#evening tea ritual

[justposting1]

12 Inexpensive Items That Can Dramatically Improve Your Life

Affordable Treasures to Enhance Your Daily Routine A few weeks ago, I shared a video about eight expensive items that are, in my opinion, completely worth the investment. Many of you loved it and requested a follow-up featuring budget-friendly options. So, today, we’re diving into 12 relatively inexpensive items that provide immense value, far exceeding their cost. While “inexpensive” is…

[montecrizto]

this is such an insane moment

[wandoffire]

[oldfarmhouse]

https://www.insomniac.com

[partingoftheways]

my hair is past my shoulders, I've gained 10 lbs, and I've taken my meds every single day for three months 💖

[harpershigh]

@adorectrine for Zevlor

The earthy scent of herbs filled the air around Jaheira, who knelt in the soft soil of the garden, gathering the last of the herbs she needed. Each plant had been grown under druidic magic, thriving in the special care she had provided. She smiled faintly, rubbing a sprig of rosemary between her fingers before tossing it into the small bowl beside her. This blend would do.

These herbs were more than just for healing or calming the mind — they were a bridge, a way to ground oneself and tap into the deeper magic of the earth. She’d used them herself countless times when she needed to realign her connection to the land. Now, it was Zevlor’s turn. The tiefling had shown a keen interest in druidic magic, and she figured this would be the perfect introduction.

Jaheira much preferred a soothing tea — something about the warmth and ritual always felt right. But in this sweltering heat? She shook her head, almost pitying anyone foolish enough to drink hot tea on a night like this. A pipe would have to do the trick instead. It wasn’t her usual way, but it was effective enough.

Jaheira leaned back, surveying her work, the rich greens and purples of the herbs in the bowl. She chuckled to herself. She could almost picture the look on Zevlor’s face — skeptical, but eager. The old soldier probably was no stranger to focus and discipline, but this... well... this was a different kind of ritual.

Jaheira wiped her brow, smearing a bit of dirt across her forehead as she stood and carried the bowl of freshly picked herbs inside. The summer air clung to her skin, and though the breeze in the garden was pleasant, the heat in the kitchen wasn’t. She wrinkled her nose as she spread the herbs on a tray, sliding it into the oven to dry.

"One thing about these summer nights..." she muttered, fanning her face with her hand. "They don’t mix well with digging in the garden."

She glanced down at herself — dirt-smudged, sweat making her clothes cling in places she'd rather it didn’t.

With the herbs drying, she had just enough time for a quick rinse, and after washing all the dirt away she slipped into fresh, comfortable clothes — a loose, sleevless tunic and some short trousers. nothing fancy, just breathable enough to bear the sticky summer air. The fabric hung loosely on her, and she left her feet bare, enjoying the cool touch of the floor under her toes.

"Much better," she muttered, tying her hair back loosely.

To avoid the heat of the still-cooling-oven, she sat at the veranda to crush the herbs gently, before packing them into a small pipe. The garden was peaceful, the children were camping with Minsc, Rion was reintegrated into the Flaming Fist (a courtesy from Duke Wyll Ravengard) and the sea breeze was a welcome respite from the day's heat. A perfect setting to help Zevlor bond with the land.

"Let’s see how he handles this," she muttered with a grin, examining the now filled pipe.

[rinhaler]

my brat vinyl came today she's GORGEOUS

[evermorethecrow]

can i please hear abt his cult and freaky blood powers

YOU CAN HEAR ABOUT HIS CULT AND FREAKY BLOOD POWERS BUT I WARN YOU....

it will involve

SOME EXPOSITION

so in my little au there are multiple different types of vampires

fuck all of them for now cause only one type is relevant and that's the demon vampire guys (i know it sounds edgy as hell but bare with me)

notable things about these guys is that they are descendant from demons, as such they have quite a few abilities and i could go more into depth about the sub species and all that jazz BUT not right now cause i wanna keep this short enough

fyodor is a demon vampire who can control and be connected (somewhat) to people who drink his blood (in a specific way where he can't fully control them but he can heavily influence their minds and decisions to the point its basically full control if you get me?

now sorry to overuse the cliche but think of it like hes a puppeteer and anyone who consumes his blood is a puppet

now it also means if he gets hurt anyone whos under his influence will as well

store that info THE CULT

I don't wanna give away too much but fyodor has a cult based around the premise of how pain can free you (they use a lot of rose symbolism showing how the pain can be beautiful but i'll explain that another time)

while i wont bring up how it formed i will say is the cult members don't know fyodor is a vampire and instead believe he is some kind of angel . he feeds the members of the cult his blood and so he can influence them further, not getting into his motives rn BUT i will say it works double because it means no one can kill fyodor without killing hundreds of innocent people

there's more to that but i wanted to bring up fyolai in this

due to unmentioned reasons nikolai is the only person in Fyodor's cult who is in on the fact it's all a lie, hes fyodors right hand man

and sigma is supposably just an ordinary member who happened to realise the place was a cult and discover the truth behind it and has been appointed next to fyodor and nikolai so he can be watched over (supposably)

[justposting1]

Simplifying Life: Finding Peace in Minimalism and Daily Rituals

Embrace Serenity: The Power of a Minimalist Bathroom Here’s an article based on the provided content: Simplifying Life: Finding Peace in Minimalism and Daily Rituals Have you ever faced the daunting task of cleaning a chaotic bathroom or a cluttered kitchen and thought, “Where do I even start?” Now imagine walking into a simplified, tidy space—one that almost invites you to clean it. This…

[linc-karo-27]

The more I hear about that set the more I assume it was a melting pot of stress and tempers and arguments. And ngl it doesn't surprise me. This is what I was wondering.

Do I condone what I feel th**trebo*rd thread suggested (without evidence of any kind not even mild context which is needed when this is not a common view of someone even from DM) of someone being nasty and short with crew?

No

Not at all - that isn't adult behaviour. You're better than this. This is not acceptable at all. Especially from someone who's usually "drama free".

Do I genuinely wonder if this was caused by set and/or was a result of winding up?

Yes.

Yes I do. If I spent 12-16 hours a day in what seemed to be a melting pot of mess and stuff and wound up enough someone did something trivial, I'd snap at them.

But until evidence is coming out of what happened (bar the one line of "X is equally as a diva as Y") I'm saying from the context it was a one off/happened now and then from the person not always being there. aka. it kicked off a lot but wasn't constant and it was just a coincidence it was a lot while there were there.

But yeah. The amount of mess so far that press tour is gonna be bribe central.

edit: I THINK *THAT* ATTITUDE ARTICLE IN 2018 (MAYBE 2019) WAS THE ANSWER - WATCH IT BE HIS WEIRD "RITUALS" BECAUSE HE WAS JUST VERY STRESSED THERE BECAUSE IT WAS A PRESSURE COOKER.

[jinouchibhue]

Bitch I bought a tea kettle. Who am I?

[sanchoyo]

tbh I think 1 reason I do struggle w jobs is my fucked sleep schedules. like I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s insomnia some weeks then sleeping too much other weeks but also, I CANNOT keep it consistent. I’ve tried alarms. I’ve tried VERY hard. But my body does this thing where it wants to go to bed a few hours later or earlier each night so one week I could be sleeping 10 PM- 7 AM then the next week I’m sleeping 4 AM- 12 PM with seemingly no reason!! Even when I do All the Popular Sleep Tips! Like no screens/lights or trying to wear myself out during the day (but not TOO close to sleeping time!) it’s ridiculous and every single time I’ve tried to explain it to a dr I get the stock ‘haha young people always want to stay up late and mess up your schedules it’s nothing to worry about!’ Sir this has been happening since I was a kid. Even when I went to public school I’d be fighting sleep on the bus and in class bc my brain decided it’s a week where we don’t sleep at night. And I figured back then maybe it was a teen thing but now I’m in my mid 20s and it’s still happening. Forever. Like what the fuck

[bookishdiplodocus]

The Neurodivergent Writer’s Guide to Fun and Productivity

(Even when life beats you down)

Look, I’m a mom, I have ADHD, I’m a spoonie. To say that I don’t have heaps of energy to spare and I struggle with consistency is an understatement. For years, I tried to write consistently, but I couldn’t manage to keep up with habits I built and deadlines I set.

So fuck neurodivergent guides on building habits, fuck “eat the frog first”, fuck “it’s all in the grind”, and fuck “you just need time management”—here is how I manage to write often and a lot.

Focus on having fun, not on the outcome

This was the groundwork I had to lay before I could even start my streak. At an online writing conference, someone said: “If you push yourself and meet your goals, and you publish your book, but you haven’t enjoyed the process… What’s the point?” and hoo boy, that question hit me like a truck.

I was so caught up in the narrative of “You’ve got to show up for what’s important” and “Push through if you really want to get it done”. For a few years, I used to read all these productivity books about grinding your way to success, and along the way I started using the same language as they did. And I notice a lot of you do so, too.

But your brain doesn’t like to grind. No-one’s brain does, and especially no neurodivergent brain. If having to write gives you stress or if you put pressure on yourself for not writing (enough), your brain’s going to say: “Huh. Writing gives us stress, we’re going to try to avoid it in the future.”

So before I could even try to write regularly, I needed to teach my brain once again that writing is fun. I switched from countable goals like words or time to non-countable goals like “fun” and “flow”.

Rewire my brain: writing is fun and I’m good at it

I used everything I knew about neuroscience, psychology, and social sciences. These are some of the things I did before and during a writing session. Usually not all at once, and after a while I didn’t need these strategies anymore, although I sometimes go back to them when necessary.

I journalled all the negative thoughts I had around writing and try to reason them away, using arguments I knew in my heart were true. (The last part is the crux.) Imagine being supportive to a writer friend with crippling insecurities, only the friend is you.

Not setting any goals didn’t work for me—I still nurtured unwanted expectations. So I did set goals, but made them non-countable, like “have fun”, “get in the flow”, or “write”. Did I write? Yes. Success! Your brain doesn’t actually care about how high the goal is, it cares about meeting whatever goal you set.

I didn’t even track how many words I wrote. Not relevant.

I set an alarm for a short time (like 10 minutes) and forbade myself to exceed that time. The idea was that if I write until I run out of mojo, my brain learns that writing drains the mojo. If I write for 10 minutes and have fun, my brain learns that writing is fun and wants to do it again.

Reinforce the fact that writing makes you happy by rewarding your brain immediately afterwards. You know what works best for you: a walk, a golden sticker, chocolate, cuddle your dog, whatever makes you happy.

I conditioned myself to associate writing with specific stimuli: that album, that smell, that tea, that place. Any stimulus can work, so pick one you like. I consciously chose several stimuli so I could switch them up, and the conditioning stays active as long as I don’t muddle it with other associations.

Use a ritual to signal to your brain that Writing Time is about to begin to get into the zone easier and faster. I guess this is a kind of conditioning as well? Meditation, music, lighting a candle… Pick your stimulus and stick with it.

Specifically for rewiring my brain, I started a new WIP that had no emotional connotations attached to it, nor any pressure to get finished or, heaven forbid, meet quality norms. I don’t think these techniques above would have worked as well if I had applied them on writing my novel.

It wasn’t until I could confidently say I enjoyed writing again, that I could start building up a consistent habit. No more pushing myself.

I lowered my definition for success

When I say that nowadays I write every day, that’s literally it. I don’t set out to write 1,000 or 500 or 10 words every day (tried it, failed to keep up with it every time)—the only marker for success when it comes to my streak is to write at least one word, even on the days when my brain goes “naaahhh”. On those days, it suffices to send myself a text with a few keywords or a snippet. It’s not “success on a technicality (derogatory)”, because most of those snippets and ideas get used in actual stories later. And if they don’t, they don’t. It’s still writing. No writing is ever wasted.

A side note on high expectations, imposter syndrome, and perfectionism

Obviously, “Setting a ridiculously low goal” isn’t something I invented. I actually got it from those productivity books, only I never got it to work. I used to tell myself: “It’s okay if I don’t write for an hour, because my goal is to write for 20 minutes and if I happen to keep going for, say, an hour, that’s a bonus.” Right? So I set the goal for 20 minutes, wrote for 35 minutes, and instead of feeling like I exceeded my goal, I felt disappointed because apparently I was still hoping for the bonus scenario to happen. I didn’t know how to set a goal so low and believe it.

I think the trick to making it work this time lies more in the groundwork of training my brain to enjoy writing again than in the fact that my daily goal is ridiculously low. I believe I’m a writer, because I prove it to myself every day. Every success I hit reinforces the idea that I’m a writer. It’s an extra ward against imposter syndrome.

Knowing that I can still come up with a few lines of dialogue on the Really Bad Days—days when I struggle to brush my teeth, the day when I had a panic attack in the supermarket, or the day my kid got hit by a car—teaches me that I can write on the mere Bad-ish Days.

The more I do it, the more I do it

The irony is that setting a ridiculously low goal almost immediately led to writing more and more often. The most difficult step is to start a new habit. After just a few weeks, I noticed that I needed less time and energy to get into the zone. I no longer needed all the strategies I listed above.

Another perk I noticed, was an increased writing speed. After just a few months of writing every day, my average speed went from 600 words per hour to 1,500 wph, regularly exceeding 2,000 wph without any loss of quality.

Talking about quality: I could see myself becoming a better writer with every passing month. Writing better dialogue, interiority, chemistry, humour, descriptions, whatever: they all improved noticeably, and I wasn’t a bad writer to begin with.

The increased speed means I get more done with the same amount of energy spent. I used to write around 2,000-5,000 words per month, some months none at all. Nowadays I effortlessly write 30,000 words per month. I didn’t set out to write more, it’s just a nice perk.

Look, I’m not saying you should write every day if it doesn’t work for you. My point is: the more often you write, the easier it will be.

No pressure

Yes, I’m still working on my novel, but I’m not racing through it. I produce two or three chapters per month, and the rest of my time goes to short stories my brain keeps projecting on the inside of my eyelids when I’m trying to sleep. I might as well write them down, right?

These short stories started out as self-indulgence, and even now that I take them more seriously, they are still just for me. I don’t intend to ever publish them, no-one will ever read them, they can suck if they suck. The unintended consequence was that my short stories are some of my best writing, because there’s no pressure, it’s pure fun.

Does it make sense to spend, say, 90% of my output on stories no-one else will ever read? Wouldn’t it be better to spend all that creative energy and time on my novel? Well, yes. If you find the magic trick, let me know, because I haven’t found it yet. The short stories don’t cannibalize on the novel, because they require different mindsets. If I stopped writing the short stories, I wouldn’t produce more chapters. (I tried. Maybe in the future? Fingers crossed.)

Don’t wait for inspiration to hit

There’s a quote by Picasso: “Inspiration hits, but it has to find you working.” I strongly agree. Writing is not some mystical, muse-y gift, it’s a skill and inspiration does exist, but usually it’s brought on by doing the work. So just get started and inspiration will come to you.

Accountability and community

Having social factors in your toolbox is invaluable. I have an offline writing friend I take long walks with, I host a monthly writing club on Discord, and I have another group on Discord that holds me accountable every day. They all motivate me in different ways and it’s such a nice thing to share my successes with people who truly understand how hard it can be.

The productivity books taught me that if you want to make a big change in your life or attitude, surrounding yourself with people who already embody your ideal or your goal huuuugely helps. The fact that I have these productive people around me who also prioritize writing, makes it easier for me to stick to my own priorities.

Your toolbox

The idea is to have several techniques at your disposal to help you stay consistent. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket by focussing on just one technique. Keep all of them close, and if one stops working or doesn’t inspire you today, pivot and pick another one.

After a while, most “tools” run in the background once they are established. Things like surrounding myself with my writing friends, keeping up with my daily streak, and listening to the album I conditioned myself with don’t require any energy, and they still remain hugely beneficial.

Do you have any other techniques? I’d love to hear about them!

I hope this was useful. Happy writing!

[thesophistiicate]

sweet daily rituals for a calm life 🕊️

+ morning coffee or tea ritual: start your day with a carefully prepared cup of coffee or tea, and if you can, enjoy it slowly somewhere cosy, with a book or soft music in the background.

+ journalling ritual: whether it's morning pages or an end-of-day debrief, consider free-flow journalling to unclog your thoughts, face any problems, and deal with your emotions.

+ skincare ritual: develop a luxurious skincare routine, slowing down to pay real attention and care to your body. consider adding in lymphatic massage, too.

+ mindful cooking: allow cooking to be a meditative process, taking time to choose fresh, seasonal ingredients, explore new recipes, and enjoy the hands-on experience of being in the kitchen. set the table with care, even for simple meals, using beautiful dishes and linens.

+ midday break: decompress and take a quiet break in the middle of the day, perhaps with a short walk through a nearby park or a few minutes of journaling. pause and reflect on how you are feeling and how you want to feel for the rest of the day.

+ afternoon tea or snack: enjoy a piece of dark chocolate, some fresh fruit, delicious cheese, or a small pastry, served on a delicate tray or vintage plate, for a moment of indulgence.

+ evening wind-down: in the evening, unwind with a bath or hot shower, surrounded by soft candlelight and soothing music, followed by changing into comfortable, elegant loungewear or pyjamas. this could be a time for reading, listening to music, spending time with your partner, or enjoying a classic film.

+ home care: pay daily attention to your living space and cultivate a serene and inviting atmosphere by tidying up, clearing away clutter, arranging fresh flowers, and lighting a candle or two.

+ gratitude practice: take a few moments for reflection and gratitude, appreciating the small, beautiful moments that made your day special.

[simwithshan]

AM & PM Traditions

"AM & PM Traditions" are personalized habits your sims can use in their calendar to create their own morning and night routine so they can craft their own daily rituals.

Start your day off right with choices ranging from a refreshing morning shower, bathes, brushing their teeth and even shaving to some much-needed skincare. Don't forget a calming cup of coffee or tea after. Have work in the morning, I made sure to add a Pack Sack Lunch into the choices in their routine as well.

However, my favorite part of these traditions has to the be Words of Affirmations choice and journaling. I love having my sims indulge into some needed selfcare and couldn't hesitate not to add these features!

Everything Included

Bathe: Great for hygiene and starting the day fresh. It adds a realistic touch to your Sims morning rituals. All Types of bathing from traditional to using the petals, soaps etc.

Brush Teeth: Dental hygiene is crucial! It's good that you've included this routine to ensure your Sims maintain healthy teeth. You can complete this buy brushing your sims teeth by clicking on the sink.

Coffee and Tea: A perfect way to kickstart the morning or wind down in the evening. It adds a touch of realism and comfort to your Sims' lives. Brew and drink coffee or tea to complete this.

Journaling: A wonderful addition for Sims to reflect on their day or express their thoughts. It's a great way to incorporate self-care and mindfulness. Make sure to use the sims private journal to complete this.

Apply Makeup: For Sims who enjoy enhancing their appearance, this routine adds a touch of personal grooming. You can only do this at the vanity!

Remove Makeup: A thoughtful inclusion for Sims who prefer to go makeup-free or need to prepare for bedtime. You can only do this at the vanity!

Pack Lunch: Ideal for Sims with a busy day ahead. It's a practical addition for those who want to bring their own meals to work or school. Make sure you pack a sack lunch to complete this.

Shave: A grooming routine for Sims who prefer to keep a clean-shaven look. It adds realism to their daily preparations. This includes all body shaving areas, not just your face!

Shower: An essential part of maintaining hygiene. This routine ensures your Sims stay clean and refreshed. Just do your usual showering!

Skincare: A great way to incorporate self-care into your Sims' daily lives. It's perfect for those who prioritize skincare. I love this one, make sure you use a face mask or the cleanser to complete this.

Words of Affirmation: A fantastic addition for promoting positive mental health. It adds a meaningful and uplifting touch to your Sims' routines. Psyche self-up in a standing mirror to complete this. You do not do this one at the vanity.

Want more Traditions to add to your routine? I have so many!

Workout Traditions or Me Time Traditions

DOWNLOAD

[green-witch-archives]

Guide to Drying Herbs

Drying herbs is a simple practice, and there are several methods to choose from depending on the type of herb and your desire use. Here's how I dry my herbs:

1. Drying on Newspaper

2. Hanging Herbs Upside Down

3. Pressing Herbs

4. Drying Small Petals in Pouches

General Tips for Best Results

Use Breathable Cloths: Wrapping your herbs or laying them on a breathable cloth allows air to circulate freely, preventing mold while catching any small leaves or flowers that shed during the drying process.

Timing: Dry herbs as soon as possible after harvesting to retain their potency and fragrance.

Environment: Choose a dry, cool, and ventilated area to prevent mold or mildew.

Labeling: If drying multiple herbs, label them to avoid confusion.

Storage: Once dried, store your herbs in airtight containers away from sunlight and moisture.

Using Dried Herbs

Always check if the plant is safe for use before collecting it. Do not make tea or touch anything with unknown properties. Always clean your plants before drying.