away her exhaustion.

“You love me,” you replied with a cheeky grin.

Olga hummed sleepily, wrapping an arm around you, pulling you closer. “Mmm… you’re warm,” she muttered, voice still thick with sleep.

Alexia sighed, resigning herself to the fact that there was no going back to sleep now. Instead, she ran a hand through your tangled hair before groaning, “We should get up and make breakfast.”

“Nooo,” you whined, nuzzling further into Olga, who chuckled but didn’t protest.

Alexia rolled her eyes. “Fine, but if I start cooking without you, I’m making that horrible dry toast you hate.”

Your eyes snapped open immediately, and you bolted upright. “I’m up.”

Olga laughed, stretching lazily before rolling out of bed. “Come on, let’s go feed the gremlin.”

In the kitchen, the three of you split up the breakfast duties. Alexia was on eggs and toast, Olga was flipping pancakes, and you, somehow, somehow, had been entrusted with smoothie duty. A terrible, terrible mistake.

It started well enough. You threw in some bananas, strawberries, and yogurt, tossing in a handful of spinach to make it healthy (because Olga was watching you like a hawk). But the moment Alexia turned her back, things took a turn for the worse.

“Why is there cocoa powder in the smoothie?” Alexia asked, arms crossed, staring at the countertop.

“It’s an experiment,” you said nonchalantly.

“Why is there peanut butter?”

“…Enhancing the flavor profile?”

Olga peeked over her shoulder, raising an eyebrow, a quick whiff of it made her subtly gag. “Why does it look like swamp water?”

You scoffed. “Have some faith.”

Just as you reached for the blender lid, Alexia caught sight of what you were doing.

“Wait—”

WHIRRRRRR!

You had forgotten to secure the lid properly. The force of the blender sent smoothie splattering everywhere, onto the counter, onto the cabinets, onto you.

Olga let out a loud snort of laughter, flipping a pancake without missing a beat.

Alexia groaned, rubbing her temples. “This is why we don’t let you use kitchen appliances.”

You stood there, covered in smoothie, blinking as a piece of spinach slowly slid down your cheek.

“Well,” you said, licking a bit of smoothie from the corner of your mouth. “Tastes good, though.”

Alexia sighed, grabbing a dish towel to start cleaning. Olga, meanwhile, was wheezing with laughter as she handed you a paper towel. “You’re never living this down.”

“I regret nothing.”

Alexia rolled her eyes. “You’re cleaning the kitchen.”

“Fine, but I’m still drinking my smoothie.”

And so, despite the mess, breakfast continued, laughter filling the kitchen, teasing remarks exchanged between bites of food, and Alexia wondering, not for the first time, how she ended up with the two most chaotic people in her life.

The supermarket was busy, but that didn’t stop you from treating it like your personal playground. Feet firmly planted on the bottom rack of the shopping cart, you held onto the handlebar and pushed off with a dramatic lean forward, sending yourself rolling down the aisle with a whoosh.

Olga trailed somewhere behind, casually browsing the shelves like she had all the time in the world, while Alexia was on a mission, laser-focused, determined, and already regretting not leaving both of you and Olga in the car.

“Can you please act like a normal person?” Alexia huffed, reaching out to grab the back of the cart just as you went to launch yourself again.

You grinned at her, standing up properly but not letting go of the cart. “Define normal.”

“Not this.” She gestured vaguely at your entire being, then exhaled sharply when you suddenly veered the cart toward a display of stacked cans.

“Relax, Mami, I got this,” you assured her.

Alexia didn’t look convinced. “No, you don’t.”

Meanwhile, Olga had completely disappeared, having mysteriously slipped off while neither of you were paying attention.

Alexia noticed first. “Where did Olga go?”

You shrugged. “Dunno. One second she was here, and then poof.”

Alexia pressed her fingers to her temples, inhaling deeply like she was summoning patience. “Great.”

You were greatly enjoying being a menace. Every time Alexia turned her back, you tossed something unnecessary into the cart, chocolate bars, a massive bag of marshmallows, a bottle of the most expensive olive oil just to see if she’d notice. She did.

“Put it back,” she ordered, pulling the olive oil out without even looking.

“Ugh, you’re no fun,” you pouted, dramatically tossing it onto the nearest shelf (which was not where it belonged).

Alexia gave you a look but said nothing. Instead, she continued checking off items on her mental list, marching forward with determination. You trailed beside her, still pushing the cart, still goofing off.

That was when you felt it— tiny arms suddenly wrapping around your legs, squeezing tight. You blinked and looked down.

A little girl, no older than five or six, clung to you like a koala, staring up at you with wide, starstruck eyes. “Oh my gosh, it’s really you!” she squeaked, practically vibrating with excitement.

Your heart melted instantly. Squatting down to her level, you smiled warmly. “Hey there, pequeña, what’s your name?”

“Luna!” she chirped, eyes shining. “I watch all your games! You’re my favorite! You’re so cool, and you do all those tricks, and I told my mamá I wanna play just like you!”

You gasped dramatically, placing a hand over your chest. “No way, you’re making me blush.”

Luna giggled, bouncing on her heels. “You’re even cooler in person! I’m supposed to see you play next week!”

Alexia, who had turned around at the commotion, stopped in her tracks. Olga, who had just reappeared, watched the interaction with soft eyes.

Luna’s mom appeared moments later, slightly out of breath. “Luna! You can’t just run off like that!”

“Mamá, look! It’s her!” Luna pointed at you with pure glee.

Her mom’s expression shifted from exasperation to gratitude as she looked at you. “I’m so sorry, she just ran the moment she saw you.”

You shook your head, still smiling. “No worries at all, she’s amazing.”

Luna tugged at your wrist, eyes hopeful. “Can we take a picture together?”

“Of course!”

Her mom pulled out her phone while you posed with Luna, making sure she had the biggest grin. Before she could leave, you slipped off one of your bracelets, a simple woven one you always wore, and gently tied it around her tiny wrist.

Her eyes went huge. “For me?”

“For you,” you confirmed. “Now you have to score lots of goals with it, okay?”

“I will!”

After another round of thank-yous, Luna skipped back to her mom, still clutching her wrist like it was the most precious thing in the world.

As they walked away, you stood back up, feeling a warmth in your chest.

Alexia and Olga were already looking at each other, silently melting at the interaction.

“You’re such a softie,” Olga teased, nudging you as she passed.

You scoffed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Alexia smirked. “Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night.”

You rolled your eyes but didn’t argue.

With everything finally in the cart (and only some extra treats smuggled in under Alexia’s radar), the three of you made your way to checkout, ready for your picnic— your antics forgotten, at least for now.

Well, until Alexia saw the massive bag of marshmallows at the bottom of the cart.

“Are you serious?”

“What? You can’t have a picnic without marshmallows!”

Alexia sighed while Olga laughed at her partner’s reaction. You just grinned, knowing full well that, despite her protests, Alexia wouldn’t make you put them back.

Before every picnic, every day off, every excuse you could find, you made sure to come back here.

Your old neighborhood hadn’t changed much: same narrow streets, same corner stores with faded signs, same familiar faces lingering outside their apartments. But right in the heart of it, where an abandoned lot used to be, now stood the youth center you built with your first paycheck.

One of the many reasons Alexia started monitoring your purchases like a hawk.

“You spent your first paycheck on this?” she had asked back then, looking at the blueprints in disbelief.

And you had simply nodded, not a hint of hesitation. “They deserve it.”

Because you remembered what it was like, what it was like to grow up here, to play street ball because there was nowhere else to go, to see the things kids shouldn’t see. Robberies. Fights. Stabbings. You had been one of the lucky ones, a neighbor, who knew a friend that knew a friend, had gotten you a shot at La Masia. But not every kid had a miracle like that. So you built this place to be that miracle.

When you pulled up outside, the place was already bustling— kids playing on the small pitch, some working on art projects in the shaded patio, a couple of the older ones chatting by the entrance. Upstairs was a place for older teen to have access to tutors, computers, and everything they needed.

The second you stepped out of the car, a wave of excited voices filled the air.

“She’s here!”

“Estrella!”

You laughed as a small group of kids ran straight for you, arms flailing, almost knocking you over as they hugged you. “Whoa, whoa, I just got here! Let me breathe!”

Alexia and Olga trailed behind, watching with soft smiles as you ruffled hair and exchanged high fives.

You made your way inside, checking in with some of your older neighbors who helped run the place. Mrs. Rivera, who handled the tutoring sessions, Mr. López, who kept the rec room stocked, and Señora Valdez, who made sure no kid ever left hungry.

“You’ve been eating enough?” Mrs. Rivera asked, narrowing her eyes at you like she knew the answer.

You grinned sheepishly. “Of course.”

“Don’t lie to me, hija.”

You opened your mouth to defend yourself, but Alexia cut in. “She hasn’t.”

Mrs. Rivera tsked disapprovingly, smacking your arm lightly. “Ay, Estrella, you need to take care of yourself.”

You winced dramatically. “Betrayal, Ale. Betrayal.”

Alexia just smirked. Olga laughed.

Before you could escape more scolding, a group of kids from the pitch ran up to you. “Come play with us!”

You groaned, already knowing where this was going. “Y’all just want to embarrass me.”

They giggled, clearly unbothered. “You scared?”

You scoffed. “Never.”

A makeshift game started quickly, the kids eager to take you on. You played with a mix of effort and amusement, pretending to struggle whenever they tried to steal the ball, exaggerating your movements like you were really working hard.

And then you noticed him.

A quiet little boy, standing on the edge of the pitch, watching but not playing.

You knew the look. You recognized it. You dribbled the ball over to him, stopping just in front of where he stood. “Hey, you wanna play?”

He hesitated, looking down at his shoes.

You crouched slightly, tilting your head. “I could use a goal scored on me… but I dunno, you think you could do it?”

His eyes flicked up to yours, uncertain.

You took a step back, tapping the ball toward him. “Just one shot.”

Slowly, he took a step forward, nudging the ball toward the goal. His movements were hesitant, but the moment it rolled past you and into the net, his whole face lit up.

You gasped dramatically, hands on your head. “No way! You scored on me?! That was incredible!”

Without thinking, you scooped him up and tossed him lightly in the air. He let out a surprised laugh, eyes crinkling with joy.

“You’re a superstar, pequeño!” you cheered, spinning him once before setting him back down.

The other kids immediately crowded him, patting his back and hyping him up. He looked overwhelmed for a second, but then, he smiled.

Alexia and Olga, standing off to the side, exchanged a knowing look. Pride. Love. Something unspoken between them.

Eventually, after one more round of hugs, you said your goodbyes and finally headed back to the car.

As you drove off, you glanced back once more at the center, at the kids still playing, at the place that meant everything to you.

The park was perfect, it was secluded, quiet, with a lake shimmering under the soft afternoon sun. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, and the smell of fresh grass mixed with the scent of the food Alexia was carefully setting out.

Meanwhile, you were doing everything except helping. “Mamá, look at this!” you called out, mid-cartwheel, before transitioning straight into a backflip.

Olga, sitting on a picnic blanket with a lazy smile, clapped enthusiastically. “¡Eso es, mi niña! Do another one!”

You grinned, landing a perfect front flip before turning back to her with your hands on your hips, chest puffed out proudly. “Ten out of ten, right?”

“More like eleven out of ten,” Olga teased, motioning you over.

Alexia, kneeling by the food, rolled her eyes. “Can we please eat before you break something?”

You pouted dramatically but obeyed, skipping over and plopping down next to Olga, who immediately pulled you into her side.

Lunch was peaceful, soft conversations, laughter, the occasional stealing of food off each other’s plates. The lake glistened in the background, the wind carried the sound of rustling leaves, and for a while, everything just felt right. Then, Alexia nudged a small box toward you.

“Here,” she said, her tone neutral, but the glint in her eyes said otherwise.

You blinked, looking between them. Olga was already grinning. Suspicious. With careful hands, you lifted the lid and pulled out.

“A jersey?” You held it up, confused. It was tiny, white and blue, and had Putellas 3 printed on the back.

You stared at it, then at them. “Guys, this is cute, but I don’t think this is going to fit me,” you deadpanned.

Olga burst into laughter, shaking her head as she motioned toward the box. “Keep looking.”

Frowning, you dug deeper, pulling out— an ultrasound photo. Your brain short-circuited for a second. You stared. Then stared some more. Your mouth opened, but no words came out. Then, everything clicked.

Your head snapped up so fast you almost gave yourself whiplash. “No way.”

Olga was grinning, eyes crinkling with joy. Alexia was watching you, a soft, amused expression on her face.

You shot up like a rocket, nearly knocking over the entire picnic setup. “I’M GONNA BE A BIG SISTER?!”

Laughter bubbled from both of them as you took off running— nowhere in particular, just sprinting in wild circles around the picnic area, hands in your hair like you were trying to physically contain your excitement.

Alexia shook her head fondly. “Should we tell her to calm down?”

Olga snorted. “Let her get it out of her system.”

After a few more dramatic laps around the blanket, you suddenly stopped, whipped around, and swooped back down, tackling both of them in a hug so tight Olga wheezed.

“This is the best day ever,” you mumbled, squished between them, holding onto them like they’d disappear if you let go.

Olga kissed the top of your head. “We thought you’d like it.”

“Like it?!” You pulled back just enough to look at them, your grin splitting your face. “I’m gonna be the best big sister ever!”

Alexia chuckled. “We don’t doubt it.”

You nodded seriously, already planning all the things you’d teach your future sibling, all the ways you’d look out for them. Then, as if the excitement couldn’t be contained a second longer, you let out another happy yell and took off running again.

Olga and Alexia simply watched, hands intertwined, hearts full.

Yeah. This was definitely the best day ever.

[honeytonedhottie]

it girls guide to haircare, from glossy curls to flawless braids⋆.ೃ࿔*:･💕🧁

your hair is your CROWN 👑 and the prettiest hair is always the healthiest. so in this post i wanna explore tips, routines and recipes that can help you to have healthier hair and start ur haircare journey…💬🎀

BUILDING A HAIRCARE ROUTINE ;

when it comes to building a routine of any sort, consistency is key! the main components of building a MEAN hair care routine are the following ; cleansing, deep conditioning and nourishment. think of ur hair like a garden that you have to water and nourish and in return it'll grow and be beautiful. thats the way that hair is! it needs tender loving CARE to be as beautiful as it can be.

wash 1-2x a week depending on how much u need to, but avoid washing it every single day because it strips ur hair of its natural oils and will give u dry and brittle hair. and thats NOT hot…💬🎀

🧁 cleansing ; opt for sulfate-free shampoos to keep your hair clean without stripping away natural oils.

🧁 deep conditioning ; deep conditioning is a NON-negotiable. choose protein-rich or moisture-based deep conditioners to keep ur hair strong and soft.

🧁 nourishment ; use hair masks on a weekly basis, always use a leave in conditioner or serum to lock in moisture and shield your hair from heat or environmental stressors.

so all in all, wash ur hair once a week or as much as needed, make sure that u choose moisture based, protein rich conditioners, and use hair masks weekly and invest in quality masks and oils to nourish ur hair and give it that extra UMPH.

THE GLOSSIEST CURLS ;

to achieve the glossiest prettiest curls ever, start with damp hair. apply a curl-enhancing cream, and comb through for even distribution. you can also try the LOC method, where you leave in, oil then cream ur hair. this particularly works great for hair that loses moisture.

if u have curly hair, sleeping in a silk bonnet or on silk pillowcases can help you to avoid having frizzy hair and using silk scrunchies is better for the health of ur hair + avoids breakage.

for defined curls and coils that pop, hydrate first by starting on freshly washed or damp hair. apply a leave-in conditioner for hydration. use a curl-defining cream or custard to clump and hold ur curls, make sure that ur working in sections! use a diffuser to dry your curls while keeping their shape intact and finish with a lightweight oil or shine spray for that extra glossy look.

FLAWLESS BRAIDS ;

to get sleek, flawless braids, start by detangling your hair completely. smooth your edges with a gel or edge control, and section your hair evenly. keep your braids tight but not too tight to avoid tension on your scalp. finish with a hair oil for shine and to nourish your scalp. if you’re rocking feed-in braids or box braids, don’t forget to hydrate your scalp regularly to avoid dryness or flakes.

GENERAL TIPS ;

🧁 always work in sections when ur doing ur hair bcuz it makes the process easier + more effective 🧁 deep conditioner instead of regular conditioner 🧁 wrap ur hair at night with a bonnet/sleep on silk pillowcases

AT HOME HAIR GLOSSING ROUTINE ;

for hair glossing at home, combine conditioner, olive oil, and a tablespoon of honey in a bowl and mix it together. be generous with it as u apply it to your hair. leave on ur hair for an hour. after washing ur hair blow-dry it. 

MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ;

❤�� i use the glossy pearl hair mask and it smells SO good, it smells like literal baby powder and it keeps my hair so incredibly soft.

❤︎ i also really love the gisou honey infused hair mask, it smells like honey (duh) and is really nourishing for my hair + leaves it nice and shiny and soft.

SILK PRESS SZN ;

the basic steps to having the best at-home silk press are simple! first, wash ur hair with a moisturizing shampoo. opt for a sulfate free shampoo that will hydrate ur hair, and not strip ur curls of their natural oils. make sure to wash shampoo ur hair 2x and make sure that theres no residual shampoo left!

deep condition ur hair and let that sit for about 30 minutes, then rinse out with cool water. the next step is also a big nonnegotiable with silk presses - using heat protectants. PROTECT YOUR HAIR. step four is to blow out ur hair with a round brush or a hair-dryer brush, after you've done this smooth some serum into ur hair for that shine and frizz free silk press that we're going for. lastly, flat iron ur hair.

so all in all these are the six steps to getting that perfect silk press at home...💬🎀

wash hair with a moisturizing shampoo

deep condition ur hair and let it sit for 30 minutes

dry ur hair and apply a heat protectant

blow out ur hair with a hair dryer brush or a round brush

smooth some serum into ur hair

flat iron ur hair